The first time Ender met the former Saintess Selene, who held the title of White, was when she was just seven years old.
At that time, Ender, being the owner of the Magic Tower and the dean of Arcana, was incredibly busy, so meeting Selene was truly a matter of coincidence.
If I had to describe Selene’s first impression back then, it would be—
“Just a little… no, quite an odd child.”
That’s how I would put it.
In any case, the reason Ender encountered Selene was simple. It was because her childhood friend, Damien Wagner, who would later become her husband, accidentally bumped into Ender as he was returning to Arcana after finishing his duties as Lord Raynen.
Damien, being the person involved along with Hecate, his twin sister and another childhood friend, was flustered and didn’t know how to react, especially since a commoner had collided with a noble, and also because Damien’s drink had spilled onto Ender’s expensive coat.
There was no way those poor commoner kids could afford to pay for a coat that was clearly expensive.
However, Selene, standing calmly at the left end, slowly calmed the two down and quietly apologized to Ender.
She asked if he could forgive her just this once, bowing her head and saying she was sorry for spilling the drink and for almost harming the noble’s clothing, even though she was just a commoner.
Her expression was composed and steady, and she showed no hesitation in bowing on behalf of Damien. It was as if she believed this was something she had to do without question.
Of course, up until this point, one could think she was just a bit more mature than her peers.
But the reason Ender found her so peculiar upon reflecting on that first encounter wasn’t because of that.
Knowing it was merely the kids’ mistake, Ender had intended to give a simple reprimand and move on, and indeed, he had gently patted the heads of the three before smiling at them.
Then, as he turned to leave for Arcana, he suddenly glanced back and saw Selene smiling at Damien and Hecate.
Despite being in a position where she could have been angry at Damien for bumping into him and causing her to panic, she simply smiled.
As if the small, everyday occurrences of being together with them were enough to make her happy.
That smile was warm, benevolent, and serene.
It was certainly not the kind of smile a typical six or seven-year-old could make, and one couldn’t help but think of it as peculiar.
But differently put, that was literally all there was to that memory.
Even if he had thought about an odd child, it wasn’t particularly a memorable incident.
It was something that would be easily forgotten in a few days, just that.
After such a meeting, it didn’t take long for Ender and Selene to meet again.
About two years later, a rumor reached Ender’s ears.
It was said that there was a girl who prayed every day at the Martires Church located in Raynen.
Ender believed that it was undoubtedly fate, as the first thing that came to his mind upon hearing such rumors was the odd girl he had perfectly forgotten until then.
So, filled with curiosity, he went to the church, and there he saw a saintess.
He saw a little angel, quietly praying in a very solemn manner, with her eyes closed and not a single word spoken.
Though it was already 40 years ago, Selene’s image from that time still remained vivid to Ender.
Just a single girl praying, yet the atmosphere around her was more sacred than anything Ender had ever witnessed.
Once Selene finished her prayer and stood up, Ender finally managed to gather his thoughts and speak to her.
That moment marked the proper beginning of the long yet brief connection between Ender and Selene.
If you were to ask Ender what kind of person Selene was, he would always say she was the strongest child above anyone else.
Born frail, she would heat up after just 30 minutes of walking.
Due to an illness in her early childhood, she was blind in her left eye and could barely see out of her right.
Even if someone commented how unsettling it was to meet her gaze, which was blurry even while looking at you, Selene had never once lost her smile.
Instead, she cherished every moment, continuously showing kindness to everyone around her.
She often expressed her gratitude, saying the world always cherished and loved her.
It wouldn’t have been strange at all if she had blamed her parents who had left her behind in death or someone around her.
In short, to Ender, Selene was a true saint.
Not a saint as in a position that must be earned through trials at Martires Central Church and revelations from the God Eos.
But an ideal saint that anyone could aspire to be.
★
After meeting Ender, Selene’s talent began to blossom in no time.
An unprecedented aptitude for Light Attribute Magic.
A mere ten-year-old girl capable of wielding Light Attribute Magic surpassing that of a high-ranking archbishop in the Martires Order.
Ender joyfully suggested that they fix her eyes, but Selene quietly smiled and declined the offer.
“Teacher, there are things that can be seen because they are unseen, and things that cannot be seen because they are visible.
Having this talent must surely mean to endeavor for someone who is going through tougher hardships than I.
Miracles always come unexpectedly. Whether one grasps them or not entirely depends on oneself, just as I met you, Teacher.
So, I want to be someone who can become a miracle for someone else, someone who can reach out to them as a miracle.
That’s why I don’t want to fix my eyes. Although it would make things easier, I fear I’d gradually lose sight of all the things I’ve been able to see.”
Ender’s attempts to sway Selene’s stubbornness were in vain.
Because secretly, he empathized with her words as well.
Another year passed.
And at the age of eleven, Selene received the title of White in the Martires Order, and immediately after the inauguration ceremony, she received a revelation from the God Eos.
A revelation to broaden her world by traveling to the far corners of the Empire.
Six months later, at the age of eleven, Selene became the White and Saintess of the Martires Order.
The year marked thirteen years since Ender first met Selene, and it was also the day Selene graduated from Arcana.
She came to find Ender accompanied by her childhood friend Damien, who had been admitted to Arcana as a special admission student because he was recognized for his talent as a knight.
Of course, that was only possible due to Damien’s desire to be with Selene, and Ender was well aware of that fact.
In any case, Selene conveyed the news that she would marry Damien right after graduation and asked if he could attend the wedding as a father.
Ender happily accepted the invitation with a smile.
Even though he had no children of his own, Selene was already like a daughter to him.
Naturally, after graduating from Arcana, the frequency of Ender being able to meet Selene decreased significantly.
He had to carry out his duties as the owner of the Magic Tower and as the dean of Arcana.
And now that she was a proper adult, he couldn’t claim the mantle of a guardian over her anymore.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t lonely.
Yet at least the letters that came from her every four days dulled that loneliness a bit.
From tales of her mundane daily life to worries she found hard to share, Ender cherished Selene as both a daughter and a student.
Selene respected and relied on Ender as both a father and a mentor.
Ender had no doubt that this relationship would last until the day he died.
However, four years later, he would receive the shocking news that Selene had died in an ambush by unidentified assailants.
To be precise, it wasn’t just her.
Damien, Selene’s husband and a holy knight in the Martires Order.
Hecate, who had gone to reunite with them after a long time.
Even Shion, Selene’s daughter born under the blessings of the entire Empire.
All of them were reported to be dead.
After the funeral, a letter arrived for Ender, who was sunk in despair and could do nothing.
It was Selene’s last will sent to him.
The letter contained an apology, saying she was sorry for leaving him first, alongside many stories.
However, what caught Ender’s attention the most were the sentences written at the very end.
“Teacher, I have always said that miracles come unexpectedly, and what one grasps is solely in one’s hands.
The greatest miracle of my life has always been my meeting with you, Teacher.
To me, who bore a frail body and could hardly see, you showed me the beautiful light.
So even if I die, I hope you won’t stop moving.
You are someone who can grant miracles to others.
Even if it’s sad and hard, please rise again at the end and reach out to those who struggle. Create miracles.
If my death gnaws painfully at your heart, please don’t stop.
The future shaped by those you help will surely shine brighter than any other.
Thanks to you, I have always been happy.
Thank you so much, Father.
From your best disciple and daughter, Selene.”
Tears, which Ender thought had completely dried up, quietly flowed from his eyes.
One drop, two drops.
Slowly the paper began to get wet, and the words started to blur.
Yet Ender soon wiped away his tears and slowly stood up.
Selene’s death had already been foretold by Olivia.
But Selene was not the type to sit idly and nod her head in acceptance.
She would never be the kind to leave a will prepared from the beginning, having resigned herself to death.
In other words, Ender was already convinced that her death was a result she accepted on her own.
He did not know why.
He couldn’t understand why Selene, who cherished those around her more than anyone, had to sacrifice Damien, Hecate, and even her daughter Shion.
Yet he firmly believed there must have been a reason.
Thus, Ender couldn’t remain idle any longer.
He had to rise and create miracles, a brilliant future, just as Selene wished.
So that when he met her again someday, he could smile proudly and tell her all about it.
