"But Sister Devlin is already at the Eleventh Ring. No one says that when a Chosen One comes to understand their own power, they can't already be high-ring. Iluna was low-ring, Daknis was mid-ring, so there's nothing strange about the third one being high-ring."
As Shade thought about the Chosen Ones, he looked again at the silver-gray-haired nun. From the side, he could not see the patterns on her silver ornament, only the ring clasping her gray-white hair.
"Is there anything else?"
The blind nun turned her head slightly to "look" at Shade, and he asked:
"I noticed that you've been watching this flame. Is this bonfire also part of the ritual?"
He had thought it was just for roasting meat.
"Yes. This fire is the beacon for your return. As long as it does not go out, even if you fail to find Priest Augustus, you will still be able to return safely."
Shade nodded, somewhat worried that the fire might go out. It was not that he looked down on Sister Devlin's combat ability; it was simply that every story he had read followed this sort of pattern.
As though she had "seen" what Shade was thinking, the nun's lips curved into a smile for the first time:
"There is no need to worry. This fire will not go out, no matter what.
"Why?"
"There is a very powerful being dwelling in these mountains. I once obtained a spark from her. This fire will not be extinguished."
As she spoke, Sister Devlin brought together the hands folded before her, as though holding something, and raised her arms toward the bonfire.
The fabric of the nun's sleeves shifted between light and shadow beneath the firelight, while Shade stared at her hands in surprise. As her clasped palms opened slightly,