Eloy's eyes sparkled as she imagined this delightful planet, then she said, "I wish we had this crystal in our hands to feed all the hungry people in the universe and spread peace. Isn't hunger the source of all evil, Father? Didn't this bloody revolution ignite because the Franks are hungry?"

The Saint nodded. "Perhaps it is one of the greatest evils. But there is no doubt that if we eliminate it, many conflicts in the universe will disappear."

Eloy ate the rest of the loaf and thanked the Lord, then felt the chill of the night envelop her, so she wrapped her arms around her body. The Saint noticed this, so he carried her in his arms, warmed her, and walked with her in the dark night amidst the crimson snow, not knowing where to go.

Eloy fell asleep in his arms, and he felt her body shivering. He decided that he had to separate from her so she wouldn't die of hunger and cold. He had to leave her with someone to take care of her while he hid until things calmed down or he found a way off this planet.

He decided to leave her in safe hands. He continued to gather food every day with difficulty from around the villages until his body was exhausted, and he began asking the residents—without Eloy hearing him—to shelter this girl with them, saying she had no relation to him, but that he had found her on the road while fleeing. Most of the villagers refused, but he found what he was looking for in a man and a woman who sheltered street children. They agreed to take her with pleasure, but they asked him not to visit her except rarely so as not to cause them harm. He agreed with deep sadness for her protection.

He told Eloy to stay with them until he returned, but she clung to his cloak, saying, "Where will you go and leave me?"

He told her, smiling, "I will hide in a place nearby, and when things calm down, I will return to take you with me. You must stay with them until I return."

Eloy cried and hugged him, refusing to let him go, but he begged her to stay with them for a little while and made her a firm promise that he would return. Eloy reluctantly agreed and made him promise to return to her.

The Saint left, having parted with his dear daughter, feeling he had lost his last connection to the planet of the Franks. He hid for several months until the situation calmed down and he learned that Darleon had seized power from the Revolutionary Council and begun his invasions of the surrounding planets. Eyes turned outward, and the situation calmed down internally, so he began to visit Eloy from time to time in disguise, sitting with her for a little while. Her condition had improved, and her face had flushed again. Then he quickly returned to hiding and wandering among the villages. He continued for years and years visiting the girl and hiding until Emperor Darleon was defeated, his legend ended, calm returned, and the monks came out of their hiding places. Then crises stormed the planet of the Franks after the exorbitant costs of Darleon's wars. He saw hunger spreading again, poverty increasing, and the situation getting worse. The Saint's soul increased in sorrow. Then he heard about the Franks' intention to invade the planet Ghlizan, which was rich in Palladium metal. So he decided to go to this planet to preach the religion of the Lord, hoping the people of Ghlizan would help him restore faith on his planet. But he did not know that he might meet his demise on this planet and never see Eloy again.

***

Sairi saw several crystals orbiting in one orbit in space, among them the Crystal of Life, then suddenly woke up from his slumber.

Sairi saw that his arm had returned to him and his body had been completely healed. He didn't know how this miracle happened, but he noticed that his hand was placed on the crystal. He remembered that the Crystal of Life had given Gaia physical immortality, meaning his body healed from any dangerous injuries or diseases. However, he aged, even though the crystal increased his lifespan by hundreds of years and increased the lifespan of his people as well.

Sairi stood feeling his arm, unable to believe it had returned to him. He began checking his body for wounds but found it intact. He looked behind him and found the Saint in the throes of death, the thermal sword embedded in his body. Sairi approached him and snatched the Saint's sword from his hand, saying, "I'll take this, Saint. We need every power to reclaim our planet."

The Saint lifted his head to him, his face gloomy and showing deep sadness.

Looking at the crystal in front of him, the Saint said, "The miracle was steps away from me, Eloy. No one would have felt hunger in the universe anymore. But I failed miserably."

Sairi heard his ravings and asked him, "I don't understand you, Saint. all the justifications you told me about your desire for this crystal differ from what you are saying now."

Sairi was confused whether to save him, potentially creating a danger to them, or let him perish.

He hesitated a little, then said, "If I heal you now, will you make a vow to leave for your planet and never return here? And do you promise me not to tell the Franks about the existence of this crystal and my presence here?"

Sairi said to himself, "No doubt he will tell them. He is one of them. What am I raving about! I must leave him."

The Saint said with rapid breaths, "I don't want anything now... except to be with Eloy. I promised her... I would return to her."

Sairi looked at the crystal in his hand and at the Saint, feeling utterly torn. Then he made up his mind and said, "I will heal half your body and leave the other half. I will leave you in the hands of the Lord; if He wants you to survive, you will survive."

The Saint smiled and thanked him, looking at a red fruit that emerged from the place where the crystal had fallen. He said, "I just want you to promise me not to leave anyone hungry in the universe. You have a great miracle with you. You shouldn't keep it just for yourself, to the exclusion of all creation. There are many hungry and sick people who need this crystal."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.