Let's Train Heroine

The serene boat ride back from the enchanting Fairy Cave had quickly turned into a frenzy of activity, with passengers bustling around Maris. The revelation of her identity as a saint had spread like wildfire, transforming the atmosphere into one of reverence and awe.

"It is an honor to meet you, Saint!" an elderly woman exclaimed, her eyes shimmering with admiration.

"Please, hold this child. We ask for your blessing!" another woman implored, holding out her infant, whose tiny hands grasped at the air, unaware of the significance of the moment.

Maris, overwhelmed by the sudden attention, smiled warmly as she took the baby into her arms. The child gurgled happily, and Maris's touch seemed to bring an almost immediate calm over the little one.

The passengers were drawn to Maris like moths to a flame. Some clasped her hands in gratitude, their voices choked with emotion as they thanked her for her role in protecting their land from the sea creatures. Others bowed their heads, murmuring prayers and wishes for continued blessings.

The weight of their collective gratitude bore down on Maris, but she carried it with a grace that only deepened their admiration.

"Saint, thank you so much. You truly saved this land..." a middle-aged man said, his voice thick with tears. His wife, standing beside him, wiped her eyes, unable to contain her emotion after hearing Queen Elysia's confirmation of Maris's heroic deeds.

Maris, for her part, was humbled by their words. She had always seen her role as a duty, something she was born to fulfill, but the genuine outpouring of thanks from these people touched her deeply. She had saved them from a threat they hadn't even known existed, and their acknowledgment filled her with a profound sense of purpose.

Meanwhile, the mood on the deck was lightened by an unexpected event.

"Wow, amazing! A big catch!" someone shouted from the starboard side, breaking the emotional atmosphere. The man was struggling with a fishing rod, the line taut under the weight of something massive.

The excitement quickly spread. Passengers who had been crowding around Maris turned to watch the unfolding scene. The man, with his friends cheering him on, was using all his strength to reel in the catch.

"It's caught!" he shouted triumphantly as he hauled the catch onto the ship's deck with a mighty heave.

But the cheers of excitement quickly turned to gasps of horror.

"Eh...?"

"Ah...?"

Everyone on the deck stared in shock at the sight before them.

"It's a... a monster!" one passenger finally managed to shout, his voice trembling with fear.

The creature lying on the deck was like nothing they had ever seen before. It was a grotesque hybrid of human and fish, its scaly body gleaming in the sunlight, gills flaring as it gasped for air. The passengers recoiled, instinctively backing away from the creature.

"Is this... a 'Nauthor'?" Lucan exclaimed as he sprang to his feet, recognizing the monster from the events that played out on this very beach in the game. The Nauthor was a known menace, a sea creature that had terrorized coastal areas with its insatiable hunger and malicious intent.

Before Lucan could act, the situation escalated.

"Eh...?!" Maris, who had been surrounded by passengers, suddenly shouted, her voice cutting through the rising panic.

"Everyone, hold onto the ship and lie down! Hurry!" she commanded, her voice filled with urgency.

In the next instant, the boat was struck by a violent jolt. The deck tilted dangerously, and the once calm waters turned turbulent, the waves swelling into a towering wall of water. The boat rocked violently, throwing passengers off their feet. Screams of terror filled the air as they clung to whatever they could to avoid being thrown overboard.

The cause of the chaos quickly became apparent. Emerging from the depths of the sea was something colossal, something that dwarfed even the largest of whales.

"A whale... no, it's different!" someone shouted, their voice filled with dread.

"Aaaaaaaaaaa!" the cry was joined by others as panic gripped the deck.

The creature that had surfaced was no ordinary sea monster. It was a massive Nauthor, its body grotesquely large, its scales gleaming dark and ominous under the daylight. It loomed over the boat, its gaping maw filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth.

"'Krakenor'!" Lucan muttered under his breath, recognizing the beast from the game. It was the guardian deity of the sea creatures, the boss monster of the event that was now unfolding before them.

Maris, her face a mask of determination, clenched her fists. "Ugh... I should have purified the Water Source yesterday," she muttered, regret lacing her words.

The Krakenor roared, the sound a deafening blast that shook the very air around them. It was a sound filled with malice and raw power, a battle cry of a creature that had risen from the abyss to wreak havoc.

Without hesitation, Maris sprang into action. She raised her hands, chanting an incantation under her breath, her voice steady and focused. The air around her shimmered with energy as she called upon her divine powers.

"Lucan-sama, please keep everyone safe!" she shouted as she moved toward the edge of the boat.

Lucan nodded, already moving to usher the terrified passengers to safety. "Stay calm! Stay down and hold on tight!" he commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. The passengers, many of whom were in shock, obeyed his instructions, clutching onto the ship's railings and each other for support.

Maris leaped from the boat, her body cutting through the air as she plunged into the turbulent sea. The water closed over her head, but her presence remained, a beacon of light in the darkness.

Underwater, the scene was one of chaos. The Krakenor, wounded and enraged, thrashed in the water, sending waves crashing in every direction. But Maris was undeterred. She swam towards the monster, her eyes locked on its massive form.

With a fluid motion, she raised her hand and unleashed a burst of divine energy. The water around her glowed with an intense light as her power surged through the sea, striking the Krakenor with unerring accuracy.

The monster roared in pain, its massive body convulsing as the divine energy tore through it. But Maris was relentless. She chanted another incantation, her voice echoing through the water, and sent another wave of energy crashing into the beast.

The battle was fierce, but Maris's determination was stronger. The Krakenor, battered and bleeding, let out one final, mournful cry before it began to sink back into the depths from which it had emerged.

Maris could have ended this battle in instant if she use more of her power but she can't control it well. She fear she might hurt people on the boat, so it took her time to defeat it.

She watched as the creature disappeared into the darkness, her heart pounding with exertion and relief. But she knew her work wasn't done yet.

She swam deeper, her senses guiding her towards the Water Source. The sea around her was thick with the corruption that had tainted it, the water dark and murky. But she pressed on, her divine power cutting through the darkness like a blade.

Finally, she reached the Water Source. It was a large, glowing orb, pulsating with a sickly green light. The corruption was strong here, the source of the taint that had infected the sea and its creatures.

Maris hovered before the orb, her hands glowing with divine energy. She focused her power, channeling it into the Water Source, purifying it with her light. The green taint began to dissolve, replaced by a pure, radiant glow.

As the Water Source was cleansed, the sea around her began to clear. The dark water turned crystal blue, the corruption dissipating as the purity spread through the sea.

Maris completed her work by erecting a protective barrier around the Water Source. It was a powerful spell, one that would prevent any future corruption and alert her if the barrier was ever breached.

Satisfied with her work, Maris swam back towards the surface. The water was calm now, the storm that had raged moments ago completely stilled. She broke through the surface, her body glowing with residual energy, and swam back to the boat where Lucan and the passengers waited anxiously.

Lucan was the first to spot her. "Maris!" he called out.

Maris swam to the side of the boat, and with Lucan's help, pulled herself back on deck. She was dry despite driving in water.

The passengers, who had been holding their breath in fear, erupted into cheers and applause as Maris stood before them, her figure radiant and strong.

"I'm sorry, Lucan-sama... It's my mistake..." Maris said, her voice soft with regret as she looked at Lucan.

"No... It's not your fault," Lucan replied, his voice gentle as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

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