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Diary of the Saintess, Xth day of X month, year XXXX
Chronicles of “The Strongest Creature,” Chapter X
Today, I continued my travels across this land with Miss Titleholder, who still declines my insistence that she is a hero, focusing only on becoming ‘the strongest.’ Our tribulations with the Great Elk of the Holy Woods, which I thought to be the end of our long and arduous journey, turned out to only be a stepping stone in her ambitions.
After a thrilling race with the Great Elk, where Miss Titleholder secured victory in a treacherous race to the riverside, she seems satisfied that she is unparalleled in speed. I am inclined to agree, after witnessing her greatness. Today’s trial is… more concerning, to say the least. I fear for Miss Titleholder, even though I have faith in her.
Today, Miss Titleholder is seeking out ‘Power Training’ in the form of The King Of Bears. The peoples of the North believe that the Gods take the form of bears when they visit our earth and treat them with reverence. In “That World,” the holy Saint Corbinian was said to have tamed a bear even so far as to have ridden it as a mount. That Miss Titleholder seeks to match power with such a divine creature speaks to her fortitude already, but she would not listen to my insistence that her task was too dangerous.
Verily, the most daunting trials are undertaken by the most brilliant of heroes.
Titleholder’s Notes: “Just watch me! By the time I’m done with this special training course, no one will dare go against me!”
Diary of the Saintess, Xth day of X month, year XXXX
Chronicles of “The Strongest Creature,” Chapter X
Miss Titleholder is… truly awe inspiring.
We approached the lair of the Bear King by morning light and it soon became clear that he was still fast asleep. We could hear the snores of the great beast from outside its den. I felt this was fortuitous and urged Miss Titleholder to seize her advantage, but she refused, saying that it would be disrespectful to her opponent to take such a cheap shot. Truly, she is a pure hero worthy of the highest accolade!
The Bear King awoke in anger, displeased that we had roused it from its rest, and gave forth a mighty roar. Miss Titleholder roared in kind, their pact of aggression now sealed. The Bear King stood on his hind legs, proclaiming his intelligence and dominance, as I whispered a prayer for the safety of my companion. Miss Titleholder declared that she had no desire for my protective wards, but surely a prayer from the Holy Maiden didn’t count as ‘cheating’?
Miss Titleholder assumed a similar stance, with her arms spread wide, as she charged forward, ramming her shoulder into the Bear King’s chest. The beast wavered but did not fall, swiping down with a massive clawed paw. Miss Titleholder ducked and bravely counterattacked with a firm kick, throwing the Bear off balance. To my eyes, she grew in size and stature in that moment, to become the King’s equal, such was her radiance! Blow for blow they matched each other, claws and fangs and fists and feet, trading hits back and forth.
My fears were brought to head when a vicious and calculated swipe raked across Miss Titleholder’s arm and I saw that telltale crimson. My heart leapt to see her adorned with that colour. I cried out in shock and went to rush to her side, but she bravely told me to stop. That I shouldn’t intercede in her holy trial… Instead, I resumed my prayers until I could see the holy light descend from the heavens to illuminate her with Their blessing.
The Bear King swiped once more and Miss Titleholder took that moment to climb onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Miss Titleholder would later describe this move to me as a “Crucifix Neck Crank” which I’m quite sure is not as religious as it sounds. But it did the trick, forcing the Bear King to submit, as he was unable to wrest her from his back. The King returned to all fours like a common beast of the land and he left the battlefield in honourable defeat, bowing his head in acknowledgement. It reminded me of the battles I witnessed in “That World” which ended with the wise king bowing before his strongest knight in recognition of their ideals.
Her trial overcome, Miss Titleholder claimed the title of “The Strongest” from the powerful Bear King, and was bestowed with the blessings of nature and divinity both. I still worry about her wound, however.
Titleholder’s Notes: “Some of that definitely happened!”
Diary of the Saintess, Xth day of X month, year XXXX
Chronicles of “The Strongest Creature,” Chapter X
Alas, Miss Titleholder’s wound was grave, and taxed even my substantial stock of first aid supplies. I am ever grateful for my training in such matters. While supplies for poultices and potions are in no short supply in the Holy Woods, some things are best left to modern medicine, and the deep wound suffered by Miss Titleholder is one such case. It was a truly nasty gash, and would certainly need stitches.
I made sure to be liberal with the disinfectant and wrap the sutures tightly so they would not slip until we made it back to town, an event which I thought was sure to follow immediately, but Miss Titleholder insisted that her trial was not yet over.
How daring! How brave! How noble! (And a little stupid, though it grieves me to say so!)
Apparently being the fastest and strongest was not enough. To become the apex predator, Miss Titleholder insisted that she must also possess the ultimate wisdom. And so, we set out to find the wisest beast in the woods, The Great Horned Owl. In “That World” Saint Jerome is associated with owls, and is the patron saint of archaeologists and record keepers. Perhaps he and I are not so different, if this diary counts as ‘record keeping’!
The Ordeal of the Owl could only take place during the night, as that is when the Great Horned Owl would be awake. This trial would be one of riddles, according to Miss Titleholder, as riddles were the ultimate test of wits. And so we camped until sunset before seeking out the wise bird. Of course, I prayed for Miss Titleholder, for her wisdom and good health. And this time, I had secretly imbued her wound dressings with a protective ward, unbeknownst to her. This blessing would inspire confidence, fast healing, but also clarity. As the Holy Maiden, I could not just sit idly by and let her risk her own health. The sooner this trial was over, the sooner we could get her professional medical attention.
Titleholder’s Notes: “You worry too much, you did a great job patching me up!”
Diary of the Saintess, Xth day of X month, year XXXX
Chronicles of “The Strongest Creature,” Chapter X
I will confess to my sins here in this text: I allowed my faith in Miss Titleholder to waver for but a moment. I should have held strong in my belief that she could conquer anything, as she has continued to prove exactly that.
The Great Horned Owl was a fearsome opponent. Behind its eyes I could sense its powerful ego, and a keen intelligence beyond that of mortal creatures. As Miss Titleholder stood to challenge it, the Great Owl beat her to the punch. Before the riddle game could even be proposed, the Owl had asked its question:
“...Who?”
I was awestruck. A question of such profound depth and intensity that could only come from the wisest of beasts. Who indeed? Which of us could claim to have the answer to that question? Even with the wisdom of the Saintess, I could not come up with a satisfying answer.
Miss Titleholder stood her ground. She was the picture of stoic contemplation. The Great Owl posed its question once more, its voice more insistent than before. “Who?”
After only a moment more, Miss Titleholder arrived at her answer.
“Who, you ask…? Me! I am the mighty Titleholder! I have conquered both Deer and Bear, and I have come to conquer you! Give up, and admit that I am the ultimate being!”
I braced for a rebuttal, or even for an attack, but instead, the Great Owl flapped its wings and flew away! As if it were no difficulty at all, Miss Titleholder had conquered yet another trial! What a hero, despite her denials!
To be in the presence of the Fastest, Strongest, and Wisest being is an honour for one such as I, who relies on her prayers for strength. However, in my capacity as the Holy Maiden, and the Record Keeper of this world before I move on to the next, allow me to proclaim:
Titleholder is the Ultimate Apex Being! She has no equal among mortals!
Titleholder’s Notes: “...Not yet. There is one more person I have to surpass. I haven’t run against her yet.”