A Tale of the Secret Saint Episode 3 Recap: Why Does Fia Lose Respect for the Current Saints?

Now, Fia possesses extraordinary abilities, but she must keep them secret. If people discover that she is the reincarnated Saint, she could attract dangerous attention from enemies who remember her previous life. Joining the Sixth Unit gives her an opportunity to demonstrate her usefulness as a knight without revealing everything she can do. She can observe her fellow knights, gain practical experience, and learn how the current generation handles threats.

The assignment also presents an opportunity to understand the modern Saints. These women occupy a position associated with exceptional spiritual power and the responsibility to protect humanity. Given Fia’s memories of the past, she expects them to possess abilities that go beyond ordinary healing. However, she is about to discover that the modern world has changed considerably. For Fia, the mission is not merely about defeating monsters. It becomes an unexpected lesson about the loss of abilities that once made Saints essential to humanity’s survival.

Why Are the Current Saints So Different From Fia’s Memories?

Fia remembers a time when Saints possessed extraordinary spiritual abilities. In her previous life, Saints could form contracts with spirits, allowing them to access powers that ordinary people could not easily obtain. These contracts were an important part of the Saints’ identity. They represented a connection to forces beyond ordinary human ability and gave Saints the means to protect people against powerful threats. In the present era, however, Fia discovers that the Saints no longer demonstrate the same level of power.

Their abilities appear far more limited than the ones she remembers. Instead of displaying the extraordinary spiritual strength expected of legendary protectors, the modern Saints are primarily associated with healing. Healing is valuable, of course. Injured knights and civilians need treatment, especially during dangerous missions. But Fia knows that the historical role of a Saint was not limited to tending wounds after a battle.

The ability to form spirit contracts once allowed Saints to contribute directly to the fight against dangerous enemies. Without that ability, their position has changed dramatically. Fia’s disappointment is therefore not simply about comparing strong people with weak ones. She is witnessing the disappearance of an important tradition and the loss of abilities that once protected humanity. Her memories give her a standard against which she can judge the present, and the difference is difficult to ignore.

The episode uses this contrast to establish one of its central mysteries: what happened to the spiritual abilities that made Saints so powerful in the past?

The Monster Hunt Reveals the Saints’ Weaknesses

The monster-hunting mission becomes the moment when Fia’s concerns turn into direct experience. The Sixth Unit enters the field expecting to deal with dangerous creatures, and the Saints accompany the knights as part of the operation. Their presence should provide an advantage because Saints are traditionally associated with extraordinary powers and support for those fighting on the front lines. However, the mission does not unfold as Fia expects.

The modern Saints appear poorly prepared for the danger they encounter. Instead of demonstrating the courage and capability Fia associates with their title, they struggle when the situation becomes threatening. The contrast is particularly striking because the knights have entered the mission with the expectation that everyone involved will contribute to the operation.

A dangerous monster hunt requires coordination. Knights may need to engage enemies directly, while healers provide support and ensure that injured members can continue or withdraw safely. Every participant has a responsibility to understand the risks and act accordingly. Fia quickly recognises that the Saints’ limitations are not merely theoretical. Their behaviour affects the people who have been assigned to protect them.

This discovery changes her understanding of the present generation. She had expected to encounter successors to the powerful Saints of her previous life. Instead, she finds people whose abilities and conduct do not match the reputation of their position. The mission exposes a problem that cannot be solved simply by calling someone a Saint. A title may carry historical importance, but it cannot replace practical ability, courage, or responsibility.

A Flower-Horn Deer Turns the Mission Into a Crisis

The situation becomes more serious when a Flower-horn Deer attacks. The encounter forces everyone to respond to a real threat rather than discuss the Saints’ abilities in theory. The creature’s attack puts the group under pressure, revealing how well the knights and their companions can react when danger arrives unexpectedly. The Saints are supposed to help support the operation, but they panic and flee instead of standing by the knights.

For Fia, this is the most troubling part of the encounter. She understands that not everyone has the same fighting ability, and she does not expect healers to behave exactly like front-line warriors. Nevertheless, she believes that people who accept the responsibilities of a Saint should understand their role in a dangerous situation. Fleeing without properly considering the consequences leaves the knights exposed to additional risks. The episode does not present courage as the absence of fear. A person can be frightened and still contribute by following instructions, supporting teammates, or helping injured people reach safety.

What disappoints Fia is the apparent failure to take responsibility when the mission becomes dangerous. Her memories of the legendary Saints make the contrast even sharper. Those who held the title in her previous life were associated with extraordinary spiritual power and a willingness to confront threats that endangered others. The modern Saints seem to have retained the status without the abilities and conduct Fia expects.

The Flower-horn Deer encounter therefore becomes more than a monster battle. It is the moment when Fia begins questioning whether the current Saints deserve the respect their position commands.

Why Does Fia Take Command When the Saints Run Away?

When the situation deteriorates, Fia steps forward and takes command. This moment highlights the difference between her apparent lack of talent and her actual capabilities. To others, Fia may look like an inexperienced knight who has not yet reached the level expected of a distinguished warrior. In reality, her previous life has given her knowledge and abilities that she is trying to conceal.

She understands the seriousness of the situation and recognises that hesitation could put more people in danger. Rather than allowing panic to spread, she focuses on what needs to be done. Her actions demonstrate the practical qualities of a capable leader: she can assess danger, respond decisively, and prioritise the safety of those around her. Fia’s response is especially revealing because she does not step forward to show off her powers. Her primary concern is preventing the mission from becoming a disaster.

That instinct reflects her former life as the Great Saint. Even though she wants to live quietly and protect her secret, she cannot easily ignore people who need help. The conflict between her desire for an ordinary life and her natural willingness to intervene continues to shape her character. Her actions also expose the weakness of judging someone solely by appearances. Fia may not look like the strongest member of the unit, but when the situation demands leadership, she proves more capable than those whose reputations suggest otherwise. The encounter demonstrates that genuine strength is measured by decisions and actions, not merely by titles or public expectations.

Cyril and Saviz Arrive as the Battle Develops

As the danger continues, Cyril and Saviz arrive and help bring the situation under control. Their arrival is important because it shows that the Sixth Unit’s mission involves experienced leaders who can respond when an operation becomes more complicated than expected. Cyril is one of the capable captains, while Saviz holds a senior leadership position as Grand Master. Their presence also gives the story a chance to explore the difference between formal authority and practical competence.

Fia has already demonstrated that she can recognise danger and act decisively. Cyril and Saviz provide another perspective on the situation, helping establish how the brigade’s leadership evaluates its members and the events unfolding around them. For Fia, the encounter adds to her growing understanding of the current era. She is not simply discovering that the Saints are different from the ones she remembers; she is also learning how the modern knight brigades operate and how their leaders respond to unexpected threats.

Her challenge is to contribute enough to protect the people around her without exposing her true identity. That becomes increasingly difficult when her actions reveal a level of awareness and capability that seems unusual for an inexperienced knight. Fia must balance two competing priorities. She wants to keep her extraordinary abilities secret, but she cannot comfortably stand aside when others are in danger. The situation illustrates why her new life is so complicated. Even when she tries to appear ordinary, her instincts and knowledge repeatedly push her into situations where people begin noticing that she is not quite what she seems.

The Saints Blame the Knights After the Battle

The aftermath of the monster hunt makes Fia even more disappointed. Rather than fully acknowledging their own failure to remain involved during the dangerous encounter, the Saints complain that the knights did not protect them adequately. Their reaction frustrates Fia because the knights were the ones facing the immediate threat while the Saints had fled. The complaint exposes a troubling imbalance between status and responsibility. The Saints expect protection from the knights, but they do not appear willing to recognise how their own decisions affected the mission.

Fia understands that a dangerous operation can go wrong and that no participant should be expected to handle every situation perfectly. What she finds difficult to accept is the refusal to take responsibility. A successful team depends on mutual trust. Knights need to know that their support personnel will contribute when possible, just as support personnel need to trust that the knights will protect them from dangers they cannot handle alone. When one side refuses to acknowledge its own role in a crisis, that trust becomes difficult to maintain.

The Saints’ complaints therefore become the final piece of evidence that deepens Fia’s disappointment. Their behaviour during the attack was already troubling, but their reaction afterward suggests that they have learned little from the experience. Fia begins to question whether the modern Saints understand the significance of their position. For someone who once carried the responsibilities of a legendary Saint herself, the situation is especially difficult to watch.

Fia Hides Her Healing Powers to Protect Her Secret

Although Fia has extraordinary abilities, she cannot simply reveal them whenever someone needs help. Her memories of her previous life have returned along with her powers, but revealing the truth could expose her to enemies who remember the legendary Saint. She therefore has to conceal the extent of her abilities, even when doing so creates awkward situations. During the aftermath of the mission, Fia faces a situation in which using her healing magic openly would attract unwanted attention.

Instead, she resorts to a bitter healing potion to hide what she can actually do. This moment highlights the difficulty of maintaining her cover. Fia is capable of providing help directly, but she must make her actions look ordinary enough that others do not suspect her identity. Her decision also creates a humorous contrast with her genuine abilities. She possesses powers that would make many people astonished, yet she is forced to rely on an unpleasant potion to avoid exposing herself.

The episode uses this situation to balance its more serious criticism of the Saints. Fia’s frustration with their behaviour is genuine, but she is also a young woman trying to navigate the everyday complications of living under a false identity. Her secret limits how openly she can demonstrate her strengths, which means that others may continue underestimating her. At the same time, her restraint shows that she understands the risks involved in revealing too much. Protecting her identity is not simply about avoiding embarrassment; it is part of staying alive in a world where her former enemies may still be a threat.

Why Do the Forest Spirits Seem to Favour Fia?

After the battle, Fia gathers sweet berries to help cover the bitter taste of the healing potion. The seemingly ordinary activity becomes another moment that draws attention to her unusual connection with the world around her. The berries she personally selects are sweet, and Saviz begins to suspect that forest spirits may favour her. This detail is significant because spirit contracts were once an important source of the Saints’ power. Fia’s previous life gave her a connection to abilities that the modern generation appears to have lost.

Her relationship with the natural world therefore raises questions about whether the old spiritual traditions have disappeared completely or whether their power remains accessible to someone with the right knowledge and abilities. Fia does not want to attract attention, so even a small detail like this can become a problem. She is trying to live as an ordinary knight, but the people around her are beginning to notice things that do not quite fit that description.

Saviz’s suspicion is particularly important because he occupies a leadership position. If he begins investigating Fia more closely, concealing her identity could become increasingly difficult. The scene adds mystery without resolving every question about her connection to spirits. It also reinforces the episode’s central contrast: the modern Saints appear to have lost abilities that Fia remembers, yet Fia herself may still possess the knowledge and spiritual connection needed to access those older powers. Her existence could eventually challenge what the current generation believes about the limits of a Saint’s abilities.

Fia Gets Questioned by the Captains

Following the mission, Fia finds herself under scrutiny from the brigade’s leadership. Cyril, Saviz, and the other captains have reasons to examine what happened during the monster hunt. Fia’s actions helped the group survive, but they also raise questions about how an apparently inexperienced knight responded so effectively. For Fia, the questioning is frustrating. She wants to be recognised as a useful knight, but she does not want people to discover that she is the reincarnated Great Saint.

This creates an awkward situation in which she must explain herself without revealing too much. Her frustration becomes more obvious when she feels that the captains are treating her suspiciously rather than allowing her to attend the victory feast. The contrast is almost comic. Fia has helped prevent a disaster, yet she finds herself caught up in an interrogation when she would rather enjoy the celebration. Nevertheless, the questioning shows that the captains are paying attention. Fia’s behaviour has made an impression, and her abilities may be more difficult to conceal as she continues serving with the brigade.

Her challenge is no longer simply to perform well. She must also control how others interpret her performance. The more effectively she acts, the more likely it becomes that someone will begin asking questions about her background.

The Victory Feast Leads to Fia’s Honest Opinion of the Saints

The episode’s most revealing character moment arrives during the celebration after the mission. Fia receives recognition for helping save lives, but the festivities also create an opportunity for the leaders to ask what she thinks about the current Saints. By this point, Fia has seen the Saints panic during a monster attack, abandon the knights, and complain afterward that they were not adequately protected.

Her frustration has been building throughout the episode, and the question gives her an opportunity to express it. Unfortunately for Fia, she is intoxicated when she gives her answer. Instead of carefully choosing her words to protect her identity and avoid conflict, she openly criticises the current Saints. She argues that people who behave arrogantly and abandon their companions in battle should be ashamed to hold such an important title.

Her comments reflect the standards she remembers from her previous life. To Fia, being a Saint is not simply about having a recognised position or possessing healing abilities. It is about accepting responsibility for others and being willing to contribute when people are in danger. The Saints she encountered during the mission failed to meet those expectations. Fia’s criticism is therefore rooted in disappointment rather than simple hostility. She knows what Saints were capable of in the past, and she cannot easily accept a generation that appears to have retained the title while losing so much of its former ability and sense of responsibility.

Her intoxicated honesty also creates a problem for her secret identity. The intensity of her reaction may cause others to wonder why an apparently ordinary young knight has such strong opinions about the history and duties of Saints. The scene combines humour with an important revelation about Fia’s character. Even when she tries to hide her past, her values continue to shape how she judges the present.

Why Does Fia Believe the Saints of the Past Would Be Disappointed?

Fia’s criticism becomes especially powerful when she says that the Saints of the past would be disgusted by the behaviour she has witnessed. This statement connects her present experiences directly to her memories of her former life. She remembers a time when Saints were associated with extraordinary abilities and serious responsibilities. Their position was not supposed to be an excuse for demanding protection from everyone else.

The modern Saints, in her view, have failed to live up to that legacy. The loss of spirit contracts is part of the problem, but Fia’s disappointment goes beyond their reduced powers. Even if their abilities are weaker than those of previous generations, she expects them to demonstrate courage, humility, and responsibility. Their behaviour during the monster hunt suggests that those qualities are missing as well.

Fia’s response reveals that she has not forgotten the values that defined her previous life. She may want to live quietly as a knight, but she still believes that people entrusted with protecting others must take their responsibilities seriously. This is also why the episode’s title, “The Saints’ State of Being,” is so appropriate. The story is not simply asking how powerful the current Saints are. It is examining what they have become and whether their present condition reflects the ideals their title represents.

Fia’s anger raises a difficult question for the world of the series: if the Saints have lost both their former abilities and their willingness to accept responsibility, what does their position mean now? That question is likely to become increasingly important as Fia’s secret past intersects with the institutions of the modern world.

Final: What Does A Tale of the Secret Saint Episode 3 Reveal About Fia and the Saints?

A Tale of the Secret Saint Episode 3 shows Fia confronting a painful difference between the legendary past she remembers and the world she now inhabits. During the Sixth Unit’s monster hunt, she witnesses the current Saints flee from danger and later complain that the knights did not protect them properly. Their behaviour clashes with her understanding of what a Saint should represent.

The mission also demonstrates Fia’s own abilities. Although she tries to conceal her identity, her instincts and knowledge allow her to respond effectively when the situation becomes dangerous. The episode’s most important revelation is that Fia’s disappointment is about more than the Saints’ diminished powers. She believes they have also lost the courage, humility, and sense of responsibility that once defined their role.

Meanwhile, her hidden healing abilities and unusual connection to spirits threaten to attract the attention of the very people she is trying to keep at a distance. Why does Fia lose respect for the current Saints? Because she sees them abandon their knight companions during a dangerous mission, blame others afterward, and fail to live up to the standards she remembers from her previous life.

Her blunt criticism at the victory feast makes her feelings unmistakable, but it may also create new problems as the captains begin taking a closer interest in her. The episode ends with Fia’s secret still intact, yet her growing frustration suggests that remaining silent about the current Saints will become increasingly difficult. Her journey as a knight is only beginning, and her extraordinary past may eventually force her to confront the gap between what the Saints once were and what they have become.