The Mark of Faith

The priests administering the Mark of Faith placed their hands on each child's head, offering prayers that lasted anywhere from one to three minutes. Once the prayer ended, they gently touched the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nape of the child's neck, and in that instant, a circular golden pattern etched itself onto their skin.

Is that the mark confirming the inspection's complete?

As I watched the tense children undergo their checks, my own turn drew ever closer.

"Alright, I'll go first then. See you inside."

"Yeah."

In the end, even Marie headed in for her inspection... I glanced back once more, only to realize that every monk and nun overseeing the children had their eyes fixed solely on me—the one kid who hadn't been checked yet.

...Ah, if I was gonna run, I should've done it earlier...

Finally, my turn arrived... but I couldn't bring myself to step forward.

"What are you doing? It's your turn. Come on."

The solemn voice of the monk behind me urged me on.

"...Ugh!"

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

"...Uh, w-well... um... I mean... N-no, nothing... I'll go."

Clenching my trembling hands, I somehow forced my feet to move and shuffled ahead.

"You're the last one, then."

"..."

The nun in charge revealed a devout face beneath her black veil and reached out to begin the inspection.

"Hold on a moment."

Just as her hand neared my head, a familiar voice called out from somewhere.

"What's the matter?"

"The child seems scared, so I'll handle the inspection myself."

It was Vanessa.

She noticed how tense I was?

Her expression was as gentle as ever, with a hint of playful mischief lurking about, but her tone was utterly serious.

"Everyone else is busy, so please move on to the next area."

"I see. If Sister Vanessa says so... Understood. We'll leave it to you."

At her words, the other nuns and monks began to disperse. Soon, only Vanessa and I remained, and she approached me.

"How's your body feeling?"

"Much better."

Vanessa turned her gaze to me and offered a faint smile. It was a warm smile, like one that quietly soothed long-buried anxieties.

"No need to be nervous."

She gave a slight nod and extended her hand, beckoning me closer. I hesitated, then blurted out the question that had been swirling deep in my chest.

"...Do I have to get the inspection?"

I regretted asking the moment the words left my mouth—it was practically begging them to suspect me.

"Yes."

But Vanessa's response was simply calm. After a brief silence, she continued.

"It's fine. I've already heard about your situation from Carlos. I know where you've been all this time... and what you're worried about."

"Pardon?"

"You must have gone through a lot there. I'll take that into account during the inspection."

Only then did I understand why she'd insisted on checking me separately.

"...You knew?"

"Wouldn't it be weirder if I didn't know? I was the one who took you directly from Carlos, after all."

Vanessa tilted her head with a light smile playing on her lips. It wasn't teasing this time—it felt affectionate, reassuring.

"Now, let's begin."

She reached out to me again.

"..."

I could no longer refuse. Drawn in by her hand, I stepped closer. Soon, her palm rested atop my head.

As the prayer began, a low, serene hymn flowed from Vanessa's lips, resonating through the air. Golden haze rose from her fingertips, gradually seeping into my body and permeating my very being. Like a warm breeze brushing my skin, the light brought no pain or discomfort—only a natural embrace that wrapped around me from within.

Praying desperately that nothing would happen, I closed my eyes and accepted it.

But considering the other kids' inspections had ended in under three minutes, I figured it would be over soon.

"!"

Suddenly, the haze wandering freely inside me triggered a violent rejection. Thorns seemed to sprout around it, stinging and burning fiercely. As it passed my chest, chills erupted across my body, and my breath caught in my throat.

Then came the sharp agony, like a blade slicing into my flesh.

"Argh!!"

I instinctively snapped my eyes open and looked ahead... There was Vanessa, sweat beading on her brow, her face grave as she focused intently on the prayer.

Blood trickled from my chest—the site of the pain—forming a cold, eerie pattern like a tattoo etching itself anew.

...No, it was something from my past resurfacing.

I knew what it was.

Al Sar.

The symbol used by the cult that had imprisoned me... representing some demon. It was carved everywhere in the cult, watching over me, and under the pretext of offering me to the demon they worshipped, they'd etched it across my body too.

This particular scar had been inscribed directly into my chest with blood by the cult leader himself.

"Ugh, uugh... Aaa... Ah, aaaahhh...!!"

The pain was already like my chest being shredded by a knife. It felt exactly like the torment from when the mark was first carved—revived in full.

But what terrified me more was the thought of anyone discovering my ties to the demon cult.

...If this mark completes itself now... I won't even have an excuse.

In fear, I tried to pull away from her.

"No!"

But she grabbed my hand and spoke. Her eyes still closed in prayer.

"Sorry... it hurts, doesn't it? Just hold on a little longer. It's not over yet."

"...B-but..."

"It's okay."

She pulled me into an embrace.

"This is just an old wound from the past. Nothing to fear. It'll hurt, but... bear with it just a moment. It'll be over soon."

Her voice mixed urgency with earnest plea. Overwhelmed by that desperate warmth, I couldn't resist—I simply clung to her.

I squeezed my eyes shut. As she said, the pain gradually subsided soon after, and the prayer ended.

Vanessa, looking exhausted, panted roughly as she stroked my head.

She smiled at me.

"You did well. Sorry it hurt."

I couldn't answer her question. Instead, I checked my chest where the mark had appeared moments ago.

"..."

Thankfully, the mark was gone, but blood from its brief emergence had soaked my chest.

"Anyway... we should change your clothes first."

Of course, her nun's habit was stained too, from holding me.

"Sister, this..."

She pressed a finger to my lips and shook her head.

"It's fine. Like I said... it's just a scar from the past. If you can forget it, do so... and if not, don't dwell on it."

With that, she touched my nape.

I touched the nape where the mark had appeared, just like the other kids. The pattern briefly shimmered with golden light.

......

By the time I changed clothes and finally entered the chapel... worship was nearly over.

As worship ended and we filed out, Marie asked me worriedly.

"Why were you so late?"

"...Oh, uh... well... some blood got on my clothes... so I had to change... that's why I was late."

I stammered an excuse, unsure how to explain properly. Marie's face paled.

She insisted I needed more rest and offered to talk to a nun... I had to work hard to convince her I'd already been properly checked by Sister Vanessa.

......

It was during lunch in the dining hall after morning classes, while eating with Marie.

Isaac and the other kids approached.

"Teresa. How's your body?"

"Yeah, feeling better now."

"Good to hear."

As if it were the most natural thing, they sat around us and started chatting casually.

"Teresa. Got something for you."

"For me?"

Isaac placed a bundle on the table. Opening it revealed a bunch of unfamiliar desserts: colorful cupcakes, small tarts, glasses of fruit puree—sweetness you could sense just by looking.

"Brought 'em from the party the other day. The barbecue went ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bad and we had to toss it, but the desserts are still good."

"...Why give these to me?"

Isaac scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

"Well... you didn't get to eat any party food in the end. You were really looking forward to it..."

"So you brought these?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you so much!"

Isaac's face flushed as he smiled shyly. Soon, the other kids gathered around the table too, sharing the desserts amid a cheerful atmosphere as we continued our meal.

A bit later, Marie left first for class... As lunch wrapped up, James's words from yesterday suddenly came to mind.

"Annette's not around today, huh."

The comment cast a puzzled mood over the group.

"Annette?"

"Who's that?"

"Huh...? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠She was always hanging out with you guys?"

"No idea. Don't know any kid like that."

The children naturally tilted their heads, exchanging confused glances.