The Saintess's Entrance Exam (2)
A spring breeze swept in. Delicate pink petals swirled and danced lightly on the wind. Golden strands of hair fluttered, brushing against her cheek. She neatly tucked the disheveled locks behind her ear.
Always be proper!
She had undergone saintess training for two full weeks before arriving at the Imperial Academy. It was essentially etiquette instruction—lessons on the proper bearing and speech expected of a saintess.
“Haaah…”
She truly despised it. All she wanted was to live freely. But this was the path she had chosen. To be exact, she had been forced into the choice, yet because she had resolved to accept life as the saintess, the responsibility was hers. That was why she paid such careful attention to her every word and deed.
The saint of the Heavenly God Church could hardly go around acting frivolous. So she referenced the ideal image of a saintess from her memories and imitated it as closely as possible. It was no small feat. Still, having grown accustomed to playing the good child back at the convent, acting as the saintess wasn’t particularly difficult.
“From here, I’ll go in alone.”
The temple inside the academy. This was where she would spend the next four years. Here she would study theology, treat patients, and lead worship.
“I will escort you to the examination hall.”
“It’s right inside.”
The Holy Theology Department’s entrance exam was held in the chapel within the temple. Once you opened the door, it was immediately ahead.
“The Swordsmanship Department’s testing ground is on the opposite side, isn’t it?”
She gave Lael a gentle smile.
“The exam is about to begin, so you should hurry.”
“Even so…”
“Brother Lael. I appreciate how much you value me, but if I caused you to miss an opportunity for new experiences, my heart would ache.”
“…Understood.”
Lael placed his right hand over his left breast in a knight’s salute.
“I will finish quickly and return.”
“Do your best.”
She clenched both fists tightly and cheered him on. Lael thanked her and hurried toward the Swordsmanship Department’s examination site.
Euuugh…!
She shuddered violently. It was unbearably cringeworthy. Smiling and offering encouragement to a kid several decades her junior…
…I’ll just have to get used to acting like this from now on.
She brushed the goosebumps from her shoulders with a few quick slaps and stepped into the temple.
It was quiet. To avoid the crowds, the academy had specially allowed her to use the rear entrance. She passed through it and headed for the chapel where the exam would take place.
“Huk… No way…”
“That person is…”
“Wow… What the…”
One by one, people began to appear. All eyes turned toward her. Murmurs tickled her ears.
Heh, hehehe!
Having so many gazes fixed on her was troublesome, but it felt good. It meant she was that beautiful. Living surrounded by girls at the convent had made her more conscious of her appearance. Who wouldn’t like being pretty and adorable? Even if she acted as though she had no interest in looks, she felt considerable pride in her own.
“Hello, Sister.”
She approached the nun standing in front of the chapel and greeted her. The blue armband on the nun’s shoulder marked her as an exam guide.
“Ah… Ah! Y-yes, yes!”
The nun stammered, hastily straightening her posture. Her eyes had gone wide at the sight of her. A natural reaction. Not only had the saintess appeared before her, but she had even spoken first.
People recognized her as the saintess immediately even without knowing her face, thanks to her clothing. All the nuns wore black habits, whereas she wore the pure white one provided by the Papal Court. If one were to be precise, she was wearing the saintess uniform. So even without seeing her face, anyone could tell at once that she was the saintess.
“I’ve come to take the entrance exam. May I go inside?”
“Yehk…! Ahem! Ahem! Yes, you may enter.”
“Thank you.”
She stepped inside. It was a chapel on the scale of a grand cathedral. The long rows of chairs on both sides were packed full of people. The moment she set foot inside, every eye focused on her. She hadn’t intended it, but when the door opened, the spring sunlight poured in from behind, creating a halo around her.
She stood at the entrance and looked around. There were no empty seats. She would simply have to stand until her turn came. That was when the exam supervisor approached her.
“Saintess, you must have had a difficult journey. Thank you for coming such a long way.”
It was a priest with a dignified aura.
“I am Varden, Dean of the Holy Theology Department.”
He wasn’t the supervisor? He wasn’t even wearing an armband. Rather than a proctor, he was the highest administrative figure in the department. It seemed he had been waiting because the saintess herself was taking the entrance exam.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
The murmuring around them fell silent as if time had stopped. Everyone in the chapel was listening intently to her voice. She hadn’t said anything special, yet the attention was overwhelming.
“I am the Saintess, Elia.”
At those words, gasps of admiration escaped from various spots around the room.
“Could you tell me when my turn will be?”
She wanted to take it as soon as possible. Her plan was to finish the test quickly and then go watch the Swordsmanship Department’s exam.
“Would you like to take it right away?”
“I only just arrived. Wouldn’t that be an inconvenience to those who came before me?”
“Not at all.”
The dean glanced around and said, “Everyone here would surely want you to go first, Saintess.”
Those waiting their turn nodded in agreement with the dean’s words. Were they showing consideration for the saintess?
“Then… I understand.”
“Please follow me this way.”
She followed Dean Varden to the front of the chapel.
The saintess walking down the central aisle. Her golden hair swayed elegantly with each step. Even the simple act of walking became a painting. Every gaze was locked on her.
The new saintess. Almost nothing was known about her. Everything except her name would be revealed here for the first time.
“Do you know how the exam will proceed?”
“Yes, I heard about it in the carriage on the way here.”
The Imperial Academy’s entrance exam consisted of three stages. The first was document screening. The second was ability assessment. The third was comprehensive evaluation. The detailed criteria differed by department. For the Holy Theology Department, the second stage evaluated holy power.
All she had to do was fill the giant chalice known as the Giant’s Chalice with holy power. It was an extremely simple test. She simply needed to exceed a certain amount. But simple did not mean easy. Pouring holy power into an object rather than a person required considerable control and sustaining ability. In other words, it tested how effectively she could use the holy power she possessed.
“Please place your hand here.”
The chalice on the altar was larger than a grown man. Dean Varden pointed to the purple sapphire embedded in its center. Elia placed her hand on the fist-sized gem.
“Now simply fill the chalice with your holy power.”
“How much should I put in?”
“Fill it with as much as you can.”
“So there’s no particular limit?”
“Correct.”
Among all past examinees, the one who had filled the chalice the most was the previous saintess, Aris. She had come close to making it overflow. The saintess before Aris had filled three-fifths of it. Thinking about that only highlighted once again how extraordinary Aris had been.
I wonder how it will go this time…?
Dean Varden watched with keen interest. So did everyone else. They all held their breath, preparing to witness the new saintess’s ability.
“I’ll begin now.”
She closed her eyes. Her long lashes lowered like a curtain. Elia took a slow, deep breath. Then her eyes snapped open. Her ruby-red irises glowed brightly.
And then—
“W-what…?”
For a moment, Dean Varden doubted his own eyes at the sight before him. Golden light was overflowing from the chalice. The silver vessel sparkled as if it had been forged from pure gold. The excess holy power spread across the entire chapel floor.
Varden looked down at his feet. A warmth like spring sunlight enveloped him.
“Ahh…”
He trembled with awe. The sight was so beautiful it left his mouth hanging open.
“This should be…”
Elia slowly withdrew her hand. The moment her palm left the chalice, the holy power covering the chapel dispersed like mist. It clung to the people, wrapping each of them in gentle comfort.
“…Is this enough?”
Elia blinked up at Dean Varden with wide eyes. Her gaze was utterly pure. She seemed completely unaware of how extraordinary her feat had been.
“Dean?”
“Ah… Yes.”
Without realizing it, Varden had clasped his hands together respectfully. He nodded.
“Congratulations on passing the second stage.”
“Thank you.”
Elia beamed as if genuinely delighted by her success.
“Is there another test I need to take?”
“There is not.”
“Then I’ll take my leave first. I took the exam right after arriving, so I’m a bit tired.”
Elia lightly patted her shoulder with a small fist.
“I will show you to your room.”
“Would you?”
“Of course.”
Guided by Dean Varden, Elia left the chapel. Once she was gone, the sound of people finally releasing the breaths they had been holding filled the air. The examination hall grew noisy with impressions of the saintess, buzzing like ants in frantic motion.
Elia reached her assigned room. It was a private chamber—the room she would live in for four years if she passed the final third stage.
“I will inform you about the third exam this evening.”
“Yes.”
The door closed. She listened until the footsteps faded into the distance.
“Now then…”
Elia pulled on a robe, removed her veil, and drew the hood low. Her small head was completely hidden beneath it. She stood by the window.
“No one around, right?”
After confirming the area was clear, she leaped out the window. She landed as lightly as a feather. Then she ran toward the arena where the Swordsmanship Department’s exam was still underway.
“♪♩”
Her steps toward the arena were light, and a humming tune rose unbidden from her lips. Her heart raced at the thought of watching real sparring for the first time in ages.