364. Lena Ep – Ceremony

The daily routine of the apprentices at the Monastery Church training facility is monotonous. Waking to the morning bell at dawn, I got out of bed and knelt on the floor. I rested my elbows on the bed and offered my morning prayer.

Oh, God who rises with the sun and grants us a peaceful day. Thank you. I will cherish this day as much as you delight in.

After finishing my morning prayer, I changed clothes and went out to attend the roll call.

It was not a roll call where the apprentices are lined up and called by name. Instead, one could confirm attendance directly with the Priest.

Today, Priestess Ophelia was seated in charge of the dormitory roll call.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning to you.”

A middle-aged priest, greeting me politely. It was rather unusual for her to be here.

Priestess Ophelia was a remarkable high priest on the verge of becoming a High Priest. Despite being someone who shouldn’t be occupied with such errands, she was sitting here, which was closely related to me.

Before heading down for a meal, I asked her one thing.

“Has Veronian woken up yet?”

With a smile, Priestess Ophelia replied, “Yes. Just now. Apparently, those who compete for the top rank are quite diligent. He also asked if Leah had woken up.”

If I hurry, I can catch up with him.

I greeted Priestess Ophelia and hurried to the dining hall. As I rushed through the slightly chilly morning air, I managed to catch up with him before I even arrived.

Noticing me, Veronian turned around.

“Leah. Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

Since we saw each other every day, there was nothing particular to say. A monotonous life. We had breakfast together.

After we finished breakfast, we immediately went to class. If there were no classes, we would either study in the library or something like that.

But today…

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

“…Just thinking.”

I didn’t want to move much. The Veronian sitting across from me seemed to share the same sentiment as he did not leave his seat either.

The dining room soon became crowded with apprentices. While listening to the clattering of dishes and scattered conversations, I thought, ‘Why is Senior Daniel not here?’ It was odd. At that moment,

“It seems Leah is also feeling a bit lost. Actually, I’m the same.”

Veronian spoke to me, understandingly. I replied honestly, “Yeah. I expected it, but now that it’s happening, I feel a bit deflated… It feels strange.”

“Hahaha. You expected it? I nearly fainted from surprise.”

“Come on. You were all calm.”

“That was just for show. Shall we change seats? If it’s not a bother, could you keep me company for a bit?”

“Sure.”

We stood up to return our dishes. Then, I heard voices talking about us from behind.

“Look, it’s Leah and Veronian. Did you hear?”

“Yeah. It’s amazing… They’re both having a ceremony less than a year after joining. I slipped up again this year…”

Somehow, I felt guilty.

It felt like I had cut in line ahead of them.

I returned the dishes and tucked away a thread hanging from my waist into my clothing. Out of sight. I wanted to do the same for Veronian, but he was striding ahead.

Veronian led me to the garden next to the main hall. As autumn was just around the corner, the bright colors of summer were not as vibrant as before. We sat around a table placed there.

It was peaceful.

We had decided to hold the ceremony this fall, so the semester was not assigned yet.

In other words, we were students who no longer needed to rush. I leisurely appreciated the last freshness of summer. Veronian also seemed to follow along, but then he broke the silence with a question.

“This might be a bit premature, but… after the ceremony, what do you plan to do, Leah?”

Ah, that request. I leaned back in my chair. Sorry, but I returned the question.

“I’m curious about what your plans are, Veronian.”

“Oh. I didn’t expect you to turn the question back on me… I’m embarrassed.”

Veronian confessed that he had been meaning to talk about this. Such an honest guy, this brother of mine.

“I want to reform the church. So I plan to stay here and work instead of going elsewhere. What about you, Leah? If you haven’t thought of anything special… please help me.”

He spoke almost exactly as he had when he asked me for help back when I had become a priest.

At that time, I had refused. I wanted to return to Reb who would be waiting back home. Not realizing he was dead in the Conrad Kingdom.

That was long ago. Once again, I felt I should refuse. Not wanting to decline outright, I changed the subject. Then,

“You aim to accomplish something great.”

“Indeed. That damn constraint. Everyone believes their fate is decided and refuses to rise, so the church becomes more and more stagnant. I believe a clergyman should not be like that. There are countless people struggling to make a living, battling harsh lives… One cannot call themselves a true clergyman if they sit idly and whine about fate in the name of serving God. Ah, a perfect example is passing by right now.”

Veronian poured out his thoughts passionately. Unfortunately, his timing was poor.

He pointed at a monk approaching from that direction, throwing feed to the birds. A rather elderly man at that.

It was an unusual display for the gentle Veronian, but there was a reason for it.

That old man’s name is Michael.

Until last year, he was a Cardinal.

Veronian seemed to genuinely despise him, not taking his finger off him as he continued speaking.

“That guy is the root of all evil in this era. He massacred countless indigenous people, and even after being dismissed last year, he still holds esteem as a theologian. People say he lives piously since stepping down as Cardinal, truly understanding the burden… Ha! It’s laughable.”

“…It would be wise to retract your finger.”

“…”

Veronian’s eyes turned to me. Fiery eyes of a revolutionary. He willingly put his finger down but would soon ask his question.

What do you think about it?

Veronian adjusted his posture before sitting upright again, turning his back on Michael, and asking me. The birds, drawn by the feed’s scent, were coming closer.

“Once again, I ask. What do you plan to do, Leah?”

I replied, “I wish to follow fate.” Veronian showed an expression of great disappointment.

“How unexpected. I thought you wouldn’t choose that path, Leah…”

“What do you mean by that path?”

“A life of merely conforming, not choosing. I thought you wouldn’t pick a life like a puppet.”

A puppet…

I thought of my approaching friend. He must be acting and speaking as if I were a puppet at his side.

Poor Reb.

I reflected not just for him, but also for his companions.

“No. That, too, is a choice. I believe that the wind of fate blowing before the light of life demands choices at every moment. Veronian, what is your fate? If the term fate bothers you, I’ll rephrase it as mission. If reforming the church is the mission you hold, then that is surely the fate you have chosen.”

Veronian fell silent. Perhaps sorting through his thoughts, he questioned again.

“Then what fate have you chosen, Leah? What path do you wish to walk?”

“I…”

– “When Reb arrives, please take Priestess Ophelia with you to Oberg. Everything will end there and begin anew…” those were the words of the Holy Woman I had heard when I arrived at the Monastery Church with Priestess Ophelia. I realized anew what my mission was and voiced it.

“I wish to move forward to eliminate evil. To reverse the distorted fates of both myself and you, and of all.”

Veronian wore a puzzled expression. Behind him stood the man who once was a Cardinal and even a claimant to the throne, feeding the birds with an apathetic hand.

*

“De~~~us pro~tius. e~~eeeis impus-Shea-!”1)

The soaring soprano of a priest resounded.

This hymn was in ancient Akaiyan, and therefore identical to the sacred incantation, causing light to pour into the hall.

“F~ors quo. que- ha~aabere credo.”2)

And followed by a duet. This time, a deep bass followed, and the hall’s floor began to glow white.

Usually, this would be an extremely precious incantation and divine power, but today it felt good. The day of the ceremony had begun.

It is a day celebrating an apprentice stepping up as a clergyman, but it is also more famously known as the day destinies part ways between those who will become priests and those who will become monks.

C_7.

With a somewhat somber C minor 7 chord, the apprentices, filtered through years of trials, entered the hall one after another. In this sacred place, fervent gazes without applause were poured upon them.

Leah was among them.

Among the apprentices adorned with five, seven beads, she had a solitary bead dangling.

As the apprentices knelt before the altar, the harmonies faded, and silence enveloped the space.

Tap.

Other than the sound of the Holy Woman’s footsteps, no other sound was heard. Occasionally, the labored breathing of the apprentice kneeling next to her could be heard. Leah closed her eyes and prayed.

“Raise your heads.”

The sound of the Holy Woman’s footsteps stopped right in front of me. Was it my turn? Leah raised her head and gazed at the Holy Woman.

“Leah. It’s been a while.”

“…It’s good to see you, Holy Woman.”

It has been a while. It was the first time since I saw her at the beginning of this year. But she…

“You seem surprised.”

“Honestly, I am.”

She appeared even less mobile than before. An elderly lady who had aged considerably. The royal staff, a symbol of the Holy Woman, was being used as a cane.

That sound of tapping I heard earlier must have been from that cane rather than hooves. Nevertheless, the Holy Woman approached with a bright smile and said,

“It’s your turn now, Leah. You know you don’t need to undergo the ceremony, but I’m sorry to intrude.”

The Holy Woman placed her hand on Leah’s head. A small and lovely lady. Please reflect her future.

[ … ]

‘…!!’

Moments later, Holy Woman Maryel withdrew her hand from Leah’s head. She had seen enough of Leah’s future. And, thanks to that, I learned about my own fate.

‘God Binard, you are mischievous. That letter was for this purpose, wasn’t it?’

[ …You’ve worked hard. The 87th one… No, you will lose your order, Holy Woman. ]

‘What does that even mean?’

[ It doesn’t matter. Fulfill your duties to the end. ]

‘Tch. Can’t you just tell me?’

The Holy Woman pouted a bit but quickly returned to her professional demeanor and spoke to the priest following her.

“This person is an exception.”

“Huh?”

As a monk or priest, the Holy Woman’s words caused confusion. The priest lowered his voice to avoid disrupting the ceremony.

“An exception? Are you saying she’s a monk?”

The Holy Woman shook her head.

“No. I will personally bestow divine power upon this one.”

“…Excuse me?”

Divine power is not given by the Holy Woman. Perhaps the first Holy Woman did, but since then, the power has been shared among priests with care and nurtured rather than being freely given by a Holy Woman overflowing with divine energy.

Yet, she plans to bestow divine power upon this apprentice directly?

If I’m not mistaken, this would be the first time in the thousands of years of Cross Church’s history, except for the first Holy Woman. The priest stumbled in surprise and fell.

– Thud!

For someone, that was a lucky break.

The moment all eyes in the hall turned that way, Reb burst through the hall door.

‘Leah! I… I hope I’m not too late!’

Fortunately, it seemed he wasn’t late.

And more thankfully, beyond the murmuring audience, against the backdrop of the lofty hall and the shining altar, Leah was looking back.

Kneeling in front of the altar with a bright smile.

‘You came! I love you.’

Leah said with her gaze. Reb understood that.

1) De~~~us pro~tius. e~~eeeis impus-Shea-! (Translation: God, forgive the evildoers!)
2) For~s quo. que- ha~aabere credo. (Translation: I believe they too deserve a chance.)