Academy Entrance Exam (2)

1.

A spring breeze blows.

Light pink petals flutter and dance.

Golden hair flies in the wind, brushing against her cheek.

She neatly tucked the disheveled hair behind her ear.

‘Always be neat!’

She received Saintess education for two weeks before coming to the Imperial Academy.

It was like etiquette training.

She learned about the Saintess’s demeanor and way of speaking.

“Sigh…”

She really hated it.

She wanted to be free.

But this was the path she had chosen.

Strictly speaking, she was forced to choose, but since she had decided to live as a Saintess, she also had a responsibility.

So, she was mindful of her words and actions.

It wouldn’t do for a Saintess of the Celestial God Church to act carelessly.

Therefore, she was trying her best to imitate the ideal image of a Saintess that she remembered.

It wasn’t easy.

Still, she was used to playing the good girl at the convent, so playing the Saintess wasn’t difficult.

“I’ll go in alone from here.”

The temple inside the Academy.

It was where she would live for the next four years.

Here, she would study Divinity Studies, treat patients, and hold services.

“I’ll accompany you to the examination hall.”

“It’s right inside.”

The entrance exam for the Divinity Studies Department was held in the chapel inside the temple.

It’s right in front of you when you open the door.

“The Fencing Department’s examination hall is on the opposite side from here.”

I gave Rael a bright smile.

“The exam will start soon, so you should hurry.”

“Still…”

“Brother Rael. I appreciate you valuing me, but if you miss the opportunity for a new experience because of me, my heart will ache.”

“…I understand.”

Rael raised his right hand to his left chest and gave a knight’s salute.

“I’ll finish quickly and come back.”

“Good luck.”

I clenched both fists and cheered for Rael.

Rael thanked me and hurried to the Fencing Department’s examination hall.

Ugh…!

I shuddered.

It was so cheesy.

To smile and cheer for a kid who was decades younger than me.

…I have to get used to this kind of behavior in the future.

I shook off the cringe that stuck to my shoulder blades and entered the temple.

It was quiet.

The Academy had specially allowed me to use the back door to prepare for the crowds.

I passed through the back door and headed to the chapel where the exam was being held.

“Huh… Could it be…”

“That person is…”

“Wow… What…”

One by one, people began to appear.

Their eyes were on me.

The murmuring tickled my ears.

Hehe, ohoho!

It was troublesome that so many eyes were on me, but I felt good.

Because that meant I was pretty.

Living surrounded by girls in the convent, I became interested in my appearance.

Who wouldn’t like their own appearance if they were pretty and cute?

Even though I might not seem interested in my appearance at all, I felt considerable pride in it.

“Hello, Sister.”

I approached the nun in front of the chapel and greeted her.

She was wearing a blue armband, so she must be a test site guide.

“Ah… Ah! Yes, yes!”

The nun stuttered and straightened her posture.

Her eyes widened when she saw me.

It was a natural reaction.

Not only had the Saintess appeared in front of her, but she had also spoken to her.

The reason why people recognized me as the Saintess right away, even though they didn’t know my face, was because of the difference in clothing.

All the nuns were wearing black Nun’s Habit.

On the other hand, I was wearing a white Nun’s Habit provided by the Papal Authority.

Strictly speaking, I was wearing a Saintess Robe.

So, even if they didn’t know my face, they could tell at once that I was the Saintess.

“I’m here to take the entrance exam. Can I go inside?”

“Yes… Huk! Ahem! Ahem! Yes, you can go in.”

“Thank you.”

I went inside.

A chapel the size of a Grand Cathedral.

The chairs lined up on both sides were packed with people.

The moment I stepped in, everyone’s attention was focused on me.

It wasn’t intentional, though.

The spring sunlight came in from behind me the moment I opened the door, becoming my halo.

I stood at the entrance of the chapel and looked around.

There were no empty seats.

I’ll have to stand until my turn comes.

It was then that the examiner approached me.

“Saintess, thank you for coming such a long way.”

He was a priest with a dignified atmosphere.

“I am Barden, the Dean of the Divinity Studies Department.”

He wasn’t an examiner?

He wasn’t wearing an armband either.

He wasn’t an examiner, but the highest-ranking person in the Divinity Studies Department administratively.

It seemed he had been waiting because the Saintess was taking the entrance exam.

“Nice to meet you.”

The murmuring around me became as quiet as if time had stopped.

Everyone in the chapel was listening to my voice.

I wasn’t trying to say anything special, but I was getting a lot of attention.

“I’m Elia, the Saintess.”

At that one word, I heard sounds of admiration escaping from various places.

“Can I know when my turn is?”

I wanted to see it as soon as possible if possible.

I was planning to take the exam quickly and go to the Fencing Department’s examination hall to watch.

“Would you like to take it right away?”

“I just got here? Wouldn’t that be rude to those who came before me?”

“No.”

The Dean looked around and said.

“Everyone will want the Saintess to go first.”

As if agreeing with the Dean’s words, the people waiting for their turn nodded.

Were they giving consideration to the Saintess?

“Then… I understand.”

“Please follow me this way.”

I followed Dean Barden to the front of the chapel.

2.

The Saintess walks down the center aisle.

Her golden hair sways gracefully.

Even the simple act of walking becomes a painting.

All eyes were on her.

The new Saintess.

Nothing has been properly revealed.

Everything except her name will be revealed for the first time in this place.

“Do you know how the exam is conducted?”

“Yes, I heard about it in the carriage on the way here.”

The Imperial Academy’s entrance exam has three stages.

The first is document screening.

The second is ability test.

The third is comprehensive test.

The detailed evaluation contents vary depending on the department.

In the case of the Divinity Studies Department, Divinity is evaluated in the second test.

You just need to fill the Divinity into a huge Holy Grail called the ‘Goblet of the Giant’.

It’s a very simple test.

You just need to exceed a certain value.

But simple doesn’t mean easy.

Pouring Divinity into an object, not another person, requires considerable maintenance and control of Divinity.

In other words, it is a test to see how much of your Divinity you can use.

“Please put your hand here.”

The Holy Grail on the altar.

It boasts a size larger than an adult man.

Dean Barden pointed to the purple sapphire in the center of the Holy Grail.

Elia placed her hand on the fist-sized sapphire.

“Now, fill the Holy Grail with Divinity.”

“How much do I need to fill?”

“Fill it as much as you can.”

“There’s no limit, then?”

“That’s right.”

The person who filled the Holy Grail the most among the past test takers was Saintess Aris, the previous Saintess. It was right before overflowing.

The Saintess before Saintess Aris had filled 3/5 of it.

Thinking about this, you can once again see how great Saintess Aris was.

I wonder what will happen this time…?

Dean Barden gave an interesting look.

Not only him, but other people as well.

Everyone held their breath and prepared to check the abilities of the new Saintess.

“I’ll do it right away.”

She closed her eyes.

Long eyelashes fell like curtains.

Elia took a deep breath.

Flash.

She opened her eyes.

Ruby-like red eyes glowed.

And.

“Wh-What…?”

Dean Barden doubted his eyes for a moment at the sight that unfolded before him.

Golden light was overflowing from the Holy Grail.

The silver Holy Grail sparkled as if it were made of gold.

The overflowing Divinity covered the entire chapel floor.

Dean Barden checked under his feet.

He felt a warmth like spring.

“Ah…”

He shuddered.

His mouth dropped open at the beautiful sight.

“Is this enough…”

Elia slowly took her hand off.

As her hand fell from the Holy Grail, the Divinity that covered the chapel scattered like smoke.

And it clung to the people, giving them a sense of comfort.

“…Is it done?”

Elia blinked her eyes and looked up at Dean Barden.

Her eyes were truly pure.

She didn’t seem to know how great a thing she had done.

“Dean?”

“Ah… Yes.”

Unconsciously unfolding his respectfully gathered hands, Barden nodded.

“Congratulations on passing the second test.”

“Thank you.”

Elia smiled brightly as if she was happy to have passed.

“Is there anything else I need to be tested on?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll go back first. I took the test right after arriving, so I’m a little tired.”

Elia patted her shoulder with her small fist.

“I’ll guide you to your room.”

“Would you?”

“Of course.”

Elia left the chapel with Dean Barden’s guidance.

As she left, I could hear people exhaling the breaths they had been holding back here and there.

Like ants moving busily, the test site became noisy with impressions of the Saintess.

Elia arrived at her bedroom.

It was a private room.

If she passed the final third test, it would be the room she would live in for four years.

“I’ll let you know about the third test around evening.”

“Yes.”

She closed the door.

She listened carefully to the sound of footsteps fading away.

“Then, where…”

Elia wrapped a robe around her body.

She took off her veil and pulled down her hood.

Because her head was so small, her entire face was covered.

She stood by the window.

“There’s no one around, right?”

She checked to see if there was anyone around and jumped out of the window.

She landed lightly like a feather.

Elia ran towards the stadium where the Fencing Department test was in full swing.

“♪♩”

Her steps towards the stadium were light, and she couldn’t help but hum. Her heart was pounding at the thought of seeing a real sparring match for the first time in a while.