Vol. 1 - Ch. 3 - The Beginning - Day 2

"Rolf, let's do our best today!" Emily clenched both of her fists and said strongly. Though, even if I say we'll do our best, it is the priest who performs the Sangso Shinso no Mutsu. "All we have to do is kneel before the priest and close our eyes. I don't think we can do our best." I replied.

"But you want Yona-sama to feel your enthusiasm, don't you?" she said excitedly with a grin.

"That's right, brother. Please do your best , I'll be there to see your courage, too." Felicia said. She's going to come with us to the church. 

"Very well, I understand. I'll do my best." I finally replied.

"I want to see you guys right after the ceremony but I won't be able to see you for a while..." Felicia said sadly. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the NovᴇlFɪre .ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

After receiving the Secret of Sangso, Emily and I will immediately join the Fifth Order. The Fifth Order's base of operations is in the Marquis of Norden's territory, which is adjacent to the Royal Capital. We will leave for the Marquisate the day after we receive the secret. It's not far from Baron Buckman's territory, but it won't be easy to come back. 

"But next year you will join us, won't you? I'll be waiting for you." I said to Felicia.

"That's right, Felicia! A year goes by so fast!" Emily added on.

"...Yes. I'll be right behind you, both of you!" said Felicia, finally satisfied.

We smiled at each other.

"So how do you feel, brother? It's finally time to become a knight. And you too Emily, how do you feel?" Asked Felicia.

"Well, you know Rolf has always said it was his dream to be a knight! He's been saying it for over a decade. And now it's finally happening!" said Emily proudly.

"Yes. Aren't you deeply moved?" added Felicia.

They both get a twinkle in their eyes at the mention of my dream. 

"That being said, in the first year I'll be an obedient graduate. After the second year, the best ones get picked, so there's still a long way to go." I said.

"Then, in my brother's case, he will definitely be picked as soon as he enters his second year, so he will be knighted right around the time I join the order," said Felicia.

"Alright! Then let's celebrate Rolf's ordination and Felicia's induction together!" Emily said with a smile. 

The tension in my chest was dissipating thanks to the two of them. 

The church was filled with a more solemn atmosphere than I've ever seen before. Children who will turn 15 this year were gathered from all over the territory and lined up in a row, all with tense expressions on their faces. A statue of the goddess Yona stood in front of a stained glass window, glaring at the inside of the church, and a priest stood before the statue. 

Next to the priest were two knights. They were the members of the Fifth Order, which we are entering. They were the priest's escort and were accompanying him to assess the magical power of the newcomers. 

"Congratulations," he said. 

"You have safely reached the age of fifteen." 

After saying these words, the priest told the tradition of the saint Lacriamelec. 

The holy prophet who was robbed by demons, learned the cruelty of the world, and was beheld by the goddess. The priest told the story of his life. 

"So, you must use the magic you receive here today for what is right." Everyone was listening to the priest's words with a sincere gaze. I looked next to me and saw that Emily's profile was serious as well. 

"Then, in turn, you will touch the inner secrets." 

Everyone's tension rose even higher. The boy who had been called stepped awkwardly in front of the priest. The priest gave him a piece of transparent quartz, which then the boy held in both hands, knelt down, and closed his eyes. The priest held his palm to the boy's forehead and started chanting cheerfully.

"O supreme goddess who protects us from the nine heavens. We pray that you may grant us a vessel to resist the tyranny of evil." 

As the chanting ended, the quartz glowed a deep blue in the boy's hand. The boy slowly opened his eyes and gazed into the light of the quartz. When the light subsided, the priest called out to the boy, "It is over. May the blessing of the goddess Yona be upon you." 

The boy returned to the line to replace the next person. The boy, who had successfully obtained the magical power, was clearly disappointed. 

The higher the brightness of that blue light, that is, the lighter the blue, the greater the magical power obtained. If it resembles the blue of the sky, it is quite good.

In the case of the boy just now, it was a darker blue, which meant that the magical power was not great. Therefore, the boy was greatly disappointed. 

Then, the Sangso's Secret Depths proceeded without delay, and everyone was given magical power one after another. 

Some were delighted with the result, while many were disheartened. 

"Next, Emily Melness, come forward," said the priest.

"Yes!" Emily responded in a faltering voice. 

"Rolf! I'm off." she said as she walked off.

"Calm down, Emily." I said to her just before she went out of earshot.

Emily stepped in front of the priest and was handed the piece of quartz. She knelt with her hands clasped tightly to her chest, as if the quartz were her faith itself. 

The priest placed his palm on Emily's forehead. Emily's eyes, which had been tightly closed, quivered slightly. 

"O supreme goddess who protects us from the nine heavens. We pray that you may grant us a vessel to resist the tyranny of evil." 

A beat later, the quartz shone. Emily opened her eyes fearfully, but she could not look directly at the quartz. The quartz shone as strong and as white as the sun. 

The priests and knights were astonished. When I looked toward the attendants who were watching behind me, they too all looked as if they had seen something incredible. Felicia was also frozen in amazement. 

When the light subsided, the knights and the priest began to talk, as if they had come to their senses.

"Priest...well, it looked completely white just now... doesn't the "white light" indicate that the greatest level of magical power has been given?" 

"Yes, it seems so! I've been performing the secret of Sangso for a long time, but this is the first time I have ever seen such a thing! Emily, was it? You are very much loved by the Goddess Yona!" said the priest excitedly.

"Emily Melness! You are a member of the order, right?" he followed.

"Yes, I am." she replied.

All eyes in the room were on Emily. 

"Did you feel the magical power in her?" said one knight.

"Yes, Yes. I felt something intense and overwhelming. It was incredible." said another.

"No one in the history of the Fifth Order has ever shone such a white light! You have been given the greatest magical power of all those who have ever joined the Order! We welcome you!" said the priest.

"Oh... thank you!" said Emily, still looking very overwhelmed.

After the knights had congratulated her, Emily, with cheeks flushed, came back to us.

"Ro..Rolf....!" Emily stammered.

"You did it, Emily!" I replied back, beaming.

"Well done, Emily! Now it's your turn brother, Good luck!" said Felicia.

"Next, Rolf Buckman, step forward." the priest finally continued.

It was then my turn to step in front of the priest. I was handed a quartz crystal and asked to kneel down with my eyes closed. 

"O supreme goddess who protects us from the nine heavens. We pray that you may grant us a vessel to resist the tyranny of evil." 

"................" 

I felt nothing. Nothing dwelled in my chest. And there was no change in the quartz.

"...O supreme goddess, who protects and guards us from the nine heavens. We pray that you may grant us vessels to resist the sericulture of evil, in response to the desire of this lost child." The priest chanted again. But still the quartz remained silent. 

The knight called out, "Priest, is this...?"

"No, this is not possible.... supreme goddess, you who protects us from the nine heavens. I pray that you may grant us a vessel to resist the sericulture of evil!" 

The priest started over, but the result was the same. 

"....I'm sorry but... it seems you weren't given any magical power."

In the opposite sense to Emily's, the knight asked "What do you mean?.....It is impossible! The blessings of the Goddess are always given to everyone, no matter the quantity."

"Then why?" I asked, still confused.

"I don't know. It is not that there is a very slight glow that you do not notice. This is... truly unbelievable..." The priest said so while looking at me. 

He wrinkled his eyebrows and looked at me in the same way one would look if they were looking at some foreign object. 

"This boy is not blessed." the priest finished.

It took a moment to comprehend the meaning of the words.

And as I turned around, I saw that Emily and Felicia were just as stunned, if not more, than I was.