The day after the Goddess Initiation had concluded, the results were announced to everyone who had participated in the event, and the applicants who had qualified were invited to step up and stand beside the Elder to introduce themselves.

Despite the fact that most of the results were already known by most of the followers, all of them still stayed for the confirmation, in the hopes that somehow, for some reason, they would still qualify for the trials.

“My apologies for keeping you waiting, people. Here are the results.”

In the end, the final number of qualified candidates was still surprising to many of them, for compared to the previous years where it was only one or two, a staggering eight applicants had been chosen this year, which generated even more buzz among the crowd.

That result had not only made the upcoming trials even more entertaining and interesting to watch given the increased competition, but it also gave everyone else an opportunity to pick and support a favorite person to win.

“My greatest congratulations to those who have qualified. See all of you in the first trial,” the Elder had bellowed, indicating the end of the announcement.

As soon as he did, the crowd immediately dispersed into various groups, all surrounding their chosen candidate and relentlessly pounding them with numerous excited questions.

For all the non-followers of the Church who had qualified, including the mysterious girl that had scored an unbelievable 110% score in the Initiation, they got the most attention, with the questions asked ranging from who they were to why they wanted to participate in the trials.

Obviously, for the followers who did also qualify, including Simon, a small group of supporters had also surrounded them, but instead of asking questions, they hit him with words of encouragement and praise instead.

“Well done, Brother Simon!”

“I’m proud of you, my man!”

“Yeah… thanks…”

However, during the entire interaction, Simon could not concentrate on them. Instead, he turned all his attention to the mysterious girl, the one who currently had the largest crowd around her.

“…”

Even after what had occurred last night, he still did not know how to react or respond to the development. Apart from her, he had received the highest aptitude score, and yet because of her, he now felt a sense of disappointment and unwanted jealousy instead of accomplishment.

And so, unable to deal with the sudden influx of emotions, he avoided the attention and hid himself in the Church’s Garden during the next self-study session the same afternoon.

“Mm, that’s better…”

The Garden was not a place many Church members would often visit, partly due to its relatively hidden location below the Church but mostly because it was pretty soulless on its own.

Despite its enchanting name, it was located in a basement, and what it had was only a tiny pond that reeked and was completely devoid of life, a couple rows of wilting plants, and some discolored statues that had mostly devolved into creepy staring caricatures of their former beauty.

No one really knew who created it or why they did, but since it was still a part of the Church, some had taken it upon themselves to maintain it, even though its current poorly maintained state did suggest that it was not being done incredibly well.

Still, no one complained about its presence, and as the years passed, it had become some sort of a secret meeting place or a sanctuary to do some self-reflection and thinking, wringing some value out of the disappointing location.

“…”

As he sat by the edge of the pond, not letting his feet touch the water but instead looking down at its murky surface, he heard a familiar voice call out to him.

“Figured I would find you here.”

“Mmmh…”

He had not told anyone where he was going, but Renare had already located him after a short while, which was not a big surprise for him at all.

“What are you doing down here?” she asked as she walked down the staircase leading down to where he was, giving him her usual neutral expression as she did so.

“I needed some time to myself,” he responded lethargically, still keeping his eyes focused on the water instead of turning to face her.

“Yeah, I heard that before. What’s really going on here?”

“I don’t know.”

He sighed and picked up a rock by the pond before tossing it into the water, watching it disappear as it instantly sank down to the bottom.

“… do you think I’m a bad person, Sister Renare?”

“Huh?”

“I mean,” he continued as he hugged his knees close to his chest before laying his head on them, “when I got my aptitude result, I wanted everyone to notice me. When they did not, and they focused their attention on the girl, I felt sick and angry towards them. Do you think I’m being selfish?”

“You know that I’m not really a people expert, right?”

“Just tell me what you think,” he insisted, and Renare calmly brushed her hair back in response.

“Well, I don’t think you’re wrong. I’ve known you for quite a while, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen you as being a bad person before. Either way, I think you should be proud. Remember, we’ve both worked hard for this, and if I’m happy for you, you should be happy too.”

“Mhh… thanks.”

Another rock was quickly picked up and thrown into the pond before he continued.

“It’s also that… I don’t even know the girl who scored that 110%, and yet I feel like she doesn’t deserve it,” he gloomily remarked.

“The outside girl? Her?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you worried about her?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? She freaking came out of nowhere and could now potentially receive the Goddess’ Gift! Not to mention how popular she is at the moment! How could I possibly—”

“Brother Simon,” Renare interrupted him as she walked over and stood next to him by the pond, “you need to calm down.”

“I don’t think I can—”

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“You have to.”

Under her insistence, Simon reluctantly put his rant on hold as she sat down as well before shooting him with an intense stare.

“Listen to me. What matters with her, no matter how good she is, is none of our business. What is important is that we focus on ourselves and make sure we can do our best. If we spend too much time worrying, we’ll never get the chance, and she, if not someone else, will get it. In that case, you’ll be right.”

“…”

“We must do our best. That is the only way we can win. We’ve come this far, so we cannot back down now.”

“Nnnhh…”

However, despite all her fierce reassurances and encouragement to him, he was still not fully convinced, so she tried another approach.

“Okay, do you remember when we read that book on flowers to attempt to find out what was growing in this garden here?” she asked him casually.

“Of course,” he replied with some confusion, “we did find out what they were in the end, but what are you trying to say?”

“You know how the Gladiolus is a flower in the Iris family that represents strength of character—”

“Sister Renare, please…” Simon turned to her and pleaded, “tell me the point.”

“It’s you. I’m trying to make a metaphor here. You are the Gladiolus in the metaphorical field of flowers.”

To seemingly illustrate her point, she pointed towards the row of pitiful flowers and forced him to look there. As he did so, he could not see any of the Gladioli flowers that she was talking about.

“Eh?”

“I’m trying to say that you are strong, Brother Simon. It doesn’t matter what you think about yourself. Based on the time I have spent with you, I know that whatever happens, you will do the right thing in the end. That’s what I have believed and that’s what I will believe, no matter what,” Renare shook her feet as she explained.

“Huh… you really think so?”

“I know so. Therefore, don’t get hung up over this, and we can get back to training for the trials. What do you say?”

“… I… uh…”

“You know what, how about this? You wait here, and I’ll come back with something that might finally help you move on for good.”

“Um, ok?”

Without clarifying a single thing, she immediately stood up before heading back up the staircase, leaving him still thoroughly confused. Despite that, he remained seated in the same position by the pond, obediently following her instructions.

“…”

Now that he was left alone and to his own devices again as he waited for her to return, he took the time to properly think about what she had said to him.

“… the Gladiolus…”

She had not really phrased it very well or said it in an especially convincing or profound manner that could inspire him, but regardless, he understood the intention behind the metaphor, and he chuckled as he brightened up.

“Heh… I guess I really shouldn’t worry…”

“Sorry for the wait.”

Soon enough, he heard the distinctive clacking of her footsteps down the staircase, followed by her voice. At the same time, he also heard another pair of footsteps following behind that were much lighter and softer than hers.

“I see. So, the ‘something’ you mentioned is a pers…”

His sentence trailed off as he turned to see who the person accompanying her was, and his relaxed mood immediately changed into a skeptical one as the two of them stopped just before him.

The person walking behind her was a girl, and it was not just any random girl either. It was someone that he recognized almost immediately.

“It’s you…”

He had seen her that same morning when both of them went up to the Elder’s podium to introduce themselves. It was her who had caused him to have doubts about himself in the first place, and now they were alone in a room together, looking at each other.

The girl with one strand of her white hair sticking up like a ring above her head. The girl who was strangely bright to look at, with her radiant beauty and her kind expression the first things he quickly noted about her. The girl who had a sort of otherworldly presence that sent a chill down his spine.

Despite him consciously uttering his displeasure out loud to her as soon as they made eye contact, she nevertheless still bowed gracefully, her hands clasped in front of her lower abdomen.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Brother Simon. I don’t believe we have talked yet. My name is—"

“I know who you are,” he bluntly replied, “I’ve heard your name this morning, Miss Anten.There’s no need for you to say it again.”

“…”

“…”

The two of them stared silently at each other for a while before Renare spoke and abruptly broke the awkward atmosphere.

“Alright, you two can talk to each other now. I’ll be waiting upstairs, see you later, Brother Simon.”

“H-hey!”

Before he could stop her, she was already up the staircase. Within a few seconds, she was out of sight, and he reluctantly turned back to Anten, who had put on a gentle smile as she continued to look at him.

“… hello, it’s nice to finally meet you alone.”

“… likewise,” he mumbled, unsure of what to say.

Freaking hell, Sister Renare! Why are you making me do this? I was going to let it all go earlier, and now you spring her on me? What am I even supposed to talk about anyway, how much I dislike her for no reason?

“So, umm…” Anten continued to speak as he remained lost in his own frustration, “Sister Renare says you have something you want to talk to me about, is that right?”

“Huh? Well… I guess…”

Dang it, she sounds so sincere. I can’t tell her.

“Brother Simon?”

“Uhhhh…”

Panicking as his inner thoughts began to run wild freely in his mind, he hurriedly blurted out a safe response.

“Why don’t you sit down, Miss… Anten?”

“Thank you. You can also just call me Anten or Sister Anten, if you prefer that,” she happily replied as she plopped down beside him, causing a silent and uncomfortable groan to come out of his mouth.

Just Anten? No, that doesn’t sound right. What kind of name is Anten anyway? Wait, I shouldn’t be distracted by that. What should I ask? Maybe I should ask her what she’s doing here, or why she wants to participate in the trials. Can I ask her? Would she like that I asked her that or not? What do I freaking say?

“So, what do you want to ask me, Brother Simon?”

“WhyisyournameAnten?”

Dang it!

In his haste, he had asked the wrong question. He quickly covered his mouth and hoped that she did not catch his mistake, but instead, she let out a soft laugh while still keeping the smile on her face.

“I’m sorry?”

“F-Forget I said that. What I really wanted to ask was…”

Come on, Simon. Stop stalling and ask her!

“Yeah?”

He took a deep breath and let it all out to her before quickly looking away in embarrassment.

“Who are you? Why are you here? What are you doing this for?”

“Oh, whoa.”

Slightly startled by the influx of sudden questions, Anten was quiet for a moment before she slowly began answering them.

“Well, if you really must know, I am just a traveler, I can’t reveal why I’m here and I’m doing this… probably for the same reason as you.”

… that doesn’t help me at all.

Turning his head back towards her, he responded to her with a slightly irritated frown, “I don’t think you know my reason.”

“I mean…” she shrugged, “maybe not, but in the end, we both are after the same thing, aren’t we?”

“…”

This girl’s trouble, man. I don’t think I can trust her.

“Anyway, regardless of whatever happens later in the trials, Brother Simon, just know that I will never sabotage you in any way or make you lose. Let us both do our best, and even if either of us lose, we can still be friendly with each other.”

“Wha…”

“No hard feelings about anything, if that’s fine with you.”

“…”

He was not entirely sure, but there was something about her nice, calming voice that seemed off to him the entire time, and now that she seemed to be actively supporting him on top of everything, it just made him feel more uneasy and filled with dread.

It was as though the words coming out of her mouth were like bugs, crawling into his ears and making him sick, and it could only reach a certain point before he hit his limit.

“… enough…”

“Huh?”

“I said enough!” he shouted at her in frustration, “I don’t know who you think you are, but I’m not interested in you being so casual about all this!”

“I don’t think I was—”

“You’re not going to tell me who you are, that’s fine, I don’t care, but you don’t know me! I have spent years training for the trials, and I’m not about to hold myself back if that’s what you’re implying!”

“That’s not—”

Despite her repeated attempts to come in, he kept speaking as though a stopper had been released from his mouth, “just know this. if you don’t understand the responsibility that comes with receiving the Goddess’ Gift, then you might as well give up! I am not afraid of you or your talent! I will make sure I won’t go down easily! Do you understand?”

“Uhhh… alright…” she replied, her smile changing to become slightly awkward as he finished his outburst.

“Good.”

Naturally, right as he was done with his shouting, the shame and discomfort caused by his verbal attack rose up and joined his still-present anger, creating a conflicting mix of emotions that bubbled inside him.

“Farewell, Sister Anten.”

As a result, he did not look her in the eye, but instead bid a quick and blunt farewell before standing up and swiftly walking back to the staircase, leaving both her and the Garden behind him.

“…”

He never heard her say anything else back or call out to him as he stormed back up towards the surface, where Renare was patiently waiting for him.

“Everything good?”

“We’re going, Sister Renare,” he continued to speak in a frustrated tone even to her, “we need to study for the trial.”

“What about Sister Anten?”

“Like you said, she’s not important right now. What matters is whether I am ready or not. So, hurry up!”

“…”

Without any valid response that she could think to give, Renare shook her head to clear her doubts away before joining back up with him.

I guess that all worked out in the end, she thought in her mind as the two of them hurried back to the library to prepare for the first trial.