Chapter 12. The Results Are Out
After a period of joint research, Leticia and Stano finally gave a definition to this strange, mirror-like space of night.
It should be an additional function ford after their connection appeared. During the day, Stano Banson could, to a certain extent, borrow Leticia’s body, while at night, the connection would break. But once both of them fell asleep, they would arrive in this strange space......
To exchange information.
With Stano’s persistence, his “toy” finally nodded and agreed, under reasonable conditions, to let him borrow her body to see a different environnt; and with Leticia’s persistence, her “ancestor” also agreed not to go too far, not to treat her as a toy......
Just like that, three months passed.
Autumn was approaching.
Lord’s Calendar Year 426, August.
This day, for the five children who had once gone to the church, was an important one.
It could even be said that for so of them, it was a turning point in their life’s path.
Because, the results of the “Path of Sanctity” were finally about to co out.
“Never thought waiting would take three whole months......”
Even after three more months, Leticia had not changed much. She seed to be suffering serious malnutrition. While so children already showed early signs of growth and developnt, she remained steady, calm, and unresponsive.
Like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.
“Hmph, commoner, you don’t look very eager about this, do you?”
Suddenly, Stano’s voice rang in her head. This was another inexplicable outco of their research over the past three months. They could not read each other’s thoughts, but could communicate through this connection.
For so reason, once familiar, Stano liked to call her “commoner,” “stick,” or “little handmaiden.”
But she could tell he bore no malice, just calling nas casually. After trying to correct him a few tis, she gave up and let him be.
“Ah...... eager, why wouldn’t I be eager?”
Rolling her eyes at empty air, Leticia spoke in her heart, knowing Stano would understand her aning. “This is the ‘Path of Sanctity,’ you know. It might change my fate. Why wouldn’t I be eager?”
“......But why do I hear no eagerness in your tone?”
Stano was silent for a while, then his voice carried a strange, exasperated edge. “It’s more like a ‘don’t pick , don’t pick ’ kind of eagerness?”
“Hehehehe you’re hearing wrong,”
Leticia cut him off without hesitation. “I really am eager, truly, really eager!”
If only she could put away her deadpan face, her words might have been more convincing.
Walking along the road to the church, Leticia saw in the distance the other four children, walking together and chatting happily.
“What are you looking at...... those brats? They’re also chosen by the priest?”
Seeing what Leticia saw, Stano smacked his lips. “But it looks like they’ve ford a little group. Commoner, looks like you’ve been left out, huh?”
“Pretty normal,”
Leticia had no reaction. “Kids in villages like this always group together. If not for running into you, maybe I’d be playing with them now.”
“Hey, stick, what are you saying?!!!”
Stano instantly flared. “What do you an disaster star? eting is your honor! Besides, you think I wanted to know you? Hmph!”
“Oh hohoho, fine then, let’s break off. You get out of my body, we’ll never deal with each other again, alright, noble little young master?”
After two months of figuring him out, Leticia wasn’t afraid at all. She sneered in reply. “I’d be glad if you did. Can you?”
Just like Stano mocked her with words, she wasn’t about to lose. If she wanted, this proper noble boy would’ve long been talked into shutting himself away.
“Ahem, where were we just now?”
Coughing to cover his awkwardness, suddenly Stano’s tone changed. He quickly said, “Not good, soone’s coming here. I’ll talk to you later, commoner, take care of yourself......”
Before he finished, Stano’s voice stopped.
“That bit of consciousness left......”
Thinking to herself, Leticia murmured, “Looks like a noble family’s life isn’t that leisurely after all......”
From her deductions, Stano Banson, descendant of a general from the Mosonrei Kingdom, shouldn’t have had too much free ti. That he could spare so much of it to peek into a “commoner’s” life actually surprised Leticia.
But it wasn’t incomprehensible.
“If this brat were born in modern tis, he’d probably cling to his phone and computer every day, never letting go......”
“Eh, next ti I’ll need to be more careful in how I talk to him. This tone of speech isn’t how a rural girl should sound......”
Getting too familiar and lowering her guard—big taboo, very big. From now on, she had to be cautious, act more like an uneducated commoner.
And as for her guesses about Stano’s situation......
In fact, Leticia wasn’t all that accurate.
“My, darling son!”
Suddenly lifted from behind, Stano didn’t even need to look before he shouted: “Mother, what are you doing? Put down at once!”
“Ugh, so sad, my son isn’t affectionate anymore. He used to call mommy all the ti...... ugh......”
Turning back, Stano saw Lady Banson pouting, feigning sorrow.
Though long past youthful years, her natural liveliness and charm often made one forget her age, and that she was already the mother of three children.
“Mo......ther......”
“Yes yes, darling son, you can tell mommy anything!”
The veins on Stano’s temple twitched. “Put down first!!!”
It looked like Stano and Lady Banson still needed so ti to sort out their overflowing mother-son affection. So, let us turn back to Leticia’s side for now.
Without Stano’s “death-stare,” Leticia felt a sudden lightness, even her steps grew livelier.
“Oh, Leticia!”
Seeing her walking over, Laila called out happily, “You ca too!”
“Of course.”
Leticia smiled. “Didn’t you all co as well?”
What she really thought was: “No kidding, who dares not show up when Priest Marshall calls?”
“After all, today’s the day the priest asked us to co.”
Laila’s smile was bright as ever. To put it bluntly, a bit thoughtless. Even being chosen by the priest clearly hadn’t made her any more mature, not one bit.
“Alright, less chit-chat.”
After so ti apart, Diego now faintly carried the air of a leader among the children. “Let’s hurry to the church.”
The others seed willing to follow his words.
Few adults were seen along the way. With autumn coming, these farming folk were busier than ever, even half-grown children were helping in the fields.
This gave Leticia the illusion of “skipping class”......
She wasn’t sure if the others felt the sa, but one thing was certain: everyone cared deeply about the outco of these spots.
Most hoped they’d be chosen for the “Path of Sanctity.” A few (just Leticia) hoped to be rejected.
The church was, as always, full of shifting light and shadow. Every ti she ca here, Leticia felt her heart calm, as if so special power lingered here, bringing peace.
“Children, you’ve co.”
This ti, Priest Marshall wasn’t in prayer. He stood among the pews, smiling at each of them as they entered.
“Priest.”
The five children bowed to the venerable old man, then quietly waited for his words.
“I imagine you’ve all been waiting a long ti for these results. Did it even keep you awake at night?”
Rarely, Priest Marshall cracked a small joke. “But that’s normal. In the past, there were indeed children who were so. The chance to walk the ‘Path of Sanctity’ is every child’s dream.”
What a load of nonsense. Why draw it out like this? Are you doing a sales pitch or running a religion......
Leticia stared at the ground, grumbling inside.
The others were subdued as well, only Laila laughed at the priest’s words.
Everyone else was nervous, only Laila had nerves of steel......
“Alright, no more words.”
Priest Marshall took an envelope from his robes. “Here in my hand is a letter from the Church, with the nas of the children who have succeeded in entering the ‘Path of Sanctity.’ Hehe, I haven’t even opened it yet. I called you here straight away.”
Looking at the intact red wax seal on the envelope, Leticia knew the priest was telling the truth.
Taking out a small letter opener, Priest Marshall treated even this one letter from the Church with solemnity.
And so, the air grew heavier, tenser.
He gently pulled the pale yellow paper from the envelope. After glancing once at the children standing before him, he shifted his gaze to the page.
“This ti, the children chosen to enter the ‘Path of Sanctity’ are......”
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