Chapter 5
It was her...
The heroine.
My heart began to race.
I had been asking around about her ever since I arrived at the temple, hoping to find someone named Aurora.
But no one seemed to know anyone by that name.
I had started to wonder if she was at another temple instead.
After all, there were many temples throughout the empire.
Yet.....here she was.
Standing right in front of me.
"Are you alright?"
Her voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I quickly looked down at myself.
"I think so."
I tried to move, but a small sting from my arm made me wince.
The pink-haired girl noticed immediately.
"You're bleeding."
She leaned closer, her bright blue eyes fixed on my arm.
I followed her gaze and noticed a small scrape on my skin. I hadn't even realized I'd been hurt when I fell.
"It's just a little scratch."
I waved my hand dismissively, trying to assure her that it wasn't worth worrying about.
She shook her head.
"Even so, it should be treated."
There was a gentle firmness in her voice.
Before I could protest, she carefully took my arm in her hands.
A faint light began to gather around her fingertips.
I held my breath.
The glow was soft, almost like a warm light shining through mist.
I stared in surprise as the small wound slowly disappeared beneath her fingertips.
"There," she said with a soft smile. "All better."
She released my arm and looked at me as though what she had just done was completely ordinary.
I, on the other hand, couldn't take my eyes off my arm.
I slowly ran my fingers over the spot where the wound had been.
Nothing.
Not even a scar.
My eyes widened in amazement.
So this was what healing power looked like in person.
It was even more incredible than I had imagined.
As a former firefighter, I'd seen plenty of injuries. Cuts, burns, broken bones... things that couldn't simply disappear with a touch.
Yet here I was, staring at a wound that had vanished in seconds.
"Amazing..."
The word slipped out before I could stop myself.
The girl blinked.
Her cheeks turned slightly pink, and she quickly looked away.
"You really think so?"
There was a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
I nodded.
"Of course."
She tucked a strand of pink hair behind her ear.
"I'm currently training here at the temple."
She said it modestly, almost as though she were explaining something ordinary.
I tilted my head.
"Training?"
She nodded.
"Yes. The training usually lasts about three months before we can officially become priestesses."
She clasped her hands together in front of herself.
"Three months?"
I repeated, surprised by the short amount of time.
The novel never mentioned this part of her life. I had only known her as Aurora-the Saintess.
She smiled.
"Yes. During that time, we learn about the temple's traditions, assist the priestesses, and practice using our abilities."
She glanced toward the temple building before continuing.
"There's a lot to learn, but everyone here has been very kind to me."
Her expression softened.
"It's not always easy, but I've always wanted to become a priestess."
There was a quiet determination in her voice.
I found myself smiling.
"I see."
I could understand that feeling.
She seemed to relax a little after hearing my response.
Then she looked at me with a gentle smile.
"My name is Celeste, by the way."
Celeste.
I quietly repeated the name in my mind.
So her name was Celeste.
But there was no doubt in my mind.
This was her.
The heroine.
Aurora.
Even though the name she had just given me was different from the one I knew from the novel, I was certain she was the same person.
"I'm Rishima."
I offered her a small smile.
"I know."
I froze.
My smile disappeared.
"You do?"
Celeste immediately noticed my reaction and let out a small laugh.
"Don't worry. Everyone here knows who you are, my lady."
She gave an apologetic smile, as though she realized how that sounded.
Right.
My reputation.
Of course.
There was probably no way for someone like Rishima to walk into a temple without people recognizing her.
Her gaze shifted toward the baskets and tables around us.
"So you've been helping with the event?"
Her tone was curious rather than judgmental.
I gave a small smile.
"Yes, that's right."
Celeste's expression brightened.
"That's wonderful. I'm glad you came. We could always use more help during events like this."
She looked genuinely pleased rather than merely being polite.
She was surprisingly friendly.
There wasn't even a hint of suspicion in her expression.
As expected of the heroine-the protagonist of the novel.
Even after learning who I was, she didn't treat me differently. She really was just as kind as the novel had described.
We continued talking as we gathered the scattered bread from the ground.
Celeste picked up several pieces while I gathered the rest and placed them back into the basket.
During our conversation, I learned more about the temple and the priestess training.
It wasn't until later that Celeste casually mentioned something that made me pause.
"Once a novice completes her training and officially becomes a priestess, the temple gives her a new name."
She said it so casually that I almost missed the significance of her words.
I stopped arranging the bread.
"A new name?"
Celeste nodded.
"Yes. It's part of the tradition here."
She tilted her head slightly, noticing my confusion.
"Every priestess receives a name when she officially joins the temple."
I stared at her.
That explained everything.
Aurora wasn't her name yet.
It was the name she would receive once she completed her training and officially became a priestess.
The name from the novel suddenly came back to me.
Aurora------the Light That Conquers Darkness.
A fitting name for the woman who would eventually awaken as the Saintess.
"Do you get to choose your name?"
Celeste shook her head.
"No. The temple gives us one once we officially become priestesses."
She smiled softly, her expression warm and gentle.
"I see."
I nodded slowly before giving her a small smile.
"Then, when you finally receive your priestess name, will you tell me what it is?"
Celeste blinked, seemingly a little surprised by my request.
"I'd like to congratulate you when that day comes."
I gave her my sweetest smile, making sure to look as friendly and sincere as possible.
If I wanted to survive, I needed to become friends with Celeste.
Not because I wanted to use her, but because becoming her friend might be the safest choice I could make.
Celeste looked at me for a few seconds before her face suddenly brightened.
"I'd be happy to."
She stepped a little closer, her smile becoming warmer.
"Then... can I call you Rish?"
I blinked.
"Rish?"
Celeste's eyes widened slightly, and she quickly shook her head.
"Ah--I'm sorry, my lady!" She lowered her head, suddenly looking embarrassed.
"That was insolent of me. I shouldn't have asked to call you by such a familiar name."
She fidgeted with her fingers, her voice becoming quieter.
She fidgeted with her fingers, her voice becoming quieter.
She was so cute.
I couldn't help but wonder how the original Rishima could have ever brought herself to bully someone like her.
Celeste was standing in front of me with such an innocent and nervous expression, genuinely worried that she had offended me.
It was hard to imagine anyone wanting to hurt her.
"You don't have to apologize." I gave her a warm smile, hoping to ease her worries.
"You can call me Rish if you like."
Celeste looked at me for a moment, as though she was making sure she had heard me correctly.
"Really?" I nodded.
"Really, it's fine." I gave her a warm smile. "But in exchange, I'll call you Lessy."
A delighted smile immediately spread across her face.
"I like it!"
Her smile grew wider, and she happily repeated the nickname under her breath.
"Lessy..."
~~~~~~~~~
"Ha! I hate nobles."
Celeste said it the moment the door closed behind her. The sweet smile she had worn in front of Rishima vanished instantly.
She walked toward her bed with an irritated expression and dropped onto it.
"So the rumors were true after all..."
She let out a quiet scoff.
"The Witch of the Grimaldi Estate really has become a completely different person."
Celeste crossed her arms, clearly displeased.
"And what was that ridiculous nickname? Lessy?!"
She grimaced at the thought.
"What kind of nickname is that?"
She rolled her eyes and pulled the blanket closer to herself.
Her expression remained annoyed for a moment before a faint, unreadable smile appeared on her lips.
Still...
Perhaps approaching the infamous Witch of the Grimaldi Estate hadn't been such a bad decision.
After all, Rishima had made it surprisingly easy to get close to her.
Celeste's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Maybe this won't be as difficult as I thought."
Her lips curved into a smile.
And behind that smile was something Rishima knew nothing about.
.
.
.