"Jeannie, let's visit the temple today," Marianne had said, her tone casual, too casual like an innocent girl.
Fiona knew this was another trick from her. It was a trap.
The temple was filled with holy magic. If she wasn't careful, she might spontaneously combust. But she couldn't refuse, that would be suspicious.
So, with a smile plastered on her face, she had said:
"Oh! I'd love to."
And later, she would started regretting every choice she had ever made today, and she did not know about it.
The Great Temple of Vernetia was built since the kingdom existed about 1.125 years ago. When the first King of Vernetia successfully repelled the demon's invasion, the priests and the paladins contributed a lot in the history of Vernetia, often offered their help to fight the demons together.
After they won the war, to honor their assistance and friendly relationship, the king decided to make a temple in Vernetia. It was that time, the holy magic and blessings officiwly entered the kingdom.
And this time, it was the place that Fiona and Marianne wanted to visit.
The moment they arrived at the temple, Fiona could felt it.
A soft, oppressive aura of holy energy.
It wasn't strong enough to kill her, but it felt like walking into a field of thorns.
'Don't react! Act natural!'
She clenched her teeth and stepped forward.
Her foot crossed the temple threshold, and nothing happened.
She sighed in relief.
Marianne, who had been watching her closely, seemed to relax a little, thought she still had some issue in her mind.
'Good! If i stayed like this along the way, she would trust me!'
Fiona just had to get through this without exposing herself.
Easy, right?
But actually, she was wrong...
2. The Holy Water Incident
A priest greeted them at the entrance.
"Welcome, Knight Jeannie and Knight Marianne! It is always wonderful and an honor to see a knight of the realm, especially both of you, visiting the temple.", said him with friendly and warming welcome.
Fiona smiled stiffly.
"I-It's great to be here too."
The priest held up a bowl of holy water and hand it to both of the Knight's.
"Please, bless yourself before entering."
'Oh no! Not this again!.'
Fiona stared at the glistening, purified water, a holy water specifically designed to burn demons like acid.
She had to stall, and she turned to Marianne.
"Ladies first?" she offered sweetly with the purest smile she could made
Marianne raised an eyebrow.
"You always go first back then. Besides, you are women too, Jeannie."
'Damn it. Jeanniea, you fool!!!',
Fiona cursed Jeannie's habits internally.
Fine, she had to do this sooner or later. She dipped a single finger into the water.
It was excruciating.
Like dipping her hand into molten lava.
She wanted to scream, but instead, she smiled through gritted teeth.
"Ah! This is so refreshing!" she choked out.
Marianne narrowed her eyes in confused.
Fiona quickly stepped aside, subtly shaking her burning hand badly.
She had survived the first obstacle.
When they came Inside, the temple was beautiful,stained glass windows, towering statues, golden altars.
And worst of all, a priest were currently leading prayers.
Fiona sat beside Marianne, trying not to die in suffering.
The priest began to talk."Let us pray to the divine goddess."
Then everyone there lowered their heads.
Fiona hesitated.
She had never prayed in her entire life.
'How did humans even do it?! Why are they doing this useless thing!?'
She sneaked a glance at Marianne, who had her hands clasped.
That seemed easy enough. So Fiona copied her moves and act.
The priest continued, "May the goddess bless us with her light."
Fiona nodded along.
That was fine.
Then the last words came.
"May she cleanse our souls of all darkness."
Fiona stiffened.
Marianne was watching her. Fiona forced a nod.
"Sure. Cleanse. It sounds great."
Marianne's suspicion deepened.
After the praying session, just when Fiona thought things couldn't get worse, a priest approached her with a glowing hand.
"Knight Jeannie, would you like a blessing?"
'Blessing!!? That cursed thing!? Like hell i want to be blessed!!'
Fiona panicked.
"No, thank you for your kindness!" she blurted.
The priest hesitated.
"But you always—"
When she heard that, she already knew that Jeannie back then was a blessing maniac.
'Curse you, Jeannie!!!!', Fiona's soul cried hopelessly.
"Actually, you know what? Sure! Bless me!"
Fiona agreed immediately.
The priest placed a glowing hand on her head.
Pure holy magic flooded into her body.
It was excruciating.
She felt like her soul was on fire.
But she couldn't scream.
She had to act normal. So she smiled and said—
"Nice weather today, huh?"
Marianne stared.
The priest also stared with confused expression.
"…Are you feeling alright, Knight Jeannie?"
Fiona nodded stiffly.
"Perfectly fine! I love blessings! I am now feel better than ever before!! Look!!"
The priest slowly backed away.
Fiona barely survived again.
Just when Fiona thought she was finally safe—
"Oh, Jeannie," Marianne said, "since we're here, why don't you hold the Sacred Sword of Purity?"
Fiona almost fainted.
In the temple's record, it was started that the sword was blessed by the gods.
It was designed to smite demons. If she touch that thing..
She did not even want to imagined what could happened.
Fiona needed a way out quickly.
She grabbed her stomach.
"Oh no! I think I ate something bad."
Marianne frowned.
"What happened? You were fine a second ago."
"I wasn't!" Fiona insisted. "I feel terrible. Awful. I might die. We should leave. Now!"
Marianne narrowed her eyes.
"…You're acting weird,aren't you"
Fiona sweated.
'Since when this girl become smarter!?'
Marianne wasn't convinced, so Fiona doubled down.
She groaned dramatically.
"Ohhh, my stomach! The pain! I might pass out!"
Then she fake-fainted right onto Marianne. She did it like a drama queen.
Marianne caught her, completely flustered.
"J-Jeannie?! Are you okay?! Jeannie?!"
Fiona, playing dead, silently cheered.
She had avoided touching the sword.
And—bonus—she got to make Marianne panic.
Perfect punishment for her.
Fiona managed to get out of the temple alive.
As soon as they left, she "miraculously recovered."
"Wow," she said. "Guess I just needed fresh air afterall!"
Marianne gave her the longest, most suspicious stare.
"Seriously, Jeannie, I don't know what's going on with you," she said slowly.
Fiona froze.
Marianne leaned in.
"But i just hope that you dont hide anything from me, and this is just my overthinking."
Fiona forced a laugh.
"Haha. Yeah. Totally you were right. Maybe you just think too much about everything, my friend."
Inside, she was screaming.
She needed a new planz and it still took a long way to gain Marianne's trust