On arrival, Lee immediately dashed toward Miss Arian and offered her proper birthday wishes he clearly couldn't do before and earned himself a warm hug that nearly sent him to heaven once more.
Phase one… complete... he thought, blissfully paralyzed.
"You've gotta hand it to his tenacity," Anos muttered as he watched the idiot bask in victory.
Then, a voice echoed across the courtyard—
"Hello, everyone."
A woman approached with sharp steps and a no-nonsense look in her eyes.
"I'll be your invigilator for the Ascension ritual. You may call me Elis—Miss Elis."
"Invigilator?" the students echoed in confusion.
"Basically your babysitter," she deadpanned. "Now, can we do what we came here to do without any further delays?"
Without waiting, she swung open the grand church doors.
"Come on."
The students followed, one by one, into the building.
The heavy doors shut behind them.
Inside the cathedral, Elis addressed them briefly:
"Ascension Day is private. No outside visitors allowed. Officially… it's to prevent public interference." She paused. "But unofficially—you'll understand in time."
The group absorbed her words in uneasy silence then their host came down a stairway to address them.
"Welcome, young warriors," a plump man in a white robe declared, waddling into view from the altar steps. "I am—"
"FATHER NATHAN!!!"
A high-pitched scream cut through the sacred space.
Oh no… Father Nathan's smile vanished instantly.
A young girl burst through the doors of the church.
I thought we shut those doors... The father watched the girl charge toward him. Ignored the environment and parked right in front of the old priest.
He muttered under his breath, "Not today, Miss Rosli…" Flashing a false smile around for the guests.
"No! That's what you said yesterday!" the petite fifteen-year-old barked, halting with fists clenched.
"And yet… you still didn't leave," he replied with a clearly forced smile, awkwardly scanning the stunned students.
"No! We want answers!" she demanded. "I know the church is hiding something, and I'm not going anywhere until you tell me their secrets!"
"What secrets?!" the priest snapped, losing his composure—then coughed and tried to calm himself. "Miss Rosli… a young lady of your stature shouldn't go around shouting, making wild accusations. It's… unladylike."
"Don't change the subject!" she snapped. "Is it true you labeled some people as outcasts? And if so—why?!"
"I don't believe we did any such thing."
Liar... she thought silently, eyes narrowed.
"…Anyway, I've got plenty more where that came from."
She pulled out a ridiculously long sheet of paper and started to recite the questions like a hymn.
"Is the church a cult? Are there more? Are you the boss or you've got a boss? And why are your pants so big?!"
Where does she even get these questions?! Father Nathan groaned aloud.
"GUARDS!"
Two armored men stormed in and flanked her on both sides.
"Miss Rosli, this is a private event. I must ask you to leave."
With a flick of his wrist, the guards lifted her off the ground.
"NOOO! I'm not done yet!" she thrashed, clinging to Father Nathan's robe mid-air.
"Miss Rosli," the priest sighed, "I'd be happy to answer questions after the ceremony—"
"You're lied about your pants, aren't you?!"
Why is she not yet gone?! the priest furiously hissed to the guards.
They immediately went onto dragging her out.
"TELL ME YOUR PANT SIZE! THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW!!"
Her voice echoed down the cathedral like a demon's final curse.
Father Nathan exhaled slowly.
"Now… where were we?"
He straightened his robe and turned back toward the students, trying to recover whatever shred of dignity remained from the drama they'd just witnessed.
What was said could, sadly, not be unsaid.