As the girl had expected, sleep was impossible.
She needed to get out of her own head. And while she was at it, she figured she might as well visit the monument. Norris had advised her to do so, after all.
He said it looks entirely different at night.
Lantern in hand, she headed toward the entrance of the monument room. The corridors were illuminated at night, but the candles could provide only a faint glow in the dark. When she tipped her head back, the girl found the ceiling swathed in shadow. The longer she stared, the more ominous it felt, as if the darkness might drip onto her. She shivered with the absurdity of her imagination, then picked up her pace.
I wonder how the monument looks in all this darkness.
She wasn’t exactly hoping it would be anything special. Most likely, the church had it well lit enough to mimic the way the sunlight poured in during the day. That suited her fine. She was only visiting to take her mind off tomorrow’s ceremony.
The entrance glowed the same as everywhere else, and she smiled faintly. See, I knew it.
But when she stepped inside the room and approached the pedestal, the mirth drained from her face.
“It’s darkness,” she muttered in disbelief. “A beam of darkness.”
It was the exact opposite of what it had been during the day: dark as pitch, a solid stream of shadows pouring in from the window. But how was that possible? She scrunched up her face as she tried to puzzle out the answer, too distracted to notice someone else approaching.
“Why, hello. I see you wasted no time following my advice,” said Norris.
“Father Norris, how is this possible?”
The priest chuckled, pleased she’d reacted the way he’d hoped. “Confused, are you? Of course, this is your first time seeing it. But there is nothing strange about it. It’s simpler than a magician’s trick.”
He went on to explain that it was careful manipulation of light that created this phenomenon. “The light gradually grows brighter from the hall as you approach the pedestal. It’s probably difficult to notice when you’re holding a lantern yourself.”
To test his theory, she stepped away from the monument, put her lantern aside, and approached the pedestal once more. This time, she noticed the gradual change. He was right. Even from afar, she could tell the entrance was brighter than the hallway. She felt silly. She’d noticed the lights, but she hadn’t put two and two together. Why had it caught her so off guard?
As if reading her thoughts, Norris said, “When you approach, you’re too distracted by what you’re seeing to consider how it works. No matter how wise someone is, they are inevitably awed when they first see the monument at night.”
“This monument really makes you think, doesn’t it?”
It was so perplexing that it drove all other thoughts from one’s mind, and it wasn’t immediately obvious until experienced for oneself.
“Is your stomach still bothering you?” Norris asked. He must’ve noticed how much of a nervous wreck she was ahead of the ceremony.
“It’s a little better now,” the girl admitted. “This was a good distraction.”
“That’s good to hear. I was worried it was my fault. I haven’t put too much pressure on you with all my expectations, have I?”
Even before she was chosen, Norris had repeatedly told her that she was a symbol of hope for the people as much as the church. He’d also taught her about the current political situation across the continent, which was how she’d learned about the refugee crisis. A protracted war in the conflict zone had driven a vast number of people from their homes. Honestly, she wasn’t sure whether she would really be able to save them all, but that was no reason to withdraw herself from consideration.
“I want to do everything I can,” the girl told Norris honestly. “If there are people out there in need, I want to help. That’s what drove me when I lived on the island, and that’s what drives me now.”
He smiled warmly, as if he had expected that exact answer from the beginning.
I wonder if I’m that transparent.
Despite how he doted on her, Norris always seemed so relaxed. There was no hesitation in his eyes as she peered at them through the darkness. She was probably nothing more than a child to him; he’d risen this far through his own efforts. Obviously, he was more experienced.
“You really are the only right choice for saint,” Norris said. “Your benevolence will be the salvation for many. I guarantee it.”
Talking to Norris helped her mind settle. She was confident she could finally fall asleep without succumbing to any racing thoughts.
Light and darkness, huh? The monument changed dramatically between night and day. It was a shame that so much thought had gone into its construction and only the faithful could see it. The girl wondered how the red-haired sister would react.
Thinking back, she realized the red-haired sister had long been a guideline for her actions. Though they were apart now, she had spent enough time with the red-haired sister to be able to imagine her reaction. She would probably express her surprise more openly than the girl had, but in the end, she would smile.
The girl plopped down on her bed and heard her friend’s voice in her mind, eventually drifting off to sleep.