After the final whistle in the Pakistan–Cameroon match, Sohen turned off the TV, stretched, and got up from the couch.

His head was still buzzing from the excitement of the game, but he knew it was too early to relax.

He quickly went up to his room, closed the door, and turned on his computer.

(Something interesting and profitable should pop up now, hehe.)

Immediately after the opening match, a bit of activity began in the crypto world.

Several major players made high-profile announcements, and amid the soccer hype, some meme coins and DeFi projects skyrocketed.

Sohen dove into his work.

Analyzing charts, checking the news, responding to important messages in Telestone channels and private chats.

The next three hours flew by unnoticed.

(Phew... That took longer than I expected...)

Sometimes he’d get distracted by little everyday things — he’d go get some water or stretch his legs.

Walking down the hallway, he saw Karin leading an online yoga class in the courtyard, while Phoebe was in her room, intently working on new designs for the website.

They both looked serious and busy.

(When they’re doing things they enjoy, they lose track of time... Damn, I’d better go to my room, because the longer I look at them, the more I remember last night and what I did with each of them alone before that... Karin has new leggings, hehe?... No! Stop! Stop looking and hurry to your room!...)

Sohen smiled and got back to work with renewed energy.

He wanted to finish everything on time so he wouldn’t miss the next game... and he managed to do it. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

In exactly three hours, he finished all his urgent tasks, saved his changes, and shut down his laptop.

(That was epic... Thanks, World Cup.)

He went down to the kitchen, grabbed a few cans of his favorite non-alcoholic drink, and returned to the living room.

(Next up... Italy vs. Switzerland. This should be interesting.)

...

Two hours passed.

(Damn. That was so boring...)

The next match turned out to be much less spectacular.

Both teams played very cautiously, almost entirely on the defensive.

Lots of back passes, few dangerous moments, and constant back-and-forth play in the middle of the field.

(It was like watching two Liverpool Arsenals play... I can’t stand the harambol style.)

The match ended in a scoreless draw, and Sohen, unable to wait for the final whistle, turned off the broadcast.

(Time to head to the gym.)

He quickly changed into his workout clothes and spent about an hour doing intense exercises focused on building his endurance.

(I have to be physically fit... and not just to have sex with my family members...)

Sohen returned home tired but satisfied.

His body was pleasantly buzzing, but it wasn’t time to relax just yet.

(I have a meeting tonight with... Sister Olivia. The last time we saw each other was the day after her birthday... Damn! How am I supposed to look her in the eye after she caught Runo and me having sex... in one of the rooms of her massive estate... and while we were having sex, she was watching and... Phew. I’m starting to get nervous.)

He took a quick shower, washing himself thoroughly after his workout.

Then he walked over to the closet and chose a more elegant outfit than usual: a light-colored shirt, dark pants, and neat shoes.

Not too formal, but not casual either.

Deep down, he still felt a slight tension.

He glanced in the mirror, adjusted his collar, and left the house.

...

The sun was already setting, and it was getting cooler outside.

The walk to the church didn’t take long.

The familiar silhouette of the old building came into view, and Sohen felt a slight tightness in his chest.

Sister Olivia was probably already waiting for him inside.

(Well... time to go in.)

Sohen slowly pushed open the church’s wooden door.

The familiar scent of incense, old wood, and cold stone immediately enveloped him.

It wasn’t the first time he’d been here, but every time, the interior of the cathedral made him pause for a moment, as if his heart were contracting of its own accord out of reverence.

(Phew... It’s incredible in here, as always...)

Inside, a stunning, almost otherworldly beauty reigned.

The high ceiling, constructed of warm wooden ribs, soared upward and converged at the center into a huge, luminous oval drop, reminiscent of a divine eye or a tear from the Goddess herself.

The wooden beams radiated out symmetrically, creating the impression that the entire cathedral was a vast living organism praying alongside the people.

The evening sun, already setting, streamed through the tall windows and fell upon the tree in golden rays, lending the interior an almost mystical atmosphere, but what was most striking was... the central statue.

In the very heart of the cathedral, beneath a huge white drop-shaped ceiling, stood a statue of the Goddess — majestic, nearly three meters tall.

Her eyes were tightly bound with a white blindfold, symbolizing absolute blindness to earthly temptations and the sins of humanity.

Her face was serene, yet at the same time full of suffering — the face of a true martyr.

Her delicate features, her head slightly bowed, her lips pressed together as if she were enduring unimaginable pain for the sake of everyone’s salvation.

Her long robes fell to her feet, and her arms were outstretched forward, palms facing upward — a gesture that was both a plea and an acceptance of all the world’s suffering.

A soft light flickered barely perceptibly around the statue, creating the sensation that the Goddess was breathing.

Sohen stood there, gazing at her with a mixture of awe and unease.

Every time he saw this statue, he had the feeling that she could see right through him, even through the blindfold over his eyes.

The evening service had ended just five or ten minutes ago.

The church was almost empty.

Only the muffled flickering of candles and a faint rustling from somewhere far away.

Rows of wooden pews stood perfectly straight, and the long central aisle led straight to the foot of the statue.

There, facing the Goddess, stood Sister Olivia.

She was dressed in the traditional dark habit of a Sister of Mercy, her hair neatly gathered beneath a white veil.

The woman stood completely still, her hands folded in front of her, and spoke softly, almost in a whisper, addressing the statue directly.

Her lips barely moved, and her voice was so quiet that Sohen couldn’t make out the words, but her tone was filled with a deep, almost painful devotion.

She looked as if she were deep in prayer... or confession.

Sohen took a few quiet steps forward.

The floor creaked faintly beneath his feet.

Sister Olivia slowly turned around.

- (Sister Olivia). "???"

Her face was calm, but her eyes revealed a complex mixture of warmth, concern, and something else that Sohen couldn’t immediately identify.

- (Sister Olivia). "Sohen... You’re here. Thank you."

- (Me). "..."

She cast one last glance at the statue of the blindfolded Martyr Goddess, as if asking her for permission, and then slowly walked toward Sohen.