Chapter 11 : Another Beginning (3)

Chapter 11: Another Beginning (3)

In the Holy Sun Church, flames carry several meanings.

A symbol of guidance, appearing before the lost to serve as a lantern.

An embodiment of judgment and retribution, striking down before the corrupt and the fallen in the form of a lightning bolt.

And as a symbol of rebirth and cycle, accompanying the final moments of those revered as saints, entwining their flesh as they pass…

But pure white flames.

I swore I had never seen or heard of such a thing before.

‘What in the world is that…?’

White flames, ignited by using my mana as fuel.

From those flames, faint though it was, I could certainly sense divinity.

What could that possibly mean?

Maybe I was overthinking things.

But considering I had defied death and returned through time, the sudden surge of divine power, and that mysterious mark etched onto my body like a brand—I already had more than enough strange signs to be suspicious.

It wouldn’t be odd if the nature and attributes of my original mana had changed as well.

‘Why does it feel like I keep getting more and more things to worry about…’

As if I didn’t already have enough on my plate, yet another concern was added.

Just as I was grumbling to myself inwardly—

“Lian.”

“Hm?”

A voice calling my name snapped me back to reality.

When I turned my head, Allen was staring at me from across the table.

He had already finished every bite of the meal he brought for himself.

Meanwhile, I still had more than half left.

“Looks like something’s troubling you.”

He said in a low voice.

“Ah… Sorry. I made you sit in front of me like that.”

I apologized awkwardly, but he gave a faint smile.

As if to say there was no need to apologize for something like that.

“Indeed, Wands class was a bit confusing. I’m sure the professor was doing his best to teach it simply, but it still feels hard to keep up.”

To be honest, I didn’t understand a single thing.

He added with a soft chuckle, just as someone behind us let out a small gasp.

…Come to think of it, in my previous life, despite all the vicious rumors, he was quite popular among women.

I felt like I understood why, just a little.

“After struggling in Hilts class earlier, I’ve completely lost my appetite.”

“Well, for a first day, it was a bit tough.”

As I gave my excuse and stood up, Allen followed right behind as if he’d been waiting for that.

After leaving the cafeteria, we decided to take a walk around, just to stretch our legs.

While we were wandering the area, Allen murmured in a quiet voice.

“Everyone’s doing reviews.”

As he said, quite a number of students were gathered in groups, poring over their books.

From cafés to outdoor tables, all the good spots had long been taken, and there were even students sitting directly on the grass.

‘Half of them will be gone in less than a week.’

I had already seen this before, so it didn’t move me—but Allen seemed different.

After a brief pause, he nodded as if coming to a decision.

“I should review too.”

“Didn’t you say you were going to practice swordsmanship?”

“I can do that later in the afternoon. But the sooner I review, the better.”

With that, Allen sat down and took out the notes he had written during class.

Windy May’s theory on mana.

It was revolutionary and extremely practical, but to be honest, not the kindest to beginners.

I could manage thanks to handling similar power—divinity—and my experiences from my past life, but from Allen’s perspective, wasn’t it just a bunch of gibberish?

I could clearly see that he didn’t even know where to start when he opened his notebook.

“Need some help?”

“Pardon?”

“Not trying to brag, but like the professor said, divinity and mana have similar techniques. They intertwine in a lot of ways, so people usually end up learning both at some point.”

“Ah.”

I hadn’t ranked at the top, but I did maintain decent grades before.

At least when it came to the basic theories, I could explain them well enough.

“First off, Professor Windy May’s theory might be a bit confusing if you’re seeing it without knowing the conventional theories. It could make it harder to grasp the advanced stuff later.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. So in this kind of situation, if I explain it from the perspective of traditional theory…”

I spent quite some time explaining the basics to Allen.

Maybe the title of "future hero" wasn’t just for show—Allen picked it up immediately, understanding it so fast that I was running out of things to teach.

After some time had passed—

“By the way, Lian. Would it be alright if I asked you something?”

“What is it?”

“Earlier, the professor said it too—mana and divinity are similar types of power, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then, is it possible to use both? Or combine them somehow?”

After a brief moment to organize my thoughts, I answered.

“There have been people who used both powers. Honestly, if you searched, you’d find plenty. Even I can use basic beginner-level magic.”

Allen’s amazed expression was amusing, and I continued explaining while stifling a laugh.

“The issue is that trying to use both tends to make you mediocre at each. So it’s usually better to pick one and focus on it. Or just learn the other as a general skill.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. They’re similar powers, but they’re definitely not the same. I think once your abilities grow stronger, they start to interfere with each other. Maybe that’s why…”

I stopped mid-sentence.

The image that surfaced in my mind was the white flame.

No way.

Shaking my head slightly, I wrapped up the explanation.

“…There were very few who used both powers in actual combat. To be precise, those who managed to reach a certain level. I mean, just mastering one of them takes a ridiculous amount of talent and effort. Who has the time to train in both?”

“When you put it that way, I get it.”

“Then do you think trying to combine both powers is a foolish act?”

The voice that cut in startled both of us.

A familiar voice.

And judging by Allen’s surprised face, I instantly realized who was standing next to me.

When I slightly turned my head, I could see a lock of green hair swaying in the edge of my vision.

“Professor Windy May?”

“Hellooo~”

She met my eyes and waved her hands slowly while floating gently in the air.

Wearing her signature languid expression, she soon brought her index finger to her lips and made a “shh” gesture.

“Ah, could you not make a fuss, please? I’m actually using a simple spell right now, and if there’s too much noise, I might get found out.”

Just as she said, it seemed no one around us had noticed her presence—they didn’t spare us a glance.

Normally, such a scene would have caused a commotion already.

“If I startled you, I apologize. I’ve made a habit of strolling around campus unnoticed like this.”

She twitched ears that were sharper than a human’s but smaller than an elf’s, staring straight at me.

“Then I happened to overhear an interesting conversation and, without realizing it, I just had to chime in.”

“…With all due respect, we don’t have the knowledge to hold a proper discussion with a professor. I’m afraid we can’t live up to your expectations.”

“Huh? I wasn’t trying to debate or anything. I just wanted to give you a compliment.”

At my attempt to subtly deflect the situation, Windy May blinked as if wondering what I was talking about.

“To have a spirit of inquiry—that’s the very first virtue any intellectual being, let alone a mage, should possess. Though these days, most kids don’t even understand that simple truth…”

Here, she let out a soft sigh.

Then she looked at me with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

In a moment like that, there was only one kind of response I could give.

‘What is this, all of a sudden?’

It was so absurdly out of the blue that I didn’t even have time to feel flustered.

The rumors that even her mentor, Archmage Edas, gave up on her for being impossible to deal with clearly weren’t unfounded.

“…Oh dear. Look at the time.”

After chatting away for a while, Windy May pulled a pocket watch from her robe and sighed heavily, clearly annoyed.

Just as I thought I was finally free and began to rise to my feet to offer a polite farewell—

Windy May’s voice suddenly echoed clearly in my ears.

She muttered in disbelief, then quickly continued before I could even react.

I didn’t react at all.

Then I saw, ever so slightly, her pupils tremble a bit.

With that, she vanished without a trace.

As I stared blankly at where she had disappeared, Allen, wearing a similarly dumbfounded expression, muttered beside me.

“What… was that, seriously.”

“…No idea.”

I too mumbled vacantly, still looking in the direction where she had vanished.

To be honest, if I claimed I hadn’t even slightly hoped she’d take an interest in me, that would’ve been a lie.

Just like all mages, when they came across something outside the norm, they couldn’t resist getting involved.

The white flame imbued with divinity.

Even to someone like me, a complete amateur in magic, it had felt far from ordinary.

But still, for her to react this quickly.

‘And even approach me herself to start a conversation.’

Did that mean the white flame held that much value?

“…Seriously, I have no idea what to even say about all this.”

That was, no more, no less, the perfect expression of how I currently felt.

Fourth class: Crooks’ common course.

The instructor for this session was a figure who lacked nothing compared to the professors who had led previous classes.

The one overseeing this time’s class was none other than Archbishop Rahma.

Archbishop Rahma.

He was a figure who held power and recognition beyond the title of archbishop.

If he had wished, he could’ve even reached the position of cardinal.

However, he claimed he lacked the ability to handle such responsibility and voluntarily withdrew from the candidacy.

The thing was, no one around him saw his actions as hypocritical or bitter—they truly believed him to be a humble and unambitious man, a view supported by his exemplary conduct and political savvy.

Because of that, when he volunteered to become an academy instructor—a position practically considered exile or retirement—no one misunderstood his intentions.

It was also because of that, that when the great catastrophe he caused came to light, those who knew the full story were more than just shocked.

‘That’s why the fact he was a cultist of the Evil God was so thoroughly hidden.’

In my previous life, when he suddenly disappeared, the academy and the Church announced that he had died trying to rescue students, buried in a rockfall.

Knowing the truth behind the incident, I couldn’t accept such an ending.

“Tch.”

Clicking my tongue softly, I looked down at the lecture hall where Rahma stood, wearing his ever-gentle smile.

With his signature calm voice, he introduced himself and explained what he would be teaching.

Rahma’s subject was none other than character education through meditation and sermons.

A criminal who sacrificed nearly 200 people as offerings teaching character and morals—if that’s not the cruelest joke, I don’t know what is.

‘…This time, it’ll be different.’

As I looked down at him smiling like some saint, I made up my mind once again.

His years. His plans. His name.

His entire life.

I would crush it all—utterly.