PTSD Military Chaplain of the Academy

The students’ mouths were shut. No sound came from them.

This was the place of learning. The moment of realization. This entire classroom had transformed into a gathering of seekers of truth. It was a place where disharmony could not occur.

A single word from Professor Antorelli was like a siege tower that would crumble the fortress they had built around themselves. Every word he had spoken until now was the groundwork laid for this moment.

Simply put, Professor Antorelli’s words could be perceived as a one-dimensional call to think for oneself and act freely. However, the depth of meaning contained within was different.

Realization. A higher realm of understanding than they had ever thought possible.

The dead-end they had thought was the limit to their growth was, in fact, a wall that could be breached, and the certainty of this sent a thrill through them.

The conviction that they could grow further.

It was truly an experience beyond imagination, euphoric, exciting, and electrifying. An indescribable joy and pleasure surged through the bodies of the students sitting in the classroom. The dazed gazes of the students were filled with the image of Professor Antorelli.

And Laura von Adelheit was even more than that. She opened her notebook and began to carefully review all the notes she had taken during Professor Antorelli’s lectures.

“I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it…!”

For the past three years, as a magician, she had been blocked by some walls. She formed magic circles as written in books, practiced magical power as instructed, and followed the teachings of her parents and professors.

In reality, the paths they had laid out were so convenient and smooth that they gave wings to Laura, who already possessed exceptional magical talent.

However, in these three years, she had increasingly felt that the ways proposed by her parents and teachers, or those found in books, might be inferior to the methods she had conceived herself.

Yet, she had not deviated from her own path. Determined not to fall into distractions, she had instead busied herself with self-motivation.

“Just do as you’re told. Keep it safe. Don’t try to climb in my awkward way.”

Thus, she had encountered a wall. It was a realization she had only just come to.

“What I have learned until now has not been in vain. But….”

While it had undoubtedly been beneficial, the byproducts of filtering that knowledge had solidified into a wall of residue, which had become a tremendous burden for Laura.

Everyone around her called her a genius, but in reality, she had recently felt incredibly frustrated. How harshly had she trained under her strict father?

Adelhaid Duke, her father, showed some disappointment when she could not break through the wall after three years. Yet….

“I could have grown more…!”

Perhaps even reaching the 5th circle was not out of reach.

Her body trembled.

A new kind of pleasure she had never experienced coursed down her spine. She succumbed to the sweet ecstasy that felt as if it would rot her teeth.

“Everyone.”

And it was one man who granted her all this.

“I believe I have given you enough time to savor the aftertaste.”

Professor Antorelli.

His expression remained stony. Without any change of emotion, he simply wore a silent face. A disheveled appearance. His hair still looked like a beggar’s.

He was the same Professor Antorelli as ever. But.

“Now, I will review each of the assignments you submitted.”

The cold, dark, and irritable demeanor he had shown during their first meeting was nowhere to be seen.

That stoic face seemed infinitely kind and warm to Laura von Adelheit.

Was it an illusion?

* * * * *

I knew that the students approached learning with a very passive attitude. And the moment I realized that, I couldn’t help but sigh.

The Caldera Imperial Academy, which produces only the best of the best. In this academy, known as the best among all academies, they were not prepared to take my class with such a closed mindset.

I wanted the students of Class A, whom I was in charge of, to develop their autonomous learning abilities. That’s why I had dedicated a month to teaching.

I did not want my students to approach the class burdened with such rigid prejudices.

And that must have been a desire of my predecessor as well. I wanted to believe so.

“As stated in the Bible, this is a created person and a love solidified by faith. Divine power arises from that.”

Unlike the previous classes where they had merely been bored, their gazes had now changed. I could continue with the theology class just like this, but I decided to first review the assignments submitted by the students.

One cannot be full on the first bite. First, I would interpret the assignment for them; then it was their job to study it. And I believed in my students.

“Student Elin has sublimated the love solidified by faith in the Lord and the emotions created from it into a new persona. While that isn’t incorrect, if I may share my personal view… it is unnecessary to treat the faith in the Lord and the love born from it itself as a new persona.”

Elin, meeting my gaze, slowly nodded. Being a bright student, she could understand what I was saying.

“However, Elin’s claim is fundamentally correct. The source of divine power is indeed derived from faith, and the way to prove that faith is the love towards the Lord.”

My students, who were attentively listening to me, busily moved their pens. Unlike before, when they merely copied without meaning, they were now eager to grasp the intentions hidden within my words.

“Now, next…”

Flip. Flip.

The last remaining assignment shook in my hands. I read the name written on the assignment.

“This is the assignment submitted by Laura von Adelheit.”

Laura’s white hair shook from the front row. Her gaze lifted, meeting mine.

It was a serious expression, filled with confidence and arrogance.

With her heart prepared, it was as if she was challenging me to evaluate the assignment she had poured all her effort into.

I did not dislike her attitude.

“It seems this is the last assignment. Let’s take a look.”

That must have meant she was that confident.

* * * * *

Laura von Adelheit felt like her heart was about to explode. The pounding of her heart resonated throughout the classroom.

All thirty-one assignments Professor Antorelli had read before had each received substantial praise, showcasing their completeness.

Surprisingly, Professor Antorelli was not stingy with his praise. He acknowledged the parts that deserved commendation and pinpointed the areas that needed correction. Not a single student raised an objection to his impartial evaluation.

Even Chloe’s assignment that came before Elin’s, received an unexpected level of praise from Professor Antorelli, shocking everyone.

Thus, it was a tense moment.

Laura had spent nights sleepless out of fear, writing her assignment, and had gone through multiple rewrites for this very moment.

However, Laura was confident. She was confident that she would receive a generous evaluation from Professor Antorelli.

Therefore, she could force herself to maintain a haughty expression.

Her assignment was perfect. In terms of theological approach and foundational grammar or spelling, even down to the presence of typos.

Not a single flaw existed. As Laura gazed into Professor Antorelli’s eyes, filled with expectations,

“Then, I shall begin.”

He opened her assignment. Finally, the fruit of her month-long effort was about to be revealed.

Flip. Flip.

One page, two pages. The paper began to rustle as it turned.

Unlike the previous assignments, Professor Antorelli poured a relatively long time over each side he read.

“Hmm….”

He interjected with occasional sounds, sometimes furrowing his brow, a sight not seen when he evaluated the previous assignments. Gradually, the other students began to feel tense.

Laura wiped the sweat from her hands on her skirt. It was an uncouth action, but at that moment, she couldn’t bring herself to calmly take out a handkerchief and dab her sweat.

Flip.

Thus, the final page turned.

“…….”

Professor Antorelli closed his eyes. How long had it been since he held the assignment with Laura von Adelheit’s name on it?

Thump.

He then placed Laura’s assignment on the lectern. Unlike the prior assignments he had interpreted one by one, he did not do the same for Laura’s.

And this planted a seed of unease within Laura. She watched Professor Antorelli’s every move with apprehensive anticipation.

Professor Antorelli slowly stepped toward the lectern. He then scanned all the students sitting in the classroom.

And abruptly delivered a single line.

“Everyone, when do you think faith comes into being?”

It was an unexpected question. Laura could not comprehend the meaning behind it.

Why wasn’t he evaluating her assignment? Why?

Was it lacking in completeness? Did it not satisfy Professor Antorelli?

Breaking through her thoughts, Professor Antorelli continued.

“Faith, in essence, blossoms from our trust in the Lord and the love from the Lord that we can earn through that trust.”

With Professor Antorelli’s textbook answer, his gaze turned to Laura. That gaze appeared infinitely warm and benevolent.

Professor Antorelli slowly moved his steps. Having returned to the lectern, he descended the platform, and the destination was before Laura.

“Laura von Adelheit.”

“Yes…?”

He addressed Laura, who wore a bewildered expression.

“Faith can be a vague subject in some ways. This is because each person’s opinion and thoughts about faith differ.”

Laura simply listened quietly to Professor Antorelli’s words. Facing Laura, Professor Antorelli continued.

“Why did you write that what makes it possible for everyone to use divine power is impossible?”

“…….”

All the students in the classroom were taken aback. The content of Laura’s assignment was utterly shocking.

“Ms. Adelheit, you clearly explained that method over nine pages, correct?”

“Yes.”

“What I want to ask about is the last paragraph that is written in that remaining page. It is impossible for everyone to use divine power… why did you phrase it that way? I want to hear the reason.”

In that case.

At this moment, Laura…. Laura von Adelheit had concluded her assignment with the statement that a world where everyone can use divine power is impossible.

She had written one sentence negating everything she had previously explained.

It was akin to overturning a beautifully set dinner table.

Yet Laura remained unfazed. A slight smile crept onto her lips as she replied to Professor Antorelli.

“Because that’s the truth.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I have certainly figured out the method to manifest divine power…. The fundamental principle of its manifestation was thoroughly unraveled. However, the more I learned… the more questions arose.”

“What kind of questions?”

“When all the people of the world love their neighbors and those around them with sincere faith, that the Lord would reward that faith. There’s no way that’s possible.”

A world where all people possess good hearts, show genuine faith to the Lord, and the Lord reciprocates with love.

A world where no one has an evil heart exists only in heaven.

“…….”

The classroom fell into silence. Then came Professor Antorelli’s penetrating comment.

“Congratulations, Laura von Adelheit.”

A faint smile that barely lifted her stiff lips.

“I dare say, among the assignments we reviewed today, the one submitted by Student Adelheid….”

The faint smile from Professor Antorelli was the first Laura had ever seen.

“Is undoubtedly the best.”

It was more than enough to reward Laura for her efforts over the past month.

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