PTSD Military Chaplain of the Academy

Chloe glanced at the clock. It was 10:30 AM. There was still an hour left until class ended.

“Then, when did the manifestation of divine power begin? To find out, we need to go back to a very distant past, to the time when the Creator descended to the earth at the beginning. According to the Bible…”

Sitting next to Chloe, Elin was dozing off, nodding her head repeatedly despite having been woken multiple times already. The theology class was that boring and uninteresting.

The solemn and quiet atmosphere of Professor Antorelli’s class contributed to this. Chloe felt that the atmosphere of the class was different from what she had anticipated, making it feel a bit difficult.

“…so, in the end, the power of divine power is a grace that anyone can use if certain conditions are met. This is possible because humans have accepted divinity since the beginning.”

Before long, Chloe had filled three pages of her notebook with the lecture content. Although only an hour had passed since the class started, her hand had no time to rest.

Professor Antorelli’s lecture was close to being a practical crash course. The content of the class had no fluff, and there was no part that was not important. It was reasonable to assume that everything covered in today’s lesson would appear on the second-semester exam.

However, the material was not entirely difficult to understand. It was accompanied by sufficient explanations, and based on those explanations, she could deduce answers later if any questions arose.

‘As for the parts I don’t understand… I’ll have to speak to the professor separately later.’

Chloe underlined the parts she didn’t understand and made a resolution. She was still at a time when she had a lot to learn.

“The Bible says that the good shepherd is willing to lay down his life for his lambs. We, living in the age of magic and divinity, must not forget this grace. That is the conclusion.”

With those words, Professor Antorelli paused the lecture for a moment. Chloe, who had been diligently taking notes, relaxed her fingers and took a breath.

Even while delivering the lecture seamlessly, Professor Antorelli often allowed 2-3 minutes of break time for rest. Thanks to this, students who had trouble keeping up could somehow manage to catch up with the class.

A high-level lecture that even considered the students’ abilities. Chloe thought to herself that she was glad she came to the academy. Although she belonged to the magic department, theology and magic were quite closely related, so she was achieving something in her studies.

Just as she was loosening her hands and relaxing her tired eyes, a slender arm shot up from the front row of the classroom. Chloe stopped rubbing her eyes.

“Professor. The study of theology based on divine power is, fundamentally, an inferior field of study compared to magic.”

It was the daughter of Adelheit. Chloe’s eyes widened as she focused on her words.

“In academia, divine power is still seen as an ambiguous force that has not yet been clearly proven. While anyone can use simple magic, miracles that use divine power, which are limited in scope and have clear boundaries, do not seem very useful.”

Her words carried a bit of a sharp tone. The eyes of the students filling the classroom widened in surprise. In the suddenly frozen atmosphere, the daughter of Adelheit continued speaking.

“Therefore, I believe modern theology has become more of a scholarly endeavor. It may have been different in the past, but theology should be seen as a field of study that supports magic.”

“…What are you trying to say?”

Professor Antorelli’s expression twisted. At the professor’s questioning tone, the daughter of Adelheit snorted slightly.

“I wanted to say that I hope classes do not stray beyond the scope of modern theology.”

Silence flowed back into the classroom. The professor and the daughter of Adelheit exchanged gazes, refusing to back down as if they were engaged in a battle of stares.

Chloe swallowed hard. She couldn’t understand why the daughter of Adelheit was being so sharp. Finally, Professor Antorelli opened his mouth.

“The flexibility of magic that uses mana. Of course, that is a quality that is difficult to argue in miracles that handle divine power.”

A dry, rough voice. Perhaps that was why Chloe unconsciously clenched her fists.

“Given that most ordinary people, aside from professional priests, find it difficult to use divine power, it is also valid to say that theology itself is closer to a scholarly field rather than a practical one.”

“Then—”

“However, that can be seen as a misunderstanding of the approach to theology.”

Professor Antorelli raised his fist. The fist, which stopped at chest level, began to slowly open. Soon, what appeared in the classroom was…

It was, it was…

“What…?”

“…What is that?”

“Wow….”

It was the very proof of theology.

Like flowers blooming, each finger unfolded gently. The soft golden hue filled the classroom.

Before long, the entire classroom was awash in a wave of gold. The students’ eyes were glued to Professor Antorelli’s hand.

It was an exquisitely perfect balance that made the students of the magic department drool, a true embodiment of divine power. A single flower made of golden light bloomed on Professor Antorelli’s palm.

But that was not the end. From that one flower, the pure essence itself began to show more and more blooms shyly revealing themselves. One flower, two flowers, until five flowers bloomed from his hand.

“The flower of the beginning….”

A student sitting behind Chloe mumbled, entranced.

A method of proof of faith passed down since ancient times, used when discussing ranks in the priesthood. The flower of the beginning. Five of those flowers had bloomed.

“Ah….”

The mouths of all the students sitting in this classroom, including the daughter of Adelheit, could not close. Even Elin, who had just woken up, was the same.

The beautiful geometric perfection was of a different nature than the magical circles used in the magical world. No, it was incomparable. The complexity was of a different dimension from the magic circle made up of points, lines, and shapes.

Despite forming a structure that transcended such limits, there was no feeling of discomfort. Rather, the intricate and detailed structure was painfully beautiful.

It was the golden flower. The culmination of everything. The crystallization of harmony.

It was so fantastic that it elicited admiration. It was beautiful enough to make one’s eyes sting. It was wondrous enough to make one’s heart swell. The truth of the entire world was contained within it.

And the students began to recall. They were transported back to the time when the class had just started.

All of them united as one and flipped through the pages, searching for the Bible verses they had overlooked. A sentence that had begun this theology class.

The Lord said, “Let there be light,” and from there the divine nature of the beginning blossomed.

“The divine of the beginning….”

With a whoosh—!

The flower that had captivated everyone’s gaze suddenly faded away. Sighs of regret erupted from all sides.

Some fell into deep thought. Some were moved by the grace of the beginning. Some furrowed their brows, trying to interpret the structure they had just seen.

Some were. Some were. Some were.

And then there was her, sitting in this place.

“Laura von Adelheit.”

Laura von Adelheit looked up blankly. She saw the slightly irritated face of Professor Antorelli.

“Then why, why is it that all people living on this land cannot use this power? Do you know the reason?”

Laura von Adelheit could not answer at all. The desire as a magic student soared endlessly.

And then, doubt. If, as she said, theology was truly a useless study, what was that absurd thing she had just witnessed?

Professor Antorelli, who had been watching her intently, soon turned to address the entire classroom.

“Do you all understand?”

“…….”

No one was able to reply. No one dared to raise their hand.

“No one is able to answer, it seems.”

Professor Antorelli stepped down from the podium. He spoke to everyone sitting in the classroom.

“If so, here’s your assignment.”

Assignment? What assignment?

As the students’ minds were filled with questions.

“The deadline is one month. Please organize and submit your thoughts on why everyone cannot use divine power and potential solutions in about ten pages.”

The faces of the students sitting in the classroom twisted grotesquely. Not only was it an assignment on the very first day of class, but the topic was profoundly deep.

Professor Antorelli, who had suddenly burdened fresh first-year students with such a task, approached the daughter of Adelheit, who was still staring blankly and chewing her lip.

“And, Laura von Adelheit.”

“…Yes.”

“If you want to ask a question during class, it is basic courtesy and etiquette to raise your hand at the appropriate time and request permission to speak.”

It is basic etiquette. Those few words held a weight. Laura von Adelheit bit her lip hard.

“Your previous attitude not only disrupts the class but is also an act of challenging the professor’s authority. Is that not so?”

“That’s… correct….”

“Laura von Adelheit, you are receiving 10 penalty points.”

“…….”

The cold verdict fell.

The classroom was once again engulfed in shock. While Professor Antorelli’s stern punishment was one thing, the fact that the target was the daughter of Adelheit was a significant incident.

At Caldera Imperial Academy, accumulating 50 penalty points results in a disciplinary committee being convened. And Laura von Adelheit received 10 penalty points on the very first day of class.

Deng— Deng—

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. But no one could stand up.

“Well then, we’ll end today’s lesson here. I’ll see you again in three days for the next class.”

Only Professor Antorelli gathered his Bible and theology books and quietly left the classroom.

The manifestation of divine power. Immediately after witnessing that beautiful divinity of the beginning, the daughter of Adelheit had received 10 penalty points.

Above all, what was important was the fact that a task too profound and difficult for the first-year students had been assigned to them.

A little later, it was only natural that the students in Class A of the first year would be tearing their hair out in frustration.

All of this happened on the first day and the first class at the academy.

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