Charisma 100: My Academy Life As A Heartbreaking Commoner Chapter 248: Lights, Camera, Action

The chapel annex carried the scent of candle wax.

Selene had prepared her space in one of the smaller prayer rooms adjacent to the main hall. It was a secluded area with stone walls, a solitary window, and just enough room for two people to stand comfortably, yet no more.

Within this confined space, Selene stood opposite Aegis, who was clad in her white armor. Selene clasped her hands behind her back, her expression pleasant yet sharp with focus. Aegis could sense an underlying edge beneath Selene's warmth, visible in her voice and her smile.

This was not a typical lesson; it was a trial.

"Divine magic," Selene began, her voice measured, "is channeled through unwavering conviction and a pure spirit. Unlike elemental or arcane magic, it does not depend on the raw manipulation of aether. Instead, it necessitates the caster's alignment with a higher purpose. Should any corruption taint your pathways, divine energy will unequivocally reject you. There is no room for pretense."

"Understood!" Aegis replied, her smile bright and earnest.

"We shall commence with the most fundamental exercise. Extend your hands, palms facing upward, and concentrate on drawing light into them. Do not compel it. Do not attempt to shape it. Merely invite its presence."

Aegis followed her instructions precisely.

She extended her hands, closed her eyes, and reached for the energy in a manner akin to Rosanna's teachings on cooperating with aether rather than dominating it. It was a gentle invitation, not a forceful grasp.

For a significant duration, nothing occurred.

Then, a subtle luminescence began to manifest. It was a warm, soft glow, pooling in her palms as water might gather in a cupped hand. The light was faint, barely a flicker, but it was undeniably present.

Aegis opened her eyes.

Selene was gazing intently at Aegis's hands. The pleasant smile had vanished, replaced by an expression of pure confusion.

"Intriguing," Selene remarked.

"Is that 'interesting' in a good way, or a bad way?" Aegis inquired.

"... The outcome remains to be determined." Selene moved closer, positioning her own hand above Aegis's palms without making contact. Aegis felt a surge of warmth emanating from Selene's fingers as her divine magic probed Aegis's own. "Perform the exercise again."

Aegis complied. The glow reappeared, this time with slightly more intensity.

"Once more."

She repeated the action five more times.

With each attempt, Selene observed, analyzed, and offered minimal commentary. By the conclusion, Aegis's hands felt weary, and her mana pool had depleted noticeably, yet she had successfully generated light on every single occasion.

"That is sufficient for today," Selene declared, stepping back.

"So? How did I perform?" Aegis asked.

"You successfully produced divine light, indicating that your aether pathways are not entirely corrupted." Selene crossed her arms. "However, this does not imply they are completely pure either. In rare instances, partial corruption can coexist with the channeling of divine energy. Further sessions will be required before I can offer a definitive assessment."

[Translation: I passed the initial hurdle, but she's not letting me off the hook yet.]

"I appreciate your time, Selene."

"We shall meet again at the same time next week, Mrs. Starcaller."

---

Prior to the next class, outside the lecture hall, Aegis drew Talia aside.

"I require your assistance with something in there."

Talia arched an elegant eyebrow.

"And what might that be?"

"Flirt with me. Aggressively so. Make it unmistakably obvious."

"... And the reason for this peculiar request?"

"Because Sylceris will be seated beside me, and I need her to witness me rebuffing you. If she perceives me as distant towards you in private, it will strengthen the narrative that our marriage is a matter of political expediency, not personal affection. This will make me appear more susceptible to recruitment by the shadow mages."

Talia regarded Aegis for a moment, a faint twitch playing at the corner of her lips.

"So, you wish for me to engage in overt flirtation with my own wife as a component of an espionage maneuver."

"Precisely."

"And subsequently, you intend to dismiss my advances."

"Publicly, yes."

"This is, without a doubt, the most ludicrous plan you have ever devised," Talia stated.

"It's not entirely without merit."

Talia emitted an exasperated eye-roll.

The class in question was Advanced Magical Theory. Nazraya had yet to arrive, leaving the classroom abuzz with the typical pre-lecture commotion of murmuring students, rustling notes, and hurried last-minute revision.

Aegis occupied her customary seat. Sylceris sat beside her, a position she now invariably held, her arms crossed and her gaze fixed forward.

Talia approached.

She bypassed her own designated seat, stopping instead directly beside Aegis's desk. Leaning down, Talia gently brushed a stray lock of hair from behind Aegis's ear, her fingers lingering momentarily on Aegis's jaw.

"You departed rather early this morning," Talia murmured, her voice pitched low enough to be discernible to those nearby. "Waking without you beside me was quite unwelcome."

Approximately half the adjacent row turned to observe the interaction.

[... Alright, Talia, I requested flirtation, not an inferno.]

Aegis looked up at her, her expression impassive.

"I had a prior engagement."

Talia made no move to withdraw. Her fingers traced the line of Aegis's jaw, tilting her chin upward, and drawing nearer.

"You always seem to possess a prior engagement. Perhaps I should begin making appointments simply to see my own wife."

A student in the row behind them whispered to his companion. Sylceris, positioned to Aegis's left, had become unnervingly still.

"Talia." Aegis gently removed Talia's hand from her face and placed it back on the desk. "Not here."

Talia met her gaze for a moment. Then, she sat up straight, giving Aegis a look that could have chilled the room (and for Talia, it was almost literally possible), before returning to her own seat without another word.

The classroom fell silent for a full three seconds before the chatter resumed, noticeably more lively than before.

[Perfect. Exactly what I needed. Sorry, babe. I’ll make it up to you tonight.]

Aegis returned her attention to her notes as if nothing had occurred.

A few minutes later, Talia stood and asked to be excused to the washroom, walking past Aegis's desk without making eye contact.

The instant she was out of sight, Sylceris spoke.

"What was that about?"

Aegis did not look up from her notes.

"What was what about?"

"The princess practically threw herself at you in front of thirty people, and you acted as if she were inconveniencing you."

Aegis let out a sigh. She put down her pen, massaged the bridge of her nose, and leaned back in her chair with an air of exhaustion that she absolutely did not feel, but which appeared incredibly convincing.

"Have you ever tried maintaining an act every single day?" Aegis inquired, her voice low enough that only Sylceris could hear. "Smiling at individuals you have no regard for, feigning affection at every public appearance, ensuring you utter the correct words to the appropriate noble at the opportune moment to prevent inquiries?"

Sylceris observed her, remaining silent.

"It's draining." Aegis gazed upwards at the ceiling. "My marriage to Talia was the most strategic decision I could make. She is a princess, and the political advantages are considerable. However, sustaining the facade of a 'happy couple'..." She paused, then shook her head. "Sometimes, my energy simply runs out."

"..."

[Goddamn, I’m good.]

Sylceris remained quiet for a considerable pause.

When Aegis glanced over, she noticed a subtle shift in the girl’s expression. It wasn't drastic, not enough for anyone else to perceive, but the harshness in her eyes had softened, ever so slightly. It was as if a small section of a protective barrier had crumbled.

"I understand," Sylceris stated. "More than you might assume."

[+15 Sylceris Wynne]

[Favorability: ❤️🤍🤍🤍🤍]

Aegis turned back to her notes, concealing her smile with her hand.

[Just one down.]