Charisma 100: My Academy Life As A Heartbreaking Commoner Chapter 253: Blessed

After two weeks, the prayer room no longer felt like an interrogation chamber. Selene, still clad in her armor, maintained an upright posture reminiscent of church discipline and offered a polite, measured smile. However, the sternness around her had visibly softened. Her gaze no longer scanned Aegis’s hands for signs of corruption; instead, she observed them as a teacher would, assessing a student's form.

Progress was evident. Today’s lesson focused on molding divine light, not in the sense of improvement, but the literal act of shaping. Aegis manipulated the light within her palms, forming basic shapes like spheres, flat discs, and concentrated points of brightness. This control-focused exercise demanded concentration and a steady hand, areas where Aegis had shown marked improvement over the past few sessions. While she was still annoyed about not learning actual spells, her primary objective was to win Selene over, not to master Divine Magic—though that would be a welcome bonus.

"Hold the sphere for ten seconds," Selene instructed. "Do not allow it to wobble."

Aegis complied, maintaining a steady, clean sphere of light in her palm. Five seconds. Eight. Ten. "Good," Selene affirmed, stepping closer to examine Aegis’s work. "Your stability has improved considerably since our initial session. Most students require months to attain this level of control."

"What can I say? I’m an overachiever."

"You’re a menace is what you are."

Aegis blinked. Selene blinked. The words had slipped out before Selene could stop them, spoken with an unintended casualness and teasing tone. Selene’s expression revealed her surprise, her lips pressing together as she straightened and cleared her throat.

Aegis grinned. "Did you just make a joke?"

"I made an observation."

"You made a joke. The church inquisitor made a joke. I’m marking this day on my calendar."

"I’m not an inquisitor."

"Observer, right. My mistake."

As Selene turned to retrieve a training manual from her satchel, Aegis caught a faint blush on her cheeks before she faced the wall.

[Oh? Oh. Interesting.]

For the next exercise, Selene instructed Aegis to channel light through her fingertips rather than her palms, a task requiring different, more precise focus. Aegis extended her hand, concentrating, and a thin, bright light emanated from her fingertips, resembling tiny candle flames.

"Your wrist is too tense," Selene noted, stepping behind Aegis and gently adjusting her arm. Her fingers closed around Aegis’s forearm, guiding it into the correct position. "Here. Relax the joint. Let the energy flow downward, not outward."

Aegis relaxed her wrist, and the light at her fingertips intensified. "Better," Selene remarked.

Selene’s hand remained on Aegis’s arm. Aegis could feel the warmth of Selene’s fingers through her sleeve and the gentle pressure of her grip. They were close enough for Aegis to detect the faint, clean scent emanating from Selene’s hair, reminiscent of soap and fresh linen. Neither of them moved. One second passed. Two. Three.

Selene finally withdrew her hand, stepping back and clasping them behind her back, her gaze averted from Aegis. Aegis made no comment, simply adjusting her stance and continuing her practice.

[Four seconds. She held on for four seconds longer than she needed to. That’s not nothing.]

They proceeded through several more exercises. Aegis performed exceptionally well, meeting every benchmark Selene set. By the end of the session, Selene’s expression had shifted from that of a suspicious church official to one of genuine respect.

"I have to admit," Selene stated as they concluded, "your talent for this is remarkable. Divine magic typically resists anyone with even trace amounts of shadow corruption, and yet you channel it with more ease each session."

"I’m a hard worker."

"Or perhaps you’re blessed," Selene added lightly, her blue eyes lingering on Aegis for a moment. "Truly blessed, I mean. The Divine Light doesn’t come to just anyone. It chooses."

[If only she knew how accurate that statement is. The Fertility Goddess’s blessing might not be divine magic, but "blessed" is technically correct.]

"I appreciate that, Selene. Coming from you, that means a lot."

Selene held Aegis’s gaze for another beat, then nodded and began packing her satchel.

[+20 affection]

[Favorability: ❤️❤️❤️🤍🤍]

[Three hearts. And she touched my arm for four seconds too long. The church is going to be very disappointed in their observer.]

---

Mei’Lin was waiting for Aegis outside the chapel annex, leaning against the wall with her arms folded. Without a word, she fell into step beside Aegis, and they walked together until they reached a secluded corridor in the east wing.

"Second one," Mei’Lin stated softly. "Brynn Kessler. A first-year student from a minor noble house in the western provinces. She exhibits the same behavioral pattern as Fenn: vanishing after the final class, keeping irregular meeting hours with Sylceris, and avoiding communal areas during the evenings."

"A noble?" Aegis's eyebrows lifted slightly. "That's unexpected. I had assumed the Umbral Blade primarily recruited from the common populace."

"Apparently not. Three years ago, Brynn's family suffered significant losses in their land holdings due to a dispute with House Cindergrave. By all accounts, they are nobles in title only at this juncture."

[It seems another individual harbors resentment towards the established order. The Umbral Blade is not solely targeting the downtrodden; they are actively recruiting anyone who feels wronged by Valdria.]

"Excellent work, Mei. That brings our confirmed count to two, plus Sylceris, totaling three individuals."

"Kai’Lin suspects a fourth person may be involved, but she requires another week to ascertain confirmation."

"Advise her to take the time she needs. Haste is counterproductive. Reliable intelligence is far more valuable than mere conjecture."

Mei’Lin offered a nod. She gently swept her white hair aside and met Aegis's gaze. "Exercise caution, Aegis. The more individuals we identify, the greater the inherent risks involved."

"I am aware."

"Are you truly? Kai’Lin has informed me that you've been engaging in sparring sessions with Sylceris each morning and sharing breakfast with her afterward. This appears to extend beyond mere surveillance."

"That is correct. It is an exercise in relationship cultivation. There is a distinct difference."

"Mhm." Mei’Lin's expression conveyed doubt, yet she chose not to press further. "Just remain vigilant."

She diverged into a side corridor, disappearing from view.

[Updating my mental roster: Sylceris Wynne, confirmed operative. Fenn Arlo, confirmed operative. Brynn Kessler, confirmed operative. A potential fourth member is under investigation. And undoubtedly, there are others yet to be discovered.]

Aegis let out a sigh.

[Two distinct factions are at play: Selene on one side and Sylceris on the other. Both are gradually warming to me, both are drawing closer. My task is to manage these intricate dynamics without faltering.]

As Aegis proceeded towards the dining hall, she noticed footsteps matching her own cadence approaching from behind. She shifted her gaze to the side.

It was Sylceris. Her hands were tucked into her pockets, her expression impassive, as she fell into step beside Aegis with an air of natural familiarity.

"Walk with me," Sylceris invited.

[Well then... So be it.]