LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 58
Time passed quickly, and before I knew it, the weekend had arrived.
I left the staff dormitory early in the morning. Several students who spotted me bowed their heads and greeted me.
“Professor Antorelli, hello.”
“Good morning.”
I briefly nodded to the students in acknowledgment of their greetings. The students who had paused to say hello resumed their steps.
I stared at their backs. It struck me recently that the number of students wandering around the academy on weekend mornings had noticeably increased.
Of course, the reason was that the Grade-by-Grade Duel was just a few days away. Students would wake up early to secure their spots before the training grounds opened.
I recalled the information about the Grade-by-Grade Duel that I had heard from Professor Esther.
The Grade-by-Grade Duel. It wasn’t included in the comprehensive academy grades, but it was an event that one couldn’t afford to be indifferent to. Scholarships and the prospect of being recognized as an outstanding student were among the various benefits that made it significant.
I had heard that some departments, including the Department of Theology, were designated as non-combat subjects, and students affiliated with those departments wouldn’t participate in the duels.
Of course, I wasn’t particularly interested. I simply did what I had to do.
“…I wonder if I’ll need to use my divine power.”
If the duel were to take place, it was obvious that I would be assigned the role of caring for the students after the duel was over. In that case, using divine power would be indispensable. I carefully examined my right shoulder.
– Mr. Antorelli. Your condition has improved considerably.
It was the pleasant news I had learned during my consultation with Moritz last month. Though I didn’t show it outwardly, I had felt quite a bit of joy and excitement at that time.
I stopped staring at my right shoulder and resumed my steps. The stone floor of the academy courtyard, which had been cold all night, was gradually warming up with the rising sunlight.
Today was the day of my consultation with Moritz. I hoped to receive good news like I had last time.
Suddenly, I looked at the watch on my wrist. The hands of the clock indicated that it was eight in the morning.
Normally, I would have gone for a consultation in the late afternoon, but today I had made an appointment to visit in the morning.
Previously, I had considered the patients who would be waiting behind me, but today was different.
I felt that the consultation would end early, and I wanted to change myself as well. I was tired of displaying the pathetic behavior of easily shedding tears while being spoiled by others.
The reason I had left the dormitory right after breakfast was precisely that. I had set a time limit for myself.
‘Let’s return before lunchtime today.’
I didn’t want to burden Moritz or the other patients who needed to be seen. Before long, I reached the entrance of the academy and stepped outside.
* * * * *
“Hmm…”
Moritz adjusted his glasses and sighed. His bony fingers moved in rhythm, causing the muscles in his shoulder to tremble.
Observing closely, Moritz soon returned to his seat.
“Mr. Antorelli.”
With his sleeves rolled up to his shoulders, Priest Antorelli, looking stern, opened his mouth.
“Yes.”
“Could you please try moving your arm? Slowly and very gently.”
Priest Antorelli obeyed Moritz’s instruction, slowly rotating his shoulder as if stretching, and then paused with his arm raised at a certain height. Moritz subtly glanced at Priest Antorelli’s face.
“I see…”
Though it was just for a brief moment, during that short time, his face, which had been deeply furrowed, unmistakably reflected the expression of someone enduring pain.
“That’s enough now. You can stop.”
Priest Antorelli fiddled with his shoulder for a while and then lowered his sleeves. The rolled-up cuffs of his shirt followed his movements down.
Then, Moritz, who had been watching this intently, spoke.
“Mr. Antorelli.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
“You seem to have improved just a little compared to before.”
Priest Antorelli’s expression brightened slightly. He asked back, as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Really?”
“Yes. It’s true.”
Moritz wasn’t playing with hopes. He was a doctor. And a doctor should never lie to a patient about the results of a consultation. That was a sort of belief he held.
In truth, Moritz was equally surprised. A wound he had thought would take a long time to heal was showing signs of gradual improvement, albeit weakly.
“I will prescribe the same medication as last time.”
Priest Antorelli nodded. Though his expression seemed as stern as usual, Moritz could tell that he was quite pleased.
“Yes. Understood.”
“The usage is the same as before. Take it when you feel pain.”
Moritz began writing a prescription, leaving Priest Antorelli, who nodded in acknowledgment, behind.
His elegant handwriting continued, and soon a well-crafted prescription was completed and handed to Priest Antorelli.
“You can pick up the medication downstairs. Overuse is strictly prohibited.”
“Understood.”
With a slightly flushed expression, Moritz asked.
“Mr. Antorelli, recently, um… are you alright?”
“What do you mean…?”
“Are you not having trouble sleeping?”
Priest Antorelli’s somewhat brighter expression turned cold in an instant. Although his face seemed to have no visible change at first glance, Moritz noticed the very slight difference.
The depth of Priest Antorelli’s eyes deepened. Even facing his dark and troubled gaze, Moritz remained quite calm.
It was because he had been seeing this patient for a long time. He knew best the wound and pain that Priest Antorelli carried.
“I’m sorry for bringing this up, but you look quite tired, Mr. Antorelli.”
Separate from his joy at the improvement in his shoulder, he looked incredibly fatigued. The lengthy shadows around his eyes and his paler-than-usual face contributed to that.
Priest Antorelli didn’t respond. He simply stared into Moritz’s eyes. The focus of his gaze was somewhat unsteady, causing Moritz to feel uneasy.
After briefly chewing on his lips, mumbling, and repeating the opening and closing of his mouth several times, Priest Antorelli finally said.
“…I’m fine. For now.”
With a response that made it clear he didn’t look fine at all, he said it. Moritz, wanting to ask a bit more, nodded at his words.
“Understood.”
Priest Antorelli’s expression relaxed slightly. Moritz couldn’t fathom why.
After silently enduring Moritz’s gaze for a moment, Priest Antorelli slowly stood up.
“Then, I will take my leave.”
“Are you leaving already? There’s still a lot of time…”
“I’m fine.”
No, he didn’t look fine at all. Moritz called him back to the front of the chair.
“Mr. Antorelli. Please sit down. I think you should receive a little more counseling before you go.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Please sit. It won’t take long.”
After hesitating for a moment, Priest Antorelli seated himself back in the chair. Moritz took off his glasses and pressed at the corners of his eyes as he began to speak.
“Mr. Antorelli. Do you still see past memories in your dreams?”
“…It seems so.”
“What specific memories come to mind?”
“That… I can’t remember.”
Moritz looked into Priest Antorelli’s eyes. They were a bit shaky, but they weren’t the eyes of someone lying.
“I must reiterate that this trauma stems from the thought of ‘it’s my fault.’ Don’t attribute meaning to trivial matters.”
“…Understood.”
Priest Antorelli nodded and then stood up.
Is it over for today? Moritz thought as he stood up to see Priest Antorelli off. Priest Antorelli’s eyes were on Moritz.
As they silently regarded each other, they both spoke.
“I’ll see you again in a month. Thank you.”
“…Take care. See you next month.”
With Priest Antorelli opening the door to the consultation room and exiting, they were able to break free from each other’s gaze.
With a drained expression, Moritz suddenly wore a bitter look.
“…I wonder when that patient will find happiness.”
It saddened him deeply that he could only hear weary and dark news each time.
* * * * *
“Haah!”
Chloe emitted a spirited sound. Following the magic staff in her hand, a magic circle made of magical power began to form slowly.
However, the speed was far too slow. In such a state, she couldn’t apply this in the Grade-by-Grade Duel. After struggling with the magic circle for a moment, Chloe sulked and sat down on the floor.
“Huh… I really thought it would work…”
“What in the world is going on?”
Having watched Chloe’s struggle from behind, Elin hesitantly approached her and asked. Chloe replied with sparkling eyes.
“But I really had some kind of realization…”
So what was it?
Elin slapped her forehead with a sound. It had already been three hours since they entered the training ground, drawn in by Chloe’s insistence.
During that time, Chloe had tried a truly diverse array of spells. All of the spells activated well, and the results were not too bad. After all, she was a first-year student of Class A.
However, the issue was that there hadn’t been any particularly standout spells. By now, Elin was starting to find it hard to keep watching her.
Not wanting to waste the precious golden weekend like this, Elin had also started practicing spirit magic in tandem.
“Hah… What kind of realization could it be…?”
Even that was hard to focus on due to Chloe’s strange chants from earlier.
But then again, it didn’t suit Elin’s character to lash out at her only best friend. She stared at the slumped Chloe for a moment and then showed her something in front of her.
“Here.”
“Uh, okay…?”
The bizarre creature, shaking its arms and legs, was the fire spirit that Elin frequently used. Chloe stared blankly at it.
“This friend will evaluate your magic from now on. I’ve seen you; you haven’t tried using fire magic yet, have you?”
“Hmm… fire magic…?”
Until just a moment ago, the spells Chloe had been using were mostly ones she was most confident in: freezing magic and matter manipulation magic.
Having received significant help from them during her entrance exam, Chloe had no doubt that she could achieve something with those spells.
“First, let’s try the elemental magic in order. After that, we’ll go for gravity manipulation magic, illusion magic… There are still many possibilities.”
Staring blankly at the spirit before her, Chloe steadied her heart and nodded.
Chloe closed her eyes. She recalled the magic circle from the fire magic she had learned before and slowly opened her eyes to draw the magic circle.
“At the center, a spark.”
A magic circle with a spark shaped as round as possible. That would serve as the core of the magic circle, and she quickly began to build its framework.
“Surrounding it, integrated with the environment.”
Thus, the spark of the magic circle merged with the oxygen in the air surrounding it. Chloe imagined the spark that quickly devoured the oxygen in her mind.
“Ignition, and expansion. Greater expansion…!”
The magic circle grew more complex. Lines connected with lines, forming a shape that layered over the magic circle. Elin held her breath and watched.
Hoo—.
Chloe let out a deep sigh. The almost complete magic circle was in front of her. Now, if she etched the ignition device into the magic circle.
“Ignite, ignite again. A large ignition. And… burn it (Κάψτε το)!”
Boom—!
The spark that erupted from the center of the magic circle soon multiplied into dozens, hundreds, and burst out in all directions.
The sparks, as if hitting an invisible wall in mid-air, ascended, devouring the oxygen wildly.
Igniting from those sparks, igniting, and igniting again. After three ignitions, it transformed into a colossal pillar of fire…
“…Ah.”
Like a lie, it shriveled down in an unremarkable manner. Chloe turned to Elin with tearful eyes.
“Hii…! I don’t think I’m suited for fire magic…!”
“……”
“Elin…?”
Elin’s expression was stiff. She stared blankly at the air for a moment before finally turning her head to Chloe.
“…Chloe.”
“Uh, okay?”
“You… have surely gained some kind of realization, haven’t you?”
Saying that, at the spot where the bouncing fire spirit and Elin pointed, the ground of the training ground, where the pillar of fire had momentarily manifested, was bubbling up.
It was the most destructive magic Chloe had displayed so far.