This afternoon’s class was one of the few specialized courses for first-year Theology students.
Thus, Aiwas and Lily didn’t wear the usual blue-and-white school uniforms but the Theology School’s white robes, identical to clerical vestnts except for lacking holy rank insignia.
The course was Prayer Studies.
It taught rituals and protocols for praying to the Nine Pillar Gods for various purposes, occasions, and materials—scriptures, prayers, offerings, etiquette, and taboos.
The course wasn’t difficult, just heavy on morization. Its vast content spanned from the first sester of freshman year to the third sester of sophomore year.
Bishop Mathers hadn’t taught Aiwas the “Prayer” holy art because it couldn’t be directly taught. The Theology School’s primary purpose was to spend two years training aspiring priests to pray to the Nine Pillar Gods. Beyond restoring mana, so ceremonial divine arts required prayer.
Though priests primarily served the Candlekeeper, they ministered to all Nine Pillar Gods, requiring knowledge of their faiths, traditions, and rituals. On related holidays, priests donned their attire and held corresponding ceremonies.
Thus, priests were among the first of the nine paths to deeply engage with other paths’ knowledge.
The instructor, “Lady a,” appeared young.
Her dark brown, curly hair was tied in a ponytail over one shoulder. She wore a red bishop’s robe like Mathers, with gentle, water-like blue eyes.
Despite her “Lady” title, she seed in her twenties, her lively deanor making her popular among students and appear younger than the calm, gentle Lily.
Students adored this lecturer who felt more like a senior classmate.
Only Aiwas knew—her youth likely ca from the “Fire Offering” art, restoring her body to an ideal state, healing injuries and aging, reverting her to a youthful form and personality.
Upon seeing Lily push Aiwas into the classroom, a stared, startled.
A blue-haired girl passing by laughed, “That’s Aiwas, Lady a. Read The Glass Staircase from two days ago? He’s the great detective~
‘Professor Aiwas’ has bad legs, so he’s in a wheelchair. Maybe you could diagnose him?”
“No need, Angela,” a said, shaking her head. “Take your seat.”
[Diagnose him? If it were curable, he’d have used Fire Offering himself.]
a gave Aiwas an odd look, performing a strange gesture: touching her head and shoulders, forming a triangle.
Aiwas smiled gently, clasping his hands, thumbs crossed, bowing his head in prayer.
a’s attitude ward noticeably.
This was a gesture Bishop Mathers taught Aiwas after he quickly mastered Fire Offering and touched the Dedication path, ensuring he wouldn’t be treated differently at school.
High-ranking superhumans could sense the path and strength of lower-ranking ones nearby. All Dedication path superhumans in the school could tell Aiwas had entered the supernatural and reached the second tier—graduation-level achievent.
a’s gesture signaled she served the Church with a bishop’s rank, asking who guided Aiwas’s Dedication path, as not all priests ca from the Theology School.
Small-town churches often used master-apprentice systems, with bishops authorized to teach holy arts to those with Dedication aptitude.
Alternatively, self-taught individuals could master Dedication arts via occult texts, taking non-priest roles. a might be less friendly to such cases, as they gained path powers and status without fulfilling duties or following rules.
Like soone gaining Authority path arts from secret texts, misleading high-ranking inspectors into mistaking them for allies.
Worse, choosing a path was permanent—taking another Dedication path role would bar Aiwas from priesthood. Church rules guarded holy arts closely.
Aiwas’s gesture, showing he understood a’s signal, ant he’d been guided.
His response indicated he was a “Pray-er”—no rank, no Church role, just taught by soone.
a didn’t mind his lack of Church service, only caring he wasn’t another Dedication profession.
Feeling guilty for doubting him, a said warmly, “Sit by , Mr. Aiwas. Stairs must be tough in a wheelchair.”
“Thank you, Lady a,” Aiwas replied softly.
While waiting for students, a chatted quietly with him. “I heard about your case-solving. I thought you’d be on the Wisdom path, not a priest… and second-tier so young!
Who guided you?”
“Bishop Mathers,” Aiwas answered.
a’s eyes widened, incredulous. “Eh? Mathers?”
“What’s wrong?” Aiwas caught her odd reaction.
“Samuel Mathers?” she pressed.
“Yes.”
Aiwas sensed a knew Mathers. “Do you know him?”
a hissed, her expression shifting.
She glanced at the students, who were sneaking peeks, eager for gossip tied to Aiwas.
Lowering her voice, hand shielding her mouth, she whispered, “I’m a Mathers. He’s my brother.”
[That’s not great.]
Aiwas’s expression turned odd.
a didn’t know, but Aiwas did—Mathers taught him holy arts last Friday. The next day, November 15, Aiwas advanced to the second tier.
This was shockingly fast.
Not a problem, just too flashy.
Despite appearances, Aiwas preferred staying low-key.
Thankfully, a’s next words relieved him: “We fell out years ago over his relationship issues. Haven’t spoken in a decade.”
Though she said “fell out,” her warmth toward Aiwas, tied to Samuel, suggested more of a sulky rift.
[Not a fallout, just pouting…]
“Why?” Aiwas asked, curiosity piqued. “What relationship issues?”
“Samuel brought ho a girl eleven years younger, saying they were married.”
a frowned, smacking the table. “He was 29, she was 18.”
“Isn’t Mathers Avalonian?” Aiwas asked. “Eighteen’s marriageable age, right?”
“Yes, for both genders. But who marries without years of dating? She was 18 at the wedding—when did Samuel et her?”
a gritted her teeth. “He said it was love at first sight, just t! Would I believe that? Would my parents?”
“…It’s not impossible,” Aiwas said, expression odd. [No concept of flash weddings here?]
But Samuel did seem suspicious…
a’s next words sobered him. “Sure, love at first sight’s possible. But we had a detective investigate—she wasn’t Avalonian.
An Iris native, Beauty path. The university’s Sixth Faculty wasn’t open then. Why would an Iris native travel to Avalon to study theology, take Beauty path, and marry her ntor in her first year?
It’s obviously strange!”
“…Not very reasonable,” Aiwas agreed, frowning. “But Bishop Mathers doesn’t seem impulsive…”
“Exactly! We told him to cool off, separate for a bit. He wouldn’t listen, moved out, rented a place. I heard he’s now a Spiritual MP, so he’s fine…”
“What’s his wife’s na?” Aiwas asked.
“Mina. Forgot her maiden na—she’s Mina Mathers now, probably 35.
She runs a divination shop, selling tools and reading fortunes. Not an Adaptation path seer—what divination skill could she have? Just a fraud… I don’t know why Samuel loves her.
Visit their ho soti, as his apprentice. It’s normal to check on your ntor. Your ntion made curious about her now…”
a clasped her hands, whispering, “Please help, Mr. Aiwas! I have a beloved Dedication path secret text I can give you. Even if you can’t visit, just ask my brother about her, and it’s yours—”
Aiwas’s pupils trembled, not for the reward.
The na sparked a mory.
The in-ga shop was called “Madam Mina’s Divination Shop.”
No player could forget that na.
[I have to check it out.]
*
(Chapter End)
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