Academy’s PTSD Chaplain

19 – 19. Blessed and Blessed (2)

What is that man saying right now?

Laura von Adelheid grabbed her confused head. She couldn’t understand the words of the man in front of her, Professor Lucio Antonelli.

So, right now.

Cloe, who is just a student in the magic department, not a priest or theology major.

“Ah, haha….”

Making her able to use sacred power?

When she came to her senses, Laura had unconsciously stood up. However, she couldn’t bring herself to sit back with a calm posture. This was true for other students as well.

“No way.”

“Is that… possible?”

“He’s gone crazy again today.”

Confusion spread in their eyes, and hidden within was an irresistible curiosity. The eyes of all the students burned with intensity.

“Oh, oh! The blessings of the Lord are truly widespread! How right a thing this is!”

“If it really happens, it is truly the grace of the Lord!”

The theology students were almost trembling. They clasped hands, gazing at Professor Antonelli with earnest and faithful eyes.

It wasn’t just the theology students. Everyone stood up, eyes wide open, dumbfounded, staring at the podium. Not a single exception.

Right now, Professor Antonelli was boldly challenging common knowledge. He had thrown down the gauntlet to everyone in this lecture hall.

“I will shatter your common knowledge. I will test the walls you cannot overcome, your intellectual limits.”

The theology class had been neglected for a long time. This class was spiraling out of control.

And suddenly, Laura remembered.

– “Submit a ten-page essay outlining why non-priests cannot use divine power and propose solutions to address this issue.”

Professor Antonelli’s assignment. Why those outside the priesthood cannot use divine power. And how even they can harness it.

Professor Antonelli was now attempting to reveal everything about the assignment. It was like handing out a spear that could pierce through the unbreakable shield he had presented.

If you just stood there staring blankly, there would be no more foolish act. Laura Von Adelheid quickly grasped a pen and opened her notebook.

From now on, document everything you see, hear, and feel. Not a single moment will be missed.

As Laura eagerly opened her notebook, all the students in the lecture hall prepared to take notes, adjusting their positions to get the best view of the podium in their own way.

“I, I also…!”

“Oh my…! Tear me a sheet of paper! No, five sheets!”

“Does anyone have a spare pen?! A pen that writes well!”

The classroom became noisy. Students tried their best to position themselves to have the best view of the podium in their own way.

Even in the aisle crossing the center of the classroom, students who had thrown away their dignity and pretenses sat down. The classroom was so noisy.

Swoosh.

With a single raised hand, Professor Antonelli quickly restored order. Students looked at him with rigid postures.

“Everyone, it’s class time now. Please don’t make a commotion.”

With just those words, students quickly regained order. Those with insufficient space to take notes naturally received paper from friends, and those who ran out of ink borrowed spare pens.

The orderly scene was astonishing to Laura. Professor Antonelli was now controlling all the students in the classroom.

To make Cloe able to use divine power, with just one word.

Once the classroom quieted down to some extent, Professor Antonelli began to move.

“The manifestation of divine power. The claim that this is a power granted only to priests who have been baptized has been raised for a long time.”

Students listened quietly to his words. Professor Antonelli continued.

“The grace of the Lord, only available to priests. The miracles of God. It is truly an ancient prejudice. There were times in the past when it was abused.”

The expressions of theology students stiffened a bit. For them, it was a dark period in history, so it was understandable.

“As I mentioned earlier, Saint Peter, with the help of the Lord, uses divine power to defeat demons. However, isn’t it strange?”

A question thrown by Professor Antonelli. Why do people say it is allowed only for priests?

“Saint Peter, who was the eighth disciple of the Lord, had not yet received baptism at that time.”

“…!”

The entire classroom buzzed with excitement. Waves of anticipation, shoulders tensed, were crafted by the students.

Quickly, they opened their Bibles. The students’ flipping speed through the pages of the Bible became frantic.

Observing these students, Professor Antonelli spoke with an indifferent expression.

“However, listen, Peter. As one who has become a disciple, I came here to Samadan within a month with a desire to receive my baptism from you, but it is not yet time to wash away your sins and command you to repent.”

“…1 Peter, chapter 1, verse 8….”

One theology student muttered in a daze. And the students began to realize.

Saint Peter in the Bible used his sanctity to defeat Satan and evil spirits even before receiving baptism.

So, when did Saint Peter receive baptism?

As if to resolve this question, Professor Antonelli’s words followed immediately.

“Right after Saint Peter defeated the demons, the Lord finally allowed him to receive baptism.”

Professor Antonelli opened the Bible. The rustling pages came to a stop, and a solemn voice filled the classroom.

“As Peter knelt before the crystal palace, shedding tears, he finally realized the grace of my blessed Lord. At that moment, the Lord extended His radiance and pointed to the river of Samadan.”

Ask, and you will receive, and your faith has reached me.

Peter, it is time for you to repent now.

“1 Peter, chapter 12, verse 27.”

The students reading the Bible along with Professor Antonelli shivered.

The theology students were already on their knees. They were crossing themselves and putting their lips to the rosary, obtaining an unexpected revelation.

“Is that… Is that what it was…!”

“Oh, Lord! Once again, I am deeply moved by Your grace today! Thy kingdom comes!”

Theology students’ illuminating revelation. The source of it all, Professor Antonelli, looked through the classroom and spoke.

“The introduction was long, but it seems that some of the students have already partially grasped what I wanted to convey.”

Most of the theology students nodded their heads. They were all shedding tears, wiping their noses, and their faces were filled with excitement.

“It is indeed fortunate, but it seems you haven’t fully understood it yet… I will show you from now on.”

Professor Antonelli turned to the blackboard, and the students leaned forward, extending their upper bodies over their desks.

“Now, from now on…”

“He’s insane. He’s really gone crazy…!”

Students clutching pens and notebooks, each one longing for the enlightenment that awaited them. How much would that revelation help them overcome the great walls that stood before them? The students poured all of their concentration into the task, filled with anticipation.

Someone would depict the scenes that would unfold. The students from the Department of Fine Arts would take the lead.

Someone would describe, analyze, and seek answers to those scenes. The students from the Department of Theology and the Department of Magic would be in charge.

And, by some stroke of luck, Laura von Adelheid, sitting at the front row of this classroom, was truly fortunate.

Her hand holding the notebook trembled slightly. Laura struggled to swallow her parched saliva.

Gulp—

Professor Antonelli met eyes with Cloe. Amongst Cloe’s pink hair, her pink eyes shimmered with reverence.

“Cloe, my student.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Close your eyes.”

Cloe closed her eyes. Antonelli’s indifferent face that filled her vision disappeared, replaced by a pitch-black darkness.

In the darkness, Antonelli’s gruff voice resounded.

“First, think of the person or thing you love the most, Cloe.”

In the darkness, Cloe thought of her parents. Her affectionate and warm-hearted mother and her taciturn father who secretly cared about her faintly appeared.

“Have you thought of it?”

“Yes….”

“Now, think of something else. Think of someone or something you cherish other than what you thought of before.”

Cloe thought of various things. The cute cat she raised at home, the countless friends she had encountered until now. And even her best friend, Elin.

Although Cloe’s eyes were closed, her mind was no longer filled with darkness. Numerous people she cherished vividly appeared before her eyes.

“Are you done?”

“Um… yes.”

“Now then, this is the final step.”

Gulp. Cloe swallowed her saliva.

The last step. If she could pass this one stage, she would gain the power of the divine. The thought made her heart tremble.

Antonelli spoke softly to her.

“Now, think of the thing you fear the most.”

The thing she feared the most…?

“Anything will do. A person, an object, an animal, even an intangible entity. Think of something that makes you most afraid, something that fills you with terror.”

Unconsciously, Cloe tightly closed her eyes. The cherished individuals she had thought of before disappeared like mist, and darkness enveloped her once again.

“…Is it Father Giovanni, the head priest?”

And revealing itself in the darkness was the ghost covered in blood that Anragya Salgotra had seen before, the ghost of Giovanni, the chief inviting priest.

Sweat began to bead on Cloé’s hands. In the darkness, hidden from Cloé’s sight, the eyeballs that had burst open, dripping blood from all over the body, and the remaining ones that had been put back in, with bloodshot eyes, revealed that figure.

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Because of its terrifying appearance, it had even haunted Cloé’s dreams recently, making her tense. The image of Chief Priest Giovanni came vividly to Cloé’s mind.

“Ugh…”

Cloé, still tense, involuntarily clenched the hand she had unknowingly grabbed.

“Cloé student.”

“Yes, yes.”

“The frightening entity you just recalled. And all the others you’ve recalled before. What is the difference between them?”

Difference. When talking about differences…

“The people I recalled before… were the ones I love and cherish. The one I just recalled… is not like that.”

“Exactly.”

Cloé didn’t understand the meaning of those words. As she lifted her head with closed eyes, Professor Antonelli spoke.

“All those entities you’ve recalled are the grace of the Lord.”

“…What?”

“Cloé student. The probability of being born into this world to meet those precious connections is roughly one in three billion.”

You have pierced through that extreme probability, born with the blessing of all those people.

Cloé’s body stiffened. No words came out of her open mouth like a fool.

“Born into this world with the love of the Lord, meeting those you love by the grace of the Lord, and thanks to that, Cloé student, there are so many precious people around you.”

One sentence from Professor Antonelli. It tickled Cloé’s heart.

“Cloé student, once again, recall the people you love, the ones you cherish the most.”

The loved ones. The precious ones. Family. Friends. Even the kind neighbors.

The ghost of Chief Priest Giovanni had disappeared long ago. In its place, even larger and clearer than before, the precious people now occupied the space.

“Deeply cherish those who come to mind now. Regard them as those you never want to lose, treat them with unchanging love and trust. Promise this deep in your heart. And now, follow what I say.”

“Yes.”

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light, the sacred light of the beginning bloomed there.”

“…And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light, the sacred light of the beginning bloomed there.”

Whooosh—.

Suddenly, light emerged from the darkness. Cloé stared blankly at the light.

She was clearly in a state of having her eyes closed. Yet, light emerged.

It might be faint and small, and at first glance, it might seem unimpressive. However, the light was warm. Tender. It was more than enough to illuminate this darkness.

Chloe suddenly felt an incredibly comfortable sensation, and her heart swelled with emotion.

“Chloe, the student.”

In Chloe’s ears, who was feeling the comfort and coziness throughout her body, a soft and pleasant low voice resonated.

“Now, open your eyes.”

Chloe opened her eyes and gazed blankly at Father Antonelli.

Father Antonelli spoke with a slight smile.

“Chloe, look down.”

“…Down?”

It was… it was. Yes, it was.

It was light.

The most beautifully crafted golden light in the world. It was the quietest, the smallest, yet the warmest light.

The fundamental miracle fashioned from divine power. A tiny golden sphere, radiant with sacred energy, rested on Chloe’s hand.

She stared at it in a daze. And it wasn’t just her.

Numerous students had already rushed forward, crowding around the table to witness this inexplicable spectacle, wanting to see this miraculous event up close, etching into their minds that something truly extraordinary had happened here.

A scene where a faint glow of divine power illuminated the tabletop. However, it was far from insignificant.

This was the scene of enlightenment, a situation that transcended limits. An unbelievable outcome.

Everything had come together to create a single miracle.

Father Antonelli, quietly observing the students gathered like clouds, whispered softly enough for everyone to hear.

“Blessed, truly blessed.”

The love of the Lord, so blessed.