The Academy courtyard hummed with its usual morning chaos. Students argued over homework, boots scraped against stone, and somewhere a practice sword rang against another.
Vel continued on his usual path toward the quieter wing of the Academy. Here, the morning chaos faded to whispers. Five students clustered along the walkway to Lyvenna's class, their low voices cutting through the silence.
Strange. Regular students rarely ventured to this part of the Academy.
Their uniforms shared the same deep blue as his, but theirs resembled robes rather than his naval style. Embroidered collars draped around their shoulders like ceremonial vestments, marking them as Church-affiliated students.
Vel sidestepped around the group only to realize their intention—they were here for him.
One of them broke from the group. The young man's short hair lay perfectly straight, and wire-framed glasses perched precisely on his nose. He stepped forward with measured grace.
"Divine blessings upon you, brethren Novalance,"
"I am Voss Eliander of House Eliander. My family are devoted followers of the Sect of Morya, God of Resonance and Harmony."
Vel shifted uncomfortably under Eliander's gaze. The reverence directed at him felt unearned and misplaced.
"I've been meaning to make your acquaintance since I heard about Saint Landre's recent visit. Such a profound blessing that the Goddess Shizka has chosen someone so young for her light. Your family must be exceptionally favored in divine matters."
Before Vel could respond, the other four students stepped forward, each offering respectful nods in turn.
"Meri, devoted to Jules' guidance," said the one in earthy green.
"Alina, follower of Tir's wisdom," added a quiet girl whose dark stole seemed to absorb light.
The remaining names they offered blurred together in Vel's mind as he studied their expressions. Each smile came with evaluating glances, as if appraising his worth for future transactions.
This was his first direct interaction with the Church faction, and while they lacked the arrogance of the Royal faction or the bravado of the Guild, their polite assessment unsettled him more.
Vel's attention drifted to their uniform details as introductions continued. Each student bore different colored embroidery and symbols that matched the pantheon sects—Morya, Jules, Ignis, Tir, and Calyphe. One representative for each god, yet something was missing.
No Shizka. No Goddess of Light—the very deity who had chosen his sister Landre.
Eliander noticed Vel's careful examination and smiled. "Good observation, Brother Novalance. We currently lack a representative of Shizka's light among us."
The student wearing Calyphe's purple stole stepped forward. "That is also our intention of meeting you here today. We'd like to offer a seat in our little circle of students."
"We meet to discuss theology, share insights from our respective sects, and... support each other's endeavors at the Academy," Meri added.
Eliander nodded in agreement. "Through your sister's blessing by Shizka, your presence would complete our divine arrangement."
My sister...
For a moment, Vel didn't know how to respond. He opened his mouth but no words came out. Their eyes locked on him, as if expecting immediate agreement. The idea of using Landre's position twisted something in his chest. They weren't seeing him—they were seeing Landre's brother, a potential asset in whatever game they were playing.
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GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation
FantasyWhen renowned game developer Giri meets his untimely end, he awakens as twelve-year-old Vel in the magical realm of Aeonalus-his own creation. Five hundred years have passed since he crafted the world, and Vel finds himself in the village of Oakhave...
