Elyandra walked through the vast fields of the academy, the afternoon sun already high, but her mind was far from the beauty of the environment. Her hand resting under her chin, she tried to process what had just happened. "I don't know if I communicated properly with her," he thought. "It was very... I don't know, is she a follower of the Church? She speaks in a very artificial way."
As she delved deeper into these thoughts, Elyandra stopped abruptly, her soul freezing In a low voice, almost inaudible, he questioned himself: "Calm down... it must not have been a coincidence that she was in my group, a follower of the Church ending up in the same group as me is a very unreal coincidence. Was she following me?" Elyandra disguised it, looking around, but didn't notice anything unusual. Her eyes then turned forward, and she walked again in a noble manner, maintaining the perfect pose.
Behind his unwavering countenance, Elyandra's mind was buzzing. "I'm sure this wasn't something random, she was following me, but I was slow to notice her..." Glimpses of ancient teachings that Elyandra had learned from her mother and seen in her studies came back to her mind. "The Church of Divine Light, believers who follow the Goddess of Divine Light... some say that those who are blessed with the ways of the Saint, hear the Goddess in their ears, although I have never witnessed such voices or these surreal encounters. But if there was a member of the Church here and that person literally had his eye on me and Celestina..." Hazy thoughts clouded Elyandra's mind, until a familiar voice caught her attention. Elyandra turned around instantly, the fright making her almost falter.
— Lady Valemortis! — exclamava Celestina.
Celestina's abrupt voice startled Elyandra, but she disguised it with a serene smile.
"Good morning, Lady Lyra," greeted Elyandra, her voice calm and collected, a perfection of poise that barely concealed the slight surprise. "What brings you here in such a hurry?"
Celestina finally caught up with Elyandra, panting, and began to speak.
"I was looking for you all over the gym!" Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of anxiety and relief.
"All over the gym?" Elyandra thought, a small shiver running down her spine. Eliora's search had already put her on alert, and now Celestina reinforced the idea that her presence was a target of attention.
"To what do I owe all this search on your part?" Elyandra questioned, keeping a cheerful and confused face, perfectly orchestrated not to show her inner thoughts.
Celestina gestured with her hands, the concern on her face evident.
"I wanted to ask you what you thought of your test today." Mine was very complicated, so to speak, I can't say if I did well..." Celestina finished with a half-crestfallen look, staring at the floor.
Elyandra felt a twinge of empathy for Celestina's anxiety.
"My test was a bit complicated too, Lady Lyra. My theme was related to military affairs.
Celestina raised her face abruptly, her golden eyes wide and fixed on Elyandra. She approached, almost invading Elyandra's personal space, the surprise and curiosity intense in her voice.
"Military?!" But why?! Celestina asked, to genuine surprise.
Elyandra retreated a little, a discreet step back, due to Celestina's sudden approach.
"Well... what was your theme, Lady Lyra? Elyandra asked, directing the conversation to the other.
Celestina gestured again, her feelings bubbling.
"My test was related to religious issues and their impacts on the democracy of the Empire. I had to work out a way to soften the influence of faith on political matters so that both could coexist, but that's a bit absurd, isn't it? Our faith must not be stifled by such insane and political means!
Listening carefully to that statement, Elyandra thought: "It is to be expected that she would think so, after all Celestina comes from a house well connected to the Church. But this only confirms that those tests were created aiming at our homes, basically they were tests designed basically focusing on us. Is that somehow fair?"
Elyandra held out her hands, a soft gesture as if asking Celestina to calm down, her smile remaining gentle.
"Calm down, Lady Lyra." I believe that these tests were designed with our social positions regarding our homes in mind.
Celestina paused for a minute, the agitation in her countenance diminishing as she began to ponder the possibility.
"It makes sense, indeed," she said thoughtfully. "Would we have the chance to ask the teachers directly about this?"
Elyandra shook her head, a slight shake that conveyed the certainty of her answer. She remembered clearly how Armand had refused to reveal any information, no matter how basic, about the first test. She already knew that it wouldn't happen.
Celestina seemed to be a little annoyed, the beak on her lips subtly visible.
"That doesn't seem to be something right. As Saints, we should stand up against it! This is called the censorship of faith!
Elyandra stopped, a half-trembling smile appeared on her lips, as if she wanted to laugh. "It looks like a child throwing a tantrum... No, wait, she's a child. A child talking about censorship is indeed something funny." Elyandra recomposed her posture, her smile firming.
"I think both sides can coexist, Lady Lyra. But in a way that one does not interfere in the affairs of others.
Celestina was a little confused, her golden eyes widened slightly.
"What do you mean?" Could you explain it to me?
Elyandra noticed that she had gotten into a jam. She did not like to elaborate grand explanations, especially in public. He sighed, an internal uproar.
"Well... I want to make it clear that everything I say now is an opinion. This may change in the future or undergo changes, since I don't have so much basis to elaborate something like this out of nothing.
Celestina nodded in agreement, her eyes fixed on Elyandra, how interested the girl was was evident. Elyandra, noticing the attention, continued, her voice taking on a more formal and eloquent tone.
"For a truly prosperous society to sustain itself, it is essential that there is a solid and well-managed structure. The Empire, in its wisdom and authority, ensures the balance between the rights of citizens and compliance with the laws that guarantee our safety and well-being. Their presence not only organizes but sustains the social fabric, offering the foundations on which order and progress rest.
Celestina seemed even more captivated by the explanation, absorbing every word. Elyandra raised a finger in front of her, as if marking an important point.
"However, order alone is not enough to move the human spirit. This is where Religion fulfills its essential role: while the State organizes, faith inspires. In times of discouragement or uncertainty, it is the sacred word that comforts us and rekindles the flame of hope. Religion leads souls, in the same way that Empire leads nations with purpose, vision and commitment.
Celestina's eyes sparkled, hypnotized by those words. Finally, Elyandra finished her thought, her voice soft but full of conviction.
"Thus, as we walk under the light of the Saint and guided by her wisdom, we understand that our influence is not only a privilege, but a duty. May our actions serve as a beacon for those who are adrift, for a society is only truly great when its politics govern with justice and its faith inspires with love.
At the end of her explanation, Celestina had wide eyes and a somewhat uncertain expression, a mixture of surprise and confusion. Elyandra, seeing the girl's reaction, thought: "Damn... That's what I didn't want to happen. Conflict of interest is a pain to solve, so I hate to give my opinion, you open your mouth to say anything and you make room for your argument to be brutally beaten by someone who disagrees with you."
Celestina finally broke the silence, her voice still tinged with uncertainty.
"But can such a society really exist?" Is there a way for people to follow the faith, even if it goes against the Empire?
Elyandra was caught by a tricky question. "Shit... I said something that is basically basic sense. Even for a child, she's not an idiot. Maybe that's not it, she just asked the right question."
"I can't say, Lady Lyra," Elyandra replied, her voice a little more cautious. "Because we cannot reach a practical conclusion only with the theoretical basis. Politics and religion go together until the time when one crosses the path of the other.
Celestina brought her hand to her chin thoughtfully, her eyes fixed on a distant point. Elyandra, in turn, thought: "For God's sake, stop asking questions...". When Celestina was preparing to question another subject, another voice cut her off, soft and melodic. Seraphina Vancroft approached, greeting the two in a noble and refined way.
At this moment, Elyandra's eyes lit up, and she thought, "A Goddess! Am I worthy of being graced with such an opportunity to evade this subject?" She practically thanked something metaphysical in such a subtle way that Seraphina noticed and was somewhat confused.
Elyandra then, with a relieved smile, said:
"Lady Vancroft, would you like to join us on a little walk?"
Seraphina seemed to think for a few seconds, weighing the invitation.
"I'd love to," she replied, her refined and elegant voice
As the three young nobles walked through the vast fields of the academy, an uncomfortable silence hung over Elyandra. She wondered what to do; She had no plans or goals that could genuinely entertain her companions. A small drop of cold sweat slipped down her temple, even as she kept her smile serene. Exasperated, she sighed, looking for something to start a conversation with.
"Lady Vancroft," Elyandra began, her voice soft. "What did you think of your test?" Was it somehow difficult?
Seraphina, with her usual pose, looked at Elyandra from the corner, but soon turned her eyes to the horizon.
"Nothing more than expected," she replied, her voice so dry and disinterested that Elyandra felt as if she were in a desert under a scorching fifty-degree sun, draining the last drop of water from her soul.
Elyandra, with the mastery of an actress, perfectly disguised the blow.
"I see. If you allow me to ask, what was the theme of your test?
Celestina, who was walking one step ahead, turned her head curiously, staring at Seraphina with anticipation for the answer. Seraphina paused for a few seconds, thinking, her lips pursing slightly.
"Something about marine affairs and continental trade. His voice was almost a murmur, devoid of any enthusiasm.
"What lack of interest is this?!" Elyandra thought, shocked by Seraphina's indifference. She turned to her colleague, looking for more details.
"It seems like it was a bit difficult to develop, doesn't it?"
Seraphina shook her head in denial, a brief, carefree gesture.
"Not at all, it was actually easier than it seems. I only needed to say methods, the other nobles did the rest. Anyway, it was a team effort, I didn't have to do everything, I just had to develop my part.
These lines awakened something in Elyandra. A subtle chill ran down his spine. The idea that she should "just play her part" in teamwork was something she hadn't deeply considered.
Celestina, noticing the opening, shared her experience, her golden eyes seeking Elyandra's gaze.
"My test was somewhat complicated. As it was something difficult for me to develop, I only had to give the foundations of the Church and our visions. The nobles who were with me then got together and together we developed some methods that were not quite right, in my view, but anyway, we came to a conclusion together.
The sensation in Elyandra became stronger, a twinge of anxiety growing. A thought came like a bolt of lightning, chilling her inside: "Damn... If this was proof of total cooperation, I certainly set up a bomb with a timer and made sure to swallow it! Practically Eliora and I did everything about that test, we just assigned certain requirements to the other nobles. It was practically a double work. Is Armand aware of this?"
Seraphina, with her keen observation, noticed that Elyandra was somewhat pale. Celestina, noticing the sudden silence and the change in the color of Elyandra's face, held her arm, her small fingers squeezing gently, drawing her attention and bringing her back to reality.
"Is it okay, Lady Valemortis?" Celestina asked, her voice filled with genuine concern. "You look a little bad...
Elyandra listened to that question, feeling a whirlwind of anxiety, but forced a smile, gathering her last strength to keep the mask on.
"It's nothing, Lady Lyra. I just need to clear my thoughts a little... If you allow me, I'll need to take a little time off.
Celestina was visibly intrigued by the situation, her eyes widening slightly as Elyandra apologized and hurriedly walked away, immersed in her own thoughts.
Seraphina, with an air of someone who already expected something like this, approached Celestina, her eyes watching the figure of Elyandra who was moving away.
"The best we can do is leave you alone for now, Lady Lyra. It may not seem like it, but she is someone who is somewhat strange.
"Strange?" Celestina asked, in a tone that mixed surprise and a hint of intrigue, her eyes still fixed on the spot where Elyandra had disappeared.
As she walked, Elyandra didn't notice the time passing. When he realized it, it was already night. He looked around and saw no one around. At that moment, her hand went to her chest and she sighed heavily. His golden eyes then stared at the starry sky; The light of night shone on her.
For the first time in so long, Elyandra stretched, letting out a slight lazy grunt like a cat. Her body then gave way on the well-cut lawn, she was practically lying on her back to the ground, away from all the class that was expected of her. Lazily, she snuggled up, her arms making a pillow for her head and her legs spread in a relaxed way.
"Socializing is too difficult, thinking is tiring and creating solutions is even worse. I don't think I've ever been so tired," she said, slowly, almost whispering. "Thinking that possible failures can impact my life so much was something I thought I had left behind when I died the first time...
Her eyes enjoyed the starry night as she was bathed in moonlight. At that moment, Elyandra felt comfortable.
A comfort that was soon taken by a whirlwind of past memories, in which Elyandra saw herself in her old life.
A monotonous day. The alarm clock, a digital torment, erupted at 5 a.m. His eyes could barely open, glued together by exhaustion. He aimed at the color screen of his cell phone, and the light, like a dagger, wounded his retinas. An internal struggle raged in his body that screamed in protest, every muscle aching, feet ground by relentless routine. As he crawled out of bed, the question hovered, "Do I really want to go to work?" He rubbed his eyes, his mind already heavy with the burden of the day's problems, forcing him to get up and, after a mechanical tidying, go to work.
On the bus, the muffled sound of the audience was swallowed by the loud music that played on their headphones. The irritation, a constant trickle, turned into a river of stress. Upon arriving at work, the bombardment began: more and more demands, each an extra weight on her already hunched shoulders. It was all horrible, exhausting, and deeply depressing. He finally clocked in, feeling like he'd lost a whole day of life, a day that had simply slipped through his meaningless fingers.
The return home was the only glimmer of joy, a little refuge in his favorite MMO. Three hours of escape. Then the alarm would cruelly ring again, announcing bedtime. Depression enveloped him as he turned off the sound, took a quick shower, changed his clothes, and lay down, exhaustion pulling him to sleep. Before closing my eyes, one last glimpse on the cell phone screen: no message, not even a "Hi". The contrast with his online persona, vibrant and full of friends, was a bitter blow. With the dark screen, sleep came, a temporary oblivion.
And then, the cycle would start again. The alarm at 5 a.m.
Thus, this routine was repeated: another day, and another day, and another day. Days became weeks, weeks became months, and months became years. His mind, a wire stretched to the limit, began to collapse as his eyes stinged before the computer screen, the weight of fatigue crushing his shoulders.
Suddenly, a light burst out behind him, drawing his attention. He saw a hand approaching his face. It belonged to a girl with long white hair and golden eyes.
"Enough of this drug," the girl said, her voice firm and sharp, surprising the man. "This is not my life anymore. I'm no longer that failure.
The girl's hand grabbed the man's neck with frightening force, almost strangling him.
"Wake up..." WAKE UP NOW! She screamed.
Elyandra woke up with a start, her body thrown up onto the lawn where she was lying. A silent scream escaped his throat, and a lonely tear ran down his cheek. His chest rose and fell uncontrollably, in panting breaths. She looked around, her golden eyes sweeping through the darkness of the night, searching for something, anything, before letting out a long sigh of relief.
"I think I'm being too picky... I need to rest..." Elyandra murmured, her voice hoarse and trembling.