บท 23: Important decision

Strolling towards the Divine Tower, my thoughts are consumed by the upcoming Divine Studies lecture. Unlike most students who are eager to delve into the teachings of the main goddess of Arkaria, the Sun Goddess Aurielle, my curiosity lies elsewhere. My mind is fixated on uncovering more about the mysterious deity that brought Nathaniel and me to this unfamiliar world.

As I make my way through the bustling corridors of the academy, students chatter excitedly about the upcoming lecture, eager to learn more about the revered Sun Goddess and her divine blessings. However, my focus remains unwavering, determined to uncover the truth behind our unexpected arrival in this realm.

The Divine Tower looms majestically ahead, its spires reaching towards the heavens as if beckoning us to seek divine knowledge within its hallowed halls. Stepping through the grand doors, I am greeted by the soothing aura of ancient magic that permeates the air. The walls are adorned with intricate tapestries depicting the tales of the divine, each thread woven with reverence and awe.

Taking my seat among the students, I eagerly await the start of the lecture. The professor, a venerable scholar with wisdom etched upon his face, begins to speak of the illustrious Sun Goddess Aurielle. As he recounts tales of her radiant presence and benevolent grace, my mind drifts.

My attention is piqued. It's an unexpected topic, but one that surprisingly resonates with me on a deeper level.

"The Evil moon goddess Lunethys statues were broken, and her temples burnt, she would need human sacrifices…" the professor's voice echoes in the lecture hall. While others listen with a mix of fear and fascination, my mind races with possibilities.

The mention of the moon, human sacrifice, and the label of evil all seem to align with the deity responsible for bringing Nathaniel and me to this world. Lunethys, a name that now holds significant weight in my mind.

I jot down notes furiously, eager to learn more about Lunethys and her dark history. She clearly is a malevolent deity, I think to myself. I love her already.

After class, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of Lunethys and the mysterious circumstances that brought Nathaniel and me to this world, I make my way towards the Tower of Weapons. Lost in my musings, I stumble upon a heated argument that catches my attention.

"What is the meaning of this, Laurence?" A blonde woman exclaims, her face obscured from my view. Before her stands a man with dull brown hair and striking violet eyes, likely from the House of Seas. He's holding onto a girl with unremarkable features—black hair and plain brown eyes. Her name, it seems, is Griselda.

"Listen to me, Elizabeth. I'm in love with Griselda. I've had enough of your bullying! This is the last time! Next time, I won't be so forgiving!" Laurence's voice echoes through the air as he firmly positions Griselda behind him, shielding her from the wrath of the blonde woman.

"How dare you disgrace me like this! Over a commoner!" Elizabeth's voice rings with fury. "I won't let you do this to me! And you! How can you go after someone's fiancée like this? Are you not ashamed?!"

Nathaniel would have enjoyed this drama.

I watch as Griselda pulls away from Laurence's protective embrace, tears streaming down her cheeks, and runs off. The situation is embarrassingly dramatic. Suddenly, there's an intense pressure in the air, the energy palpable. Despite the pressure, the blonde woman stands her ground, her resolve unyielding and impressive.

Eventually, Laurence decides to run after Griselda, the pressure dissipating as he leaves. The blonde woman, now alone, falls to her knees. Oh dear.

Deciding to intervene in the tense situation, I walk towards Elizabeth and offer my hand when I stand in front of her. She looks up, and I'm met with beautiful, mismatched golden brown and light blue heterochromiac eyes, a characteristic often found in those from the House of Skies. She takes my hand and gets up, quickly dusting herself off and regaining her composure.

"How much did you see?" she asks nonchalantly, clearly trying to gauge the extent of my observation.

"Enough," I respond simply, not offering any further details. Feeling a bit bored, I begin to walk towards the Tower of Weapons again.

However, Elizabeth isn't willing to let the conversation end there. She runs after me, catching up quickly. "Don't mention a word about what you saw," she insists, her tone more urgent this time.

I glance at her and shrug. "Don't worry about it. I really don't care," I respond, brushing off her concerns.

She falls into step beside me, and for a while, we walk in silence. It's a bit awkward, but I'm used to awkward silences.

"You're Selene Vitalis, aren't you? Pretty popular among first years," Elizabeth finally breaks the silence.

I nod, acknowledging her recognition.

" I'm Elizabeth Coralheart, direct descendant of the House of Skies," She introduces herself.

I try my best to keep ignoring Elizabeth, but then the thought crosses my mind that Nathaniel might need more members for his club. Sighing internally, I decide to engage with her.

"You don't have to be so anxious," I say gently, sensing her discomfort. "I really won't say a word about your embarrassing circumstances."

She blushes deeply, looking both embarrassed and grateful. It's kind of cute, in a way. That Lance guy really does seem like an ass.

"I'm heading towards the Tower of Weapons and Combat class," I inform her, trying to keep the conversation light.

"Same," she responds, falling into step beside me as we make our way to the Tower together.

As we walk towards the Tower of Weapons and Combat class, my mind is still consumed with anger towards Lawrence. How dare he embarrass me like this? I sneak a glance at Selene, and I can't help but admire her beauty. If Lawrence were to leave me for someone, I could understand if it were someone like her. But then, something inside me shifts, and I realize that to Selene, Lawrence is probably nothing more than dirt on the ground. The thought makes me chuckle softly to myself. I've never really liked him, to be honest.

My thoughts are interrupted when we arrive at the arena in the Tower of Weapons. Suddenly, Selene is swept into the arms of a handsome man with striking blue eyes. My heart skips a beat as I watch her aura melt into nothingness. This must be Nathaniel Shadowcrest, the man whose relationship with Selene is become the subject of rumors.

Before I even realize it, Nathaniel's gaze shifts to me, and he flashes a charming smile. I feel a flutter in my chest, but I quickly stomp down on those emotions. My intuition has never steered me wrong before.

"Hello," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm Elizabeth Coralheart."

Nathaniel looks at me for a moment that feels like an eternity, and when he finally nods in acknowledgment, I feel a strange sense of relief wash over me. He turns his attention back to Selene, smothering her with affection, and I can't help but feel like I've just made one of the most important decisions of my life.