By the time Nolan finally finished showering and changed into proper attire, the earlier incident outside his room had already become something he desperately wanted to erase from existence entirely.
Unfortunately, his brain refused to cooperate.
The moment he adjusted the collar of his Church uniform before the mirror, fragmented pieces of the earlier conversation resurfaced again almost immediately.
"Imagining Master Nolan doing that somehow feels really hot okay?!"
Nolan's expression twitched faintly while a blush appeared on his face.
'…I seriously need to forget that happened.'
The embarrassment had dulled somewhat after the shower, but traces of damage still lingered stubbornly beneath his otherwise composed expression.
Worse, now that his mind had calmed properly, the realization of just how embarrassing that situation actually was became even clearer.
Those attendants absolutely would not keep quiet about it forever.
They won't be malicious and neither will they discuss it publicly…
But gossip naturally spread between younger trainees and attendants inside the Church compounds all the time. Especially when the topic involved someone relatively well-known within Divinia.
And unfortunately, Nolan fit that description perfectly.
'At least they don't know everything…'
That thought alone prevented the situation from becoming even worse mentally.
Because if anyone somehow discovered the actual reason behind last night's loss of composure — the failed possession attempt, the overwhelming contamination, the foreign lustful emotions still lingering faintly inside him…
Nolan genuinely might have thrown himself off one of Divinia's bridges.
Deciding firmly that continuing to think about it would only deepen his suffering, Nolan exhaled quietly before finally leaving his residence and heading toward the educational district.
The atmosphere outside had shifted fully into active afternoon rhythm by now.
Bright sunlight illuminated the sprawling Sacred Land beneath a clear blue sky while countless people moved throughout the enormous Holy Territory in organized flow.
Trainees, instructors, attendants, clergy members, Holy Knights, scholars, and support personnel crossed the walkways connecting Divinia's countless districts together.
The Church here, was not merely a religious organization.
It was a civilization unto itself.
That reality became increasingly obvious the deeper one travelled into the sectors spread throughout the Sacred Land.
Towering lecture halls connected directly into enormous libraries containing millions of preserved texts and mana records gathered over centuries.
Floating projection arrays drifted through open research courtyards carrying illusionary educational displays for students studying advanced mana theory while enormous crystalline devices embedded into surrounding structures powered countless magical formations spread across the district.
Students moved between classes carrying magically stored tablets, enchanted documents, and projection devices alongside more traditional books and handwritten notes.
Some wore standard Church trainee uniforms while others displayed specialized attire connected to support divisions, healing branches, scholarly research groups, or combat training programs.
The entire atmosphere felt sophisticated in a way few ordinary cities across Astrara could ever hope to replicate.
Magic and technology had long since become inseparable throughout the modern civilizations of Astrara.
Mana powered transportation systems, communication networks, medical treatment, construction methods, educational tools, military equipment, defensive barriers, and countless aspects of daily life across the continent. The further civilization advanced, the more deeply integrated mana became into society itself.
And it was clearly demonstrated in Divinia.
Nolan walked calmly through the flowing crowds of students beneath the afternoon sunlight while quietly observing the activity around him.
A few people greeted him respectfully in passing.
Others simply nodded.
Some younger students visibly straightened slightly after noticing him.
Nolan acknowledged each reaction naturally without slowing his pace.
Thankfully, no one there seemed to have heard any gossip and started whispering about tissues.
That alone already counted as a victory.
'Though, I doubt it will be long before it becomes quite the gossip topic…'
Eventually, Nolan arrived before one of the larger educational structures located near the center of the academic district.
The lecture hall itself resembled a fusion between sacred cathedral architecture and advanced magical technology.
Massive white pillars lined the enormous chamber while intricate golden formations glowed softly across the walls and ceiling above.
Floating projection arrays drifted quietly near the upper sections of the hall while transparent holographic screens periodically appeared and vanished throughout the room displaying educational notices, schedules, and magical diagrams.
Rows of elevated seating surrounded the central lecture platform below, allowing hundreds of students to attend lessons simultaneously.
By the time Nolan entered, most students had already arrived.
Groups of trainees discussed earlier classes quietly while others reviewed notes through floating projection tablets hovering above their desks.
Several students glanced toward Nolan after noticing him enter.
A few nodded respectfully.
One girl near the middle rows immediately lowered her head far too quickly after making eye contact with him for half a second.
Nolan narrowed his eyes slightly.
'…No way the rumours spread already.'
'I was just thinking that it hasn't yet…'
Choosing not to investigate that thought further for the sake of his own sanity, Nolan calmly took his usual seat closer toward the front sections of the lecture hall.
Not long afterward, the instructor finally arrived.
The moment he stepped onto the central platform, the previously noisy lecture chamber gradually quieted almost immediately.
Professor Aldric Vale.
One of Divinia's senior theoretical scholars.
Unlike most combat-oriented Church instructors, Aldric carried himself more like an academic researcher than a warrior. His silver hair fell neatly behind his shoulders while thin golden-rimmed glasses rested calmly across sharp amber eyes filled with perpetual intelligence and faint amusement.
Despite his scholarly appearance, however, an unmistakable pressure lingered subtly around him.
The pressure of someone who possessed genuine mastery in their fields.
"Good afternoon."
His voice echoed smoothly throughout the lecture hall through mana amplification.
"Today's lesson concerns foundational mana theory and elemental philosophy. Since half of you still misunderstand concepts that should have been learned many lessons ago, I expect proper attention."
Several students visibly stiffened.
Aldric ignored them completely before raising one hand casually.
The floating projection systems throughout the lecture hall activated instantly.
Light spread across the room while an enormous three-dimensional holographic sphere materialized above the central platform.
Mana.
Pure mana.
The projection resembled a slowly rotating cosmic structure composed entirely of luminous energy currents flowing endlessly through shifting layers of light.
"Mana," Aldric began calmly, "is the foundational force upon which modern civilization itself exists. Every living organism naturally absorbs trace amounts from the environment throughout their lifetime. Without mana, neither biological evolution nor modern magical civilization would exist in their current forms."
The projection shifted again.
Countless streams of coloured energy emerged from the central sphere before spreading outward into branching structures.
"Contrary to simplistic early educational myths, mana itself possesses no fixed elemental nature initially. Mana is fundamentally neutral energy."
Another projection appeared beside the first one.
This time showing human mana pathways.
"Elemental affinity merely represents the direction through which an individual most naturally shapes and expresses mana."
A student near the back raised his hand cautiously.
"Professor, then why are some people born unable to use certain elements at all?"
"Excellent question. At least some of you have functioning brains to ask questions."
Several students groaned quietly.
Aldric continued without pause.
"Technically speaking, nearly all individuals possess the theoretical capacity to learn multiple, if not all, elemental expressions. In practice, however, natural aptitude determines efficiency, compatibility, learning speed, mana stability, and maximum potential."
The holographic display shifted again.
Eight enormous elemental symbols materialized throughout the chamber.
Fire.
Water.
Wind.
Earth.
Lightning.
Light.
Darkness.
Space.
"The Eight Foundational Elements currently recognized throughout modern magical theory."
The symbols rotated slowly through the air while corresponding mana demonstrations appeared beneath each one.
"Fire represents combustion, expansion, aggression, and thermal acceleration. Unsurprisingly, most idiots reduce it exclusively to destruction."
Several students laughed quietly.
"Yet fire magic also supports industrial forging, energy production, propulsion systems, thermal medicine, biological stimulation, and advanced mana engineering."
The projection shifted again.
Water.
"Water represents adaptation, flow, pressure regulation, purification, conductivity, environmental synchronization, and biological stabilization. Again, simplistic minds often reduce it merely to support or healing."
A floating demonstration displayed water being weaponized into compressed cutting streams capable of slicing directly through steel.
"Water can kill extremely efficiently."
More elemental demonstrations followed rapidly afterward.
Wind controlled pressure, speed, motion, sensory expansion, and atmospheric manipulation.
Earth governed structure, reinforcement, defense, construction, durability, and mineral synchronization.
Lightning specialized in acceleration, nervous system stimulation, energy conversion, signal transmission, and destructive penetration.
Darkness manipulated concealment, suppression, entropy, emotional influence, decay, and psychological interference.
Each explanation came paired with dynamic holographic demonstrations projected throughout the chamber itself.
Students watched attentively while taking notes across floating magical interfaces hovering above their desks.
Then—
the Light symbol expanded larger than the others.
Naturally, this was Divinia after all.
"Now then," Aldric continued calmly, "let us address the misconception most commonly repeated by new students."
Several students immediately straightened.
"Light mana is not inherently healing-based."
The projection shifted again.
Golden mana spread throughout the chamber like flowing sunlight.
"The element of Light fundamentally represents purity, vitality, order, amplification of life force, and stabilization."
The demonstrations surrounding the projection changed continuously.
Healing.
Barrier formation.
Physical enhancement.
Purification.
Combat reinforcement.
Sensory enhancement.
Long-range destructive beams.
Support synchronization.
"All applications emerge from specialization, creativity, training, talent, and understanding."
Aldric folded his hands behind his back calmly.
"A healer and a Paladin may both possess Light affinity while functioning entirely differently in combat."
Another student raised her hand carefully.
"Professor, then why are Light users naturally superior healers?"
"Because Light mana stabilizes biological vitality more efficiently than most other elements," Aldric answered immediately. "That does not mean healing belongs exclusively to Light users. Water, Earth, Wind, and even Lightning users possess medical applications depending on mastery."
The professor glanced briefly across the class.
"Elemental affinity provides direction. Not destiny."
For some reason—
that sentence resonated strangely deeply inside Nolan.
A faint sensation stirred quietly somewhere beneath his thoughts.
It was a subtle one.
One that was difficult to describe.
Almost instinctive.
Like something inside him clicked with that explanation on a deeper level than before.
The feeling vanished almost immediately afterward.
Nolan frowned faintly.
"…?"
Meanwhile, Aldric continued the lecture.
"Natural Light awakeners remain relatively rare throughout Astrara," he explained while adjusting several floating projections simultaneously. "However, Light itself can still be learned artificially through sufficient dedication, compatibility, and proper mana discipline."
(A/N: Just in case anyone is confused. Astralia is the world's name; Astrara is the continent's name, and the academy's name is Astralis Grand Academy)
Then, the final symbol appeared.
Space.
The atmosphere inside the lecture hall shifted slightly immediately afterward.
Even among the students, visible seriousness appeared.
"The element of Space," Aldric stated calmly, "is fundamentally different."
The holographic demonstrations surrounding the symbol distorted unnaturally.
Distances folded.
Structures warped.
Entire sections of projected space bent impossibly inward before reconstructing again.
"Unlike other elemental systems, no verified cases exist of individuals successfully learning Space affinity artificially."
The lecture hall remained silent.
"Without natural compatibility or an Innate Talent directly connected to spatial authority, Space manipulation remains effectively impossible."
Another student raised his hand cautiously.
"Professor… why is that?"
Aldric's gaze sharpened faintly.
"Because Space itself governs the framework upon which physical reality functions."
Silence deepened slightly throughout the chamber.
"Manipulating fire alters combustion. Manipulating water alters fluid systems. Manipulating space itself alters reality's structural laws."
Even Nolan found himself focusing more carefully now.
"Space users are exceedingly rare throughout recorded history," Aldric continued. "But every verified spatial manipulator eventually became a figure of enormous influence regardless of allegiance, nationality, or specialization."
The holographic displays finally dimmed slightly as the lesson reached temporary pause.
"Next," Aldric said calmly while glancing across the class, "we will continue toward corruption studies, Holy Knight structures, and continental political geography."
Several students immediately began discussing the lesson quietly among themselves.
Meanwhile Nolan remained seated silently for several moments longer.
Certain parts of today's lecture continued lingering strangely inside his mind long after the explanations ended.
*******
Author's Note
Hey everyone! Thank you so much for reading this chapter ❤️
If you're enjoying the story, I'd really appreciate it if you could drop a Power Stone to help the novel climb the rankings and reach more readers. Every single one makes a huge difference!
I'd also love to hear your thoughts — please leave a Review and drop your comments below. Whether it's glowing praise, honest criticism, or anything in between, I read every single one. Good or bad, your feedback helps me improve the story, characters, and writing.
I'm especially open to your ideas! Feel free to share:
• Suggestions for future plot developments or academy events
• Thoughts on the characters (favorites, ones you want more of, or some idea like their backstory or future)
• Opinions on the current writing style, pacing, or anything else
And because this novel will also have smut… I'm very open to your spicy ideas too 😉
Don't hold back — any suggestions for steamy scenes, intimate moments, harem dynamics, or even specific kinks and fantasies you'd like to see are more than welcome. Your ideas might actually make it into future chapters!
Can't wait to read what you think!
See you in the next chapter~