Lessons in Divinity
A week had already passed since Ludenberg Lavante enrolled at Solemnute Adem. He grabbed his Theology Fundamentals textbook. The week's classes began with Professor Sione Solenute's theology lecture, so he needed to stay sharp.
Normally, theology classes rotated by denomination each day, so last week should have featured a Celioum priest. But since it was the first theology session, Sione—as the representative from all denominations—had stepped in. The next day proceeded as usual with a Setra priest, and the day after that was a holiday. From Ludenberg's perspective, it meant seeing Sione again after just a few days.
That made facing her again deeply uncomfortable. He never knew when she might peer into his thoughts or probe with teasing questions. Still, as a professor, she wouldn't pull any reckless pranks during class. Ludenberg resolved to simply tune her out.
Next up was Saint Law studies. It should have started last week, but to accommodate the Knight Faculty's training, it began in the second week—today. Knight Faculty theory classes ran two per day. Theology was daily, leaving just one other subject.
Excluding theology, Erosion Studies and Saint Law dominated the curriculum, while history and literature took a back seat. Erosion Studies and Saint Law met twice weekly; history and literature, once.
Truth be told, Ludenberg had no real need for Saint Law. Without divine power, he couldn't cast saint laws anyway. The silver lining? Knight Faculty barely graded it. For knights, saint laws were mere support tools.
Still, attending couldn't hurt. Knowing what saint laws existed would help him coordinate or counter them. With that in mind, he headed to the White Pavilion.
Shortly after arriving, Sione took the podium, and theology class began.
"Open your Theology Fundamentals to Chapter 1: Solem."
The Innocence students flipped open their books. The primer spanned Chapters 1 through 7: Solem first, followed by Lanur, Terra, Mare, Celioum, and Setra—each covering scripture and research on the respective gods. Sione was handling Chapter 1.
Her voice rang out clear and high as she read from the text.
"Let's start with the birth of the sun god Solem. Pay close attention. Unless you're from Solem's denomination, you've only skimmed the basics—so this will be especially new."
The Innocence students exchanged puzzled glances. Hadn't they heard Solem's tales since childhood?
Sione smiled faintly at their confusion. "It'll get more specialized, so it might be tough. We're diving into scripture research and tracing Solem's footsteps."
Their expressions darkened. Interpreting and researching scripture sounded far harder than rote reading. They could already picture themselves floundering in theology.
"Oh dear. Well, scripture can be dreadfully dull. Even I nodded off a bit when I first joined Solem's order and started proper theology."
Her joke lightened the mood.
"It's tricky and obscure, sure—but look closely, and you'll find fun bits. Like Solem's hidden sayings."
"Solem's hidden sayings?"
"Yes. He apparently loved jokes and bold words—plenty recorded in Solem's archives."
"Oh..."
The students murmured in awe. Seeing a god's human side promised rare delight beyond blind praise. Even Ludenberg, who just planned to listen dutifully, perked up at the mention of Solem's sayings.
"Of course, I can't share those yet. Let's cover the basics first. Open to Chapter 1."
The Innocence students eagerly turned to the page.
"So, how was the sun god Solem born? In the beginning, Solem existed in a dark, barren, chaotic void. Suffering in the turmoil, he purified it by burning himself alive. The ashes of that incinerated chaos formed the world's frame..."
She delved into Solem's origin story. For now, it was just close reading of scripture—nothing too hard. But every Innocence in the White Pavilion realized: once the recitation ended, drowsiness would become their new foe.
Solem's sayings intrigued, but they wouldn't carry the whole class. Resigned to their fate, they focused on Sione's lecture. After all, the future emperor herself was teaching—no one dared doze.
Noticing their effort, Sione peppered the session with timely jokes. Thanks to her, the potentially monotonous theology passed smoothly.
With theology done, Saint Law awaited Ludenberg. He sat blankly, waiting for the professor.
The door opened, and an elderly professor entered, standing tall at the podium. His straight posture and sharp gaze swept the students as he introduced himself.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Rohan Heywards. From today, I'll teach your Saint Law."
A stir rippled through the room. Rohan Heywards: renowned Saint Law professor and Celioum priest, known empire-wide. Children awakening divine power learned saint laws from his Saint Law Basics. The Innocence stared in wonder and reverence—the figure from books and tutors now stood before them.
Ludenberg, too, gazed at him with rare curiosity. Even without divine power, he'd heard the name endlessly since childhood.
But awe? No. He couldn't use saint laws anyway. Ludenberg simply wondered what techniques he'd face in battle.
Rohan dove straight in—no time for delays on this belated first class.
"Let's begin."
"Professor, what about the textbook...?"
"Ah, it's designated as Saint Law Fundamentals, but we won't need it yet. Today, we'll overview what saint laws are and their types."
"Understood."
"Right. First: what is a saint law? You all know, but revisiting basics matters."
He scrawled What is a saint law? on the board, then turned.
"A saint law is a miracle manifested through divine power. How does it work? Anyone?"
Ashytara ventured cautiously, "By wrapping divine power around the body and invoking a prayer."
"Correct. Saint laws turn desired outcomes into reality via divine power."
Defining it, Rohan posed another question. "But how do we shape that vague 'prayer' into a concrete saint law?"
"It varies by practitioner," an Innocence replied.
Rohan nodded. "Yes. Methods include mudras—drawing desires with hand signs—or incantations, voicing prayers to fix them in the mind."
As he spoke, Rohan formed a mudra with his left hand—a playful gesture. But the result was anything but.
Whoooosh—
Wind howled from nowhere, swelling into a gale that birthed a tiny storm in his palm.
The Innocence paled at the immense pressure. If it burst, how many would survive?
"Mudra-based saint law: concentrate mentally, shape with hands—no words. With practice, you can too. Solemnute Adem has professors using incantations, even unique methods. You'll meet them all here."
"Ahaha..."
The students laughed awkwardly, inwardly deeming it impossible—but wisely silent.
"Knowing methods, you need to know which saint laws exist. They're divided into unique and common..."
Rohan explained: Saint laws realized personal prayers in boundless forms—mostly unique. But shared prayers standardized into common ones.
"So, I'll focus on common saint laws. Unique ones you pioneer yourselves."
He began listing common saint laws on the board.