The Finger (5)
According to Daniel, Caldea Imperial Academy was rife with ghost stories. The bloody finger was one of them, and among occult enthusiasts, it was considered quite credible.
"Long ago, back when Caldea Imperial Academy had just been built."
"Daniel. Your speech pattern changed."
"Vivian. I'm telling a scary story here."
"Oh, right."
Vivian nodded. Daniel let out a brief sigh and lowered his voice again.
"Ahem. It's a tale from the early days of Caldea Imperial Academy...."
Giovanni di Greco was the first chief priest of Caldea Imperial Academy.
He always welcomed students visiting the cathedral with a warm heart, and in the academy's early days, the students respected and followed him.
Given the sheer size of the academy and its student body, it was inevitable that some would stray. Chief Priest Giovanni embraced even them with kindness.
For students too poor to pay tuition, he went out of his way to gather funds or taught them skills to earn money themselves.
He listened to the tales of bullied, twisted students, empathized, and even stepped in to resolve their issues personally.
When commoner students faced discrimination, he led the fight for their rights—despite being from a noble family himself.
He was practically a saint at the academy. Touched by his character, countless students followed him, and even some professors admired the selfless man who gave endlessly for the students.
One day, tales of Caldea Imperial Academy's saint, Chief Priest Giovanni, spread beyond the grounds.
Priests dispatched from the Holy Nation visited the academy. When students or professors asked why, they only repeated that it was by order of His Holiness the Pope.
A week after the Holy Nation priests arrived.
It was a Sunday. Students heading to the academy cathedral for mass, as usual, witnessed it.
Chief Priest Giovanni, hollow-eyed, a longsword plunged into his chest, covered in blood—a horrific sight.
Before the stunned students and professors could react, he vanished.
The only traces he left: bloodstains on the floor.
And a severed finger, glistening with fresh blood.
The priests from the Holy Nation returned home that day, as if their business was done.
With only papal orders to show when questioned about the chief priest's whereabouts, no one at the academy could detain them.
After they left, Caldea mobilized all resources to search for him. But Chief Priest Giovanni was nowhere to be found.
As if he had vanished into thin air.
No one saw him after that day.
Soon after, rumors began circulating at Caldea Imperial Academy.
At dawn, the blood-soaked Chief Priest Giovanni roamed the grounds, searching for his lost finger.
If it were a baseless tale, it might have died down after a few months of buzz.
But sightings of the blood-drenched chief priest persisted to this day. So the students concluded:
This was Chief Priest Giovanni's vengeful spirit. A man of such pure character, murdered unjustly, too noble even for revenge—doomed to wander the academy just for his finger.
From then on, the Occult Research Club—one of the academy's longstanding traditions—set its ultimate goal.
To find the bloody finger of the first chief priest, said to be hidden somewhere in the academy.
"And that's the end of the story...."
Daniel bowed his head gravely. Vivian clapped.
Clap, clap.
"S-So, what'd you think? Vivian. My skills improved, right?"
"Yeah. Scary story, and your delivery's gotten better. Gave me chills."
"Wait, hold on."
I rubbed my temple, waving a hand. Where to even start critiquing this.
Everyone's eyes sparkled at me.
"Professor Lucio. Could it be real? The first chief priest's ghost...."
"Isn't that basically a ghost?"
"Gh-Gh-Ghost...!"
"Chief Priest! I... my heart's starting to race!"
Deaconess Sophia huffed excitedly, clenching her fists. I sighed.
"...Giovanni di Greco. Sounds like a Holy Nation name, sure."
"Then...!"
"But I've never heard it before. Nor any tales of the first chief priest."
Chloe's eyes, sparkling moments ago, dimmed a bit. She'd probably faint at the sight of a ghost, yet her curiosity was endless. She reminded me a little of Deaconess Sophia.
"Still, it's worth looking into. Seems plausible."
"Pardon?"
"I don't know about the first chief priest, but the blood-soaked ghost."
I didn't think Laura had imagined it. With Deaconess Sophia, that's two witnesses.
Plus, long ago, this annex might've been the main building—so a wandering bloodied chief priest fits.
One thing nagged, though.
"Daniel. What do you plan to do if you find that finger?"
He shouted confidently.
"Research it, obviously! The finger of the first chief priest, dead so long ago! Is it rotted? Or fresh as if just severed?"
"Hm...."
"Once we've satisfied our curiosity, we'd return it to Chief Priest Giovanni, naturally. A great man like that, wandering without his finger? Kinda pitiful."
I felt skeptical. Ghosts, vengeful spirits—supernatural nonsense clashing with the academy's vibe was disorienting.
As I crossed my arms in thought, Eirin asked flatly.
"Professor. Do ghosts really exist? Isn't it all bullshit?"
"Eirin! Ghosts are real!"
"Common sense says no ghosts in the world. Dead go straight to heaven or hell."
"Ghosts exist."
Silence fell. Eirin stared wide-eyed—uncharacteristic for her—while Chloe gaped like an idiot. All eyes on me.
Only Deaconess Sophia looked unfazed. She'd accepted it through doctrine already.
The quiet classroom erupted into chaos.
"Gh-Gh-Ghosts actually exist?!"
"Tell us more details!"
"Professor! How about advising our Occult Research Club? The position's open!"
Daniel was rabid, eyes gleaming, spit flying as he lunged. I held him back with an arm.
"Calm down. The ghosts I mean are different. Think evil spirits or demons."
"Ah, demons...."
"But from the story alone, slim chance it's a demon."
I'd seen plenty of demons. During the Great War, I'd exorcised over five myself. Demons are real.
But a bloodied ghost haunting the academy without possessing anyone? Hardly demonic. Demons from hell need a host to affect the world—a pact between the Creator and them. No exceptions.
"Daniel. Does it harm students?"
He hemmed and hawed.
"N-No... I don't think so? Not sure."
"...Hm."
No direct harm was good, but not reassuring. Its influence was already negative—look at these four, breaking curfew to sneak in. More might follow.
I'd hunt this mystery myself—Giovanni's vengeful spirit, per Daniel.
"Valuable info, Daniel."
"No biggie, Professor."
"But staying this late isn't wise. I'll escort you to the dorms via the dean's office."
"......"
"Understood?"
"...Hic."
Chloe suddenly started hiccuping. The room fell deathly quiet. Odd atmosphere.
"Pr-Professor...."
Then, a damp palm gripped mine. Laura, glued to my side, clutched tight.
Frozen, I followed her finger slowly.
"What...?"
Outside the classroom window. Beyond the hallway.
Something in tattered white priestly robes, stained red, dripping blood.
Its crimson eyes glowing, peering into the room.