Apostle of Love - 3
Teresa stepped into the meeting room and immediately sensed the awkward tension in the air. She glanced at Rene and Vera. The two of them sat ramrod straight, staring straight ahead in identical postures. Naturally, the question slipped out.
"What are you two up to?"
Rene and Vera's gazes turned to her in unison. Vera gave a slight bow in greeting, while Rene startled with a jerk of her shoulders. Teresa chuckled at their contrasting reactions, then slowly walked over and took a seat across from them.
"Sorry about that. It's been a while since I visited, and I had some things to discuss."
"Ah, no, it's fine!"
Rene replied in a loud voice, then winced inwardly with an oh no and shrank back. Teresa felt another laugh bubbling up at the sight, shifting her gaze to look back and forth between them.
"Hmm…"
Vera was watching the huddled Rene with concern. Rene had her eyes squeezed shut, cheeks flushed red. To Teresa's eyes, pink energy was bubbling up from Rene like steam.
It's a crush, plain as day.
She could tell at a glance. Teresa's apostle power let her see emotions as colors. The purer and less refined the feeling, the clearer it appeared. A girl's clumsy first love had no idea how to hide itself, so it stood out sharp and vivid even in a brief glance.
For some reason, a warm gladness welled up inside her. She turned to Rene and spoke.
"Saint. I hear you're learning divine arts from Trevo. Is that right?"
"Ah, yes!"
"For the next month, I'll take over. I teach better than that fool anyway."
The abrupt declaration made Rene tilt her head, worry flickering across her face.
"Um… Is that okay? What if Trevo feels slighted…?"
Trevo had always been so kind and approachable, which sparked the concern. Teresa chuckled and nodded.
"No need to fret. That one's thrilled to have free time on his hands."
A sharp judgment, Vera thought. Anyone who knew Trevo would think the same. Everyone who came and went from the Great Temple knew the madman vanished into his research for days on end. The only reason Rene didn't know was Vera's "tutoring." Trevo never showed his obsessive side in front of her.
Teresa caught Vera's small nod, glanced at the flustered Rene, then added with a tone laced in amusement.
"Don't worry your pretty head. I've known that rascal since he was knee-high, so I know him well. And teaching? Nothing I'm better at. Why tell you? Even Vargo was one I raised."
Vera's eyes widened at the words. The one who taught Vargo. It clicked then—the deference Vargo showed Teresa, and the source of her confidence. A desire stirred in Vera.
"Could I join the lessons as well?"
"Eh?"
Meeting Teresa's gaze, Vera pressed on.
"I've hit a wall studying divine arts on my own."
Not flattery—it was true. Self-study had limits. He'd filled the gaps with intuition back in his beggar days, but now theory demanded attention. Perfect timing for her arrival.
As Vera awaited a reply, Teresa's blunt response made him flinch.
"Not you."
The flat refusal.
"…May I ask why?"
"Lessons are for the Saint only. You go elsewhere."
Incomprehensible. Vera's expression hardened, and confusion bloomed on Rene's face. Separated from Vera. That fact sparked her panic. An inexplicable anxiety crept in, making her fidget visibly.
Teresa hummed at the sight, pondered a moment, then drove the point home.
"It interferes with my power."
Her power. She'd use it to teach. That must be the intent. Vera wanted to snap back but held his tongue—ignorant of love's power, he'd gain nothing from arguing. He nodded in acceptance.
"…Understood."
"Good. Word is you're capable on your own. What's got you so eager?"
"My apologies."
"Apologies, even."
Tch-tch. Laughter spilled from Teresa's lips.
"Well then, shall we start lessons the day after tomorrow?"
"Ah, yes!"
The question came in a rush, and Rene answered without thinking. Something felt off about how things were unfolding, but she nodded anyway.
*
Two days later, in the clearing before the cabin. Vera wiped sweat from his face with a towel and scanned the area.
"Ughhh…"
"Ughhh…"
The figures collapsed around him, groaning, were the twins and Rohan. He'd called them for the periodic "training" he'd planned. With time apart from Rene, it was a convenient chance to drill them.
"Get up. The sparring isn't over."
Rohan, sprawled on the ground, twitched at the words and glared at Vera.
Sparring my ass!
Just stress relief, right? Rohan had seen it clear as day—Vera swinging his wooden sword at him with a grin! Whistling as he pummeled the twins! It was unfair. Infuriatingly so.
But…
Damn, he's strong…!
No one here to hear a weakling's rage. Trembling with bottled fury, Rohan shifted his gaze to Trevo, hiding behind a distant tree, and narrowed his eyes to triangles.
"Kid, Trevo skips 'sparring'?"
"He does."
"Why!"
He bolted upright, barking the question. Vera paused thoughtfully, then answered.
"No point. Felt useless, so I excused him."
No point. He'd almost said "no fun to hit." Rohan glared at Trevo. Unfair from his view, but true from Vera's. Beating Trevo yielded nothing. No baseline fitness for sparring, no satisfaction in the thuds. Just mania in a worthless shell. That was Trevo to Vera.
Vera eyed the giggling Trevo behind the tree, then turned away and spoke.
"Rest's over. Back to it. Twins, up."
Twitch. The twins shuddered. They'd played dead, but Vera showed no mercy. Krek and Marek pouted, grumbling.
"Vera's only nice to the Saint. Sexist."
"Rohan's right. Vera's a womanizer."
"Hey!"
Rohan's shout. He jerked in panic, sweating, stealing glances at Vera's face. The dark eyes sank deeper, dead-like. Brows arched slightly, a hollow chuckle escaping his lips.
"Did Rohan say that?"
Asked to the twins. They nodded eagerly, piling on.
"Rohan said Vera goes crazy for women."
"Yeah. Rohan said Vera'll ruin himself over a girl."
"No! No! I didn't say that!"
Rohan squealed in damage control, but he knew.
We're fucked!
No escape. Thud. Vera's footsteps rang in his ears. Creak. Looking up, Rohan's vision filled with a wooden sword raised sky-high. He squeezed his eyes shut, praying to wake before night. Praying for a drink later.
Then—
Crack!
A sharp impact echoed.
*
While Vera grappled with the other apostles, Rene sat face-to-face with Teresa in her lodging, offering an awkward smile.
"Um… Shall we begin?"
"Very well. First, show me what you've learned so far?"
"Ah, yes!"
Rene nodded vigorously at Teresa's words, clasping her hands before her chest to demonstrate her practiced elemental spell. Her most confident one, for a first showing.
Whoosh—
A campfire flickered to life above her palms. Then worry crept in.
…Did it work?
Unable to see the result, the doubt arose naturally. Vera usually checked and critiqued, easing her nerves. Without him now, anxiety surged. Had she botched it?
As unease prickled, Rene recalled Vera's praises to steady herself—only to remember the mishap two days ago, flushing red. Her composure wavered predictably. The campfire sputtered—fizzle!—and died. She jolted at the sound.
Teresa watched the blushing, flustered Rene and shook her head.
…Bad case.
Understandable, though. She'd been swept up in such feelings at that age. First love's sweetness never truly faded.
"Sorry. I lost focus…"
"Nothing to apologize for. You've only studied a couple months—doing this well is the odd part."
"Still…"
"You're doing fine, Saint. Did I mention where I'm posted?"
Rene tilted her head, then shook it.
"N-No, I haven't heard."
"The Academy. Tellon Academy, up northeast."
"Ah! I know that one!"
Tellon Academy. Rene knew it. Impossible not to—the continent's most famed, gathering talents from everywhere. Even from her rural village, the name rang familiar.
A bit surprised, she continued.
"Impressive. I hear the professors there are all stars."
"Folks awakening divine power pop up everywhere. Got a request from the Holy Kingdom. Ah, not as an apostle, mind. Just a regular priest."
"I see…"
"Why bring it up? To say you're learning fast. Their students burn a whole semester and still don't reach your level."
Teresa chuckled. Rene flushed sheepishly, scratching her cheek and bowing her head.
"Th-That's embarrassing…"
"Have confidence. You've got real talent."
"Yes."
Teresa smiled brightly at Rene's clear reply, chuckled again, then reached out and grasped her hand.
Flinch. Rene trembled but realized it was Teresa's hand and composed herself.
"My lessons use my power."
"Your power…?"
"Love's power. The power that connects hearts."
A month was short. Teresa planned maximum efficiency for explosive growth.
"I'll link our divine power with it. When I cast, you'll feel the flow. Remember it, then mimic after. Got it?"
"Ah, yes!"
"No worries if you fail. I'll correct any mistakes."
Her calm tone soothed. Rene felt peace settle in and nodded.
"Alright, let's start."
Hummm—
A low vibration hummed. Rene felt something ticklish burrow inside her. A warm sensation somewhere deep. Then Teresa's divine spell manifested.