Chapter Nine: The Holy Woman and Her False Counterpart
THE next day, I came to class wearing my best poker face. Celette and her two friends looked at me as if I were a ghost. Nevertheless, one of the girls ran up to me and prostrated herself at my feet.
“Lady Vistriano,” she said. “Th-Thank you so much for saving me from falling yesterday. I can’t believe you survived. Either way, I sincerely apologize for everything I’ve done up till now. You saved my life despite the countless times I slighted you. I’m forever in your debt. Even so, I won’t ask you to forgive me. Rather, punish me however you see fit.”
The entire class watched as the young lady spoke at a blisteringly fast pace.
“Ally,” Lauris said. “Are you finally outing yourself as the demon queen?”
“Incredible,” Oreste added. “Who knew powers of darkness could change someone’s heart like that?”
The two boys teased me despite being well aware of the situation.
“She’s already summoned the first of her loyal retainers from the far north,” Rosario chimed in. “Her dark reign is inevitable.”
I thought you were better than them, Rosario!
“You guys are having way too much fun with this,” I said.
Lauris smirked. “Can you blame us?”
Oreste grinned as well. “Yeah, why pass up on a chance to laugh?”
“I fully agree,” Rosario added with a composed expression.
You guys are gonna regret this later.
“You’ve got this, Ally!” Julietta cheered.
Yes, lavish me with encouragement, my adorable princess. Your words give me the strength to press on.
Ignoring the idiots, I knelt in front of the prostrated girl. “I’m not bothered by anything you might have done. Me falling wasn’t your fault, and I rescued you because I wanted to. Please don’t let this weigh on your conscience. At the same time, people do need to atone for any sins they’ve committed.” Here, I stood up and stared straight at the ringleader. “Isn’t that right, Lady Celette?” I asked with a grin. “Oh my, did the blood just drain from your face? Surprised to see me bursting with energy when you thought I was dead? Did I disappoint you, perhaps? Sorry about that.”
“O-Of course I’m not disappointed,” Celette replied. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”
She couldn’t hurl abuse at me in front of our classmates, as she’d done yesterday. Even so, I would have her remove that mask soon enough.
“What’s this?” I asked. “Your attitude’s done a one-eighty since yesterday. Do you not remember throwing a tantrum on the roof?” Though I wanted to burst out laughing, I continued speaking with a pleasant smile. “You spoke down to me, called the situation infuriating, and even asked me to die. Well, I’m still here because I refuse to go down without a fight.”
Celette’s face stiffened for everyone to see.
“I also got a taste of your magic for the first time,” I said.
In response, Celette’s shoulders twitched.
“That said, the spell didn’t have much of an effect on me,” I continued. “You asked me how it felt to become your puppet, right? Sorry, but I can’t give you my thoughts or impressions. Not a single part of me is under your control, after all.”
“What do you mean by ‘puppet’?” Lauris asked, stepping in to back me up. “Only the forbidden practice of bewitchment can manipulate other people.”
The entire class stirred. I feigned surprise as well, pretending to have heard this for the first time.
“Oh, that’s right,” I said. “Still, I never expected anyone to use bewitchment in this school.”
“There’s no possible way I could use bewitchment,” Celette argued, tears forming in her eyes. “I only possess holy magic, remember?”
Despite her tears, I continued my verbal assault. “Heh, true enough. Want to know something else though? Some holy magic users can also use bewitchment.”
Celette’s face went from pale to ghostly white. “I-I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
The entire class furrowed their brows at this. At any rate, this event had never occurred in past timelines, no matter how much the Goddess intervened. However, the deity’s meddling had finally borne fruit in this latest timeline.
At that moment, Embert and Janus entered the classroom.
“I can’t blame anyone for not knowing,” Embert said. “We only discovered this recently.”
“Embert!” Lauris cried.
“Janus!” I exclaimed.
Both of us overly attached siblings called out our brothers’ names. Barely a moment later, the classroom erupted in shrill cries.
“I shouted my brother’s name first,” Lauris said with a smug expression.
“It’s a matter of love, not speed,” I replied, refusing to be outdone.
Lauris snorted at me. “Sounds like the grumblings of a sore loser to me.”
“What did you say?!”
As sparks began flying between us, someone’s hands struck us both atop the head.
“Ouch!” we both cried out in unison.
Our assailant was Rosario. “Now isn’t the time to fight, children,” he said, his icy blue eyes gleaming coldly.
“We’re very sorry,” Lauris and I responded simultaneously.
Both our brothers’ shoulders trembled with suppressed laughter.
“Sorry about that, adorable little siblings,” Embert said.
When he smiled, a few girls in the front row swooned.
“Forgive us, my Alexandra,” Janus added with an equally beautiful smile.
A few more girls swooned. Would any of the young ladies in the front survive?
“Let’s get back on track, shall we?” Embert suggested, regaining his composure. “I received a document from a church priest. According to this text, not all holy magic users are righteous. Furthermore, there can be only one holy woman per generation, no matter how many holy magic users exist.”
“In that case, the holy woman would still be Lady Celette, right?” a certain student asked.
Yes, this was the most pertinent question.
“The document provided more information on this matter,” Embert said. “Apparently, holy magic users capable of becoming holy women can’t use bewitchment. After all, bewitchment users aren’t loved by animals or monsters. Only holy magic users who receive the Goddess’s divine protection can become holy women.”
A handful of students reacted to Embert’s statement.
“Come to think of it, the magic horses really hated Lady Celette,” someone said. “On the other hand, they really warmed up to…”
As everyone’s gazes focused on me, a couple more people spoke their minds.
“Lady Vistriano often plays with little birds, doesn’t she?”
“And I saw her talking to foxes while ice skating.”
Oh, wow. I’ve been busy, huh?
“But I’ve never heard of Lady Vistriano possessing holy magic!” Celette cried.
Yeah, I didn’t know about it until recently either.
“Just because you haven’t heard about her powers doesn’t mean she doesn’t possess them,” Embert said. “Isn’t that right, Mary?”
The door opened, and Mary entered the classroom.
“Mary?” I asked.
“Lady Alexandra,” she replied. “My heart is bursting with joy. This is my first time seeing you in class.”
When Mary smiled, a few boys swooned as well. She was a knockout, after all.
“Something happened to Lady Alexandra at five years old that led to her receiving the Goddess’s divine protection,” Mary continued. “The Goddess increased her mana supply and allowed her to use all elements. In fact, Lady Alexandra created amulets for all her close friends before coming to this school. These amulets reduce physical damage and completely protect against mental assaults. What’s more, the amulets remain effective until the wearer’s death. Only a holy magic user could create such an artifact.”
Cita stared down at her pinky ring. “I had no idea these were so amazing.”
“Truly,” I replied. “I was just as surprised.”
I hadn’t been the slightest bit aware of how incredible my amulets were. After all, I’d just made them according to Mary’s instructions.
“You’re surprised by your own invention?” Oreste asked. “Not your brightest moment, Ally.”
“Cita,” I whined. “Oreste just called me dumb.”
“How awful,” Cita responded. “Bad Oreste. No head pats for you.”
That’s it?
As the conversation got derailed on our end, Embert continued speaking. “Do you understand what Mary just said, Lady Celette? These amulets protect against mental attacks, not just physical ones. Nine people in this school are wearing them, including me.”
Celette gasped. “So that’s why…” she mumbled.
“Do you understand now?” Embert asked. “That’s why none of us fell prey to your bewitchment.”
“How many times must I repeat myself?!” Celette shouted. “I can’t use bewitchment!”
Embert chuckled. “I expected you to deny these allegations. After receiving this document from the church, I immediately petitioned the mage’s order to create a tool that could prove someone’s use of bewitchment. Many exceptional people work for the mage’s order. You know one of them very well, in fact.”
When the door opened again, I spotted many onlookers standing in the outside corridor. Then, an unexpected person entered the classroom.
“Severin?” I asked.
“Hey there, Ally,” he responded with a wave.
I waved back at him without thinking.
“Lady Celette,” Embert continued with a smile. “I knew from the start that you would continue to lie about using bewitchment. That’s why I had Severin accompany you for a short while. I asked him to establish proof for me.”
Severin strode towards me while holding a crystal ball. “Do you know what this is, Lady Celette?” he asked, smiling just as briskly. “This crystal ball records images in response to bewitchment. My father and his subordinates spent three sleepless nights crafting this artifact. Simply recalling my father’s enthusiasm brings a smile to my lips. That aside, can we set this up so that everyone can see it?”
“Oh, good idea,” I said. “Can you turn off the lights, Janus?”
My brother did as I asked. When that wasn’t enough, he magically altered the windows to depict a nighttime landscape as well.
“Severin,” I said. “Do you have some sort of pedestal to place the crystal ball in? One with a basin would be preferable.”
“Oh, yes. Give me just a moment.”