My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 130: First Act

"Ugh... where am I?"

Tristan groaned as he slowly regained consciousness. The room around him was unfamiliar, and he quickly deduced that it wasn't the school's infirmary.

The symbols and markings on the walls and ceiling hinted at a more sacred place, and the predominant color of white dominated the room.

Rubbing his eyes and head, Tristan noticed other individuals in the room, each receiving care from priests and nuns of the church.

The atmosphere was serene yet charged with a palpable sense of divine energy.

"Oh, you're awake," a melodious voice called out to him.

Turning his attention to the source, Tristan's eyes widened in recognition.

"Senior Elena... I mean Saintess?" he uttered, a mix of surprise and realization coloring his voice.

"Am I in the church?"

Elena, chuckled at Tristan's reaction and nodded.

"Yes, that's right, Brother Tristan. I didn't expect someone as strong as you to end up in a place like this"

She approached him with a warm smile, her presence exuding a comforting aura

"And please, just call me Senior Elena. It's not like we're strangers, right, Brother Tristan?"

".... Sure" replied Tristan in a tired voice as a strong headache terrorized his head.

Tristan, though feeling a bit weirded out by the familial terms, understood the cultural nuances of the Holy Nation.

The people of the holy land regarded each other as family in front of their god, or more specifically, in front of the goddess they revered.

It was a gesture of respect and unity that transcended mere titles.

Elena gently touched Tristan's head, and a golden light spread forth, covering his entire body.

The radiant energy enveloped him, and Tristan could feel the pain and headache dissipating rapidly.

Despite his own proficiency in healing with his light magic, the pureness of energy emanating from the saintess surpassed anything he had ever experienced.

As the golden light worked its soothing magic, Tristan couldn't help but ponder the disparity between his own divine energy and that of the saintess.

'Is it because I'm not faithful to the goddess?' he mused inwardly.

His master had always described him as someone with an absurd amount of divine energy, yet Tristan had never delved deep enough to understand what made his divine energy different from that of priests and paladins.

It had always been an innate part of him, a blessing he didn't fully comprehend.

Opening and closing his hands from time to time, Tristan attempted to analyze the subtle nuances of the divine power at play.

He sought to understand why he, despite his occasional lack of devotion, was bestowed with such an extraordinary amount of energy.

The golden light continued to weave its healing magic around him, and the contrast between his own abilities and the saintess's power became more apparent.

His thoughts drifted to his past, where he had often relied on his divine energy without fully grasping its origin or significance.

The goddess had been a distant figure, revered by the faithful, but Tristan's connection to her had always been complex.

He had questioned his own faith, wondering if the power within him truly came from the goddess or if it was something else entirely.

Seeing Tristan deep in contemplation as he analyzed his divine energy, Elena couldn't help but offer a reassuring comment.

"Brother Tristan, I'm sure your divine energy is a unique gift. Embrace it, and it will guide you on your path"

"Even though I'm not faithful? Even if I'm not sure when this blessing will disappear?"

"Fufu.... Faith is but a construct we people made to measure our love for the goddess brother Tristan.... we are but simple humans, how can we even hope to measure the love of the divine?"

"Although we can see the ocean, we cannot see its end, so how does brother Tritan know that the goddess's gift for you will end?" Said Elena with a warm smile.

....

......

"Thank you...."

Tristan replied, a sense of gratitude evident in his voice.

Despite the newfound clarity that the golden light had brought him, he found himself at a loss for words in response to the saintess's wisdom.

Elena, her demeanor warm and reassuring, simply smiled at Tristan.

Her eyes continued to study him further, the light magic revealing the intricacies of his being.

The white veil, a symbol of purity and devotion, seemed to enhance rather than diminish the saintess's appeal.

Even when clad in a school uniform that covered more than her ceremonial robes, there was an undeniable magnetism that drew eyes and hearts alike.

Tristan moved through the room with a blend of sympathy for the patients and a quiet acknowledgment of the saintess's captivating presence.

'I'm surprised as to how Adrian can manage to keep his composure whenever he's with the saintess'

Before he could step out of the church, however, the gigantic doors of the chapel, adorned with intricate carvings, called out to him.

"Are you Tristan, perhaps?" a dignified voice echoed through the sacred halls.

Turning around, Tristan saw a middle-aged man with a benevolent smile on his face.

Clad in a priest uniform, the man's attire bore subtle yet intricate decorations, indicating his high rank within the church and the Holy Nation as a whole.

He was a Bishop at best.

"Please do give this old man a moment of your time, dear Hero"

"What?"

....

Making my way towards the classroom, I couldn't shake the sense of impending annoyance that would inevitably accompany my entrance.

It was a given that I would face an onslaught of nagging from a particular individual, a person with whom I shared an unspoken rivalry.

Euphemia and I weren't exactly close; in fact, we were more like rivals...... well at least from her perspective, because, truth be told, I couldn't care less.

Anticipating Euphemia's relentless questioning, I braced myself for the storm that would surely follow upon opening the classroom door.

Today, however, I had a different agenda in mind.

I planned to disclose my circumstances, shedding light on the suspicious activities involving Louise.

While I was confident that Tristan and Alex would be more accepting and perhaps even gullible enough to believe my story, I knew Euphemia would be an entirely different challenge.

Euphemia questioned almost everything I did, and her skepticism was something I couldn't simply ignore.

Sis and Aunt insisted that getting closer to Euphemia would be crucial for the play they planned to enact in this world.

From a strategic perspective, it made sense – alliances and understanding key players could potentially give us an upper hand.

I'm sure they just wanted me to find someone to get close with and manipulate from every country though.

Aria and Schwi for the Empire, Elena for the Holy Empire, and Euphemia for the kingdom.

'I'm sure they would want me to get involved with more people across different nations, I wouldn't be surprised if they asked me to get close with every high-ranking nobility and royal family from a nation'

Yet, a nagging sense of caution lingered within me.

Euphemia's mastery of alchemy was unmatched, but her unpredictable nature and unbridled obsession with the arcane arts left me wary.

What if, in the name of alchemy, she decided to manipulate or exploit me?

As the second semester unfolded, the alchemy students around me buzzed with activity.

The approaching dungeon explorations and practical exams added an air of excitement to the academy.

It was during these times that alliances and rivalries would be tested in the crucible of challenges.

Euphemia, undoubtedly, would be a significant figure in this unfolding drama, as mine and her potions would totally run dry on the first day.

The anticipation of the upcoming events filled me with a strange mix of anxiety and excitement.

The first act of our orchestrated play was set to kick off with an incident surrounding the imminent dungeon explorations.

'Many innocents would probably die, but it's essential for mother's arrival'

I couldn't help but wonder if Tristan, with his unique set of skills, could handle the challenges posed by the adversary we were about to introduce.

With a sense of determination, I braced myself and pushed open the classroom door. The sight of my classmates caught off guard, a mixture of surprise and curiosity etched on their faces, greeted me.

Common questions and greetings filled the air, and while some were more genuinely interested in my absence, the hierarchical constraints of nobility and social standing kept them from voicing their inquiries.

Except for one person—approaching me with an unmistakable air of boldness. Her black hair gracefully swayed with each step, and piercing green eyes bore into me with an intensity that demanded answers. "So where were you--" she began, her words hanging in the air.

"Take your seats. Oh, you're back as well, Adrian" the teacher's timely arrival interrupted, sparing me from the impending interrogation.

Taking the opportunity, I approached Euphemia, whispering to her in hushed tones, "I'll tell you later."

Her dissatisfaction was evident, but with the class about to commence, she sighed, reluctantly accepting the delay.