In the meantime, the Holy Arts students had just entered their next classroom…
It was very different from many other rooms since it was wide with a design mostly similar to a church with a podium in front.
Sixty first-year students sat in orderly rows, each wearing the indigo Academy coat with the golden sun emblem stitched proudly on their sleeve.
Galatea and Irene sat together near the center. Both had been chosen by the Order of the Untainted Sentinels, a prestigious organization known for its strict discipline and unwavering devotion to purity.
Needless to say, their identities were easily uncovered, so their presence alone drew whispers.
"Those are Claire and Teresa's younger sisters…" one student murmured.
"They must have grown up with everything they needed. No wonder they're here."
At this point, everyone knew about the two Saintess, Clair and Teresa… Any Holy Arts Practitioner would want to be like them.
Because of that, envy lingered in the air, but Galatea and Irene ignored it. They had long grown used to comparisons with their famous elder sisters.
However, in this Academy, it was not about proving their lineage, it was about proving themselves.
Their first class, Elementary Spirit Law, had already revealed their potential. Each of them possessed between nine Spirit Strands, a solid foundation for twelve-year-olds.
The professor had praised their discipline, though many of their classmates had shown similar numbers. At this point, having nine Spirit Strands was impressive, but it was not mind-blowing anymore. It was all because of the Philosopher's Elixir that Maya had.
Still, the difference could be huge depending on the spells they were able to record.
As someone who had great elder sisters, everyone believed that the two of them had recorded the finest beginner spell out there.
Now, the second class began… Fundamentals of Holy Arts.
Professor Yena, a tall woman with silver hair tied neatly behind her head, stepped forward.
She did not begin with a lecture, but with a question that immediately unsettled the students.
"Tell me… Do you think that Holy Arts wielded by an evil man can still be called Holy?"
The room fell silent. The students had expected to immediately start learning spells, their origin, or perhaps the structure of Holy Energy. Instead, they were confronted with philosophy.
One boy raised his hand hesitantly. "Professor… Holy Arts are supposed to be pure. If an evil man uses them, wouldn't they lose their holiness?"
Another girl shook her head. "But the energy itself doesn't change. Holy Energy is still Holy Energy, even if the wielder is corrupt. Isn't it the intent that matters?"
Murmurs spread across the hall.
Some argued that the arts themselves were sacred, untouchable by corruption. Others believed that the wielder's heart defined the nature of the spell.
They just couldn't imagine the existence of Corrupted Holy Energy… It would be Evil Energy at that point.
Galatea listened quietly as she slowly considered these things…
However, Irene had already thought about this matter a long time ago.
"Holy Arts are not just tools…" she said firmly. "They are reflections of the soul. If an evil man wields them, the energy may still shine, but the purpose behind it is twisted. It becomes something else… a mockery of holiness."
Galatea gently nodded as she recalled the teachings of the Untainted Sentinels, before she added softly, "But that doesn't mean the Arts themselves are tainted. It means the wielder has failed to embody them. Holy Arts demand harmony between spirit and intent. Without that, they are incomplete."
Professor Yena's lips curved into a faint smile. "Good. You begin to understand. Holy Arts are not defined by the spell alone, nor by the wielder alone. They are defined by the union of purity and purpose. A corrupted soul may force Holy Energy to obey, but it will never truly resonate. That resonance is what makes the Arts holy."
Yena had to ensure that they were aware of this principle…
After all, it's also possible for them to be in danger practicing this Arcane Path.
It was quite obvious that Dark Arts practitioners would have to be worried about falling into darkness if they weren't able to control the madness that the Dark Arts Spells attract to their users.
However, it was also the same for the Holy Arts practitioners and others… If they weren't sure about the path they had chosen, they could fall into madness. Every Arcanist must have a strong mentality to master their Arcane Path and never doubt it…
The students sat in thoughtful silence…
Yena continued as she looked at their reaction.
"Remember this lesson. Holy Arts are not about power. They are about alignment. If you chase strength without purity, you will find only emptiness. But if you cultivate harmony, even the simplest spell will shine brighter than any weapon. That is the secret for having a stronger Spell even if they were at the same level."
The students scribbled notes as they heard some unexpected depth of the lesson.
***
Professor Yena smiled, seeing their reaction.
She had already surprised them with her opening philosophical question, but she did not press further. Instead, she explained what they would expect in the coming weeks. This was their first class after all.
"In this class, you will not only learn spells. You will learn the principles that make Holy Arts what they are. We will cover the Nature of Holy Energy… or how it differs from other Arcane Energy, and why it resonates with purity and intent.
"We will also learn more about Blessings or the art of channeling Holy Energy to protect, heal, and sanctify.
"Of course, there will be a lot of Harmony lessons or how your Spirit Strands align with your soul, and how imbalance can corrupt even the brightest light."
She further explained that the Philosophy of Purity would also be learned slight, though it wouldn't be her focus. It would only be a question of morality, intent, and whether holiness can exist without virtue.
As for the Practical Applications, like healing wounds to resisting corruption, to strengthening allies in battle, that would be done in different classes.
All the things that they would learn here were only theoretical knowledge.
"These are the foundations of your path. Do not expect miracles on the first day. Holy Arts demand patience, discipline, and reflection."
The students nodded, though some looked restless.
They had expected to begin with dazzling blessings or radiant shields. Instead, they were being told to prepare for philosophy, cultivation, and slow progress.
Soon, one of the students raised a hand. "Professor… what about the foundational spells of the Holy Arts here in the Academy? What are they?"
Yena smiled faintly, as if she had been waiting for the question. "Before I answer, let me ask you: what are the foundational spells of the Order of the Untainted Sentinels?"
All eyes turned to Irene. She straightened herself and swiftly answered.
It wasn't a huge secret after all.
"The Sentinels teach three foundational spells: Blessing Light, Purity Dome, and Sacred Chant. Blessing Light is for healing, Purity Dome for protection, and Sacred Chant for strengthening the spirit against corruption."
Yena nodded approvingly. "Yes… The Sentinels emphasize discipline and defense. Their path is one of guardianship."
She then turned to the rest of the class. "But the Sentinels are not the only organization that practices Holy Arts. Tell me, what of the Church?"
A boy raised his hand. "Their three foundational spells are Healing Prayer, Radiant Protection, and Guiding Hymn. Healing Prayer restores wounds, Radiant Protection shields allies, and Guiding Hymn inspires courage."
"Good," Yena said. "The Church focuses on community and faith. Their spells are meant to bind people together."
She moved on. "And the Paladins of the Sacred Flame?"
This organization wasn't well known in Millton Kingdom, but they were all quite powerful in Pallham Empire
A girl answered quickly. "They teach Flame of Benediction, Shield of Virtue, and Oath of Light. Their spells are more battle-oriented. They're blessings that empower weapons, shields that protect comrades, and oaths that strengthen one's body."
"Correct," Yena replied. "The Paladins walk the path of battle, wielding holiness as both shield and sword."
Finally, she asked, "And what of the Sanctum of the White Star?"
Once again, this was an organization unknown to many people in Milton… However, it was a famous organization in the Ruri Kingdom.
This time, Galatea spoke. "Their foundational spells are Star's Blessing, Brilliant Barrier, and Echo of Grace…"
Professor Yena smiled, clearly pleased. "Excellent. You see, each organization has its own philosophy, its own way of shaping Holy Energy. The spells may seem similar… healing, shielding, blessing. But the intent behind them changes everything. That is why the same spell can feel different depending on who wields it."
Yena concluded, "As for the Academy… would any of you like to make a guess? I'm sure you're also aware of these spells."
She said with a smile. After hearing this, the class immediately realized that the Academy wasn't going to use special Spell Models that only the Academy had!
It was quite disappointing to learn, but they were also very curious why they had decided to do that…
'Immortal Vale is originally a Dark Arts Practitioner… Maybe he hates the Holy Arts?' Galatea thought with a frown.
If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.