Professor Thara had arrived, looking distinctly flustered. Her wire-framed glasses were slightly askew, and she clutched a stack of papers to her chest as if they might escape if she loosened her grip.
I really hoped those papers were not related to her forbidden experiments…
Her gaze darted around the room nervously until it landed on Kal, at which point her expression became even more anxious.
"If you'll excuse me," I said to Laelyn, "I should greet Professor Thara. She was kind enough to guide me through my first days at the Academy."
"Of course," Laelyn replied with a small smile. "We'll talk another time."
I made my way across the pavilion to where Thara stood, still hovering near the entrance as if unsure whether to proceed further into the crowded space.
"Professor Thara," I called as I approached.
She startled slightly, then adjusted her glasses and attempted to compose herself. "Saint Tomas! I, ah, I'm so pleased to see you. And congratulations, of course, on your ascension. Such an honor, truly remarkable, absolutely unprecedented in terms of resonance metrics..."
She was rambling, a nervous habit I'd noticed during our first meeting. But today there seemed to be an extra edge to her anxiety, an almost manic energy that hadn't been present before.
"Thank you, Professor," I said, gently interrupting her stream of words. "I wouldn't be here if not for your guidance. That first lesson was invaluable."
This seemed to center her somewhat. "You're too kind, really. I simply provided the basic framework, your natural aptitude did the rest." She clutched her papers tighter, knuckles whitening. "And now you're studying under Elder Kal himself! Such an opportunity. His mastery of painting techniques is unparalleled in the Academy."
I noticed how her eyes kept darting to where Kal stood among the elders, a mixture of reverence and apprehension in her gaze.
"He's been an excellent teacher," I smiled. Then, keeping my tone casual, I asked, "How is your research progressing? You seemed quite engrossed in some fascinating projects last time we met."
Thara's eyes widened momentarily, and she glanced around quickly before responding in a hushed tone. "It's... advancing remarkably well, actually. I've achieved stable integration in three consecutive trials, which suggests the underlying theory is sound. Of course, long-term viability remains uncertain, but the preliminary results are... promising."
I understood immediately what she was telling me; her attempts to create hybrid beings that could channel both red and blue sun energies were yielding results.
"That's wonderful news," I said quietly. "I'd be very interested in seeing your latest work sometime."
Thara beamed at me, clearly pleased by my continued interest in her unorthodox research. "I'd be honored to show you. Perhaps next week, when things have settled down after your ceremony? The specimens in the third growth chamber are particularly noteworthy."
"I'll look forward to it," I promised, genuinely intrigued by what she might have created. If her experiments were successful, they could provide valuable insights into how I might eventually integrate my own red and blue sun abilities.
While I wasn't ready to try merging the powers of the two suns yet, it wouldn't hurt to gain inspiration.
I was about to ask for more details when I noticed a subtle shift in the pavilion's atmosphere. The casual conversations were quieting, and people were beginning to move toward the center of the room, where a dais had been set up for the ceremony.
"I believe we're about to begin," I said, glancing toward the dais where Elder Sorrin now stood.
"Oh! Yes, of course, I should find my place," Thara said, flustered again. She made to move away, then paused. "Saint Tomas... be careful with Elder Kal," she whispered, so softly I almost missed it. "He's not... he's changed since his recent advancements. There are rumors..."
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
She didn't finish the thought, merely giving me a significant look before hurrying away to find a seat appropriate to her rank.
I made my way toward the front of the gathering, where a place had been prepared for me just below the dais. As I walked, I thought about Thara's warning. What exactly did she know about Kal? Had she noticed inconsistencies in his behavior? Or was there something else entirely that had raised her suspicions?
"Mark that for future investigation," Azure suggested. "Thara might know more than she's letting on."
I nodded imperceptibly, filing the thought away as I took my position. From here, I had a clear view of Elder Sorrin on the dais, as well as the other elders arranged in a semicircle behind him. Kal stood slightly apart from the others, his posture relaxed but attentive.
Elder Sorrin raised his hands, and the last whispers of conversation died away.
"Esteemed colleagues, honored guests, cherished students," he began. "We gather today in celebration of a momentous occasion: the selection and anointment of a new Saint."
He paused, allowing his gaze to sweep across the assembled crowd before continuing.
"As many of you are aware, Headmaster Monroe is currently engaged in matters of great importance that have called him away from the Academy. He has authorized me to lead this ceremony in his absence, with the full endorsement of the Council of Elders."
I noted the careful phrasing, "matters of great importance" rather than "missing" or "disappeared." The Academy was clearly controlling the narrative around the Headmaster's absence.
"Traditionally, this ceremony marks the transfer of responsibility from one generation to the next," Sorrin continued. "It is a time of continuity, of honoring the past while embracing the future. But today's ceremony is unique in ways that none of us could have anticipated."
He turned slightly to look directly at me.
"The blue sun has not only chosen a new Saint from among our candidates but has blessed us with one unlike any before. Saint Tomas comes to us not from the noble houses that have traditionally supplied our Sainthood, nor from the monastic orders that prepare lifelong disciples. He comes to us from the heart of the common people, from the very villages our Order is sworn to protect."
A murmur ran through the crowd at this explicit acknowledgment of my humble origins. I kept my expression serene, though internally I couldn't help but compare this to the political speeches back on Earth.
How many times had I watched politicians emphasize their humble beginnings, their "salt of the earth" upbringing, their connection to "real people"? It didn't matter if they'd been wealthy for decades or had never actually struggled, the narrative of rising from simplicity to greatness was too powerful to ignore.
Now, Elder Sorrin was using Tomas's village background the same way.
In a way, Tomas's story was the perfect political narrative: the common boy elevated beyond all expectations, a divine miracle that validated the Blue Sun's wisdom, proof that the system worked, that anyone could rise to the highest position.
Except they couldn't. Not really.
Just like on Earth, where those "humble beginning" stories often glossed over family connections or exceptional privileges, this narrative ignored the impossible circumstances that had brought me here.
No village boy could genuinely replicate Tomas's journey without being, well, possessed by an interdimensional cultivator with access to multiple sun energies and a Genesis Seed protecting them from insanity.
"In the sacred chamber of the Cerulean Spire, Saint Tomas demonstrated a resonance with the blue sun's energy that exceeded our measuring formations' capabilities," the elder continued. "Where other candidates absorbed what they could safely contain, the blue sun itself increased the flow of energy to Saint Tomas by three hundred percent, and still he showed no sign of strain."
Another murmur, this one tinged with awe. I caught sight of Dorian's face in the crowd, his expression a complex mixture of disbelief and resentment. I had to admit that was fun to watch.
"We have consulted the ancient texts, the oracle pools, and the memory crystals of our predecessors," Sorrin declared. "All signs point to the same conclusion: Saint Tomas will usher in a new era for our Order, a time of transformation and renewal that will strengthen our sacred mission to protect this world from the corruption of the red sun."
The "sacred mission" he spoke of was probably serving the entity that sought to breach this world's barriers.
"And now," Sorrin said, gesturing expansively, "it is my honor to present Saint Tomas, who will address us all and bestow the blessing of the blue sun upon this gathering."
As I rose to take my place on the dais, I felt the weight of hundreds of eyes upon me. This was the moment I had prepared for: my first public address as Saint. I had rehearsed the words carefully; I could do this!
I stepped onto the dais, turned to face the assembled crowd, and took a deep breath.
And that's when I felt it, a violent shudder passing through my inner world.
"Master!" Azure called out. "The Genesis Seed, it's receiving another vision!"
Time seemed to slow as I stood there, frozen in place, the expectant faces of the crowd blurring before me.
Within my inner world, I could feel the Genesis Seed convulsing, absorbing and processing the blue sun's communication.
The timing was suspicious.
Why send another vision so soon after the first? What had changed?
Yet, regardless of the reason, if the blue sun really wanted a puppet show, then I would give one convincing enough to fool even Kal.