Son of god

"Hey, what was that all about?"

Gomerick didn't seem to be all too proficient with social cues, as he had just gone up to the weary me and asked his question bluntly. To his credit, it didn't feel like there was any animosity behind his question, just pure curiosity.

Looking up at the multicolored-haired man, I knew that the right decision would be to answer while making sure to hide the essentials, "Ah, well you see, my body is a little special. I can use some pretty powerful magic, but in exchange, my physique is pretty frail. So if I overdo something, I end up like this, or like when I dueled Arthur."

Rubbing his chin, his face was still as uncaring as ever, "Hmm, yea that did make it seem like something was wrong. I guess it makes sense, but then why do you continue using your mana like this?"

'Is he serious?'

I was baffled by his complete lack of understanding of the situation. Sure, in this instance there hadn't been a need for me to activate my skill, but that wasn't what he was asking. He truly wondered why I would continue even though I got hurt, and it wasn't even in a caring kind of way.

"I will continue because that's what I need to do. Because I feel like it's the right thing to do."

Somehow, he still didn't quite seem to understand what I was getting at. What kind of son of god would I be if I just stopped? Yet, Gomerick didn't appear to think like that at all.

"Hmm, is that so? Anyway, while we are talking, could you help me with the image of controlling water? All the other elements are pretty easy for me to understand, but there's something about water that I just can't grasp. Maybe it's the..."

While Gomerick just continued talking expressionlessly, I was once again stunned by how blunt he acted. Here I was, sitting on the ground with my chest pulsing with pain, and he felt like it was a good situation to ask for pointers about my element?

'What's happening? Is he insane? Or am I insane?'

"... and that's where I am right now. So, do you have any tips?"

At this point, I had no idea if the smile on my face carried even a hint of the warmth it did a second ago, but I gritted my teeth and pressed on.

"Ah, I don't actually know much theory, but for me, water is... life? It's everchanging, evermoving, and emotional. When it's sad it comes as rain, when it's calm it's a beautiful lake and when it's angry it's the scariest thing on the planet."

'If a water mage heard me talk, he would probably want to kick me right now. What kind of useless explanation is this?!'

"Hmm... Yes, that makes sense! Thank you, Zero."

And with that he walked away, leaving me speechless for the third time in just a couple of minutes.

'What the fuck just happened?'

****

[3rd person Pov]

"So, that young boy... has no choice but to get hurt when he uses his power?"

"I'm afraid that's the case. Also, I will inform the other teachers that will be teaching him, but if this gets out, the church won't leave it alone."

Standing outside in the corridor while using magic to soundproof the space around them, Ms. Turner was trying her best to inform Mrs. Bright about Zero's condition without telling her that it was something that would inevitably claim his life.

A complicated expression showed up on the old lady's face when her colleague talked about the church, "Hmm, yes that would make things a bit hard, wouldn't it? Though they might have taken on a less visible role, there's still a monster sitting inside that house."

"What do you mean? Is there corruption in the church of Theia?"

Shaking her head, Mrs. Grace explained herself a bit, knowing that Jessica who wasn't old enough would never understand, "No, I am talking about a person. Not that he acts like a monster, but the power he wields... is something else. Now, I think we have to go back, I do believe ten minutes have passed already."

Though she was still confused about what she was talking about, a cold sweat emerged on Mrs. Turner's back as she realized she had forgotten about the time. So, on the edge of breaking out into a run, she quickly walked back into the classroom.

****

[Zero's Pov]

In the end, my teacher let me off the hook when she saw that I was now stable again, though her face still showed how worried she was. Also, Mrs. Bright didn't want me to continue the session either, telling me that next time, she would be more prepared and that she would try to find some solution.

So, now I was just idly walking around the academy grounds by myself, telling myself that there was no way Jessica would secretly stalk me. Surely.

'Hmm, it's been a long time since I just walked around like this...'

With almost all the other students being stuck in class, I could walk around the college-looking area without risking having to bump into someone. In the end, it was still hard to feel everyone looking at me, and...

'Wait... That's wrong...'

When thinking about it, as Zero, I didn't seem to struggle with being around people at all, more than it being a bit exhausting. In fact, I think I kind of relished the experience of being around others in this form.

How weird it was that even though Zero was born out of myself, he was still able to correct some of my weaknesses while also giving me new ones. It was strange, but it also felt very natural.

Living beings weren't born in their final form, they changed colors depending on needs and circumstances, doing everything they could to attain their own personal view of happiness. Just like how Jessica sought redemption by trying her best to help Zero, or how the king had deemed it necessary to get rid of James for the future of his country.

'He is still an ignorant piece of shit, though...'

Then, without me realizing it, I had ended up in one of the parks that were placed sparingly around the grounds, centering a big pond. In it, the stillness of the water lilies proved how tranquil the water was, its fluid form sparkling under the giver of life.

Something about it was drawing me in, and before I knew it, I was standing in the center of the pond, its tranquility keeping me from sinking. Even as I had walked out, the water lilies had not moved, as there had been no ripples emerging from my steps.

Not long after, mana started emerging from the soles of my feet, quickly making friends with their newfound interest, and my senses somehow extended to every little inch of the pool of water.

Fishes, algae, rocks, and even a small crab; I could feel them all, living their own lives, uncaring for the problems that the future would bring. For them, there was only now. No past and no future, there was only the present. And in this moment, I was the same.

With my soul enjoying the sensation of just existing, I stood there under the sun as if I was in a trance, my brain quickly forgetting the concept of time and space. Right now, this was exactly what I needed. A moment of just being.

****

[Sophie's Pov]

Walking away from the classroom after having received yet another beating from Mr. Brown, I was a bit disappointed to hear that Arthur wouldn't be able to eat lunch with me. Also, with my other friends all staying behind for some kind of extra lecture on mana usage, I had no choice but to eat by myself.

On the other hand, it did give me the idea to eat outside. After my meeting with Stella, which had led to me promising to help her with sparring on the weekends, I had been trying to remind myself to visit that park more often. So why not now?

So, after I had quickly gotten some food from the cafeteria, I made my way to the park which I assumed would be empty as always. However, when walked through the last little thicket of trees, I was a bit surprised to see that there was indeed someone there.

But I was a lot more surprised to see that the person in question was Zero, but most of all...

'HE IS WALKING ON WATER?!'

If it hadn't been so extremely sudden of a sight, I might have thought that it might not be so impressive in this world, but it had an entirely different meaning on earth.

The white-haired youth was standing in the center of the pond with his eyes closed, while the entire pool of water was shining in bright blue as if it celebrated the arrival of its master. And right then and there, I felt like I could finally accept the truth.

'He really is the son of god...'