Academy’s PTSD Chaplain - Academy’s PTSD Chaplain chapter 30

30 – 30. Martyr’s Blood (7)

The classroom was buzzing with activity. The students’ eyes were focused on their notebooks or on their friends sitting next to them, engaged in conversation.

There were students casually chatting with their friends, students reviewing Professor Antonelli’s lecture that they had previously taken notes on, and students hurriedly completing assignments for other classes.

Laura von Adelheid belonged to the third category. The only difference was that she had no sense of urgency whatsoever.

Laura marveled at herself as she effortlessly filled out the paper she would submit as an assignment.

“It’s easy…. Ridiculously easy….”

Thanks to Professor Antonelli’s lectures, Laura was able to break down the walls that had previously blocked her. It was as if she had been given wings, even though she was already called a genius when it came to magic.

Laura’s eyes moved restlessly. She quickly interpreted and analyzed the magic circle she had calculated, meticulously aligning each component. Was it always this easy?

“Definitely not.”

Although it had been easy before, there was a stark difference compared to now. She could see through the essence of the magic circle. She was truly grateful to Professor Antonelli.

In the blink of an eye, Laura finished her assignment. Meanwhile, Chloe, sitting in the row behind her, stared blankly at her back.

“…I wanted to become closer to her.”

At the beginning of the semester, Laura von Adelheid was someone Chloe longed to be close with. But now, she didn’t feel much interest.

The only thing that interested her was one thing.

“We have two minutes left….”

It was Professor Antonelli’s lecture.

It wasn’t just Laura who had flourished in talent. Chloe had also grown in her magical abilities, reaching the impressive level of being able to reach the 3rd Circle not too long ago.

As time passed, Chloe barely managed to calm down her wagging tail. Then, she spoke to Elin, who was sitting next to her.

“Elin. What class will we have today?”

“Well….”

Elin showed no interest, but Chloe knew.

She knew that once the class started, Elin would be more passionate and focused than anyone else.

While they were chatting, suddenly there was less than a minute left until the class started.

As if collectively enchanted by magic, the previously noisy students in the classroom quickly regained silence.

Among the students in the classroom, half were glancing at their watches, while the rest were staring intently at the front door. Cloe also glanced at the wall clock.

“30 seconds to go….”

The sound of students retrieving their writing tools echoed. Some unfolded their notebooks, while others had prepared summarized notes from the previous class.

“10 seconds….”

Students began loosening their fingers. It was a wise choice to loosen them in advance for Professor Antonelli’s always busy lecture.

“58 seconds. 59 seconds. Now….”

So, the clock’s hand pointing to 9:29 AM leaped a tiny gap.

Tick-tock—.

Simultaneously, as usual, the front door of the classroom swung open. All eyes turned in that direction.

“Heck… Hek…!”

The one entering through the classroom door was Sophia, her golden short hair bouncing as she rushed in. Professor Antonelli was nowhere to be seen. Confusion spread across the students’ faces.

“What’s going on? Is he late?”

“No way. It’s Professor Antonelli.”

“Is there something wrong with my eyes? Why can’t I see him?”

“Maybe only good people can see him. I can see him.”

Ignoring the students’ murmurs, Sophia, with chalk in hand, wrote large letters on the blackboard.

It read….

“…Class canceled?”

The students’ mouths hung open, and they didn’t know when to close them. In the meantime, Sophia, who had been holding her breath, shouted loudly.

“Father Antonelli suddenly took sick leave, so he decided to cancel today’s lecture! He said he would recognize attendance, so see you all on Tuesday!”

Swiftly as the wind, Sophia, who had stirred up the classroom, left just like when she came. Inside the classroom, only students with bewildered expressions remained, sitting motionless.

“Really?”

“Sick leave? Is he seriously ill?”

“Wow…. Is this also some kind of test? Whether we really leave the classroom or not?”

“No way.”

After a moment of confusion, the students, with skeptical expressions, one by one, stood up from their seats.

A few minutes later, only Cloe, Elin, and Laura, wearing vacant expressions, remained in the classroom.

* * * * *

“Hmm….”

Maurice maintained a gentle expression. Before him sat a pitiful priest who visited once a month.

“Ms. Antonelli, your condition has improved quite a bit.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Would you mind rolling up your sleeve for a moment?”

Father Antonelli raised his sleeve, revealing a scarred right arm that extended up to his shoulder.

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Maurice adjusted his glasses and continued the explanation, his hand resting on Antonelli’s shoulder.

“If you press here… Did you experience pain here before? It should be less painful now.”

“…”

“How does it feel?”

“A bit painful.”

“If it hurts, feel free to speak honestly.”

“It’s better than before.”

“Is that so? And if you press here…”

As Maurice’s finger lightly pressed the inside of Antonelli’s shoulder, the priest’s body jolted violently. It was due to the pain coursing through his entire being.

“As expected… Hm…”

After briefly pressing on Antonelli’s shoulder, Maurice returned to his seat.

“Although your condition has improved, it’s not to the point where you can relax.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“And, um… Don’t move only your left arm too much. It hurts more if the right arm stiffens. Try to use your right arm frequently in your daily activities. Pain is unavoidable.”

“…I understand.”

“Well, let’s see…”

Maurice put on his glasses and took out a pen. The speed at which he wrote the prescription was not leisurely.

“I’ll prescribe painkillers again. No need to take them after meals. Just take them whenever you feel pain. Two pills at a time.”

“I…”

Father Antonelli hesitated to speak. Maurice, wearing a compassionate smile, waited for him to continue.

After a moment of hesitation, Father Antonelli spoke as if exhaling a sigh.

“Is… is it okay to drink alcohol?”

“Have you been drinking? Or do you plan to drink?”

“I had a little on Monday evening. And… if I go to the gathering this week, I might drink. Though I probably won’t go…”

“Hmm…”

Moritz hesitated. He didn’t want to recommend alcohol to this young and pitiful patient, having witnessed war veterans frequently succumb to alcohol addiction.

“Excessive drinking is not good for a healthy person either, Mr. Antonelli. However, a moderate amount of alcohol should be fine.”

“Won’t it have a negative impact on my shoulder?”

“Well… it won’t cause inflammation. It’s an old wound from the war. But excessive drinking is still not advisable.”

“…I understand. Thank you.”

Father Antonelli slowly stood up. Moritz handed him the completed prescription.

“Good job. You seem to be improving gradually, and I’m relieved.”

Father Antonelli reached for the doorknob. In the moment of opening the door to leave the examination room, his hand, turning the knob, came to a halt.

“…Doctor.”

“Did you call me?”

Father Antonelli’s hand trembled slightly. After pausing with his hand on the doorknob for a moment, he turned around to approach Moritz.

“Do I… look pathetic?”

Moritz examined Father Antonelli’s face. He seemed uneasy.

“Well, to be honest, I received a letter earlier. They’re planning a veterans’ reunion and asked me to attend…”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. But I… I’m not sure if I should interfere. Even if I attend, who would welcome me?”

Sharp eyes, slightly narrowed forehead, and a pale complexion combined to express extreme melancholy. Moritz looked at Father Antonelli with a wry smile.

“Mr. Antonelli, just remember this one thing.”

Father Antonelli’s vacant eyes turned toward Moritz. Moritz looked straight into those eyes and spoke with a firm tone.

“You are not useless. Whoever they are, no one meeting you will frown upon you.”

So, muster up the courage for once.

“…”

Upon hearing Moritz’s words, Father Antonelli’s expression became blank. Then, his face started to twitch strangely.

It seemed like he was laughing, crying, and perhaps getting angry all at once. The trembling corners of his mouth made it even more difficult to gauge his emotions.

After a moment of losing his expression, Father Antonelli finally lowered his head and mumbled to Moritz,

“…Thank you.”

“No problem. I hope my words were helpful.”

“They were a great help. Thank you.”

Father Antonelli reached for the doorknob again. This time, there was no hesitation, and the door to the examination room swung wide open.

“Doctor Moritz.”

Antonelli, the priest who had been walking slowly, turned around. Moritz also met his gaze.

“Truly, thank you.”

With those words, Antonelli’s face as he was leaving…

“…Yes, Mr. Antonelli.”

In a rare moment, it seemed like he was smiling.

Moritz offered a warm smile, and he could finally relax.

* * * * *

My steps were a bit lighter. I quietly made my way back to the dormitory.

Today was Friday. It was a day with classes, but due to the rescheduled appointment that had originally been planned for the weekend, classes were canceled.

As I returned to the academy, I noticed the deserted campus with no one around. Instead of taking the main corridor to the main building, I decided to follow the path where I had previously taken a walk with Father Peter.

As I retraced the same path, the conversation I had with Father Peter resurfaced in my mind. I closed my eyes for a moment.

“At least I know it’s not your fault, Father Antonelli.”

“It’s not my fault….”

It was the first time I had heard those words. They were unfamiliar and difficult to accept. I slowly recalled the words he had spoken to me.

“The judgment of sin is solely the work of the Lord.”

“….”

My heart felt a sharp pang. Thanks to that, I became even more certain.

I opened my eyes and quickened my pace towards the dormitory.

In the distance, I could see the academy’s main building. Without thinking, I was about to pass by.

“…Huh?”

Just then, I would have missed Sofia Pusje if I hadn’t come across her as she was leaving the main building.

When I stopped in my tracks upon seeing her, Sofia Pusje approached me with a bright smile. Her innocent face was like warm sunlight, and I found myself looking away unintentionally.

“Father Antonelli! How are you feeling? What did the doctor say?”

“…Sofia Pusje.”

“Yes!”

Even after calling her name, I continued to gaze at her for a while. Sofia Pusje, who had been looking at me, raised an eyebrow.

“Why are you calling me? Is there something you’d like to say…?”

“We were planning to go out together tomorrow, weren’t we?”

“Yes, that’s right! But more importantly, you remembered!”

“Oh, of course. But, um…”

My mouth went dry. Around the back of my throat, the words got stuck and I couldn’t bring myself to say what I wanted to.

“Yes?”

“Um… Well…”

Sophia, with her innocent emerald eyes, was hurting me.

“Father Priest?”

“On… Sunday, I… have a brief appointment.”

“Oh… But why?”

I took a deep breath. Suddenly, Mr. Moritz’s words came to mind.

– Take courage at least once.

I hesitated for a moment, but then managed to open my mouth.

“…Tomorrow. It’s for tomorrow.”

That’s how I managed to push aside my frustration and foolishness, and speak up.

“Please, make sure to present yourself in a way that won’t embarrass you in front of others.”

The words of Father Peter, a letter from Colonel Mayhem. Nothing else.

“Of course! Please don’t worry!”

Perhaps it’s because of those emerald eyes, resembling yours.