A warm morning sunlight pierce through the room, the room was messy with a lot of books and blankets scattered around the place, a young lady with red velvet hair sleeping in not ladylike position, her feet positioned at the walls and her head almost touch the room floor, then her head finally crash to the floor and it woke her up. She is Velvet with a black mark under her eyes.

"A-ambush!!" said Velvet with panicked voice while holding her heads, she does a rollback and duck into another bed in the room, a young lady with pink pajamas woke up in surprise when Velvet suddenly lunge to the top of her body, she is Silvie who is looking at Velvet with pained expression.

"What…are you doing…big sis Velvet…" said Silvie while tapping Velvet's shoulder, her face becoming pale as she struggles to breathe because Velvet is on the top of her body. Velvet soon notices Silvie in a pained expression, then she immediately gets up from her and Silvie finally can breathe, she is breathing like a person who is almost drowning.

"Oh Goddess, I'm sorry Silvie… I thought we had an ambush earlier…*yawn… I'm still sleepy… yesterday night was total chaos… I stayed up all night from all the sounds, the laughter of them across the room, they even playing guitar and flute…it was horrible, that was akin to melody of siren…" said Velvet while covering her mouth and scratching her messy red velvet hair, her eyes flinch when the morning sunlight hit her.

"Don't do that again, please." said Silvie sitting on her bed, then she looked at the academic schedule on the wall near her bed.

Tuesday, 16 February 1819, today there is a lesson at 8 Am written Divinity.

Silvie tilt her head, this is the only lesson that she didn't know, even sir Herlan didn't teach her this, a couple of days ago when she received her lesson books, there was also the thick book with the title Divinity and a piece of paper with cute smiling bunny and letter 'To Silvie' written on it, Silvie can't figure it out who and why the sender give her that piece of paper, her Academy first day went without a hitch and she still didn't know who is the sender.

"Big sis Velvet… do you know anything about this Divinity lesson we're having today?" Silvie asked while pointing at her academic schedule, Velvet pondered for a while when she heard Silvie question and she shrugged, she too didn't know what it was.

"I don't know…huh? look at the clock! …we need to hurry Silvie, we have 30 minutes left." replied Velvet while she hurried herself by grabbing her underwear, uniforms and rushing to the bedroom, Silvie widened her eyes and did exactly what Velvet did.

"BIG SIS VELVET ARE YOU DONE YET??" shouted Silvie while she kept banging the bathroom door with her right hand. She can't be late for her morning class; the presence point is important in this Academy after all.

"5 MORE MINUTES!!" Velvet shouted back while the sound of water splashed like a sudden wave, Silvie can hear that Velvet is taking bath in a hurried manner, Silvie's face darkens when she looks at the ticking clock on the wall. After waiting for god knows how long it was, Silvie finally hears the doorknob open, then she rushes to the bathroom to take a bath.

Both of them finally finished getting ready for the class, they went to their class immediately, class 1-A on the third floor, on the corner of the corridor. They opened the doorknob of the classroom only to find out that it was filled to brim with students, the interior of the classroom is ascending like a stadium seating structure, as there is a platform behind to place the study table, so the second row is higher than the first row and it continues until the 7 row which is the highest.

"Finally, both of you arrived, take a seat please." said the young man standing in the instructor podium, his amiable smile appeared on his face with his white church uniform. He looks quite holy, he is Kevin the instructor of Divinity class.

"Welcome, my dear students…this lesson probably sounds strange to you all, but it's still important for you…so you didn't become ignorant about how things in real life works."

Kevin made a warning as he wrote the word Divinity on the blackboard using chalk, all the students nod their heads in unison, Velvet and Silvie sit at the 7 row seat, they hardly see Kevin from here but not to Velvet as she can see clearly. The last lesson from Herlan made her acquire clairvoyance and far-away sight, while Silvie needs to squint her eyes to see Kevin, she didn't expect that the instructor is Kevin, the one she always sees when she is in Herlan's home.

"Let's start our lesson shall we—my dear students…in this world, like a coin, there is two sides of it, the Wicked, those who refuse the goddess light and teaching, and the Virtuous, those who embrace the goddess light and teaching, all of you and me."

Explained Kevin while tossing the golden coin on his hand multiple times and suddenly he grab the golden coin and it disappeared, the students clapped their hands and showing their enthusiasm for it.

"So…what is Divinity? How about…Silvie!, what is your answer?"

Asked Kevin while pointing his finger to the 7 row seats where Silvie sits. Silvie smiled a bit, she knows that it was intentional because Kevin loves doing that when he teaches Silvie the basics and always says that Silvie is a genius unlike sir Herlan who keeps calling her brat, whenever sir Herlan teaches her.

"I think…it's related to divine power? Just like what you did with the coin." said Silvie while pointing at Kevin's right hand, Kevin smiled and he opened his right hand, and behold a golden coin appeared again like Kevin conjured it from thin air.

"Correct, as expected from the number one student, it's divine power or the study of the divine, let me explain the theory of Divinity, the church calls it the three tiers of Divinity, let me write all of it on the blackboard."

Explained Kevin, then he wrote more letters on the blackboard, when he said 'number one student' all the noble kids in the room clicked their tongue, but they couldn't do anything because it's learning time, they didn't want to tarnish their family name by doing something foolish.

"The first tier…Manifestation, that's when you realize that you have the urge to do something. It's a simple process that stems from your motivation and imagination, you need to chant, do something, or get something to manifest it. Since you are all new to this, please practice with the chant like this… let's say…hmm… I want this golden coin to disappear." said Kevin while looking intensely at the golden coin on his right hand. The students waited for Kevin's next action, then that golden coin really disappeared. All the students became fascinated, Kevin continued his explanation.

"The second tier is Creation… it's similar to the first tier but this tier is the result from the first tier, however, it affects your sanity because it's required to conjured something from your mind to reality, the more detailed and bigger your imagination, the more sanity you will lose…hmm I think I still need that golden coin to pay for my taxi later…if you can do the first tier and the second tier you are a Transcendent."

When Kevin finished saying that, a golden coin appeared on his right-hand palm, his demonstration is quite clear and soon all the students try it by imitating Kevin, there are some who succeed and those who failed, mostly it's the noble kid who succeed. Velvet failed at the second tier, maybe because Velvet didn't get enough rest. While Silvie succeeded the first and the second tier.

"Instructor!, what is the third tier, the last tier of Divinity?" said Velvet while raising her hands higher, Kevin chuckle a bit when he sees Velvet enthusiasm, then his face turns serious, then he slams the table with his hands, all the students got surprised and terrified by Kevin sudden expression change even Silvie widen her eyes, she never saw Kevin made that kind of face before.

"The last tier…we, the church calls it Ascension… these magical and surreal abilities from your imagination ultimately lead to one thing…Godhood…Pope Benjamin was said that he received the Goddess enlightenment and become a Demigod… don't ever try to attempt this final tier at your own… or you'll lose your humanity forever and ended up becoming abomination being… that's the price of evoking the fantastical power within yourself… the church will label you as heretic, the wicked. Unless the Goddess permits you to have that kind of power like Pope Benjamin did." said Kevin with grim face, all the students swallowed their saliva, clearly they didn't want to even attempt the last tier of Divinity, it's not worth it, they didn't want to die horribly or crucified by the church.

"To be honest, I'd be grateful if lot of you didn't succeed the first tier earlier, in Divinity, just getting a C grade is fine, but I recommend you to at least participate because this is a vital information for your future, this lesson is the way, us, the church to prevent anymore tragedy of heresy and blasphemy towards the goddess, the goddess Seraphina who allowed these magical and surreal abilities deep inside us, in our soul, usually those who is able to do the first step, their soul has been tampered."

Said Kevin, he let out a long sigh and writing down the name for those who succeed earlier, all the students became confused why they should be grateful and happy if they didn't succeed the first tier earlier of this lesson, shouldn't they feel happy when they succeed?, noticing his students confusion Kevin explains it.

"If you failed, then congratulations you are an ordinary human being, a Mortal, you can have a happy and normal life, while those who succeed i'm sorry from now on you need to follow our church guideline so you didn't stray away from the goddess path, there are many things in this world that you shouldn't see nor know after all, the church will protect you from it." Said Kevin nonchalantly, the noble kids, one by one, got up from their seat as it made a painful sound, they became angry with Kevin's statement. They soon began protesting.

"What? I thought this was a good lesson!"

"So, you want me to fail? No, I can't do that instructor."

"I don't care about my humanity, I need my grade to be straight A, instructor."

That last comment triggered Kevin, as he threw a wooden eraser at the poor kid, and he stumbled back to his seat with a red mark on his forehead, all the students became silent, the room suddenly turned tense, Kevin got up from his seat and loudly shouted.

"YOU WANT YOUR STUPID A? HOW ABOUT THINKING HOW PRECIOUS YOUR LIFE IS? MANY UNIMAGINABLE THINGS WILL HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU DIG DEEPER IN DIVINITY, EVEN SIR HERLAN FORBID ME TO EVEN DOING A RESEARCH OF THIS TOPIC." Kevin yelled all of the sudden and that made all the students cowering in fear, Silvie flinched when she saw that, now she didn't want to make Kevin mad in the near future.

"*Sigh… I'm sorry… I shouldn't say it with that harsh tone to you… forgive me… it's just I'm doing this… I teach all of you at the request of sir Herlan… so that one day…for you to be grateful that you die as a human rather than an abomination being." Said Kevin as he hugs that poor student and keeps apologizing to that poor student, soon all the students lower their head some of them even silently cried… the thing that Kevin said hit their heart, they realized that it's better to be a human without anything at all than having all the power for the cost of losing their humanity, their identity and sanity.

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"That's all from me, in Divinity book lesson you got, there are a case of soul got tampered and its explanation, read it and do a summary of it, next week submit it to me…goodbye class." said Kevin as he reached the doorknob and leave the classroom, silence descend the room, they didn't want to continue this Divinity lesson.

Those who failed earlier really felt grateful, even the noble kids got jealous of them, but not with Silvie, as she didn't care if she lose her humanity or whatsoever, because that night, that night on Jerrim's farm, she already lose her humanity by losing something that's precious to her, her beloved dad, her beloved mom, and her beloved brother.

If I could just go back to that day…just one day… to prevent all the things happening to you all. That's what Silvie thought as she kept reading the Divinity lesson book on her study table while the warm sunlight touched her melancholy figure.

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The sun is already up, and now it's afternoon time, Vendetta woke up in the hotel room without spending a dime. The hotel he's staying at is The Scotsman. He went to this hotel quite late yesterday after spending more time with Vilily, laughing and chatting. Vendetta sat up on his bed scratching his own hair, still vividly remembering last night, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"Rise and Shine, sleepyhead."

The old gramophone made a noise greeting Vendetta's sleepy figure, Vendetta looked at the old gramophone with a surprised expression and said, "Good afternoon, owner… I'm sorry that I need to sleep in this room again…" said Vendetta as he got up from his bed and approached the old gramophone, then lowered his head to apologize.

"It's fine… you are Sir Herlan acquaintance, so it's my honor to help someone who is related to him... you remembered how he helped me right?"

The old gramophone made a sad noise after saying that, Vendetta nod his head he knows why this building, The Scotsman has a conscious…it was once a human after all, a human that became one with this building because the contractor sacrifice this poor human to complete the building, then it became a haunting building until sir Herlan bought it and turn it to hotel.

"Back then I lost what's important to me… my humanity… I became a haunted building…remember kid, never lose yourself no matter what… so that one day…for you to be grateful that you remained human until your last breath"

This time the portrait of King Edward move it's lips like the portrait is alive, but Vendetta know that it just the owner, The Scotsman who want to convey his message to Vendetta through the old painting, hearing that message Vendetta can't help but became silent, the thing that The Scotsman said is right, while Vendetta is looking at the portrait of King Edward, he became curious then he asked this question.

"Owner… this is my first time looking at this portrait, a bearded man with blonde hair, a stern face and blue eyes, is this King Edward IV portrait?" said Vendetta while looking at the portrait, he rubs his chin like saying 'so this is the face of the king of Welsterven'.

"You're correct, this is the portrait of young King Edward IV, now he is 70 years and rarely come to stay at this hotel, I overheard people gossip from the streets, they said that ever since king Edward IV's first wife died, he never showed up in public, and he remarried with another woman named Mary Ashford, and did you know that tomorrow is the election for the new king, the candidates are William Feld and Alexander Ashford." The picture of King Edward IV moves his mouth with fast pace, Vendetta nod his head trying to collect this information

"I see…tomorrow is the election for the new king huh?" said Vendetta, he walks to the window area, his eyes scanned the palace, it's located on a higher ground at the top of a hill, white marble building with many towers surrounding it, the perfect observation place to overview all Welsterven.

"Kid, there is a guest for you…Ohh, it's a lovely young lady! …way to go, Casanova!" said The Scotsman using a King Edward portrait. That portrait showed a teasing face to Vendetta, a romantic melody coming out from the old gramophone. Vendetta looks at the portrait with deadpan expression and gets out of the room without saying anything.

Vendetta went into the lobby, there he saw a young lady with lush messy brown hair with a car on her face, she has a slim body and there is a wooden guitar attached on her back using a string. Vendetta knows this person, she is Vilily, noticing Vendetta presence Vilily happily jumps and goes for a hug, Vendetta hugs her tightly and gently pat her head.

"Hehehe… I'm so happy to see you again Vee!, what are we gonna do today?" said Vilily while looking at Vendetta's face from his chest like a cute kitten snuggling between a blanket. Vendetta's lips curled up when he saw her cute behavior.

"We are going to the Field club, William promised to show me his theatrical troupe." Said Vendetta while snuggling his face to Vilily, she giggles when he does that, she withdraws herself from the embrace and reaches Vendetta hand, then she smiles at him. "That sounds like a perfect date, hurry up, hehehe"

Both of them walk out from The Scotsman hotel, Vilily hug Vendetta left arm, they are so close to each other almost like a husband and wife, the crowds who looks at the two of them got stunned, especially the ladies, but they don't have a chance because that good-looking gentleman has a lover beside him. the officer guarding the royal area entrance can't let Vilily enters, but Vendetta firmly said she is his wife and all the officer keeps apologizing while scratching their hair, both of them went easily to the royal area, Vilily is brimming with a smile especially after Vendetta said that she is his wife to that officer.

"We are here…Vily, that's the Field club" said Vendetta while pointing at that luxurious building with a sign in front of it. Vilily looks at the building with her mouth hanging open wide, her eyes looking at Vendetta and the Feld club multiple times.

"Y-you don't have to bring me all the way here… w-what if people ridicule you, if you are with me." Said Vilily while tightly gripping Vendetta hand, all the people soon notice her presence, the nobles, they clearly look at her with disdain and disgusted expression while covering their mouth with their hands or foldable fan. Vendetta drop to her knees and held Vilily hands then he said,

"Vily, why did you care about others when I'm here with you… how about this… I'll give you a piggyback so you don't have to look at them and you can put your head on my shoulder."

Vendetta smiled as he gently pat Vilily's head, soon, Vilily nervous and discomfort flushed away. Vendetta is right, why bother about others when you have one person to care more about you? Her lips curled up when she realized that, then she nodded her head to Vendetta as he turned his back and soon Vilily hugged that back. A piggyback, she never had one before even when she was a child, then she rests her head on Vendetta's shoulder, it's warm and spacious, she can smell Vendetta fragrance, a fragrance of her man. Vilily face is brimming especially when Vendetta gets up and walks as she feels that she is like flying, she wishes that this moment would never end.

Both of them enter the Field club and William is already there waiting for Vendetta. When he noticed Vendetta, he immediately approaches him and widen his eyes when there is a young lady on his back shyly hide her face from William, curious William asked Vendetta,

"Is this Mr. V mistress?, it's such an honor to meet you, and milady… you sure are lucky having Mr. V, he is a true gentleman." Vilily face brightened when William said that, she responds to William while still clinging on Vendetta back by saying.

"It's true! I'm really-really glad to meet with my Vee, thank you sir! hehehe'' William finally see the full face of Vilily, a blind eye and there is a scar on it, William eyes flinch when he saw that, he wants to ask something about it to Vilily but then he noticed Vendetta smiling gestured a silence to him with his finger, William understood as he too smiled, he scrap his intention for asking the origin of that scar because it's probably sensitive to her.

"I'm sorry for yesterday Mr. V… I need some time for myself because of the overwhelming emotion I suddenly had, but rest assured today we are going to have a good time…let us go to my Theatrical troupe, follow me ladies and gentleman."

Said William as he guides Vendetta and Vilily to enter other building, they were greeted with corridor of fancy interior of golds and diamonds, there are many awards and certificates on the wall and the shelf, Vendetta and Vilily look at their surrounding with bewildered expression, after walking through that glorious corridor, they finally arrived at an opera house with an interior of red cushions and the fragrance of agarwood greets their nostril, there is no dust nor trash in it, there is a couple of people training on the stage, they stopped doing their activities when they noticed William's presence, soon they all gathered around William.

"Oh goddess! If you aren't our director, I have never seen your face since your wife passed away…I'm happy that you visited us again, thank you director." Said the old grandpa with a hunchback as an amiable smile appeared on his face, and he kept rubbing his hand to William's back. All the people smiled and they kept asking William his condition, it seems like they really like William.

"Thank you all of you…i'm sorry that I never visit you for such a long time… and grandpa Joe…thank for your dedication and commitment to still preserving this theatrical troupe…" said William while hugging grandpa Joe, the crowds shed their tears when they saw this, soon they all hug William and grandpa Joe, they all forming a big circle of hug, grandpa Joe tap William shoulders saying that it suffocating him, William released his tight hug and everyone too, soon they all laughing happily.

"Now, did you want something? We were in the middle of training, did you want to watch, William?" said the old granny beside grandpa Joe, then William gestured his hand to show his friends and said. "Ah it's you granny Rose! Well yes, if you don't mind and also I want to show my friend and his mistress my theatrical troupe, his name is Vendetta, you can call him Mr. V, he is a true gentleman if I may say." Vendetta smiled at the crowds, and Vilily showed half of her face from Vendetta's back and waved her hand to the crowds, the crowds soon saying 'aww', and 'they look so lovely together' which made granny Rose laugh.

"Hmm…I think I know you…ah! Dear! Aren't they the sweet couple at the water fountain that we saw last night? A lady with a soothing and melodic voice."

Exclaimed grandpa Joe as he pulls his wife sleeve and pointing at Vendetta and Vilily, granny Rose nod her head in agreement with her husband,

"You are right, they are the one we saw and we even tip them last night, why didn't you tell us that you both know William, you rascal, hahaha"

The crowds laugh when granny Rose said that, William got surprised when Vendetta and his mistress got recognized by this talented couple, grandpa Joe and granny Rose. Since they were the top actors and actresses of their era, many celebrities learned how to act and perform from them after all, to even get recognized by them means that you have a talent.

"You are overstating me, I didn't have any talents worth talking about, but my Vily might have that kind of talent you are searching for, please be aware that the royalty for hearing her song is quite expensive, I still got a bill I need to pay to her after hearing her song last night."

Teased Vendetta as he gently drops Vilily from his back, when Vilily heard that last statement, she swiftly turns her head to Vendetta while blushing and lightly punches him for his teasing,

"Y-you don't need to say that to them, Vee!"

The crowds happily looking at the couple in front of them.

"Hohoho, she sure have a talent, that's why we gave a tip worth 1 gold coin, we didn't know that she would come here, the world sure is a small place huh?" said granny Rose, grandpa Joe smiled when he heard her wife words, while the crowds and William got shocked when they hear that statement from granny Rose, just how good is it for the legendary former actor and actress to give this young lady a gold coin as her tip, soon they all got curious with her.

"Do you mind if you could show us your singing talent, Miss?" said one opera staff, soon they all raised their hands and said 'please, I'm dying to see it' or 'i will learn something if I hear you sing' something like that. Vilily became speechless as she stood there looking at the people approaching him without showing any disdain, disgust nor saying hurtful things and calling her ugly witch. This is it…the moment she has been waiting for, a moment for one day she will use her talent to lead a better life and show the world her passion for melody. Soon she smiled at the crowds and reached her guitar on her back and said, "Sure, it'll be my pleasure to sing in front of you."

Vilily step up to the opera house concert podium and strums her guitar, with her soothing and melodic voice that captivated the crowds, Vendetta look at her with a teary eye from the audience seat, William who noticed this smiled and he said," She had a rough life isn't she?...that's why you told me to keep silent about her face…you are a gentleman, Mr. V. "

Vendetta rubs his teary eyes to remove tears, he lowers his head and bitterly smiles at William then he says, "I first met her when she was in the middle of the street, she had an accident…a horse carriage driver crashed into her… she nearly died back there… You know, Mr. William, when you told me yesterday, the day you lost your wife. I keep having a thought, what if I lose my Vily…to be honest you are the true gentleman, Mr. William… for still living and smiling…If I were in your position at that time… I probably lost myself that day."

William let out a long sigh and smiled at Vendetta, he was right, that day he nearly lost himself, if not for his daughter, his son, and this theatrical troupe staff, and he suddenly laughed, Vendetta tilted his head when he heard William laugh.

William then uttered this, "Hahaha, I'm sorry, Mr.V… it's just… we humans live a life with a sorrow and happiness like two sides of coin…but no one in this world want sorrow…the reason I created this theatrical troupe…is because everyone needs a comedy in their life isn't it?...my wife didn't like it if she saw her husband crying pathetically over her forever… she prefers if I'm laughing and smiling so she can observe me from above with a happy feeling."

Vendetta look at William, on his eyes a tear slowly cascades down, but his lips is curled up, he hides his pain behind that smile, it's like he is saying he is happy, then he gets up from his seat and quietly leave the opera house, leaving Vendetta alone on his audience seat.

Vendetta gazes at Vilily who is laughing and smiling while she strums her guitar, she exchanges a couple of discussion with the opera staff, grandpa joe and granny Rose, she already found where she should be at, her talent got recognized from the influential people, soon her life will turned to better, but she needs someone better, she can't be in lower class forever, she will turn the circle of her life, if that happened would she really be fine with someone like Vendetta?, a person who didn't know anything about life?, no, she already gives the confirmation, that smile she showed at him, that smile must be protected, he needs to know her better, and when every step is over, then he will settle down with her.

I'll wait One day… just for you.

That's what's in Vendetta's mind, then he gets up from his seat and quietly leaves the opera house. He didn't want to interrupt Vilily's having fun by showing to those people her talents, a talent that is shining so brightly akin to something, something called hope.