March 15th, year 024 Angels Descent

The entire class made their way to Alex’s lesson, with Gunter keeping his usual position at the front of the group. This time, Bea was on his shoulders, flipping off every student group they passed.

“Is that really necessary?” Daisy asked as she pulled her cloak down over her head.

“Yes, these dickbags are ignoring Maxwell's polite warning and keep asking me for help!!”

“Bea… they were asking for help with the math homework not to get into Alex’s lessons,” Daisy retorted.

“Same difference,” Bea said, ignoring any further protests from Daisy and even flipped off professors who were not even involved.

Arriving at their usual spot, they were surprised to see no students waiting this time around as they paused to wonder why a student passed in front of the classroom and began hopping and making pained noises.

“Watch out, guys, someone cast a floor is lava prank spell in front of that classroom,” the student warned as they continued on their way.

“An illusion spell?” Maxwell muttered. “I don’t see anything. Maybe he engineered in some exclusions?”

“He does seem to be able to do that kind of thing,” Kline added as he stepped forwards before quickly retreating.

“Nope!” Kline cried as he hopped about, rubbing each foot to soothe it.

“Only a sensory illusion then,” Maxwell muttered.

“All illusions are sensory,” Bea replied teasingly. Maxwell quickly reddened up at her remark.

“I knew that!!”

“So, how do we get in?” Gunter asked as he tentatively put a toe into the rough area the spell was affecting.

“Run would be my best guess. It’s only an illusion. No real damage is being done. This is probably to keep other students away,” Daisy suggested.

“If it’s so easy, you do it then!”

“Fine!!” Daisy said as she rolled up her sleeves.

“What are your sleeves being up going to do?” Bea asked.

“I’m getting in the zone; quiet!” After a few quick breaths, Daisy began hopping from one foot to the other. Almost as if she was getting ready to shadowbox.

“Ok, here I go! AHHHHHHHH!!!!”

“Oh, you kids are out here. Let me stop the illusion,” Alex said as she was mid-charge. Skidding to a halt in front of Alex, Daisy froze, quickly becoming beet red.

“Were you going to ram my door down?” Daisy hastily shook her head.

“It’s just the wards would’ve sent you flying with equal force. Anyways come on in, guys; we have a new class member joining us today,” Alex spoke these words with an ear-to-ear smile; his appearance could be best compared to a child the night before a school trip.

“New class member?!”

“Indeed, Maxwell, they are going to become my favourite member quickly… awhh hell, who am I kidding? They already are,” Alex replied as he returned to his desk. Shuffling into the classroom, they all looked around but could see no one else.

“Where are they?” Kline asked, confused.

“Probably waiting for approval to be added by Dark Lady Crozonia,” Daisy suggested, as this new member would need to be added to the imperial seal.

“Ok, first things first; class, now you are all settled. I’d like to introduce you all to Freki,” Alex crouched below his desk, and when he came back up, cradled in his arms, was a ball of fluff.

“She is still a puppy, so be gentle when you give her cuddles,” the ball of fluff unfurled as Alex spoke. It had two pointy ears, one of which was flopped at an angle—a pair of big brown doe-eyes and a big duster-sized tail that was already excitedly waggling.

“OH, MY GODS, YOU GOT A PUPPY!!!” Daisy squealed as she rushed up to give Freki attention.

“Yeah, this is the gift my sister got me. Apparently, she was on a military deployment to deal with a rogue Fenrir rampaging. When they finished dealing with it, they found she was just being protective of her pups. Each officer got one. My sister secured the runt of the litter for me.”

“I’m sorry, a Fenrir? As in the house-sized wolves?!” Maxwell asked wide-eyed at the puppy.

“Well yeah. You should see Freki’s brothers and sisters. The size of full-sized wolves. Freki being the runt is why she’s so small.”

“Is it wise to give someone like you a wolf that will grow massive?” Bea asked, barely restraining her own urge to rush up and pet Freki herself.

“Hey, I deal with little monsters ten times as bad as little Freki here. Oh, and the kindergarteners as well.”

“Leaving aside… ok, she is adorable. But leaving that aside, what’s the lesson today? The usual practice and soul exercise?” Maxwell asked, eager to get the derailed lesson back on track.

“Don’t worry, Freki, he will warm up to you. He is just embarrassed he isn’t the favourite wolf in class anymore,” Alex said in a baby-talk voice as he turned Freki to look into his eyes.

“But yes, we will do the soul exercise today. But the light circle practice can wait as I need to hand a few things out and check a few things with you before we progress to the second lesson.”

“So, to your starting positions, please!” Alex announced. The class, as usual, all made their way to their usual spot just outside the classroom.

“Just to mix things up today, I will put in a sliver of bloodlust. You guys have been progressing more than I anticipated, and I think upping the difficulty is in need.”

The class shared confused looks as they had, at best, made it an inch in front of their drawn lines each time they practised. As they were pondering this, a small furry form wiggled between them. She was whipping Kline and Gunter with her tail.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Sir, Freki is here?” Bea said, already burying her hands in Freki’s fur.

“Yes, I will enlighten you about a lesson I am surprised you haven’t picked up on during the previous soul exercises,” Alex said with a nod.

“Don’t worry, Freki, you will do brilliantly,” Gunter said reassuringly as he tapped the wolf pup on its head with his finger.

“Ok, begin!!” At Alex's words, the pressure was a magnitude worse than any of their previous practice attempts.

“This… nghhh… Is this a sliver?” Maxwell groaned as he kept pushing himself further forwards. As the class struggled to move, a small form scampered past them and up to Alex with ease.

“Well done, girl,” Alex praised as he gave the pup a treat. At this moment, the crushing force vanished.

“How in the hell did Freki do that?” Maxwell gasped out.

“She loves me, that’s why,” Alex answered, giving the contented pup a scratch behind the ears.

“Love?” Maxwell repeated.

“Yes, emotions can buff or debuff your soul’s strength. Think back to your sparring matches. Elissa was giving off a murderous aura, and yet one of your number tried to hug-tackle her.” The class all turned their gazes towards Tasha.

“Strong good emotions can buff you. Feelings like love can even make you immune to a specific person's aura. Anger can make you push through and resist the effects. However, negative feelings like despair will actually weaken your soul. This does change from person to person. Some even find strength from negative feelings.”

“Anyways, you know now. It’s good that it’s early in your training, so you can get extra practice and build a good foundation.”

“Why didn’t you tell us sooner, sir?” Daisy asked.

“Well, I had hoped you’d figure it out yourselves. But circumstances are moving faster than expected, so I thought to accelerate your training,” Alex answered while absentmindedly scratching Freki’s belly.

“What circumstances, sir?” Maxwell asked.

“I’ve said too much; forget I said anything about that. To the next matter, the handouts,” Alex said as he handed out a page to each student.

“What's this, chief?”

“Permission slips.”

“You actually need these? Half the stuff you’ve had us do already seems questionable,” Bea pointed out.

“Nah, I never needed your parents' permission for that stuff. I need it to take you outside the city, though.” Alex’s answer sent a stir through the class.

“We would leave the city? For how long?” Kline asked, his voice already cracking.

“Weekend school trips.”

“Oh, so not far. This so we can do outside the city walls quests then?” Kline asked.

“Nope, I will take you all around the world. I still have the key to use the teleportation circles. The powers that be kinda… ok, even you wouldn’t believe that lie. I just never gave it back. I also have a school trip planned for the upcoming spring holiday. But you’d be with my kindergarten class for that one if you do want to join.”

“Ok, sir, now we’ve done our usual test, and you gave us the handout. You said you have to check a few things with us?” Maxwell's tone was sharper than usual.

“Oh, is it where in the world we would want to go?” Tasha asked, already bouncing.

“No, I want to know what god your parents wish you to be.”

Alex’s words sent a wave of confusion through the class. They had no clue what he was going on about. Seeing this confusion, Alex exhaled a sigh.

“You know when you reach five, and they put holy oil on your head and recognise you as a full family member under a god's name?” This explanation enlightened the class on what he meant.

“Oh, you mean the divine recognition of the right to exist,” Bea answered.

“Right to exist?”

“Yes, many children die at a young age. If a child reaches five, it means the gods are willing to let them exist, and we recognise that with a blessing,” Maxwell explained.

“What a macabre way to think about it.”

“Naming aside, I would like to know what god you were each blessed under.”

“I was blessed under Freyja,” Tasha answered. “I live up to her will for battle and love; every single day of my life.”

“Yes, thank you, Tasha. You still can’t have Elissa. Even if the goddess herself tried to stop me from marrying her, I would fight the heavens willingly.”

“Well, I was blessed under Brokk. My family wanted his blessing to aid in my crafting skill,” Gunter answered.

“A pretty standard one for crafting families. Yuu was under Vulcan as her family follow the southern gods.”

“I was b-b-blessed under Thor,” Kline stammered out.

“Isn’t one of his aspects bravery?” Bea asked.

“Y-yes. I hope one day actually to live up to my blessing.”

“As you spoke up, Bea, who were you blessed under?”

“Persephone. My family follow the southern gods as well. Persephone is one of the gods of the underworld, so our demons come from her husband's realm. Or so the priests say. But I’ve read the scriptures, and her husband seems too much of a dork to be the boss of them, so my family blessed me under her instead.”

“Yes, she seems to be more the dread queen than Hades… thank you, Bea,” Alex said, turning his gaze to Maxwell.

“I was myself was blessed under Mani. For obvious reasons.”

“Yes, the moon god. Very apt for a werewolf.”

“I was blessed under Athena. My parents wanted a scholar for our family.” Daisy eagerly answered before Alex could even turn his gaze in her direction.

“Very good thank you for answering, kids.”

“Well, sir, who were you named under? We all shared ours; only fair to share who you were blessed under?”

“Guess.”

“Well, you said your nickname in the guild was Loki.” Bea began.

“And you do love your tricks,” Daisy added.

“Chief, you also seem like a fun guy but also a right bastard.”

“Hey… I resemble those statements.” The class all huddled together to whisper and debate their answer before Maxwell turned to give their collective answer.

“We say Loki is the likely one you were blessed under.”

“Before I confirm or deny that assumption, you should learn what it really is to be blessed under a god. The original teaching is that it is in the hope that the child blessed will ascend and become the god they are blessed under.”

“How does that work? Being blessed by a god to become them?”

“The divine realm is supposedly timeless. So apparently, some gods are yet to live their mortal lives. But when they rise up, they can interact with all time.”

“Well, you are well on your way to becoming Loki, sir,” Maxwell said.

“Well, jokes on you; I wasn’t blessed under him.” The entire class said the same thing at the same time.

““Huh?””

“Yeah, I’m not blessed under him. He’s not the only nordic god that likes to trick and test people.” Each class member began thinking deeply about the nordic gods and who best-suited Alex.

“Odin?” Daisy mumbled as she raised her hand.

“Yes, I was blessed under Odin. I’d say I’m more on my way to being him than I am, Loki.”

“That explains Freki’s name now you mention it,” Tasha added as Freki growled at her, already deciding she wasn’t a fan of the elf.

“Think, kiddos. I have given up body parts just trying to learn magic. I have a wide variety of knowledge. I have travelled all over the place. I love all things learning and am not above using tricks to test people.”

“The more you mention it, the more you seem a weird blend of both Odin and Loki.”

“This is besides the point. Sir, why do you want to know our divine blessings?”

“So I can know what to expect. Our next lesson can be deeply affected by your blessings.”

As if the school bell had narrative timing, it rang at that very moment.