Reborn with a Necromancer System - Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Transfer Student

Kai slouched in his seat, arms crossed, staring blankly at the stained glass window that filtered golden morning light into dull hues. Of all the subjects the academy forced upon him, Divinity Magic was by far the most detestable. Not because he couldn’t understand it, but because he didn’t want to.

He could feel all of the undead within his shadows. Begging for him to leave the room filled with divinity. He could see the golden swirls of mana similar to what he saw from those who used mana at the church. And his detestable sister.

‘Wouldn’t those gods feel my undead if I’m surrounded by all of this?’

Class was all sermons and symbolism. Empty prayers to gods that never answered. He only had to attend once a month, but even that felt like a waste of time.

The goal was that, through prayer, one of the gods would recognise your existence, and bless you with their power. Their lecturer explained that those recognised by the gods could even change their class. Some people became heroes, clerics, and divine disciples.

‘I already have one annoying God on my ass. And the others want to kill me. I’m not praying for shit.’

This was one of the few magics that Willam couldn’t get a handle on, either. It didn’t require skill, and even devotion only got you so far. It was mentioned to students that they could drop the unit if, after one trimester, they couldn’t cast a single divine spell.

Kai and Willam agreed to drop the class and spend the time studying other magics together. Some students occasionally glowed with a divine light, and items were brought in with minor curses on them that students tried to spend their time removing.

Kai watched one such student, bright red in the face with frustration, hold a dark cube that dripped a black liquid from the bottom.

He barely registered the door creaking open until their homeroom teacher, Professor Glenwall, stepped in. The man’s tired voice carried across the room like the start of a long punishment.

“Miss Perrigin, your scheduled lecturer for Divinity Magic has fallen ill.” He maintained his usual monotone voice.

A few students mumbled half-hearted prayers. Kai didn’t bother.

“The Church of Radiance has graciously sent us a temporary replacement, Claire, a practicing user of Divine Magic.”

Polite applause followed, most out of obligation than interest. But when the new lecturer walked in, she wasn’t alone.

A young woman in cleric’s white and gold strode to the front of the classroom with the stiff grace of someone used to reverence. Behind her, trailing just a step behind, came a girl.

And Kai felt his world shift.

‘What does this world have against me? For fuck’s sake!’

Long brown hair. Gentle brown eyes. That same soft, delicate face, one sculpted to be trusted, protected. She hadn’t changed a bit.

Mari Tensen.

His sister.

The murderer of their parents and the one who turned their younger brother into something twisted and obedient.

Kai’s undead stirred inside his shadow space like caged animals. They remembered the ranks which she destroyed. His shadow, a dark extension of himself, howled to be let loose. Kai clenched his jaw. His fingers twitched at his sides as the familiar urge surged through him. His vision sharpened unnaturally. He saw the line of her throat, the exact path a blade would need to travel-

‘Control it. It would be game over if I lose it here.’

Shade thrashed against the confines of his will. He imagined its claws already reaching for her, tearing her to pieces before she could speak.

But she smiled. Innocent. Warm. Like nothing had happened. Like blood didn’t still stain her hands in the space where he could still see it.

Claire gestured to Mari and smiled radiantly at the class.

“This is Mari Tensen,” the cleric announced with a flourish. “A prodigy of divine healing and the ward of Saint Elema. She will be enrolling in the academy immediately to further her understanding of magic and to interact with other gifted youths.”

Kai’s world spun again.

‘She’s… enrolling?’

The cleric went on, oblivious to the storm inside him. “Mari will be placed in E-Class to better acquaint herself with the more… grounded members of society. It will be a valuable learning experience for her, especially for one who may become an anointed Divine Cleric and protector of the realm.”

The room was silent for a moment. Then someone whispered, “E-Class?” in disbelief.

Mari didn’t react. She offered a smile so humble it looked rehearsed. It became instantly obvious that Mari had no interest in the academy.

Kai wasn’t listening anymore, though. He was breathing in out.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Trying to separate rage from thought.

‘This is an opportunity.’

He looked at her again. Not with hatred. With calculation.

Vepice. His old friend and his saviour. Still alive, but irreversibly scarred, afraid, and near-mute. His magic wasn’t suited to it. It was too raw, too aggressive. The more he studied naturopathy and regeneration, the clearer it became: healing was not in his nature.

But Mari’s was. She was a stronger healer than their mother ever had been.

The irony nearly made him laugh. The girl who destroyed everything he had… might be the one to save part of what little remained.

He couldn’t turn Vepice into a fighter. Raising them from death would only insult who they were.

‘No. I need Mari for this.’

So he would play her game. Smile when she smiled. Ask questions. Be curious. Even grateful. And when she grew to trust him, then she would heal Vepice. Hopefully without force, but if it came to it… He’d use force.

A smile escaped his lips and his eyes met with Mari’s for a moment.

After that, he promised himself, whatever happens to her… She will at least die by his hands.

Kai leaned back in his seat, shadows coiled tightly beneath him, and forced a calm expression.

‘Let the game begin.’