The Only Son Amongst The Daughters Of Eros

As soon as he entered, the heavy toll of the bells reverberated across the Institution, and that was the signal for the start of lessons.

Eyes widened, Aeric clenched his fists, his determination igniting. At this point, he knew he had already missed too many classes and refused to let another slip away — especially since they were important to his growth.

Also, his second reason was because his time was short. Undeniably, there would be only one seat left near Celestia, and he wasn't going to lose it to someone else.

His boots struck the marble hallway as he jumped into the sea of boobs and assess, squeezing his way through the stairs before finally arriving at the Divinity Education and Manipulation classroom.

Inside, the room was designed like the customary classrooms Aeric was used to in his past life, except for the walls and the inscriptions of Divinity and Region insignias.

In every chair and desk, Daughters took their positions, filling the room with lively chatter. Aeric's eyes darted around, searching for Celestia.

Hoping she was sitting with her sisters, his heartbeat quickened when he finally found her, seated by the far wall. Her golden curly hair covered her face, and she was looking down at the book in front of her.

To Aeric's relief, the seat beside her was still empty.

Ignoring the piercing stares of Aryanne and Melina, Aeric moved forward. Momentarily, his attention was stolen by a cheeky whistle from Nyx, sitting a few rows up with her quieter twin sister. "Hey, handsome," she teased, her lips curling into a smirk.

Aeric shot the red-haired daredevil a fleeting glance, unimpressed.

"Nyx!" Nyssa, her sister muttered, elbowing her as she watched Aeric pass without slowing down. Her eyes nervous.

Aeric on the other hand, was fully focused on Celestia.

He reached her desk and leaned slightly toward her. "Is this seat taken?" he asked softly.

Celestia looked up, startled. For a moment, her cerulean eyes met his, betraying a flicker of surprise and something more. She was nervous.

She quickly averted her gaze, her voice cool but strained. "No, it's not taken."

Aeric frowned, guilt knotting in his chest. 'Really odd to see her so cold. Well, I guess I deserve it.' Slowly, he slid into the seat beside her, murmuring, "Thank you."

Unsurprisingly, the air between them grew thick with tension. Aeric stole occasional glances at her, hoping to catch her eye or find a sliver of warmth. But Celestia kept her focus on her notebook, her fingers twisting absently at the corner of a page.

He could tell she was shy. In fact, she looked shy, almost hesitant, but her walls remained firmly in place. Aeric opened his mouth several times, but the words refused to come.

The awkward silence continued.

However, in time, it was mercifully broken by the arrival of Lady Savana. The classroom fell silent as the door swung open, and the teacher strode in, commanding attention with her presence.

Lady Savana of Dawn was a striking figure, tall and lithe, with cascading auburn hair that reminded Aeric of the spring. Her attire was a flowing gown of deep sapphire designed with fine silver embroidery. The clasps on her shoulders glinted with enchanted gemstones, and she had sunlight earrings on her earlobes.

"Good morning, class," she greeted. She was a fairly young woman, so her voice was smooth but still edged with authority.

The rows of Daughters quietened and everyone's concentration fixed on Lady Savana, including Aeric who had taken note of her interesting presence.

"As you may remember, in the last lesson, we explored the foundations of Physical Divinity — how to create and manipulate it effectively. Today, we move forward."

Aeric's eyes widened in alarm. 'Wait what? Creating physical Divinity?' His heart sank. 'That was one of the lessons I had missed. If I was in that class, I probably wouldn't have had it so difficult last night!' He scratched the back of his neck, frustration gnawing at him.

Beside him, Celestia glanced his way and she noticed his shock and worry. Her expression softened slightly because in the end, he was her friend.

"You did miss that class," she said quietly. "It was one of the ones I saved a seat for you in."

Aeric winced, guilt crashing over him. "I'm really sorry about that," he murmured, his voice low and sincere.

Celestia hesitated before replying. "It's fine," she said softly. "I always bring a Mirror Ball to record lessons so I can study later. I brought it as well for that class. If you want, I can let you use it to catch up."

Aeric's brow furrowed. 'A Mirror Ball?' he echoed internally. 'What is that?'

It sounded like something that worked in some way like a video camera. If that was the case, relief swept through Aeric. "Thank you," he said earnestly. "I could really use that."

Before their conversation could continue, Lady Savana's gaze found him. "Son Aeric," she said, her tone neutral but pointed. "You were absent from my last lesson."

Aeric straightened in his seat. 'Oh, she must have been expecting to see me in that class.'

He quickly nodded. "My apologies, Miss Savana. I had some… issues that led me to stay at home."

She studied him for a moment before nodding curtly. "Very well. I trust you'll be more attentive today."

"Yes, miss," Aeric replied.

Lady Savana turned back to the class, her voice rising with purpose. "Today, we discuss the Divine Body, the vital system that governs your ability to wield Divinity."

After making a diagram on the body and captioning it, the teacher continued. "Like your skeletal or nervous system, the Divine Body is an intricate network that connects Divine Vessels, also known as Meridians throughout your body. These Vessels channel Divinity throughout your body and whatever amount of Divinity present in them is then reflected appropriately by your Divine Core. It is also important to know that the strength and efficiency of your Divine Body directly affect how much Divinity you can wield and sustain. That strength and efficiency is your Affinity."

She waved her hand, and an intricate, glowing diagram appeared in the air, a human figure — just like the one on the board but more detailed — illuminated with glowing lines crisscrossing its body.

"As we also know, Regions, where one is born, further influence the Divine Body," she continued. "Each Region governs a specific aspect of Divinity."

She gestured, and the diagram shifted, showing five radiant orbs, each labeled.

1. Starlight Region: "Controls the Elemental Powers — fire, water, air, and earth. And all the sub-elements as well."

2. Elysium Plains: "Manages the Natural Powers — plants, animals, and healing."

3. Moonlight Realm: "Holds sway over Metaphysical Powers — thought, emotions, time, and illusions."

4. Dawnlight Region: "Channels Illumination Powers of light and purity."

5. Twilight Depths: "Commands Illumination Powers of darkness and shadows."

Lady Savana folded her hands, her gaze sweeping the room. "Your Region adapts your Divine Body, shaping your innate abilities into a Class and Main Skill reflective of its domain. This adaptation manifests fully during your Coming of Age."

'Well this makes total sense,' Aeric thought. Then he raised his hand. Lady Savana permitted him to speak. "Is it possible to have powers from two Regions? Like if one was born from parents from different Regions."

Lady Savana arched a brow but nodded. "An excellent question. While one might inherit traits from two Regions, only one will dominate upon the Coming of Age, as the Divine Body aligns with its strongest influence."

'Hmm.' Aeric was still curious. "So there is no other way then? Is it not possible for someone to wield powers from a Region that isn't their own?"

The question hung heavily in the air. Lady Savana's sharp gaze locked onto him, and she began to suspect such an odd question that wouldn't even cross the mind of a normal netizen of the Realm.

"No," she answered firmly. "That is impossible. A person's Divine Body cannot channel power from a foreign Region."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Aeric masked his expression, though his mind churned. He looked at his open palm. 'Then how can I do it? he wondered. 'The Depravity System must have done a lot of overriding to grant me this [Claim] Skill. I truly am hacking the game.'