On the Divine-Gift Continent, the gods select human representatives to maintain the order of all living beings. To empower these envoys and ensure their authority, the gods grant them a portion of divine power—this sacred endowment is known as Divine Bestowal! Humans blessed with this power are revered as disciples of the gods, known as Godly Acolytes.
Legend holds that in the distant primordial age, humanity could acquire Divine Bestowal solely through direct gifting by the gods themselves. Yet as generations of acolytes bore children, a portion of this divine power began to be inherited, passing from parent to offspring. Over time, two distinct paths to acquiring divine power emerged: one, direct endowment from the gods; two, possessing the ancestral bloodline imbued with divine power and refining it further through personal cultivation.
The Aimesiel Divine Academy, where Robert was enrolled, was established by the Yalan Church specifically to recruit those bearing the sacred bloodline. Its purpose was to nurture such acolytes into greater strength, ensuring that upon graduation, they would serve the Yalan Church with unwavering loyalty.
Robert's ancestors were generations of accomplished acolytes, and his father, Luo Xiong, was a formidable practitioner of divine power. Yet—somehow—by the time the bloodline reached Robert, a fault had arisen. Astonishingly, he had inherited not a shred of divine essence from his father.
For a prodigious father to produce a seemingly worthless son was exceedingly rare on the Divine-Gift Continent. Luo Xiong, unwilling to accept this, remained steadfast in his belief that his son possessed untapped potential. While he himself could not awaken it, the seasoned instructors of Aimesiel Academy might.
Thus, six years prior, even though Robert had been officially declared devoid of the sacred bloodline, his father leveraged his authority as city lord to forcibly enroll him at Aimesiel Divine Academy.
Six years had passed, and Robert had yet to manifest even the faintest trace of divine lineage, let alone true Divine Bestowal. Consequently, he languished in the academy's first-year curriculum for six prolonged years, repeatedly failing examinations. Were it not for his father's residual influence, Robert would long have been expelled.
Whenever the six-year ordeal was mentioned, Robert's cheeks burned with embarrassment. Yet the Yalan Church's influence was immense, and if he hoped to make his mark in life, he had no choice but to endure the academy, praying one day for a stroke of fortune to awaken a latent, perhaps nonexistent, talent.
His steward, sensing his agitation, watched as Robert came to a stop before him, exclaiming with desperation, "Where's my father? Go, hurry to my father! Have him plead for me at the academy!"
The steward smiled wryly. "Have you forgotten, sir? Yesterday, Lord Michel already commanded the city lord to leave the city with troops." He lowered his voice. "Master, if I may speak candidly, Aimesiel Academy belongs to the Yalan Church. Dean Donald holds authority equal to that of a provincial governor of the empire…"
Robert slumped onto the stone bench, worry etched across his face. He understood the implication: six years ago, Dean Donald had allowed him entry as a courtesy to his father. Today, should the dean truly resolve to expel him, his father's influence would hold no sway.
At that moment, a servant delivered his transcript. Robert glanced at it, and the subtleties of the steward's words became clear. The dean's tone was no gentle warning—it was an outright command to vacate the academy immediately, with explicit notice that his enrollment would be revoked today.
There was no time to lose. If the dean removed his registration, all would be lost. Waving his hand, Robert declared, "Father won't be able to save me this time. Prepare the fastest horse—I'm going to plead my case in person!"
The Aimesiel Divine Academy, situated in the southern district of Moonlight City, was a former noble estate transformed into a grand academic institution. Its imposing architecture reflected both its teaching prowess and the exalted prestige of the Yalan Church.
By the time Robert arrived, dawn was breaking. Boarding students were already engaged in morning prayers on the playground, while local students like Robert made their way along the crowded paths to the academy.
Riding swiftly through the throng, Robert's anxiety mounted until a derisive snort sounded ahead. "Robert! Do you think the rules don't apply to you, galloping your horse at the academy gates?"
A young man stepped forward, gripping the reins and yanking Robert from his mount with brute force.
Robert's temper flared. The rule against riding at the academy entrance was largely ignored, and his urgent business left him no patience for antiquated regulations. Squaring his eyes on the man, he sneered, "Haus, I have no quarrel with you today. Let go of me!"
Haus, around twenty, with short silver hair and a lean frame, served as an inspection officer in the student council. He had long been an obstacle to Robert, who had many friends like Sena, and enemies like Haus. Seeing Robert's agitation, Haus grinned, tightening his grip as his fingers locked onto Robert's shoulders like iron bands.
"I'll say it once more, Haus," Robert snapped, frowning. "I have no interest in fighting. Release me immediately—I must see the dean!"
Haus scoffed, "I am an inspection officer of the student council. It is my duty to question any student who flouts the rules. Want to see the dean? Ha! First, come with me to the council!"
Previously, Haus had frequently exploited such excuses to harass Robert, who in turn had plotted in secret against him. But today was different. Robert's tone softened. "Haus, this is urgent. I must see the dean at once. Let me pass."
Haus laughed derisively, and the two argued at the gate until another student arrived from within, whispering something into Haus's ear. Haus's expression shifted to one of surprise. He waved dismissively. "Fine. Go see the dean, Master Robert. Safe travels!"
As Robert dashed through the gates, he heard Haus mutter behind him, "Is it true? Robert, the useless, is really being expelled?"
"Do I have reason to lie? I just left the registrar—Robert's enrollment is being revoked!"
Ignoring the two gloating bystanders, Robert raced to the dean's office on the top floor. He knocked, and his anxious expression softened into a warm smile.
"Uncle Donald, your nephew has come to see you!"
Inside the opulent office, a corpulent elderly man in white robes was hunched over documents. Noticing Robert, his gaze fell upon an object opposite the desk, and he frowned. "Robert, I know why you are here. Say nothing. Return to your quarters."
Following the dean's gaze, Robert saw the object and cursed inwardly: the old fool!
Across the desk stood a half-human-height tripod, upon which rested a crystal the size of a human head—a Divine Bestowal Crystal. Not merely a priceless gem, it was indispensable to the academy, capable of measuring the strength of an acolyte's sacred bloodline and evaluating their aptitude for cultivating divine power.
Dean Donald, eyes fixed on the crystal, spoke with unmistakable implication: "Useless boy, leave at once! What are you still babbling for!?"