Waking up the next morning, Vesper, who felt more drained than normal from last night's events, saw that Seraphina was still sleeping on his chest.
With a regrettable sigh, he felt shame in himself for not stopping what happened, for not allowing her to give herself up to him easily. Gently picking her up, Vesper covered her up in her cloak and placed her within his shadow.
"I'm sorry," he gently whispered into her ear before he stood up and began getting ready for class.
Leaving his house, Vesper made his way to school without much incident. Arriving at class and taking his seat, he stared out the window, thinking of how he should take his next steps.
(With the territory I'm going to gain from Rias...and the land I plan to buy in Japan, I'm going to need people to manage both. I will need workers, maintainers, and then I also need to build an army, so commanders, soldiers, healers, and support. But before any of that, I need a higher level of divinity, which means I need worshippers...I don't like the fact that people need to pray to me, but if I can help people alongside that, it won't be as terrible.)
Opening his system, Vesper looked into his divinity section and how much divine energy he had.
[Divine Energy: 17,430]
(I have accumulated a lot in these past few days...I should summon another apostle this time, someone who can be the light in the darkness. The first branch to spread my name)
[Divinity]
[Race: Low-God]
[Divinity: 10,000]
[Required amount for evolution: 100,000]
[Apostles: 1]
[Believers: 1]
[Miracles: None]
(I guess performing miracles would be the best way to show people...but what would I do...How would I even perform a miracle?)
Since he had arrived at class early, Vesper spent the next ten minutes trying to figure out the best place and people to perform miracles on. The people who were in need of one.
After some time, he thought of the number of kids and young adults who were abandoned worldwide. How many of them are sick and dieing, begging for parents that would never come, begging for food, a shelter just to be warm.
(It's terrible that I'm using thier pain to my advantage, but I will make sure to give them what they have prayed for all this time)
As people started walking into class, Vesper closed his system and began training his divine energy by coating different body parts and strengthening the amount in each area.
While in the middle of his training, Rias tapped his desk.
"It's good to see you are training, but that divine energy is not good for us to be around for too long."
Looking at Rias, Akeno, and Kiba, Vesper realized they were breathing heavily and struggling to focus. Pulling in his divine energy, Vesper apologized and paid attention to the teacher.
With the rest of the day being uneventful, Vesper made his way back home, where he trained his darkness and sun abilities until he had dinner with his mother.
Heading back to his room, Vesper continued training throughout the night. He had not realized when it happened, but he knew he no longer needed to sleep or eat. As long as he had Divine energy, he could keep going.
So for the rest of the week, that's what he did, he trained every day, during lunch, after school, and throughout the night, every moment he got, he used to increase his mastery over his abilities.
When it reached Thursday night, Vesper packed his bags for the three-day trip to the underworld.
"Getting ready?" Elora asked as she stood at his doorway
"Yeah...just a few more things I have to pack," Vesper replied as he dug through he closet.
"Hey...are you feeling okay...you have been quite this past week, you haven't gone out to hang out with your friends, and it seems like we barely talk besides when we have dinner," Elora asked as he grabbed Vesper's hand.
"...I'm sorry I-I just have been busy, and we have had a lot of testing coming up at school, so I have been busy studying," Vesper replied
"Oh...I guess it should be that time... well, make sure you enjoy these three days and take some time to destress when you come back. I want us to have dinner. We can go to your favorite restaurant," Elora said, ruffling Vesper's hair.
"Yeah, that would be nice," Vesper replied with a slight smile.
"Great, and we can even invite Sakura. I haven't seen her in a while," Elora added.
"Uhm actual...Sakura and I aren't talking anymore," Vesper said, the pain he tried to bury away rising once more.
"What, why? You two were inseparable," Elora asked with surprise.
"We had an argument...two different paths, so we haven't talked," Vesper replied
"Oh...well, I'm sure you two will get past that,"
"You two are like two peas in a pod, okay. Like you are always there for her, she will always be there for you. It's hard to find people like that, so you make sure to talk to her and get past this." Elora added, trying to comfort Vesper as she clasped both his cheeks in her hands.
(She's right... no matter how much it's for the best, I don't think I would live without her) Vesper thought to himself
"Thanks, Mom," Vesper replied, giving a small smile.
"Good, now I will let you finish packing. Tomorrow I'm starting early, so just make sure to call me when you guys leave and let me know when you get to the retreat," Elora said
"I know, I know, and don't forget to call each night," Vesper said with a laugh.
"That's my boy...now have a good night, see you when you get back," Elora said, giving Vesper a kiss on the cheek and leaving his room.