"By the way, why are the nuns here so feared? Everyone seems terrified of them."
"The nuns? Which one?" Tomomi sat up.
"Sister Anna. Are there many?"
"Parents always tell us not to provoke them. They say they have 'Divine Grace'—real power from God, not just talk. If they label you a 'heretic' or 'blasphemer,' they can 'purify' you on the spot."
Tomomi was serious. In a world of Demi-humans and psychics, "Gods" were a very real possibility. In the West, "Divine Grace" was as common as military hardware, and the practitioners were as dangerous as any mythic Demi-human.
"What kind of power is 'Divine Grace'?"
"I don't know. Anna-san has never used it here. It's all just rumors." Tomomi looked a bit embarrassed. "But she's the nun for a place that has the 'Hour of Inscription,' so she must be powerful. You're just a normal human, Alistair, so stay away from her."
Alistair nodded, but he knew he couldn't stay away. Anna had his ring. If she realized what it was, she might try to seal or destroy it. And that ring had already "invaded" the souls of the three girls in the library. Why hadn't it affected him? Was it a "Female-only" curse?
He stood up and put on his shoes. He had too much to think about.
"Alistair, are you going to check out any clubs?" Tomomi asked.
"No, I'm not sure which ones are good. I'll ask Nina-san later."
"Nina-san? You mean the Vice President? You two are close?" Tomomi's voice had a hint of jealousy.
"We live near each other. She's helping me settle in." Alistair stood up and leaned in close to Tomomi, looking into her eyes until she blushed and looked away. "See you tomorrow, Tomomi."
"See you tomorrow... Alistair~"
"Alistair!"
As he was walking toward the gate, he heard a familiar voice. It was Nina Tsubakihara.
"Nina-san? What's up? And who is this?" Alistair saw a girl standing next to her, carrying a long equipment bag.
"This is Sakura Miyajima, the ace of the Kendo Club," Nina introduced.
Sakura had purple-black hair tied in a side ponytail with a red ribbon. Her eyes were a pale violet-blue, and she wore a sharp, confident smile. She was lean and athletic, with curves that hinted at great flexibility and power.
"Nina wasn't lying. You really are beautiful. None of the guys here can compare to you," Sakura said, her eyes scanning Alistair with interest.
"You're far too kind, Sakura-senpai. You're one of the most striking girls I've seen as well," Alistair replied.
"Don't be humble. It's the truth. Though personally, I prefer a bit more muscle. You look a little frail, Alistair-kun. Want me to help you train?"
"Stop right there," Nina interrupted, sounding annoyed. "I brought you here to meet him, not to find a boyfriend. Alistair is like a younger brother to me. I wanted you to look out for him, not hit on him."
"It's rare to see someone this pretty. I just want to try dating," Sakura said nonchalantly.
"I'm just worried that if you date him for a week, your family will suddenly have a second-generation heir," Nina joked, crossing her arms.
"Really? Is his 'seed' that potent?" Sakura's eyes widened, looking even more excited.
"Wait, why do you look happy about that? Do you want to have a baby?"