Chapter 206 Lucius Delirium & Shani's blessing
"So, Rio Raven Blake. Where should we start?" A man in his 30's asked Rio after seeing him enter the room. The man had long black hair tied in a ponytail, he was wearing glasses that covered his eyes. Wearing a modern but plain suit that made him look stylish yet official. A warm smile is always present on his face that makes others feel relaxed and calm.
Yet looking at his smiling face, Rio just an irritated expression, as he cursed his luck for being stuck here. The man was someone he just wanted to avoid, a villain in the novel's beginning stages, Lucius Delirium.
The student counselor for the Zenith Academy. Since everyone studying here had the potential to be the future pillars of support for the whole world, the World Association also paid attention to their mental health and psychological state. Since the disturbed state of mind would either hinder the growth of that student, or there's a chance that they may be led astray by some Evil or Stray God, or other evil organizations. So to properly nurture them in all aspects, the counseling was also given to students for free.
Due to the constant competition, battles or bullying - many students often need this to clear their mind and calm down. Though no one wants to share their secrets, but if things get out of hand, the choice doesn't remain in a student's hands, and the academy would force them to go through this process.
This was the case with Rio. After his initial burst at the library, he was given a week's time to report for a session with Lucius. But after he created another mess in his dorms yesterday, he was forced to go through therapy earlier.
Yesterday, after learning that his mind was messed up after drinking a potion that was supposed to heal him. Or that he lost some of his memories, and that all his plans would be ruined since a new mysterious girl hijacked the body of a famous heroine in the novel, and he had no idea what to do with her - he lost his control over his mana, which resulted in a blast of darkness that lost control.
Good thing was that the system erected a barrier in his room at the same time, so the damage of that spell didn't destroy the nearby rooms or the entire floor. But still such a burst of violent mana, attracted the attention of dorm staff and this incident was reported to others.
"I was just practicing a new spell, and lost my control for a moment."
Rio said to them, but seeing the condition of his room which was totally a mess with a cracked floor and walls, broken windows, furniture which was eroded and normal stuff which directly turned into cinders and flew in air - even a blind guy could tell it wasn't a basic spell, but since the damage wasn't that big and no one was hurt anyway, they couldn't punish him.
But he was still shouted at a little. As for his punishment, he was asked to pay for the repairs himself, and report to his therapy as soon as possible after his classes finish.
"Well, let's start with the introduction shall we? My name is Lucius Delirium. I'm a grade 2 professor at the Zenith academy, tasked with teaching everyone all about psychology and behavioral instincts. Other than that, I'm also responsible for the counseling of the students who need my help."
"I don't need your help, it was just a little mistake on my mana control due to my recent rank up."
"Ahh that could be a reason. After all, I've heard you were only rank D during the entrance ceremony, yet just after a month and now you're at rank C+, it's a big leap so I'm sure it would be hard to control yourself right."
"I was originally rank C, this isn't a leap, it's just me getting back to where I was."
"That's also true. Tell me, how do you feel about that? About your rank ups, are you happy?"
"Who wouldn't be?" Instead of answering, Rio questioned back.
Lucius nodded his head, and said "So what do you plan to do now that you have your old strength and rank back? I heard it was quite a big commotion in that dungeon, and many of your friends left you back then to escape from the dungeon. What do you feel about them?"
"It's just a survival instinct of theirs. You teach that, don't you?" Rio replied back, as he remembered other than counseling, Lucius also takes a special class where he teaches students about the behavioral pattern and habits or nature of mortals and monsters alike.
"So you aren't angry at them?" Lucius asked.
"Would you believe me if I said no." Rio replied, and watched as Lucius started to write something in his diary.
"I heard you used mana in the canteen on your day one against another student. Miss Freya also said this was the second time you lost control over your mana and the blessings. This time you nearly destroyed a building where you live. You know your actions could have hurt many students living or practicing nearby."
"Yet they didn't. I had it under control."
"The elven student whom you attacked last time, is still resting in his room. The mental strain on his mind is too big to be called under control." Lucius said, showing him a photo of Jaesin, who took a two day leave from the classes, despite being fully healed by the potions.
"That's just the side effect of that blessing. I can't change it." Rio said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Can you tell me a little about that blessing?" Lucius asked curiously.
"Asking someone for their skills, techniques and blessings is not allowed in the therapy sessions. That's the rule, so no. I can't tell you." Rio replied, pointing towards the memo of rules lying on the table.
Ignoring his answer, Lucius still continued "I've talked to Jaesin, and he said at that moment he felt hatred and pain in his mind. And he remembered everything about the painful things in his life. So I'd suppose it's similar to some kind of mental attack skill."
"..."
Hearing his theories Rio kept silent, as there was no need for him to explain anything about his blessings to anyone. Especially one as important and powerful as Gaze of Hatred.
Gaze of Hatred, a blessing given by the God Shani from Hindu Pantheon. Shani is known as the God of Karma and Justice. Tasked with maintaining balance and giving out retribution.
The blessing enables the user to channel their intense emotions, particularly their feelings of hatred and resentment, and project them directly onto another person through their gaze. When invoked, the target is engulfed by a relentless surge of hatred, forced to confront every hateful act they've committed and every moment of hatred they've ever experienced, all at once. It's a deeply emotional and distressing experience.
This blessing is the lowest level of Shani's ultimate power, called 'Eyes of Karma'. Shani's divine eyes can see through the past, present and future of anyone who meets his eyes, and their acts, thoughts and karmic consequences of their actions.
Shani's powers can give rewards and can also bring retribution. It can give blessings of luck, bringing people good fortune, and it can also curse people with bad luck often referred as Sadhesati, which lasts for years.
Shani's extraordinary powers makes him one of the most feared deities in the Hindu pantheon. Even other gods and celestial beings approach him with caution, as they understand the impartiality of his judgment.
In the original novel, Shani's blessing was introduced in the academy, as Valtor Shade, the rival of the protagonist, had this.
But Rio received it three years ago, on a dungeon raid. He had to create an event similar to one Valtor had to go through in the novel. In which Valtor saved one of Shani's innocent followers, and punished everyone else who were wrongly about to kill him. Rio mimicked all the details and even took it up a notch, by saving a whole bunch of Shani's followers instead of just one guy. Same as written, Shani was happy with his act, and gave him the blessing.
Obviously mastering this blessing is quite trickier, as he was needed to constantly use it, which could also put a strain on his own emotions - so he let it be for time being. It was only during that dungeon event and after his time being trapped there, that he could use this often.
Since Valtor was Leon's rival in all of the academy's scenarios, obviously he had his own trump cards and skills which could challenge the protagonist. This blessing was one of them. Leon, who had just awakened recently, and was still sensitive about the humiliation he lived through for 6 years as a cripple, once affected by this blessing, would be forced to live through all those hateful scenes all over again.
Obviously Apollo would try to help his chosen every time, but given Shani's history with Sun Gods, the blessing of Shani would unlock it's next level and become even more potent because of that, making Leon suffer even more.
Though this made Valtor seem like a villain in other people's and readers' eyes, but from his point of view using an attack that works best on your opponent is the right choice.
Plus this blessing would always give Valtor a chance to fight Leon on equal terms, and sometimes even get an upper hand. – So how can Rio, who knew the novel, let go of something so nice. So he decided to take it too.
How would Leon feel when he would have to fight two people who had a blessing which was a bane for him.
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