The Blessings of a Goddess

"Lalatina-sama, after going over the work of the children, it's as you predicted; many seem to be finding it difficult to grasp some of the concepts detailed."

"Guh." I placed a hand on my forehead. "As I feared."

Irene poured more tea into my cup.

"Thanks." I took a quick sip, savoring the warm and delightful flavor, and then sighed as I laid back in the dining chair. "I admit," I began, sitting back up, "some of the things Kazuma told me about are still somewhat mind-bending; to be honest, I'm not surprised the children are having issues understanding. Still, I have to wonder if what he told me is true."

I grabbed some of the papers and looked over the various questions on it. One of the more prominent subjects was math; however, many were based on concepts from Kazuma's world.

"Lalatina-sama, perhaps Satou-sama is being a pest as he usually is."

I rubbed my chin as I continued to look over the papers. "Hmm, perhaps. In any case, I asked Aqua to verify the authenticity of what he's both told and shown me and even she says it's true." I sighed once more. Putting the paper down, I took another sip of tea. "I'm still somewhat hesitant to believe that children in his country understand such notions."

"Perhaps the Master is trying to show off to you, Lalatina-sama? Maybe he's making them up as a way to appear smarter than he really is."

"I thought so as well, but I know Aqua wouldn't be in on it if he was."

"In on what?" Aqua said as she came through the dining room door.

Irene bowed. "Morning, Aqua-sama."

"Morning, Irene. So, what's this about, Darkness?"

"Ah, nothing serious. I was just reviewing the children's work. This is the stuff Kazuma told me they teach back in Japan." I handed a copy over to her.

Aqua looked at it for a couple seconds, and then gave it back. "Umu, it definitely looks like the stuff they teach in Japan; it makes my head spin just as bad—anyways, why don't we go out there and teach them something fun for a change."

"Fun?" I queried as Irene poured Aqua and I a fresh cup of tea.

"That's right. They're a bunch of children, why do they need to learn such boring things? Maybe that's why you came out the way you did, Darkness."

Irene cleared her throat.

"Uh, oh, well…I'm not against doing fun things with the children. In fact, I'd say I try to make any lesson fun in its own way."

Aqua gracefully picked up her cup and took a sip from it. "I'm still surprised that Darkness is the one teaching given how dumb you could be sometimes."

"D-Dumb?!"

"Anyways, let's go. I was planning on seeing those kids today anyways. Irene."

"Yes, Aqua-sama?"

"Will you be coming?"

"If you wish."

As we made our way to the school, Aqua began walking off course.

"Aqua?" I said. "Are you sure you know where you're going; the school is this way."

"Of course I know where I'm going, Darkness," Aqua retorted, her brows scrunched in apparent frustration. "How many times do you think I've graced these children with my presence? We're just making a slight detour."

"Detour?" I looked to Irene for some semblance of an explanation; however, she simply remained silent, following us without issue.

After some period of walking, we arrived at the location.

"Aqua…this is…"

It was the Axis Church. And in front was the familiar priestess we knew as Cecily. She was apparently moving some boxes from inside the church.

"Ahhh, Aqua-sama!" She yelled, gleefully turning towards her. "Oh, and I see the Lady Dustiness is here as well as Irene-chan. Have you come to formally join the Axis Order?"

Aqua interrupted. "Cecily, have you moved everything like I asked?"

"Of course, Aqua-sama; they're right here as you can see."

"Good." Aqua turned to me with a smile. "Alright, Darkness, let's take these boxes."

"Uhh, sure."

While carrying the boxes back towards the school, I asked, "Aqua, what's exactly in these boxes?"

"Supplies," She answered with the same smile she gave us a while ago.

"Supplies? Like books and paper?"

"Yes, Darkness, like those."

I smiled. To think that Aqua could be so gracious.

When we arrived at the school, the children were already seated and waiting for their daily lessons to begin.

"Thanks for coming, Aqua," I said.

"Umu." She smiled once more. "You don't have to worry, Darkness, I'll take care of these children today; you can just sit back and relax."

"Are, are you sure?"

"Of course; there's nothing to worry about. I'll teach these kids in a fun and amazing way."

"O-Ok, I'll leave it to you." I walked to the back of the classroom and sat in one of the openly available desks.

"Irene," Aqua called out, "if you would, can you help me pass out the supplies?"

She nodded in acceptance and began to pass out the materials in the boxes.

"Ok, everyone, pay attention," Aqua said with a clap. "Today we're gonna practice art and calligraphy."

From the back of the class, I could see some of the children looking around in mild confusion. One of the older kids raised his hand.

"Excuse me, Aqua onee-san—"

"Sensei!"

"Huh?"

"Aqua-sensei; that's what you'll call me today."

"Umm, Aqua-sensei, what's cali, calli, calligraphy?"

"It's the art of writing nicely."

With this explanation, the children looked to themselves once more.

"Ok, everyone has a paper, brushes, and an ink bottle, right?"

They nodded.

"Good. Now, I'll go ahead and start drawing and I want all of you to try your best to copy what I'm doing, ok?"

The children nodded in agreement.

After a while of drawing and writing the children seemed to relax around Aqua; they took the same demeanor they did when she often played with them around town. Honestly, I was fairly impressed with how everything was going. The kids were listening, but mostly Aqua seemed to be instructing them quite well. I admit, I didn't have much confidence in her going into this, however, she seemed to be proving my worries wrong.

"Ok, ok," Aqua said, clapping once more to get their attention. "Now we'll do the main lesson. I want everyone to try their very best. Make sure to sign your names using the skills you learned today so I'll know who to reward; whoever makes the best copy will get something special from Aqua-sensei."

I could hear the children giggle gleefully at the prospect of a reward; it also seemed to double as an effective means of riling up their competitive spirits.

Aqua began to draw her next image slowly, line after line, so that the kids could follow.

One line, then two, three, four lines…a diamond. Then she repeated the pattern on the inside of the other diamond; this was starting to look very familiar. Aqua finished with one more line on the smaller diamond. It was the Axis Cult's emblem.

"Ok, don't forget to write your names—"

"Aqua," I interjected. "what do you think you're doing?!"

"Ha-wha, what do you mean, Darkness?" She said with a nervous smile. "Quickly, quickly everyone, write your names, quick!"

"No, don't write your names!" I yelled, still trying to get out of the desk; it was smaller than I thought.

"Everyone who's done, pass up your papers," Aqua said hurriedly. "Just get your name down; Aqua-sensei will handle the drawing." She coerced one of the children as I was still struggling to get out of the chair.

"Aqua, stop it; the parents will be furious if they figure out what happened here! Dammit, this chair; why is it so small?! I, Irene, please, stop her!"

"I'm sorry, Aqua-sama; however, Lalatina-sama's orders are absolute. Please stop this before I'm forced to take measures into my own hands."

"What?! Irene?! Why are you siding with, Darkness?! Can't you see this is discrimination; why is the Eris Cult's symbol allowed around town and ours is so shunned. This is censorship at its finest, blatant corruption. As a goddess, I can't overlook this!"

Of course, as Aqua was saying all these things, she was swiftly snatching all the forms from the children. Finally, I broke free from the desk after smashing through its top.

"Hand them over, Aqua! I don't want things to get violent in front of the children!"

Aqua was doubled over, desperately clutching the papers which were jutting untidily from her chest. "No, I don't wanna! These children have a right to choose on their own; it isn't fair!"

"That's exactly why you should hand over those forms!"

"Shut up, shut up; I don't wanna hear something like that from you, Darkness!"

"Ah—what is—n-nevermind. I've had enough!"

I grabbed onto Aqua from behind and attempted to wrench her arms back.

"No, no!" She shouted, gritting her teeth as she furiously struggled against me.

"Irene, quick, grab them!"

"No wait, stop, Irene!" Aqua said, beginning to sob. "I thought we were friends!"

At this, Irene hesitated, a remorseful expression adorned her face. Even my own efforts dwindled in the face of such a heartfelt cry.

"Lala…tina-sama…"

"…ugh." I let go and Aqua fell to her knees, grasping the papers tightly. "Bully! You're a bully, Darkness! I'll tell everyone! I'll tell everyone that Lalatina with the cute name is mean and likes to bully people and that she's fine with discrimination!"

"Ah, wait, Aqua!"

She stared at me with tears dotting the corner of her eyes, sniffles in accompaniment. Even the children stared at me with fear and disappointment.

"I-I'm sorry, Aqua. I really am, but don't you think doing something like this is a bit underhanded?" I said with a bit of my own disappointment. "I'm not against people following the Axis Cult, however, I do believe it should be a choice they should understand they're making; especially the children."

Aqua stared at the ground, seemingly in regret. She looked at the forms buried in her chest, and then sighed. "Fine…you have a point, Darkness."

I smiled. "Good, it seems like you understand. Now I take it you'll get rid of those, right?"

"Huh, what are you talking about, of course not; I'm gonna hold on to these until they're a little bigger. Then I'll remind them of the vows they took."

Seeing me dart towards her, Aqua ran out of the school, me hot on her tail, forms scattering in the wind.