Streaming in Another World: I Built a Religion

As the assembly drew to a close, the buzz of voices faded, and attendees began filing out, returning to their respective roles and responsibilities. Among those leaving were three members of the Arcane Blades: Mesuna, her brows knitted in thought, and her two companions, Alira and Reith. The Arcane Blades were an elite student combat group known for their skill, and they carried themselves with a practiced confidence—although today, Mesuna's expression was heavy with worry.

Alira Demarco, a spirited young human woman with short-cropped hair, broke the silence. "Can you believe what Principal Eldra said about the Blight?" she whispered, keeping her voice low as other students brushed past. "If it's truly spreading that quickly, then… I mean, do you think it'll reach here?"

Reith Le Sana, a broad-shouldered elven man with a stoic expression, nodded gravely. "It's hard to imagine, but if the Principal says it's that serious, we'd be fools to ignore it. We've trained for years, but facing something like that? It's… unsettling."

They both looked over to Mesuna, seeking her input with a certain deference. As the vice president of the Arcane Blades, her opinion carried the most weight among them. Reith cleared his throat and asked, "What do you think, Vice President? Should we be worried?"

Mesuna took a slow breath, her gaze distant. "Principal Eldra has the most knowledge on this matter," she said thoughtfully. "She wouldn't alarm us without good reason, so I trust her judgment. If she thinks the Blight is a threat, then we should assume the worst and prepare accordingly." Her voice was calm, yet there was a steely determination in her tone. "We'll need to keep honing our skills, push ourselves harder. If we're to defend against something this powerful, we can't afford any weakness."

Alira's eyes shone with admiration. "Right. We'll be ready—whatever it takes."

"And about the streamer?" Reith asked, glancing at her with curiosity. "Do you really think he's harmless?"

Mesuna allowed herself a small smile. "Honestly, he doesn't seem to be a threat. From what I've seen, he's just someone who wants to entertain people. He's… odd, sure, but I don't think he's a danger to the academy. On the contrary I would even argue that his words make people feel better."

They made their way down the grand hallway, their footsteps echoing against the marble floors, until they encountered a small group waiting just outside the assembly hall doors. The members of the Student Council, led by their President and Vice President, stood with arms crossed and challenging looks in their eyes. The two groups locked eyes, and the tension was palpable.

"Arcane Blades," the Student Council Vice President, a tall, slim man with an arrogant smirk, drawled. His eyes narrowed on Mesuna. "Still riding high on your seniors little victory, are we?"

Mesuna kept her expression neutral, meeting his gaze with calm resolve. She knew all too well that the council harbored a bitter resentment toward the Arcane Blades. They were rivals in nearly every respect, but recently, the Arcane Blades had been getting more recognition—and the council didn't like it one bit.

The Student Council President, a stern woman with an icy gaze, crossed her arms and added, "Thimoria's Student Council has held the top position for years. But recently, it seems the Arcane Blades have been… overstepping."

Mesuna's companions bristled, but she held up a hand, silencing them with a glance. "We're only doing our part for the academy," she said evenly. "If recognition comes as a result, it's because we've earned it through our work."

The Vice President sneered. "Is that so? And yet, you still haven't managed to capture this so-called 'streamer.' Some defense squad you are, if you can't even handle that simple task."

A ripple of tension shot through Alira and Reith, who clenched their fists, ready to fire back. But Mesuna only raised an eyebrow, a simple smirk playing at her lips. "Well, if it's such a simple task," she replied smoothly, "then surely the Student Council would have no trouble handling it yourselves?"

Both the President and the Vice President's expressions hardened, and they went silent for a moment, unable to come up with a retort. Mesuna's calm, matter-of-fact response had struck a nerve. They exchanged a glance, and finally, the President scoffed, her icy demeanor faltering slightly.

"Hmph. We were about to do just that," she said in an embarrassed tone. "The Student Council will make sure the Arcane Blades are surpassed. We'll see who the academy truly values in the end."

As the Student Council members walked away, Alira let out an exasperated sigh. "Can you believe those two? Acting all high and mighty just because they're in the Council. They think they can insult us like that?"

"Yeah, I'd like to see them try and do half of what we've done," Reith muttered, shaking his head.

But Mesuna simply shrugged, unbothered. "Let them talk. Our focus should be on preparing for the real threats. Words won't matter if the Blight reaches Thimoria."

The two nodded, but a moment later, Mesuna turned to them with a hint of a smile. "Anyway, you both go on ahead. There's something I need to take care of."

Alira and Reith exchanged a quick look, both slightly confused but respectful of her wishes. "Alright, Vice President," Reith said with a nod. "We'll see you later."

As they left, Mesuna watched them go, her expression thoughtful. She hadn't wanted to bring it up, but her mind had been preoccupied ever since the assembly. As much as she felt the weight of responsibility for her role in the Arcane Blades, there was another concern pressing on her heart.

When the others were out of earshot, Alira let out a sigh. "You know, I think there's more going on with vice president than she lets on."

Reith nodded in agreement. "She did seem distracted. Do you think it's about her family?"

Alira gave him a meaningful look. "It has to be. She's been worried about her brother lately. I know she'd never say it, but… he's her family. No matter how useless her brother is, she's got that soft spot."

Reith scratched his head. "Well, I hope everything's alright. We've got enough on our plates already."

Alira nodded, glancing back at the now-empty hallway. "Let's just do our best to support her, even if it's in the background. She'd do the same for us. Blades will stand together in both pain and pleasure!"

***

Mesuna strolled through the academy halls during the midday break, her eyes scanning the area as she moved among the bustling students. It wasn't difficult to catch attention—heads turned, and whispers trailed behind her as she passed by groups of juniors. 

Being the vice president of the Arcane Blades came with its own level of prestige, and Mesuna's reputation had taken root in both admiration and awe among the students. She was used to the curious glances and murmurs of respect, especially from the younger students who looked up to her.

"She's the vice president of the Arcane Blades, right?"

"I heard she took down five hellbred-wolves single-handedly in her last mission."

"Look at her... she's like a heroine out of a storybook!"

Mesuna caught snippets of conversation but merely offered a small, polite smile to those who dared greet her directly. A group of girls approached, eager but a bit shy. One of them—a girl with wide eyes and freckles—mustered up the courage to speak.

"Um, Vice President Mesuna," she said with an excited look, "you're such an inspiration! Do you have any advice for someone who wants to join the Arcane Blades?"

Mesuna paused and looked at the girl, a warm smile crossing her face. "Stay dedicated. Focus on your studies and training, and don't let anything discourage you. Hard work speaks louder than words."

The girls beamed at her words, and Mesuna nodded in farewell before moving on, leaving them thrilled by the brief interaction. Boys, too, watched her with admiration in their eyes, some of them nudging each other as she passed, clearly hoping for even a brief acknowledgment. 

"Ahhh! It's the smell of Lady Mesuna! I feel like I am in heaven,"

"Just to be seen by her is enough to think that I would actually get a job after graduating,"

They said as soon as she was not in a distance to hear their thoughts.

Though she noticed, Mesuna kept her attention focused. She wasn't here for idle chatter; she was looking for someone.

She let out a sigh, her thoughts drifting to the reason for her wandering: her younger brother, Dilhan. He was such a handful, and as she peered into several junior classrooms along the way, she found herself wondering where exactly he could be. 

Finally, she located his class, and with a soft sigh of resignation, she peeked through the door. As expected, there he was—slumped over his desk, sleeping soundly.

Mesuna's gaze softened a little, but her brow furrowed when she noticed the small, red-haired elf girl sitting beside him, looking concerned as she glanced at Dilhan. Mesuna's eyes narrowed slightly as she observed the girl's worried expression. 

So, that's her, she thought. She'd heard rumors about Dilhan's only friend, the quiet elf girl. It was almost surprising—Dilhan wasn't exactly the most social of people, yet this girl seemed genuinely concerned for him.

Just as Mesuna was about to move, she felt someone latch onto her from behind, arms wrapping around her shoulders in a sudden, tight hug.

"Sister!" a cheerful voice chirped.

Mesuna stiffened, recognizing the voice instantly. She turned her head to see the familiar face of Serena Glenleon, Count Glenleon's daughter, a noble from their country Crekork and one of Dilhan's childhood friends. Serena had her usual enthusiastic grin, her short blue hair bobbing as she hugged Mesuna, though she quickly released her grip, remembering that Mesuna wasn't exactly fond of excessive contact.

"Serena," Mesuna said with a slight smile, "what are you doing here?"

Serena's expression shifted, and she glanced over Mesuna's shoulder toward the classroom. "I could ask you the same thing! Are you here to visit that…" She hesitated, then forced a polite smile. "…Dilhan?"

Mesuna nodded, glancing back into the classroom where Dilhan continued to sleep obliviously. "Yes. I wanted to check on him."

A flicker of something sour crossed Serena's face as she struggled to maintain her smile. Why is she here to see him of all people? Serena thought to herself, her inner monologue laced with irritation. I still can't understand how they're even in the same family. Mesuna's an absolute legend, and he… he's just… an stupid idiot.

Serena pushed the thought away and smiled brightly. "Looks like he's sleeping, as usual," she said aloud, her tone just a bit sharp.

Ignoring her comment, Mesuna quietly opened the door and entered the classroom, her eyes set on the red-haired elf girl sitting beside her brother. Serena followed, her curiosity piqued as she observed Mesuna's focus on the girl. 

The elven girl, who had been looking at Dilhan with a gentle expression, suddenly froze, her wide green eyes locking onto Mesuna as she approached. She looked as though she'd been caught doing something forbidden, her cheeks flushing with surprise.

"You're Cali Elyserra, aren't you?" Mesuna's voice was calm, but there was an intensity in her gaze that made the elf girl shrink back slightly.

"Y-yes," Cali stammered, her hands clasped nervously in her lap. She looked from Mesuna to Dilhan, her voice barely a whisper. "That's… that's me."

Mesuna tilted her head, assessing the girl for a moment before speaking. "I'd like to talk with you later. Come find me when you're free."

Cali's face paled, and she nodded frantically, her words tumbling over each other. "Yes! I-I mean… yes, ma'am… Lady… Vice President, I'll… I'll find you!"

Mesuna gave a single nod, her expression unreadable as she turned to leave. Just as she reached the doorway, she noticed Serena casting Cali a hostile glare before following her out. Cali caught the look and flinched but forced herself to ignore it, her mind now racing with worry. 

She glanced over at Dilhan, still sleeping soundly as though he hadn't a care in the world. Her chest tightened slightly, a pang of anxiety creeping in.

Why does Mesuna want to talk to me? Cali wondered, fidgeting with her fingers. Does she want me to stay away from him? She glanced at Dilhan, a small sigh escaping her lips. I hope not…