The Extra is a Genius!?
Chapter 197: The First Light

Chapter 197: Chapter 197: The First Light

The soft rustle of pages and the distant ticking of a magical wall-clock were the only sounds filling the upper floor of the library.

Noel sat down beside Charlotte at the long, polished wooden table near the stained-glass window. She had already arranged three large tomes in front of them, each old but well-kept, their covers embossed with golden script and sacred sigils.

Charlotte beamed at him, clearly excited. "Ready to begin?"

"Sure," Noel replied, glancing at the books. "But which one do you think is best? I’d like to get a bit of an overview."

Charlotte picked up the first tome and tapped the cover with care. "This one is Elarin the First: The One Who Touched Mana. It’s about the god we worship—Elarin was the very first being to use mana. His main element was light, and it’s said he purified the world from malevolent creatures when they first appeared five hundred years ago."

Noel nodded. "I see. What’s next?"

’That one sounds promising. The Forgotten Son’s Diary mentioned there were two people who first touched mana, but this book only mentions Elarin...’

Charlotte set the first tome aside and lifted the second. "This one’s called Chronicles of the First Sanctuary. It tells the story of how the first church was founded to honor Elarin. Because of that devotion, Elarin granted us blessings—and faith was born."

"Hmm. That sounds interesting too," Noel said politely.

Charlotte lit up. "Right? I think the church’s origin story is really beautiful. I’ll tell you everything—every little detail."

Noel chuckled. "Hold on. What’s the last one?"

She presented the final book with both hands, like it was something precious. "From Flame to Faith: The Rise of Vaelterra’s Holy Doctrine. It’s similar to the second one, but it doesn’t focus on the first church. It’s about how the faith spread across all continents. It introduces key historical figures... and it’s the first record to mention the role of the Saint."

"Ah, I see. That might be useful too, to learn more about your place in all of this."

Charlotte flushed a little, clearly taking it as a compliment. "Well... then which one do you want to start with?"

Noel paused for a few seconds, weighing the options.

’I’m most interested in the first one, honestly. The only one that matters right now. But telling her that outright might sound rude... Knowing Charlotte, she probably wants to walk me through the church’s creation and the origin of her own role as Saint. Well... I suppose we’ve got time before the library closes.’

Eventually, he said, "Start with whichever one you like. We’ve got time, so whatever you feel like sharing."

Her eyes sparkled. "Then let’s begin with Chronicles of the First Sanctuary!"

She opened the book with a reverent gesture, like opening a portal to an ancient world.

"After Elarin cleansed the lands of Vaelterra from the plague of darkness," she recited, "he began walking across the continent of Valor. In every city and village, he destroyed the monstrous abominations that had appeared when the first rift opened. The people feared him at first, but he never asked for praise or worship—he only offered help."

Noel leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand as he listened. The stained glass behind Charlotte painted her hair with glints of red and gold.

"He used mana to heal the wounded, to purify water, to grow crops where soil had turned barren. People began following him, not out of fear, but because of the light he brought with him. And so, the first Sanctuary was built in Eldareth, the city that would become the capital of the Holy Domain."

She turned the page gently.

"They say the Sanctuary wasn’t meant to be a temple. It was a resting place, a shelter for those who had lost everything. Elarin stayed there for nearly a year, and in that time, a small community formed around him—people who believed that mana was a gift, not a weapon."

Noel crossed his arms, thoughtful. "So... the church began as a shelter, not a religion?"

Charlotte nodded eagerly. "Exactly. The idea of worship came later. At first, people just wanted to protect the Sanctuary and the teachings he left behind. They started sharing his blessings, offering protection, healing, and food to others. That’s when the first ’Blessed Ones’ appeared—humans touched by Elarin’s mana."

"Touched how?" Noel asked.

"Not chosen like Saints or granted divine powers," she explained. "More like... inspired. They learned to use mana to help others. That was the first spark that led to the formation of the Church of the First Light."

Noel tilted his head. "So the whole thing was based on kindness and survival." NovelFire

Charlotte smiled. "Yes. And when Elarin disappeared, his followers kept the Sanctuary alive. They wrote down his words, passed on his teachings, and built new sanctuaries all across Valor, Elarith and Velmora."

Noel asked. "Even the demon continent?"

Charlotte responded to the question. "Yes, faith is universal."

’Hmm... if this is true, then the original belief system was never about obedience or dogma. It was about using mana for others. That’s different from what the church seems like now.’

He nodded slowly. "It’s... more grounded than I expected. Interesting."

Charlotte hugged the book to her chest, pleased. "See? It’s a beautiful story, right?"

"It is," Noel admitted. "Alright, what’s next?"

She grinned. "The one where I get to talk about my role."

Charlotte opened the third book with great care, From Flame to Faith: The Rise of Vaelterra’s Holy Doctrine. The pages were older, slightly yellowed, with flowing script that shimmered faintly under the reading lamps.

"This one starts about a hundred years after Elarin vanished," she began, her voice steady but filled with enthusiasm. "By then, the Sanctuaries had spread through all three continents—Elarith, Valor, and Velmora. Even the outer islands had their own temples. But with Elarin gone, each Sanctuary began to drift in their interpretations of his teachings."

Noel tilted his head. "So they needed to standardize the faith."

She nodded. "Exactly. That’s when the Synod of Flame was formed. A gathering of the most powerful and wise Blessed Ones. They unified the doctrine under one banner and declared that mana wasn’t just energy—it could be a divine gift too."

’Divine gift, huh... always sounds noble until someone uses it for power.’

Charlotte turned a page carefully. "One of their most important decisions was defining the role of the Saint. Unlike the common Blessed Ones, Saints are born with a unique resonance. Their bodies naturally attune to blessings. That attunement allows them to channel divine mana more efficiently than anyone else."

Noel’s expression didn’t change. He leaned back slightly, watching Charlotte as she turned the page.

"You don’t need to explain that part," he said. "I know blessings consume the user’s life."

Charlotte paused, her hand hovering over the page. Her eyes flicked up to meet his, and for a moment, the cheerful glow in them dimmed—just a little.

"I remember," she said quietly. "Back in the Holy Capital when you were hurt. You told me not to use my blessing. Even though you were bleeding out."

Noel nodded. "Because it wasn’t worth it."

Charlotte looked down at the book. Her fingers tightened on the cover.

"It was the first time someone said that to me," she murmured. "That I shouldn’t waste my life like that. Most people... they just demand the miracle."

He didn’t reply right away. But he kept looking at her, calm and steady.

"That’s why I didn’t hesitate when you asked to come here," she added, still not looking at him. "It felt like you saw me as more than just the Saint."

Noel shrugged. "You are more than that."

Charlotte blinked, her face slowly brightening. "Even if I’m annoying and say dumb things sometimes?"

"No," he said flatly. "You’re a traitorous pervert." f.(r)eew ebnov\ll.com

Charlotte gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "Unforgivable!"

Noel smirked. "You walked into that one."

She hugged the book again with a small laugh. "Still... thank you."