"I see, so you don't know how either."

I nod while looking at the Prince who is deep in thought, his perfectly slender fingers stroking his chin while his golden eyes frown in thought.

"How mysterious. Usually, a late Blessing is due to a person proving themselves to the Gods, but suddenly gaining it after waking up, this is the first time I've heard about it."

I nod again. Me too.

I didn't tell him about the dream of course. I only said I woke up and there it was.

"What does it do, exactly? The Stigma, I mean."

This time, an unexpected voice asked. It was Geraldt. He seems genuinely curious, given the shape of his aura right now.

"Uhh, it's hard to describe. How about I show you?"

Grasping the empty bottle made of glass I asked for earlier, I focus and trigger my Stigma.

In my eyes, the beautiful auras surrounding every student in the room alongside the Headmaster's begin to dance and twirl through the air, led by my own steel gray aura. Colors of red, blue, brown, green, white, and black weaved together in a tapestry of shimmering light, before pouring into the bottle.

The wine that appears seems to have a strange blue color. Although its color is primarily an opaque light blue, the light that shines on its surface reflects a kaleidoscope of different colors as well, creating a rainbow sheen on the surface. Oh, and did I mention that it's glowing slightly? Because it does.

"Wow, that's pretty," Mirria said, awe in her voice. Even Mirria who was being quite cold can't help but exclaim about the beautiful liquid.

"What an interesting ability! Is that some sort of potion? Does your blessing come from the God of Alchemy perhaps?" said the Prince.

I shake my head.

"No, it's wine. Magical wine. I don't know what this does either. It's different every time, but I don't think it's ever anything bad."

"Really... wine you say? May I?" The Prince said with interest.

"I have some cups right here, young Prince," a deep voice said, chuckling.

Everyone turns towards the voice, finding the Headmaster walking to us with multiple little cups held between his fingers, a bright smile on his lips.

The students immediately bow and greet the Headmaster, including me. The man seems well-loved by the others.

"Headmaster, do you wish to join us as well? And please, call me Victus."

"Haha, of course, Prince. I've had the privilege to taste Mr. Steelight's wine before, and I can say that it's quite an interesting experience."

"I see, I wish to try as well. Again, please call me Victus."

"Haha. Yes, my Prince, your words are my command."

Uhh.

He's totally doing it on purpose.

The Prince looks irritated, but why do I see his aura bubbling with amusement?

"Well, no reason to delay, but let me try this first, in case there's any danger." Headmaster Varier said while urging me to pour the wine into his glass. I have no choice but to do it.

He brings the cup to his mouth eagerly, taking a sip of the magical wine.

"Hmm, this is quite alcoholic. The flavor is very sweet, and has an herbal undertone, but leaves a rather bitter and spicy aftertaste. I don't know if there is any wine on the market that tastes as complex as this one. Hm? Why are you all looking at me like that?"

We were gawking at the Headmaster before his voice knocks us out of our daze.

"Uhm, Headmaster, your hair turned blue," said Mirria with uncertainty.

Yes, the Headmaster's golden hair is now a deep ocean blue. Not only that, when he was talking, strange bubbles of different colors began to appear above his head. Each bubble contains an image, a word, or a sound that seems very random at first, but when looking at it closer, I realize that it must be what he's saying out loud that is creating these bubbles.

Like there are images of different leaves when he said herbs, the word candy, the sound of coins jingling in a bag, and then a question mark. 

Is it because every student here is curious about me and wants to know me better? So the Blessing interpreted that making speech bubbles (literally) would make it easier to talk? But why turn your hair blue? That's just so random.

"Really? Hahaha. My my, Mr. Steelight, your blessing is rather unique, indeed. Such amazing power as to change the color of another's hair is surely worthy of A rank."

He's totally teasing me, huh. This annoying old man.

Anyway, his hair is already changing back, and the bubbles are much smaller. It seems that it doesn't last too long.

"Such an... interesting effect. I also want to try it." The prince said with a sly smile.

"Me too!" Mirria said enthusiastically. They both turn to Geraldt, looking at him expectantly.

Geraldt looks back at them, his face full of conflict. After a moment, he sighs and picks up his own glass, and silently holds it out towards me. As for Genis, he sheepishly lifts his cup as well, not daring to refuse.

Amused, I pour everyone a cup, before pouring myself one as well.

"Cheers!" The students all said with varying degrees of eagerness and drain them all.

What happened next is a strange scene.

The Prince, his two bodyguards that are scions of high nobles, a commoner mage, and me, the son of a Baron, are all drinking wine and saying random words to see what bubble will appear. Our hairs are dyed in blue, our faces all smiling in joy.

It feels good. It feels really good.

===

Feeling a bit tipsy, I placed down the small cup.

It seems that as long as I will it, the wine within the bottle will never empty. It's a good thing to know if there's a specific effect I want to preserve, I can keep it as long as I can. I wonder how many different types of wine I can hold at the same time?

I feel like as long as the wine is created initially, the cost to refill and maintain its effect is rather low. I don't need to focus on it too, it just continues to do so as long I keep it in my aura. And I also feel that I can let them go rather easily.

Still, even if the cost is low, it's still there.

Aside from the general drunkenness from the alcoholic drink, I also feel a strange kind of fatigue. It's like one time, I heard a story about one of my dad's adventures that almost cost his life. He told it very emotionally and vividly that it sucks me in. I couldn't help but follow his every word.

In the end, I felt like I had just experienced those emotions myself. I felt tired, not physically or mentally, but emotionally.

It seems that the power drains my emotion, somehow. It's not that I'm starting to feel nothing, but rather every emotion is magnified. It's like my defenses for those emotions are weakening, and I began to feel things that I thought I had stopped feeling, things that I thought I had suppressed.

Anger, hatred, self-loathing, loneliness,...

It came creeping up like black tendrils, grasping at my mind, slowly bringing me back to that dark place.

"Hey Alean, what's wrong?" A bright and clear voice asked me curiously. It is Prince Victus.

"Huh, oh... haha... Nothing. I think we should stop, the Blessing is taking a toll on me." I lie.

"Oh, that's too bad. We were having so much fun. But we should stop if you feel tired." He said with understanding.

"Thanks, I appreciate that." I tried to smile, but it just came out half-heartedly.

I took a small breath and close my eyes, letting the Blessing's power fade.

The once brilliantly blue liquid begins to lose its color while clearing up as well. Eventually, the liquid is entirely clear, odorless, and tasteless. It has become plain water.

"I think you should rest, Alean. You look a little bad." The Prince said, concern coloring his face.

"That was only 30 minutes? That's so little time! How is this Blessing A ranked if you get tired that quickly? You really need to improve your endurance some more. If you need it, I can send you some physical exercise routine to help you gain some endurance." Mirria said.

She seems irritated, but I know that she shows her care in a strange way. I don't think I can call us friends yet, but she cares about me anyway.

"Uhm... I don't think physical exercise can help me." I said helplessly. I'm afraid she might actually send me some martial arts manual and force me to practice. While that used to be what I wanted, right now I want to focus on my magic, so no thanks.

"Hmm, are you sure," she asked.

I nod.

She then lowers her head a little and crossed her arms, her face scrunching in thought. Victus decides to rescue me at this time.

"Well, whatever training he needs, I'm sure Alean would be the person who knows what's best. How about we just let him rest and think for himself a little."

Walking away, the gray-haired Prince dragged both Mirria and Geraldt alongside him, Genis tagging immediately along.

Before he got too far though, the short boy looks back at me, his face full of confusion and trepidation. With a tiny voice, he said quickly.

"Sorry. I thought that you were a bad person, so I was afraid. But, you're not that scary. I'm sorry for judging you."

Too surprised to talk, I can only reply dumbly.

"Uh... thanks?"

The teal-haired youth's face turns dangerously red before running away quickly.

What?

I guess talking with me made him less wary of me, but why are you running away like I just bullied you. I only said thank you, damn it!

Urgg. My emotions are all over the place.

I need to calm down.

Alright Alean, deep breaths.