Chapter 94

“I assume they are in the adventurer guild, right, Eric?”

Still a bit surprised that I commend him on finding Rain of all people, which, honestly, I was also surprised that it happened, since I wouldn’t have expected my brother to be able to do something like that.

Taking a moment to process what I said, he quickly asked.

“Wait, what kind of information did you find about my sister, and how do you know that guy?”

“I will tell you when everyone is together,” Looking at my brother in the eyes. “He is a friend of mine; we met while I was doing some quests together. We first met when I saved him from a couple of horned rabbits chasing him, but anyways, how did you find Rain of all people?”

“With this,” pulling out a piece of paper, my brother showed me a surprisingly well-drawn sketch of me. “I’ve been asking people around, and one of them said they saw someone matching my sister’s description partying with someone.”

“I see, but why the heck were you shouting at him?”

Making my intent clear beneath an expressionless face, I directly made sure he knew that shouting at or threatening Rain would not be tolerated by me.

So, saying that, Eric clenched his hands tightly and he gritted his teeth, explaining.

“Because everyone is relying on you to find my sister. All of them practically gave up looking for her.”

“I see. I could see why, since there isn’t much of a point in looking for her now, since you’ve got a couple of days left to find her. and the fact that they’re letting me do it in their stead.”

“So, why? Why do Aria and Edwen see in you what I don’t?’

“Well, for starters, I’ve already figured out where your sister went after she left Farsbarow, which Rain coincidentally confirmed.”

“But still, I can’t give up; Father is counting on me.”

“Counting on you for what exactly? Because I severely doubt he would count on you if it were that easy.”

“You don’t know that. How can you? He wouldn’t have let me go to find her if he knew I couldn’t.”

Geez, it’s honestly surprising that Eric is still so blind—no, more like brainwashed—to think our father is a good person… especially with how much blood he can and would spill.

Thinking just that, anger flared up inside me, reminding me of Boras and the black knights he sent after me, which didn’t help much because of the fact that my brother looked like our father, but I didn’t show it, keeping my normal, usual expressionless face on.

So, taking a moment to calm down internally, I responded because I wanted to warn him about our father.

“You know… From what I know of him, I think you should distance yourself from him.”

Even though I don’t really have any emotional connection toward him—we are practically strangers—as strangers, I can’t help but warn them, since that wouldn’t sit right with me.

However, Eric narrowed his eyes, and anger showed on his face, shouting.

“Don’t you dare talk about him like that! What right do you have to utter disrespect for a commoner?!”

Already expecting that sort of response, I calmly said.

“Because he is going to become a commoner in a couple of months from now, if not executed.”

Hearing my words, Eric's narrowed eyes that were glaring at me widened unbelievably.

“What!! What do you mean??!!!”

Attempting to grab me by the collar, I took a step back to move out of the way and continue.

“Let’s just say that your father does a lot of nasty things under the table, ones that would completely shatter the image of the father you knew.”

Speechless, I continued sensing that he was about to rebuke me reflexively, “You can believe it or you can not, but it wouldn’t matter in a few months’ time.”

Starting to walk again, to the guild, Eric stood there slightly.

“Come, I have some information on your sister that you all would like to hear.”

Reaching the adventurers’ guild with my brother in tow, neither of us said a word on the way there.

Stepping in, I saw that it was mostly empty, since it was that time of day when most of the adventurers in this town are off on their quest.

Behind the counter sat Emma, as usual. She spotted me and waved me over, but just beside her, half-hidden under the counter, I caught a faint glimmer of blue hair.

So, Rain ran back to the guild and told Emma of what had happened.

Walking up to her, I spoke casually to her like we were friends.

“Hi there, Emma, how are things, and how are you doing?”

Trying to act casually and friendly to her, granted, this was the best I could have done, given my usual expressionless face and flat tone. She caught on, not because of my tone, but because of the code words I was using, which were saying how are things and how are you doing.

“Good, good, how are you?”

“I’m fine.”

Hearing Emma's words, her saying good two times meant she was somewhat prepared for whatever might happen, while three meant completely ready, and one meant not at all.

As for me, saying fine means that I just stumbled onto something unexpected and would need her help.

“I see, that is good to hear. Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Yeah, could you lend me a room on the second floor?”

“Yes, I can.”

“Then could you lead Alan there? I’ll get the rest of his friends there.”

Nodding, she said, “Understood,” and proceeded to politely lead Eric to a room while I went to the basement.

Seeing that, I proceeded to walk down to the basement where Mable’s library was.

Approaching the door, only a few meters away, I could hear commotion coming from inside.

“Jeez… Can’t we take a break now? This is too much, Philip.”

“Ilesha, please, I made a promise with my uncle to catch up with everything I missed. And didn’t you say you would help me no matter what?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think it was this much.”

Aria, sounding like she had just puffed out her cheeks, and Edwen, who seemed delighted by the whole situation, then said

“But, Illesha, this isn’t even all of it.”

“Wait?!! What!!!!”

Shouting that out loud, which seemed to be filled with a bit of despair, a third voice came between them, shushing them.

“Shhhhhh, I must ask you two to be quiet. Despite the size of this library, I ask you two to be respectful of this place.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Right, ugh… it won’t happen again.”

Feeling like it was not, indeed, the first time they were warned, I, however, ignored all that because I recognized that third voice; it was Clare’s, disguised to sound like a man.

With that all in mind, I walk to the door to the library and open it.

The first to notice my entrance was Clare, but the first to respond, a couple of seconds later, was Aria.

“Blake?”

“There you two are, and…Clive, is that you?”

Seeing that Clare and I recognize each other, though it was all an act and a really good one, mostly all due to Clare’s acting, Aria asks if we knew each other.

“Yeah, but—” turning back to face Clare again, I asked. “I thought you were in Randelis?”

Responding back to me. “I was, but lately I have been moving from guild to guild quite a lot for the last few months.”

“Huh? Really? That sounds rough.”

“It’s not really a problem; I get a nice bonus every time since I’m their go-to guy now, apparently.”

“I see. Why are you here then?”

“Just filling in for this adventurer guild’s librarian; she is currently on vacation right now, from what I’ve been told, but how about you, Blake?”

“Oh, I’m here for those two. I need to tell them something.”

Then, turning to look at Aria and Edwen, I said, “Come on, you two, Alan is waiting for you in a room I’m borrowing for you all.”

“Oh, I see. Let’s go now, Philip.”

Quickly leaving the table, which was stacked with a moderate mountain of books, Aria seemed really eager to leave, however.

“Sorry, Ilesha, I can’t. I need to focus on studying.”

Looking at Edwen inquisitively, Aria asked. “Are you sure? This is really important to Alan.”

“Yeah, but you don’t really need me to be there because you can tell me later once we go back to our inn.”

Cutting in on their conversation since Aria seemed like she really wanted Edwen to come, I said to Aria. “It’s fine; Philip needs all the time he can get to put a dent in whatever he is doing. I’m just here to give you all an update on what I found with my contacts.”

Hearing that, “If it’s fine with you, okay then.”

Nodding, “Okay, let's get everyone first. So, do you know where they are?”

“They’re in the training area.”

“Serell too? I thought he would be with you in the library.”

“Well, he said he wanted to do more practical training since he believes something about that part of him is lacking.”

“Oh, I see.”

So, after my beat… I mean, fight, which was totally in self-defense, his pride took a massive hit when I outmatched him in magic, specifically in mana control, apparently.

I haven’t seen him in a while, and if he is currently training, it would be interesting to see how much he has improved.

Going upstairs and to the surprisingly empty training area, where I only hear a sword swinging and loud gusts of wind flowing around the training area.

There, we saw Isaac diligently swinging his sword, while Serel was deeply focused, manipulating fine strands of wind in precise, delicate maneuvers, from what I could sense.

The first to notice us was Isaac; he stopped swinging his sword and greeted Aria, but as for me, he pointed his sword in my direction instead.

“Blake, I challenge you to a duel.”

Saying that out loud with a smirk, Aria gasped in surprise.

“Isaac! Don’t point your sword at Blake; that’s incredibly rude.”

Quickly chastising Isaac, I unknowingly smirk in response, hearing his challenge. However, hearing the noise those two were making, Serel’s concentration broke, and with an annoyed look, he finally noticed us.

Letting out a tired and annoyed sigh, he walked up to us, but for some reason, it was me he was walking to, not the other two, who were making the racket. With much frustration on his face, he frustratedly said.

“Blake, how do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Have that level of mana control?”

“Why do you want to know? That's a weird thing to ask someone.”

“I wanted to—” looking like he was swallowing up his words, he begrudgingly said, “match your level of mana control.”

“Really?”

Huh… so he wants to know. What should I say because I can’t say that it's due to my past life, where such skills were artificially conditioned and implanted into my mind?

“Ugh… Because I can? I can’t really explain it, but it’s kind of like second nature to me, I guess.”

I tilted my head a bit, causing there to be a short silence between the two of us after my answer. I mean, I’m not wrong; using mana comes naturally to me.

Finally speaking, Serel let out a big, “What!” and looked at me like I was some sort of monster.

Seeing Serel’s reaction, Aria asks what’s wrong.

I too wanted to know what’s wrong, as I looked at Serel’s eyes directly, in which he looked away uncomfortably.

“No, it’s… it’s…” Sensing that he wanted to say that it was nothing, but was stopped by whatever pride and bit of reason he had left, he then said. “No, you’re lying; that can’t be possible. I refuse to believe that! No way, that’s just raw talent.”

Pointing a finger at me like I was lying, I shrugged my shoulders. Serel, brimming with renewed determination, refused to believe what I said and stormed off, heading to the part of the training area where he had originally practiced magic, now fueled with a renewed sense of effort.

“Serel, where are you going?”

Aria, shouting that out, Serel said, “More training; if Blake is at that level, then so can I.”

“Oh… okay.”

An awkward silence formed between all of us, seeing Serel going back to training; Isaac was the one who broke the silence.

“So… Aria, why did you come to see us?”

Taking a moment to respond, she said.

“We're here to get you.”

“For what?’

Turning to me to ask me to explain why I need them, I answered.

“To give you all an update on Alan’s sister. We can’t talk about it in public, so I am borrowing a room right now for us to use.”

“Oh, that. Then did you find her?”

Absentmindedly saying that, I replied, “No, just here to give you all an update on everything,” because even if I were the person they thought I was, there’s no way I could have found myself that quickly.

“I see.”

“Eric is waiting for us upstairs; we don’t want to keep him waiting.”

Before I was about to lead them to the room that Emma let me borrow, Isaac then asked questioningly.

“Wait, where is Edwen then?”

“Oh, him? He’s downstairs in the library, studying.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, but why did you ask?”

Looking like he was unsure whether he should ask or not, he went ahead and asked.

“How important is the information you’re going to tell us? If it’s not that important, then can I…” sounding hesitant, like it was kind of a big ask. “Not join in; I want to continue training.”

Hearing that, I said, “It’s fine with me. Aria can tell you all when you go back to your inn.”

“Great, and can I ask one more thing?”

Huh… What’s with all the requests?

“What is it?”

“After you're done, could you duel me?”

“Umm… okay.”

Unknowingly smirking when I said that last part, only Aria and I went to the office Emma lent us. And opening the door to let Aria in, she seemed to notice my brother’s hollow expression.

Quickly walking up to him, she asked, with worry in her voice. “What’s wrong, Eric?”

Noticing Aria’s voice, a faint spark returned to his eyes. He forced a small smile, doing his best not to worry her.

“It’s nothing… I just thought we’d find my sister by the end of all this. And now, just a few days before we’re supposed to return home, I can’t help but think that we didn’t do enough to find her.”

Letting out a tired sigh, I sense that it was a lie, which he was hiding well, but Aria also sensed it too, though she doesn’t know that the reason he is currently like this is because of the revelation I gave him.

“Are you sure, Eric?”

Realizing that Aria was seeing through him, his smile that he had put on was gone, and he was back to his hollow expression.

“Sorry, this is something I need to figure out on my own. Don’t worry; when I need you, I will ask.”

Allowing a quiet moment for their conversation to settle, I sat on the couch across from my brother, starting our meeting.

“So, let’s get started then.”

Aria, now sitting beside my brother, divided her attention between him and me, but most of it was on my depressed brother.

“Okay, what are you planning to tell us?”

“I came here to let you know that I received word Rita left Acton, though I can’t fully confirm it. However, just a little while ago, Eric verified that she indeed had been in Acton.”

“Really?”

A bit surprised by the last part, she glanced back at my brother, wondering if it was true.

Answering the question in her mind, I said, “Yeah, he… tracked down a friend of mine who somehow got in contact with her and was partying with her, though my friend didn’t know her true identity or that she was in disguise. From what we learned, Rita went to Acton after leaving here as an adventurer named Cole.”

“Wait, what!”

Really surprised by that, she turned back to Eric and said, “That is really amazing, Eric.” Then looking back to me, “We should go to Acton; if we hurry, we might reach there in a day at least; we might—”

Interrupting her excited train of thought, I had to put a damper on it.

“Sorry, Aria, but we aren’t going to Acton.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because, as I mentioned, I already have information that she had already left.”

Caught off guard, she took a moment to register my words.

“There isn’t really a need for us to go. I still have to figure out where she went.”

“I see,” Regaining her composure. “Then… do you know where she might have gone?”

Shaking my head, pretending not to know with my expressionless face, I said. “No, but I got a lead that may tell me where she is hiding.”

“Lead?”

Breaking his silence, my brother finally seemingly tuned into our conversation and spoke.

“Where?”

“Like I said, I’m still figuring it out, but from the information I’ve gathered, I think she is under the protection of the Lungslur family, by one of their daughters, Alice Lungslur, I believe.”

Saying that, I internally apologize to Alice for getting her involved in our plan, but if I’m going to get someone involved, it at least has to be someone I trust.

“What makes you think that?”

“Well, if you didn’t know, around a month ago, she was attacked and kidnapped.”

“How terrible.”

Aria, saying that, had a troubled look.

“Yeah, but fortunately, she befriended an up-and-coming adventurer party that helped her out.”

“And how does that connect to my sister?”

Wondering how what I said is related to finding me. Eric asked that, and I answered.

“Because when Alice Lungslur managed to escape and befriended the adventurer party, the group that tried to kidnap her caused… let’s just say a lot of collateral damage when they tried to take her back. It got bad enough that the lieutenant of the Third Knight Order had to step in and settle everything. They haven’t issued any official statement, but unofficially, they let this information slip out.”

“Let slip? Why?”

“Yeah, to keep people from getting their noses where they shouldn’t belong. However, I believe that is a lie that isn’t only meant to keep things under control but also to hide something, given how long they’ve gone without issuing any official explanation about the situation in Acton, only releasing brief statements, as if they’re stalling.”

Letting that sink in, Aria looked questioningly at me, not really understanding, while my brother looked like he was piecing things together.

“Wait, is that how you know how my sister left Acton, with the Lungslur family? But why did they take her in?”

“That is something I’m trying to figure out. After your family, the Lungslur are in opposing factions. Do you know anything?”

Shaking his head, “No, not that I’m aware of.”

Looking at him, I sense that my brother has had a sudden realization, because he has just realized that he barely knew anything about me. Granted, I barely know anything about him.

It kind of made him even more depressed, knowing that, in which I continue, trying not to let my brother’s depressing aura bring our conversation down.

“I see. If it’s possible, then I would like you to find any connection of your sister, Rita, to the Lungslur family.”

Hearing my request, he wasn’t expecting that I would request something from him.

“But be careful; there might be some obstacles in your way or false leads you might find, so I advise you to be extremely discreet about it.”

Hinting to him to be wary of our father, since I had told him he couldn’t be trusted, I hoped he picked up on that. And sensing his conflicted expression, I internally sighed in relief that he had.

So, after a moment of silence, Aria’s worry was evident as she watched him. Finally, he agreed to do it, though his voice lacked any real conviction.

And with that, our meeting wrapped up quickly, so we left the room. Outside, I turned to them and asked,

“So, what do you two plan on doing over the next few days?”

Aria answered by saying she would be with Edwen, helping him study, while my brother didn’t really answer, choosing to remain silent, which immediately drew a concerned gaze from Aria.

Asking if Eric was okay, he said.

“I’m fine. Like I said, I just need some time to think.”

So, walking away, Aria looked at me, her eyes wondering why my brother was acting this way.

“Blake, do you know what happened to Eric?”

“Yeah, I told him something; it was a warning for him about the future.”

“About the future? What is it?”

“It’s not really my place to say, but I think giving him some space is best. Let him process things on his own. Just wait until he’s ready to open up.”

“I understand… Thank you for the advice.”

Watching her go down the stairs, to Edwen with a troubled look, like my advice did not settle well with her, I followed soon after, making my way to the training area since I had promised Isaac a duel.

I felt bad for telling Aria that because Eric, from his mental state, probably needed her support more than ever. But for now, I needed to keep him from searching for me, and this was the only way I could think to do it.

There at the training area, Isaac smirked in delight seeing me, and I, too, but unknowingly, smirked in response.

“Sorry for the wait, shall we start?”

Smirking even more—that looks almost like a smile—I heard footsteps coming toward us. It was Serel, looking at me directly as he walked toward us.

However, when I turned to look at him, he abruptly halted, taking a step back, yet after a second, he continued walking toward us and finally spoke.

“If you're dueling Blake, then… then… I’ll be the one who duels him next.”

Surprised that Serel was the one asking, I wasn’t the only one caught off guard. Isaac and I exchanged glances, both wondering why he would make such a request, given his prideful personality. It was completely unexpected.

“Umm… why?”

“To figure out how you did it.”

Huh… oh, I see. Reading his expression and sensing his thoughts, I noticed a strong, almost greedy desire for knowledge peeking through, just barely contained, hidden by his frustration.

Expecting me to agree, I decided to indulge in his request because I always wanted to fight him again.

“Oh, I see.” A small smile I hadn’t noticed formed from a smirk and grew slightly on my face, a flicker of bloodlust surfacing as the mana in my body increased a bit, just enough to cause my hair to start glowing black. Sensing what was on his mind, he nearly took a step back, with second thoughts of fighting me flickering across his face, but his pride wouldn’t let him yield, which suited me fine, very fine. “That certainly sounds fun.”

However, just as I was about to unconsciously step toward Serel, Isaac coughed and said.

“Err… Blake, you're dueling me first.”

I turned my head slightly to look at him. He nearly instinctively took a step back, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. Different from Serel, though, his determination was the thing that wouldn’t let him back down.

“Oh, right.”

So, with that, I fought Isaac first, and suffice it to say, I won pretty easily. However, as for Serel, it was much more interesting because it was purely a magical duel.

The rules are simple: attack each other with magical spells at a set distance.

So, with those rules in mind, for most of that duel, I was on the defensive because of how my magic works; I could barely cast one lightning spell due to how mana-intensive it was. Instead, I am covering my body with my mana, just enough so I can instantly manifest my black electricity to defend myself by absorbing Serel’s spells, which also increases the mana currently stored inside me.

I did that, unmoving, to Serel’s shock and frustration, who, from seeing his expression, he thought that I was just toying with him, leaving him to get the tiniest bit sloppy with his mana control. And when I had enough mana to cast a spell to hit Serel, just so I wouldn’t be completely exhausted later, I moved my arms for the first time in this duel.

In doing so, Serel was on guard and put up a small barrier around him since he’d already exhausted a majority of his mana, but it didn’t help much, if not help me more than him, because in less than a second, black lightning shot out of my arms. The streak of black lightning in the air slammed through his barrier, growing more powerful as it penetrated it, and hit Serel himself, which then grew even more powerful, absorbing the rest of his mana in his body.

Seeing white smoke coming from his body, followed by him collapsing to the ground, I took a breath to calm down the excitement inside of me and turned to look at Isaac, who was also looking at me in stunned amazement.

“What?”

“That is pretty amazing, Blake.”

“I see, you want a round two?”

Still having a smile, though not as big as before, on my face, unfortunately, Isaac responded. “Sorry, no, after fighting you, I’m beat.”

Looking at him, with all the scratches, cuts, and bruises covering his body, it was hard to argue with that. Did I go too far? I wondered. Thinking that, Isaac continued and said.

“Definitely again tomorrow, after Aria heals me up. But for now, I guess I’ll continue training.”

Seeing him in this state, I would advise against it, but knowing his determination, I highly doubt anything I say would stop him.

“Right.”

Looking back at Serell. I then ask. “What are you going to do with him?”

“Just leave him there; he’ll wake up eventually.”

Shrugging his shoulders as he said that, I said goodbye and walked off, leaving Serel lying face-first on the ground, pretending that it wasn’t my problem.

So, with that, I made my way to Emma, who was on the third floor, in the room we use to plan everything. I informed her about today, which was mostly about the things that hadn’t gone to plan, like with Aria and my brother being the only ones who joined in the meeting, and my duel with Isaac and Serel.

After updating her, I asked Emma to have Clare get me a specific book. I planned to return to my room at the inn I was staying in and read for the rest of the day because I wanted to limit contact with them as much as possible, and I was still a bit tired from casting that spell on Serel earlier.

Waiting for a couple of minutes to get my book, which was about specifically fighting other mages, I left the guild, saying thanks to Emma, and went to my inn.

Over the next few days, I kept Aria and Eric, who were the only ones interested in regular updates, informed about my progress, and I told them I had confirmed Rita was in the hands of the Lungslur family and that I was tracking her from there. After that, I dueled Isaac and, to my surprise, Serel as well. Even after I thoroughly trounced him, he still wanted a rematch the next day and the day after that. When that was done, I went back to my inn and read for the rest of the day.

And by the end of the week, at one of the gates, I was there to see off Aria and the others.

In hoods, to hide their identities as they set off, Aria spoke as they prepared to leave.

“Blake, we’re setting off now.”

Nodding, “Yeah, it was nice meeting you all. I’ll send you a letter on any developments I may find.”

Smiling, hearing that, “That is great; I can’t thank you enough for helping us so much.”

Sensing daggers being directed toward me, except for from my brother, I decided to ignore them, redirecting the conversation.

“It’s no problem; after all, you should thank Philip’s uncle since he was the one who was paying me to help you all.”

“Yeah, even so, I hope we can see each other again soon, I hope.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Pretending to say that, since there was no way that was happening, I waved them off as they began to walk away, away from Farsbarow and me.

A week after they left, and confirming that they have gone home, I internally sigh in relief, hearing that news from Emma at the adventurer guild with Clare.

However, remembering something important, I took out my smartphone from my pocket once Emma and Clare left the room we were in to go back to work. I was about to call Athrun since he told me to call him after everything was dealt with, but my phone rang just before I pressed the button to call him; coincidentally or not, it was Athrun.

Bringing the phone up to my ear, I heard his voice, the same as ever, and for some reason, I’m going to have a feeling that I’m not going to like what he has to say.

“Oh, hi there, Rita. I take it you’ve finished everything, right? There’s something I’d like you to do. It’s completely optional, but I’m certain it will pique your interest.”

…

…

…

…

…

Staring out the classroom window as the sun dipped below the horizon, I sat by my desk, the only one left in the room. I quietly gathered the papers scattered before me, slipping them into my school bag, which was the kind you’d see in one of those anime shows.

Letting out a long sigh at the end of a long day, I glanced down at my uniform, which was a black blazer trimmed with gold and white, a light blue blouse underneath, black stockings, a pair of loafers, and a black knee-length skirt with colors in a pattern that matched mostly everything that I was wearing.

One thing came to mind when I looked at myself, and it was, goddamn it, why did I agree to this? Because right now I was wearing the Royal Academy's uniform.

Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps walking to my classroom, I turned toward the doorway and saw Aria walking in.

“Rita, how are you doing?”

Pretending to smile, I noticed Aria couldn’t help but blush the tiniest bit. Speaking in the nobleman’s tone I used to speak before I ran away, I said,

“Well, Lady Aria. Thank you for worrying.”

“I see.”

Then, approaching me, she went up close to my ear, close enough that if anyone walked in now, they’d definitely get the wrong idea, and whispered.

“How are you settling in, Blake?”

I whisper back, “Good, nobody suspects a thing.”

Aria, stepping back after I whispered that to her and back to a nobleman's way of speech, said.

“I am pleased to hear that.”

Gracefully nodding, I then said. “If you will excuse me, Lady Aria, I must take my leave. Lady Alice is patiently waiting for me in our coach to take us home.”