As the boy and his pigtails maid are going down two flights of stairs, moving away from Mistress Ricon’s office and heading towards their next destination, he takes out the purple vial recently bequeathed to him by the female teacher.

“A farmer could work hard and save up all his money for a year and he still wouldn’t be able to purchase this,” says the boy to no one in particular as he studies the vial of its purple content before shoving it back into his left trouser pocket.

“What a waste…” murmurs the boy absentmindedly as they exit the east building which houses a few classrooms, the infirmary and Mistress Ricon’s office.

“Master…”

“Yes Synnove?”

“Maybe you should give that vial to me for safekeeping.”

“No offence Synnove, but like what I’ve told Headmaster Joss before, I want to play these cards close to my chest.” smiles the boy as he pats his left trouser pocket, the place where he had put the vial and Joviel’s so-called journal.

“…”

“What is it, Synnove?”

“Master thinks he is being clever, dropping hints about future events in his words, trying to see if I’m alert/smart enough to pick it up.”

“And are you?”

“It doesn’t take a genius or a mind-reader or a time-traveler to known that Master intends to drive Master Haithur over the edge, and when the inevitable happens, Master plans to take the brunt of it.”

“A cornered rat will bite a cat. Or is it a mouse? I always get those two mixed up. But if it’s in Master Haithur’s case, then it should be a rattlesnake.”

“…”

“A cornered rattlesnale will-ah you get my point. Anyway, when facing a foe that could slide under any rocks, one has to make sure to leave no stone unturned. You gotta grind those rocks into dusts or throw them into a lake or something.”

“Sometimes to defeat the enemy forces, you have to burn the forest down.”

“A lesson you undoubtedly learn as a child, hiding in the shadows while secretly watching your mother ordering those general in the War Room. Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is, I don’t mind being burned if it means Master Haithur gets incinerated in the process.”

“And the point I’m trying to make is, even if Master thinks its okay for himself to get hurt, the others around him will get hurt as well.”

"I thought you'd be at the sidelines, safe with bandages in-hand, ready to keep me from falling apart?”

"To the ones watching, the pain may not be at the same level, but it's still painful nonetheless."

"Synnove, I need for you to understand that whatever that's about go down in the town hall meeting we're about to crash today, it will happen because I allowed it to do so. Which is why I need you to hang back, even though every bone in your body screams to you not let it happen."

“…”

"Tell me you understand, Synnove."

"I understand."

"Now swear to me you won't interfere."

"I swear."

"Now say the words 'I promise not to slip unnecessary ingredients into my Master's food."

"I'm sorry Master, you're suddenly speaking a language that I am unable to understand."

*sighs "I guess this is as close as I can get to an obedient maid."

“…”

“You're still wearing that long face. If watching me get injured pains you so much, then maybe you should avert your eyes?”

“I can’t. I feel that if I take my eyes off Master for just a moment, you will disappear.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Synnove.”

“So you say, Master. So you say.”

“…”

“Anyway, it’s the same principle as watching a burning forest or a traffic accident. It’s tragic but at the same time you just can’t look away.”

“Well don’t stay at the sidelines gawking for too long Synnove. If you see me on fire, try to find a bucket of water to extinguish the flame. ”

“Maybe there’s another way for me to put out the blaze.”

“You know what? I’ve change my mind, don’t do anything to help me. I’ll take my chances by just stopping, dropping and rolling.”

“If Master could stay still long enough for me to take off my underwear and lift up my skirt.”

“NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!”

The boy and his pigtails maid finally arrive outside the Whiteford Academy’s stable. The large building is home to most of the horses used to teach the students of the academy riding lessons. If the teachers or the academy staffs have any urgent business in town or the capital, they can borrow a horse or if they’re travelling in numbers, a horse-drawn carriage from this place.

Before the boy enters the building, he turns to his pigtails maid who is following behind him.

“Synnove, new marching orders. I need you to run an errand for me.”

“…”

“Don’t make that face. I’m not leaving you behind. It’s just that, there is still some time before Headmaster Joss gets here, and I need you to fetch me something from his room.”

“…”

“I promise you, I will not disappear.”

“…”

After the boy told Synnove the item he wishes the pigtails maid to retrieve from Headmaster Joss’ room (and the method on how to enter the locked room as well), she turns and hurriedly moves to accomplish her task.

The boy shakes his head as he watches his pigtails maid’s back, scurrying to complete her Master’s order, afraid that he will run off somewhere without her.

Truth be told, he could have gone have gone with Synnove to fetch the item from Headmaster Joss’ room. But the person who has been following them has been getting restless, trying to find an opportunity to be with the boy alone, not an easy task since Synnove is constantly hanging around him.

“You can come out now. She’s gone and she won’t be here for quite some time.” says the boy out loud, even though there is no one around him.

Not waiting for a response, the boy moves towards a picnic table located near the stable and sits down on its bench. He takes out the brown notebook and a pen from his left trouser pocket and begins writing, putting the finishing touches on the journal which allegedly belongs to Joviel.

After a while, the boy could feel someone approaching him from behind. Finally made up your mind, didn’t you, smiles the boy inwardly. He doesn’t look up and continues writing, not even when that person nearly brushes up against the boy’s side, well within the stabbing distance of a knife, in order to take up a seat on the bench opposite the boy.

“So Delyth…” says the boy without looking up, still busily writing in the brown notebook. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

“…”

Even though the boy is too busy to see her face, he knows the beautiful third year student sitting in front of him is frowning.

“Now I know you didn’t spend the better part of the morning shadowing me, skipping classes in the process, just so you could scowl me to death. So out with it, what do you want?”

“If…” the girl hesitates for a moment before finally speaking. “If you really have powers, then you already know why I’m here.”

“It depends really.”

“It depends on what?”

“On whether you’re here on the capacity as Synnove’s best friend or the other role entrusted to you by your mother.”

“…”

The girl sitting in front of the boy managed to remain calm, even though her inside is a storm of emotions and conflicts. The boy is impressed by this, among other things. Delyth is also one of the rare few girls who remained conscious and better yet managed to avoid wetting herself out of terror when faced with Rolfe’s killing intent during the duel between the boy and the entity two days ago.

The boy stops writing and looks up to stare the beautiful third year student in the eyes. Any normal female student would have gotten up and fled while screaming “Rapist” or “Murderer”, afraid of the boy’s shady reputation. But Delyth managed to stand her ground and resumes breathing normally.

“Now, if you’re here as Synnove’s best friend, I can tell you straight up there is no foreseeable way for me to get Synnove to leave me, short of me actually dying for real. Not even if I fake my death by pretending to die in a lake, leaving my clothes and a suicide note for her to find.”

“…”

“That girl would empty the lake bucket by bucket until she found my remains and gut every fish to check which one had eaten me. Even if she found in one of those fishes my severed fingers, something I left behind as a decoy, she still won’t be convinced.”

“…”

“But, on the other hand, if you’re here as your mother’s eyes and ears, I would like to assure you that I’m not a foe to the organization. In fact, I could be her biggest ally if she wishes for it.”

“…”

“There’s also a small message that I would like for you to pass to her, if it’s no trouble for you to do so.”

“...What’s the message?”

“Tell her that there’s a position opening up soon and that I would very much like to have a seat at the dinner table.”

“…and what about the previous occupant of that seat?”

“Let’s just say he’s won’t make it to the dinner appointment.”

“…”

“He has taken ill and won’t be able to show up.”

“…”

“He disagreed with something that ate him.”

“…”

“I’m going to remove Maste-“

“I actually understood you the first time.”

“Good. Now if there’s nothing else,” the boy closes the brown notebook and stands up, “I have to secure a mode of transportation for our trip into town. I don’t suppose you would like to accompany us as well.”

The beautiful third year student shakes her head.

“Wait, I’m confused.” says the boy. “Is that a ‘no’ for my inquiry about any further subjects you wish to discuss with me, or a ‘no’ for my invitation for you to follow us into town so you can further observe me?”

“For both.” answers the girl named Delyth Anatol curtly.

“Oh well,” smiles the boy. “I don’t think it’s good for Synnove’s health of mind if a girl suddenly appears by my side the moment she left to run an errand for me, even if that girl is her best friend.”

The boy turns to leave, heading towards the stable. After he has taken a few steps away, the boy hears a voice calling out from behind him.

“I’m puzzled.”

“About what?” the boy turns to look at Delyth who is still sitting at the picnic table.

“If you really have powers, then you should have known every single thing that I have to say or ask. Why the masquerade? Why pretend to be confused? Why act like you’re still-”

“Human?” the boy smiles as he raises his eyebrow.

“I was about to say ‘normal’ but that works as well.”

“I was about to say ‘normal’ but that works as well.” says the boy at the same time.

“…”

“See? It’s unnerving. No one likes a know-it-all or wants to hang out with a mind-reader. I mean, yeah you’ll be a hit at a party but that novelty will get old real fast. The applause will die down and be exchanged with pitchforks and torches. I’d imagine they won’t be rolling out a welcome mat for a monster or a witch anytime soon as well.”

“…”

“Yes yes, I know about that. We’re both hiding who we really are. Which is why I know you were keen about not having Synnove hang around while we’re in the middle of conducting this conversation right now.”

“…I prefer the term ‘gifted’.”

“And you don’t stand around stirring cauldrons all day, throwing in eyeballs or newts and cackling madly while wearing pointy hats, I get it. But you have to understand, in the old days, that distinction would have been lost on the people who would burn your mother at the stakes for being a bit different. Ah, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not threatening to reveal your mother’s secret.”

“…”

“Nor am I looking down at her for using her ability to climb up the ranks of the organization. You don’t become one of the grandmasters of Ouroboros just by having mind-reading powers. You need skills, talents, and most of all, ambition, to claw your way to the top.”

“…”

“But it doesn’t hurt to have the ability to read your opponents’ minds to help smooth the journey.”

“…”

“Now, back to your original question. And to ease your puzzlement. Monsters get hunted down, while humans-“

“are free to walk in the daylight.”

“Now you’re getting it.”

“I don’t understand. Why am I able to read your actual thoughts now?”

“It’s because I let you in.”

“…”

“And because I’ve run out of things to preoccupy my mind with.”

“I was wondering why you were reciting the recipe for making blueberry muffins and the various methods of eating them in your head.”

“There’s only so few ways to enjoy a blueberry muffin. Please do send my love to your mother and tell her that I look forward to working with her. And if she ever needs to curry favour with me, sending me a basket of freshly made blueberry muffins is the best way to do so.”

“…”

The boy turns and proceeds on his journey towards the stable. As the third year female student continues watching the boy’s back, he suddenly stops in his tracks. This time, without turning or looking back at the beautiful girl still sitting at the picnic table behind him, the boy begins to say something.

“Oh, and one more thing, Delyth. I should have mentioned this from the start but I’ve completely forgotten about it. Silly me.”

“What is it?”

“Please don’t ever try to read my mind again, like for example trying to find out my name, where I came from, or who I treasure most in the world. Because I can promise, you Delyth, you really don't want to know the answers to those questions. More specifically, you really really REALLY won't like what I have to do to you once I know that you know.”

The boy doesn’t turn and is still facing forward towards the stable. Suddenly, the beautiful girl known as Delyth Anatol yells out in terror, falling backwards from the bench she is sitting down and onto the ground behind it.

The third year student gets up immediately and readies herself in a fighting position. Both of her hands are raised, prepared to launch or receive attacks while her eyes are focused on her target who is standing silently in front of her.

The boy, still facing forward towards the stable and not looking at the girl standing behind him, merely raises his raises his left hand as if surrendering.

“Ah please excuse me. I didn’t expect the images I sent you would provoke such a strong reaction from you. I do hope you’ll forgive me for getting your clothes dirty. Now, if there’s nothing further you would like to ask of me, I’d like to be on my way.”

“…”

“Good talk.”

The boy continues walking towards the stable. Even though there is quite some distance between them, the third year female student can faintly hear the boy happily singing a nonsensical song he made up as his back disappears into the building.

“♪ You can eat them in the morning during sunrise or underneath the moonlight. You can eat them in a library or on a battlefield…♫”

The beautiful third year student known as Delyth Anatol only dares to drop her guard down after she is sure the boy has well and truly entered the stable before the girl immediately flees the other way.

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Yeah yeah, I know, the chapter is a bit short and the story seems to be dragging longer than it should. I've got a shit-ton of stuff coming at me from all sides and not enough time to deal with them properly.

Comments and reviews are deeply appreciated as always. They help me write and plan my story more than you know.