As they walk deeper into the building complex, heading towards the restaurant where Delyth Anatol’s mother is waiting, the boy and the female students pass by several old head busts depicting various great characters from the history of the Grandiel Continent.

Suddenly the boy stops in front of an unremarkable bust. After making sure there is no one watching him, he reaches out and alters the position of the bust so that it faces a different direction. The change is so small, even the cleaners who usually dust this place every day in the early mornings couldn’t tell the difference.

His action (and the significance of that action) is of course noticed by Delyth who has stopped to observe him. But the female student chooses not to confront him over it. After he is finished with his minor remodeling project, the beautiful third year student continues walking. And the boy immediately follows closely behind.

“That was a neat trick.”

“What do you mean?” asks the female student uninterestedly.

“That psychic attack you unleashed on the poor man just now.”

“If by psychic attack you mean giving him a dull thudding headache that will disappear immediately afterwards, then I guess, yes, it’s a neat trick.”

“You may think it is useless now, but if you constantly hone that skill, it might save your life one day.”

“I don’t think it’s a useless skill, I think it’s a sign that could be hung around my neck written with bright bold letters which reads I’m a witch. Burn me. A sign that I can very much do without.”

“Only if you use it on the wrong people at the wrong time.”

“Which means I shouldn’t display my powers to people who have more influence and authority than me.”

“I’m serious. If one day you find yourself fighting in a life or death situation against a group of well-trained assassins, that gift will give you an edge over them.”

“Why do I have the gut feeling if I continue sticking with you, I’ll find myself being thrust unwittingly into such situations?”

“If you envisioned yourself dying peacefully of old age in bed surrounded by your loved ones, then I guess, yeah, you shouldn’t follow me down this path I’m heading.”

“You fucking liar.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“If the Razors really are coming thirty years from now, such a future doesn’t exist for any of us.”

“Does this mean you believe my words?”

“Not so much your words, but more based on the scenes you had telepathically forced onto me.” says the older female student sourly.

Hearing her annoyed voice, the boy grimaces. It seems the older female student is still nursing a grudge, being at the receiving end of the horrifying and disturbing images from the boy’s pasts. Of course this event happened three days ago when they officially met outside the Academy’s horse stable for the first time.

“If it will make us even, what you previously did to Javier, you can do the same to me too.” the boy offers apologetically.

“No, thank you. I’m not taking another step into that mind of yours.”

“Are you sure? Not even on your mother’s orders?”

“If she wants to know what’s going on in that tiny little head, she’s welcomed to try it herself.”

“You’re not going to warn her against doing it?”

“I’ve warned her strongly enough. She can proceed at her own peril.”

“How un-daughter-like of you.”

“If you’ve lived with her your whole life like I did, you’ll find her to be un-mother-like as well. I can’t wait for you two guys to finally meet each other.”

“It seems you’re looking forward to it. Her attempts to read my mind, I mean. Not me living with her under one roof as mother and son. That would be weird.”

“Not her attempts by itself. More of it being the consequences of her attempts.”

“…”

“How cute. You don’t even remember the warning that you’ve threatened me with. Honestly, I have to say I’m a little bit disappointed.”

“I’ve promised grievous bodily harm to a great many people. When you’re in my line of work, you tend to lose track of such things.”

“You said and I quote: 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.”

“Oh, that…”

“Yes, that.”

“I would just like to point out, it’s disconcerting that you remember everything I’ve said, word for word. Good memory such as yours, you must have a lot of fish in your diet. No wonder you're doing so well in your exams.”

“A girl needs to excel in her studies if she wants to get ahead in this life. And like I’ve said earlier, I can’t wait to bring you to meet my mother so she’d get off my back.”

“And in the process she will also experience what you have already gone through.”

“What can I say, nothing helps a bad mood like spreading it around.”

“Ah, the old ‘many suffering eases the burden’. I understand.”

“I think you mean ‘many hands make light work’ but whatever.”

“But seriously, I feel like we’ve got off on the wrong foot here. And I don’t think we can continue on equal footing if I don’t do something to make up for it.”

“Just. drop. it.” stresses the beautiful third year student through clenched teeth.

“No, I insist. In fact, if you still haven’t noticed, I’ve already dropped my mental guard down-“

Before he could even finish his sentence, Delyth suddenly turns around and unleashes a full psychic attack on him. The boy stops walking and stands patiently, taking the full brunt of the mental assault.

After several moments have passed by, with no major changes to the boy’s demeanor, the beautiful third year student scrunches her forehead.

“I don’t understand.”

“What is it that you don’t understand?”

“Usually by this time, people would be on the ground, clutching their heads in pain and wailing around in agony.”

“If it helps you feel better, I’m not most people.” smiles the boy while showing no sign of discomfort at all.

“Wait a minute… May I?”

“You may.”

The beautiful third year student reaches out to put her fingers on the boy’s forehead. No sooner than she done so, Delyth pulls back her hand and recoils in horror. She takes a few steps back and dry heaves for a while. The older female is secretly grateful that she hasn’t eaten any lunch yet. Or else her stomach contents would already be all over the floor of the prestigious Gilded Cage.

“This is… this is…”

“I’ll give you a moment to regain your composure. After that, we’ll have to move on. Your mother’s waiting for us, and we mustn’t keep the lady waiting any longer than she should.”

“Is this how you truly feel all the time?”

“With each passing second in every waking moment of every living day.”

“But how do you even function? All those screams of suffering and anguish running in the background of your mind?”

“I eat a blueberry muffin every now and then. Helps drown out the noise.”

“But if I’m not mistaken, you haven’t gotten your hands on one since you’ve arrived at this academy.”

“…Let’s move on, shall we?”

***************************************************************

Both Delyth and the boy finally arrive in front the restaurant known as the East Wind, one of the three dining establishment available at the Gilded Cage. The supervisor who is guarding the entrance nods respectfully at the older female student while throwing a curious glance at her company.

The man looks like he wanted to say something, but since the boy couldn’t have come this far without the permission of the Master of the House, he decided against it. The supervisor opens the door while giving information to Delyth on where she could find her mother.

As they enter the restaurant, a hush falls onto the crowd of diners. The place isn’t filled to its full capacity, since it’s only the first week of a new year, but there’s still a sizeable group of people eating lunch here. As curious wealthy parents and startled elite student continue looking at the odd couple, both the boy and the older female student make their way towards the private booth that Delyth’s mother is waiting in.

“It’s a good thing that man didn’t stop us to question us. I was starting to wonder if everyone working here is tired of living.” says Delyth. Even though the older student is saying it to no one in particular, the boy knows she is just trying to distract herself from her current situation.

Hmmm, are you so not used to being the center of attention? Or are you still recovering from that mild shock you’ve received earlier? Fine, I’ll help you out.

“Maybe, he thinks it’s something that’s way above his pay grade.” replies the boy.

“Trust me when I say this, everyone who works here is paid handsomely enough to be attentive towards their customers’ needs and also to screen out any potential threats towards their customers’ wellbeing.”

“But not to question you?”

“Well, duh. The fuck am I paying them handsomely for?”

“Technically, it’s your mother who pays their exorbitant wages, not you.”

“Well, technically then, you can go consume a bag of cactuses.” Says the beautiful female student in fluent Shahjahadian.

“Ah, a Shahjahadian insult. Classic.”

“And thank you. You were right.”

“I am accustomed to being right on numerous things. But which subject are you referring to?”

“Knowing about what you’re going through actually made me feel better about myself. I could almost find it in my heart to forgive you for the mind assault that you forced onto to me three days ago.”

“I’m glad to hear that. No, wait, what do you mean almost?”

“Don’t you know that an angry woman who has been pacified can still be vindictive?”

“I’m a man. Usually when there’s an angry woman standing in front of me, I have no idea how I got myself in that situation in the first place.”

“Well, saying sorry is usually the first step to take if you want to get out of such situation.”

“Is it really effective? Saying sorry, I mean.”

“No, it’s not. But it’s usually a good start.”

“Then in order to commemorate the start of a healthy relationship between us, I would like to say how sorry I am for showing you such unsightly sights outside the stable three days ago.”

“There you go again, lying through your fucking teeth.’

“…”

“No, you’re not sorry. Not one fucking bit.”

A lady who is in the middle of enjoying her steak meal nearly chokes on a piece of meat when she accidentally overhears the words being said as they are passing by. The boy and the older female student do not notice and continue walking closer and closer towards their destination.

A waiter hurriedly comes over and helps the poor woman out.

“You really do love to use the word fucking, don’t you?” says the boy.

“When one is a proper young lady like myself, one does not get many opportunities to use such words. Not when I’m around normal people, present company excluded. No offence.”

“None taken.”

“And I accept your apology, however hollowed it may be.”

“So can I take this as an admission that you’ll be sticking with me along for the ride.”

“Only until our paths diverged and our interests no longer aligned.”

“Or until I’ve outlive my usefulness.”

“Naturally.”

“Naturally indeed. And thanks for the advice. I didn’t know your heart was actually capable of such kindness.”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“Your not-so-subtle attempt at warning me not to trust your mother too much.”

“Go fornicate yourself with a thorny cactus.”

“Ah, another Shahjahadian insult. Awesome.”

“We’re here. Now mind your table manners.”

“Will do.”

The boy and the beautiful third year students known as Delyth Anatol steps into the private booth, far from the prying eyes of the outside world.

An angel-like voice greets the boy just as soon as he walks in.

“Good afternoon, child. It’s so nice to have finally meet you. I’ve heard so much wondrous things about you that I don’t know where to begin.”