“I confess, even after hearing you describe them in detail, I don’t remember ever encountering someone of their like.” Bob said, before turning to Micah.

Truth be told, if there was ever anyone that would know anything about them, it would be the most social gossip-monger of the three. Even of their year, really.

“I mean… you hear stories. Everyone likes to make stuff up. Like secret floors that can only be accessed on a full moon, ghosts of great mages long dead roaming the hallways, veiled cabals conducting dark magic. People like to talk about that kind of stuff.”

Right. Because living in a magical academy isn’t enough. You have to make it even more mysterious.

“But half-visible robes ghosts roaming the hallways? Or a faction solely dedicated to mysteries and information gathering? Nope. Not a clue.”

Michael sighed.

It was a low chance, but he had hoped Bob or Micah might know something about the faction whose meeting he had witnessed the day before. They were talking in a side room, just outside Nahlil’s Class, as it was yet to start. They had the time, since after the party Sinestra’s morning class had been cancelled. It was apparent that even magical or alchemical hangover solutions couldn’t completely take the heat off those who had mixed alcohol with Mana Potions. Or more exotic variants.

He had used the morning to try and ferret out information from Regitris himself, as the |Exemplar| had himself attended the ‘soiree’ the night before. Michael was truly taking the fact that a mage from a faction adept at subterfuge was now considering him his personal subject seriously. Yet Regitris… well.

He was of less help than Michael would have wanted.

***

“Of course, my boy. Come in.” the elf said.

Michael walked in to Regitris’ office. One of many, apparently. The Ascentionalist mage that had directed him mentioned that, for the morning, the old elf was likely to attend to his business in this particular office.

It was nicely decorated. The same ‘magic conquers nature’ as Regitris’ last chamber, the walls being constructed out of flowing, yet solid streams of water, with the floor and ceiling being made of naturally sculpted ice. The furniture too looked to be made of solid, yet very fluffy, clouds.

Honestly, Michael was a little impressed, but was more distracted by his sudden idea that Regitris himself might be sporting a hangover. It would explain the soft seating arrangements and calm nuance of the room nicely.

“Thank you, sir.” Michael said. “I hope you do not mind me taking up a moment of your time. But with Professor Sinestra’s class being cancelled, I thought it the perfect time.”

“Oh, not to worry. And how goes the tutoring with said professor? Narh mentioned that though his experiment couldn’t outright be deemed a success just yet, he might still obtain the tome or the information within after all. Does Sinestra seem willing to reach such a bargain in the foreseeable future?”

“I… don’t know, sir. We do not discuss such things. But she does seem quite happy with the current arrangement, so I imagine that to be a good sign for Narh.”

“I see.” Regitris said, and furrowed his brows slightly. “Not too happy, I hope. Michael, this is a sensitive subject, but we are both Ascentionalists. We discuss all things. I understand someone of your age might have no issues with her… arrangement, and magic knows, Gnosis is liberal enough, but if… Sinestra pushes too hard and you wish for our help in resisting her, then you only have to ask. We look after our own, but in matters such as these, we look after all who need help.”

“No, sir.” Michael said, going slightly red in the cheeks. “I… There is nothing more going on besides tutoring. I am fine with how things are.”

She’s probably laughing her tail off right now. I just know it.

“Very well.” He said, nodding. “And of said tutoring? What have you learned? Anything to share with your faction?”

“Oh, I’ve learned |Heat Vision|, which I’ve been taught to use as a stepping stone towards |Serpentine Senses|.”

Not exactly the truth, but close enough.

“I’m still getting the hang of that second Spell, sir. But I can try to teach it, if you wish me to.”

“No need, Michael. Though thank you for your honesty.” He smiled. “I do not know it personally, but our faction has knowledge of the latter Spell, with the former one being quite common. I confess, I was never a fan of natural-based Spells. There are better substitutes, though I admit they are quicker to learn. I suspect you will need to reach at least late second or your third year, but remember the Spell |Enhanced Senses|. It does mainly the same thing, minus the heat sense, though it causes much less disorientation.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, I’ll remember.”

“Good. Now, what is it that you wish to discuss with me?”

“Well, sir. I’ve been approached by a mage, some time ago. It wanted me to be part of its faction. I say ‘it’ because the mage in question was shrouded. It looked like a half-transparent, floating robe and its voice was muffled too. It hid my room with an illusion Spell to get a chance to talk to me. That was before I joined our faction, sir. At the time, I paid it no mind… But I have witnessed one of them, if not the same one, roaming the hallways. I saw it approach a student and strike a conversation, though the others around them looked like nothing out of the ordinary was happening. I… just thought I should know about them, sir, since they took an interest in me. But I didn’t know who to ask in case they were dangerous, so I came to you.”

It was a good enough cover story, Michael thought. It mixed truth among lies, respect and a little bit of fear. Michael was happy to see that it worked, though he didn’t let the feeling reach his face.

Regitris looked more and more serious as Michael spoke and he stood up halfway through his speech, though he motioned for him to keep talking. The mage moved around the room, muttering what must have been Spells, for sheets of colored magic enveloped the room, before quickly turning invisible. Wards or privacy Spells. Probably both.

“Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Michael.” Regitris said seriously. “You are right in thinking they could be dangerous. They are, for all intents that matter. They are a faction that believes all knowledge should be free. Yet they guard their own secrets jealously. They go after all knowledge that is not commonly known. They then use those secrets to build their own power base. Do not feel ashamed for them trying to recruit you. They go after all who have a thirst for knowledge. Though they recruit from other pools too.”

“Yes, sir. But who are they?”

“I will not speak their name. They have been clever enough to tie magic into it. I suspect a majority of them don’t know the name of their own faction. Michael, understand this. I cannot tell you more of them. We are aware they have infiltrated other factions. Of course, we are safe, the thought of them infiltrating us is ludicrous, but we cannot take the chance.”

“Are they that dangerous sir?”

“They are… mostly annoying.” He admitted. “Usually. You see Michael, their purpose is not inherently dangerous. Yes, there are secrets which must not be known or spoken of, but then again, their faction both desires to learn information and hoard it. They do not easily let go of information and then mostly to obtain something else. But they are zealots. They believe they have a right to know everything. Which, if allowed, would make them the most powerful faction in Gnosis. And since no one desires that, the more we try and protect the knowledge we have so tediously fought to develop, the more they look at us as a higher and higher target.”

“I see. Then, they’re only dangerous when you have something to hide. Dangerous to factions, not individuals.”

“Mostly. They do sometimes take an interest in a certain someone. Narh, for example, was their target as well, in his youth. Simply for wishing to have a private life.”

Michael stiffened at hearing that.

“And as I said. They guard their secrets jealously. It is almost impossible to catch them in the act. No one has seen them gathered. And not only do they deploy powerful magical deterrents from their hoarded secrets, they also use a type of magic our faction and others would bleed for. Oracular magic. They can literally know… well, not know, but intuit when something has happened. Such as when something big has happened or a new magical bit of information has been discovered or when someone has found out something about them.”

Michael thought he was about to be sick. Should he tell Regitris the whole truth? But, if they were so finely warded, how did he get to attend one of their meetings? Was it Gnosis itself that allowed him to? Yet, if this information was this sensitive, would Regitris not shut him up himself, fearing a retaliation? Or would he just have him mind-wiped?

He couldn’t risk it. He couldn’t do anything. And that was making him sick.

“Michael, my boy.” Regitris said, slightly alarmed. “Are you alright? Have you encountered them in any other form?”

“No, sir.” He lied. “I just… I just realized who had tried to recruit me then. And into what kind of a mess I could have entered.”

“That’s alright, my boy.” The elf laughed. “Though I do congratulate you for your choice in faction. That being said, they are normally best ignored. Like a beehive. They are only dangerous if you agitate them. You might encounter them every once in a while. You can even trade with them, if you can manage it. As for secrets, we all have them. This is an academy of magic, after all. Most of the time, they will not bother with you though, so be at rest.”

“Yes, sir.” Michael said, feeling his façade break. “I’ll be at rest.”

***

That was why as he sat down in Nahlil’s Class, waiting for the centaur to come in, Michael was most definitely not at rest. He had participated in one of their meetings. He knew the titles of two of their speakers. He knew that the second one was after him. He knew too much…

And he had no idea how Regitris would react to this information. Was there a way to look into his mind? Because if so, he had bigger secrets to hide. Like his little alliance. And the fact that he was from another world.

His plate just kept getting fuller. His |Oath| with Sinestra. His alliance with Micah and Bob. This faction-without-a-name mage who was after him. Even his maybe a thing, maybe not with Erea.

Come to think of it… where is Erea?

The elf had always arrived before Nahlil and she had never missed a class before. Yet she was nowhere to be seen. They spent their time chatting away, until the professor finally walked inside, with someone other than Erea in tow.

“Settle down! We’ve had enough Classes together for me to no longer be using |Silence| on you. Instead, I will feel not one ounce of regret if I have to use a mass |Jolt| Spell. Now, shut up and be quiet!”

To be fair, there wasn’t much hubbub even before the centaur spoke, but now you could hear a pin drop in the room.

“There are some changes you need to be aware of. Erea, my helper, is no longer available to help me teach you basic Battle Magic for the foreseeable future. I do not know why and I will not speculate. To replace her, I have been… recommended our new helper, standing here with me today.” He said, gesturing at the person next to him.

It very much seemed, going by his tone and expression, that he wasn’t happy with the change.

The girl standing next to him, for it was a girl, probably between Micah and Michael in age, was apparently human. Shorter than Erea. Auburn hair, brown eyes, white freckled skin. More pretty, than beautiful, but more shapely than Erea too.

“Hi.” She said, taking that as her cue to speak. “My name is Melissa and I’ll be your new Battle Magic helper, at least for a little while.”

She smiled her pearly whites at the room, her eyes continuously roaming. She met Michael’s look, held it for just a second, then never looked at him again.

A kind of inverse Erea.

Yeah, nah. I watched enough anime. I know what this is. If that isn’t the Second Specter, I’ll eat Micah’s tail.