Rothema sat in a high-backed chair in the middle of the room. All the drapes had been pulled shut, darkening the usually bright reading room. Briar Rose and Kael stood just beyond the threshold, watching Madam Rothema silently.

In this dimmed setting, Madam Rothema appeared terrifying.

“I think you know why I have called you here, do you not?” She said, briefly.

The two Briars looked at each other, before Briar Rose stepped forward.

“Yes, teacher. We understand.”

“It appears that you truly have mastered a duplication spell.” Madam Rothema sighed. “You realize that this information cannot be allowed to leave these premises, don’t you?”

“I understand, teacher.” Briar Rose said.

“I, as well, understand.” Kael nodded.

“Come closer, then, and have a seat.” Madam Rothema said, motioning to two chairs in front of her. They sat down.

“Don’t worry about the time. I have a magical tool. The time in here is ten times faster than that outside this room.” Rothema said, to assuage their worries of being late. “Now, before I begin, may I ask you if this spell broke any of the rules of the Magicians Council?”

“Not as far as I am aware, Teacher.” Briar answered.

“Good. Now, please tell me how in the world you managed to do what even a Magi could not.” Rothema asked impatiently as she examined Kael, her eyes shining with a strange light. Rothema’s inquisitive nature took over as she began her examination. She started rapid-firing questions every so often, as she tested the appearance factor of Kael.

There were indeed several discrepancies between Briar and Kael, some for the worse, and some for the better.

As opposed to Rothema’s illusion magic tool headband, Kael’s physical body was fully that of a male. Briar was successfully able to change one x factor to a Y factor in her DNA when she added her blood sample to the magic circle. However, both Briar and Kael drew the line when Madam Rothema wanted to examine him physically. So, she could only take a step back.

While the clothing Kael wore was similar to what Briar had worn while in disguise, it did not have the magic effects inherent to Briar’s clothes. The magic bag on Kael’s waist was just a regular bag with no magic attached- something which Madam Rothema easily remedied by replacing with a real one. Briar split her needles and herbs in half, transferring them into Kael’s bag.

Kael, being the brunt of her examination, did not have it easy. He was almost certain that if not for the fact that he was the sole example of a successful doppler, there would have been a more invasive study. As such, he was uncomfortable under Rothema’s scrutinizing gaze. And he wished for things to quickly be wrapped up so he could open up some distance between him and Rothema.

Briar spoke of everything that happened, explaining how she had come to believe she had found a way to combine mana and martial spirit. Then about how the combinations provided differing results depending on whether she used a skill or a spell.

But, as for how she knew so much about the human body, or how she even managed to replicate her memory over to her clone, Briar couldn’t say that the knowledge was from her last life.

So, she could only say “It’s merely the results of my observations.” In answer to questions of that nature. When all was finished, Madam Rothema sat back in her chair, and sighed.

“Well. I know I said that you were to become a monster, Briar, but I wasn’t expecting it to be this fast!” She exclaimed.

Briar sniffed. “It’s teacher’s fault for teasing me so much. I thought you seriously expected it of me, and worked my brains to mush just trying to find a proper method.”

“And yet you finished way in advance of the time limit, and managed to ace it on your first try.” Rothema pointed out. “To be honest, I’m not sure whether I should commend you for solving yet another age-old problem, or hide you somewhere far away, where no one will ever find you.”

“What can I say?” Kael grinned. “We’re a genius.”

Rothema looked at Kael, and asked. “How long of a time does he have?”

“As long as is necessary.” Briar replied. “But, he’ll have to come to me to recharge after every battle, just to be on the safe side. As far as battle efficiency goes, we haven’t really had the chance to test things out.”

“Hmm…” Rothema pondered. “Well, I wish you both good luck in your battles today. Welcome to the group, Kael.” She nodded, then waved a hand.

Briar and Kael’s irises shrunk to pin-hole size as the drapes suddenly pulled themselves back, and the room was once more bathed in sunlight. They both stood up.

“One final question.” Rothema asked. “Do you think this new power of yours has something to do with that golden mana in your eyes?”

Briar paused. “It very well might.” She said. “I can’t really tell. There isn’t really anyone similar to me to compare myself to, so this is purely speculation.”

“All right, thank you. You can go now.” Rothema said, clearly having a lot to think about as she waved her hands at the two of them, motioning them to leave.

““Thank you, Teacher.”” They both said, Briar Rose curtseying, and Kael bowing, before leaving through the open doorway, visibly relieved.

Madam Rothema sat back in her chair, and thought over the things she had learned from her student. It went without saying that Rothema already knew that Briar wasn’t telling her the whole story. But, Rothema wouldn’t pursue the matter.

Briar was in a quite precarious situation. Any extra bit of strength or wisdom that could help her was very much welcome. It was troublesome that Briar couldn’t confide in her, but Rothema had decided to trust Briar’s judgement.

It would do no good to be suspicious of someone simply because they find it difficult to explain some things. While Briar kept things to herself, it was not done in a manner to remove blame from herself, or in a spiteful spirit. Rather, it seemed more like she was troubled by this extra knowledge.

On top of that, Rothema had already encountered several people like Briar. While she had never encountered someone so young, those she met had always become great, powerful figures during their lifetimes. She had kept her suspicions to herself as she watched Briar grow up. Perhaps Briar really was just a natural genius in magic and martial arts.

But this incident had only proven to Rothema that her suspicions about Briar were correct. Her talents, knowledge, and level of personal control were far beyond those a regular twelve-year-old girl could ever hope to accumulate.

It had been confirmed.

Briar was one of the Bestowed.

Bestowed were people with talents and knowledge far beyond the scope of the world’s talents and knowledge. It was almost as if they had come from another world. Each person brought a great change to the world, whether in medicine, magic, swordsmanship, or craftsmanship.

There were many Bestowed which had changed the world for the better. But there were many skills and crafts which had soon been lost a few hundred years afterwards. Take, for example, the profession of alchemists. While they had flourished around three hundred years ago, currently, the remaining single craftsmen had scattered and gone into hiding on other continents. The knowledge brought to them was slowly and effectively erased. Forgotten in the passage of time.

Even now, the Magicians Council was a remnant of a Bestowed one’s influence.

Rothema’s eyes drifted to the bright blue sky outside her window.

“It seems that a great upheaval will once more shake apart this world.” She mused. What would be broken? What would remain? What would rise to replace that which would disappear? Rothema sighed. Would she be able to live to see the start of another golden age?

One thing she did know: Briar was, and would ever be, her student. Nothing would change that.

“The amount of reading will have to increase again.” Rothema decided. Time was too short to waste. And so, Briar’s homework load was doubled without her knowledge.

---------------------------------------

The seats were packed in both arenas that day. And the noise of he crowds were on a whole other level. People in the stands waved colored flags and chanted the names of their favorite combatants, eagerly. Vendors walked to and fro, selling chilled drinks, sweets, and snacks like meat skewers. A festive feeling was present in the air.

In Rothema’s viewing room, Briar and Kael shook hands with each other.

“Don’t kill anyone if you can help it.” Briar joked.

“Back at you.” Kale said. “While my eye color can’t be changed, I think you’ll be fine if you keep using your mana vision during today’s tournament. After going through the replays, the color didn’t change until that last match yesterday.”

“Are you okay with that? It might seem like I’m using you as a convenient shield if you’re the only one who gets targeted.” Briar asked.

“I’m your older brother now, right? Which older brother out there doesn’t protect his little sister?” Kael asked, placing a hand on Briar’s head in a show of affection. Briar made a face of concern.

“What is it?” Kael asked.

“I was just wondering if this would fall under a form of narcissism or not.” Briar said. That elicited a laugh from Kael.

“I never realized I could be so cute~” He teased, which brought a laugh in return from Briar. “You’re not supposed to be cute. You’re supposed to be handsome!” She retorted.

“Oh. My mistake. But, really. It’s fine, already. This is what I’m here for, after all.” Kael said, assuaging Briar’s concerns.

As Briar’s doppler, how could he not know what Briar was feeling at this point? Kael had already accepted his identity as someone other than Briar, as well as the duties and responsibilities that came with it.

While he could have felt really bitter about everything, he didn’t. He would be content if he could accomplish what he had been made for.

“It’ll be fine. I’m just like you, after all.” He said. “Stubborn to the core, and skilled, to boot. That’s the Briar team’s motto~”

“Since when did it become our motto?” Briar laughed. “Here, Master Thales told me to give you this. It’s one of his lucky daggers.” She handed over a blade the size of her forearm, with a very simple, streamlined style. Kael drew it from its sheath to have a look.

“Good blade. I’ll use it well.” He replied, stowing it up his sleeve.

“Ahem!” Laura coughed awkwardly in the doorway.

“Ah, Laura! Since when did you arrive?” Briar asked, surprised. Kael raised an eyebrow in recognition, and stepped backwards. After all, he was Briar’s brother now, and had to act as such.

“Since the Briar’s family motto.” Laura replied. “Still, you’re so sly. How come all this time I’ve never heard of your handsome brother before?”

Briar narrowed her eyes. “Laura. Even though I can expect it of others, I would never expect you to be this dull. Stop teasing me already!”

Laura laughed. “Sorry! Sorry! It was just too much fun seeing the others at breakfast. Haha! Oh man! To think that you’d actually managed to pull it off! Honestly, I shouldn’t even be surprised anymore!”

She glanced over at Kael. “But, I do have a question…are you really a male? Or is it a disguise just like Briar’s?”

“Yup! I’m a real boy, I am.” Kael answered with a grin, as he referenced Pinnocchio. “So you can tell Helen to stop making weird eyes at me.”

Laura laughed and turned to the doorway behind her as Helen looked suspiciously at Kael.

“So, you’re Briar-but you’re not Briar?” Helen asked. “Are you the Briar I know, or a new Briar? Are there other Briars out there? Is this some sort of secret organization of Briars?” Her imagination started to take flight as she confronted the fake Briar.