It was hard to look at both of the demon's forms at the same time.

The Dark Elf was a tall, impossibly lithe man with skin as dark as Garta's but it had a more gray tone to it. His long dark red hair was tied up out of his face, and he wore partial battle armor. He had a tattoo on his chest--three lines that almost looked like they were shaped like claw marks.

The other form was a gray-skinned demon with clawed hands and feet like a dragon. Energy glowed from within their chest and veined along what looked like scales of armor on the upper half of their body. They had a tear in their face like Professor Zell where there should be a mouth, and two glowing red eyes. Their horns were like a bull's. Their tail, made of bone, whipped around behind them like the curving of a spine.

[Notice] With [Demeot Eyes], you have successfully identified [Tinnek], one of the six hundred and sixty-six Cavalieres in the Order of the Rational of the 3rd Dominion of the Underworld. You're not at the level where you can stand up against a Cavaliere. Don't you dare get yourself killed so easily and ruin this for everyone.

I had no plan to die here, but the tear this Tinnek had stepped out of wasn't disappearing, either. It looked like what I'd seen on the other side of the mirror in Tespana. Hell. And if one demon could come through that rip, then didn't that mean that others could follow quickly? I asked for a countdown again.

[Notice] You have 1 minute and 3 seconds remaining until [Forgotten Son] will be forcibly deactivated. You're fucked.

"There is nothing to fear," the dean said, her voice carrying over the early rumblings of confusion overtaking the crowd. "Caemor Academy has very strong barriers, and whoever this person is, they have materialized outside of it. Please return to your lodgings and wait for further instructions from your head of houses."

Was she not able to tell that Tinnek was a demon? Would the barrier really protect from what a demon could do? Suddenly, it seemed ridiculous that the dean hadn't thought of this possibility. More than that, had there not been demons taking over their hosts like Professor Zell before? She hadn't seemed surprised by it but neither had she been prepared.

A realization made me steel myself. Di'at had said that the Demeot had more influence over the World System than the rest of us at this point. Could it be possible that it somehow played a part in the lack of awareness that this world was on the brink of an apocalypse? Could it explain the lack of preparedness as well? If the dean had never been given a Quest to protect the campus from a demon, then would she have had the foresight to still do that?

"What do you think you're doing?" Garta said. He took me by the arm and started towing me out of the ring. "Leave with the rest of them. Hide under your bed or something. The last place you should be is standing out in the open with your mouth hanging open."

My mouth was closed, for the record, but I couldn't necessarily disagree with him about this being the last place I should be. As much as I'd rather stay and fight, Di'at wouldn't lie about whether I could take on a demon or not.

"And you're staying?" I asked.

"No," he answered. "My job's to stick with you. Unfortunately."

[Notice] Your Skill [Forgotten Son] has been forcibly deactivated because your Mastery of this Skill is too low. What's your next play, genius?

A violent, oppressive feeling tore through me, nearly sending me to my knees. Like the first day I was on the front lines as a soldier and saw thousands of enemy soldiers on horses stampeding toward us. We'd been tired. We'd taken a beating by the weather that night and hadn't slept. We'd been outnumbered and without hope.

Fear. That was this feeling. The feeling that if I wasn't careful, I'd die here.

"Fuck," Garta cursed. He glanced at the demon, and I followed his gaze.

Tinnek's eyes had locked on me--I could feel it in my Soul. That was where that feeling had came from. That fear. Maybe he'd produced it. I shook my head.

This was terrible fucking timing. If Di'at had known, he should've told me. That worthless motherfucker.

When Garta pulled me along this time to go with the other students evacuating, I went along. I activated [7-Times-Returner] again because what else could I do? Not only was I in danger, I was probably a danger to anyone near me. The other students didn't deserve to die yet as far as I knew. And what an awful way to go. Because of me. That was how my sister had died.

I'd have just enough time to reactivate [Forgotten Son] again, even if it too would only last half as long the second time. Cool-down periods were the bane of my existence. RIght after Di'at, who was probably arbitrarily deciding them.

[Notice] You have activated your Skill [7-Times-Returner]. I guess this is one way to get practice. The stupid way. Out of the builds you had at the time of your six deaths, which would you like to assume?

I wanted to scream at Di'at that he fucking knew which one. The next Notice confirmed that I'd chosen my [Sixth Life] again, then another to show me my current Stats, then a third Notice about my temporary Stats, then my [Sixth Life] Stats and Skills listed again. I'd probably never activated [Forgotten Son] with as much need.

Unfortunately, the feeling that the demon was coming for me didn't ease.

[Notice] Your Skill [7-Times-Returner] has been forcibly deactivated because your Mastery of this Skill is too low. You really thought that'd work? How precious.

That didn't mean it wouldn't work if I got out of his sight. That was how the Skill worked best. I'd likened it to the 'out of sight, out of mind' phenomenon. Although the arena had been quite packed, since the students had remained calm because of the dean, it was easy to cut into the orderly lines and get out of there quickly. A pretty smile was a good enough sorry for a lot of people.

[Notice] Your Skill [Forgotten Son] has been forcibly deactivated because your Mastery of the Skill is too low.

From the arena, it was a covered walkway back to the main building then out toward the forest and Tespana. Outside, an explosion sounded from the direction of the arena. Suddenly, the students seemed to realize that there had been danger--screaming, running, panicked. When I went to follow the others heading that way, Garta pulled me away.

"How have you not gotten yourself killed already?" He steered me in the opposite direction. Another explosion. Reminded me a lot of the battlefield. "We'll hide in the dean's office. It's the safest place."

I hated the idea of hiding in possibly another dimension. How grating even if smart. I hadn't died six times to avoid a fight. I hadn't agreed to kill a king because I liked hiding from danger. Not hiding would probably jeopardize that mission, though, and if I died, then I'd ruin my perfect record.

So I went with him and only dragged my feet for the look of it. Seeming too agreeable or willing wouldn't do me any favors. When we got to her office, he worked some magic on her door and it unlocked.

"You have some explaining to do," I said.

He held the door open as I headed inside and closed it behind him. "Me? I think not."

[Notice] Congratulations! By some fucking miracle, you completed your Mission [Survive Tinnek's Attack]. You're going to need this: Mastery of [Demeot Eyes] has increased by1%.

That feeling, the fear that screamed at me that I was in danger finally eased away. It was relief enough that I didn't even care about Di'at's Notice. I rubbed the back of my neck. "You just picked the lock to the dean's office."

"I know the--" Garta paused and narrowed his eyes. Then he sighed and continued to cross the courtyard, heading to a part of this place I hadn't been. "She's my mentor. Has been since I was your age."

Doubted that. Not that she'd been his mentor since he was roughly seventeen, rather I doubted that it'd been since he was my actual age.

"How old are you even?" I asked.

"I'm not answering that. You've already called me old man once. You lost the privilege to know with those two words."

Wow, a petty one.

Once we'd stepped under the shade of the wraparound arcade, I saw an opening to a room with cushions lining the walls for seating and little round side tables. The fabric of the cushions was vibrant compared to the white walls and had an eye-catching pattern. There was some sort of breeze as well, gently blowing the translucent drapes to the partially shuttered window.

Garta sat heavily in the far corner and I followed him. Sitting there, he looked exhausted, irritated, and relieved all in one. I understood why he was exhausted. I wasn't sure about the other two.

"What's the reason the dean trusts you to help me?" I asked. Silver Tongue should be useful to get me some answers about him. "She said you had experience with the Demeot."

Garta's next sigh was so deep and long that I had to raise my eyebrows. He sat back and pinched his nose. "I cannot believe I'm telling you this. But that demon you saw just now? That happens to be my father."

[Notice] Mastery of [Silver Tongue] has increased by .10%.