“Here you go.”

“Thanks. But I do-”

“Since you are a clone, eating isn’t necessary. I know.”

Sitting on my couch early in the morning, Big Sis Ange, or rather her shadow clone, was sitting on the couch while taking the tea I just handed her. I know that her clone can’t consume matter like food but that wasn’t really why I did give her the tea.

“Gramps’s tea leaves. It stays warm until you can bring it back to the main body.”

“Thank you for your consideration. Now tell me exactly what happened yesterday.”

And so I did. Every last detail from how I entered the building, how I saw the [Mortalis] workers load the trucks with the chest and lastly how my fight broke out and I finished my fight just to escape gloriously in front of Frank.

“You were careless, let the enemy know of your existence and you got back injured and could have died if not for your warping. You are extremely careless and should be more cautious about your surroundings. You were lucky this time only because you fought a [Discipulus] realm awakened.”

What? No ‘good work’? No ‘great you came back in one piece.’? No ‘here are some sweets for you.’?

But she was right. I may have been too careless while entering. I should always think about the odds of sneaking around someone that has the ability to detect me.

Abilities can be everything. It was just my luck that I found enemies who manipulate something first.

I mean heck, my ability is to understand weapons almost as if they were living things.

Which reminded me…

"But you did bring vital information back as well as the chest filled with some white powder. I'll have a special team analyse the contents thoroughly but if the servant was already using a soul weapon then this stuff may as well be something for the cults and sects. This is most likely a drug in itself but it may as well be material for weapons or potions. So good work for taking a whole chest with you."

Hehe~. Knew I'd get acknowledged somehow. But that still doesn’t change the fact that I could have died if I met someone stronger.

But to be fair, if there was someone I couldn’t handle, I’d have reported that. I should have thought about that.

I’m sure about that.

“That reminds me. What happened to the weapon?”

An intimidating pressure extruded out of the clone as her eyes locked on my whole body. The pressure wasn’t strong enough to kill me but I believe that it’s only because she is holding back. I have to be honest, I feel kind of offended that Big Sis Ange became so formal to me but I can guess why that is.

Seems that the vanishing of Gramps became known to not only the families but also the executives in the Association. The Executives were the ones that would stand behind the Director but for there to not be any fights for the Director position, the Director has to be extremely stronger than the executives.

And Angelina was that. Strong. But she was also young for the Director position only in her late fifties. Second only to Gramps who became director in his forties.

Yet this was still impressive since you'd have to be at least a level 3 [Transcendens] realm awakened to even have the chance of becoming Director and a level 5 for it to be a guarantee.

Gramps never had any problems with his executives at the time he became the director since he was extremely strong and cunning even in just his forties but Big Sis Ange on the other hand is just strong and not cunning.

This means that unless she isn't guided well, she won't stay there for long and the executives may as well destroy the Association from the inside. And that was why he was with her for her first year until he had to train me.

And now that he is gone, the seven executives finally started to make a move which led to her being more stressed out in general I guess.

“It is in my ring.”

“You don’t plan on using it later on, right?"

"Never."

"Then give it to me and I can destroy the artefact completely."

"But what happens with the soul in it?"

"Excuse me?"

"It may be a soul-eaten weapon but the soul should still be in it."

"Yes but tha-"

"Then let the soul free first."

I was kind of adamant about that. I had my reason for it and I just had to be sure that the soul is set free.

This little one had seen enough so I think it was time to put it to rest.

Big Sis Ange looked at me before sighing deeply with a difficult expression. It seems that I didn't know something that would have made me understand the situation better.

"That would be impossible. A soul bonded to an object stays bonded to that object forever. And even if I could free the soul, you do know that every kind of religion out there either has no basis or is tied to an awakened. Some people believe in reincarnation, some believe that the soul returns to the universe but as a matter of fact, we do not know where the soul of a deceased person goes no matter awakened or not."

I stood there silently for a moment. So it seems that the soul can't be…

No…

I instinctively knew that what she said was wrong. I didn't have a basis but I think that there has to be a condition for the soul to be removable or not.

And I slowly have an idea.

"Then let me test something on the weapon."

VUUM

"Of course not on anyone! I mean to free it!"

"Oh? What is your plan?"

Haaah… finally that pressure was a tad more than I could ensure, making my knees weak as my mind went black for a moment.

My breathing was uneven and heavy but I could handle it somehow now.

"Okay… ha… so… My idea was that I have a rune called [Free] which I have no idea how it works. But my runes have always shown more than I expected them to be. If we take the fact that my runes are characters of a language I can hardly speak and that I could create effects with the meaning of the words written on an artefact, I should be able to release a soul."

"What you have said has already been tested so what makes you think that you can do it?"

"The fact that I share my soul with my weapons and that the process only happens when my soul is willing to do it. Otherwise, my soul won't get attached to my weapons."

"So what you are saying is that as long as the soul is unwilling to be bonded, it shouldn't get bonded at all."

"Yes only that in soul sacrifices, they get it done somehow but I can tell that it is unstable. I am not sure how different it is with my soul-bonding since my weapons can't affect other people's Will like a soul-eaten weapon but I believe that I'm right with the unstable part."

Placing her hand on her chin, the clone started to think about it. It took her almost a minute to finally say something again.

"One month. One month and if I don't see a result, I'll take the weapon, destroy it and have you excepted from missions. And talking about missions, you have gained enough points for a grade A, 3 grade B, and 15 grade C information. Want to use it up?"

"The points are given quite generously."

"You did get us vital information, a servant that we can interrogate and the item that may as well change the whole board depending on what we can get from it. If I wasn't giving you at least this much, you could have stopped working for me."

"Fair."

I shrugged my shoulders hearing this. She may be right about that. I'd have stopped working for her if I saw that my work is in vain. But grade A information is very valuable.

For context, there are four information grades the Association uses which are ranked as C, B, A and S with each rank becoming wildly more important than the prior.

B-graded information would be enough to pry into the most top-secret information of a first-world nation while A-graded information could give me vital information like the current known states of the sects and cults as well as a detailed report of a certain family.

But my goal with this information wasn’t something like that. Because what I needed was information which may be deadly to obtain.

I’m talking about S-graded information. And this information is like a hundred times more worth than A-graded ones.

“So? Will you use them?”

“No. I’ll save my points for now.”

“Just remember that I can only offer you information I got and can’t send someone out to gather the information that you want which won’t help us at all.”

So she understood why I was gathering points. But I guess it isn’t hard to understand that given the fact that even the Association was at a loss when my parents vanished. I planned to have the Association notify me about any kind of information regarding my parents which would honestly be an S-graded piece of information.

“Welp. I will still save them for now.”

“Alright. I’ll get going now. I’ll notify you if I got something for you.”

Standing up, the clone of Big Sis Ange soon took the chest into her shadows before turning around to look at me.

“Alright! See ya.”

“Have a…”

But before she could finish her sentence, she turned around and vanished into the shadows. Maybe it was hard for her to keep that mask on any longer. I mean, her clones aren’t independent but just a fraction of her consciousness so her real self couldn’t handle it anymore.

But speculating won’t get me any further.

All I can do is prepare for the future.

And something is telling me that this future is coming faster than I’d expect.

“Is she gone?”

Looking out of the corner, I saw Alyssa looking at me with what seemed to be puppy eyes.

“Why weren’t you present anyway? She definitely sensed you so why hide anyway.”

“Are you seriously asking this?”

She said while pointing at her clot-OH!

She was wearing a nightgown that you could partially see-through. And this was the same way she was dressing up when going to bed in the hut.

Or when we were alone.

Or when I went to my bed, trying to find some quiet time.

Seriously, this girl is strange. Fine with everything as long as it’s about me but the moment it isn’t, she gets her common sense back.

Sometimes, I do miss my old friendship with Felix. At least he had human common sense.

But whatever. It was early in the morning. This meant that I had enough time to prepare my lunch, eat breakfast with Alyssa and then take a shower ALONE.

“Get out!”

“Eheheheh~.”

Take that smug face and go bury yourself! I just want my own free time. Is it that hard to understand or are your urges just that strong that you can’t resist but to annoy me?

But we left home at last and got to school like usual. 7.40 AM. Twenty minutes early.

But when we reached the classroom, from all the things that could have happened. From me getting shot in the face by Alyssa’s fanatics to getting expelled or my identity as… the black knight… getting exposed.

This happened.

“Laith. Could we talk?”

“What do you want?”

“Please… alone…”

“With the person that betrayed my trust? Are you serious?”

“You think I can do anything to you?”

“Don’t even think about that. I may be stronger than you now but mentally, we both know that you can deliver a very heavy hit.”

“I won’t. I just want to talk.”

I was stubborn to get Felix away from me but before I knew it, I felt a nudge from behind. And I knew exactly that it was Alyssa without looking.

“Just go, Laith. You may be able to calm down about it.”

“Aaaah! Fine! Let’s go. And Alyssa!”

“Yes?”

“Behave and don’t do anything stupid to her.”

I said while glancing over to Gina, that when I looked at her only hid her face in shame, at that moment so that Alyssa understood that I wasn’t ready to handle her first murder.

“Ugh… fine…”

Knew she wanted to try something stupid. But my mind was now partially filled with why this coward wanted to talk to me.

But as soon as we found an empty corridor, we both stopped at the same time with Felix slightly looking down with shame-filled eyes. I believe it is already too late for you to feel shame, scumbag.

“So? What do you want to talk about?”

“I wanted to apologise. I know it doesn’t mean anything, nor do I expect you to forgive me though I just wanted to do this. I know I shouldn’t have tried something with Gina an-”

“I’ll have to stop you right there.”

“Wha-”

“Do you really think that the biggest reason I’m so disappointed, sad and angry at you is that you went after Gina? Oh, no. I knew my chances were nonexistent at that time. She may have been kind to me after that but the biggest reason why I do want nothing to do with you is that you were a coward. A coward that decided that I couldn’t handle the truth or your actions and would break down at the end. You thought so, didn’t you?”

“That…”

“You didn’t know that the reason I endured all this bullying, all these rumours without saying anything was that I didn’t want a repeat of what caused all this. I can’t remember that day nor do I want to by what my parents said to me but one thing is clear and is that I endured it all just to live my school life at all. But you thought that I was not only weak on the outside but also the inside. So you tried to protect me. And you did. You take off a weight from my heart which I was grateful for. But that didn’t mean I was weak.”

“I never thought that you were weak.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me!”

“Because I knew I was weak!”

I wasn’t tired.

Nor was he.

I didn’t even move one muscle.

And nor did he.

But we both had this ragged breathing now.

“What did you say?”

“...I am well aware that I am the weak one between us two. Before it was only the mental aspect but now it’s in all aspects. I was too weak to get over my guilt and tell you. I am too weak to get over my guilt now. And I don’t know how I’d get over this without your help. You ar-…were such a great friend to me that would always lift my spirits. And when it happened with Gina, I felt guilt only as I liked her at first. All while I knew just how head over heels you were for her.”

Tearing up, those blue eyes of his were becoming wetter and wetter as he slumped down on the ground, hitting his knees as hard as he could onto the ground while bowing down.

“So please forgive me!”

“Stand up.”

“But I-”

“Stand. Up. Now.”

And so, he stood up immediately as he probably realised that my words weren’t a suggestion but a demand.

Or a threat.

As he looked me in the eyes, I had enough calm to analyse him.

He was a wreck, to be honest. That confident self of him was gone with only a husk of his former self remains. His eyes were slightly red and right below them heavy bags that seem to be slightly swollen as well. His lips and skin were cracked and rough from all the stress he most likely has been feeling.

And most importantly, I could feel the status of his body with my Will and in doing so unknowingly to him, I realised that he was almost on the verge of having severe depression with all those symptoms occurring in his body.

“I do not forgive you…”

“I know and I didn-”

“For now, that is.”

“Huh?”

I wasn’t going to stay angry at him forever. Right now, I am but this didn’t mean that I’d say something like ‘I’ll never be your friend’ which would be a lie. Even I can tell that this would be a lie. And I do not want to lie to anyone.

“I am still angry, sad and disappointed at you but you have shown remorse and I can tell it is not fake. But you still lack something which I won’t say. Get the answer yourself and you may understand why I was feeling like this towards you.”

His eyes didn’t light up nor did he jump up in joy. He most likely understood that this can also go the other way around.

If he didn’t gain the thing he was lacking right now, we would never become friends again.

It all depends on one thing.

Conviction.

He has to start moving his fucking ass and take his own life into his own hands. As much as he wants to stay weak, that won’t help anyone.

He has to show me his determination and his actions.

He has to show me just how much he would fight to be free in this choice.

And so, with my thoughts staying there, I moved back to the classroom with Felix following right behind me.

This was progress, I believe. I gave him a hint and now it was up to him to either finish this friendship for good or to return this friendship to the way it was or at least somehow.

But that can take all the time it needs. What I need to focus on is the near future. In a mont-

“URGH!!”

“Laith? What’s wrong?”

What the heck is this headache? It feels like a thousand needles are poking inside my brain.

No. a thousand may be too little to describe this pain! Whatever it is tho…

Make it fucking sto-

Huh?

“Are you sure this place will not be found out?”

“I can guarantee you that you all will be safe for at least three years.”

“Just three years?!”

“There is someone that will find this place whether you like it or not.”

“And any other place?”

“Bahtur…”

“No, Visilla! I just don’t understand why we are only given 3 years until someone finds this place! It is perfect for us but we can’t have anyone find us. No elf, dwarf, giant, demon or… human.”

The opening in which two men and one woman argued was nothing but beautiful. The grass would never grow into an uncomfortable size, the trees surrounding the big mountain peak were a size that could rival the Elven city and the only thing that could topple this landmark’s beauty was the sight inside the cave.

It was marvellous with wide halls and rooms that were big enough to fit at least fifty giants in them with ease. But the most eye-catching thing was the number of artefacts, gold and jewels loitering inside the biggest room of this underground castle.

“Bahtur. You should understand tha-”

“I do not want to understand anything, Akira. We had a deal and that is the only reason why I’m still in human form. But you do not want to appreciate my generosity towards you, ‘strongest human’.”

Bahtur mockingly said so as he glanced at the other man on this open field. Akira Hashimoto looked with nothing but emotionless eyes. This didn’t provoke him in any way since this was business for him. The deal he made with Bahtur was extremely dear to him.

So much that he had no other choice but to endure this mockery with an emotionless face.

“Bahtur. I’ll only say this once. I already did my part of the deal and this is it. There is nowhere better than this place and you know exactly why I can only give you three years.”

“But-”

“If it wasn’t for me, would have an unstoppable beast at your back that would do anything to kill you.”

“What are you-”

“He is right, Bahtur.”

“Lady Aethelinda!”

“It is nice to see you well, Lady Aethelinda.”

Both Bahtur and Visilla bowed as the elderly figure with her staff and shining gold eyes that had vertical pupils came towards the three of them. Akira stood there but nodded with nothing but respect. Her raspy voice was still strong even after all these centuries past her prime.

“How have you been, Akira?”

“I had a great time with two special students.”

“I know. I teared up when you had to leave them just like that.”

“So you were watching.”

“Of course I was. Those two are special in their own way.”

“Yes… they are.”

“What are you two talking about.”

Bahtur looked at the two of them with confusion written all over his face. He, who was the chief of their whole race, did not understand what the two were talking about. He knew about Akira having two disciples but nothing else. He wasn’t that interested either at first but now that even Lady Aethelinda was talking and even using her talent on those two, he had to know about it.

Since she wasn’t only the Holy Lady of the Dragons but also …

“Lady Aethelinda… could you please tell me how they are so special?”

“You brat! How many times did I tell you to stop calling so formally and address me as usual.”

“But…”

“Do it!”

Bahtur had a conflicted face. Akira, a human, was right there so addressing her anything but with her title was already stepping over the line. But now, he had no other choice. So…

“Mother… could you please tell me what’s so special about his disciples.”

“No.”

“Mother!”

Lady Aethilinda playfully answered as her child let his head down in defeat. He was the chief of the Dragons, the strongest of his race and compared to a human, he would be just as strong as Akira, the strongest awakened person.

“Lady Aethelinda, with all due respect, I believe we should know who those two are.”

“Not now, my dear Visilla. We should finish moving into this place first.”

“But La-... Mother… we can’t stay in a place that will be found so quickly!”

“We will. As much as you are the chief of the dragons, you are not omniscient nor omnipotent to change this fact. I know just like Akira that staying here is the best option. Any other one and we will be either discovered sooner or will be dragged into something neither of you can handle.”

Bahtur and Visilla looked at each other before Bahtur finally gave in. His mother was very special as the Holy Lady of the Dragons and thus making her choices able to decide the whole fate of their race.

And before anyone knew it, the two transformed into something that humans could only see in fiction. With wide wings, horns on the side of their heads, tails strong enough to swipe away tsunamis and scales tougher than diamonds, the two transformed back to their original self.

Dragons.

“I’ll be going back. I can tell you two will be talking about something else. Come to us later, Lady Aethelinda, so I can hear about those two.”

“Yes, yes… didn’t think he would be this angry about me holding my tongue.”

And so, the two returned to the cave, entering the underground castle. Lady Aethelinda and Akira stayed at the opening. Neither of them said anything and just stared at the crystal clear sky with the sun over the horizon. That is until Akira opened his mouth.

“I guess you are seeing this, aren’t you.”

“I know he is. Just that his first time is in so much pain.”

“So he is finally tasting what it feels like to be cursed.”

“What is a curse? Being the embodiment of the spirits is something to be proud of.”

“You are talking so much like a wise lady but I believe only I am alive to understand how it feels since I also am an embodiment.”

“But space is different.”

“And time is harder to handle.”

“Haha… spoken like an old man.”

“Since I have become someone’s Gramps already.”

Hearing his voice, Lady Aethelinda could do nothing but shake her head in disappointment.”

“I wish you wouldn’t be the first one he calls ‘Gramps’.”

“That’s just how it is. But let’s get back to the real deal.”

Summoning two cups and a teapot, Akira soon filled the two with tea with nothing but his Will, handing one cup to the elderly-looking woman. And after taking a sip, Akira took a deep breath.

“Boy, listen. If you still have the clarity to understand my words then listen to them. Do not, under any circumstances, search this place until the start of your third year. You’ll soon understand what I mean with your third year but I… hehehe~... don’t want to ruin the surprise for you.”

“You sly old fox! Can’t give the child one bit of rest.”

“Then you should stop spying on him as well! His life isn’t a drama for you to watch.”

“But I like how the little girl is so assertive about her feelings.”

“If anything, she is just too pushy and a little bit crazy. But… Ahahahaha! That is good for you, boy. Gather your friends and trusted people, even if it hurts. You will thank me for that advice, boy.”

“I believe it is time.”

Akira seemed… sad. He missed his disciples already and yet he has work to do.

He holds great responsibility on his very own shoulders.

“Boy… don’t tell anyone about this. No one. Wait until your third year to search for this place. Stay safe and think sharp. And don’t ever forget…”

Stopping for a moment, Akira didn’t know if he should finish his sentence. But a nudge from Lady Aethelinda made him sure.

“...everyone that loves you believes in you.”

“Gramps!”

“Laith! Is everything alright? You were shaking.”

“I…”

Felix tried to help me up by offering a hand but I refused and got up by myself.

Dragons, Gramps, a deal, third year, special in our own way? My head was almost exploding with all my thoughts about what I had just seen but the most important thing was…

That this was a vision. I have absolutely no idea how I got this vision. What they meant with embodiment… maybe it was along the line of 100% Space affinity.

I don’t understand. Why did the ‘Holy Lady of the dragons, Lady Aethelinda’ know about me. Just because I am Gramps’s disciple? No, it can’t be that simple.

So many thoughts were running through my head but what I had to think about was the last thing I saw.

“Third year… that old bastard loves to make fun like that… and seems that he is well… “

He even smiled when saying that last thing he said. In all honesty, I didn’t believe that came out of his mouth but…

“What old bastard? Laith, are you alright?”

“...I’m fine. Let’s just go back before more bullshit rumours get around the school.”

“...alright.”

“How long have I been out?”

“Five minutes. By now, the calls should have already been filled.”

7:53… alright. And like that, we returned to the classroom where I expected Alyssa to welcome me back next to her with wide-open arms.

But instead, the moment the two of us came back. We were stunned.

Because what we just saw felt so unreal to the two of us.

All of a sudden, a lot of students were around two students fighting each other. Their fighting was so intense that no one could go in between, even the teachers were only screaming at the two yet were powerless to do anything.

And having the students create a ring around the two made it only harder for the teachers.

And the moment we saw the faces of the two of them, Felix and I instantly rushed towards them, not minding any student or teacher in the way.

“Alyssa!”

“Gina!”