CHAPTER 54

THE KNOWN BOOK HOLDERS

  Sensing the air getting tense, Walter laughed aloud. He could feel the hostility and Hans’s will to fight to the death. Hans had already prepared Mutilate, aiming right at his Professor’s head but there was no change in Walter’s attitude. Hans disliked that Walter was not even flinching, his worry-free and lax attitude made him realise that he was really not a threat to this man before him.

Walter spoke up,

Weak charges ahead but strong wins using their heads.

Hans humoured him,

I don't think my head is strong enough to knock you out, Sir,

Tsk, look at this kid, I am imparting words of wisdom and he is making lame jokes.

I will not go down easily.

Walter sighed and said,

I just said something, you didn't get the meaning? You can't beat me or run away from me, defeat is inevitable so what should you do?

  Hans was already sweating bullets and his complete focus was on surviving right now so diverting the brain power to thinking was not an idle choice he could go for. Seeing him not getting his word, Walter said in disappointment,

In times like these, you should cut a deal with me, kid? I thought you were smart…

Hans interjected,

I don't think I have that option.

Of course, you don't. But trying won't hurt. A calm mind and sharp wit is the weapon of our house Prophets.

  Hans relaxed a little after hearing his words, it looked like Walter was not going for his book at this time. He calmed further on seeing his lax attitude. His eyes finally laid on the wrapped cloth. It was hard to believe that the second book was in sight this early but as Walter unwrapped the cloth covering the book, the similar leather binding convinced him that it was another book of Fate.

As Walter opened the book he said,

It was really hard to break its seals but it's written in some pattern and I lack the key to decipher it. Mind taking a look.

  Hans glanced in and frowned in confusion, it was not clear what this eccentric man wanted but he was surprised that he too could not read it. He forgot to be on his guard and quickly took the book from Walter, frantically skimming the pages but the result was still the same. No matter what he tried he couldn't understand the patterns.

  He closed the book and looked at Walter anxiously. There was no way out if Walter was out to get him and his hand unconsciously reached the book in his waist. Walter was not stupid, he already had figured out that Hans was carrying Limitless with him but he neither was interested in reading it nor have the capacity to fend off the trouble to come after snatching it away.

Seeing him nervous again the professor laughed and said,

Oh, don't be a chicken, I am not aiming for your book, I was told every book has an owner…

Hans interrupted and asked,

What do you want from me, sir?

Now you are asking the right question.

Walter paused a bit and continued while maintaining eye contact with him,

You see, if you hadn't come to Concordia for studies, it was my job to bring you here. If neither, you would have come here for me after you finish reading that. So, eventually, we would meet and have this conversation, your father made sure it happens.

Hans sighed, he once again praised the meticulousness of Samson. But he couldn't understand the relationship between Walter and him so he asked him,

But why are you still following his will?

That man saved my life…

Hans interjected,

Professor please, we both know that is not the reason.

Hans did not know what Walter wanted so he just shot in dark and hit the spot. Walter laughed again and said while clearing his throat,

Now, you act like his son. We made a deal.

Care to elaborate, professor,

Every book has a holder, the ‘Book of spells’ and the 'Book of Day' belongs to you, the 'Book of Ruling' is Parv's property and the 'Book of Death' is in hands of Xandor, that's all I know of but there is a book which does not have any holder. King Samson disclosed its location to me with the condition that I follow his words to the letter.

And what is it?

To give you this.

Are you going to?

Naah, No way.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

I thought so, but you are showing me because there is a way for me to get it, right?

finally, our youngest is learning to use his head. You asked me what big picture I was talking about, right?

Hans nodded and Walter continued his words,

The third one, the 'Book of Power', is hidden away in Alliance’s treasury. You only can enter it as the Glory Wars winner.

But I can only take join that in the third year, I can't wait that long, how about you lending me the second book first?

Don't be hasty, let me finish first, there will be a junior league next year and you will be able to take part in it, win and bring me that book. We will exchange it. That is the big picture.

Aren't you just wagering too much on me, I might not act like one but I am just a kid. There will be Mage tower and Association, not to forget strong people from our sides too…

Do you know any kid who could kill a class three like a walk in the park, at least put some effort into making excuses, you brat.

Hans realised that there was no backing out from this but he was not going to accept these conditions,

Then give me some special privileges...

Is 500 gold not enough?

So it was a deferred payment.

Walter was surprised by his use of words,

It was bribe money, wait…what...Where do you learn this word?

Hans also did not know the meaning of the term but he unconsciously used it,

Whatever sir, we have a deal then, but I need to train privately.

Don’t worry, I have a perfect punishment for you to train, I am sending you to Agrilands for the next six month

Hans had learned about all the necessary islands of Floatlands from Vanessa and asked Walter in a tone that felt like there was an equal partnership between them,

What will I do on the farming Island,

They have the rarest species of plants, poisonous, dangerous and many other types. I will talk to your professor so you needn’t to attend the lectures. Is this privilege enough for you?

  Hans didn't say anything back, this was enough and in the Agrilands, he could read his Limitless, away from the prying eyes. But from the way Walter arranged things for him, it was clear that he knew how Hans created the spells but he decided not to ask further.

  In his eyes, Walter seems close enough to Samson for him to leave the book for safekeeping and deliver it to Hans. He had many questions about the past but current ones are required to be answered now, so he asked him,

Is that all to the Books of Fate?

I don't think so, but the Book of Power, Ruling and Death is common knowledge, the powerhouses are in search of the Book of Power but they did not know the exact location.

That was all Hans needed, he was not on the list of holders and Walter also wanted it to remain the same. There was something else he was curious about,

Who was the one to order the investigation on me?

Some Graduated students, you needn't know about them.

Why?

It was not because of you, but your sister on papers,

Vanessa?

Yeah, she was also in Prophets and after she failed to graduate and returned like that, the situation…

  Walter wanted to involve Hans in his personal goose chase. He was investigating her case which was the only stain on his career since his directorship. But Vanessa had kept her mouth shut about the incident and claimed to have lost her memories. He thought provoking Hans might let her tell the truth.

And as he thought, Hans was showing his discomfort when Vanessa’s name was mentioned.

Why? he asked Walter.

Walter pretended to be surprised and said,

You didn’t know. Her case was strange, her whole group got killed and she was brought back by some of her classmates in poor condition. Many believed that she killed her group, and some said she went crazy. There were many speculations but along with her memory, the case was also lost. We were not able to scan her memories either.

  Hans remembered the boy who fought with him in the Initiation ceremony, He also said something similar to this but when Hans went to find him, he had already dropped out from Concordia. There were already many problems in Hans’s life and another was sprouting as Walter kept talking.

Hans snorted in frustration and Walter replied to him,

Don't worry about it, focus on getting stronger, it will solve everything.

  Walter had sown a seed inside Hans's mind but it was long before he could harvest it. Hans nodded because getting stronger was the only thing he could do right now. He did not have to live in Agrilands but had to provide help for four hours per day, five days a week. It was like a part-time job which many students did in Concordia, after their first years.

Walter asked

Anything else?

There was one more thing that was bothering him so he asked Walter quietly,

Who else knows about me... my origin?

All directors and some old professors, having different hair and eyes cannot hide the same face, right youngest?

Hans sighed and clarify his question,

Is Delimira aware?

Walter replied instantly without any surprise,

Why would Aredhel shove her daughter in danger, knowing the truth about you will only endanger her. But kid, even with the oath of secrecy, you only have at most a year before Parv finds out about you. So enjoy your freedom while it lasts.

Hans shook his head left and right in frustration and decided to forget Walter’s latest words. He asked again,

When should I start?

Right now.

But I have a class after a few hours.

It's your grandfather’s lecture, he won't be talking about anything beneficial to you and I will arrange it so you could prioritise the private matters. You won't learn anything worthwhile in the foundation classes since you have a different basis, to begin with.

  Hans was convinced since in mage classes, the professors would teach about circles and in knight lectures, it's all about the aura. Everything would be just a waste of time so he agreed and left the office but before leaving, Walter had tossed him a pass necessary for travel.

  After Hans left, Walter became stern again. He kept thinking that if the second book was intended for the boy then why he could not understand, it either means it was not the time or his youngest member has an excellent lying face.

  He also nudged him about Vanessa’s case. Walter had his own speculations but it was nothing without any solid leads. As the director of information, he didn't care about any justice for her but solving the case would let him have leverage over the culprits since they were able to mask this incident as nothing, they must be powerful people and having leverage over them would be beneficial for Walter.

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