CHAPTER 28: THE ROGUE SLAYER P3
~28.3~
*****
The next day, Alethea and Adele went to investigate at the Slayer Academy, using identification issued by the Church of Elysium to introduce themselves. “Maya? No last name?” They had talked to several students before finally meeting a black cat, a boy named Lane. “And you’re Adele?”
“Yes. We wanted to ask if you had any information on a slayer named Lana. She’s a black cat that was recently seen in-”
“Yes, I know her,” he said. He sighed and started to walk away, saying nothing else, but stopped short. He knew exactly who they were talking about, and he knew what she had done. “Why are you asking?”
“I can’t say.”
His brows furrowed, and he gripped the wand in his hand. “Cut the crap. If you want to talk to me about her, tell me what you think she did.”
Alethea and Adele exchanged glances. Each immediately knew that the boy had information. Adele decided it was worthwhile to explain. “We’re looking for her as a subject of a high-profile murder.”
“Hmph.” Lane’s grip on his wand grew tighter. “Keep talking. Who did she murder? If you don’t know that, I see no reason to tell you what I know about her.”
Alethea sighed and shook her head. “We can’t say anything more specific than-”
The boy went “Hmph,” again and said, “Then figure it out on your own,” before starting to walk away.
Exasperated, Alethea created a small barrier of white mana to encase the three of them. “Okay. This space is soundproof and lightproof. Nobody can hear us. What is Miss Lana to you? Why are you claiming to know so much about her?”
The boy was also exasperated. “And you think this trap will make me say more? You know my condition. How do I know you aren’t fishing? Tell me the name of the person she allegedly murdered, then I’ll talk.”
Adele nodded to Alethea, and she answered, “Fine. Akuma Akaishi, the consort of the Akaishi Clan matriarch.”
“So you know,” the boy said. “Very well. The girl you are looking for is my older sister, but you may as well give up. You’ll never find her. Even Sword Saint Luma can’t track Lana.”
Alethea’s expression changed quickly from exasperated to shocked. “Your sister?”
“That’s right.” Lane’s expression was deadly serious. “Lana is a graduate of this academy and is, or was, one of the highest ranking slayers in the world. There’s only a handful of people that can stop her if they happen to catch her, and you don’t look like much. She’s a prodigy unlike any this world has seen since Lady Luma herself was born.”
Lana had virtually raised Lane herself. She was a full ten years older than him and when he was six, their father was killed and their mother disappeared. Now sixteen, he was attending the Slayer Academy as one of the first of the beast people to do so openly. Lana had used magic items given to her by the Black Cat Clan to hide her identity as a cat person during her stay at the academy. He began last year when Kye was searching for candidates to attend the academy and was a live-in student. His sister disappeared a few months later. Several high-profile assassinations occurred in the months leading up to Akuma’s death, and Lane believed his sister was responsible for all of them, but he had faith that his sister was not doing so of her own free will.
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“I just... I refuse to believe this is her doing,” Lane said adamantly. “Lana is the kindest person I’ve ever met. She’s not just powerful, she’s a good person. There’s no way she had a part in all of this without being forced.”
Alethea nodded. “That very well could be the case... alright, since you’ve given us so much information, I’ll level with you. My full name is Maya Athas, but in this world, I go by Alethea Atlantis.”
Lane was taken aback. “I’ve heard of you. Lady Kye is responsible for my enrollment here.”
Alethea smiled. “Yes, and we are transmigrators that have been reincarnating through many worlds for a long time. Despite our expertise, we were unable to detect Miss Lana’s mana, but we did find the mana she used, and it’s a signature we are familiar with. It belongs to an entity known as Phantom. Combining our information, I now believe it’s possible that Miss Lana is either committing these deeds against her will or worse... she is being controlled.”
“My sister? Controlled? No way in-”
“Don’t discount the possibility,” Adele said. “Phantom is not to be underestimated. He is extremely powerful and the true extent of his abilities and influence are not known. It is prudent to be prepared for any possibility when he is involved.”
“That’s right,” Alethea said with a nod. “Keep your mind open to greater possibilities.” She held her hand out to the boy. “You said we don’t look like much. Take my hand. I will allow you to see the depths of my mana.”
“I’ll call your bluff,” Lane said as he took her hand. The moment her grip tightened on his hand, he saw in his mind the enormity of Alethea’s mana pool. He quickly retracted his hand. “Wh-what? What are you? Who are you?” Lane looked away, his thoughts shifting between his duty to his people and his love for his sister. “... is there a way to save her, if she is being controlled?”
Alethea explained to Lane in detail who they were, including everything about Athas and Elysia’s powers. “The only problem is actually catching her. It’s just as you said... impossible to track her. And that’s including Kye casting the Eye of Providence spell.”
“I see,” Lane said. “Then...” He hesitated.
“If you want to save your sister and have any ideas, speak up,” Adele said.
Lane nodded, said, “I can find her,” and began explaining.
*****
“Wait, she’s that strong?” Adele asked.
“Yes,” Luma replied. “She’s much older than she appears. Among the black cats, she’s more like me than like the rest of our people... an anomaly. I’ve wondered if she’s a transmigrator. Many of us are unaccounted for, right now.” Luma looked at Kye. “Have you tried to find the rest of the Athas court?”
“Some. I know where Eliana, Elias, Katriel, and Kadmiel are. The former two are in Realm 6 and the latter two are in Realm 8. The lot of us were spread out between Realms 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7. So far, none have appeared in 5, and I don’t know about 10. I haven’t even been there yet.”
“But you have been to 6 and 8?”
Kye nodded.
“How were they?”
“In Realm 6, there is no interplanetary travel, but there are a handful of planets in the solar system I visited. Eliana and Elias are on an earth-like planet living as... how should it put it... like a secluded witch and wizard that people rarely visit? They’re among the heads of the Mage Tower there, and that planet is very medieval with magical technology. Something like Atlantis on a single planet.”
Luma and the other ancients giggled. “A Mage Tower? Haha, they always did seem to like that sort of thing. I’m not surprised.”
Kye smiled dryly. “I popped in at a bad time. I just kinda... appeared out of nowhere while they were seeing a mage named Lanrathor.”
“Oh?”
*****
Revision: 2024-9-9