I looked around at the glowing runes for a few moments. I didn't think the man was lying. I did think it was a little weird that he went immediately for lethal force.

I didn't think I had done anything to warrant it. Only looking like a young noble out for a wander.

"I never claimed I was here for any reason. But my cause is good. I only need to talk to you for a few moments."

At first, his only response was the growing glow of the runes. It was clear that he was preparing the attack.

While I was a little worried. His response made me calm down a little.

"I don't know who put you up to this, but I am not leaving. I didn't take their money, and I'm not leaving behind my school. It doesn't matter what you think is going to happen to the city."

It seemed I wasn't the first person who had come looking for him. Only they wanted a very different thing from the man.

"I am not here to take you anywhere. I need you to stay where you are. I am looking for ways to help defend Darkfair. Not leave it."

The runes did seem to dim a little after I said that.

"Why in the world would you do that? How am I supposed to believe you?"

It was a question I had been asking myself the past few days.

With the aid of Douglas and Harold, I would have no problem heading for the centre of the continent. Where the rest of the otherworlders were. But something inside of me was telling me to make a stand here.

After all. Every moment the dread beasts are stopped here is another moment that the Spirit World was still around.

I decided to continue the lie I had told Eddie.

"I am part of a group called Gaia's Resistance. This coming monster wave is a great threat to the world as a whole. It is our goal to stop it in any way we can. If Darkfair were to fall, that would make protecting the rest of the world far harder."

There wouldn't be another city that could stop the onslaught of the dread beasts for hundreds of miles.

I was a little surprised when Eddie showed me a map of the local area. At quite how far everything was from Darkfair.

But if the city were to fall, there would be no help coming. Giving the dread beasts a huge swath of land to begin their invasion in full.

While the runes began to dim, it was clear that he hadn't turned them off. It seemed that he wasn't fully convinced.

"You don't have to believe me, let me go and prove to you what I'm saying is the truth."

The runes dimmed even further.

"Even if what you are saying is true. Why did you come looking for me? There are plenty of more powerful Mages in the city that can help."

"I don't think that is true anymore. You are one of the highest-ranking mages currently in the city. The reason I came is because you decided to stick around. We need Mages to continue to keep the walls powered and running. I thought that you would be able to help."

"No. That's impossible. They wouldn't leave the city behind so easily."

"I don't know what to tell you Rae, other than that you need to pay a visit to the Nobles Quarter."

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The Runes dimmed even further. Returning to their dormant state.

With a slight click, the door swung open from behind me.

"Okay then lad, lead the way. Show me proof of what you are saying."

I could only breathe a sigh of relief once I left the academy. Rae didn't even lock the door behind us as we left. It was clear that there was nothing of value inside.

I tried to converse with the man as we made our way to the guarded gates. But he didn't seem to want to talk to me.

With my token, It wasn't hard to return to the noble's quarters. I was a little surprised to see the guards nod at Rae as he walked by. It seemed that he was a little more popular than I thought.

His face did grow increasingly stern as we made our way towards the villa.

He did stop me every so often to head into one of the houses along the way. While they couldn't compare to the villa. It was clear that they had been home to a wealthy family.

Even with my enhanced senses. I couldn't tell what he was muttering under his breath.

We finally made it to the villa, and by this point his face was dark. The sight of me entering the villa only made him grimace even further.

I was a little concerned when Eddie came barging out of the door at the sight of me. He was holding the note I had left for him in his hand.

"What in the world do you mean by this boy? Do you have any idea the worth of the goods you stole?"

I knew exactly what the worth of a Rank 5 core was. Which was what made me want to cry when I deposited them. Even a Rank 3 core was life-changing money. A Rank 5 core could buy you a building in the centre of a city.

Rae did seem taken aback by the shouting man as we arrived. But his face remained grave.

Eddie came to a stop in front of me.

"Who is this now? Is he the one who asked you to take the Cores?"

"Calm down Eddie. I will explain everything to you both inside. Come with me."

Neither seemed particularly pleased about following me inside. But it only took a moment for them to sit around the dining room table. Both still glowering at me.

"Rae as you can see. Every person of power has abandoned the city. We are here to try and stop the destruction of the city. But there is a limit to what we can do alone."

Rae's face did start to look a little better. But Eddie was still glowering at me.

"That was why I needed to use the cores. To activate my special ability. I can give people the power of Mages."

Both stared at me for a few moments incredulously. I decided that seeing was believing. Taking out my tablet. I chose the least talented of the new second-year graduates.

I turned to look at Rae.

"Is it okay if I give you the power of a Mage?"

He continued to stare at me but did give a slight nod. I was sure that it was only my confidence that gave any good impression at all.

After selecting to imbue Rae, I was a little worried. After all, it would be the first time I would be imbuing a native. I didn't know if it would work the same.

But after seeing both Eddie and Rae's eyes widen at the influx of power running through the man's body. I knew that it had worked.

Rae looked in wonder at his hands. While Eddies stare continued to bore into me.

"What in the world did you do? How did you do that?"

"It's my power as an Otherworlder. It's the only reason I haven't fled myself. I believe that we can defend the city."

Of course, I doubted whether we would be able to defend the city from the more powerful dread beasts. But according to the Teachers, the city should have no problem rebuffing the first few waves.

"You can give people the power of Mages? Is that all you can do?"

"No, whether we need Knights, Healers or Crafters. I can create them all."

It was only Harold standing at the edge of the room that gave me the confidence to tell the full truth.

While I was sure that I could beat Rae, even with his new power as a Mage. But Eddie was still a wildcard.

He had promised several times that with his oath he would never be able to hurt me. But since I still didn't know exactly what his oath was. I trusted the protection of one of the teachers more.

Eddie's eyes seemed to take on a new glow. He stared at me as if I was a piece of prized meat.

"Well, why didn't you say so earlier? This changes everything."

Before I could ask him any questions, he bolted out of his seat.

"How many people can you give this power to?"

While I was sure that it would grow in the future. I decided to be conservative.

"Around five per day."

Eddie didn't even stick around for me to say another word. With a flash, he was gone from the building.