Ril went to sleep content that night. Eren had cheered up and together they had written the letter that they would send to her parents .
The problem wasn’t really solved. Not in an absolute sense. Eren’s parents would still have money problems. What they did would not change that, but it did avert the present catastrophe.
More importantly, Eren was content, no longer dwelling on the impossible problem and able to look forward and smile. To Ril, that was all that really mattered.
The next day he woke up and went to the training hall like he always did. When he got there, he was surprised to find Siorraid waiting for him instead of Saddie.
“Hey Siorraid! What are you doing here? And where is Saddie?” Ril asked as he entered the hall.
Siorraid stood smoothly from where he had been meditating.
“Good you’re here. We will do things a little bit differently today.” Siorraid said, “Today marks the end of your first month of your time here with us. As such we like to give recruits in your position a chance to prove themselves. A test if you will.”
“A test?” Ril asked stupidly.
“Yes, think of it as an induction ceremony. A way for you to demonstrate all that you’ve learned.” Siorraid said, a merry glint in his eye. “More specifically, it will be a chance to prove your sneaking skills. If you succeed you will be an official member of the White Lily.”
“Alright,” Ril asked after a moment. He didn’t expect to be taking a test today, but honestly, he was as ready as he could be. “What does this test involve?”
“Oh, it is quite simple really,” Siorraid said, a merry glint in his eyes. It seemed like he was enjoying this. “For your first mission you will be tasked with infiltrating a specific building without being identified and collecting as much information as you can from the residents therein. A positive identification of you will lead to failure of the mission, as will capture. Nonlethal combat methodologies are acceptable but discouraged. Assassination of any type will lead to immediate failure. You will have all day today to complete the mission. Make sure to return by sundown. Is everything clear?”
Ril thought it over for a moment. It didn’t seem all that difficult. Practically every skill that Siorraid was teaching him revolved around sneaking around in utter silence, and detecting whether he was about to be detected. By combining Vanish and Muffle, he was practically undetectable to most people. Those that could, were uncommon, and practically non-existent in Sela. Not counting Siorraid himself, of course.
As long as whichever place that Siorraid chose didn’t have someone like him, then he should be fine.
Ril nodded, “what type of information should I be looking for?”
“Before I answer that I would like your opinion on the subject. You will be infiltrating the School.” When Ril frowned, Siorraid continued with a smile. “Ahh, I see you’ve heard of it.”
“Yeah, my friend's little brother goes there.”
Siorraid nodded, before continuing. “The institution is the largest academic institution in Sela, given that information, what type of information do you think you should try to collect.”
The School was the place that Hauke was spending most of his days at. Ril had only really seen the inside of it once, but from what he had seen it mostly consisted of a bunch of rooms filled with youngsters studying either academic or military subjects. None of the students would be a particular problem unless there was an absolute prodigy studying there right now. What was worrying though, was the Professor. He had shown some kind of enhanced perception the first time that Ril had gone. He may be a problem.
But going back to the question, assuming that this wasn’t just some arbitrary test to measure his abilities there was really only a few things that the White Lily could want from the School.
“I will probably be scouting out young talent.” Ril said, nodding, “It would make sense to observe the students as they learn and report back on any students that might be a good fit for the White Lily.”
“Good,” Siorraid smiled, “More specifically, search for any kids who have the Blood of the Chromagnum or preliminaries to the Fragments. The older kids there will have been given divine orbs already, so it is possible that they will flaunt their power.”
“Wait, will the kids who haven’t assimilated a divine sphere have abilities? I thought the sphere was what gave us power.” Ril asked.
“No, the powers are innate, the sphere just allows us to quantify the abilities. The spheres were designed because it is difficult to use a power that you have no idea that you have.” Siorraid explained, “I’m surprised that you didn’t know that already. Regardless, all missions that you will receive as part of the White Lily will be accompanied by a briefing. This will be your first so pay attention.”
“The Professor who owns the School is known as Erdell Bellington of the Thousand Torches,” Siorraid said, affirming Ril’s prior knowledge. “Be wary of him. He fought for several years on the front lines and acted as a rear guard that protected the base camp. He is a powerful Overseer known for the everburning torches that he spreads around his domain. These torches are rumored to be able to do everything from alerting him of nearby enemies to jumping at invaders and burning them. There is even some intelligence that suggests he can make the fire cold enough to restrain people. Make every attempt not to interact with them.”
Ril nodded. He had suspected as much, but it was interesting to learn a little more about the Professor.
“While formidable, our current intel shows that Erdell does not have the capability of piercing the effects of Vanish directly. This should allow you to infiltrate the School without being detected. However, I will warn you. Erdell of the Thousand Torches is known for his meticulous attention to detail. If you leave any trace behind there is a chance that you will be detected. Should you notice the torches that litter the school flare or sputter, it is likely that your cover has been blown, and it is recommended that you leave the premises to avoid capture. It goes without saying that capture would lead to failure of this test.” Siorraid said, going into full lecture mode as he recounted to Ril all the relevant information for his mission.
“It is also possible for the Professor to have gained additional powers since last time we have categorized him. In your report once you finish this mission, make sure to note down any additional powers that the Professor displays.”
“The student’s at the School should not pose a threat to you. Their ages range from eight to sixteen, but most are around thirteen years old. While they spend much of their day training in hand to hand combat, there isn’t a competent teacher so most are self taught. This means that it is unlikely that any will pose a physical threat to you, unless you get dogpiled. Attempt to avoid battles where you are heavily outnumbered. Should you find yourself in such a situation, clever use of Shadow, Muffle, Sense, and Vanish may allow you to escape the situation.”
“That is the extent of the briefing. If you don’t have any questions, I suggest you leave immediately.” Siorraid finished, looking expectantly at Ril.
“Actually,” Ril said, raising a hand. “Are there any items or preparations that you recommend I bring on this mission?”
Siorraid smiled, “Very good question. Normally, that is exactly the type of question that I expect you to ask, and I will assist you to the best of my ability. However, since this is a test, I will let you decide what items are important to bring with you.”
Ril nodded, gaining a far away look in his eyes, before he bowed briefly to Siorraid, turned, and rushed out of the training hall.
“Don’t underestimate the Overseer,” Siorraid called after him, “and good luck!”
* * *
Hauke slumped at his desk. A contraption devised and built by the denizens of hell. No matter how he oriented his arms he could not find a position where he was comfortable. Either his elbows hurt, or his cheek hurt. And if neither of those hurt then his neck was the thing taking on the brunt of the discomfort.
It seemed that the hard wood of the desk was designed to cause maximum discomfort regardless of his ingenuity.
Currently he had wedged his arms under his head in a sort of self choke hold, and it was working remarkably well. If only he didn’t hear his pulse pounding it would be perfect.
The chair was no better. Somehow the Professor had managed to find chairs that were less comfortable to sit on than solid stone. Which was one of the primary reasons Hauke believed that the Professor had made some sort of deal with a devil to acquire the furniture. In what world was wood harder than stone?
At least the pile of paperwork that he had been given was providing some form of cushioning, however meager.
He had finished the assignment several minutes ago. It hadn’t been particularly difficult, despite how the rest of the kids in the class seemed to treat it. He had rushed through the assignment, not trying too hard, nor paying particularly close to any of his answers.
Eren would berate him if she learned how little he cared about the assignment, but come on! It was boring. Who needs to learn algebra when there are powder beasts out there that were ripe for the slaughter? Swordsmanship was a far more practical skill for someone like him.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
And besides, he had yet to score below ninety on any of these assignments which was more than good enough for the girls he goes out with.
Speaking of girls, Hauke turned his head to the side, relieving some of the pressure on his jugular and extending the time before he had to switch positions.
To his left sat Ariela, or Arla as she preferred to be known. Eren sometimes said that people become what their name suggests, but clearly Arla hadn’t gotten the message. Instead of being princessy with long blond hair and a haughty attitude, Arla was a tomboy, an excellent duelist, and Hauke suspected more muscles than he had.
She was chewing on her pencil while struggling with what looked like the last problem. It may have been cute if not for the scar on her lower lip that pulled it down in a perpetual frown. She was young, around twelve, and an orphan. She lived her entire life here in Sela, which may be part of the reason for her thorny attitude.
Short too. It made fighting her like trying to tame a porcupine. Sharp bits constantly coming from below.
They had become fast friends after she had beat him silly with a practice sword, and as repayment he had finagled training out of her.
Pressure began to build in his skull. A slow pounding that heralded what was to come, With a sigh, Hauke lifted his arms and mirrored them, setting his head down once more. Ahh, much better.
On his other side sat Jade. She was pretty in every way that Arla was not. Long, straight hair with perfect demure features and a pert nose. Unlike Ar;a, Jade's skin was smooth and unblemished.
That did not mean she wasn’t a terror in a fight. She preferred to be in the back line, but since the Professor wouldn’t give them a divine sphere until they became fifteen, she had learned how to brandish a sword with the best of them. Fighting her was annoying. Like...chasing a ball down hill.
Jade was hot. Like capital H.O.T, hot. The perfect first member for the hero’s harem. Too bad Arla wasn’t really a typical protagonist. More like a vicious fist fighter who slowly lost reason over the years.
Honestly, things weren’t turning out so great. He hadn’t been granted cheat powers, neither did the Professor turn out to be a secret hermit who would teach him all his secrets. On top of that, his harem was incomplete.
Things really weren’t working out like they did in the stories.
Well, for him, Alex seemed to have hoarded all the good luck and was now flaunting it in front of everyone.
Alex was fifteen. He was tall, blond, strong, and skilled. He was a commoner too, which made all the other sheep flock around him like he was their paragon. Oh and he was handsome, and rich, and smart, and bleh.
He was also the resident git. He had made Hauke’s life miserable since he learned that he was a noble.
He sat near the front of the room surrounded by his harem and Jim. Rebecca and Leena, the two hottest fifteen year old girls who attended the school. A small harem, but at least it was a proper one.
Jim was...Ahh there was the other one.
The door to the classroom opened. Ben swaggered in, his fat body jiggling as he pulled up his pants. He made his way between the desks making extra sure to step on as many toes as possible until he arrived at Alex’s group. A sycophant just like the rest of them.
Hauke grimaced, pulling his feet in to make sure that Ben didn’t ‘accidentally’ crush his toes. Last time had sucked.
Just as the door to the classroom swung closed, it burst open with a bang, swinging violently on its hinges and crashing against the wall. It ricocheted, swinging back before it was caught by the gnarled hand of the Professor.
The Professor leaned into the room, an angry scowl distorting his wrinkly features as he scanned the room with distaste. The torches flared, disturbing the smooth lighting with their flickering.
Hauke blinked a couple of times, trying to deduce what had gotten the Professor so riled up. Normally, he wouldn’t ‘disturb a lesson’, as he put it, not matter what.
“Where are you?” The Professor snarled, “I know you’re here. I felt your heat.”
His normally jovial eyes had constricted to beady dots, suspiciously scanning the room. He was panting heavily, almost maniacally, as if he had run all the way from the front doors to here.
Hauke looked around the room, in an attempt to make sense of the Professors odd behavior. The room was full of kids lounging around their desks, with a couple making a token effort at completing their work. In other words, the room looked normal.
Alex laughed from the front, “Who are you looking for Erdell? Did Perry piss himself again?”
Rebecca and Leena giggled beside him while Jim gave Alex a thumbs up. “Nice one!”
That was another thing about Alex, he was the only one who called the Professor by his first name and managed to get away with it. Suck up.
“Perry?” The Professor said, confused. He straightened from his feral posture at the door and gave Alex a quizzical glance. “No, Perry is fine. Hmm...yes. He is sparring with Amanda right now.”
“No.” The Professor said, his glower returning as he continued to scan the room, the torches along the walls flaring and sputtering as they assisted his search. Tendrils of fire rose up and encircled the room, noticeably raising the temperature. Hauke felt a pulse of invigoration pass over him as the torches inflamed.
“There is a spy among us. He’s here. I know it. Argh! They do this every year. This year I will find you. And when I do, you better be prepared, because when I do, I will return you in such a state that they will never dare to send another one of their Acolytes to my School!”
The Professor sneered the last words, a manic look creeping along his face.
“Oh?” Alex said, leaning back on his throne, “is it that time of year again? Is the White Lily, sending their little spies after us?”
“Yes! It is!” The Professor snarled, taking a step into the room, before he seemed to decide against it and stepped back so that his body was blocking the door. “It is that abominable time of year again. So help me this disruption in learning will not stand!”
“Perhaps the spy is one of these people?” Alex said, gesturing broadly to the other students in the hall. “Maybe Hauke for example. He’s new here. Maybe the White Lily planted him to spy on us.”
Hauke winced, somehow he had been inserted into this conversation. Typical. But wait. The White Lily? Wasn’t that the place that Ril was working at? Maybe the spy is actually Ril. Wouldn’t that be so cool.
It would be like a noble knight infiltrating an ancient abandoned crypt, full of the rotten corpses of the dead, reanimated by the power of a dread lich.
Hauke relaxed into his chair, letting his mind wander.
Ril strode in, his sword raised and glowing with the untapped power of Erenthiel, Goddess of Harvest. With this almighty blade, Ril ran towards the disgusting creatures and incinerated them with its power.
Meanwhile, Hauke skulked among the undead, hidden within their ranks. A spy. Ready and waiting for the opportune moment to strike. He was disguised, blood and viscera covering his fair skin to enable him to meander among the anomalous creatures.
Ril charged into the masses, hacking and slashing and obliterating with abandon, decimating the creatures with awesome power, then, suddenly, the worst happened. The Headmaster, ruler of the undead, and a powerful lich, descended upon them and revealed his tortured visage. He laughed as his soulless torches of death burst through the stone crypt floor and surrounded Ril, sapping his strength. Ril fell to his knees, alone and trembling at the terrible power that had been unleashed upon him.
At the opportune moment, Hauke rushed forwards, shedding his fleshy disguise and joining Ril on the battlefield. He brandished his sword, challenging the Headmaster to a duel of single combat. The Headmaster just laughs, his voice a hoarse chuckle, and accepts the duel. Much to his folly.
They circled each other, each wielding their Silverlight blades with skill. Hauke rushed in, feinting low, as he spun his blade high. The Headmaster, however, saw through the trap and dodged around the deadly strike, retaliating with monstrous fervor, his strikes both heavy and brutal.
Hauke fell back, but it was intentional. With careful poise, he retreated, against the inelegant strikes of the lich, knowing that the monster got careless if it believed that it would be victorious.
Suddenly he saw an opening in his opponent's defense. The aged and decaying flesh of the lich was unable to keep up with the intellect that drove it. Its joints had withered, and its muscles had atrophied to the point of fragility. A single strike would be enough.
Taking advantage of this, Hauke rushed forward, his sword spinning in enigmatic spirals around the lich’s blade, driving it back and down. The swords slammed together, sparks flying, then Hauke spun around, his nimble blade easily outmaneuvering the lich’s heavy hunk of steel.
Underneath the sluggish lich he moved. Slashing his keen blade across the joints of the monster's knees.
With a sickening pop, the ligaments snapped. The knee cap distended, flopping forwards uselessly and at a disgusting angle. The entire leg buckled, no longer able to support the lich’s weight. Without mercy or hesitation, Hauke followed through with his decisive strike and impaled the lich through his cold, dead heart.
However, the lich did not die. Its heart had long ago stopped beating and was now just a shrivelled core without purpose. Still the blow incapacitated the lich. Impaled against the stone floor, it could no more fight than a measly slug.
Desperate, it begged for mercy, offering mountains of gold and endless women in exchange for its unlife. Hauke, however, saw through the lich’s plan. He had watched the treacherous creature betray countless others and was prepared for the monster’s lies. Instead of listening, Hauke tore his shining blade from the lich’s chest, and with a decisive slash, beheaded the monster.
With victory nigh, Hauke helped Ril to his feet. Together they stood back to back as the hordes of undead surrounded them, enraged by the death of their master. The undead charge, their slavering--
“Hauke? A spy? Couldn’t be.” The Professor said, pulling Hauke out of his fantasy. Suddenly the Professor narrowed his eyes, focusing in on a spot near the back of the room. “ Also...he was just there. Where? He’s gone. Dammit! Where did you go you filthy cretin. Just wait till I find you! I’ll hit you so hard it’ll make your ancestors dizzy!”
The Professor abandoned his post at the door and charged towards the corner of the room. When he got there...nothing happened. The corner of the room was empty, as it appeared to be.
The Professor raged, kicking the wall with a withered leg, cracking the stone and causing the entire structure to shake.
Hauke winced, surprised at the sudden display of force. It was hard to remember that the Professor was actually devastatingly powerful within the School. His old hunched frame giving the impression of a happy grandfather rather than the unstoppable Overseer that he actually was.
“Your senses are getting old Erdell, if an acolyte managed to avoid your detection.” Alex laughed, joined by his posse. “But don’t worry old man, we will keep an eye out for this supposed spy. It might be fun.”
Alex gave his signature lopsided grin, brimming with confidence. Rebecca sighed, while Leena fanned herself with one hand while she made puppy eyes at Alex. After a moment, Alex turned the smile towards his two female companions which only intensified their response. Gross.
“Keep a sharp eye, children. This spy is not to be underestimated, but for now return to your studies. I shall find this culprit myself.” The Professor said, after calming himself, then he left quietly, returning to his rounds.
The torches calmed, returning the room to the bright environment that was more conducive to learning. At least that is what the Professor said. A sense of calm, and subtle power wafted over Hauke.
It was sort of what big sister could do, but in reverse. An awesome power. He couldn’t wait for his fifteenth birthday. It was such a shame that the divine spheres were dangerous for children, else he would assimilate one immediately.
Hauke glanced longingly at the torches when an ephemeral voice disrupted his musings. “Phew, that was close.”