Two days flew by in a whirl of constant studying. Unfortunately, the bruises on my neck hadn't faded, and I dared not venture into the Break, fearing their sudden disappearance. I was under the distinct impression that I was being closely watched by the Count of Runar, and any misstep could cost me dearly.
On the bright side, I managed to catch up with all the "academic backlog" that had built up during my self-imposed isolation, pushing my average score back into the top ten among the freshmen. The opposite was true for Christian: he had taken to skipping a significant number of lectures. It wasn't too noticeable yet, but it wouldn't be long before he risked spectacular failure on the next test. Being in love seldom contributes positively to academic success, so I was hardly taken aback. I even felt a touch of pity for the guy since his romantic endeavors were faring no better. Mary neither rejected nor fully accepted him. Their evening strolls around the island were as far as Christian had been able to push things.
According to Claire, they hadn't even shared a kiss yet. I had no clue how the redhead came to know such intimate details. Perhaps she was spying on them? That wouldn't surprise me in the least. At times, it seemed like the girl was willing to toss all ethical considerations aside in the pursuit of satisfying her curiosity.
I also managed to corner Mr. Redtliff yesterday for a chat. As it turned out, the count hadn't personally spoken to him or asked about me. Evidently, Gabriel had heard about Mr. Redtliff's colorful description of me as a "student with balls of steel" from other sources. It made sense: interrogating a student dormitory superintendent was clearly beneath someone of his noble status.
But life on the island and my academic pursuits weren't the only things on my mind. Equally pressing was the forced "downtime" in my duties as a Knight. Moreover, there was a night raig training session scheduled for today, and I absolutely didn't want to miss it because of a few bruises. However, it wouldn't be wise to expose myself for such a minor matter. On the other hand, Gabriel was aware of my sensum abilities, and I could explain my rapid healing through my Spark if necessary. After weighing the pros and cons, I concluded that I couldn't afford to skip today's training and would have to take a gamble.
I thought it might be a good idea to go to the hospital and see if the chief physician would look at my neck. If the Seer wasn't too busy, he'd likely oblige, given he felt somewhat guilty about my condition. With this in mind, I left the classroom and stepped outside. There was only one lecture remaining for the day and it was an opportune time to seek the doctor during this break, as his shift would end afterwards.
However, as I stepped onto the porch, my pace faltered and I even stooped down, feigning the need to tie my shoelace. The reason for my distraction was the sight of Maya and Claire having a conversation off to the side, next to an unoccupied bench.
"They're so different!" That was my initial thought. I think this was the first time I had seen them together, somewhat isolated from everyone else. Maya, tall, lithe, and perpetually wearied, had a kind of determination in her eyes that seemed to never fade. Even in ordinary clothes, without her armor, she resembled a Valkyrie from an ancient ballad. Her lack of makeup didn't detract from her appearance, rather, it lent her a sense of authenticity and purity. She was a beautiful girl who had no need to prove anything to anyone. She simply existed.
In stark contrast was Claire. A light touch of makeup accentuated her features, a few strokes here and there, but they highlighted the aspects that flattered her. The redhead stood nearly half a head shorter than Maya but carried herself as if the height difference was inconsequential. She lacked the stoicism that characterized Maya, rather, she seemed to disregard the rules that governed everyone else. If Maya was akin to the near-perfect straight sword of a knight, then Claire was more like a slender, flexible, yet equally lethal rapier.
And there they were, engaged in a fencing duel. Not with swords, but with words. They were locked in a heated discussion, their voices too soft for me to discern the details. But even as an observer, it was fascinating, like watching a fierce elemental clash - rock against air, fire against water.
Surprisingly, it seemed that it wasn't Maya who had initiated the argument, but Claire. Maybe I had misread the situation as I hadn't witnessed the start, but that's how it seemed to me. The conversation was causing Maya some irritation but her inherent stubbornness prevented her from ending it. Claire, sensing some vulnerability in her opponent, was pressing her point. Knowing Maya, I could tell that such pressure wouldn't bode well; soon the Knight maiden's patience would snap, and then no amount of Claire's cunning would be of any use.
Believing it unnecessary to allow the situation to escalate, I stood up, but didn't have the chance to intervene. The girls spotted me, shared a glance, nodded, and then dispersed.
"What happened between you two?" I asked, catching up with Claire.
"Huh?"
"You were arguing."
"No, we weren't."
"I saw it."
"You misunderstood. We were merely discussing upcoming tests." She was blatantly lying and didn't even have the decency to blush!
"I'm not blind," I decided to press.
Claire abruptly halted and glared at me.
"You won't let this go, will you?" She asked, folding her arms across her chest. "Maya noticed that I've been, let's say, keeping an eye on Christian... And she really didn't appreciate it."
"And?"
"Whether I follow someone, or I don't..." The redhead scoffed. "It's my personal free time, and I'll spend it as I wish! Actually, you have a tactics class next, and I have sociology, so we should be heading in different directions!" Slightly offended, she spun around and quickly disappeared around the corner.
Odd. Why did she lie? There was no doubt that Claire had just boldly deceived me. This thought mildly upset me, but not for long - by the time I'd reached my lecture building, I'd already decided that meddling in female disputes could be costly. So it was probably for the best that Claire hadn't disclosed the truth. In such situations, the saying "the less you know, the better you sleep" often holds true. Due to this entire ordeal, I didn't have time to visit the hospital before my lecture started.
The Small Group Tactics lecture was intriguing enough to banish all thoughts of the girls' quarrel from my mind. The lecturer was a veteran of combat in the Indonesian jungle and shared many fascinating stories. Even Jan Larson, who typically attended military lectures out of obligation, listened to the instructor with undying interest. Once again, I was reminded that the quality of education is directly tied to the individuals providing it.
After classes, Jan and Christian headed to the library. Forsaking self-study, I grabbed a quick bite, transitioned into the Break, and first dashed to my hideout to retrieve my armor. After sending a message, I set off for the Abode of Knowledge. To my relief, I didn't encounter any raigs on my journey. That was a good thing - I wasn't in the mood to interact with any of the Knights.
Leaping onto the familiar platform, I exited the Break, perched on a polished stone, and fell into meditation. Who knew when Zanh Kiem would read my message and arrive here? I might have to wait an hour or more. My estimation of the waiting time proved to be inaccurate. Only ten minutes had passed before a monk-gardener I recognized ascended onto the platform. He stood before me, waited for my nod, returned a profound bow, and placed a small wooden box next to me. Afterwards, he kindled a fire in the nearest brazier and gracefully retreated.
It seemed that today was not the day I would meet the Maker.
Unfolding the half-folded piece of paper from the box, I scanned over the words. Zanh Kiem had been urgently summoned to a council at the Central Temple in the Celestial Empire. Due to protocol, he was unable to decline and would be absent from Novilter for approximately three days. He aimed to return as soon as possible but made no promises. He had not informed me of his departure, wanting me to come and receive a gift in person.
The gift was an unremarkable watch – standard and neither cheap nor expensive. The brand was somewhat known, but it didn't shout for attention. It was styled with a mid-century design, a leather strap, and simple, easy-to-read hands with understated Latin numerals. At first glance, it seemed like a regular everyday item, but a closer look revealed a small secret compartment, barely large enough to hold a postage stamp. As I pondered why I'd been gifted this watch, I discovered a second note beneath it in the box. It was written in wide, confident, almost perfect calligraphy, "A proper place for a secret!" it read, followed by a signature.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
This gift wasn't from Zanh Kiem; it was from Rui, the Seer of the Third Palm of Bodhidharma, also known as the Master of Secrets.
As soon as the watch was in my hands, I felt a faint energy discharge, even through the gloves of my Metatron armor. The energy coursed through my body, reached my Spark, and bounced back. My Spark's reaction to the watch was clear: I needed to accept it. The fact that I had no idea what secret I should hide in the compartment was a trivial matter.
Moreover, Rui's ability to gift such an item was a sign of her improving condition, which was certainly good news. We hadn't known each other long, but I hadn't forgotten who had accurately shot the shackles binding me and saved my life.
After accepting the watch, I stood and was about to shift to the Break when my gaze landed on the brazier the monk had lit. I froze as realization dawned on me about why the cleric had kindled the fire. After a thorough inspection of the box, I found nothing else. I took the notes from Zanh Kiem and Rui and burned them in the brazier. Then I placed the now empty, beautiful wooden box back on the stones. It seemed too refined to be simply tossed into the fire. I figured if it also needed to be destroyed, the monk gardener would take care of it. I couldn't bring myself to throw such a work of art into the flames.
After departing from the Abode of Knowledge, I retreated to the rocky shoreline and chose a random cave approximately five meters from the breaking waves, taking sanctuary within. Materializing inside the cave, I removed my glove and donned the gifted watch. Upon scrutinizing my hand, I conceded that the accessory looked rather fetching and added a touch of polish to Izao's persona. Satisfied with my inspection, I reached out to my Spark, but all was quiet, lacking that initial burst I experienced upon accepting the gift. With a faint sigh of regret, I re-donned my glove which fit perfectly, unobstructed by the watch on my wrist.
There was still ample time before the commencement of the night training, but I elected to head to the BKDW building's rooftop. It would be advantageous to show everyone that my state had returned to normal. Additionally, engaging in early conversations with those who arrive ahead of time for training certainly wouldn't hurt. Perhaps I could gauge who and with what arguments Crixus is attempting to sway to his side.
Shifting into the Break, I leapt from the cave and, in Sliding, set my course for Wilflaes. As I nearly bypassed the northern residential districts, a familiar figure rushing in the opposite direction caught my attention. Initially, I contemplated calling out, but instead decided to mimic what this detected individual would have done in my stead, that is, to tail her. Regrettably, my surveillance skills were lacking, and I soon lost sight of my target on the fringes of the capital. Thora, for it was indeed her, slipped into a private building and seemingly vanished. Why had I attempted to trail her? Likely because it was the first time I had seen one of the sisters solo. My curiosity was piqued as to why she was in such a rush, without her twin, and why she was heading away from the city rather than towards it before training. However, upon reflection, my questions seemed rather contrived. It's physically impossible for the girls to be inseparable at all times. As for why Thora was rushing somewhere in the Break, she has her own private affairs, just like the rest of us.
Why did I feel the need to chase after her when I could simply call out and ask her what she wanted? Damn, it seemed that spending time with the twins, who were infected with spy mania, wasn't doing me any favors. I should focus on dealing with my own intense paranoia and not add to it by fruitlessly searching for hidden meanings or dangers. With this rational thought in mind, I continued on my way.
The first person I ran into on the roof was Halley. He was inspecting something from the Break, seemingly checking the arrangement of cables. After exchanging greetings, I inquired about his dealings with the sisters and was assured that their relationship was even better than before the incident. Apparently, they had another friendly duel yesterday, which had also positively impacted their mutual understanding. I was about to ask him about Crixus and his recruitment progress when the Corsican himself appeared. Approaching us, he said:
"Maestro! Can I have a word with you? In private."
That was unusual, he never hesitated to share anything in front of others before, and now he wanted to converse "privately."
"Sure." I shrugged.
Upon my response, Crixus made his way towards the metropolitan municipality's roof in several large leaps. With a sigh, I followed him.
"So, here's the thing..." The Corsican began, his initial hesitation seeming a bit overplayed. "You've been trying to establish contacts with the Masks of Novilter for a while, right? And if I recall correctly, you wanted to propose to Mersk that he and his crew join the Break Knights' general training."
"Yes, we may have differing political views, but we stand together against the Breakthroughs."
"You know, initially, I wasn't too keen on this idea of yours, but after giving it some thought, I came around. It's more reassuring when a trained fighter has your back."
"Cut to the chase." I muttered, outwardly irritated, already guessing what he was leading up to.
"In short, as the head of BKDW, I approached Mersk and..."
"Did he reject you?" I interjected, filling the pause, offering the response he was likely anticipating.
"No, not at all!" Crixus announced triumphantly.
I looked at him, struggling to maintain a serious expression. He was so pleased with himself now, relishing in the fact that he had succeeded where I had failed. The guy was practically basking in the moment. He was educated, trained, charismatic, and intelligent - but he was still a boy.
"Great." I said, turning away to hide my true emotions. "So, should we expect new faces at the training session today?"
"It's not that simple." The Corsican admitted regretfully.
"What's the problem?"
"Mersk wants to receive the invitation to train from you personally." He struggled to get the words out.
"Alright."
It seemed Mersk wasn't willing to accept the invitation just like that, immediately. His people might misinterpret such a move. So, he set an additional condition, thereby convincing his group that he agreed to joint actions with us only after lengthy deliberations and negotiations. A thoughtful and smart move, I had to admit.
"Then I'll shoot you a message when we've sorted out a time and place to meet." The Corsican nodded at me.
"No problem." And before he had taken off, I added, "Good job, Crixus!"
"I didn't get chosen to head the BKDW for nothing!" Having the last word, the guy left me. I had to admit that the Heir knew how to make decisions swiftly. We had spoken quite recently, and he had already ordered Mersk into action.
But this Crixus! One moment, he impresses me with his quick-wittedness, adaptability, and schemes, the next, he can't contain his joy when he manages to "outdo" me. How does he balance it all - the cunning mind of a manipulator and pure youthful enthusiasm? It's a mystery to me.
The training went well, although today's attendance was about a quarter less than usual. Most likely due to the recent rescheduling of the training session. Overall, I was pleased with the progress of most, but there were exceptions. For instance, after the exercises, I had to have a serious talk with Rex. This guy was part of the original BKDW roster and always gave his all in training, making considerable progress. But today, he didn't perform well - he was terrible in all aspects. He lost all his sparring matches and constantly botched even the simplest exercises. After hearing my complaints, he apologized and mentioned he was dealing with family issues, so he couldn't focus properly on his swordplay. I offered help, but he insisted on handling it himself. After my conversation with Rex, I waited until Maya, being bombarded by the twins with their usual questions, was free, and then approached her.
"Have you tired of them yet?" I gestured towards the departing sisters.
"It's fine, I'm used to it," the girl replied, her smile tinged with a hint of sadness.
"I've been meaning to ask you something but kept forgetting."
"Yes?" Maya responded, a spark of curiosity in her eyes.
"During the last Breakthrough, you were singing a song."
"Me?" She looked surprised. "A song? What song?"
"Umm, I don't remember the lyrics, something about a fox." I tapped out the rhythm I remembered with my palms.
"I didn't sing anything," she denied, shaking her head. "Although… Could you repeat the rhythm?"
So she didn't sing? Was it my imagination? I tried to recall more details. Indeed, I hadn't seen Maya singing, but she was the closest to me, and the voice was female, so I assumed it was her. Could it be that due to all these nerve-racking experiences, I'm slowly descending into madness? Fulfilling her request, I once again tapped out the rhythm and quietly sang the remembered lines.
"Wait!" She suddenly remembered something. "There was something like that. Yes, exactly. But this song seemed to come from a distance, and I couldn't make out the words as they blended with the noise of the Breakthrough. I recall thinking it must be the twins, they're the only ones mad enough to sing nursery rhymes in battle. But then I sort of forgot about it."
When the song played, Maya and I were close, fighting almost back to back. I heard everything clearly, but to her, it seemed distant. Strange... Or is it not strange, but just another quirk of the Break?
"Thank you." I nodded at her.
"Maestro." The girl hesitated a bit. "I'm sorry, but I have to go: tomorrow, well, actually today, we have challenging tests."
"Yes, of course."
We bid each other farewell, and she dashed off toward the university island. Tests. Right, I had completely forgotten about studies. And unlike me, who still remembers physics and mechanics, she genuinely has to learn everything from scratch. How does she cope with it all? However, I will probably never fully unravel this mystery.
Once Maya left, only Halley remained on the roof. I knew I should head back to my room and rest, but I had no desire to sleep. Apparently, Halley was in a similar mood, and we chatted for nearly an hour before parting ways. Besides, our conversation, initially quite formal, soon turned into casual friendly banter. We discussed a little of everything: views, rumours, even comics. And this simple exchange, oddly enough, soothed my nerves better than any meditation. After saying goodbye to Halley, I left the capital, stashed my armor away, and headed back to my room to sleep. Despite the hectic day, I felt surprisingly peaceful and drifted off almost instantly.