Fortunately, "Word" has a formal understanding of lies. Misdirections, double entendres - none of these trouble my spectral sword, as long as no outright falsehood is spoken. Had it been otherwise, during our conversation, where we deliberated on how to publicly announce Ungor's death to the populace and other Break Knights, the blade would have corroded significantly. However, due to this technicality, it remained as untarnished as ever.
Once we had ironed out the details, Zanh Kiem implied that Maya and I had exhausted our usefulness on the shore and they would handle the rest. Mr. Rock openly endorsed this suggestion. We offered no objections and left the rocky shoreline, transitioning into the Break. Without leaving the island, we relocated to a secluded clearing, away from all paths and trails.
"I'm deeply saddened by Ungor's passing," Maya confessed, perched on an old, long-desiccated stump. "But, on the other hand, I find solace in the fact that this tragedy has jolted you back to reality."
Her candidness took me by surprise.
"For two weeks, you were a mere wisp of your former self," Maya observed, idly caressing a wildflower with her spectral hand. The flower, naturally, remained unmoved by her touch from within the Break. "I... or rather, we all missed you."
"Everyone has their Achilles' heel," I conceded. "The death of my student pierced through all my defenses and struck me harder than I could have possibly anticipated."
"I don't blame you," the girl clarified. "It's just..." Unable to find the right words, she gestured dismissively.
"You can manage without me," I reassured her. "The organization is functioning, training sessions are ongoing, and more and more independent raigs are gravitating towards the BKDW."
"That's true," she nodded. "But even I can see that it's all happening more out of momentum. Although... I must acknowledge that the fervor with which Crixus has thrown himself into his duties since assuming office is yielding results. It has truly drawn in many who previously resisted joining the BKDW. However!" She rose from the stump and began to pace around the clearing, mirroring Zanh Kiem's mannerisms. "It's starting to irk me that Crixus occasionally permits himself to disparage our allies." As if to prevent any misunderstanding, she added, "I'm talking about the House on the Hill. I suspect, once he fully acclimates to his position and amasses a following of raigs loyal to him, his rhetoric will become less measured." She paused for a few seconds before resuming her pacing. "Also, the twins are completely out of control. For some reason, they've started a witch hunt against Halley! I don't know what's gotten into them - to nearly accuse him outright of some form of betrayal. And people are listening to them! If this continues for another week, Halley will be ostracized. Halley, a traitor?" She dismissed the notion with a wave of her hand. "Impossible."
"The blame is mostly mine." I admitted, feeling a need to repent.
"Eh?!" The girl blurted out, taken aback by my sudden confession.
After a moment of thought, I revealed that Thora and Kael had discovered the meetings between Halley and Mersk, the leader of the Masks of Novilter. I didn’t conceal the fact that I had given them the green light to continue their surveillance. I also made it clear that I had no intention of persecuting anyone, but simply wanted to understand and figure out the truth.
"I don't understand," Maya shook her head after listening to me. "Halley and Mersk? That just can't be... I know for sure that Halley is completely in favor of cooperation with the authorities. I would understand if Mersk were meeting with Crixus. Yes! That pair would certainly hit it off quickly. But Halley?! I'm certain there's a logical explanation for their meetings that doesn't imply anything bad."
"I'll say it again, it's my fault. I should've kept a closer eye on the sisters," I confessed, falling silent and lowering my head, the implications clear. "I'll have a word with them."
We continued to chat for another half an hour, primarily driven by me. I sought to catch up on what I had missed during this period. To my relief, other than what she had already shared, everything else was routine. We then parted ways, agreeing to meet at the night training session the following day.
Once Maya had left, I returned to the secret cave and changed my attire. I then dialed Zanh Kiem on a disposable cell phone, hoping to see him the same day. Unfortunately, he declined, citing the formalities and Rock's persistence as reasons for his unavailability until tomorrow morning at the earliest. While I could afford to miss today's evening classes, we were scheduled to take three consecutive tests on different subjects the next day. Furthermore, there was a lecture that the Count of Runar himself would be delivering.
Regrettably, I wouldn't be able to consult with the Maker before meeting with the Heir. This was undoubtedly a disadvantage, as Zanh Kiem's advice could've been quite beneficial.
I also sent messages to the twins, proposing a meet-up. As luck would have it, they too cited commitments in their civilian lives as reasons for their unavailability. I deliberated for a few minutes over whether to call Dobrynya, but ultimately decided that I wasn't prepared for that encounter just yet. Subsequently, I quietly returned to the university island, exiting the Break at one of my preferred spots.
Having already missed my afternoon classes, I decided to take a leisurely stroll instead. Firstly, I needed to relax and gather my thoughts. Secondly, I was certain that rumors of a student's death at Shattered Skulls Beach were already making rounds at the university, and I was curious to hear the students' chatter.
Naturally, word of a student drowning, especially at such a legendary site, spread quickly across the university. As I strolled around, I could hear the murmurs of conversation, all focused on this topic. Surprisingly, the chatter wasn't about the drowning itself but revolved around tales and stories about Shattered Skulls Beach. It seems that thrill and horror stories captivate young people, regardless of the world they inhabit.
This walk also served a secondary purpose: it was a chance for me to reacquaint myself with seeing the world through fresh eyes. I noticed even my breath felt different from the day before. During the second hour of my wander, I spotted Christian darting off somewhere. His usually disheveled hair was neatly combed and his shoes were shining, suggesting he was on his way to a date. Initially, I thought about tailing him discretely, but decided against it, reasoning that meddling in someone else's personal affairs was not my place. Besides, I had to admit, I was slightly curious about who this Mary was and how Christian would fare on the relationship front. Nonetheless, I had a feeling he would fill us in the next day. If he chose to remain silent, I was certain Claire would manage to squeeze the details out of him.
As the evening rolled in, I returned to my dorm room and began studying for the upcoming tests. I felt confident I could pass the math exam, but the other two... Without additional cramming, I risked failing, or at best, barely scraping by with a pass, which was not acceptable to me.
Moreover, immersing myself in textbooks and study materials served as a welcome distraction from Ungor's tragedy. It worked so well that I fell asleep quite comfortably, without the usual hour of tossing and turning, consumed by my thoughts.
In the morning, I readied myself and left the dorm earlier than usual, intending to take a detour and walk near the infamous bay. It turned out, I wasn't the only one with this idea, and the normally deserted coastal path was filled with students, even at this early hour. Of course, any trace of the recent tragedy on the rocky shore had been cleared away. The only remnants were a cordoned-off area and a couple of disinterested guards preventing any overly curious students from crossing it. But what else could one expect?
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Despite the lengthy detour, I managed to make it to the lecture hall I needed almost ten minutes ahead of schedule. Seated on one of the benches, engrossed in a popular science magazine, was Jan Larson, one of my classmates. Not wanting to appear rude, I took a seat beside him and greeted him. Jan carefully closed his magazine, slid it into his briefcase, and then turned his entire body to face me.
"No!" he managed to say through clenched teeth. "I can overlook a lot. But has your trio completely lost their minds?!"
Puzzled, I tilted my head, unable to formulate a response.
"You were selected for an elite group and given the opportunity to learn from the best, but what do you do?" I remained silent, still unsure of what he was referring to. "Fine, when one of you skips a lecture, it happens." His reaction clearly indicated that he found even one absence unacceptable. "But what was yesterday's stunt?! The three of you missed three entire afternoon lectures!"
I could have told him that those lectures didn't interest me and that I was already well-versed in the material they covered, but I refrained.
"If you think that your different study schedule will allow your absences to go unnoticed, you're sorely mistaken!"
With that, Jan rose from the bench, made a showy, military-style pivot, and strode off towards the lecture hall.
"I never pegged him as a tattletale," Claire slid onto the bench next to me the moment Larson's figure disappeared behind the doors. "Do you reckon he'll rat us out?"
"Absolutely," I nodded in agreement.
"I get why Christian skipped, but where were you?" She continued her barrage, not allowing me to get a word in.
"At the coast," I replied with a shrug, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.
"For some reason, I don't recall seeing you there!"
"Nor did I see you."
"Alright, alright," Claire pouted in feigned frustration. "There were indeed a lot of people there. But I find it hard to believe you spent the entire evening there."
"I was studying for the tests," I could have just ended the conversation there, but I chose not to.
"Pfff..." The redhead rolled her eyes. "What's so difficult about it... Except for organic chemistry, I agree, that deserved some extra study time." She then changed the topic. "Aren't you curious..." she said in a playful tone. "About why I wasn't at the lectures?"
"It's obvious," a small smile graced my lips.
"Re-a-a-a-ly?" Claire sounded skeptical.
"What was Mary wearing when she met Christian?" I responded with my own question.
"You think I was following them?!" She threw her hands up, sounding incensed.
"I do," I nodded, my lips stretching into a smile.
"You're right..." Claire didn't so much say as mumble, winking at me. "I'll fill you in later." She nodded towards Christian, who was approaching us.
Much to my astonishment, the girl didn't interrogate the guy about their date or tease him in any way. We simply exchanged greetings and headed to our lectures.
I couldn't fathom what Claire hoped to achieve by refraining from questioning the brunet, a deviation from her usual behavior. By the time the long break rolled around, Christian was visibly on edge, casting wary glances at the redhead, suspecting some sort of trap. Catching a glimpse of the girl, I noticed she seemed to be relishing the situation, her glee growing with every twitch from her classmate. Apparently, by lunchtime, Christian's nerves had completely frayed, and he hastily excused himself to prepare for an upcoming examination before bolting for the campus. We proceeded to our usual cafeteria.
"You've really rattled him," I commented reprovingly as we set our trays on the table.
"It's his own doing," Claire responded with a soft chuckle.
"Because he reacts that way?"
"Exactly!" Claire affirmed, beaming. "If he'd kept his cool, nothing would have happened. But his flushing and twitching are just too amusing. I can't help myself!"
"You're terrible," I chided her, striving to keep my voice stern.
"Ah!" She rolled her eyes dramatically. "So harsh!" She then proceeded to slowly lick yogurt from her spoon.
Despite having long passed my adolescent years, I found myself unable to tear my gaze from her provocative action, my cheeks flushing slightly. Claire immediately caught my reaction and let out a satisfied chuckle.
"How has no one throttled you for your attitude yet?" I asked, half-jokingly.
"There have been attempts, but I can hold my own!" she retorted, her tone unexpectedly serious.
I studied her, puzzled. Was she jesting now or being sincere? Claire was an incredibly enigmatic girl. So much so that even with my wealth of experience, she often left me perplexed. I found it easier to converse with Maya than this fiery redhead. However, despite the challenges, I enjoyed her company. She made me feel more alive, and her presence somehow pushed the looming End of the World into the background. We continued our meal, with Claire clearly anticipating my query about Christian's date. But she was in for a disappointment - I had no intention of playing into her hands. Finally, when only our teas remained, she conceded.
"She's a lovely girl," Claire remarked, sipping her hot beverage. "She dresses modestly, but she has a discernible sense of style. Clearly not from a wealthy family - not destitute, but not affluent either." Observing my ironic expression, she elaborated, "I'm referring to Mary."
"I gathered as much."
"To my considerable surprise, our dark-haired friend didn't make a mess of things," she confessed, the corners of her lips twitching into a slight smile. "I expected him to botch it, but it went rather well. Their date ended under the stars... Can't you tell?" I had my suspicions but chose to remain silent. "It bodes well for Christian. There were no kisses or embraces, but our resident ladies' man undoubtedly left a positive impression."
"Did I just imagine it," I asked, "or are you actually pleased?"
"Yeah," Claire replied briefly, finishing her tea.
"I thought you liked him," I ventured.
"I do," she responded nonchalantly, nodding her head. "As a friend, not as a man."
I nearly choked on my last sip, not anticipating such candor from her. Claire's behavior was constantly shifting - one moment she was elusive like a snake drenched in oil, the next she was direct and unyielding like a blacksmith's hammer. And this switch could happen in a blink of an eye.
"What about this Mary? Do you like her?"
The girl seemed to ponder over it.
"I haven't decided yet. But if she makes our little crow fall for her, toys with him, and then leaves, I'll make her life a living hell."
"Wow, you're dangerous. One shouldn't put their fingers in your mouth[1]," I blurted out without thinking.
At that, the girl burst out laughing, slapped her thighs, and then looked me straight in the eye.
"You see, I didn't say anything," she winked at me and got up from the table. "Cherish it!"
A dozen possible responses flashed through my mind, only two of which didn't involve vulgarity. If she had said anything, I wasn't sure how I would've managed to save face without lying. We switched to neutral topics and talked about the legends of the Shattered Skulls Bay, before heading off to study.
The tests were easier than I had expected, and judging by the expressions of my classmates, they felt the same. It was clear that both Jan and Claire were slightly disappointed, but Christian was visibly relieved. The dark-haired lad had been preoccupied over the last two days, his thoughts elsewhere. If the tests had been more challenging, he would have been at a real risk of failing, but luck was on his side.
After the tests, we had a lecture from the Count of Runar. From how he started the class, it was clear to me that Jan had indeed informed him about our casual approach to attending his lectures. However, he didn't receive the reaction he had hoped for. The Count merely scolded us lightly, without any further sanctions or reprimands.
The Duke's youngest son's lectures were always unconventional and intriguing. This time, instead of discussing a technical problem, he delved into history, providing us with a brief and concise overview of the reasons for Novilter's geopolitical confrontation with France. He started not with the recent expulsion of the ducal house, but with an ancient conflict between old clans.
This lecture further affirmed that our responsibilities extended far beyond simply overseeing design bureaus. However, the tale spun by the Count of Runar was quite intriguing, despite the clear political undertones that painted his house as the blameless victim of a reckless tyrant. Even after our supervisor had departed, Jan, Christian, and Claire, who had already exited the classroom, continued to engage in fervent discussions and debates about what they had just heard. Excusing myself on the grounds of being preoccupied, I swiftly made my way to my quarters. I had a much more critical appointment that night, and I needed to prepare for it, at least mentally...
[1] TLN: This phrase is a literal translation, suggesting that the person in question can be as dangerous as a beast capable of biting off a finger. However, here it is used metaphorically to imply that the person is capable of standing up for themselves or won't let any benefits slip past them. Unfortunately, I couldn't find an equivalent English expression that could also bear a suggestive connotation (which is essential for the context).