Chapter 628 - Kenah

The loop resets, and just a few minutes later, it resets again.

It then repeats ten times in a row before we finally stay in one loop for longer than a few minutes. Even then, while already separated, we expect yet another reset.

Only after a full day passes does everyone start to believe it will actually continue.

It’s around that time Sophie tells us one of the students she’s been teaching is missing. A human boy. She says he was fairly average, but she had been observing him because she suspected that he was paying too much attention to her.

During careful probing, she does, everyone acts like that human boy never existed.

Sophie remembers him clearly, his face, his seat in the classroom, the way he always seemed to be watching her a little too closely, as if he knew something. She doesn’t know what exactly caught her attention, only that it was enough to keep an eye on him. But when she tries to bring it up in front of the others in a way that wouldn't look suspicious, no one else recalls a thing.

His classmates don’t recognize the name. The staff says she must be mistaken. There are no records, no assignments with his name.

There are a few possibilities. One is that he was a “bug,” similar to how Ari thinks we are, but in that case, he wouldn’t have shown interest in Sophie. The second option, which is more likely, is that he was a Candidate. Desperately hiding, doing his best to improve his abilities while searching for the other Candidates.

Now he’s dead. Possibly killed by Ari, one of the Examiners, or another Candidate.

In our group 4, there’s more panic now, about the Candidate dying, the possibility of the quest failing.

There’s also something that’s been bothering me about that crazy thylarin girl. After thinking on it for the first day of this loop, I come to the conclusion Ari has been lying to me about certain thing. I also think I know what she was lying about.

So the plan changes. Tess and I are free to move around, while the rest of group 4 decides to stick together as much as possible, only doing the bare minimum to avoid being kicked out of the Academy. Consequences be damned. The goal now is to lure out the Examiners or the Candidates.

In the end, Lily manages to get Tess’s permission to move on her own as well. I’m honestly surprised by that decision. Sure, Lily is a near-unkillable terminator, but I know how protective Tess can be.

As for me, I get a new skill.

Congratulations, you have successfully combined [Mana Domain], [Perception], and [Ley Line]!

A new skill has been created.

You have acquired [Foundation]

[Foundation - Lvl 0 > Foundation - Lvl 4]

So far, this is likely the best one. Somehow, even compared to my very first combination. The low starting level confirms it - if that's how it works.

Now I create an orb and...

Oh, I haven't used [Mana Manipulation] in this combination.

Anyway, suck it, system.

I have to teach Biscuit to keep saying that as well.

***

I spent the beginning of the loop north of the Academy, staying in a small village and moving from inn to inn while mapping the area.

Now I sit inside a cozy inn, sipping a nicely chilled drink and biting into small cubes of smoked and crispy cheese, fruit, meat, and who knows what else. This is already my second bowl, and I’ll make sure to get another one after I’m done.

A big part of my mind is occupied with the torture of visualizing impossible shapes and trying to imagine mana flowing through them.

One day, I’ll find the guy responsible for this training idea and maybe force him to do the same exercises as punishment.

The second part of my mind keeps analyzing my new skill, growing more excited by the hour. It’s not purely combat-oriented, but it’s potentially very, very useful. Especially for longer-lasting webs, arrays, mental constructs, and durable projectiles. More interestingly, it seems to affect other skills too. [Mana Crown], [Eclipse], [Knitting], [Empyrean Lance], these four in particular.

With [Mana Crown], I have a feeling it becomes more stable if it’s created while the new skill is activated as well. The difference is tiny, but the new skill is still low level, so I would expect bigger improvement later.

With [Eclipse], the connection is obvious. It’s a domain sort of skill, and [Foundation] strengthens the base, and makes the domain more... present? Powerful? It is hard to put it into words. Even now, I think [Eclipse] is one of my top two or three most powerful skills. The fact that [Foundation] can affect it says enough about the skill´s potential.

I suspect more skills are affected too, but there’s a lot of testing to do before I will be sure of that.

So far, this is my favorite. Even though [Ur Line] feels extremely powerful, too.

Lastly, the third part of my mind is carefully watching the strange duo sitting a few tables ahead of me. A selari man and a young human girl.

They sit alone, talking quietly while eating the same thing I’m eating. Actually, I asked the waitress to bring me whatever they were having. I have to say, a Champion knows how to enjoy life.

The ten-year-old prodigy of a girl next to him seems calm. Far more than when I last met her. I know people say I have a punchable face or expression, but when the last time she nearly attacked me just from seeing me, it... it hurt a little. My face can’t be that bad, right?

A few times, when she glances around the room like a nervous animal, she notices me, but shows no reaction this time.

It would be silly to take it as her not recognizing me and it as proof she isn’t a Candidate, but considering everything, it seems more likely.

“Can I help you?” a quiet voice asks beside me.

I turn to my left. A Champion is sitting there. When I look forward again, I see him still at the table with the girl, continuing his conversation.

I glance back to my left, and he sits there. I glance ahead, and he is there.

“He might be a spy, Master,” another voice says from my right. Turning, I see the ten-year-old girl.

I glance ahead, and she is there with the Champion. I glance back to my right, and she sits there.

She reaches into my bowl to take a cubical piece of airy and crispy cheese, but I react fast, grab it just before she can, and throw it into my mouth.

When I bite down, the airy cube crumbles with a satisfying crunch. The taste hits me again. Amazing.

At first, she doesn’t react. Then her mana rises quickly, and I see anger flash in her eyes.

The next second, it vanishes. Like someone hit pause on the song. All gone without a trace.

“Kenah…” the selari man says in a gentle tone.

To that, the girl doesn’t say anything. She just looks down at her hands. More than anything, she doesn’t seem angry at him, but very ashamed.

I glance forward and see the table with the two of them still sitting there. The second selari man and the little maniac continue their quiet conversation while sharing food. It doesn’t matter what I do, I have no idea which ones are real. The ones next to me, or the ones sitting a few tables ahead.

“You’re Champion Dion, right? I’m a big fan! Sorry if I couldn’t take my eyes off you,” I say, turning to my left and forcing a smile.

“He is lying…” the girl whispers.

“Kenah, my stubborn ray of morning sun, the only child I know who thinks a compliment is a tactical weakness, I know. Can you tell me how you noticed it?” the Champion asks her, ignoring me completely.

“After I noticed him watching me, I made a wide-range scan and found traces of his mana in the air at the edge of the village. I scanned further and figured out he likely flew in and only arrived here a few hours ago. His mana touches were near every other inn too, but very faint, like he didn’t stay long. He likely only stayed in this one because of us.”

“Very good. Now, a question. Do you think he noticed your wide-range detection?”

Kenah hesitates, looking at me and then back at the Champion. “Probably yes?”

"I noticed," I confirm.

"See, Kenah, he noticed. What does that mean?"

"T-that my detection isn’t as good as it could be?"

"That too, but the question is why would he stay here, knowing you have noticed?"

"Maybe he gave up after we found out? It’s impossible to escape from you, Master, even if he had an hour or two head start."

"Kenah, my dear, my poor heart hurts from such downplay of my abilities! I know my skills aren’t as sharp as they used to be during the war, but I should still be able to track him even with a whiff of his mana, whenever he’s on this planet, even weeks later."

"I’m sorry, Master." Kenah once again looks down at her hands and fumbles with her fingers.

"It’s okay, dear Kenah. Now, what else have you noticed about this man?" he asks her.

The entire time, neither bothers to try to include me in the conversation.

"I..." Kenah hesitates and looks at me. In her eyes, there is a hint of desperation as they flick around.

Out of the Champion’s view, I touch the cloth of my suit and shake it slightly, which catches Kenah’s attention, and she glances at it.

Her eyes light up. "He is wearing the Assistant Professor uniform from the Academy! He must be from there!"

"Very good. But must be?"

"He... maybe isn’t?"

"Uniforms, clothes, suits, these can be stolen or imitated, even if organizations make it difficult to replicate them. That kind of disinformation can be a very useful tool, Kenah. Imagine how easy it would be for someone to steal such clothing, commit terrible acts, and have suspicion fall immediately on an innocent organization, nation, or group."

"Ohhh, I see!"

"Yes. Anything else?"

In response, Kenah looks at me again. This time, she starts by looking at my face, her expression desperate, as if silently asking for help again. Likely unknowingly, her mana flares up again, but as before, the Champion disperses it, probably without Kenah even noticing.

"Can I order more food?" I turn to my left and ask the Champion.

"Please."

I do as told, and when the server leaves, Kenah says excitedly, "He doesn’t seem nervous at all!"

"Really?"

“Yes, Master! They usually bow and look nervous, and then they start saying all these things about how powerful and amazing you are. You remember that uncle from last time? He soiled himself when you got a bit angry!"

"Kenah, my dear, my brave little ember, the sun of my days, my newest disciple, my precious little flower who spent her childhood fighting instead of being a child, the man’s dignity should be preserved at least a little. Things like that should be forgotten and never mentioned out loud."

"But I didn’t lie. You told me not to lie."

Another bowl with crispy cheese, pieces of bread, and a mix of fruits and nuts arrives. I take a few cheese cubes into my mouth before picking up a bowl and offering it to Kenah, who absentmindedly takes a few while looking at her master.

Meanwhile, the selari Champion sighs. "Kenah, not saying it out loud isn’t lying. You must have noticed by now that my behavior is usually very different when we are with other people, and even more so when I address more people or people around my rank. You are the light that warms up my old bones, but damn, are you socially inept. That’s why I think the Academy will help you."

"Just being with you is enough for me." The little girl looks at her hands in silence.

"I won’t be here forever for you, Kenah, so you will have to find other people to stay with, okay? As for you, our dear little spy, terrible at your job, I’m thankful for your cooperation and for your patience."

He turns to me with a friendly smile, and stands up with Kenah following him. Only for a moment does she glance back with the tiniest thankful nod.

After that, I’m left alone.

I know he is a Champion and likely used to people spying on him. Hell, even Lissandra had Ruby with her, someone who was sent as a spy but later became her disciple.

Still, it’s frustrating and amusing at the same time how little he acknowledged me, not seeing me as a danger at all.

***

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