Outside, a pair of cold eyes was staring at the closed windows of Freon's home. He was looking from a window on the third floor of a building one street away. The distance between this building and Freon's home was significant enough to make it impossible to spy through ordinary means. That was why out of everyone spying on the Arcellius Family, he was the one furthest back. He could barely see their windows. Yet, that was irrelevant to him, since he was a Perception Realm Master! Perception Realm Master were standing near the zenith of the human world, only below the Sword King and Protector Avin. They were incredibly rare and famous, akin to feathers of a phoenix. Very few people could climb to this height, and throughout history, anyone who could were renown!
Previously, he used his powerful Martial Perception to read the expressions and lips of Freons and the others. That allowed him to 'hear' their conversation, despite the large distance. At the same time, this was the maximum distance he could stay without attracting Protector Avin's attention. Sadly, that was stopped with Protector Avin's perception cutting barrier. He pulled back his gaze, a gloomy expression forming under his cold mask. This mask was bizarre. It looked like it was crying. There were also two suns on it near the chin that created the impression of dusk falling. It was very unique and eye-catching. There was nothing like it.
Aside from that, this man wore plain clothing, which meant he could easily blend into the crowds without anyone noticing. Hiding in plain sight was often superior to sneaking in the shadows. That was the mark of a true expert! The other people observing the Arcellius Family did not understand that. They wore their uniforms in obvious places, severely underestimating the range of a Blue Depth Arcanist's perception. They were fools. They might as well shout their presence out. This man did not linger. After realizing his perception had been cut off, he decided to immediately withdraw. The risks in getting closer were too high. He needed to inform his partner of what happened. He quickly joined the busy streets below and like a puff of smoke, he vanished. Nobody could find him! Nobody, except for one man! Unbeknownst to him, Protector Avin turned his head, his eyes glinting with an ominous light.
Hours later, Shirley went home. She exhaled, somewhat exhausted with today's events. First, she had to accompany Elizabeth around Firecast and visit the Featherwind Sect. Next, there was Freon, the Ten Dawn exam, and the ensuing chaos. Her body was fine, except her mind was tired. It was exactly as Elizabeth said. They did not have many chances to settle down and relax. Thinking that, Shirley promised herself that tonight, she would bathe, relax, and fall asleep. She would not do anything else! That plan went up in smoke when she saw her two brothers.
"You're finally home! Mom said we couldn't eat until you came back," Robert, the younger boy, was upset. Since their mother recovered from her coma, she made it a rule to always have dinner together. It might have been her way of making up for lost time with her children.
"Did something happen?" Charles asked concernedly.
Shirley sighed. "You don't know the half of it." She unbuckled her Royal Guard cloak and threw it on a chair. Despite being a symbol of high prestige, made from expensive materials, she did not give it a second thought. "I want to bathe first. Is there any hot water?"
"We knew you'd ask, so we prepared some half an hour ago," Robert replied with a smile.
"Smart." Shirley grinned.
"Let me get it," Charles added.
"It's fine. I can do that myself. Tell mother to start cooking. I'll be down in a flash."
"Got it."
Shirley walked up the stairs with a fuzzy feeling. Times had changed. A few years ago, they were struggling to make ends meet on Lour Island. Their mother was comatose and required constant care. She needed medication and someone to change her clothes, feed her, and bathe her. In addition, Robert was in school, trying to become a physician. Charles and Shirley were fully supportive of their little brother's decision, since they did not go to school and this limited their employment options. But everything costed money, more money than they could realistically gain… So, Charles and Shirley took turns in taking care of their mother, while working odd jobs.
Income was scarce, which stretched their meals thin. Meat on Lour Island was a rarity. There were some grains and vegetables, but it was mostly seafood. Fish was nice, except it was not very filling. For a family of four, it was not enough. They had to skip many meals, often sleeping with rumbling stomachs. People who had regular meals would not understand the agony of sleeping, yet failing to, because of an empty stomach. The nonstop fatigue and drowsiness could drive people mad! Their situation was looking grimmer by the day. A person's energy needed to be replenished through food and rest. Without either, their conditions would rapidly deteriorate. Their bodies would grow weaker, their minds slower, and eventually they would die! Despite selling everything nonessential and cutting their costs to the extreme, it only delayed the inevitable. Shirley could not handle seeing her brothers and mother in this situation, so she made a gamble. She enlisted in the army! The army had a handsome enlistment bonus, an incentive for anyone who joined. It could give her brothers some breathing room, until they figured something out. As for her… the rest was history.
Compared to now, it was like the difference between heaven and earth! They had a large mansion, not a leaky house. They had warm beds with thick blankets, not hard straw beds with paper-thin sheets. They had full meals with meat and fish, even dessert, not cold grains and moldy vegetables. Their clothes were crisp and clean, smelling like a fresh spring day, not musky and crudely patched together. Even their mother fully recovered from her coma! Shirley could hardly believe everything that happened. It was like a dream come true. With a giddy smile and a skip in her step, she turned the corner to her room when she almost jumped out of her skin. Why? Because there was someone standing in front of her door! Her face quickly turned to rage though.
"Inari! How did you get in here? No, more importantly, where were you? My family hasn't heard from you in months! We thought you got into some trouble or died somewhere!" Shirley fumed.
Inari was her former neighbour from Lour Island, and her half-teacher. Half-teacher because he did not really teach her anything, aside from throwing her into the mountains to fend for herself. All she knew was that he was a Perception Realm, and evidently a strong one too.
"Haha. Sorry about that. It's hard to come by these days," Inari answered.
She glared at him. That wording was strange. "Whatever, I know you won't tell me. Look!" She showed off her uniform. "Aren't you surprised? I'm a Half-Perception Realm and a Royal Guard now! And I can use Martial Energy too. I'm probably stronger than you are now." The girl grinned mischievously.
"I hope so…" He closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened his eyes again, there was a sharp, almost blinding, coldness. This was the most serious Shirley had ever seen him. It made her slightly afraid. But when she heard his next words, she was stunned. "I'm here to warn you. Stay away from the Arcellius Family."
"What… You mean Freon and his family?"
"Yes, stay away from them, especially Lord Avin Arcellius. That man is planning something big in the near future, something big enough to swallow up the entire Zino Kingdom. Your family will be implicated as well."
"Stop!" Shirley urged with a hand raised. "You're going too fast! You need to explain. I don't understand anything."
"You don't have to. Just listen to me," he firmly stated.
"Freon and Nassandra are my friends though. Can't I do anything? I know! I can tell Elizabeth and the Zino Kingdom. Surely, they can stop Protector Avin!"
"You…" Inari growled.
For a brief instant, Shirley sensed a strong battle intent from him! It was not a killing intent, but still, she reflexively leapt back and reached for her weapon. She had no idea what Inari wanted to do. An instant later though, that battle intent faded, almost like it never existed to begin with.
Inari exhaled loudly. "The critical time hasn't come yet. I will be back later." He walked past her with absolute disregard for her battle stance. "If you don't want this comfortable life to disappear, then I suggest you listen to me." By the time she turned around, he was gone!