Kerina stared at me, a new and profound wave of doubt washing over her face. "Illusion..." she whispered, her eyes darting around the room as if questioning reality itself. "You've been deceiving everyone this whole time. How am I supposed to trust you? How do I even know the 'you' I'm talking to right now is even real?"
I was silent for a moment, considering her question. I couldn't prove it. There was no way to logically defeat that kind of paranoia. So, I offered a different solution.
"You don't have to trust me. But I will trust you. I give you my word that I will never use this power to harm you or Elina. I will be a loyal companion for our journey."
I saw the doubt still lingering in her eyes. I decided to offer the only other proof I could. "And if my word isn't enough, we can make it official. I can write up a contract, detailing the terms of my service and conduct. We can sign it in blood if that's what it takes."
She looked genuinely shocked by the offer, taken completely off guard by the sheer formality of it. "No! A contract... that's not necessary. I was just asking. There's no need for that."
Kerina let out a long sigh and sagged a little on the bed, her professional guard finally lowering.
"Alright, so... tell me more about your power then. What I thought I understood 'Duplication.' Now I know that was just the tip of the iceberg. Explain it to me. Properly this time."
"It's called 'Perfect Illusion', and it's not just visual. The illusions I create are tangible. They have a physical presence to everyone except me. They can interact with objects, and objects can interact with them."
I leaned forward. "And it can be applied to myself. That's how I was beside you in the bush. I can project an illusion of empty space over my own body, making myself effectively invisible."
Kerina listened to the full explanation, her eyes growing wider with each detail. When I finished, she was silent for a long moment, processing the sheer, unbelievable scope of it.
"So… can create a tangible, fighting decoy, and you can become completely invisible? Hayato... do you have any idea how completely broken that power is?"
I met her awestruck gaze for only a second. I had laid all my cards on the table, and the mental and emotional exhaustion of it was finally hitting me. I had nothing left to say.
With a deep sigh, I lay back down on the bed and turned over, my back facing her. The conversation was over.
"We should get some sleep," I said, my voice slightly muffled by the pillow. "We need to go back to the capital tomorrow."
Kerina was silent for a long moment, left staring at my back. I could feel her processing everything the lies, the truth, the impossible power I possessed. Finally, I heard the soft creak of her own bed as she lay down, the room falling into a heavy, thoughtful silence.
***
The next morning, we were in front of the inn, the powerful warhorse saddled and ready. The mood between us was quiet, the weight of last night's conversation still hanging in the air.
Just as we were about to mount, the village chief hurried over, carrying a heavy sack and a large, tusked object.
"Lady Kerina, Hayato. A few things for the road, " he said, his face beaming with gratitude.
He handed Kerina a large, cloth-wrapped bundle. "Smoked Orc ribs. A rare thing, but good, hearty food for your journey." Then, he presented the other object, gnarled horn that had adorned the chieftain's helmet. "And this. I know the Guild requires proof of subjugation to finalize a quest. This should be more than enough."
Kerina took the items with a respectful nod. "Thank you, Chief. This is very generous. We will report the completion of the quest as soon as we arrive in the capital."
Kerina secured the proof of kill in a saddlebag, gave the chief a final nod, and swung herself onto the horse. I followed, climbing up behind her with a clumsy effort that was only slightly more graceful than my last attempt.
With a word from Kerina, the horse turned and began the long ride back towards the capital, leaving the cheering village of Brighthill behind us.
We rode in a new kind of silence for a long time, the revelations of the previous night hanging between us. It was Kerina who finally broke it, her voice thoughtful and directed over her shoulder.
"So, I'm still curious about that incident with Reyn. How did that happen, exactly? Didn't he say he saw you appear out of nowhere in the middle of the day?"
"Yeah, something like that," I replied.
***
By late afternoon, the imposing gates of the capital city, Eldoria, were once again in sight. We rode directly to the Adventurer's Guild, dismounted, and walked back into the bustling main hall.
Kerina strode straight to the reception desk, slapping the quest parchment down on the counter, she placed the chieftain's massive, gnarled horn beside it.
The young woman at the counter looked at the proof of kill, her eyes wide with admiration. "Lady Kerina! Another chieftain's horn? The Brighthill war band, already? Did you defeat them all by yourself?"
Kerina shook her head. "No. It wasn't me. I just watched."
She gestured with her thumb over to me. I was standing quietly at her side.
"He's the one, Hayato eliminated the entire Orc war band," Kerina stated
The receptionist stared at me, her eyes wide with disbelief, then she looked at Kerina as if searching for a sign that this was some kind of joke. I stepped forward to stand beside Kerina at the counter, my expression neutral.
A long, awkward silence descended over our corner of the Guild hall. The receptionist looked from the massive Orc horn, to Kerina's serious face, and back again, completely at a loss for words.
The silence stretched for what felt like five minutes. Finally, Kerina, growing impatient, gave me a sharp nudge in the ribs with her elbow.
"Hayato," she said, her voice cutting through the tension. "Your Guild Card. Give it to her so she can process the quest completion and your rank up."
I took the metallic card from my pocket and placed it on the counter. The receptionist picked it up gingerly, her eyes still filled with a professional sort of confusion.
"F-Rank..." she murmured, reading the initial status. She looked at the Orc horn, then back at the card. "The subjugation of an Orc war band is a B-Rank accomplishment. A completion of this level makes you eligible for an immediate promotion. Do you wish to be promoted directly to B-Rank, or would you prefer to start at C-Rank?"
I thought for a moment. Jumping straight to B-Rank would bring higher pay, but also much higher scrutiny. It's too much attention, too soon. C-Rank is a more stable entry point. It's the more logical, low-risk path.
"I'll take C-Rank," I said.
"Very well," the receptionist nodded, accepting my decision. She placed her hand over my Guild Card, and a soft blue light began to emanate from her palm as she prepared to channel her mana to update the rank.
Suddenly, the light sputtered and died. She pulled her hand back as if shocked, her eyes wide. She stared at the card, then up at me, her expression now one of complete and utter bewilderment.
"This signature..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why... why does your Guild Card have the Guild Master's personal mana signature on it?"
Kerina stepped forward, her shadow falling over the reception desk. She looked at the flustered receptionist with a cool, slightly condescending expression.
"You weren't aware?" Kerina asked, her tone implying the receptionist was the one missing a key piece of information.
The young woman, intimidated, could only shake her head.
"Then don't ask about it. The reason for the Master's signature on his card is a personal matter. Just do your job. Update the rank to C."
The receptionist flinched at the sharp command. She nodded quickly, her eyes cast down, refusing to look at me. With trembling hands, she picked up my Guild Card and, without another word, pressed her hand against it. This time, the blue light of her mana successfully overlaid the faint golden glow of the Master's signature, and a new symbol, the mark of C-Rank, was etched onto its surface.
To Be Continued.