The academy no longer smelled of smoke. That unsettled Angus more than the explosion itself. The courtyard had been restored too quickly. Broken stone was already cleared and scorch marks were washed away. Mana-stitching spells was quietly repairing what had been shattered. By the time he arrived, the place looked almost peaceful. It was too peaceful amidst
the recent incident. Before he reached the restricted section, staff members began appearing as if pulled by invisible strings.
"Master Angus!"
"We are honored by your presence."
"We are grateful you came personally."
Their smiles were wide, their bows were slightly too deep, and their admiration was unmistakable. Strength always attracted attention. In a place like this where talent was currency and power meant survival, men like him were idols. Only a handful of teachers greeted him without eagerness. Those with comparable magic did not need to worship him. Angus preferred them. He did not come here for admiration. He came for answers.
When he stepped into the sealed perimeter, he released his senses. The air trembled faintly around him as invisible waves of perception expanded outward. Mana residue was like scent to him. It was imperfect but
revealing. The explosion had not been wild. It had been structured. It was a violent bloom but layered. The pressure had spiraled inward before detonating outward. That creation required control. He crouched and placed his hand inches above the cracked ground. Residual energy pulsed faintly beneath the surface.
"This would have killed them…" he murmured.
Such explosion wouldn't injure the victims. It would kill the victims, completely decimating people into ashes. Students of this academy,
even the talented ones, would have been erased. Yet, Alicia survived because Baston stood in front of her. That detail did not sit comfortably in Angus's mind.
On the way here, Alicia had explained that Baston blocked the impact. The word refused to settle inside his heart. Such simple poor fat boy couldn't have such ability. He replayed Alicia's words carefully. She had not seen clearly since the flash blinded her. After that, the pressure came and Baston stepped forward. In the end, everything vanished. In the end, he
remained unscathed.
Even with a noble family's protective artifact, Alicia had felt the shockwave. So, how could Baston felt nothing in the end? Angus
straightened slowly.
"Did he block it with his own magic…" he wondered, "Or did he possess a defensive item?"
There was a third possibility but he did not voice it. Such thing was too shocking to happen in this simple Prius Academy.
*****
Angus visited Alicia immediately after inspecting the site. Her dormitory was refined despite academy limitations. Polished furniture, soft lamplight, and curtains drawn precisely. The atmosphere was very good and disciplined. Two knights stood behind her. They were silent and observant. Angus appreciated that.
"Tell me everything again," he said.
Alicia nodded and began. From the moment she noticed Baston behaving strangely, from the decision to follow him, from the underground room, and from the clown-faced man. Angus listened without interruption.
"He wore a mask," Alicia said carefully. "White with a painted smile."
"A clown mask?" Angus asked.
"Yes, but the expression felt unnatural."
"How so?"
"It was smiling too widely as if carved."
The knight to her right stepped forward slightly, "We did not detect him until he revealed himself, Master Angus."
That sentence troubled him. Even skilled concealment left traces. The fact that the two knights couldn't spot the clown signified that he was in different realm.
"The mana around him felt layered," the second knight added, "Like overlapping veils."
Layered concealment already displayed his skill. That was not beginner work.
"And he threatened you?"
"With a bomb," Alicia replied quietly, "He called it a game."
Her tone tightened slightly.
"We did not act hastily," the first knight said. "Since he held control, we couldn't act rashly."
"I signaled for help only when his attention shifted," the second knight admitted, "Had he not been distracted, we might not have
escaped."
"And, when I arrived?" Angus asked.
"He disappeared," Alicia said.
"Instantly?"
"Yes."
Angus walked toward the window.
"I had already concealed my presence," he said softly.
Very few in this kingdom could sense him before he allowed it. If the masked intruder sensed him, it meant one thing. Either he was stronger or he had been observing from somewhere beyond conventional detection.
Both possibilities were unacceptable.
What Angus did not know was that the puppet had not sensed him. It was just merely a coincidence. Baston who thought everything was over, dismissed it too quickly. That single mistake reshaped Angus's evaluation. When the recounting ended, Angus did not speak for several moments. His thoughts were not fixed on the clown. He circled Baston on his mind. The boy was poor, slightly plump, often bullied, and very unremarkable. Yet, the boy repeatedly
positioned himself at the center of irregular events.
The first time they met, Baston had not trembled. Children usually did and adults were careful. His status and strength already showed indifference toward everyone. But still, Baston had spoken normally. Not
arrogantly and not deferentially but simply without fear. Was that ignorance? Was that confidence or indifference?
"Summon him," Angus said at last.
Alicia nodded but she hesitated. The matter of the cult was still a secret. She didn't wish to complicate the situation.
"Uncle… Please do not misunderstand him."
Angus turned toward her. That was not political caution. That was her personal request. Such thing came from her was quite interesting.
*****
Baston returned to his underground dormitory long after sunset. The air was damp and cool and the narrow stone walls absorbed sound. His room had always felt like a grave with a door.
Tonight, the room felt smaller. He wanted sleep instead, the old book trembled. It did not shake violently, just a faint vibration against the wooden desk. Baston sighed and he already knew. With no other choice, he opened it.
The final page shimmered faintly. Ink formed slowly as if written by invisible fingers.
"Convince someone to make you less suspicious while being investigated…"
He stared at the words for a long time. He did not need to guess who. The order should point to Angus. The timing was precise and the old book never gave easy tasks. This time, he must convince. It shouldn't be deceiving. It also shouldn't be a silence. He had to convince his target. That thing implied sustained belief. This would not be a single sentence solution.
He leaned back against the cold wall. If Angus asked about the explosion, he could redirect. If Angus asked about the cult, he didn't know what he should do. He stopped that thought immediately. Fortunately, Alicia had not mentioned it.
But Angus was not foolish. He would test boundaries. Ask seemingly unrelated questions and observing his reactions. Baston felt cornered already. Three knocks suddenly echoed against his door. It was measured and calm knock. He soon froze, thinking if it was Angus. The quest had appeared at the same time the man arrived at the academy. It had to be him. He inhaled slowly and opened the door. Thankfully, it was Alicia. Relief flashed across his face
for half a second before he controlled it.
"My uncle wishes to meet you," she said. "Can you come with me?"
He did not want to. Everything inside him screamed no. But refusal would look suspicious. Besides, there was a quest he needed to complete. Once again, his fate had been decided.
"How about tomorrow morning?" he replied evenly, "It is already late at the moment."
Alicia considered it, "That is reasonable. I will inform him."
She paused before leaving, "He may ask about today's event. You do not need to mention the cult. I did not tell him."
That piece of information eased his mind slightly. It was good. At least, one problem had been avoided. After she left, Baston closed the door slowly. If Angus did not know about the cult, that topic remained sealed. But the explosion itself was still dangerous territory. He had created the cult narrative himself. If Angus pressed for a name, how he could explain the matter? He would be exposed instantly. No, he must avoid answering directly.
If Angus asked, he should not merely respond. He must redirect and take control of the direction. But clearly, how he could do it? Angus's presence alone was oppressive. Standing in front of him felt like standing
beneath a mountain.
*****
The evening bell rang. Baston forced himself to eat. On the way to the small restaurant, he began noticing something unusual. It was whispers. Many eyes had been following him and conversations was abruptly stopping as
long as he passes by. He slowed his pace and listened carefully.
"Did you hear? Alicia went to his room."
"What? Why?"
"Maybe he blackmailed her."
"That fat guy?"
"Or maybe she's using him."
"Fake boyfriend during vacation, perhaps."
"I'm more handsome than him!"
"And slimmer!"
Laughter happened and exaggeration commenced. Rumors spread like mold in damp stone corridors. The class beauty was visiting a poor boy's room personally? It was impossible without scandal. Since they could not believe romance, they invented schemes.
Baston felt a chill. This could escalate. Jealous students were unpredictable. He quickened his pace and slipped into the restaurant. For now, it was better to disappear from their sights.
*****
Elsewhere, Panto leaned against a pillar, listening to similar whispers. He frowned. Romance between Alicia and Baston? It was ridiculous. He knew the connection between them only was related to the cult. It was just
an information exchange and nothing more. But sometimes, perception mattered more than truth. If noble suitors heard these rumors, Baston would be in danger. If merchant heirs reacted, Panto could intervene. If nobles reacted, that was beyond him.
"What should I do…" he muttered.
He needed to observe first and intervene later. That was safest. At least, he believed so.
*****
Back in his underground room, Baston shut the door firmly. Tomorrow's meeting loomed like execution. If Angus pressed him directly, he would struggle to maintain composure. Then he remembered something. He had the puppet. It lacked expressions, did not sweat, and did not tremble. If the puppet spoke instead, no fear would be visible. Still, he had to erase his existence. In this world, there must not be two of him. Once Angus found something strange, the matter would be very complicated to solve.
He stared at the old book. An idea formed even though it was risky. He placed his finger against the final page, focusing on one thought. He had to hide, he must go hiding inside. The surface of the parchment felt
strangely soft. His fingertip soon sank slightly. He jerked back before slowly pressing again.
This time, his finger entered like dipping into water. His heartbeat quickened but he pushed further. It started from his hand, arm, and shoulder. His body was drawn inward, not pulled but accepted. Within seconds, he was submerged. The darkness embraced him fully before his awareness woke him up.
He could see the room from the book's perspective. He could not move. He tried to speak but nothing came out. His body was suspended inside the pages. He didn't know whether this was a prison or sanctuary. He ordered the puppet mentally. The then puppet moved and picked up the book. His field of vision shifted as it turned. He could see. He could observe. He just could not
act directly. A slow smile spread across his real face though no one could see it.
"If I hide inside the book…" he whispered internally, "And let the puppet handle the meeting…"
It had no expressions, no heartbeat fluctuations, and no fear. Angus would interrogate a wooden mask. This could work but there were risks. If the puppet were destroyed while he was inside, what would happen? He did not know. If someone separated him from the old book, he would emerge wherever it rested. It was quite dangerous.
He returned to his body cautiously, emerging from the page placed him beside the desk. His experiment was good. The exit point had been confirmed. He exhaled slowly.
"This might be enough..."
Tomorrow would determine everything. He closed the old book carefully. Outside, the academy slept. Inside, suspicion grew. And somewhere within the shadows of restored stone and whispered rumor, a game had just begun. It was a game full of statements with some doubts. In this game, the one who
controlled suspicion would survive.