Chapter 74: Arsenal
As usual, Cillian didn’t get any useful information about Arthur on his first day. He listened carefully, analyzed Arthur’s words, and realized that his background was pretty much that of a normal worker, well, albeit an influential one at that.
Though Cillian discovered that the people from the Academy who needed counseling all came to Arthur directly. Fred, the heir of the Menestin Family, was also being counseled by him, but they were on different schedules and would not meet during any of those sessions. Fred also seems to also does private sessions most of the time.
’There’s also Melissa, Kash, Ivy, and Willow. Talk about having the same therapist. Does that mean I’ll be able to meet them?’
Cillian mused inwardly before he was distracted by Arthur, who noticed his unfocused eyes.
"Cillian?"
"Oh... sorry, I was thinking about something."
"Thinking about how my life turned out successful? As I said, I’m not bragging."
"No, no. It’s not that. Really. I was just distracted by how hard you’ve worked to be able to become what you are now."
Arthur smiled and was embarrassed to be complimented by a kid twenty years younger than him, but he accepted it without sensing any envy in Cillian’s voice.
Arthur glanced at the clock, saw it was six, then stood up and spoke calmly to Cillian.
"Our first session had taken too long. I’ve really enjoyed talking with you, kid. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow."
Cillian smiled and extended his hand. This action surprised Arthur, which made him tilt his head and ask.
"Shake hands?"
Cillian nodded once.
"Likewise, sir. I’m also really glad to be able to talk with you."
Arthur didn’t know what to reply as he chuckled lightly before receiving the handshake coming from Cillian.
"Likewise, kid."
Cillian released the handshake between them as he turned before muttering something under his breath.
"Flag Mark."
He then left the consultation room.
...
Cillian was riding home with his sister, Ella. Due to heavy traffic caused by a rally, their journey back home would probably take a few more minutes before they reached the streets where their house is located.
Inside the quiet carriage, Cillian strikes up a conversation with Ella.
"Ella, how famous is Arthur, my therapist. If he’s that famous, shouldn’t he aim for something like being an instructor for the Sorcery Academy?"
It was everyone’s dream job to be part of the Academy’s staff, well, that was until recently, when one of the seven academies was destroyed. But before that, everyone strives for it because of the benefits bestowed just by being one.
So why wasn’t a famous therapist who seems fitted to become part of any academy, like the psychiatrist position, given a job? Did he have a few connections to enter, like what Bard heavily possessed? Or was he just not suited for the job?
Since they are a family of informants who work like dogs, they definitely had some information about him.
"I don’t know. I wasn’t partaking in any family business yet because I’m still too young to be doing these kinds of jobs."
"..."
Cillian thought he would be left disappointed, but Ella revealed information known to the public that he was unaware of.
"There was a rumor that he was being invited, but he declined because he wanted to help people. Usual reasons. Oh, right. There was a famous accident he was involved in related to a Runic Gate appearance from the neighboring family territory, the Xesie Family, who heavily supported this guild to take care of it.
"However, this guild filled with Ruiners was almost wiped out in an attempt to clear a gate, but Arthur, the support of this group, only managed to leave this place. We don’t know what exactly happened inside because Arthur chose the destroy option for the gate, but what the public know he was left devastated. This happened twenty years ago, and this became his reason why he wanted to help people in need who suffered mentally like him.
’The Xesie Family and the guild Arthur is part of, huh. So, he’s a Ruiner.’
Cillian was already suspicious that Arthur was a Ruiner since he didn’t look like someone who just talks with his client and is like hurrah, done.
But why does Ella or the public think he’s not a Ruiner?
"He didn’t announce he’s a Ruiner?"
"Why would you think he’s a Ruiner?"
’Uhm, because the story aligns itself? Who wouldn’t think he’s not a Ruiner when he entered a Runic Gate, even if he’s a support?’
Did the world suddenly become dumb?
But then it clicked for him.
A family, one of the powerhouses in this world, was involved in that accident. They probably hid important information and only released what could be made public.
’So there’s some grand scheme behind these things? How come that’s the only thing staining Arthur’s near-perfect reputation? Shouldn’t they just try to hide as much information from the public?’
For some reason, Cillian found something he had taken an interest in.
The Shepherds’ bastards will be very hard to track due to the recent accident. If the sheeps are the kind of group who expose themselves in public, they would’ve already been an infamous evil group that every family needs to get rid of.
But they hid themselves quite well.
Unless there’s some information he could use, bringing down that organization will come at a later date.
Right now, Cillian was interested in revealing who Arthur is.
’But I can’t just do something crazy like this when I’m pathetically weak. The difference between those who have been in this field for years is far too wide compared to people in my grade. I have to excel much more. That’s why I’ll have to use this break from the Academy to sharpen my weapons.’
Cillian’s main arsenal consists of his four basic-type spells and Faceless. His system, on the other hand, is currently on the utility-focused side, as it has no direct effect when fighting opponents. Still, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a great ability.
There were also three artifacts he could use in a fight.
There were Mouthful Eye and three more artifacts stored in his Inventory.
[Inventory: 4/10]
[Name: Death Coin
Description: A black coin with a skull engraved on it, with an open door on its tail.
Active Ability: Once an hour, the coin can be flipped. If heads, gain a stroke of luck. If tails, nothing happens. During that hour, the coin turned heads, and luck might or might not increase. The luck granted is never enough to guarantee success, but it tilts events in the user’s favor.
Negative Effect: Whenever the coin lands on heads, the luck demands payment. The user will encounter minor inconveniences for the next twenty-four hours. An inconvenience can potentially become a Death Flag.]
[Name: Obituary Page
Description: A torn page from a mysterious book.
Active Ability: Once per day, it reveals one sentence from a possible future obituary. The obituary page only works at Death Flags.
Negative Effect: After reading the sentence, the user cannot stop recalling it. For the next hour, the sentence occasionally appeared in their thoughts, making concentration difficult.]
[Name: You’re Blind So What?
Description: A short wand made out of a Fragmented Piece, covered in tiny cracks as if on the verge of breaking.
Active Ability: Blinds the target with darkness for a few seconds.
Negative Effects: After use, the user’s peripheral vision narrows temporarily, making it easier to miss threats approaching from the sides.]
Watching his current kit, a small smile played on Cillian’s lips.
He was wondering how he was able to utilize them in a fight.
Comments