Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Sitting Next To Her
Chapter 244 – Sitting Next To Her
"How did you improve so much in one night?" Mallory asked in a slightly surprised tone, watching Cassius move far more easily than yesterday.
She could feel deep inside her that by the end of today’s training, her disciple would be able to walk with the exact same step.
All that would be left was to extend his senses outward and anticipate the traps...and he would have succeeded in 70% of his training already.
That realization sparked a fire of both excitement and surprise inside her, making her gawk at Cassius the way a dragon gawks at her first child taking its first flight through the sky.
’Adaptation...how strong is this? No...that’s not the real question here.’ She struggled to control her splitting smile, ’...what is this little bastard’s limit?’
Mallory couldn’t see one. It was true that Adaptation certainly had limits, and sometimes it could fail.
But as soon as Cassius had the will and the perseverance to be more stubborn than anything or anyone, his potential was indeed far beyond anyone’s.
Not even Emrys Stormblessed’s.
Because Cassius was the kind of person who became stronger and scarier the longer he lived and experienced things.
A possible future, Mallory knew. But one that required the little bastard to stay alive long enough to see it.
And from what she had witnessed of him, it would be a miracle if Cassius lived past 30.
Because he was far too blessed.
And the world never blessed anyone this much without putting them through trials that could break the mind of anyone.
That, she knew very well.
Mallory Octavia sighed under her breath and watched as Cassius stopped in his tracks, turning his head to look at her.
"Did you say something, master?"
"I asked how you improved so much in one night." She repeated, "Your Innate has helped you, no doubt. But not only that, I’m sure."
"Ah." Cassius smiled faintly, looking at his steps, "but I did nothing but dance last night. Don’t laugh at me."
"What about the reason you needed your power for?"
"You’re asking, master, but I already know you’re aware of what happened. Did you spy on me?"
Mallory coughed suddenly, her eyes narrowing irritably at her disciple, "What need do I have to spy on you? And even if I did, so what? My life depends on yours, little bastard."
"But the Academy is safe, isn’t it?"
Cassius knew perfectly well it wasn’t. No damned Academy was safe.
But his question served another purpose.
And indeed...
"Safe?" She gritted her teeth in sudden, deep anger, "it was supposed to be, but lately things have begun to change, for reasons I still don’t understand."
’And you call yourself the Dean...’
"...change? What kind of change?" He fished for information.
And since Mallory believed that Cassius knowing would help him stay mindful and thus protect his life, she answered truthfully.
"The Crimson Daggers have been strangely active since the Entrance Test." She said, crossing her arms over her chest, "They’re pulling strings together. Something potentially dangerous."
"We have no information about their goals?"
"The only thing I know is a date: the 3rd of March. And the second thing is something I still don’t fully grasp." She arched an eyebrow, "They’re searching for those worthy of the White Bone of Red Moon."
Instantly Cassius’s mind reeled, his heart skipping a beat.
Mallory continued without noticing.
"Only those deemed worthy can attempt the Ritual Test of Red Moon." She looked at Cassius, "I have lived long, but I have no idea what that is. But anything related to ritual is potentially deeply dangerous. I’d advise you stay alert."
Cassius was nodding, but he wasn’t quite listening.
The moment his master said White Bone of Red Moon, his mind went straight back to the Royal Event.
He had managed to kill a Tier 5 Child of the Red Moon as a Mortal at that time, obtaining the Salt that made his blood poisonous...and a Cracked White Bone.
One whose use even the system itself didn’t know.
’Is...that it? Is that White Bone the same White Bone here? The one used to participate in the Ritual Test of Red Moon? What even is that test?’
Cassius painfully realized he had now reached a point in the game where a great deal of knowledge eluded him.
Because of that, it had become far harder to act and anticipate certain things. Still, he had prepared enough to tackle these problems with as little struggle as possible.
’Later. I’ll need more information about the Red Moon these fanatics worship and why this test is conducted. What if I compete? Should I go, if I’m indeed right? Is that even possible now? And the date...the 3rd of March...what does it mark? The date of the Test itself?’
Many questions, few answers.
"I see." He said, nodding, "I’ll keep that in mind."
He fell silent for a moment before speaking again, this time holding up his Ouroboros Ring for his master to see.
"Also, I think I’ll need your help here, master." He tried a coaxing smile, "Do you happen to have a beast particularly strong in perception? One with a high bloodline."
Mallory arched an eyebrow, "For what?"
"I have someone to feed." He said, "and she’s quite picky."
Minutes later, Mallory finally understood what the ring on Cassius’s finger actually meant, and for the first time ever, Cassius saw her utterly unable to hide her shock.
She whispered "impossible" over and over, as if unable to believe that life could be given to soulless objects.
That was when Cassius realized that his master walked the Path of the Architect — like any respectable Dragon, she’d said as much — and realized instantly what showing her the ring truly meant.
...it made her grasp the true ceiling of the Path.
And only then did she understand that her late father had been right all along when he said that the Path of the Architect was the Path of the Creator.
With that, another dreadful yet deeply important question surfaced in her mind.
"Just...just who could create a Path like this?" She muttered, looking at the ring in awe, "Who under the heavens could be so talented as to give real life through an object?"
Cassius said nothing, but inside his heart, the answer rang loud and clear.
’Albert Desdemona the Great, master. The 12th ancestor of the Desdemona.’
The more he learned about his family, the more Cassius began to understand why the gods hated them.
Because if one of his ancestors had slaughtered a dragon and created a Refining Process for dragons,
another had created the Path of the Creator.
What had the others done?
What kind of nonsense had they achieved in their lifetimes?
He didn’t know. But one thing was certain:
’Even I am afraid of my own family.’
And to think...the two of them had given him their most cherished accomplishments.
They had given him everything they’d worked so hard for, without him breaking a single sweat to deserve it.
So he must not shame them.
His eyes hardened, and he turned his attention back to his master. He...
"Do you have that type of beast, master?"
...must use those legacies to the best of his abilities.
"I do." She smiled widely, her heart pounding with excitement at the boundless future of the Path she had chosen, "I do, Cassius."
...
Mallory had been right.
By the end of the training session, Cassius closed the First Snake Loop. Now he could walk while making the exact same steps every time.
That shift in understanding, inside both his mind and body, completely changed how he used his own body.
Now Cassius had a micro-ability to control the very strength and texture of his body.
He could step fast and light, or strong and impactful, depending on the floor. That change spread to everything else in him.
Even his essence; Cassius could now manipulate it better, coating his whole body with the exact same amount of essence everywhere, without a single imbalance.
It sounded simple.
But that level of mastery was rare in itself.
All that remained was his ability to anticipate traps. And Cassius knew he’d succeed within two or three more sessions.
It was with those improvements that Cassius Desdemona went to his very first class at Elysia Academy.
He arrived 5 minutes before it began, his uniform stunning on him, his crimson eyes casting around the classroom.
Cassius saw surprise on some faces, delight on others, and, still, fear on others.
Afterward, without a word, he began to walk toward the seats, his steps oddly resonant in that deadly silent room.
The students followed him with their eyes, some twisting around to keep watching him.
Cassius didn’t stop at the first row, nor the second.
He continued walking without a care, drawing confused glances, until he arrived directly in front of Theophane Celeste.
The beautiful woman lifted her head, fixing her white eyes on Cassius’s crimson ones.
She smiled cheerfully, as if she wasn’t the one who had been wishing for his death and downfall not long ago, "Oh, Angel! I’m so happy to see you back with a new eye and arms. This class truly isn’t the same without your presence."
"I don’t doubt that." Cassius replied, sparing a glance at Tiger growling at him from Theophane’s right, and at Omar, shaking with his head bowed low, on her left.
"But I see you’ve already gotten yourself a dog. How efficient, Theophane, truly, you have my respect." He smiled gently, "but you should tell your dog to stop growling already. I’m short on patience lately."
"Oh? Dog? I don’t know what you mean, Angel." She said with a smile, "and can I help you with something?"
"Help? Oh, no." He shook his head, "I simply wanted to sit beside you. But it seems—!"
"You can have my seat!" Omar shouted, abruptly standing from his chair. Without a glance back, he vanished, taking a seat at the far end of the classroom.
"Oh, well."
Cassius grinned.
"I guess I have a seat."
Theophane’s smile wavered for a moment. But she regained it swiftly, with all her inner strength, and gestured to the empty seat.
"By all means, Angel." She said, Tiger growling louder, "Grace me with your illustrious presence."
—End of Chapter 244—
