Chapter 83: 70 - Secrets
(Just before Azalea departed)
My mind began to race, turning over possibilities. My knowledge of these matters was quite limited, and the options available to me felt even more so. It was like staring into a fog, knowing there were answers hidden within but unable to grasp them.
Every logical pathway seemed to lead to another dead end, each deduction bringing new questions rather than clarity. I felt a familiar pressure building behind my eyes, the sign that my brain was working overtime, trying to connect disparate pieces of information.
So, let’s apply logic... Is it truly possible that Selene is trapped within that intricate, glowing circle we’ve only just learned about?
If that astonishing claim holds any truth, then the next, even more critical question emerges: are "they"—whoever "they" are—actually capable of activating such a potent, ancient construct? The implications of either scenario were vast, each more terrifying than the last.
So, i Selene is indeed trapped, that means either the circle is fake and Arthur merely made it appear real.
Or, alternatively, the circle is genuine and real, but both of them must wait for someone to ignite it, to provide the spark.
"Kairi?" Azalea’s voice suddenly cut through the air, interrupting my deduction. She seemed confused by my appearance, as if I were staring into the subconscious realm.
But honestly, I’ve always been like this. Whether treating patients or reading manga, everything I do seems as if I’m floating on a cloud.
However, it is precisely because of that, that I am able to think things through clearly.
"What’s wrong?" I replied, maintaining my usual poker face.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked, perhaps worried.
I wanted to say it wasn’t her business. But this was Azalea, and whether I liked it or not, as her friend, I had to tell her the truth.
Because if not, the same misunderstanding might happen again.
Yes, the misunderstanding where she thought I already knew all of this, when in fact, I was, both literally and metaphorically, dragged into this by this irresponsible and careless Elder Sister. And even before we kissed, I still didn’t remember anything about science and time travel.
"I’m thinking about what Elder Sister Selene said."
This was the right answer, I thought, trying to be as polite as possible by referring to her as ’Elder Sister Selene’ by bloodline.
But... honestly, whether that status existed or not, it felt pointless. After all, we had already kissed a total of 5 times, and then we had also made love.
It felt futile, our status as blood relatives, when in the end, we also became intimate because my true origin was different from hers. Could it be that I’ve fallen for her? Or more precisely, perhaps... I want something more than just physical contact.
Perhaps.
"You’re zoning out again," Azalea remarked, perhaps a little annoyed to see me so absorbed in my own world. Yes, Selene’s world, to be precise.
Speaking of which, Azalea’s elder sister, Helena... she was sleeping. Yes, truly sleeping after giving that crucial information earlier.
More precisely, information about Archons and methods to overcome their protocols according to the magical principles of an Arcanist Mage. Knowledge that a sorcerer under the age of 18 should not possess.
"Oh... no. No."
"Hmph..."
Azalea glared at me intensely after making such an expression. It seemed she couldn’t stand how honest I was.
Oops, I mean... my attempts to hide something.
"Why do you ask?"
"Don’t lie. What is your true relationship with Her Excellency Selene?"
"No need to be so formal."
"That’s not the point of our conversation."
I sighed, then said, "Do you want the honest answer or the lie first?"
"The truth," Azalea said firmly, as if she was already quite exasperated.
"Huft, alright. The truth is...."
I then moved closer to her, my lips brushed against her ear, and I whispered everything that had happened and what we had done.
Instantly, her face clearly flushed. But, soon after, a strange, faint smile spread across her face.
And then suddenly she kissed my lips.
"Mmmph." and once again my oral cavity became the target. Her tongue explored it all the way to the back. Her saliva flowed freely onto my tongue.
Soon after, she stopped and wiped her wet lips with the back of her hand.
"By the way, that was really ticklish."
The sentence you just said has two meanings, you know.
"Was it the information or my lips that were ticklish?"
"Both, hehehe," she said, acting silly. Just like Azalea typically behaves in front of people she knows.
"By the way, I’m not surprised. Maybe only by the fact that you two made a contract."
Wait, so she’s not surprised that I made love with Selene for hours?!
"What’s wrong with making a contract?"
"If Senior Selene truly entered into a contract with a monster, that clearly violates the religious rules of Mal’as."
"And do you already know who that monster is?" she asked, perhaps doubting that I possessed such information.
"Yes."
Azalea’s eyes immediately widened. Perhaps disbelieving this information.
By the way, we still had time before launching the action that Azalea would then execute.
And that was also under Helena’s direction, because she believed the time was not yet right for the soul-burning ceremony, which was at midnight.
"Who?"
"Asked. Ouch!"
Her pinch landed squarely on my head.
"I’m serious, you know."
Honestly, if I told her about this, she might not believe it.
That there was actually a student who was also a monster blending in at Aethelgarten Akademiya.
And even worse, she was also friends with Selene.
"As for that, perhaps I’ll tell you when the time is right."
That answer just popped into my head. Maybe the right moment will come eventually.
Sooner or later.
"When?"
"Someday."
Without warning, I immediately flicked her forehead.
"Ow, that hurt!"
"Again, I’m not playing around, Kairi. This situation is serious."
"Yes, I know," she said with a face that remained blank despite wincing slightly in pain earlier.
Honestly, Kairi makes me exasperated.
Instead of helping, she’s spacing out.
So, that’s it, I - Azalea - just kissed her mouth. To make her snap out of it and for me to be satisfied with all the lies she holds.
However, she herself didn’t know that what she did to Senior Selene had also been done to me by Helena.
By the way, according to Elder Sister Helena, could my Isolation ability also help?
Because, honestly... among all the subversions, "Mental Out" is probably the most suitable to fight the Archon monster.
"So, what do you say? Are you ready?" she asked, as if cutting off the conversation in my head.
"Well, I have to be ready, whether I want to or not," I said, trying to feel a little confident about what I could do for Kairi, who was still lying down, unable to move her legs.
"That’s good then. By the way, I have something for you."
She handed me a... necklace?
Wait, what for? Is she perhaps trying to express her feelings to me? Eh, wait, I’m not ready yet, you know!
My mind immediately went into chaos when she gave me the necklace that had been around her neck.
And that necklace was clearly no ordinary necklace. It was the sacred necklace of the Veylith family, inherited down through generations by the Nakanari race.
Why was she giving me this necklace? And did she trust me that much?
"Hey! I gave you something, why aren’t you saying anything?"
"Oh, yeah. I’m surprised... but, thank you."
"This isn’t for you permanently. And don’t think anything strange."
Uh, what does she mean?
Honestly, she has always seemed so mysterious and hard to read. And giving me this necklace is one of those times.
"What do you mean?"
"I’m giving you this necklace temporarily because it can store magical energy."
"Wait... so you mean..."
"Its stock will be depleted after two uses. Usually I store more magical energy, but I didn’t have time earlier."
Hold on, so all this time...
"And yes, I myself am also surprised. But, what can be done is done. After all, this is a Nakanari necklace."
"And you just gave it to me like that?" I said, surprised, not understanding her line of thinking.
"Again, don’t misunderstand. Selene can’t do healing magic, and-"
"Selene?!"
The word ’Elder Sister’ just vanished, and that was quite startling.
"Why are you more surprised by that than by what I just whispered to you?"
No, that’s not the issue.
Am I jealous?
Jealous of Kairi’s older sister? Senior Selene? If that’s true, it’s very strange.
She said her name as if she was very familiar with it. As if they had been together for a very, very long time...
Roughly centuries.
No, it’s not because they are siblings. But something else, and it must be related to that contract.
Is it because of that contract that they became so close?
"Never mind, forget it. By the way..."
"How can I use the magical energy from your necklace?"
