When Zeriav had caught on the news that the Prince of Scirocco will be returning to the Academy for a while in search of his wife, he was ecstatic to the point that his fingers shook while handling the Precipitation Scale.
“Blessed day, Brother.”
The door opened again, with that daemon pretending to be the young Elur. This did not put off the strong anticipation in Zeriav’s heart to see his old friend again.
“Did you know that Cermin will be returning?” Zeriav said, shaking and looking like a madman.
“Who?” Ronin just tilted his head.
‘Look at him so excited, I can feel his heart racing as if it was going to burst any second.’ He sneered. ‘He truly worships Cermin so much.’
Zeriav scoffed at him. “I must be able to convince him while he is still around. I know that you have managed to seduce him with your wiles and made him believe you were his friend.”
Ronin feigned ignorance once again. “I don’t understand, Brother Mondstein. What shall you have me do today?”
Zeriav thought about it, then pulled him closer.
“You learn how to manage this on your own. That way you can form reports while I am away.”
(And so I will have time to talk to Cermin. I must get him alone without you lurking about.)
Ronin grinned at his silly little plan. “Alright, Brother. Teach me well and I shall learn it diligently.”
Zeriave went on to teach him how to use the machine. It was actually not that difficult. The reason why so many had failed…
Was because only the Mondsteins have a good sense of approximating how each droplet measures.
They have great affinity for rainwater after all, and can count every single one and know how much they way just by guessing. This was nearly impossible for anyone who does not have the same amount of attention to detail and precision….
But Ronin had managed to get a hang of it.
He was also good at approximating uncountable objects, though his was the opposite of water. It was fire.
After learning how to control the Flame he took for years, measuring water down to the most atomic weight had become easy for him as well.
“You… You really are not a human.” Zeriav frowned as he read Ronin’s observations. “It took me three years to fully understand how the scale works.”
“I just got lucky, Brother.” Ronin grinned as Zeriav had checked that his analysis was 100% correct.
Zeriav was still annoyed, but this was what he wanted anyway.
“That’s good. I will have you manage the predictions from now on as practice. I have someplace to go at the 11th.”
“I will do my best! But… Where will you be going, Brother?” Ronin asked innocently.
Zeriav narrowed his eyes and simply said.
“None of your business. For now, continue making predictions and I will check them.”
And so, that was when Ronin actually became him an apprentice.
This was the third time that he had become someone’s assistant. He should get an achievement or something.
And it always never ends well for his superior in some way. Vyrill was traumatized, left his job, and lost his life at the Baptismal Grounds. And Espinella’s outcome may be a bit happier than thay, but he did get his skull burned and became his servant.
Ronin grinned. The same would be said for his poor Brother Mondstein.
—————————
Head Councillor Verita had arranged to have now Professor Calla Lily Naemhnaid to make her usual report again.
“And you suspect that he is disguising himself as this Monk student? Do you have proof?”
“My friend Edelweiss had invented something called Heartstone Glass. It can identify the Heartstone of almost everything and everyone….. Except for divine and inhuman beings.”
Head Councillor Verita nodded. “May I borrow this machine for a while and see for myself?”
Calla rubbed her chin. “I could ask Edel, but this glass is very fragile because it is made of Obsidian. And she plans to use it for her Science Exhibition.”
She also told her about their plans to have the machine replicated and distributed to the masses, so they can see for themselves who Ronin truly was.
“I will take good care of it.” The old lady assured. “I will bring it back once the day of the exhibition comes.”
Calla Lily nodded, and bowed, ending her report.
Soon, the Heartstone Glass was delivered to the Head Councillor, and Lady Verita planned on getting Ronin to come by somehow.
She decided to call out Zeriav instead, since if their assumption that he really was pretending to be his apprentice was true…
Then she can use the reporting for the New Era astroligical and atmospheric predictions to be an excuse.
When Zeriav was summoned, he was a little apprehensive but went inside. After all, the last time he had been sent to the Head Councillor’s office…
Was his expulsion.
“Come in.” Head Councillor Verita said, wearing the Heartstone Glass.
The tiny automaton by her ear detected Zeriav’s Heartstone within 5 seconds.
[Moonstone Heartstone, White variant with Blue specks]
“Lady Verita.” He bowed respectfully. “You have called for me?”
“Yes….. Sit down.”
Zeriav awkwardly did. There was a bit of a long pause before he brought out the scrolls he had finished with some of Ronin’s help at the latter parts.
“Thank you.” Lady Verita went to read them, even when she really was just trying to organically bring out the topic of his ‘apprentice’.
Zeriav have waited patiently, but his forwardness made him point out. “I have never seen you wear that monocle before, Lady Verita.”
“It was a new invention I was testing out.” She was also a direct and honest person, and told him the truth while scanning the papers.
“Oh….. What does it do?” Zeriav asked with very little interest.
He was simply attempting small talk to hide his nervousness and awkwardness.
“It can identify the true Heartstone of a person or any creature, even if they are in a disguise. It is also meant to help discern Heartstones that look very similar and even identify their variant and other specifications.”
Zeriav’s eyes widened at this. His little interest suddenly turned into shock and…
“I-Is that true? Where can I buy such a thing, my Lady?”
Lady Verita simply said. “It is not for sale. There is only one available as it is a prototype and only lent to me for testing.”
Zeriav then knew that the only way he can show Cermin the truth….
Was if he stole this Heartstone Glass, made him wear it, and see for himself who Ronin really was.
————————
Cermin was not the only one going back to Sephyrine.
After years of warfare, Volken had received a small break and can visit his hometown.
He had decided to visit his dear friend Pavone as always, but stopped when he saw that the house was renovated and was suddenly as beautiful as before.
“What in the…” He mumbled.
“Did you like it? I quite like it more than before, to be perfectly honest?”
When he turned, he went over to laugh with his fanged teeth. “Did a miracle happen while I’m away? How did you get all this….”
“Well, when you ransom people’s Mage Focus, they are willing to pay you anything.” Pavone smiled at him.
He was wearing strange exotic clothing that Volken was not quite used to. It was revealing his abdomen, and he had suddenly grown back some of his lost muscle and fat after malnourishment.
And in his abdomen was a black tattoo or paint. But when Volken looked closer…..
It was pulsing, and moving in swirls.
He blinked. “What is that…..?”
“Power, my friend.” Pavone said. “More than you have ever seen.”
Volken then remembered the news of an epidemic recently of nobles suddenly feeling weak and having their Mage Focuses be consumed or lost. Is it really that…
Pavone suddenly gained the power to cancel out other people’s Mage Focuses, and multiple at once?
He can only do one at a time after all. How is this possible?
“I know you have questions. But you simply must meet my dear doctor friend first.”
He gestured to a newly-furnished door with intricate patterns and platinum plating, and when Volken opened it.
He got so mad that he summoned his Rapier Lunis immediately.
“Zafeiri!” He yelled.
Maellan just tilted his head to the side. “You seem familiar, my dear. Have we met?”
Volken took a while to realize who it was…
But it really was the older brother of that girl.
He recalled him a bit. Not from the party itself, but from a painting.
He was disowned. He must be…..
“The one that fell into the Abyss.” His mouth was agape.
Maellan nodded. “Yes… Poor dear, that scar in your face looked like it brought you so much pain.”
He went closer to touch the scar on Volken’s face, and he took a step back due to his natural hatred and aversion to all Sapphires because of that accident with Belladonna.
But Maellan paid no attention to this and instead embraced him.
“I can heal it for you.”
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