Room 393, Russell Moon's Dormitory, after dinner at Obelisk Cafeteria One
He slumped down on his bed after some rest while thinking about what happened today, as well as Amery Blight's behavior towards him…
'She's a Blood Swordsman, but I couldn't sense extraordinary yet… maybe because her Unique Skill is still locked… I also remember the last time I inspected her was due to Goddess' command to keep an eye on her, that time her profession was still just 'Swordsman', how did it change quickly?'
Russell Moon ruminated about such circumstances as he made some guesses; first, it has to do with why the Goddess' told me to keep an eye on her, second, she fulfilled some conditions like…
[Constellation, 'Night of Primordial Chaos' invoked one of the hidden effects of the 'Symbol of Night']
With the sound of the System notification, Russell was prompted to look at it, forgetting what he thought just now.
[Direct communication with her contractee is made possible with the Skill: Cosmic Telepathy]
As soon as he read the System messages, Russell got goosebumps all over his body as he reflexively sat on his bed.
<My Champion…>
Although he couldn't see where she is, he clearly heard her gentle with a mix of overbearing voice in his head, and just as he was thinking of something to say, a thought struck him.
'I don't know how to reply!' His initial shocked reaction from the sudden System messages and Goddess' voice vanished, turning into an embarrassment. As though the Goddess heard his thoughts, a chuckle entered his ears, then the Goddess said:
<Feel the symbol I engraved in your heart, and send your thoughts through it with your mind.>
Russell, who didn't have any idea what the Goddess was talking about aside from the symbol he was given, just did what the Goddess said.
Closing his eyes to focus, he felt the quietness of the night, then his own heartbeat was felt across his body as though he was palpitating, but with an inexplicable feeling, then with the System's notification and message, he looked at the holographic screen presented to him:
[Automatically Activating the Skill: Eye of Night (EX)]
[You have discovered your 'Hidden Nature']
Russell didn't know what reactions he should make as his eyes emanated a dark blue aura representing Chaos, but at the same time it was concealed by his Nihility trait, then he saw his own heart as he looked at his chest, it has a symbol of X tilted by 45 degrees from the right, representing 'Night' itself.
'I felt like developing trust issues with the System…' He thought because the skills he got becoming a Mediator of Chaos were more than what the descriptions of the System show…
'Or maybe I'm just stupid not to know... clearly the hidden nature of someone was not limited to hidden emotions...' He inferred inwardly as he replied to the Goddess of Night with a more clear voice than speaking within his mind.
<My Goddess, what can I do for you?>
'This feeling is certainly strange, I felt like I'm also using the Cosmic Telepathy skill, and felt like my mind was split into two.'
<Don't be confused, my Champion, you will get used to it. Now, heed the orders I will give you…>
When he heard the Goddess' command, his thoughts became blank, not knowing how he should express his opinions or if he ever have the right to say something, but in the end, he heed her command, replying to her with a servile tone.
<Yes, my Goddess.>
…
Room 31 of the Rigel Building, Present
"Russell!?"
"What are you doing here? How did you get in here?"
As Amelie Rose's mind became flooded with various questions, she maintained her alertness with the sudden intrusion especially in the middle of the night, still holding her black staff with an 'eye' on its tip.
'Why is he here?'
'How did he get in? There's 24/7 security in every building and much tight in the Rigel Building.'
Her heart keeps beating and beating faster as she heard Russell say with an amiable tone as he raised his both hands, signaling that he meant no harm.
"Calm down, can you sit?"
"What do you want?" Amelie asked, remaining alert despite the amiable demeanor Russell showed, then she heard a sigh, then her complexion turned pale as his next words entered her ears, and registered on her mind.
"How was your 'business'?"
"Wh-what are you ta-talking about?" Her voice cracked instantly as numerous memories suddenly flooded her mind, remembering her predicament; how she got banished from her home, how she lived on the streets for some time, and how she got engaged with a certain business to provide for herself, then managing to enter the Obelisk Academy.
Russell who was listening, not on her question itself, but on how she delivered her words with a crumbling voice made him feel pity towards her, and inexplicable guilt towards himself.
He turned off the television, stood up from the couch where he was sitting, then suddenly looked her in the eyes as he made his reply.
"Dark Tears."
"H-how?"
Amelie Rose who heard the two words that came out of Russell's mouth instantly fell to her knees as the black staff that she was holding left her grip, and suddenly she repeatedly mumble something in her weak tone.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I just did it to survive…"
"I d-d-don't meant for them to die… N-no, maybe I do… b-but, I have n-no choice…"
As she released her inner thoughts, both of her hands covered her beautiful face as her tears that were colored black flowed down from her reddish-colored eyes, and Russell who saw it from the side thought, 'What a f*cked up world', as he was reminded again that reality was entirely different from the novel he wrote in his previous life.
With the cold breeze entering from the window, Russell approached Amelie Rose whose black tears that touched the ground crystallized, making teardrop shapes.
He genuflected in front of her to level her with her fallen knees, then covered her with a blanket he grabbed from the couch where he was seated.
"Have you calmed down now?"
Amelie Rose looked up and saw the pair of deep blue eyes that seemed to pierce the deepness of her soul as if they matched the mystery of the endless sky. Russell then stood up, extended his right hand, and helped her stand up as both of them sat on the comfortable couch beside her bed.
And when Russell felt like she calmed down now, he went straight to the point on what he came here for.
"I want to talk about the System message you got." He said while looking at the crystallized black tears on the floor.
"D-do you know what th-that means?" She mustered the courage to ask as she felt relieved somehow in an inexplicable sense.
"To be honest, that was my Constellation," Russell replied with honesty, not holding back information as per the Goddess' command.
Amelie Rose who heard it seemed to forget what happened just now as she processed what he just said.
She knew that Constellations could pick their desired Champions even outside the Obelisk Academy, but most of them were among adventurers. Also, they took interest in 'Players' within any academies including Obelisk as if they had an unwritten rule of selecting a Champion inside the academies where students or 'Players' were nurtured properly.
'Although it's common to gain an interest anytime as an academy student… h-he clearly said, 'My Constellation''
She cleared her thoughts as she asked with curious eyes, "But why his or her name wasn't mentioned in the System message?"
Russell, who was respecting her question replied with a relaxed tone.
"That's not something I couldn't tell you, at least not now. By the way, I was ordered by my Constellation regarding you."
"Regarding me?" Amelie had an evident puzzled expression on her face.
"Yes, a subordinate of hers wanted to groom you. It's an opportunity it won't come even in a hundred years or more."
He let out his thoughts that felt like an exaggeration, but in reality, it was not because Russell presumed that the Goddess' subordinate was not someone trivial considering her 'Status'.
"Hold on… but why me?"
Although, it's a great thing to get contracted with a Constellation, especially with a good nature, and not evil, confusion still filled her heart as she said within herself, 'I'm a sinner.'
"It's because you are a Dark Healer."
Amelie Rose who experienced an initial shock with the words 'Dark Tears' asked him as she manage to remain composed this time.
"Do you have a 'Status' Appraisal Skill?"
"Yes, but that's not what's important. What's important is your permission."
Russell who answered her took a biscuit sold in the Obelisk One Cafeteria from his Dimensional Inventory, and took a bite of it, as he felt hungry while waiting for her reply.
Amelie watched silently, and ruminated about what he said…
'I was abandoned, treated like a trash…
'I was on my own for some time…
'I begged in the streets… and…
'I killed… and still killing people at this moment…
'I need a new path…
'I need one who could guide me…
'I don't want to be truly evil…'
Amelie Rose Merveil resolved to take a new path for herself, though she couldn't revive the people she already killed with ambiguous intent…
'I am not a hypocrite… I will still kill to survive if I get threatened.
"Please, guide me, Russell."
Russell heard her plea as he saw in her eyes her resolve, a smile carved on his lips as he remembered the orders from her Goddess.
1. Persuade her by any means.
2. Give her a 'Chaos Trait' using your own power to make her your companion.
3. Bring her to the Chaos Training Grounds.
4. Wait for my subordinate's arrival at that place.
When Russell first heard the command, his mind went blank, but when he thought about it, 'The Goddess wouldn't be unreasonable', he abandoned any unnecessary thoughts, and heed her command.
"Alright, I need your trust, and remember there is no going back.' He reminded.
"Okay…" Amelie replied without any idea what to expect next, but readied herself for whatever was gonna happen.
Russell stood up from the couch and face her while maintaining a certain distance; both his right and left index fingers formed a tilted 'X' of 45 degrees from the right, then a notification from the System entered their ears.
[Activating Unique Skill: Chaos Buff (EX)]
[Proceed in giving 'Chaos Trait' with the designated 'Target']
[Yes or No]
It was the messages received by Russell.
[The Unique Skill: Chaos Buff (EX) has been used on you]
[You are being given: 'Chaos Trait']
[Accept or Decline]
It was the messages received by Amelie.
Amelie thought first about the name of the skill, as well as its classification as 'unique', but as she resolved herself, she accepted it. Then at that moment, Chaos Aura seeped out from Russell's body as his heart glowed with a dark blue hue that could be seen by both him and Amelie.
The Chaos Aura then enveloped her whole being; body, and soul as she felt sleepy, but before she closed her eyes, she managed to read the messages the System sent.
[Chaos Aura is seeping within your body and soul]
[Body and soul reconstruction is requiring you to take a 'Slumber']
[Duration: 8 hours]
…
Russell Moon who used the Chaos Buff (EX) for the first time was filled with wonder as he lay down Amelie on her bed, then he sat on the couch beside her, crunching the biscuits in his mouth silently.
'I guess I'd be absent tomorrow… it's not a problem for me, but for her as an A-1 student, she needed a reasonable excuse, and sickness is a big 'No''
He felt tired with the process, then he looked at the gigantic illusory tilted 'X' by 45 degrees on the right overlapping Amelie's whole body. It's like assimilating with her.
pA n,dan(-)0ve1.c0m 'I'd be a guard for the whole night.' He thought, as he looked at the wall clock placed just above the television as he muttered the time as he slumped on the couch.
"1:34 AM"
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