(I have been spotted! I need to get out of here!)
Professor Espinella immediately ran before Cermin could say another word.
Ronin followed after him, but he had run too fast for him to catch up, and the crowd also didnât help him chase after this kooky professor at all.
He lost him.
But at least he gained skill and information!
âWhat exactly does Main Antagonist means? Arenât I also a Main Antagonist?â He asked Kai who appeared beside him.
âYes. As for what it means, I cannot spoil.â Kai answered.
âFine. Iâll meet him properly in three months anyway. What is this new skill that I unlocked then?â
They went over to the side to somewhere less crowded and more private, so they can talk easily with each other.
A screen also appeared as Kai spoke.
[ Foolâs Eye
This skill gives you the ability to make yourself or others appear as someone of your choosing within 10 minutes..
You would look and sound completely the same as the person you are copying, but not acquire their powers.
Mage Focuses that can be used to see through disguises wouldnât work against you. But Mage Focuses that can cancel out skills could potentially work.
It requires a biological component from the person you are pretending to be and the rune for âfalsifyâ to be drawn on yourself, or the person you are changing the appearance of.
The length of your falsification increases as you level up, as well as the number of tries in a day. For now, you only have one try per day. ]
Roninâs eyes gleamed. This skill is definitely more powerful than Blinding Darkness!
He can also put it into very good use for his future schemes. In fact, upon learning all the details of the skill, he already knew what he would do.
âBiological component means something like hair or nail clippings, right?â He asked Kai.
âYes. Or blood if you prefer.â Kai suggested. âThen, you take that component in your hand, and draw the rune for falsifying on the back of the hand holding it.â
The rune for falsifying looks like the shape of a human stickman with an X mark over it.
âAnd I only have 10 minutes and one try for now⦠Thatâs still a very great skill for me indeed.â Ronin was beaming.
And so, the first thing he set out to do was to look for Cermin Drychspiel.
âââââââ
Cermin had rushed off to follow Rabuka, who he found on one of those waiting sheds for people to go to in case of rain.
âRabuka, Iâm sorry, alright? But you didnât have to shout at that woman earlierâ¦.. I think she was just joking and having some fun.â Cermin explained.
Rabuka crossed her arms, her eyes tinged red. âSome fun? You donât know Calla Lily like I do! Sheâll do anything to get attention!â
âAnd sheâs an Artisan, so I see nothing wrong with that. I mean, arenât all performers looking for attention?â Cermin asked.
âBut itâs different with you, Goldie! I brought you here to watch me! You should only pay attention to me and not her!â
Cermin was confused, scratching his head.
(She acts like a jealous girlfriend⦠But sheâs not even my girlfriend. Sheâs Pavoneâs. And I donât plan on coming between them, I wouldnât cheat with my friendâs girl.)
Ronin sneered dryly at this. âSo heâs not as dense as a rock after all.â
Rabuka took his hand, and Cermin felt even more awkward, not knowing if he should pull it away. It felt wrong somehow.
âPromise me to only pay attention to me, alright, Goldie? I wonât let her steal you from me, she keeps on stealing everyone and everything!â
âI-I promise butâ¦.. can you let me goâ¦..â
âI was supposed to be in the Rigel class, but she came in the way and now the slot was taken by her! And every year, she would steal more and more of my fanatics, my audience⦠Itâs unbearable!â
Rabuka continued to rant and rant about Calla Lily. About how her fashion sense wasnât even that good, she just had big breastsâ¦.. Down to her âawfulâ skills as a performerâ¦..
And even bringing out her family background and hybridity.
âWorst of all, sheâs just some ugly, half and half freak! I donât understand how she does it, how she puts men into a spell. When I am much more beautiful, sophisticated and talented than her!â
âO-Okay, I see now. I see now. Just calm down, Rabuka.â Cermin said, patting her shoulder awkwardly.
She hugged on tightly to him, crying and crying in his arms. Cermin looked nervously around as if someone might misunderstand.
He didnât notice at all the cloaked figure hiding behind the wall of the waiting shed and listening in to them.
âYou wonât leave me for her like everyone else, wonât you, Cermin? You think Iâm also better than her, right?â She said with pouty lips and eyes that were trying to gain his sympathy.
âI doâ¦. Justâ¦â Cermin doesnât know what to say.
She smiled wide at this, completely changing expressions. âYou really are the best, Goldie darlingâ¦. Any woman would be lucky to have you. Your future queen would be very lucky.â
âI guess so⦠But Rabuka, you shouldâ-
He wasnât able to continue as Rabuka pressed her lips against his!
Cermin blinked and immediately pushed her away. â Rabuka!â
She pretended to blush and look all shy all of a sudden. âIâ¦.. I couldnât help myself. You were just so good to meâ¦. I wanted to be the lucky lady that will have you.â
âB-But Pavoneââ
She pressed a finger to his lips. âDonât worry about Pavone. He doesnât have to know. I donât love him, Cermin. I was basically forced to be his lover after he confessed to me in front of the whole school with a grand parade of a thousand jeweled roses.â
âBut I have come to love youâ¦..â She moved even closer, trying to seduce him with her furtive glances. âMore than a friend. I love you very muchâ¦..â
Ronin almost gagged in disgust. She was so fake, sheâs even faker than plastic.
He can hear her thoughts perfectly well, negating her âsincere confessionâ.
(Iâve been planning to abandon Pavone since I learned that you were the Prince of Scirocco. Just imagine the upper hand I can have on any girl in this Academy once they saw us together.)
(Theyâll all die in envy and look up to me. Especially that whore, that Calla. I would be stomping her with my feet like an ant once I became Cerminâs queen!)
But unluckily for her, Cermin just pushed her back even more and rejected her!
âIâm sorry, Rabuka! But I canât be with you⦠It feels wrong because you are like a sister to me, and Pavone was like a brother to me! I canât betray our friendship like this!â
âBut Cerminââ
He ran and she chased after him, and suddenly, the world went dark for the both of them.
They tripped on something at the same time, and Cermin felt something move quicklyâ
It almost felt like the wind blowing on his hair.
Then, the world was bright again, and Rabuka was laying beside him and groaning from the pain. Her knee was bleeding.
Cermin panicked more than he should have, and went by her side. âLet me take you to the infirmary!â
It was just a scrape on the knee, but this darkness and sudden incident reminded him far too much of the time Volken fell.
He looked around yet there was nothing. And it made him really, really scared.
He felt like he was being watched by a presence that was so evil, that it would make oneâs heart stop beating.