Chapter 365 - Elijah (Part 2)

  Kai jumped to his feet to cover Elijah, expecting to see the door thrown open. “Who’s coming? Did the academy find out you’re here?”

  The wards weaving through the thick walls muddled the hallway outside from his senses. He retracted Mana Observer. His clumsy touch risked revealing more information than he’d gain. His sweaty fingers clutched at his sides.

  Oh fuck! My sword.

  Moonlight gleamed on the steel blade where he’d let it clatter by the balcony windows. He dashed to grab it. A pair of boots tripped him—damned Rob. Landing with his hands on the hardwood floor, he stretched to store his sword in his ring and stood up. The plaster sported a slight bump where his head had bashed the wall—nothing that he could fix now.

  Lucky I have a thick skull.

  Blood would have been harder to hide.

  He spun back to Elijah. “You need to go.”

  How do I explain a cloaked man in black in my living room?

  The butler lounged on the couch, showing no concern or hurry, arm slung over the backrest. His eyes narrowed at the blue tiles of the kitchen wall, focused beyond. “One of your roommates is back.”

  “One of my…” Kai exhaled a breath. The releasing tension loosened his shoulders. “You said they’d be out longer.”

  “So I thought.” Elijah took his boots off the coffee table as if each movement were an insult and a chore. “But people are terrible at following plans.”

  “I see… You still better go now. Think you can use the window? How did you get in here?” Kai hovered over him, tempted to lift him out. Worry halted his fidgeting. He caught his wrist. “You’re not going to disappear again, are you?”

  They’d barely had time to catch up. And the man owed him more answers.

  Elijah blinked, looking at the hand gripping his wrist. His faint surprise didn’t stop him from pulling free with overpowering ease and gruffly ruffling his hair. A smirk tugged on his lips. “I’ll contact you.”

  “When—“

  The crisp click of the lock cut him off. The door began to open. Kai angled himself back to cover Elijah—half a head short to be effective. Curses choked in his throat. Excuses spun in his mind.

  Messy hazel hair entered first, followed by a burnished yellow gaze that swept the room. Rob halted. Light spilled in from the hallway. His unbuttoned coat revealed a damp patch on a silk shirt that matched his eyes. “Hey.”

  “Hey…” Kai waved, arm held too close to his chest. Why did his voice sound so guilty? He risked the tiniest glance back—Elijah was gone. No rustle of paper, no door or window left ajar. Simply vanished from the apartment.

  How did—

  Realizing his look had lingered too long, he turned the movement into a yawning stretch and sank onto the couch. “You’re back early.”

  Yeah, really smooth and casual.

  “Had to. A jerk spilled a drink on my best shirt.” Rob shut the door with his heel. “Why are you sitting in the dark? Feeling broody?” Brushing the control array, he lit the crystal in the living room.

  “No, just a headache.” Kai rubbed his eyes with his index and thumb, palm hiding his expression. “The dark helped. Probably overdosed on potions.”

  That and someone rammed my head into a wall. Take your pick.

  “That sucks. Want me to turn them off?”

  “It’s fine.” He slumped deeper into the couch. “It’s already better. Just too lazy to reach for the lights."

  “Yeah, got you there.” Rob threw his coat on a chair with a chuckle. His gaze lingered on the kitchen table and Hobbes’ snoring before heading for his room. “Tell me if you need anything. I gotta grab a new shirt.” The half-closed door muffled his voice. “Want to come with me if you’re better? I have a few open invites we can check out. The best parties don’t start before midnight.”

  Note to self: always blame laziness.

  “Thanks. I’m good for tonight.”

  How did that slippery butler get out? Unless… is he still here?

  Kai curbed the impulse to scan the room again as Rob sauntered back. He wore a midnight-blue shirt with silver embroidery on the collar and cuffs, and a smoky gray hat reminiscent of a fedora. The black-and-silver band wove into the felt, and the asymmetrical brim missed a chink on one side.

  “Sure, you don’t wanna come?” Rob inspected himself in the mirror beside the door—one hand fumbling with the last button, the other wrestling with his hair. “It’s rare we get to wear something other than burgundy. You must enjoy the breaks while you can. Moons know we don’t get many.”

  “I’m too tired for anything besides sleep. Maybe next time. Might have overdone it in the Trials.”

  “I can believe that. I already had five students approach me about you. Even a second year!” His mouth drew in tight focus as he adjusted his hat and winked in the mirror. “Don’t worry, I told them nothing about the elusive and enigmatic Mat! Truly congrats, man. I expected Alden would rank high. When you two said it went well, I didn’t imagine first-and-second-rank kind of well. The patricians are losing their minds. How did you pull it off?”

  “Got lucky.”

  “Lucky… I’m sure.”

  “That, and teaming with Alden. Mostly him.” Kai sprawled on the couch, arms folded behind his head. Now that was a great idea. Who better to deflect credit than a scion from a Great House? Alden would understand. “I have no idea why they gave me first place. Truly lucky. But hey, you did well too.”

  Uhm… What was his rank? I must have checked… right?

  “Three hundred and eighteenth,” Rob provided with an easy grin. “I was quite proud until I saw my three roommates in the top five. Not a shred of mercy for me. Next Moon Trials, I’m sticking to you. Maybe I can get some of your luck to rub off on me.” He dipped into a perfect bow. “I'm at your disposal. Think I could get your autograph? Or a couple. I promised one to my classmates too.”

  Kai threw him a pillow.

  “Ouch!” Rob shielded his face with a hand to catch it. “Hmm… Velvet. A gift from Raelion’s most famous first-year?”

  “Shut up. I just scored high in a test. Nobody cares that much.”

  “Yeah, you just won the Mid-Term Trials. I’m sure they’ll forget in a blink.” He grinned, then laughed when he saw Kai’s serious look. “Hey, do you know the last time a commoner won a first-year Trial? Especially one from Winter Intake.”

  “No?”

  His smile widened. “And neither do I! It was that long ago, if it’s ever happened.” Rob strolled to the balcony windows and threw the pillow back in his face. “Your mysterious identity only fans the flames. The Martial Studies brutes seem to know you better than our classmates.”

  Kai crumbled into the couch with a groan—only half acting. Elijah’s ambush had put his other problems into perspective, though he could still feel a real headache rising.

  “Cheer up, man! Fame’s not so bad. Now, unless you wanna come, I gotta run.” He tapped his hat. “I’ve got a spilled drink to repay. I might keep my mouth shut, but voices always spread. You might not get many chances to celebrate before people learn your face.”

  “They can’t learn if I don’t leave this couch,” Kai grumbled.

  “Can’t argue with a solid plan,” Rob said, and with a last flourish, he was out the door.

  At least he noticed nothing. I think.

  Stretching onto the cushions, the crystals in the ceiling painted dim halos in his vision. “Hey… Elijah? Are you still here?”

  Long silence answered, long enough even for the butler’s crooked humor—likely also too late to catch any clue.

  If he disappears for another four years, I’ll throttle his smug face. I don’t care what grade he’s reached.

  Kai let out a painful breath. Each twitch reminded him of the tapestry of bruises on his back.

  No task half-finished my ass. Why couldn’t he heal me fully? I can’t trigger Nature Healing for eleven more hours.

  Truly, no mercy for him. With a groan, he began to order his thoughts with Mnemonic Mastery. First the dean’s enigmatic summons, then Elijah’s rough handling, not to mention the hordes of students apparently hunting for him.

  Maybe I can patch the wall with Earth and Water Magic. Just ten more secon—

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  The lock of the room clicked again before three passed.

  No rest for the wicked. Who is it now?

  Kai pushed himself up on his elbows to look past the couch armrest, a smile plastered on his face. “Hey—“

  “Hi!” Rain strolled inside, hands filled with bags that he raised with a proud smile. “I brought you food samples! Flynn helped me pick them.”

  “Oh… nice. You’re back.” Early again. Kai sat up, concealing a wince. “Why don’t you carry those in your artifact?”

  “I wanted to experience the bags. They’re quite handy, you know?”

  No mercy at all.

  “Yeah. You didn’t need to come back for me. Or bring me anything.”

  “Ah, no worries. The saleswoman said they were free.” He set the bags beside the pillow where Hobbes still slept, gently drawing circles in his fur. “Uhm… did Rob stab our table again?”

  “Yep,” Kai said without a shred of guilt.

  “He should ask Flynn if he wants to learn knife tricks.”

  “I do keep telling him that.”

  “What of the ruined plaster? Did he punch the wall?”

  “No, that was Alden. Miscast a spell.”

  Sorry, bud.

  Rain accepted the explanation, too busy with his bags. “Though… It’s odd.”

  “What’s odd?”

  He wrinkled his nose, sniffing the air like a hound around the table. “There is an odd scent. Not like the other students.”

  “Could be someone I brushed in the Wing Aurea? Plenty of other people there.”

  “That’s not quite it. Humans smell slightly differently with each advancement." The crease between his pale brows looked worryingly deep. “Feels high grade. But strangely faint. Not old, just…”

  “Could it be the dean? I did go see him earlier.”

  “Mhmm… Maybe. It—”

  Kai jumped to sit across from Rain before he could catch onto more details. “What kind of samples have you brought? I could eat a bite or two.”

  “Oh, I’ve got quite a few.” The frown smoothed into a bright smile. “I had never tasted most of them. Have you ever tried chicken?”

  * * *

  Crossing out of the columned entrance of the Aula Ordinis, Kai pulled down his floppy hat and adjusted his scarf. The scratchy fabric made his neck itch, but he didn’t dare touch it. His heart thudded, then skipped a beat.

  Shoulders hunched, he kept his gaze on the paved square. A crowd of first-years milled, coming and going for their Trial rewards.

  Don’t rush, don’t slow. Nothing to hide. Walk normally. Hmm… how do people walk normally?

  His hands returned to the mismatched disguise borrowed from his roommates. How had he let Rain and Rob talk him into this? No one trying to hide would wear a bright red scarf with dancing squirrels, but still…

  Who needs enemies with friends like these?

  The worst part—they’d only mildly exaggerated the truth.

  Kai shoved them into the pockets of his oversized fur coat. How did patricians wear them? The thing was sweltering. The more he tried to control his gait, the more awkward he felt. Too stiff. Too hunched. He waded through the students, dodging elbows and slipping through circles. First-pick privileges ran on a timer. He’d confirmed his rewards, though the snoopers hanging outside the Silver Vault prevented him from claiming them.

  “…seen Matthew…”

  “…Matthew in class…”

  "…Veernon. What a sham…"

  “…pay for info on the first rank…”

  “…Matthew…”

  His name sounded on everyone’s lips, in every direction. Interest had only grown since the academy posted the rankings yesterday. His unknown status worked both as a shield and fuel for the chase.

  Most students took his placement as a weekly bit of juicy gossip. But even after the expulsions, there were a lot of first-years left. Among thousands, plenty of bored teenagers took the ranking far too seriously. They’d turned uncovering his identity into a challenge to solve, a treasure hunt.

  Eavesdropping on his classmates, he stood two meters tall, breathed fire, farted thunder, and sparkled under the moonlight. He was an orphan, a secret retainer, the rumored bastard of no fewer than sixteen Houses—or perhaps the dean’s own love affair.

  His heart thudded and skipped beats. At any moment, he expected a shout to get him mobbed. Yet no one did.

  Closer and closer. The pounding in his chest slowed as the streets branched into paths out of the central cluster.

  Luck is still worth something.

  Kai crossed into the thawing gardens toward the evergreen woodland. Mud squelched underfoot. Even taking a meandering route back to the dorms, the wind seemed to carry whispers of his name. His plan was simple: get to his room and glare at every shadow until Elijah showed up.

  Climbing the slope, the brittle rustle of budding branches finally muffled the voices.

  Fighting the Pale Stalker was less stressful.

  Should he just reveal himself? The mystery was what kept the first-years hooked. Once lectures resumed, students would be busier, though also harder to avoid. His plan to divert attention to Alden had potential—convince patricians of what they already wanted to believe.

  A damned bother.

  What was the alternative? Hide until something else caught their interest? Hope it happened before the weather warmed past heavy clothes?

  It's already too hot. Almost spring.

  Kai loosened the scarf around his neck to breathe. Sweat made the wool itch more. Rumors couldn’t agree on what he looked like anyway. Just him and the woods—the clear scent of rain, damp earth, and moss. Trees lined the muddy gravel trail, their canopies lacing overhead, shielding him from view. Even in the remote trails, the academy’s gardeners shaped the greenery into an idyllic, curated wildland.

  He’d just rounded a bend when cold steel grazed his neck, jerking him to a stop with a strangled curse.

  “Dead,” came a low voice behind him.

  That fucker.

  Panic waned as quickly as it’d spiked. Kai pushed away the blade with a finger and spun to glare. “Did you have to do that? Normal people greet each other with a hi.”

  Clad in black and muted grays, Elijah looked like a model wannabe assassin, an infuriating smirk peeking beneath the hood. “I told you not to lower your guard.”

  “I would’ve noticed if you meant me harm.”

  “Do you seriously think you can sense me with a danger skill?” He snorted contemptuously. “Have I taught you nothing?”

  “Mine can,” Kai said flatly. “Unless you’re protected against Favor too?”

  His mouth parted, though he looked more speechless than awed. “Please, tell me you didn’t do it. Luck-based skills are a dead end. You’d need…” Elijah gave him a once-over, eyes narrowing. “How high did you raise your Luck?”

  “High enough. Maybe I’ll tell you more later if you behave. And give me the answers you promised.” He glanced at the woods. “Why are you here in daylight? What if a student sees you?”

  Elijah casually drew a thumb over his throat. “Not a hard problem to solve.”

  “Ha. Ha. How funny.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be,” Elijah replied, tone perfectly even. “Stop scowling,” he ruffled his hair. “I’ve warded this area. Not even that smug dean would notice what happens here. You should worry about your own reputation. You still haven’t learned how to keep a low profile.” He stepped off the gravel path with a disappointed shake, though the pleased twist of his lips betrayed him. “I can’t go a second without hearing someone mention your name. Ranking first in these Trials.”

  “Wait up!” Seeing him not slowing, Kai hurried through the wet underbrush after him—away from potentially murdered students. Brambles pulled at his fur coat till he stored it away. His outfit wasn’t made for trekking. “It’s not my fault. Some people can’t help being exceptional."

  “That so? Think you can introduce me? I’d like to meet them.”

  Real funny…

  “I’ll see if I can fit you in my schedule.” In all their years at the estate, Kai could count Elijah’s actual jokes on one hand. His humor had usually consisted in tormenting him. Time had changed them.

  Different, but not bad. Less stoic and brooding, more open and relaxed. Ugh… It’s a little disturbing. It’ll take some getting used to.

  “I have a few thousand students desperate to meet me. Apparently, I’m a genius.”

  Elijah scoffed. “Or you just had a good master.”

  “Yes… that too, I guess.” Kai lengthened his stride to catch up as Nature Magic bent the branches out of the way. “He was decent. Occasionally, even passable. Right until one day, he ditched me with no actual explanation.”

  Despite his light tone, he mustn’t have hidden his feelings as well as he thought because Elijah abruptly halted. The faint rasp of leather as his gloved fists clenched underscored the impression.

  Uhm… shit.

  “Kai…” Elijah said, the word edged with a contained growl. His stiff shoulders kept his gaze fixed forward. “I’m sorry for leaving that way.”

  Uh?

  Kai blinked. Apologies were definitely a first. “It’s fine. I knew you wouldn’t stay forever, and you gave me the option to follow.”

  “Leaving your family and home was no real choice. And I sprung it on you without warning. I could have handled it better.”

  Damn… he has changed.

  “Well…” Kai bit his cheek. He had mostly gotten over it, but it still felt nice to hear. “Thank you. I appreciate it. I know it must have been an awful situation. Though… Why did you leave?”

  “Do you really need to know?” Elijah glanced at him, unreadable, then started walking again.

  “Knowing the reason might make it easier to understand.”

  Snapping twigs filled the void in conversation before Elijah finally spoke. “I had to disappear, so I came to the archipelago. Then, when the conditions changed, I had to return and set my affairs.”

  Not much to go on, though Kai was surprised to get an answer at all. “Why did you have to disappear?”

  Elijah kept his silence a minute longer. “My family was murdered. I alone survived.”

  “Oh…” Kai dumbly muttered. His mouth opened for the right words. His throat tightened, and he only managed a strained, “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine.” Elijah walked ahead, voice a touch hoarse. “It’s been years. Looking after a troubled kid offered me plenty of distractions. I’m glad you’re safe.” He stopped where the woodland opened around a winding creek. “Here is good enough.”

  Sunlight spilled through the pines and spruces into the grassy meadow. The hum of the woods softened with the burbling stream. Wildflowers ringed the edges, their colors vivid against the damp earth and smooth stones.

  Kai breathed in the fresh air. “What for—”

  Hallowed Intuition blared a warning—Spatial Shift wouldn’t help him. Mana burned through his veins. A sword appeared in his hand from the ring. He barely managed to raise his guard before the attack hit.

  Steel rang like a bell. The impact rattled up his shoulders as though it’d tear his arms from their sockets.

  Then the force vanished.

  Elijah stood back, holding a longsword with a dark gleam. “Looks like you weren’t lying. You do have a great danger skill.”

  What the—

  “What if I didn’t parry? Or I oversold it?” Kai glowered at him, tempted to strike back if only his hands stopped trembling. “Were you going to slice me open?”

  “Not fatally. I would have stopped the blood loss. And look, you’re fine.” His smirk carried a sharp edge of warning. “I knew you wouldn’t lie about your skills to your master.”

  Kai swallowed. “Of course not.” His fingers around the hilt hurt to unclench. “Did you have to strike that hard? What grade are you?”

  Elijah raised his sword with perfect form. “Remember how we sparred on the shore? Same rules. I’ll balance my mana and attributes with yours and use no offensive magic. Last three minutes, and I’ll tell you my grade. Lose, and you tell me your Favor. Fair deal?”

  “Uhm, I… yes. But—”

  A strike cut off the negotiation.

  “Time on.” Elijah smiled thinly.

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