Since it was the day of the banquet, there were no classes, however Cassian went to the Sword and Aura Discipline Circle as he wanted to train a bit.
When he entered the building, everyone looked at him as though he was the one to defeat the Dullahan.
What he did was necessary but it made things weird for him. He went and entered the meditation room.
Countless other members of the circle were inside as they meditated and flowed their aura through their bodies.
Cassian sat down and did the same, while focusing on what he needed to do next. This banquet was when the original Cassian died, he needed to survive and find out who was behind it and somehow survive.
Sharron, who arrived just a few minutes later than him, sat down next to him. For someone who actually saw him tank the attack she was rather composed.
The rest of the students were tense as though they saw a monster in Cassian. But even then she questioned him.
"That sword of yours, is a special sword right?" She asked with her eyes closed as she focused on her breathing.
Cassian studied her, he had thought that she would question how he tanked the attack but this was different.
Was she this much interested in swords? Surely she was a sword fanatic in the novel but that was much later.
Did my arrival alter how events would play out? I had anticipated something like this but, this is too early. He thought and clicked his tongue.
"As a matter of fact, yes, the sword is one of the swords which is made out of a special metal which can counter magic spells." Cassian replied and closed his eyes.
He remembered his previous life, in the military he would always sit down after a hectic day and just meditate under the sun. It helped in keeping his head clear as he couldn't risk mistakes as a captain.
But the peace was short-lived as Eric entered the room alongside Roland, both of them looked troubled by something.
"Cassian…" Eric called out, and Cassian opened his eyes.
Sharron was also distracted and both of her classmates walked towards the two seniors.
"Brother?" Sharron said because his face was serious and she knew how unserious he was all the time.
"Sharron, Cassian has been called to the Headmaster's office after we reported the incident to Professor Hawthorne." Eric replied and looked at Roland.
"As much as I…no we tried to tell them that you both struggled against it, Professor Hawthorne was not buying that." He sighed in between before continuing.
"He brought up the fact that only by deploying my sphere and having Eric with me, we were able to defeat it and no first years could hold against one themselves."
It happened again, and this time the Headmaster of the academy personally called him to her office.
Cassian, despite his continuous attempts to not garner attention, utterly failed in his objective. He didn't say a word, just nodded and left for her office.
***
The office was full of more boxes than when Professor Hawthorne had visited. Cassian sat in a chair and sipped on some tea she brewed for him.
"I was told by seniors Eric and Roland that you called for me. May I ask what is the matter, Headmaster?" Cassian politely asked.
During his half-assed writing of the novel he modelled the Headmaster after his ex-wife, a stubborn woman who would rather choose destruction over losing.
And what made it worse was the conditions he was called under, a first year student showing capability of an experienced fighter.
She didn't respond, just took small sips of her tea and looked at him. Her gaze was not random, it was focused, she had started to study him the moment he stepped in her office.
Then a small smile tugged at her lips, which confused Cassian more. "Cassian, you seem tense about something." She said and put her cup on the table.
He smiled in response to her, "meeting someone like you, for the time would make anyone tense up, Headmaster."
"Oh you flatter me young man, also call me Octavia instead of Headmaster. Makes me feel old." She chuckled.
Then she took out a piece of paper from a pile on her right and gave it to Cassian. He turned it towards him and started reading it.
"Professor Hawthorne, who rarely takes a liking to a student, came to me personally to tell me of you. Now under normal circumstances I would just take what he said not too seriously considering the fact that despite his cold exterior, he cherishes every student of his." She stopped and took a sip of her tea and continued.
"And him praising you was nothing major for me, but then Roland and Eric reported the incident with the Dullahan, and I have to say, this was the first time I had to reconsider my decision."
"So, I'm going to gamble here. If you volunteer to help win the inter-academy games I will take you as my disciple. You're also joining the student council, learn a few things from Luna and the others."
Her offer was nothing what Cassian had guessed, the paper in his hands went over some benefits he could get but this was a rather easy way to solve his problems, well most of them.
Him wandering out of the academy at night was an issue, but that could be tackled later. He sat there and thought of different ways his response right now could lead to.
"As much as I want to agree, I have to ask, what is the actual purpose of giving me all of this?" He asked.
Octavia who looked as if she had anticipated this response just smiled, "so Hawthorne was right, I was just testing to see if you could tell I had some other motive behind what I said."
"You're not the only one well versed in the art of manipulation and concealing the truth." Cassian said and got up from the chair, "I agree to these terms, thank you for giving me this opportunity."
"As expected from the son of Count Morrigan. We'll be seeing each other more often now."
As Cassian left her office, Professor Hawthorne who was being concealed by Octavia revealed himself, and hearing what Cassian had to say he thought about the suggestion she gave. He was going to recruit him into The Red Ledger.
***
[Chapter 11 - The Art of Manipulation and Concealing the Truth(2)]