Second after second, hour after hour, day after day, Alex observed it all. The person appointed by the church's hierarchy to watch over Cassie.
Back then, whilst Rachel, Cassie, and Alex went to sign up for the academy, something was completely off. And it was the activation spell.
(1 Week Back)
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[Activated Encantation Spell!]
└ Positional Lock!
[Description]
└ Anyone who has been given permission, followed by the user of this spell, can sense your position at any given moment.
[Beast Required To Create Such Spell]
└ ??????
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Alex opened his eyes for a slight second, then noticed something was off.
'This wasn't a sign-up,' he thought, 'It's for them to restrain us.'
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[Enchantment Cancelled!]
[Reason]
└ Long-lasting incantations that are deemed harmful to the user are automatically restricted based on their severity and potential damage.
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(Back to the present)
There was only one reason why Alex didn't bother mentioning it to Cassie. And it was because Alex wanted to use the individual or individuals watching over Cassie in pursuit of more knowledge.
And now, Alex was standing on top of the Inn's rooftop, looking down at a fully blacked-out individual, who had been observing Cassie for a while now.
That agent sent by the church tried summoning his beast, but it was all too late.
"Mind control."
Suddenly, the man before Alex fainted, as his expression darkened, "You're in my grasp now."
He walked forward, and the individual remained on the rooftop floor.
"Rise from your conscience, and become my agent. Work with me for success and for change. Work against the church while pretending to help them, and report back to me in any case. Become my servant," Alex closed his eyes, exhaling, "Mess with his conscience."
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[Mind Control Activated!]
[Rarity]
└ Legendary
[Description]
└ Allows the user to split any individual's conscience as long as they are caught off guard.
└ Lasts up until the user decides to remove the casting.
[Condition Met!]
[Mind Control Tweaking Nervous Signals…]
[Completed!]
[The person before you will now awake and act on exactly what you said]
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"Awake!"
In that moment, the person whose consciousness had been messed with started to find his grasp, breathing, but not confused.
When [Mind Control] was activated, the influx of memories and commands Alex forced upon him made him listen, like a daughter to her loveable father.
Once those memories surfaced in that man's mind, his consciousness split, and Alex's words took over.
He crouched down, taking off the small paper blanket that covered his front face, then bowed before Alex, who stood tall, confident.
"Thank you, sir, for this lovely opportunity. I shall become your two-faced agent. While conducting research on the church's hierarchy and reporting back to you, I'll also be helping them the same way as I have been from now on to escape from any suspicious regard."
Alex smiled gently and crouched over, "Yeah, that sounds fine. But, I need to know your name."
"How terrible of me." He looked up at Alex, "My name is Ron Von Vosterfold. I come from the land of Springville. I'm 22 years of age, and I go by him/he. I come from a family of individuals who have served the church for many decades now."
"Vosterfold?" Alex thought out loud, "I've heard of them before. What degree is your family in?"
"Sir, we are the 4th."
"Honestly, your last name sounds too cool not to be an aristocrat."
"Well, this is my unfortunate reality, as a non-royal. In any regard, I've been playing on the fifth and worst line of the scout team since I'm just starting. I don't have much information to give back as of yet, but once I continuously increase my rank, I will."
Alex sighed, "Good, good. For now, I don't need any information, because that isn't my top priority. I need to gain more strength first."
"How should we remain in contact with one another?" Ron asked, serious.
"Just report back to me whenever you have the chance. Though I'm going to be attending Nosguard Academy very soon, so find me when you can. Don't waste any effort to contact me when I'm free."
"Understood." Ron declared, "I'll seek the outskits for you then. I must continue keeping a close watch over Cassie, as she has been entrusted to me. It also ensures that I don't raise any suspicion.
"No worries, that's understandable." Alex looked around, then smiled, "I found your first mission already."
"You've sensed him as well?" Ron started sniffing, "Shall I deal with him?" He asked, politely.
"Is he also on the 4th line of the scout team?"
"He isn't," Ron whispered, "He's on the second."
"So then, do you have enough strength to handle him?"
"I'm not on the 4th line because I'm weak; it's because I'm new."
"Smell," Alex whispered. "Let's see how you do, Ron Von Vosterfold."
"I shall meet those expectations, sir."
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[Smell Active!]
└ -5 DE
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In that moment, Ron vanished, just as Alex turned his gaze toward the one watching them—another spy sent by the church.
He could sniff that man's position, so, without further, he jumped from side to side, closing his view.
"Quick step."
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[Quick step Activated!]
└ -10 DE
→ [Quick Step]
└ C-Rank
└ A movement technique that channels demon energy into the user's legs, allowing them to move at twice their normal speed for a brief instant. The sudden burst creates the illusion that the user has skipped through space, making it extremely difficult for opponents to react.
└ Duration: Instantaneous burst (≈1 second)
└ Cooldown: 5 Minutes
└ Cost: 10 DE per activation
[Limitations]
└ The ability only amplifies the user's current physical speed, meaning faster users benefit more from the skill.
└ Repeated use in short succession may strain the user's legs and reduce balance.
└ Cannot pass through obstacles or solid objects; the user must still physically travel the distance.
└ Maximum effective distance per activation: 8 meters.
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Alex started jumping from side to side, and then, he stepped forward, but it seemed like his body was ahead of where he stepped. It was as if Alex had already reached the position he was going to.
And, in the span of seconds, Alex managed to teleport from his rooftop to the one right in front, where the individual was spying on them. Alex, already at C-Rank in agility, doubled his acceleration and overall speed, pushing himself to velocities he had never reached before.
But by the time Alex arrived, Ron was already there, ready to fight.
Alex was right behind that individual, and then, he uttered one more thing, using a new skill he had just obtained.
"Intimidation."