The academy no longer smelled of smoke. That unsettled Angus more than the explosion itself.
The courtyard had been restored too quickly. The broken stone was already cleared and the scorch marks were washed away. Several mana-stitching spells were quietly repairing what had been shattered.
By the time he arrived, the place looked almost peaceful. It was too peaceful amidst the recent incident.
Before he reached the restricted section, the staff members began appearing as if they were pulled by invisible strings.
"Master Angus!"
"We are honored by your presence."
"We are grateful that you came personally."
Their smiles were wide, their bows were slightly too deep, and their admiration was unmistakable.
Such strength always attracted the attention. In a place like this where the talent was currency and the power meant survival, the men like him were idols.
Only a handful of teachers greeted him without eagerness since those with comparable magic did not need to worship him.
Angus preferred them because he did not come here for admiration. He came here for the answers. When he stepped into the sealed perimeter, he released his senses.
The air trembled faintly around him as the invisible waves of perception expanded outward. The mana residue was like a scent to him. It was imperfect but revealing.
The explosion had not been wild. It had been structured and it was a violent bloom yet layered.
The pressure had spiraled inward before detonating outward and such creation required the control. He crouched and placed his hand inches above the cracked ground. The residual energy pulsed faintly beneath the surface.
"Such explosion would have killed many students here…" he murmured.
Not only the explosion would injure the victims, it would also kill the victims, completely decimating the people into ashes.
The students of this academy, even the talented ones, would have been erased yet, Alicia survived because Baston stood in front of her. That detail did not sit comfortably in Angus's mind.
On the way here, Alicia had explained that Baston blocked the impact. The word refused to settle inside his heart because such simple poor fat boy couldn't have such ability.
He replayed Alicia's words carefully.
She had not seen it clearly since the flash blinded her. After that, the pressure came and Baston stepped forward. In the end, everything vanished and everyone remained unscathed.
Even with a noble family's protective artifact, Alicia had felt the shockwave. Apparently, how could Baston felt nothing in the end?
Angus straightened slowly, "Did he block it with his own magic or did he possess a defensive item?"
There was a third possibility but he did not voice it. Such thing was too shocking to happen in this simple Prius Academy.
*****
Angus visited Alicia immediately after inspecting the site.
Her dormitory was refined despite the academy limitations. The polished furniture, the soft lamplight, and the curtains were drawn precisely. The atmosphere was very good and disciplined.
Two knights stood behind her and they were silent plus observant. Angus appreciated that.
"Tell me everything again," he said.
Alicia nodded and began from the moment she noticed Baston who was behaving strangely, from the decision to follow him, from the following in the underground room, and from the sudden appearance of the clown-faced man.
Angus listened without interruption.
"He wore a mask…" Alicia said carefully, "It was white with a painted smile."
"A clown mask?" Angus asked.
"Yes… But the expression felt unnatural…"
"How so?"
"He was smiling too widely as if he carved his own smile."
The knight to her right stepped forward slightly, "We did not detect him until he revealed himself, Master Angus."
That sentence troubled him since even the skilled concealment left the traces. The fact that the two knights couldn't spot the clown signified that he was in different realm.
"The mana around him felt layered," the second knight added, "He was like the overlapping veils."
The layered concealment already displayed his skill. That was not a beginner work.
"And he threatened you?"
"With a bomb…" Alicia replied quietly, "He called it a game in order to halt the explosion."
"We did not dare to act hastily," the first knight said, "Since he held the control, we couldn't act rashly."
"I signaled for help only when his attention shifted," the second knight admitted, "Had he not been distracted, we might not have escaped."
"Where was he when I arrived?" Angus asked.
"He just disappeared…" Alicia said.
"Instantly?"
"Yes…"
Angus walked toward the window, "Even though I had already concealed my presence, he still spotted me. That was why he escaped…"
Very few in this kingdom could sense him before he allowed it. If the masked intruder sensed him, it meant one thing. Either he was stronger or he had been observing from somewhere beyond the conventional detection. Both possibilities were unacceptable.
What Angus did not know was that the puppet had not sensed him. It was just merely a coincidence since Baston who thought everything was over, dismissed it too quickly.
That single mistake reshaped Angus's evaluation.
When the recounting ended, Angus did not speak for several moments. His thoughts were not fixed on the clown since he circled Baston on his mind.
The boy was poor, slightly plump, often bullied, and very unremarkable. Yet, the boy repeatedly positioned himself at the center of the irregular events.
The first time they met, Baston had not trembled. The children usually did and the adults were careful toward him.
His status and strength already showed indifference toward everyone. But still, Baston had spoken normally. He did not treat him arrogantly and deferentially but he was simply without fear.
Was that ignorance?
Was that confidence or indifference?
"Could you summon him?" Angus said at last.
Alicia nodded but she hesitated since the matter of the cult was still a secret. She didn't wish to complicate the situation.
"Uncle… Please do not misunderstand him..."
Angus turned toward her. That was not political caution since that was her personal request. Such thing that came from her was quite interesting.
*****
In the meantime, Baston returned to his underground dormitory long after the sunset.
The air was damp plus cool and the narrow stone walls absorbed the sound. His room had always felt like a grave with a door. Tonight, the room felt smaller.
He wanted to sleep but the old book trembled. It did not shake violently since it just gave a faint vibration against the wooden desk.
Baston sighed and he already knew. With no other choice, he opened it.
The final page shimmered faintly. The ink formed slowly as if the book was written by the invisible fingers.
"Convince someone to make you less suspicious while being investigated…"
He stared at the words for a long time. He did not need to guess the identity of this someone. The order should point to Angus.
The timing was precise and the old book never gave an easy tasks. This time, he must convince the great wizard. With his current identity, he mostly would be deceiving the old man.
He had to convince his target and that thing implied the sustained belief. This would not be a single sentence solution. He leaned back against the cold wall.
If Angus asked about the explosion, he could redirect.
If Angus asked about the cult, he didn't know what he should do.
Angus would surely test the boundaries. He would ask the seemingly unrelated questions and observing his reactions. Baston felt cornered already. While he was wondering about the quest, three knocks suddenly echoed against his door. It was measured and calm knock.
He soon froze, thinking if it was Angus. The quest had appeared at the same time the man arrived at the academy.
It had to be him.
He inhaled slowly and opened the door. Thankfully, it was Alicia. The relief flashed across his face for half a second before he controlled it.
"My uncle wishes to meet you," she said, "Can you come with me?"
He did not want to if he could say the words.
Everything inside him screamed rejection but the refusal would look suspicious. Besides, there was a quest he needed to complete. Once again, his fate had been decided.
"How about tomorrow morning?" he replied evenly, "It is already late at the moment."
Alicia considered it, "That is reasonable. I will inform my uncle then."
She paused before leaving, "He may ask about today's event. You do not need to mention the cult since I did not tell him."
That piece of information eased his mind slightly. It was already good enough. At least, one problem had been avoided.
After she left, Baston closed the door slowly.
If Angus did not know about the cult, that topic remained sealed. However, the explosion itself was still a dangerous territory. He had created the cult as the narrative himself.
If Angus pressed for a name, how he could explain the matter?
He would be exposed instantly. If that would surely happen, he must avoid answering directly.
If Angus asked, he should not merely respond. He must redirect and take control of the direction. Even though so, he wondered how he could do it.
Angus's presence alone was oppressive. Standing in front of him felt like standing beneath a mountain.
*****
The evening bell rang and Baston forced himself to eat.
On the way to the small restaurant, he began noticing something unusual. It was the whispers from every people around him.
Many eyes had been following him and the conversations was abruptly stopping as long as he passed by. He slowed his pace and listened carefully.
"Did you hear? Alicia went to his room."
"What? Why?"
"Maybe, he blackmailed her..."
"That fat guy?"
"Maybe, she's using him..."
"Perhaps, to be a fake boyfriend during the vacation."
"I'm more handsome than him! She should choose me then rather than him."
The laughter happened and the exaggeration commenced. The rumors spread like a mold in the damp stone corridors.
The class beauty was visiting a poor boy's room personally and the people already thought it was impossible without the scandal.
Since they could not believe the happening romance, they invented the schemes.
Baston felt a chill since this could escalate. After all, the jealous students were unpredictable.
He quickened his pace and slipped into the restaurant. For now, it was better to disappear from their sights.
*****
Somewhere else, Panto leaned against a pillar, listening to similar whispers before he frowned regarding the romance between Alicia and Baston.
It was truly ridiculous since he knew the connection between them only was related to the cult. It was just an information exchange and nothing more.
But sometimes, the perception mattered more than the truth.
If the noble suitors heard these rumors, Baston would be in danger. If the merchant heirs reacted, Panto could intervene but anything beyond that was hopeless.
"What should I do…" he muttered.
He needed to observe first and intervene later. That was the safest and he believed so.
*****
Back in his underground room, Baston shut the door firmly. Tomorrow's meeting loomed like the execution.
If Angus pressed him directly, he would struggle to maintain his composure. He was afraid that he would reveal something under such power.
Fortunately, he had the puppet. It lacked the expressions, did not sweat, and did not tremble. If the puppet spoke instead, no fear would be visible. However, he had to erase his existence first.
In this world, there must not be two of his body. He must not stay around where someone might notice him. Once Angus found something strange, the matter would be very complicated to solve.
He stared at the old book and an idea formed even though it was risky.
He placed his finger against the final page, focusing on one thought. He had to hide and he must go hiding inside. The surface of the parchment felt strangely soft.
His fingertip soon sank slightly and he jerked back before he was slowly pressing again. This time, his finger entered like dipping into the water.
His heartbeat quickened but he pushed further. It started from his hand, arm, and shoulder. His body was drawn inward and the old book gladly accepted him.
Within seconds, he submerged and the darkness embraced him fully before his awareness woke him up.
He could see the room from the book's perspective. He could not move and he tried to speak but nothing came out. His body was suspended inside the pages.
He didn't know whether this was a prison or the sanctuary. He ordered the puppet mentally then the puppet moved and picked up the book. His field of vision shifted as it turned.
He could see and he could observe but he just could not act directly. A slow smile spread across his real face even though no one could see it.
"If I hide inside the book…" he whispered internally, "And let the puppet handle the meeting…"
It had no expressions, no heartbeat fluctuations, and no fear. Angus would just interrogate a wooden mask. This could work but there were risks.
If the puppet were destroyed while he was inside, what would happen?
If someone separated the fake him from the old book, the puppet would be at risk of getting lost connection before disappearing.
He then returned to the outside cautiously, emerging from the old book beside the desk. His experiment was good and the exit point had been confirmed.
He exhaled slowly, "This should be enough..."
He closed the old book carefully. Tomorrow would determine everything.
At the outside, the academy slept yet the suspicion grew in the inside.
Somewhere within the shadows of restored stone and whispered rumor, a game had just begun.
It was a game full of statements with some doubts.
In this game, the one who controlled the suspicion would survive.