Chapter 84: Invitation
Knock—!
"Yes?"
While looking through the countless books in his hands during his free time, Cillian suddenly heard a knock coming from outside his room.
"Dinner’s ready."
Cillian dropped the book he was reading onto the table, where a stack of books rested. He had done nothing but deepen his knowledge of mana to improve the use of his spells, practice them through the Training Mall whenever he had free time, and keep up with the latest news, not just on Viola, but throughout the whole world.
Not only that, Cillian had been diligent in his training. All he needed now was to sharpen them once he was out there fighting.
"I’m coming."
Cillian, who had been doing this for almost a week, said without expecting much from the incoming dinner.
But he sure was wrong about it.
...
"I’ve heard that the Academy is undergoing heavy changes regarding the matters that happened with the organization Black Shepherds."
Cillian stopped his fork halfway to his mouth when he heard his father deliver the news as soon as they started eating.
’School’s not over?’
Cillian couldn’t help but feel disheartened that he hadn’t been able to explore more of the world while remaining within Viola’s territory, especially after hearing that the Academy would soon make a decision about their future.
"What kind of changes, Dad?"
Ella called out to him, to which Leo replied.
"The students who survived will be transferred, preferably nearby. Either the Xesie Family or the Hanetry Family’s Sorcery Academies. This is merely a speculation. After all, there was still the Academy Tournament that had been postponed."
’Ugh.’
Is it important to celebrate the academy’s birth when those students who are alive have just gone through the worst experience of their lives?
Unless...
’Unless there’s something else going on behind this operation. If that’s the case, I don’t understand why Leo is willingly sharing this. Is he telling me because he’s worried about his son and wants everyone at the table to know?’
Cillian was inclined to think that it had to be the case. However, another surprise came after Leo informed another news, specifically for him.
"Also, Cillian. Fergus asked for your Brotherhood to reunite once more. He’s inviting all of you to attend the ball he ’made’ that is happening a few days later."
Cillian felt his ears about to come off hearing it before he outright said flatly.
"Can I decline?"
"You didn’t even ask for the time for this reunion party."
"It’s because I’m not going."
’Reunion, my ass. I’m not in the mood for playing house with that dude, who’s also another Death Flag from my vision.’
Cillian mused inwardly while happily munching the meat that melted on his throat, savoring the taste of it.
However, Leo was just there to ruin the mood.
"Cillian. Lord Khalish ordered the people who had entered Fergus’ Brotherhood and had survived to attend. Not just you, but every important individual will be there as well."
He grabbed the mail and handed it over to Cillian.
"This is the invitation."
Cillian watched the envelope on the table before a small sigh escaped his lips. He grabbed the invitation letter, tore it down before seeing the contents inside.
-"You are invited to the ball made by Fergus. Dress well."
’What a downer. Did he really arrange this or... no, that’s not important. Why the fuck is this guy still sticking with me? Have I not given him enough cues that I don’t want to do anything related to Viola, whether it his Father that had arranged this or not. ’
Cillian merely set the invitation letter down. He thought that was all until Leo added something else.
"It will be a different kind of ball, Cillian. This is not just a normal ball made by Fergus. Lord Khalish will make a deal with the nearby families, using this as a cover to pull the deal off. And, a lot of people are invited, including your therapist Arthur Potter."
Once Cillian heard that name, he slowly directed his gaze to Leo, who thought that he had made a mistake as he tried to cover it up, but it was already too late.
’I’m really being watched.’
Leo might have already known that Cillian was interested in learning more about Arthur, especially when little to no information about him existed. What little was known was already public knowledge.
It seemed Arthur wasn’t the only one who had been invited. Both familiar and unfamiliar names, people who had made a name for themselves throughout Viola, had also received invitations from the Lord.
Yet Cillian’s expression was clearly in denial.
’A ball, huh. Talk about a cliché setting where bad things usually happen. But I guess this can be confirmed that this ball is made by Khalish Viola, not Fergus.’
Once again, Cillian couldn’t help but wonder how the ball would turn. It could either end for the better or for the worse. It would be god’s grace if nothing happened in a place that was practically the center of danger for the upcoming days.
’If I think that something won’t happen, I’ll definitely jinx it. So I guess I’ll have to believe that something will happen and hope it will reverse the jinx?’
Cillian was amused by his own thoughts. He then looked around the table and found everyone waiting for him to answer.
’Ah, right.’
Only bad news awaits that ball. The bad omen aside, Cillian detested Fergus to the core, so seeing him again when he was doing well to avoid him so far is going to be a shitty experience.
But he was tempted.
Arthur was going to be there.
Cillian had no one he could send to observe Arthur. With influential families from across Viola attending, he would be just another insignificant person in the crowd.
’Oh! Maybe I can just ignore Fergus completely, even though this ball is for him? Hah, I really found it unbelievable that he made this. Is the Lord of Viola using his son as a tool, a chess piece right now?’
Suddenly, Cillian’s mood brightened as he realized he didn’t need to accompany Fergus there like a little dog. He could simply accept the invitation and hope Fergus would let him be.
’Or maybe I should just directly say it to him face to face that I quit?’
Cillian mused inwardly as few ideas came to his mind. Once he had considered them, he looked around the table.
"You guys are going to be there, right?"
The three of them nodded before they saw Cillian continue to answer.
"Then, might as well come."
’I wonder how Phillip and Vin are doing.’
...
Cillian returned to his room after taking a half-bath, wearing pajamas and soft cloth, before he resumed reading. He had planned on sleeping early so he could train first thing the next morning, but a small, weak voice called out to him from the side.
"Sup."
Cillian had to stop reading, glanced towards the side, and answered the Mouthful Eye looking at him while sighing.
"You’ve been inactive for so long."
Mouthful Eye chuckled and rolled towards the edge of the table where he was placed and replied.
"You should activate Whispering Sphere there, buddy if you want to have a secret talk with me. You haven’t been talking much or hearing ravings, right?"
"You’re always sleeping, so how could I use your abilities, man. But don’t worry, I’m fine."
Cillian used Mouthful Eye and activated Whispering Sphere that soundproofed the entire room if his family got curious and wanted to listen inside.
Now that it had been set, it was time to begin talking.
"First, how long are you going to be awake? I want you to scan someone if they have Pieces [Four] or below. I can’t have you sleeping suddenly and disrupting the plan. I’m planning on doing it once so that this person will not notice."
"I can try to be awake for a pretty good week. You do what you got to do."
Cillian raised a brow, finding it suspicious that this sleepy talking artifact was going to be ’awake’ when it had done nothing but sleep.
Mouthful Eye shouted, seeing that annoying face.
"Hey! I will try, okay?! Tsk, you still don’t trust me when I helped you from time to time."
"I don’t remember helping you that much. Your role as a valuable helper is thinning each day. It’s like I have to wait for you to wake up just to make use of you."
"Okay, now you’re hurting my feelings."
Cillian smiled before putting the book he was currently reading aside and asking a question.
"Second, I want you to hear my opinion about this guy named Arthur Potter. Believe me, I still can’t grasp anything that can point to what this guy is. He appeared rather helpful but... I have a cheat that can determine whether this guy is dangerous or not, and he’s on the latter side."
"Cheat?"
Mouthful asked before Cillian clarified.
"I mean, I have a skill that can determine that this guy is bad news, and what he appears to be on the outside is different from what he truly is. Just shut up and listen, will you? I will make things clear."
"I mean, you don’t need to make your words complicated. What do you mean you have a cheat, though?"
Cillian paused.
"It’s like having a good ability. Just— Okay, I won’t explain any further, but that’s pretty much what a cheat is, but I can’t tell you exactly what it is."
Mouthful Eye showed signs of curiosity and replied cheekily.
"Now I’m starting to get curious. Okay, don’t tell me anything related to it. I’m just going to observe and find it out."
"You can try."
’You really won’t be able to see it since I’ve been spamming it for as far as I can remember and can assure you that only I can see it.’
Cillian thought inwardly before shaking his head.
"Hey, Mouthful Eye. Shut up. We’re getting sidetracked here, and we have a lot to talk about. Starting from the first time we met until today."
The Mouthful Eye instantly turned quiet and started to listen to Cillian’s words. The night silently went by, yet the more Cillian continued to tell about Arthur, the more the Artifact reacted differently.
’Huh? The way this Arthur moved is so familiar.’