I know it was you

'Nen Vows?'

Isaac and Xavier walked through the empty campus as they talked. Most students and Professors were currently attending classes or lectures.

It was rare to see students on campus this time of day.

But Isaac wasn't focused on his surroundings. No, instead his mind was completely engulfed in the new prospect Xavier had just introduced to him.

He always knew there were techniques past the Advanced skills like Gyo and En he'd learned, but this was something different.

"The reward for sacrificing something important. What are you willing to lose in order to gain power? That is a Nen Vow. An Equal trade. For me, it was my eyes."

Isaac stared as he heard this. To have sacrificed something so valuable, an equal amount of power must have been given.

Meaning Xavier was far stronger than Isaac thought.

'Adams told me about this when giving me the Eight Gates. The strongest power is the one with the most sacrifice.'

Isaac still remembered the day he heard these words. It had always loomed on his mind.

So much so that he started to ask himself, 'What will you do for power?'.

"So how does one perform this Nen Vow?" Isaac asked, to which Xavier chuckled.

"No no, as your instructor, I can't possibly encourage the practice of such unethical techniques."

Isaac furrowed his eyebrows as he heard this, turning his head, only for him to notice Xavier already staring at him.

"Well, as a professor that is." Xavier added, turning the next path that led away from Isaac as the boy simply stared.

"On the last day before the excursion, meet me in the auditorium where Nen Mastery class is usually held at sunset. That is, if you want to learn about this power and how to achieve it."

Xavier concluded, walking away as Isaac was left staring in the middle of campus.

'One week.'

There was one week left till the excursion. He'd been preparing effortlessly, from tiring training to complicated plans with Merlin that mostly relied on theories and predictions.

Not to mention his everyday problems like the upcoming battle against Jett and Oliver.

He knew he needed every advantage he could get, therefore, it seemed only right for him to visit Xavier on that day.

'He claims we need privacy for him to teach me about the Nen Vows. But if I had to guess, that isn't all.'

Isaac assumed there was something more Xavier wanted, but ultimately, he couldn't be sure unless he went there.

'Besides, I'm not waiting till there's one day left to learn about this.'

No, it wouldn't prove useful to him at that point.

He needed it earlier. And he knew what could help him.

***

~5 days later~

"Katlynn, how are you feeling?"

In a fairly sized room with a few sofas, a small kitchen and some snacks, a tall female with black hair and white strands, fashioned in a long robe could be seen sipping a cup of coffee before a pair of professors caught her attention.

"Boyle, Vincent, I'm feeling great."

Katlynn replied, looking at the man and woman entering what seemed to be the Professors' lounge.

During these past 16 days, Katlynn had long awoken from her short coma, answering the flurry of questions Harrison had for her.

"I'm still unclear on what happened." Vincent, the female on the left, spoke, prompting Katlynn to smile, answering the question like she did when Harrison asked her.

"I'm not too sure, either. The intruder appeared from thin air. Despite my best efforts, he proved to be vastly more skilled." Katlynn answered, finishing her coffee as she stood to leave.

"That's terrifying. I think the worst part is that the Intruder still hasn't been found."

Katlynn simply nodded with a smile.

"Hey, nice ring." Boyle added, noticing the sleek black ring on Katlynn's finger.

Taking a short glance toward it, Katlynn replied with a simple, "Thank you." As she left the lounge.

After a few seconds, Vincent and Boyle turned to each other, silent as they blinked.

"Is it just me, or does she seem…different." Vincent asked, to which Boyle quickly nodded.

"Yeah, she's nicer. I'd usually get a disgusted scowl if I were to compliment her." Boyle replied as Vincent nodded.

"Maybe that near death experience gave her some sort of rebirth." They chuckled.

***

"Not good enough."

Isaac stood in the middle of the forest surrounding the school, finding it an adequate location to train after having Merlin set up a few precautions rather than the always packed training grounds.

Additionally, after his training with the Eight Gates, he found he was somehow put on an unofficial 'list' by other students, mostly girls.

Currently, he could be seen shaking his head as he stared at the screen before him in dissatisfaction.

[Ghost's Passage ☆☆☆ (Progressible)]

[1st Passage: N/A]

Isaac hadn't had much time to focus on Ghost's Passage. The Art was one of the most valuable weapons in his arsenal, worthy to be called the techniques of a Zoldyck.

'If it's this good at 3 stars, how good will it be at 5 stars?'

Isaac knew this Art still had room to grow. He wasn't a true 'Ghost' yet. The art was limited to places that gave Isaac some coverage to hide the blur that would form upon activation.

Additionally, he'd never heard of a Ghost that had a physical body.

If he wanted to complete this Art, there were some cons he needed to fix.

And he knew the best way to start was creating his first skill for this Art, the First Passage.

Isaac stuffed his hands in his pocket as he walked out of the forest, heading to his dorm.

He spent most of his time in the forest, training, while the rest he spent in classes or plotting with Merlin.

He rarely had any time for anything else.

How could he?

With the day of their excursion drawing closer, he found himself plunged in preparation.

And most disturbingly, he still didn't know what the prophecy was.

He didn't know the aim of Onyx, which made them all the more terrifying.

Isaac simply sighed as he massaged his forehead.

"Hey, it's him."

"I can't believe he has the gall to walk around so casually after pulling a stunt like that."

"I'd beat the crap out of him myself if the Academy wasn't on high alert."

It didn't help that Isaac's problems were topped off by his new poor reputation.

His previous fame had instantly turned against him once the students learned who he was.

A lousy F-Rank who simply accepted this battle for selfish reasons like fame and attention.

'It's like they've completely ignored Harrison's part in all this.'

Isaac thought inwardly, walking through the countless glares and snarls he got on campus.

It wasn't until he'd reached his dorm building after quickening his steps that he was able to get some peace.

Walking through the hallway, he drew closer to his room. But as he did, he was quick to notice a familiar face leaned against his door.

Isaac paused in his steps, as the figure noticed him, smiling brightly.

"Hello, Isaac, I was hoping we could have a brief discussion."

Ava could be seen standing before Isaac's door, her usual kind nature evident in her wide smile and sparkling eyes.

Isaac raised an eyebrow, staring for a few seconds.

"You aren't here to take revenge for your friend, are you?"

He asked, remembering the previous day's events against him and Amara.

Ava chuckled, waving her hands.

"No, of course not. I've come for a different purpose." Ava reassured him.

Although Isaac wanted to ask why she was acting like that despite them being past these masks, he remembered it was her default mode in public.

Therefore, he instead decided to have some fun.

"Geez, Ava! I don't know, I feel slightly uncomfortable entering my bedroom with you! Why must you insist?!"

Isaac raised his voice, turning his head a few times to make sure his voice reached all corners of the hallway.

Despite his antics, he'd already passed the hallway, knowing it was empty and he doubted there were any students in their dorms at this time on a Saturday.

Ava's expression could be seen falter for a second as the corner of her mouth twitched and a vein bulged on her forehead, walking toward Isaac.

"I mean, I'm flattered, but don't you think people will start talking?! I mean, you're Ava Longfield and I'm a lowly F-Ranker…"

Isaac's words were cut short as Ava grabbed him by the collar, audibly grinding her teeth as her expression changed to an irritated one.

"Shut the hell up and get in the damn room." She whispered with a menacing tone, shoving Isaac toward his door as he stumbled.

"Alright, no need to get so handsy…let's save it for when we're behind closed doors." He snickered, watching Ava resemble a pot of water which was about to boil over.

Opening the door and hurrying his steps inside, he took a seat on his couch as he witnessed Ava take a few deep breaths, entering behind him and shutting the door.

"There isn't anyone else here, is there?" She asked, to which Isaac shook his head.

"No, Zach should be visiting the facility that's holding Oliver to ask a few questions. He'll be back soon though. Is this about the Aroze?"

Isaac asked, taking a seat.

"No, something else."

As Ava said this, she once again took a deep breath, Isaac confused and raising an eyebrow to her strange behaviour.

"I know it was you."

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Next chapter title: He has Awakened [Single chapter]

NNext chapter title : Excursion [1]

Well, I wonder who it is that has 'Awakened'

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