Preparing for the academy (3)

After Ciaran Maxamus left.

Olivia sat at the table as she processed everything Ciaran had told her.

Slowly a sinister smile appeared on her face.

He's good. She thought.

To be able to come up with that theory about another player was good. Unfortunately, it was wrong.

The other was nonother than herself.

She had been manipulating everything from the start. House Whiteguard was already under her control, even if they didn't know it. Her being betrothed to the heir of House Whiteguard. Only one was worthy of standing next to her, and he had just left.

I wonder who he thinks is the other player. She thought.

Things were proceeding according to her calculations. The only thing that caught her by surprise was that list of names. She would have to investigate those four individuals. If he was eying them, she needed to ensure they already worked for her.

Will I need to create a third player for this game? Olivia wondered as she prepared to leave.

After Ciaran left Olivia.

"Qhessa." I said in my mind as I left Olivia.

"Yes, master." Came the immediate whisper in my mind.

"Did you find anything?" I asked.

"She has taken precautions against my kin and all forms of psychic attacks." She said after a moment.

Clever. I thought.

"Yes, she is." She replied.

Stop reading my mind.

"Sorry, master."

Qhessa was the Queen of spiders. Whom I had forged a soul contract nearly four years ago, she was still unclear why she had formed one with me, but she has been an invaluable tool.

Even now. While I was 'distracting' Olivia. I had Qhessa infiltrate Olivia's room. Hoping to find any information on what she had planned for me.

That whole story about a third player was false. I knew she was behind almost everything that had to deal with me. The academy was her kingdom, and nothing happened without her knowledge.

"Did the spell I taught you work?" I asked Qhessa.

The unique thing about a soul contract was that our souls were linked. So, for those who were connected, we could 'absorb' the qualities of each other. It was honestly an overpowered ability, but the major downside was that the other could die if either of us were killed.

I 'absorbed' just enough of her soul to gain the ability to consume, and I was able to merge that with shadow magic. Allowing me to consume a person's shadow.

Remember when Embrues told me that a shadow was the window to a person's soul?

I can confirm that it was true. The more I consumed someone's shadow, the more I began understanding what a soul was, which gave me the idea.

What if I could alter my shadow magic to affect a person's soul? Who would be able to stand against me?

But that was an endeavor years away. I just needed patience.

Qhessa, on the other hand, had gained the ability to cast shadow magic. Although nowhere near powerful enough yet.

But the fact she could cast shadow magic, and with her offsprings acquiring that ability, gave me hopes for my future survival.

The spell I taught her.

Shadow Walk: Allows the user to walk in the shadow realm of the known world. Allowing them to affect the known world.

With this ability, she could get into heavily guarded or warded places, just like Olivia's room.

"I was able to get in and discovered she plans to use Baron Fairchild's daughter against you, master." Qhessa said after a moment.

"Anything else?" I asked as my mind began to race.

"She had dozens of plans, although some seem false, master." She responded.

She's clever. I thought.

"She's just like you, master." Qhessa said with a chuckle.

Stop it.

"Sorry, master."

"Just make sure you put everything back the way you found it. Also, make sure you trip the wards." I said as I got in the carriage.

"Master?" She said with confusion.

"Wouldn't it be odd if I wasn't investigating her?" I answered.

It took her a moment, but she finally realized what I was trying to say.

"I see. You want her to know that you were spying on her." She said.

"Yes. That way, she can believe we are moving according to her calculations." I finished for her.

"So, what now, master?" She asked.

"Find out everything on Baron Fairchild." I said as I closed my eyes.

At the residence of House Whiteguard.

"Surround him!" A guard yelled as they rushed a figure in the middle of the courtyard.

At least six guards surrounded the figure.

"Give up, your surrounded." Another guard said.

The figure stood motionless momentarily before suddenly giving a cruel smirk.

Instantly, he brandished two short curved swords and moved to the nearest guard. With no time to react, the unfortunate guard was the first to fall as his head was separated from his shoulders.

"Get him." Another shouted before a sword pierced their throats.

"Four left." The figure calmly replied.

The four guards charged forward, hoping to catch the figure off guard. With two slashing high and the other two slashing low. What happened next surprised all of them.

The figure jumped and tilted to the side while spinning, avoiding all four slashes. With a flick of his wrist, two more guards fell. Leaving the last two.

"Earth bullet." One of the two remaining guards shouted.

"Firebolt." The other shouted.

The two watched as the magic attacks streaked toward their target, but to their horror, the figure 'cut' both magic attacks causing them to dissipate.

With barely enough time to react, the figure rushed forward and ended their lives.

"Very good." Duke Whiteguard said as he watched his son quickly dispatch six enemies.

"Father." Leonard said as he cleaned his blade. "These bandits you hired were hardly a challenge." He said.

"You need to get used to fighting multiple opponents; that's why we hire bandits." The Duke said as he handed his son a letter.

"What's this?" Leonardo asked as he looked at the letter.

"Instructions from our benefactor." He coldly replied, walking off.

Reading the letter. Leonardo could help but smile.

Soon she will be mine. He thought as he destroyed the letter and headed toward the washroom.