CHAPTER 8

A week had pass and I already managed to heal to the extent to do some light work. Right now, I'm watching Elise who was buried in a pile of paperwork that was given to her looking like a dead fish in the middle of the desert.

"I'm done with this….." (Elise)

"C-c'cmon Elise… just a couple more…." (Saraha)

Elise who was having her head on her desk just burst into tears after hearing her best friend's words and started to grumble like a little kid. It will be a funny scene if this was a comedy show, but I'm started to felt sorry about her. Saraha too looks really tired for some reason since earlier.

"H-hey, you guys… If you want to, go and get some rest and let me handle-"

"No! We will do this together…!" (Saraha)

Before I could finished my words, Saraha suddenly shout in a serious tone and tells me that we should do the work together. She seems to me change in some way that I couldn't put my thought about it since I recuperated from my injury.

Seeing that the two will not bat an eye to my opinion, I continue to take my seat on the desk with the two and started to do some paperwork. Most of the things there were about the students management and reports on the students marks. Looking at this, aren't this just like an office works? There's not much difficulty to do this stuff. Only several things to mark and adding points.

"You look like you enjoying this…" (Elise)

Elise spoke to me while having a bag eye on her eyes. Unbeknown to me, I already stack some paperworks that already being reviewed and the two looked to me with a bewildered gazes.

"Not only you proficient in battle, administration works seems to be your thing too… how amazing…" (Saraha)

Its weird to have Saraha complement me like that since our relationship is not that good, For my view though…

"Thats why I told you guys to take a break and let me handle this. It seems that the both of you are quite useless in between."

Oppss… my thought got out and the air between us got awkward than before. Thought, I did had been angry for Saraha's uselessness in group battle before. Not to mention that she's been a bane of my existence in the academy. Seeing the two become gloom because of my remarked-

"I'm sorry because I'm useless…." (Saraha)

Saraha suddenly apologized to me while hanging her head.

"Hey! I know that we both are only a burden and got you almost killed, but we already apologized about that! Why are you still being mean to us!?" (Elise)

Perhaps seeing her friend in a pitiful state makes Elise became agitated towards me. Its true that they both already apologized to me when I still bedridden days ago, and I did accept their apology because its already happen and I managed to survived thanks to Elise miracle Healing Ability. But the thought I almost died because of them still lingers inside my mind and I did harbor a slight hate towards them.

"Yes… I did accept your apology because I was thankful to your Healing Ability, Elise. But you are the reason that I almost died."

"Wha-" (Elise)

"If only you didn't go back to where I was, I maybe could hold up until Captain Mirada reach my position."

Mirada had told me that she got to where I was not long after Elise collapse and had put her self in danger by using a forbidden spell that endanger her own vitality. Thankfully, Mirada had some potions on her and manages to saved her before she lost her life. Hearing this just makes me angrier to her recklessness after having the trouble to lead them out of harms way. Even Saraha who she left behind were in a bad spot and almost got eaten by a monster if not Mirada's quick actions. Gosh, this girl is stupid beyond comprehension. What a waste of a good looks. Sigh….

Seeing that my words had a point, Elise who was flipping out earlier became quite like a hamster and went back sitting her chair. Saraha who was gloomy earlier too still kept quite and didn't move her hands.

"Just go and take a break. I'll finished this alone."

(clatter)

Saraha abruptly stand up, making her chair fall to the floor.

"Do you really hate me…?" (Saraha)

I didn't replied her words and continue to do the paperwork while ignoring her. Seeing me like that, she burst out from the room while Elise who seems to be out of words to throw at me to stand up for her friend, follows her not long after.

"Sigh…"

Thankfully, this room was designated especially for our group to use and there were no other people in it. If the teachers or students see how I act, more rumor will surface that I was a shitty person who treat his group like a bastard.

"Maybe I gone too far…"

I should apologized to the two after this seeing that I'm not acting like i usual do. It will be a problem if our group became disorder because of infighting. That will surely ruin our group score for this test.

"Sigh…."

I return to finished the pile of paper works that the two were unable to finished. If only sei is here with me, I really need a drink….

..................…

I finished the paperwork stuff on the afternoon and went to find Trysia for my magic lesson that I ask her for. But she does had a peculiar place to set up our lesson as per her behalf. She told me to go to her room for our lesson. Its kinda weird that she told me to go here. But still, this is only for lesson purposed. Nothing more.

(knock)

"Its open…" (Trysia)

I open the door after hearing her voice behind the door.

" After you enter, lock the door please." (Trysia)

I did as I was told and lock the door after. But when I turn to look at her-

"Uhm… is that necessary?"

"Hmm…?" (Trysia)

Trysia who was in a wear that you could only say, in nightware, acts like nothings happen. The lingerie is so transparent that I could almost see everything beneath it! No… I can see everything!!! Holy cow!

"You too should take off your clothes." (Trysia)

Eh…!? Is she for real? Not that I want to rejected her offer, but still…

"Why are you still standing like a frozen corpse? Hurry and strip." (Trysia)

"T-then… p-please treat me well…"

I strip my clothes left the underwear. She then led me to a spot where the floor was drawn with a big magic circle on its surface. Is she wanted to make love in this spot? Like that ritual on a movie name that I cant pronounce here? What am I getting in to…!?

"Why are you looking like you are about to be sacrifice? Just take a sit on the magic circle and held your arms." (Trysia)

"Y-yes..!"

Nope… nothing happen like you thought it would. It seems that we only meditated while sitting cross leg on the magic circle while had our both hands connected towards each other. According to Trysia, she first wanted to check how much capacity that I had. Turns out, exposed one skin like this seems to be the easies way to see the aura that came from oneself.

Screw me and my dirty thoughts! I'm not disappointed! (while looking on her bountiful bosoms)

"Keep on it… focus on my mana…" (Trysia)

"Y-yes!"

I did as she told me to do. For a person who was from another world with no knowledge about this kind of thing, my wisdom with mana is soo limited to only what Reed had memories on. But I was stunned by the first time I felt it. The Warmth suddenly arouse from her palm and slowly flows to every part of my whole body. Whoa! It felt like a pleasant calm suddenly envelops my whole body.

"Its amazing… so, this is mana?"

"Close your eyes and feel it. Then transfer your mana to me." (Trysia)

I closed my eyes and concentrate the energy I felt towards her palm. How calming… its like my whole body became a liquid that moves in any way I wanted. It felt like I'm flying! I then imagine to pour it back to her palm just like I felt before. Though I still felt soo pleasant and calm.

"S…"

I want to feel more! I then pour more mana towards her palm as much as I can. I couldn't even hear any words that Trysia says to me. I think she wants me to give her more.

"….tp.."

Huhaa….! This feeling, its soo addictive! Its like I'm floating on warm water surface. Just like that time when I visit the warm hot-spring near my hometown when I was a little.

"R…."

I want-

"Reed…!!" (Trysia)

"Huh?"

I heard Trysia's screaming my name and I quickly open my eyes.

"Oh crap…!"

I was graping Trysia's hand without my notice as she was struggling to hold on to my hands. Se seems exhausted and sweating like mad right now.

"S-stop channeling your mana… please…!" (Trysia)

I quickly let go of her hand after she beg me so. After I let go of her hands, she quickly catches her breath as she struggle to support her body with her hands whom was wobbly.

"Gods…! I almost died. Why didn't you stop when I told you so!?" (Trysia)

"I-I uh…"

She seems quite angry because I didn't hear her earlier to stop. As I felt guilty of my actions, I went to help her but she stopped me from getting nearer.

"No… if we touch again, I don't know if I could hold it in me. Gods… just what a monster are you? Is this the Tome's work…?" (Trysia)

While sweating and gasping, she lay herself down on the floor adjacent to where I was sitting. I don't know where to look… eh what…?

"Wait… what do you mean 'monster'?"

"Its you, of course! I had train for a century to raise my mana capacity and it only reach to the thousand. To think that someone other than me who was prided with an enormous mana capacity got beaten by a brat who lived only a couple of decades. I say, you are a monster…." (Trysia)

"Now… that just plain rude. I'm just a regular person you know?"

She laugh as if I just make a joke. She then wakes from the floor then looks towards me.

"Yea, yea… that's all for today. I don't know if I wanted to continue your lesson after that." (Trysia)

"C'mon…! Its only been a couple of minutes, isn't it? Why stop now?"

It haven't been an hour and she wanted to stop? I want to learn more. Not to mention, that feeling… I want to experience that once more…

"You idiot! Look at the time!" (Trysia)

She points to the clock on the wall and its pointed at 12. When I came here, I did remember to check the time and I think its about 3 in the afternoon. Wait?

I quickly look outside the window glass and I could see the moon was high up In the sky. The heck?

"Sigh… it seems that you reach the Realm of Tranquility… I don't know what to make you right now…" (Trysia)

She looks really irritated as she heard my reaction on how I was loosing the track of time. I ask her about it and she started to explain to me.

"For a normal magician, it will took considerable amount of practice and time to reach the Realm of Tranquility. Even me who was one of the kingdom's top magician only reach that decade ago." (Trysia)

"So, you are saying that I'm somewhat special?"

"Rather than special, you seems to be a monster of some-kind…" (Trysia)

"Thats just rude…"

She then relax herself on the couch while enjoying her tea that she pour just now.

"Then, how should I practice my magic from now on?"

"Just do like I told you earlier. Meditating yourself will build your own understanding about your own mana capacity. Theres not much I can help you with, considering that you are more than I could handle." (Trysia)

"Why did I had the feeling of being abandon by my teacher in just the first day of my lesson?"

She didn't reply my question and continue to sip her tea.

..................

The next morning, I found myself bowing towards Saraha and Elise as we were starting to do our office work that had been given to us by the administrations. I wanted to apologized to them yesterday but for some reason, I couldn't find them anywhere and I was strictly observed by the staff for my condition so I was unable to go around the fort aside the places that was designated for me.

"I'm sorry about yesterday."

"N-no… its fine… we kno-" (Saraha)

"No. I was rude to both of you. So I'm apologizing for my rudeness."

"Give it up Sara… this bastard seems to be serious about this." (Elise)

While Saraha seems to be reluctant to my apology, Elise who had some annoyance towards me tells her friend to accept my apology. After the two accept my apology, we then continue to work on our paperwork like we done yesterday. Though, the two seems to be having a bit of trouble handling their portion of the work but still manages to finished it before lunch. After asserting the papers, the three of us went to the mess hall to get some lunch. But the air between us still awkward all the way with not one of us tried to actually open a conversation.

"Uhm… Reed…" (Saraha)

The one who breaks the silence was the vampire girl whom seems to be having a trouble facing towards me as the three of us were sitting on the bench together after taking our meals.

"Yea?"

"Could you help me with my combat training…?" (Saraha)

Seeing her acting docile just destroy her usual Vlad aura while in the academy. She do had some sides that are refreshing to my view… but enough about that for now.

"You want me to teach you?"

She nods her head. I see… it seems that the life and death experience did awoken something inside her that wants to change from her princess life. According to what I heard from the people who went with her route, she was quite the gentle girl than her usual mischief and bloodthirsty behavior. This is because of her back-story that involved with her family. She in early age was a caged girl that was used by her clan as a political tool. Though her family was the main branch that control the vampire race, she don't have any good childhood memories. What makes it worse that her own mother was killed by a rival clan when rebellion happen in her hometown. Such a tragic back-story if I must say.

She had a high vitality like her father the vampire count and was a dark knight commander. Thus her role in a battle is suited to become a tank. But considering that she had a small body built like a normal teenage girl, its quite hard for her to accustom to a group battle coordination. And the reason why I didn't pick her as my potential capture targets in the game was because of this also. Sure she will be a good tank In the future, but the time to build her is a pain, to be honest…

"Can you teach me…?" (Saraha)

Quit with the puppy eyes, dammit! She makes an innocent gaze as she stared deep to my eyes. I didn't particular find her character this attractive in the game before… but looking at her in real life sure change everything, isn't?

"Sigh… alright! But let me heal first."

"Thank you!" (Saraha)

Don't act all happy like I given you some candy, girl! But still… I could feel that she really wanted to change for the better, I guess thats enough.

"Speaking of healing… Eli… I'm grateful that you saved me from dying before. Without you, I might died already. So again, thank you…"

I turn my sight to Elise who was eating her lunch and thank her. I didn't had the chance to thank her before because things. But I guess I'll take this moment to thank her for that.

"Y-y-you welcome…! Though, its my fault that you almost died." (Elise)

She was stammering at first, but it seems that she take my words well. Now that we manages to get our group back to a good start, we then started to eat our lunches together. Its not bad eating with two beauties like this.

After our lunch, we went separate ways and promised to meet up at the evening to make our plans for the time we spent in the fort, For our group plan of course. The two return to their quarters while I went to search for the head teacher after being told by one of the staff to meet with him on the administer office. When I reach there, I was greeted by familiar face whom I met on the night of the opening ceremony for the practical examination.

"Ah… you finally here… can I had a private conversation with this boy, Ser Regor?"

The head teacher then nod to the shady person whom was Alain in disguise that seated on the couch and leave the room leaving the two of us alone.

"Using all shady manner just to meet with me? Are you after my body, old man?"

"Quite you! Sigh… don't you want to hear my report about Miss Crissy?" (Alain)

I did ask him to do that didn't I? It seems that this person is really reliable. Though his actions for this is solely because he wants the Tome. I then takes a seat adjacent to him on the couch.

"So, how was Miss Crissy?"

"Countess Celise, your mother's letter had reach us and she now are in your Estate's care in the capital. It seems that she accepted her fate to bare the child that was forced to her and agreeing to be your mistress. Her child and heath are in good conditions also." (Alain)

"Thats good to hear… in the future, please convey me if this things happen first, alright?"

"Yea, yea… and the Tome?" (Alain)

Seriously this old man…? Is the Tome that a big a deal for him? I guess this settles that. I then ask him to lend me some papers to make the copies. It didn't take me a long time to finished it because its just a bunch of words and some magic circle. But still… aren't my handwriting become soo diligent right now. And the magic circle drawing was nice also. Anyway, after having to copies all of the first chapter of the Tome of Knowledge, I pass to Alain who is like a child that was excited to be given a present in his birthday. Act like your age, old man. Shess…!

"Huh? What is this?" (Alain)

He had a confused and lost expression as he read the papers that I had given to him.

"Whats wrong?"

"This… what kind of language is this characters? I can understand the magic circles, but the language is incomprehensible. Are you tricking me and gave me a fake one?" (Alain)

"Now, now old man… are you calling me a lair? I gave you a copy just as you ask me to. And the language is just as we spoken right now. Are you sure it wasn't because your old eyes?"

"I'm not joking! I can't read a single letter in this paper!" (Alain)

As he was grumbling because he couldn't read the papers I gave to him, I take one of it and started to spell it out for him.

"There. Easy to understand. Eh, what? Why are you looking like that?"

Alain just had his jaws dropped as he looked towards me after I finished reading the text.

"Didn't you heard yourself!? What kind of language is that!?" (Alain)

"The hell man!? Stop screaming on my ear. I said those words like we converse right now. Just what is so hard to understand by that?"

"You seriously don't hear yourself just now?" (Alain)

While holding his head with his palm, he let out a heavy sigh while he rested his back on the couch. Seeing that this is going nowhere, I once again read the letter on the paper.

"There! Don't you hear yourself!? Just what kind of language is that!?" (Alain)

I don't know why is Alain acting like this but it felt strange to me. All I speak of was ****** language.

"Eh?"

The heck!? What was that? ****** ###### fuck! @@@@@@, the hell!?

"O-oi… whats wrong with you…?" (Alain)

"O-old man… what language are we speaking right now…?"

I ask Alain who was seems to be agitated while looking towards me.

"W-whats with that weird question? Of course we talk In Remaya's language, the language of this world? Whats getting in to you just now?" (Alain)

What kind of language is that!!!? I thought we are speaking in ******….. Oh no… it never came to me on the language of this world in the first place. So all this time I was speaking in a different language!? The hell!? How did I not noticed it before!?

"O-oi…!? Don't scare me like that brat." (Alain)

I ignore Alain's questions and find another book was on the shelves. As I open the book to check the contents of it, I clearly understand the texts that was written on it. Not content with the book in hand, I once again takes another to check the contents. I can read them like always! But wait… like always? I take the paper that I copy the Tome and compare it to the ones in the books. As I saw my hand written, I felt my skin crawl.

"The hell is this…?"

"W-what!? Stop scaring me!" (Alain)

The characters that I written in ****** is different than the ones in the books. Is this the thing that happen in the 'isekai' novels where the the language is auto translated?

"Aha… ahahahahah….!"

"Brat! Stop it…!" (Alain)

Seeing me laughing all of a sudden makes Alain even more agitated than earlier. I thought that I was speaking in the language I know on earth, but it seems that I was speaking in a language that never being heard In the history of mankind on earth. The hell did I not noticed this before. I had mix feeling on how to feel about this, but it seems that its become more interesting and somehow frightening.

"Hey old man. Do you understand ******?"

I ask Alain to make conformation on this matter.

"How could I understand it!? Its just like the ones you spoken of earlier. Its heard like gibberish to me. The hell did happen to you?" (Alain)

"Welp, thats that… it seems that I couldn't transcribe this Tome, Alain. Even though I wanted to, its impossible to say at least."

"W-wha-" (Alain)

"But don't worry… it seems that I can teach this rather than gave the hard copy for the chapter to you. You remember about the club that a fox tribe girl was managing?"

"What are you talking about? Sure there were a club like that in the academy that was led by the fox-kin about magic… don't tell me…" (Alain)

"Yup… I was the one that raised their compatibility in magic circuits."

Though I was just messing with them in the first place.

"No wonder those commoners who don't had any compatibility with magic suddenly know how to used them! How did I not noticed this?" (Alain)

Alain then muttered to himself while in deep thinking. I let him to have his thoughts as I returned the books that I 'borrowed' earlier. Then suddenly-

"Then, please teach me!" (Alain)

"Wha-"

"Take me as your student! Teach me more about magic!" (Alain)

He suddenly kneel towards me like a student whom given himself towards his teacher. Though it surprise me with his sudden request, I'm out of words.

"Wait, shouldn't it suppose to be the opposite? Please don't kneel to me, old man!"

"No! You had the Knowledge of the Gods! I should do this the moment I hear about the Tome in your possession…" (Alain)

"C-cmon old man..!? Please stop with the kneeling! Its weird!"

"Then take me as your student! Share with me the Knowledge that make the world trembles!" (Alain)

Rather that a student, you sound like a fanatic! Is this what they called 'thirst for knowledge'? It seems that this old man will not get up from kneeling before I take him as an apprentice. Man, this will be though…..

..................….

I accept Alain's request to become my student earlier to make him stop kneeling. Thank goodness that the head teacher was not around to see that. Hell, I don't even know how to handle that situation if anyone was around.

Right now, I met up with Trysia whom looked exasperated after telling her the 'thing' with Alain earlier.

"That fool was always like that… and you. Sigh… I don't even had the word for you… I gave up…." (Trysia)

"Tell me about it… to think that old man is soo passionate to gain Knowledge. I had no choice to rejected his request after all the help he gave me."

"If only you came to me first… that was a stupid move, Reed…" (Trysia)

"I know… and please put down that big syringe first. You scaring the shit out of me…"

Trysia was quite furious after finding out about Alain becoming my student. I don't know why is she holding that big syringe for but I'm guessing, noting good. She let out a heavy sigh then puts it away. We still in the infirmary with no one aside than us and its quite convenient for us to had a chat. Though it feels like I was caught cheating for some reason.

"Then, what will you do now? Considering that your injury still needs time to heal, you are not permitted to go outside from the designated area. Are you still wanted to practice magic lesson with me? Though I will not be of any help after last night." (Trysia)

"Yea, about that. Could you provide magic lesson for both Saraha and Elise. It seems that they wanted to learn more about their capability by asking me, but my knowledge still short handed. I was thinking that you could lend a hand in this."

"Are you mocking me?" (Trysia)

Eeeekkkk!!

"N-no!! Absolutely not! I'm asking you because I still don't know about the basic! Please put down that syringe!!?"

Though it gone through some troubles for a start, but it seems that Trysia give in reluctantly after I agreeing to her to had a marriage interview in the summer vacation. Though I felt like I'm being threaten rather being happy about this. She's scary!!

Now that its in the evening already, the three of us were using our office for the magic lesson with Trysia. Saraha and Elise were acting quite shy in the beginning of the lesson, but after several hours, they started to warming up with each other. Though the lesson That Trysia gave was directed to the both of them rather than me. I had the feeling being left out for a bit but choose to ignored it as the three was talking with each other like best buds while I was outcast near the corner of the room. I did tried to join in to their conversation earlier but Trysia cast me aside because-

"Its girls talk. No boys allowed!" (Trysia)

Aren't you too old to had a girls talk with the two? But I kept this thought in me because I don't want to be cursed by Trysia. I continue to meditated like Trysia tells me to do alone. Though its not like the same experience that I felt when I did with her yesterday, but I still manages to get into it.

"Alright. Its about late now, lets stop our lesson for today." (Trysia)

"Aww… we want to hear more…" (Saraha)

"Y-yea… Though I'm not that interested with it. But still…" (Elise)

"Then, how about we continue this in my room? Oi, Reed!" (Trysia)

That was rude… could you at least be more gentle with me, Miss Trysia?

"Yea, what is it?"

"We gonna leave now. Be sure to lock the room when you leave. And don't take too long meditating like you did yesterday. Office room is not your private quarters." (Trysia)

"Yes mam…."

Thus, the three leaves little me alone in the office. Just what did she teaching to those two maidens that requires them to continue to her room? But I ignore those feelings as I return back to my meditation.

....................

(inside deep inside the forest In the dark night, monsters and animals alike were running away from a certain flat area of the forest. The ground was rumbling as the ground slowly swelling like its going to burst out. Not long after, the swelling become large enough to form a small hill.)

(BOOM!)

(the small hill that was unnaturally formed suddenly burst with an explosion from inside it and create a large hole. From the dark hole, ominous smokes gushed out uncontrollably and those that had life on them like trees and small insect that touched with this black smoke wither and become lifeless. This black smoke is miasma that came from the newly created dungeon. Deep inside the dark hole, that was the dungeon entrance, red glowing eyes gazes out from it as if waiting for an unfortunate souls to come and be devoured by it. A danger had risen as the quite night air are now filled with malice and dread. And soon, all of the world will be consumed with this calamity.)