School Arc

Altair opened his eyes groggily, the haze of sleep still gripping his mind. Rubbing his eyes absentmindedly, he sat up and looked out the window, morning sunlight shining into the room. As he looked at it, he frowned and put a finger to his forehead. "What was I dreaming about?" he muttered to himself. It was Saturday, meaning he had no school and was free to explore the campus as he wished. 

A light but irritating presence rested at the back of his find, but trying to remember only led to impenetrable fog. As he sat in bed, Altair didn't realise when the presence vanish, or even remember a presence at all. Yawning, he got up and left his room, spotting Jace sipping coffee at the kitchen counter as Sia happily nibbled on toast beside him. Nodding in greeting and being nodded at in return, Altair swiped a slice from Sia's plate and chewed on it, ignoring the glare she went his way.

"Don't fight so early kids" Jace sighed as he watched the two children make faces at each other. Stirring his black coffee (which Altair found too strong for his tastes) he took out a thin stack of papers and left them on the counter. "It's been a bit since you arrived, and you should both be settled in by now. There is nothing planned for the next few weeks, so you have lots of studying and learning to look forward to."

Sia pulled a face at his words while Altair nodded with a smile, always happy to learn more. Throwing her brother a disgruntled look, Sia took a big bite out of her toast as she grumbled to herself. "Why did they have to put us in separate classes? We're both First Years after all, and it's not like I'm any dumber than him..."

Jace gave a wry smile as he downed the remainder of his his coffee in in gulp. "Take it up with the school administration or Le'garde if you have issues Sia. Besides, there was certain consideration when Altair was put into Class A. Blooming his Seed at such a young age implies talent, and Class A is nothing if not talented. His age also plays a secondary factor: the class with the most students of similar age was Class A, so putting him there was more natural. There may be another reason, but those are all the ones I was informed of anyways."

Shooting Sia a smug look, Altair swallowed the rest of his toast and went to brush his teeth. Vainly admiring his own appearance (which he rated as positively outstanding, even by his Denizen standards) in the mirror, he moved back to the kitchen just in time to see Jace stand up to leave, the papers left behind. "I'll be back in a few hours, but you know how to contact me anyways" he informed them, nodding to a metallic-blue contraception near the door. Orvonia's version of a phone, it allowed long-distance communication by utilising Sound and Space Mana. Why they hadn't figured out radio waves yet despite being fairly advanced in magical technology was beyond Altair, but he chalked it up Ascenders disliking mortal sciences. Perhaps that was why Ingrid was shunned by most of the other Gods.

It wouldn't be the first world where science and technology took a back seat for the supernatural, and Altair wondered if the System played a part in Orvonia's situation.

[Orvonia's current state has nothing to do with the System. Quite the opposite in fact, since our absence had stunted this world's level. For whatever reason, the Almighty Primordial created a stigma against engineering and mortal practises that continues to exist up to today]

Was it Altair's imagination, or did the System sound a little annoyed by his suspicions? It didn't even charge him an Authority Point for this information...

[One Authority Point has been subtracted from Host's acco-]

'Alright alright, I'm sorry for doubting you System. I know you would never tolerate such ignorance under your rule' Altair tried to appease the omnipresent, immortal tyrant of the Known Universe in an attempt to save his precious Authority Points. 

Seeing his AP counter stay snugly the same, he heaved a sigh of relief and put the matter behind him. Turning to Sia, he asked her a question, "Do you have anything planned today Sister?" Tilting her head in thought, Sia nodded and cleaned the breadcrumbs from her mouth with a napkin. "I'm meeting Ronny and Ginny in a bit. Why, did you want to do something together?"

Altair subconsciously pulled up his memory of the two people Sia mentioned: Ronny was a lanky boy with black hair and Ginny was a short but loud brunette. He had seen them around once or twice, only entering his sights because they became friends with his sister. Both were plain and boring, so the chances they were assassins or spies was low, but not negligible. According to Jace, the people who sent the assassins (both the original and the ones ion Fellise) still hadn't been caught. There were apparently "suspects" but nothing concrete, so you couldn't say the trouble had been resolved. The root problem still existed, and the Atrazark children would be in danger as long as it remained as such. 

'House Ilya, Raychem and Bornovio. Three vassal Houses that have long since fostered ambitions of their own. All three also have connections to House Ornstein, of which a scion is in Sia's Class. The latter can't be dealt with easily since they are also a Ducal House, but the three traitors should be much easier to resolve...Why hasn't Mother done so already?'

Feeling frustrated at his lack of knowledge of the political landscape. While unravelling the mysteries of the Gods was important in his long-term survival, he would be dead from a knife in the back long before Fallacy or Gaia got "Their" hands on him at this rate. Sky Cross awarded him some security, but not as much as burying the perpetrators would. After all, Sky Cross had a reputation for blood being spilt in its corridors...

'That reminds me, I should head to the library at some point today and find out Sky Cross' history. Why it's named as such, for instance. "Sky Cross" implies some connection to Seraphic.'

Only the Lord of Light and the Almighty Primordial used the cross as "Their" symbols. Altair doubted Le'garde named it after the Third Era's God, so Seraphic was the most likely candidate. Realising he hadn't answered Sia in several minutes, he hurriedly moved to do so. "Yes, I was hoping to go to the library or the City with you" he confessed. Sia seemed conflicted for a moment, before sighing and standing up. "Sorry Altair, but I've already made plans...Besides we need a permit to leave Campus, and you need to apply three days before. Maybe you can meet up with Elizabeth or Alexander instead?"

Altair's mouth twisted when he heard the latter part of her suggestion. Since the first day, the heir of House Legendry had been consistently stalking him to the point where everyone assumed they were best friends. The misconception was an annoying one, but he saw no way to dispel it with Alexander sticking around. He didn't show any signs of leaving any time soon either, much to Altair's frustration. 'The worst part is, I don't even have proof he's doing it to be malicious. Alexander simply seems like the type of person to latch onto someone he likes and refuse to let go.'

While his attitude was alarmingly suspicious, Altair couldn't confirm if the young Legendry was a pawn of the Gods or his House, sent to observe or assassinate Altair. His status as an Abomination was far too well-known for his liking, even if it only included a dozen or so figures. Of course, when "They" were all Gods, a "dozen or so" was enough to bury him a thousand fold. 'By such reasoning, I shouldn't be so close to Elizabeth either. Her patron is none other than the Goddess of Wisdom after all, and are personalities are eerily similar to each others. I would believe it if you told me it's all a staged ploy to bring us together.'

No matter how child-like Altair became after reincarnating as a Human, he was and always would be a Denizen of Infinity at his core. Such ploys and misdirection's were obvious acts in his experienced eyes, and he trusted nobody other than Sia, his mother and Jace. And even then, he kept a certain distance from the latter two. Only Sia held unconditional trust in his eyes, because he was close enough to her to recognise any signs of manipulation or betrayal. As much as he enjoyed his new lifestyle, he was unwilling to give his life and ambitions up for it. When the time came for him to make the call between Infinity and Orvonia...he wasn't looking forward to choosing. 'Especially now that I remember my vow against Makyr. I can't stop now, not after I sacrificed so much already. Years spent in that goddamn cube, all for a chance to find the location of "Her" Avatar. If it wasn't for that fucking Singularity Point...Once I reclaim my former glory, I'll make whatever Denizen sent that thing pay dearly!'

Swallowing back his anger, he waved Sia goodbye and left the apartment. He had decided to go to the library immediately, since Elizabeth liked to read there in the afternoon and going now would enable him to avoid her. After remembering the threats to his life (as both Altair and Endyr) he wasn't in the mood to play theatre. 

'And of course, there's something else that requires urgent study. The Orthodox Gods lied: Fallacy was by the Almighty's side, and was a pivotal figure in "His" court. I even learnt "His" actual name...and Jester's appearance. Considering Fallacy wears skin like clothes, what he appeared in that Quest might not have been "His" real self, but my gut tells me Jester's was. I know the true names of two Gods, and the physical appearance of one. If I wasn't already being watched as the Abomination, I would be afraid of drawing Divine attention.'

Stepping down the stairs and heading towards the library, Altair mused over what was likely to be a peaceful period of his life. The need to procure an ID for Endyr was a slightly pressing matter, but nothing he couldn't handler. Hell, he was confidant he could even make counterfeits himself if the need arose! Over the millions of years of existing, Altair had mastered all techniques and skills in existence, forging ID's amongst them.

'Well, I guess this is the start of my relaxation period.' 

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