Chapter 42 – First Dungeon (21)

"What exactly did you do, cutie? Speak up, or I'll really make you lose that arm." Cassandra asked in a threatening tone.

"I didn't do anything. Haven't you and your little boyfriend been observing me since I got here?" I intentionally glanced back and waved at Killian hidden in the shadows.

Killian's eyes widened marginally in surprise before he disappeared completely into the shadows.

Guess he was finally gone or had hidden even deeper. Either way, it wasn't my problem right now.

Turning back to the lighthouse, I continued focusing mana in my eyes, trying to see through it without analyzing it.

It was a vague feeling, almost like a fly buzzing just out of sight, but I felt something attracting my attention inside the lighthouse. It hadn't been there before Onyx had merged with the shadow, but now it was pulling at me like a magnet, similar yet different to the hunger Onyx had sent me previously.

What could it be? And how could I get in there without being discovered or followed, especially by the girl beside me and the boy hidden somewhere?

I began Analyzing each rock and shrub in the surrounding area, making sure not to touch the Lighthouse once again. Was there a weakness, a weak point that I could utilize to get in?

What I really wanted to do was use Knowledge on it but remembering what had happened to me in the library, I couldn't risk passing out here and now. The girl beside me would probably just abandon me or tie me up again.

"What are you looking at, cutie? You seemed quite focused." Cassandra interrupted my focus as she moved closer to me.

"Nothing. I'm just trying to figure out what that is and understand why the professors want us to go inside. It seems very scary." I casually lied while glancing up at the sky. At the very range of my vision, I could see a red figure hurtling through the air toward us at fast speed, and I subtly grasped my sword.

"Tell me why I don't believe you. I've been watching this location for the past couple of days, and nothing like that has happened. I wonder why it happened now, hmmm? Care to explain?"

"Who knows? Maybe you should have watched it more carefully, or you missed something. Either way, it has nothing to do with me. I've seen it, so I'm going to be leaving now. Someone angry is headed this way. I wouldn't get caught peeping if I were you." I grinned at her before pointing upwards and immediately activating Concealment and Incorporal before dashing into the woods.

A couple of seconds later, a blast of wind tore through the rock, leveling several trees as the figure dressed in red sped through the air while holding a single blue-winged woman covered in blood. His outfit was completely shredded and charred in some places, his previously wild gray was reduced to a few strands, and an entire arm was missing, leaving a raw bleeding wound at the shoulder.

The woman he was holding didn't look much better. Her sole wing looked like shredded meat, her clothing had turned into rags, and from the deep burns and tears around her skin and face, it was quite surprising to see her still breathing.

Seeing the damage, I wanted to whistle. Solomon had really done some damage. I should praise him nicely the next time I see him.

Robin, the Hero that was supposed to be helping us spun around in the air, his eyes rapidly looking around as he glared, waves of wind flying around him and wildly shooting into the forest.

"Come out, you damn Nova brat! Stop hiding like a rat! I can feel your disgusting eyes looking at me!" Robin shouted loudly, his eyes looking around as he hovered next to the Lighthouse that was now bubbling, the shadowy material slowly peeling off, exposing the red roof and the wrap-around terrace right below it.

Oops.

Turning my eyes away from looking at him directly, I continued observing while walking in the forest, dutifully ignoring the girl shrouded in purple mist walking beside me.

Robin sent out several more slashes of wind in anger before alighting on the terrace. A robed figure approached him, taking the bleeding woman from his arms before the shadowy material covered up the Lighthouse, shrouding the entire thing once more.

Well. Guess the show was over. Turning to Cassandra, I arched my brows at her.

"I told you it wasn't me."

"So I see." She nodded before looking down at the short sword in my hands and glancing at me, "I like your sword. Very nifty. I want one."

"Ask Lina to make you one."

"Lina didn't make this one cutie. She doesn't do swords. I'll let you keep this one, so make one to my specifications later, okay? Especially when you get stronger. Otherwise, it just might go missing. Forever."

"Isn't your family rich? Why would you steal from a poor student?"

"Who said anything about stealing? It will just go missing one day. Poof! Like a cloud of smoke. Don't worry, since I'm a good person, I'll even show you where the lost and found in the academy is so you can check for it." She chuckled before trying to reach out and pat my head while I ducked.

"…Talk to Lina, and we'll see."

"Booooooo. She'll charge me money."

"Not my problem."

Cassandra stared at me silently before nodding as if deciding something.

"Cutie." Her voice got serious.

"It's Asani."

"I know. Anyway, cutie, enough joking around; let's level with each other. Clearly, you know more than you're telling, and although I may have…mmm, deflected a bit, I have a bit of information that I'm willing to share if you do the same."

"You call openly lying deflecting? You swore on your life I believe that there was nobody else there."

Seeing my incredulous expression, Cassandra burst out laughing.

"Rather than lying, I prefer the term slightly bending the truth. Only slightly. Besides, no one got hurt in the end, right? Plus, you got to see what you wanted. That means you owe me."

"I don't owe you anything. But you want to trade information? Sure. Let me hear it."

"I know you have the Analyze skill. What did you see?"

"Secret. You said you've been observing the tower; what have you seen so far? And do you know that figure in the robes that showed up?" I shot back.

"Secret. I know you've been in contact with Nova. What did he tell you? Give me all the details because I know that rainbow-haired punk has been holding back something juicy."

"If you share first, I'll share too."

We stared at each other silently before Cassandra sighed while I laughed to myself. Neither of us wanted to reveal our cards, so this conversation was likely to go nowhere for her. I, on the other hand, had gotten a good harvest of information. There was no need to stick around any longer.

"Seems we're at an impasse. Since you don't want to trade info, why don't we call it a night? Before my partner starts looking for me."

"Julian and Lina?"

"You're well informed."

"I try my best, but clearly it's not good enough when I have to ask a random for information." She muttered in a low voice before stretching and yawning loudly.

It was silent for a moment before Cassandra spoke up again, "Are you joining us in the raid tomorrow?"

"Who's us?"

"Secret. It's a yes or no question. Are you coming along?"

"Who knows? Maybe we'll see each other tomorrow, maybe not. Either way, I've seen what I needed to see, so I'm heading out. Tell your little boyfriend to stop glaring at me. The back of my head itches." I turned to look back at Killian, who was standing about 50 feet away on a branch, making sure he knew I could see him.

"Kil is just a little overprotective; just ignore him." She waved her hand as a purple mist started gathering rapidly around her and spreading, the mana in the mist weaving unknown shapes throughout the air.

"Anyway, cutie, I'm putting this area on lockdown since someone dangerous has shown up, so make sure you leave directly and don't try to circle around to the lighthouse. I'll be watching."

"I won't. Bye-bye. It was nice to meet you officially. Please stop following me, it's weird." waving at her, I turned around and began heading back to my camp. There was nothing more to see here, especially with those two watching my every move.

"Oh, and cutie?"

Hearing Cassandra's amused voice, I glanced back to look at her.

"I'll keep this visit a secret from Nova, so pretend it's the first time we've met when you see me tomorrow since I already know you're coming with Julius. And notice how I just gave you a freebie? Let's actually trade info tomorrow so we can go home on time, kay? I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

"Liar. You're probably going to tell him as soon as I'm gone. Either you or him since you're all working together." I pointed to Killian, "Then one of you will probably try to follow me back to listen in again. A word of warning. Don't. I'm tired of it" I leveled a cold glance at her, making sure she could see the seriousness in my eyes.

"Maybe I will, maybe I won't. I can assure you that you have no idea what you're dealing with. Anyway, say hi to Julius and Lina for me. Bye-bye, cutie. I had fun officially meeting you, too." She blew me a kiss before disappearing in a puff of purple smoke, and I turned my head to where her body was sitting next to Killian, hidden in the tree branches behind a cloud of mist that wavered around her body.

"Bye, Cassandra. By Killian. I hope I don't see you later."

The only response was bright laughter in the night air as thick purple mists began closing in around me.

Information Dealer, Cassandra Mirage.

What an annoying girl.

It seemed I would have to be more careful of my surroundings so that I wouldn't allow her to find out things that she shouldn't know.

After leaving Cassandra and Killian behind, I returned directly to the camp and caught Julius staring off into space while chain-smoking.

"You brought back a rat. I'll deal with it." He said while lightly waving his hand, causing a small fireball to bloom before shooting off in the distance, causing a small explosion. A single cough sounded out, and then, nothing.

"Can you make it so no one can see or hear us? I have some things to say. Privately. I don't want a certain someone looking at me from a distance. Who knows if the rainbow-haired bastard can read lips."

"He can, but I got you."

With another wave of his hands, a circular dome of flames circled us, eliminating the shadows around us and casting everything in a golden light.

"You're really good at detecting people." I lightly told him.

"It's really difficult to hide the heat coming from living things. Monsters are better in that regard because most humans don't even think to hide it." He grinned at me before frowning at my serious expression, "What's up? How was the Lighthouse?"

"Not great. I have a lot to think about."

"Met Cassandra?"

"And Killian."

"The annoying stalker duo."

"Mean but accurate." I burst out laughing at the rude way of referring to them before staring at him.

"On a scale of 1-10, how much do you want to uncover what's going on?"

Depending on his answer, my plans would have to change.

"I don't want to know if I don't have to. I just want to defeat whoever needs defeating and get the professors here so we can go home. I said it before, right? Uncovering plots can be left to sneaky bastards like you and Nova. I'm just supposed to protect you remember? So just tell me my part in what you're plotting. I can see ideas churning in those eyes of yours."

"Not interested at all?"

"Nope. I want plausible deniability when we get back and get questioned. I know nothing. I saw nothing. I was just going along with the flow."

"Good." I gave him a dark smile, "The thing we're dealing with is a thorough monster, and you're probably going to be the main attacker for the lighthouse. I spotted the two heroes Nova fought and they look to be in pretty bad shape as of now. And a third unknown figure. Best case scenario, the woman dies. Worse case scenario, they're healed up and are both at the lighthouse. Ideally, with Nova attacking the tower, they pull away, and it's just the lighthouse monster. Where Lionel fits into all this, I'm not too sure. He might be the robed figure I saw, or maybe he's inside, I don't know."

"Wait, wait, wait, Roll it back a second. What lighthouse monster?"

"Shadow Mimic Nest"

"Shadow Mimic Nest?"

"Yep. I think that's where they're spawning from. Think of Onyx, but a lot of them blended together to make one gigantic thing wrapped around the lighthouse. When I was there, it kept spawning little ones and eating up the ground while spreading itself. When I Analyzed it, I couldn't see the rank of anything, so way above my level. Someone else might have better luck."

"Shit."

"Yep. Anyway, that's the general gist of what I saw. As for tomorrow, since Nova is taking Killian, I'd like you to keep Cassandra off of me while I go scouting around. I have a feeling mimic and real Lionel will swap, and I want to see when and why it happens."

I also wanted to figure out what I was feeling inside the Lighthouse, but Julius didn't need to know that.

"What if it heads into the lighthouse? How will you deal with that? Isn't it surrounded by the nest?"

"That's why I need to think. I have an idea that might work, but I need to plan for contingencies since I can't test anything until the lighthouse is attacked."

"Huh. Sounds like a shitty plan to me." Julius gave me a skeptical look before sighing, "Use that devious brain of yours and definitely think about it some more, but make sure to get some sleep too. I'll take the first watch." He got up and stretched before dissipating the flame dome.

"Got it. Thanks."

"If you're thankful, give me another pack of cigarettes."

"Addict."

"Don't start with me," Julius grumbled while giving me a look.

Laughing lightly, I crafted several for him before tossing them over.

As Julius left, I spread my sleeping bag out and lay on it, staring up into the air.

What was in the lighthouse?

Who was that robed figure?

What was Lionel up to, and what was the goal for all of this?

How I could get in without geting caught.

Could I get Onyx to devour the mimic nest?

How to cuff Solomon once more and get my watch back before the exam was over.

Too many thoughts swirled around in my brain as the warmth of the fire surrounded me.

There was a lot to think about.

Taking a deep breath, I calmed my thoughts down.

Tackle each thing one at a time and utilize the information I have now to make conjectures.

Tomorrow would be the deciding day for a lot of things, but as a shrimp amoung whales, I had to make sure my back was covered at all times.