Professor Gemstone survives an assassination attempt! part 8 (27)

"Say, Ashera!"

The boy looked away from his target, relaxing the string of his practice bow.

"What is it, professor?"

Ezera walked toward him with a skip.

"I thought it was you. Aren't you a responsible young man, working outside of your training schedule?"

Ashera pinched his lips.

"That's..."

"Not a reproach. Don't worry, kiddo. Why the focus though?"

"We moved on to advanced skill practice during training. I decided I should train my basics still, so that I don't forget it."

Ezera smiled, and clapped.

"Wonderful initiative. But I never knew you as a sportive kid. Did something change?"

Ashera shrugged.

"Nothing much. It's just... Distracting. Mind numbing. I like it."

"Oh," Ezera's cheer disappeared.

Mind numbing. Huh...

Ashera must have been thinking often about his younger sisters. It brought the man back to their first interrogation when they came to this world. What happened in their original world? Did time go by? Or was time experience differently from one world to another? Had they just disappeared, been erased? What happened to those that stayed behind?

Ezera had no had to ask himself this question, having had no one to leave behind. But he did worry, for the children. Fortunately, Ashera's sisters wouldn't have died alone or starved at home. If they did disappear, then the authorities would have intervened. They would have searched the houses, questioned the families. Ashera's sisters simply wouldn't have been left alone once they realized that they were without mean to survive, and minors.

Some, like Alan and Lina, probably didn't wish to go back home. The concern was different for everyone, but it was still a concern.

However, whatever it was that had them practicing instead of thinking about their problems, it shouldn't be for mind numbness.

In truth, that would have been perfectly fine had it been sportive competition. Earthlings didn't regularly need to worry about things when they were busy shooting target. And the process of shooting should become a perfect automatism if so needed, that was the proof of their abilities in whichever activity.

This was not that. Which Ezera told him.

"It's good that you found an occupation worthy of your time. But I want you to think more about it. What you are learning is not a sport."

Ashera looked up at his teacher, confused.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Ezera smiled sadly. He ruffled the boy's hair a bit roughly.

"An archer is a sniper," he told him, "Be careful of what that means."

He made his way to the practice target to pluck the arrows out of it. Ashera ordered his dispersed locks, seemingly both annoyed and curious. Thoughtfully, he grabbed the arrows when Ezera presented them to him.

Before Ezera could go too far, Ashera turned back and said.

"Right, you called me earlier. Was there something you wanted to tell me?"

Oh! Good thought. Ezera had almost forgotten. He also turned on his heels, walking back a few steps toward his student.

"You're right! Thanks for reminding me. Say, kiddo, would you hold onto something for me?"

He made his coin clink between his nails, flipping it and catching it back before it could plummet to the ground.

"Isn't that one of those coins Alan gave you?" Ashera inquired, frowning in confusion.

"It is. I modified it. Come, hold out your hand."

Ezera put the newly made artifact in the boy's offered palm.

"Keep it around, will you? I turned it into a scrying lens. It should allow me to be with you even if you can't see me."

"What does that mean? Isn't it just a coin?" Ashera looked closer. "Actually..."

"Yes. It's engraved with a scrying array. It will give me a way to see what you see even if I'm not there. I would feel reassured if you could keep it on yourself."

Ashera now looked cautious.

"That... You don't trust us not to mess around?"

"That's not it!" Ezera laughed. "Of course, let's say you do something naughty to one of your classmates when wearing this, I'll see it... But don't worry. I have no proof. Teenagers can have fun. I won't get my old adult nose in your little cat fights."

"I'll shave the high priest's head," Ashera told him flatly.

"I've heard nothing. But don't get in trouble alright? I won't tell, but it's fair game for others."

"..." Ashera mulled it over. "Alright. What will you be doing, then?"

"Well, I'll go around! I'm still here if you need me. Don't count on class being canceled!"

He almost left again, but Ashera precipitally asked once more.

"Wait! Why are you giving it to me only?"

"Mh? Oh, that's my only one for now, I can't really duplicate it. Though that's an idea..." He shrugged. "At any rate, I'll have more to hand out later."

He walked away even as Ashera growled frustration.

"Yeah, but why me?"

"Because! Who's more responsible than you around here? I trust you with the other kids for now."

He didn't look back as he left. On his wrist, swinging left and right to his will, was his amulet, engraved with diagrams on both surfaces.

He smirked, triumphantly. Success.