Chapter 115 Mental Game [ 4 ]

-Oriana Mengral's point of view.

"Haa..."

"You don't have anything to do today."

"Not really, it's barely 7 o'clock at night and it's quite a while until the next day."

"Are you preparing things according to tomorrow's situation?"

"Yes, yes, the last stage of the evaluation is tomorrow, so..."

Oriana said nothing after seeing Lucas and Aria in front of her.

To tell the truth, these two... hardly spoke to each other; yet they were here, the two of them together in her office.

Oriana didn't mind at all, though.

In fact, she found it much better to have company at the moment.

Asher is in the medical section; after his fight, he collapsed on the floor. However, Oriana and Lucas realized that he passed out from using all his mana on his body for too long.

Although Oriana thought he was too exhausted, when she realized it, she wasn't surprised at all.

It was quite a normal thing to end up fainting after using all the mana on something specific.

It's not the same as simply shaking all your mana; it pretty much depends on how or what you use mana on, and only in certain ways... you fall passed out from mana depletion.

However, it's not really dangerous.

Of course, unless you're in a life and death struggle.

Crack.

Aria then picked up the paper lying on Oriana's desk and began to read it.

After a few seconds, she looked at Lucas and then at Oriana; however, she said nothing.

Her lips curved in surprise and her eyes widened. After a few seconds, she spoke.

Her voice sounded surprised as she spoke.

"Heh, he got 100/100 again."

"That's right."

"There's no way to even be too surprised anymore, but tomorrow..."

She stopped there as she looked down at the paper in her hands.

"I know."

Oriana spoke.

Then Lucas looked at the two of them and his voice echoed.

"I'm aware of the cadet's problem and, in fact, this is very..."

"Bad... Yes it is very bad."

Oriana interrupted him as she looked down at her hands with tired eyes, as if she hadn't slept in a long time.

She looked like a person in depression and exhausted just from looking into his eyes. However, Lucas and Aria knew why she was like this.

It wasn't to be expected, though....

"You shouldn't force yourself too much, you know?"

"I'd already been told that last night, but..."

"It's okay."

Lucas interrupted her as he looked into her eyes, slightly dull and bored to see this situation again.

No wonder the two of them were like this. Like Oriana, they were both also in the same state.

No matter what, they both stopped talking and then there was a silence in the atmosphere that left them dry-mouthed, unable to articulate a single word.

It had been about two hours since the end of today's evaluation.

They were both tired.

But it couldn't be helped.

There are a lot of problems in this academy, a lot of work to do, and the three of them could not afford to relax.

After a moment of silence, Lucas spoke up.

"By the way, have you seen Bridget?"

Professor Bridget.

It had been a while, no, rather, a few days, since she had shown up at meetings or attended classrooms to fulfill her role and teach the cadets.

Certainly, in these days she was kind of missing, in simple words.

To tell the truth, no one paid attention to her.

She is the typical arrogant and aloof teacher that hardly anyone likes. Maybe that was why she was hardly seen at the academy.

But, of course, it was strange; it had been quite a few days since she hadn't been seen.

"She must be doing her own thing."

"Well, I don't really care, but we haven't seen her in several days."

Aria and Lucas voiced their thoughts as their faces showed signs of suspicion.

However, nothing could be said in the face of this situation.

Although Professor Bridget had not been present for several days, almost no one cared at all.

Although she did attend the meetings that Principal Wilbek did, she was present at all of those times.

It was as if she only showed up to really important people, worth watching or being around. She was definitely the type to seek out and then discard what doesn't serve her.

You could describe Bridget's personality in a nutshell.

Although Oriana didn't get along with her very well, she still found it odd to see a professor who never attended important meetings about cadets.

"It's kind of annoying to think about her actions."

Lucas spoke as he frowned.

It wasn't just him thinking it, Aria also shared the same opinion.

"Although I've noticed that Asher doesn't like him, I'm not sure, but I think..."

Plack.

Oriana whipped both hands on the desk, and Luke and Aria looked on in surprise at her reaction.

Her words soon reached the ears of both teachers, who were watching what happened.

"It's true."

"I'm not sure."

Lucas really wasn't sure.

"Haa..."

"I'm sorry."

"..."

Lucas and Aria looked at Oriana quizzically, but said nothing in the face of the situation.

Clearly, Oriana was annoyed with Bridget in some way.

After all, Professor Bridget seemed to have a grudge towards Asher, and Asher was Oriana's disciple.

Perhaps that was the reason behind the reaction to Lucas' words.

"Teacher and disciple... it's funny."

Lucas thought for a moment.

How will it feel to have a disciple?

It's nice.

It's annoying.

It's exhausting.

It's tiring and boring.

Which of those questions made sense?

Although he was curious about having a disciple, there was no one in this academy who shared his affinity.

Regardless of the answer to his questions, maybe he really wanted to have a disciple, or maybe not.

He still wasn't sure himself, but seeing Oriana's reaction was quite curious to him.

-Scene change.

-Asher Frostblade's point of view.

"Where am I now?"

No, he was actually in the medical section.

When he opened his eyes, he was in the same place as before, he was simply in the bed in the medical section, that was all.

He looked at the ceiling and then at his surroundings.

Instinctively he tried to move his legs and then....

"Looks like it's not a memory this time."

He was no longer in a memory or an illusion, he was something akin to both.

Everything Asher saw before his eyes was the same reality.

However, Asher was wondering something that had him very intrigued.

"Why did I suddenly enter Encrid's memories?"

Why was he seeing memories every time he closed his eyes or passed out?

No matter what time or state he was in, memories would pop up in his mind once he closed his eyes and went into a deep sleep.

Just dreams filled with memories, both of his past life and those of Encrid.

Although it was good news to see memories of Encrid, there was a chance that he would notice and seal those memories or do something similar.

Therefore, Asher decided to say nothing and look for a solution to cover his suspicions.

He had gathered a lot of information, curious and important information, but difficult to process.

Asher would have to assimilate all that information obtained from the memories he saw while he slept.

It was then that he felt something squeezing his hand tightly.

He turned his head and saw a woman, in fact, she was about his height, though a bit bigger, with silver hair and, of course, the black uniform with golden edges of the academy.

Gloriana was there, her head buried in the sheets covering Asher's body. She seemed to be sleeping so soundly that she hadn't realized he had awakened.

Other than her, no one else was in the medical section. The two of them were simply alone.

No, they weren't really alone.

"Hi, honey."

"..."

Asher immediately recognized that voice.

"It's her."

Yes, exactly, the mysterious woman who was always watching him, the same one who had given him the book earlier and the one who, no matter how or why, would not reveal her identity.

Asher felt the woman sit behind him. Currently, Gloriana was on his left, while his torso, from waist to head, was facing in Gloriana's direction, and the mystery woman was on the other side.

Again, Asher couldn't move - was it some kind of paralysis ability or what the hell was it that was impeding his movement?

No matter what he did, he couldn't move a single inch.

"What are you looking for?"

Asher asked, this time with a serious tone and a grim face.

"Oh, come on, dear. I came to see you this time, just that."

"..."

Asher said nothing, but the woman continued speaking.

"You've become stronger than before, and it seems you've also learned the mana control I gave you."

So, Asher was right.

When the mysterious woman handed him the book with the mana control skill, it was of a high rank that only sixth circle mages could use.

Asher knew immediately that the mysterious woman had a purpose in giving him such an ability, though he didn't understand why or what the motive behind her help was.

A month had passed since then, and the woman promised to see him again in a month. Now the next month had arrived.

However, Asher wondered.

"Did she really come to see me as I was?"

He wasn't sure, but somehow it seemed to be true.

The woman's soft voice and calm tone seemed to indicate that she was telling the truth.

No matter how you looked at it, the mystery woman didn't seem to have a hidden purpose in visiting Asher out of the blue.

Despite this, Asher was irritated.

"I can't do anything, I can't try to fight her and I don't know how strong she is or who she is either."

He knew nothing.

There was no information or clues about the mystery woman. There was nothing Asher could find out about her.

"Now that I remember..."

She stopped and touched Asher's shoulder as her voice sounded inches from his ears.

"Happy birthday."

"..."

What the hell...?

"Today is my birthday."

Asher actually didn't know when the previous Asher's birthday was. There was no information or memories about who he was or what family he came from.

There was nothing about the body Asher had now, of the original Asher and not the reincarnated killer who was also named Asher.

But then, today was his birthday.

In a sense, Asher was happy to find out the date of his birthday, however, why at this hour?

It seemed to be around 7 or 8 p.m. depending on the window, so what the hell was this all about?

"You're turning 12, dear, but it's a pity I don't have a present at this time. However, for our next meeting I'll give you something you'll really like."

Asher then spoke up.

"When are you coming?"

He was curious.

If the woman showed up every month, then it would be the same the next month, right?

"Well, when you're in the third circle, I'll come right away. I know you're close, so I think I'll see you again in a few days or weeks."

This time, the woman's sweet voice was softer than usual.

Asher felt some fear toward this woman, but not seeing her face or knowing anything about her, he wasn't too afraid.

"It's time for me to go."

At that moment, the woman's voice ceased to be heard, but....

"You got yourself a very pretty girlfriend. I can even say she's prettier than me. Goodbye, sweetheart."

And without further ado, the woman disappeared. Asher was able to move instantly, he looked around and, as usual, there was no trace of her.

However...

"I got a girlfriend...? What did you mean?"

"Uh... Did she mean...?"

He immediately realized and looked at Gloriana, who was still holding his hand as she slept....