Chapter 157: Panic!
"So plucking the Outcast eyes as a trophy and strangulation seemed really unusual for you, Killian."
The two boys nodded at his statement. Theodore paused, then turned to Killian who nodded as well. "Why do you agree? It's about you. You did it."
"Well, I didn't know why I did it, but I guess I was provoked personally." Killian looked upwards, remembering how intently he wanted the man's eyes.
"Within his Realmcraft, he could dismiss skills so I had to dispense more mana. It pissed me off."
Someone snapped their fingers in the room, and Killian looked ahead of him. The empty space in front of him suddenly felt filled with someone staring intently at him and analyzing every word.
Mr. Ten sighed. "Yes, we confirmed that the man you killed is a Crafter. They are well versed in making messy laws for their Realmcraft and they could manipulate laws governing another Realmcraft."
'Another person's Realmcraft?' Killian's heart was suddenly free from the slightest trace of regret and guilt. 'Yeah, those eyes had to go.'
"That is all. Thank you."
Killian snapped his head towards the man. 'He only wanted to ask me why I strangled the man?' "Okay."
The first to leave his seat was Theodore. He stretched his arms behind his back. "Keith's match will start soon. We should leave now."
That propelled Killian off his seat quickly. He looked at Mr. Ten once again, then at the space in front of him that had a person he couldn't see.
"Yeah, let's go."
As he followed Theodore out of the door, his stomach stirred with a familiar unease. His eyes darted about, looking for the source of his panic, but the room was still as empty as he had met it.
Theodore had passed past a painting to get to the door. Killian stared at the painting, but with his peripheral vision, he watched the space beside it.
'She's there.'
The Void in his body alerted him before he could see or physically sense her. The Light Lady was part of the meeting.
'That means she had time to check the body. Couldn't she tell that the burnt marks were done by the Void?'
"She could. She is at an equal power-level to you. Or higher. That is why you have that reactions to her presence. So she can easily sense the Void marks."
Killian continued moving when Theodore did. He regulated his breathing till he left the door.
His one slip-up had made him vulnerable to the last person he wanted to be vulnerable to. A Light User.
'That means I am in trouble, right? She should be able to tell that I am a Void User, right?'
Killian brought his hands in front of him, rubbing his fingers to calm himself down.
'So why didn't she say anything? Why didn't she speak of the burnt marks? Why is she letting me go?'
"Maybe… because she is scared."
.
.
Killian's body remained motionless on his bed, covered by every blanket he owned to keep him warm as the Void inside of him flared to escape.
It was as if they could sense an impending doom.
"You might be overreacting a little, Killian."
"You just said that she knows what I am. A literal Light User knows what I am." He said with his head buried in his pillow. "I am 'underreacting' right now. I should be packing my things and leaving already."
Silence.
"Did you also forget the part where I said she was scared?"
"Yes, I did. Because it makes no sense. You said she was stronger or equal in power to me. So why would she be scared to oppose me? Everyone would take her side against what I am."
"You experienced rashes and trembling hands around her. Do you know if she had no reaction around you? Light is also averse to the Void."
Silence.
He kicked the blanket off his face. He breathed in and out. "I didn't notice anything like that with her."
"You two are good at masking, then. Also, meeting a Forbidden Element User doesn't mean you are a danger. You already know you are not the only one in the vicinity. You are just an unregistered one."
Killian remembered the blood-loving black cloak. "Are you sure? That she might feel unwell around me?"
"You felt a little relaxed around Pixie. And you easily trusted the Blood-Loving Cloak guy. They have a connection to the Forbidden Element. So the opposite will be for someone who represents the Light."
Killian hummed, sitting up.
His mind drifted to his first encounter with the Blood-loving cloak. It was less trust than intrigue, but he did play along quite easily with him.
"So you are saying… she isn't doing anything about it because she is scared of what I might do to defend myself, but at the same time, she doesn't think I am a danger to anyone at the moment. Is that so?"
"Correct."
"That means I am at the mercy of her indecision?"
"Well, also correct."
He left the bed. "I should start packing then. Before she makes a decision, I will be halfway to—"
His phone rang loudly within the room, startling him. He jumped off his bed, scattering the blankets on the ground and grabbed the phone, frowning.
"Keith doesn't have to keep bothering me after what I said. I can't even watch his match with…" He trailed off when he saw the caller ID.
He answered instantly. "Hey, Sis!"
The tension drained from Killian's shoulders, and a small smile grew on his face.
"Killian! Oh my goodness. I know you were waiting for my call. I am so sorry. I had to change my phone and retrieve my number. And you wouldn't believe it, but the S-Rank Warden Helen told the Board that the realm was an S-tier Realm, and that's why she had to enter. So the Realm was bumped to an S-tier realm, and since I helped in defeating an S-tier realm, I got—"
"You got promoted?!" Killian shouted, after making the conclusion in his head.
Quara's response was excited high-pitched screams that made Killian pull his phone away from his ears, laughing.
"Yes! I am now an A-Rank Lower Warden! A whole Rank up from where I was before."
"Congratulations! Guess that whole ordeal wasn't for nothing."
"Yes! Yes! I'm so glad. And I've also been busy trying to gather a group for myself. It's kinda mandatory after my last incident. So I wanted to call you. How is everything over there?"
Killian's eyes lit up. He nodded vehemently, even if his sister couldn't see him. "I'm coming back home soon. I'm joining your group."
"What? No." Quara laughed. "You don't need to come home immediately. I'll always keep a space for you. Just tell me how things are over there—"
"Horrible." Killian fell on his bed.
"Someone knows about… that. Outcasts tried to kill me yesterday. The Rulers are coming today. I want to go back home." He caught his breath.
"Sis, I'm tired of fighting."
Silence.