Chapter 27: Reality
"How do you know my name?" Jess asked, her voice tinged with suspicion. She felt indebted to her saviour, sure, but his knowledge of things he shouldn't know unsettled her. It made her wonder what else he might be keeping under wraps.
Caleb smiled faintly, already prepared for the question. He had an answer ready, though he wasn't sure she'd believe it. 'But I don't need to explain much. She'll connect the dots herself,' he mused.
"I have a knack for figuring out people's names, no matter how well they try to hide them," he said, gesturing toward his striking blue eyes.
"Like some kind of appraisal ability?" Jess tilted her head, intrigued. She'd heard of appraisal spells, though they were mostly used on artefacts to identify their properties.
'Still, I shouldn't limit my thinking. Just like my kind and other races, unique abilities are common. It's not that far-fetched,' she reasoned, her brows furrowing. And besides... he's not ordinary.
"Exactly," Caleb confirmed with a nod, relieved she understood. She was spot on—though there was more to it, like the system he used.
"Now that I've answered your question, it's my turn," Caleb said, stepping closer.
"What do you want to know?" Jess asked, uncertain whether to step back or hold her ground.
She wasn't blind to his interest in her, and unlike the others who had pursued her, Caleb wasn't someone she could easily dismiss.