I watched from a distance as Kellen bantered with Ferius, seeing him happy put a smile on my face.

He reminded me of the Class S kids after they found out that they weren't going to die.

Teaching those kids and giving them a chance to live fulfilling lives is one of my happiest accomplishments, it felt nice knowing I had a positive impact on the lives of those around me.

Sadly, I don't think Kellen's happiness will last long.

[Master, these are problems you can get rid of right now.] Ciel admonished me.

"You might be right, but I don't think that's the best path." I sighed as I walked through the mostly deserted forest I found myself in.

Kellen's whole life hinged on being able to perform magic, and now that problem has been solved.

But there was still a bigger problem within.

For one, his bands would never spark, at least not from my own influence. It was never my intention for him to rely on the Jan'Tep's system after all, in fact, I despised it.

The inks used by the Jan'Tep for their tattoos come from ores mined by Sha'Tep servants. Said ores are highly toxic to the Jan'Tep and proximity to the ore in its unrefined state would rob them of their magic and make them sick.

In simple words, the Sha'Tep were forced to sustain the very society that oppressed them.

I don't want Kellen to rely on such a society, and I knew he was growing to realise that he didn't want to either. At this rate, he won't be able to continue living among the Jan'Tep.

The other issue was much more…. darker.

"Ah, to hell with this." I clicked my tongue as I immediately teleported to the cottage where Kellen had met that meddlesome Dowager Magus.

I didn't knock, feeling no need to. I pushed the door open and strode into the barren abode, the old woman was sitting there in silence, not showing the slightest bit of surprise.

"So you finally came to find me." She said, as if she was expecting this.

I frowned at her in displeasure.

People who always seemed to have plans for anything and everything always bugged me. As I am now, figuring those plans out was easy but that didn't sit right with me.

"Speak, woman." I said with authority.

I could see her eyes widen as she felt the weight of my words, the mind chain binding her had completely loosened.

"How…?"

This fossil's whole question game with Kellen was groundwork for the perceptive boy to deduce that she was bound by a mind chain, she planned to subtly manipulate him towards figuring out her predicament, and subsequently the reason for it.

Personally, I had no interest in that.

Despite how trivial it seemed to me, Jan'Tep magic had some particularly nasty applications. Using silk magic, someone had bound her from speaking of or hinting at a specific subject. That was why she took interest in someone bold and crafty enough to cheat himself through a duel.

Kellen was her last hope of releasing the truth she knew.

"Don't ask how, just answer my questions." I said to her as I summoned a seat for myself, standing while she was seating didn't feel ideal to me.

She stared at me from under her veil before taking her newfound freedom in stride. She decided to ignore the chair that I pulled out of nowhere.

"What questions do you have?" She said.

I activated thought acceleration and recalled everything I had seen so far. There was one pressing matter.

"What is it called, that thing?" I finally decided to get to the bottom of Kellen's other problem.

When I observed that shadowy realm, I had discovered that it had gateways to this plane at various parts of this continent, beyond it even.

And most of said gateways were people.

One of said people, was Kellen.

"What do you mean?" She attempted to feign ignorance.

"Don't patronise me, I'm referring to the blemish on the boy." I challenged.

"It's called the shadowblack." She said simply.

Shadowblack? Who came up with that cliché name?

[Bear in mind that the things which make it sound cliché to you are not present in this world.]

Ugh, do you have to show common sense all the time?

[I have to compensate for your lack of it, so yes.]

"And what is it exactly?" I leaned forward slightly, linking my fingers.

"It's the curse the Mahdek placed on my people with their dying breath." She replied, her words were systematic, as if repeating what she had said a thousand times.

"Why do you still lie to me? You have free speech now, no?" I was slightly confused, there was no merit in keeping this facade up.

I caught a glimpse of her dark and dead eyes from under the veil, they were scanning me with suspicion and skepticism.

"Your origins are shrouded in mystery, your loyalties even more so. I see no reason to give you sensitive information about my people." Her voice was firm, unwavering. No amount of coercion or torture would get through to her unless she willled it.

"You make a good point, my origins are mysterious. My loyalties aren't though." I said as I crossed my legs and relaxed into the soft cushion of my chair.

"Then enlighten me, who do you serve?" I could feel her fearful anticipation for my answer.

"Myself, simple as that. I answer to no one in this world." My phrasing of the second part was deliberately vague, she could interpret it however she wanted.

"Is that so?" Her doubt was evident, I suppose my claims don't sound reliable.

"I can get it out of you if I wanted." I threatened, my eyes narrowing at her.

"Then it'll be no fault of mine." She replied instantly.

How strange.

If she's really withholding information because she cares about her people, she wouldn't have given that reply.

"You don't know, do you?" I made my thoughts known.

The magic surrounding her shook slightly and that was all the confirmation I needed.

She sighed in resignation.

"That is correct, no one really knows what the Shadowblack is, or where it comes from. We only know of the pain it brings and how to prevent it from doing so."

I watched on in silence as she continued.

"The boy's grandmother, Seren'tia, also suffered from the unfortunate curse we call Shadowblack. She was an exceptional mage who turned her power against us under the influence of that soul devouring scourge."

I wonder if it's hereditary…

[It is not.] Ciel corrected before I could fall into a misunderstanding.

Then how….

So far, all the knowledge I have gathered either came from analysis or was easily gleaned from common knowledge. There might be something the Jan'Tep are hiding, something which would clear up this question of mine.

"How did she get it?" I asked.

She remained silent. So she doesn't know that either.

"Then, how did Kellen get it?" I crossed my arms.

"I refuse to say. If you want to know, ask his family." This is pointless.

"Fine then, I'll leave you to your solitude." I said, my chair disappearing as I stood up.

I've gained nothing from this meeting but an edgy name to call Kellen's plight and more questions.

In that case, I'll watch the situation develop from here.

Ra'meth seems to be doing something interesting, I could tell that the harassment that Ferius had faced yesterday had some other purpose.

I highly doubt Ra'meth would let his son, Tennat, do something so reckless otherwise. He probably instigated it.

I looked back at the cottage behind me, already resolved to forget about the woman who was now back under the influence of the mind chain.

.

.

The sun beat down on my head as I sat on a bench completely exposed to it.

Around me, I could hear my fellow initiates whisper and jeer. The subject didn't take too much thinking to figure out.

I spotted Tennat in the distance, on the other side of the Oasis. He seemed to have less energy today.

Within the bounds of the Oasis, two initiates were in the middle of a duel. One was adept in ember magic, the other defended with breath.

I was in the middle of trying to peer into the formula of the spells when someone called out to me.

"Kellen." The voice told me the speakers age without me looking at him.

"Good afternoon, Master Osia'Phest." I said.

"You're alone today." He replied as he glanced around the Oasis.

"Yeah, no one talking to me. No one bothering me either." I looked over at Tennat again, Osia'Phest followed my line of sight.

"It seems Tennat is sick. His magic failed to work properly this morning." He explained why the idiot was more reserved.

Why was he telling me this though?

"Is that so? I didn't know fevers were an excuse to suck at magic." Osia'Phest looked at me with confusion, he probably didn't understand why I would make a joke that applied to me more.

"It's not a fever, it's something different. Something unheard of."

Now this is getting fishy.

"Is there a reason you're taking your time to tell me this?" I looked up at the old man, my eyes narrowing.

"I bear no ill will, son of the House of Ke. I cannot say the same for the others though." He said.

I see..

Somehow, I was being suspected of doing something to Tennat. There was even a perfect incriminating scene.

Yesterday, I had threatened him with some unknown power in front of a large number of our peers.

Normally, I would have burst out in protest, calling everyone out on their injustice.

"So that's what it is, fine then." I said, showing how unconcerned I was with whatever they tried to do to me.

I feared no legal action since my father wouldn't tolerate any trial on such flimsy evidence, the only thing I stood to lose was the respect and friendship of my peers.

Not like I had it anyway.

Osia'Phest looked intrigued, he nodded his head slightly before moving away to declare the winner of the duel that just ended.

I wasn't left to myself for long, I soon had another visitor.

"Hello, Pan." I addressed Panahsi, who now looked much better than he did on the day it all began.

"What was that yesterday?" He ignored my greeting and went straight into interrogation.

"Huh?" Was all I could say.

"That." He pointed at my ember band, which still lay flat.

"It's not sparked." He continued.

I keenly observed the band, mimicking Panahsi. This action seemed to get on his nerves and just as he was about to complain, I spoke.

"And?" And decided to provoke him more.

His fists clenched in anger, a poor reaction for a mage.

"The fire you brandished at Tennat yesterday, how did you do it?" He squeezed out.

"A strange question. The Oasis is right there, don't we all draw power from it?" This would normally be a valid argument, even Sha'Tep could make a lamp glow near the Oasis.

"Don't look down on me, Kellen. There's no way you could have pulled that off after years of being unable to light a lamp."

"Valid point." I said.

"So?" He pushed.

"So what? I said it was a valid point, didn't say it applied to me." I shrugged.

Panahsi crossed his arms before glaring at me in disdain.

"I could beat the answer out of you." He said.

"I'd like to see you try." I rose and met him face to face.

He almost took a step back, thrown off guard by my immediate response to his threat.

The other kids around us burst into murmurs, interested in what would happen.

Now, I wasn't confident about beating Panahsi, I still think my chances are pretty low.

But there was something different, even if I didn't win, I was fully intent on doing damage.

"Tsk, forget about it." He hissed.

Panahsi was never a violent person, despite his strength. I half expected this anticlimactic ending.

"Also, Kellen." He stopped and called me, not bothering to face me.

"Yeah?" I sat back down as I replied.

"Never speak to me again." He said.

I followed him with my eyes as he made his way to a group of boys who found something very funny as they seemed to be dying of laughter.

The afternoon went by with different initiates that I had barely spoken to, walking up to where I was sitting to deliver weird variations of Panahsi's final warning to me.

I had realized what was happening a while ago.

This was a sort of ritual my people did to exile someone they knew.

Everyone who ever knew the subject would publicly cut ties with him in clear terms. When all this was done, the council would summon the poor fellow and deliver an official statement of exile.

"Hehe." I chuckled at the sheer ridiculousness of it all.

I wasn't actually worried. This wouldn't end with my exile, I was confident about that.

Shalla existed, she would never denounce me.

This was just a childish way for them to gang up against me.

Tennat came forward, missing his usual swagger.

"This is it for you." He said.

"Heard you couldn't cast spells, you sure you should be saying that?" I mocked him.

His face twisted in anger before he smirked.

"Heh, say what you want. In the end, I'll earn my mage's name and you'll be cleaning my floors."

"Is that so?" I was snapping my fingers, creating small flames with each snap. The flames didn't have any meaningful heat but it was fun to see how far I'd advanced with this simple application of magicules.

Tennat noticed what I was doing and furrowed his eyebrows.

"How are you doing that?"

"What?" I played dumb.

"You're not doing the correct signs, how is there fire?" He pointed at my fingers, which had "surprisingly" stopped producing flames.

"Did you hit your head? There's nothing there." I waved my hand in front of him.

"You…" He grit his teeth before grunting and walking away. A few more came and went, each trying their hardest to hurt me.

It felt like they were competing or something...

So who's next…?

I raised my head to see Nephenia making her way towards me.

I couldn't resist the urge to sigh.

"Hello, Kellen." She said.

"Hm. Hello, Nephenia." I responded.

She stood there in silence, her hands couldn't seem to stay still.

"I came to visit, did you hear?" She finally managed to get out.

"Yeah, I heard. Thanks." I wanted her to get it over with, this wasn't exactly a pleasing situation.

"How are you doing?"

"Nephenia, you're here to cast me out like the others, aren't you?" I ignored her question, urging her to complete her true mission.

"I'm not…maybe…" Why is she being so indecisive?

I followed her line of sight to see Tennat and some other boys from influential families.

"Are they threatening you?" I asked.

"No, that's not it." Then what's your problem?

"Then?" I was growing tired of this, my uncaring front only went so far.

"My family is weak, you know. And so am I. If I want to save my mother from the family that treats her no better than Sha'Tep, I need to be in their good graces." It seems she finally mustered the courage to speak her mind.

So that's what it is…

Well, I understand..but why…

"Why are you telling me this? From your words it seems like your intentions are very clear." This is sickening.

"It's not that-!"

"Then what is it, huh? Is this some attempt at soothing your guilt? Are you expecting sympathy?" My voice grew cold and venomous as all the negative emotions I had been keeping inside all morning spilled through.

Right now, I couldn't care less about her hurt face. All that went through my mind was how despicable she was, how she was just like the rest of them, how stupid I was for even hoping that she wouldn't cast me out.

'Huh, Shalla was right. She does have a mouse face.' I thought as I glared at Nephenia.

"I wanted to…. never mind. Goodbye, Kellen." She made a final attempt at defending herself before giving up and walking away. I could feel everyone glaring at me, like I was at fault for making her cry.

I glared right back, unwilling to back down.

"That was something.." A familiar voice said behind me.

I turned to see Shalla, her blond hair in a ponytail. Her skin was a bit paler than usual and she seemed tired.

"Are you okay?" I asked, wondering if she had the same thing Tennat did.

"I'm fine, what was that with mouse girl?" She sat beside me, nodding towards Nephenia who was being comforted by Panahsi.

"Think I went too far?" I asked her, hoping she would say yes for some reason.

"No, actually. I told you she wasn't any good, didn't I?" Typical Shalla answer.

"Right….so what did you come here for? You're not obligated to attend this."

"Rejoice, my beloved brother." She said with a smile, swinging her legs back and forth.

"Huh? Why are you suddenly saying suspicious things?" I wanted to take distance from her but she grabbed my arm tight.

"See, I've found a way to help you get your magic. I'll make sure your potential doesn't go to waste."

"Huh?" Is she serious.

"You know about power animals, no?"

Ah, I see.

Power animals, or familiars, were special animals that a Jan'Tep could call and bond with using blood magic, the best example would be a Falcon.

Come to think of it, I had shaken Tennat on the day of our duel by pretending I was bonded to a Falcon flying past us.

Having a power animal would enable a mage to perform high magics without sparking the required band.

"How is that possible though? I can't do blood magic." I gestured to the dormant band.

"That's where I come in. See, I spent yesterday coming up with this, first….." Then she droned on and on about how she would use blood magic to first summon a power animal and use it to drag another of its kind towards us with blood sympathy magic.

This sounded like a genius plan, but it was also exceedingly dangerous.

There was the risk of summoning a sick animal. Sick animals are a no-go, these animals would find the opportunity to cling to a mage in hopes of extending their lives. A mage that bonded with a sick animal would be affected by the sickness in bizarre and uncontrollable ways.

I pointed this out to Shalla but it seems she had a countermeasure for that as well.

She has really thought all this through, it almost made me sad for what I would say next.

"This is fun and all, Shalla. But, I'm gonna say no." I shut her down.

"What? No? Are you fine with going down like this?" She was genuinely confused.

"Don't worry, I haven't given up. Just watch." I placed my right hand on her head and shook it, disheveling her hair.

"Hey!" She swatted my hand away.

My mood had slightly improved. Turns out Shalla could be useful after all.

I decided to look for Rimuru, I couldn't wait to learn more.

.

.

I had arrived at the clearing where Rimuru had taught me how to make fire, and as I expected…

"Hey there kid, ready for your next lesson?" Rimuru jumped down from a branch, he had a colourful book in his hands that vanished immediately after.

'How does he do that?' I was very curious.

"Yeah, hit me." My enthusiasm was high.

"Yeah, I totally plan to."

"Wait what?"

"Uhh, nothing. I won't hit you, I promise."

"This is very suspicious…" I couldn't help but mutter.

"Today's training will be a little different. I might even seem like a different person altogether, but take it in stride, okay?"

Suddenly this clearing felt very very dangerous, I could hear leaves rustle, undoubtedly the forest dwellers running away from this ominous atmosphere.

"Wait, hold on a bit."

"Okay! Training begins!"

It was instantaneous, I saw Rimuru's eyes shift, turning red.

'Wait….How's that possi-' My thoughts were abruptly cut off.

Because heading towards me was a lance of black flames.

"Ah, I'm a goner."

.

.