Chapter 374: Family secrets

Chapter 374: Family secrets

Sofia told Lola to settle down in her room, leaving her with Pareth, while she quickly ran up the stairs back to Astelias room while continuing to channel an unlife rune she had started working on when she had gone to wake up Lola. The entire group was quite animated, talking about the competition and the information they had just learned.

Alith was the one who had opened the door, Sof, youre back, what were you-

Ill explain later; Astelia, can you lend me the earrings right now? Sofia called out from the entrance.

Huh? Sure, Astelia answered without even asking why, she floated up to Sofia while taking out the earrings of Lies, she handed them out to Sofia, Just be careful, when youre wearing them. I got hit by their curse once, and it was not a good time

Of course. Thank you, Asty! Ill bring them back as soon as Im done.

Sofia left, running back down the stairs again.

And just like that, shes gone, Cardinal commented.

Well, yeah. Thats Sofia, Saria added with a shrug, She looked a bit worried.

She is your sister, are you not going to go help her with whatever urgent thing she is doing? Cardinal asked in a curious tone.

Shes got Pareth with her. If she needed more help she would have asked us. Notice how she asked for Astelias earrings instead of asking for her to come directly with her. She probably doesnt want to endanger us with whatever crazy stunt she is trying to pull. But were still in the academy anyway, so how bad could things really go?

Cardinal sipped on his tea without further comments.

Sofia ran down the stairs, swapping her earrings with the ones she had just borrowed. She counted on their ability to see through lies and trickery to make sure that nobody was manipulating Lola from the shadows. The unlife rune was just there because she had a bad feeling about this whole thing.

That the warning came from a creature of the Deep in the first place wasnt exactly reassuring.

Sofia entered her room and closed the shield back behind her. Lola was sitting opposite Pareth around Sofias bone table.

Sorry to make you wait after waking you up like that, Lola. Are you feeling alright?

Yes? This whole situation is a bit stressful

It doesnt have to be, as I said, youre not in any trouble; but I have a few questions to ask and I need you to answer truthfully. But, first, want something to drink?

I could use some fresh water

There you go, Sofia said as she handed Lola a glass of water straight out of her storage ring while also taking one for herself.

Lola took a few sips in an awkward silence before she needed to say something, Is- Is it about my rank in the competition?

Not at all, no. Im quite proud of your performance, honestly. You really improved by leaps and bounds in these few months. Its clear that youre working very hard and taking my and other teachers advice to heart. This isnt the issue.

Lola looked slightly appeased by the praises, but she still couldnt understand why she was to be questioned, Then what? she asked.

Well, first thing first, remember that bell? Sofia asked, dangling Ormoncleths bauble from the tip of her staff.

Pareth teleported to her but the mild pain suddenly stopped.

And with a duo of yet-never-seen system notifications came an otherworldly scream. The sword was screaming.

[You were subjected to a Soul-altering attack; but it was dismissed]

[The Mark of Aphenoreth punishes the attacker]

The screaming sword stabbed Sofias face faster than she could even read the notifications. She barely had time to see the headmaster and Saint Tartaros appear in her room, both grabbing the sword, that her vision changed to something else entirely.

Sofia found herself in a dark room, the gaping wound in her face the only source of light, illuminating a giant-sized corridor topped with sculpted arches and paintings adorning the room, and sculptures of inordinately tall muscular men acting as the stone pillars on both sides, holding the ceiling and preventing the massive place from collapsing.

What?

Pareth appeared to her side.

I think the sword tried to escape while it was in my face but because the other two had the sword in hand, I was the only one who got teleported.

Sofia quickly checked her least used hidden feature of the system, the last bed compass. Points to the academy being to the northeast No distance measure, though, so this doesnt help much.

Is this Ancestor Hugos secret cave or something?

Sofia cautiously extended her mana senses, which revealed that this corridor she was in was encased within a mana shield, and under closer investigation, every part of every wall, every statue and every tile on the floor, were all covered in delicate inscriptions coursing with mana.

Literally, everything here is enchanted in one way or another

She was in the middle of the corridor, on a larger round enchanted tile, which was probably the target for the teleportation.

Now

Do I try to rob what is very likely the secret safe place of a level 500, or do I get the fuck out of here as fast as possible?

Thus far, for the few seconds she had been here, Sofia had been careful not to move, for fear of triggering some kind of alarm or defense mechanism. Pareth was similarly only looking around, not taking a single step.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

But this also sounds like a death trap. Worst case, if the headmaster and friends manage to kill the guy, Ill be the only one to know of the location of this place, will I not? So I can always come back with Grandma and safely clean the place.

If they dont kill him, then wont he come after me to get his shit back?

So in both cases, its better to just fuck off.

Alright, Pareth, were out. Graveyard boys, your turn to shine!

The graveyard skeletons failed to even appear, their summoning canceled by the rituals embedded everywhere.

Ahah