Chapter 88: Unravelling

Chapter 88: Unravelling

Sorry about this, prof, Tom whispered under his breath once he found himself secluded in the room, with the professor peacefully lying down on the lone bed available.

The alchemical reagent he had administered would make sure that the professor stayed out cold for the next twenty four hours. He had gone out of his way to confirm that they left behind no side-effects, so Tom didnt feel any more guilty for using it on the professor.

Tapping his chin as he peeked outside the curtained window, Tom considered his next move.

Forty-four, He muttered under his breath, alluding to the number Active ShroudMaya had asked of him to use the ability on the professor. That number was higher than Jayce and unsurprisingly lesser than Zirel, letting Tom know that the professor was not to be underestimated.

However, that didnt change the fact that there was a theory he had been meaning to test for a while now.

If the resistance Tom encountered during Maya came from the consciousness, then what if he made sure its target was unconscious? He hadnt been able to try such a tactic so far, because his whole aim was to not attract attention until he was strong enough to defend himself.

Now, though, the professor had given him the perfect opportunity.

He turned his gaze to the unconscious professor and turned the mental lever that toggled his Active ShroudMaya skill.

Toms expression turned sombre as he considered the number floating above the unconscious professors head.

Nineteen.

Turning his gaze to the door and confirming it was locked, Tom took a seat before deciding that he no longer had any reason to hesitate.

He toggled the skill.

Well, this sure is interesting, Tom muttered under his breath as his grip on the old-world lanyard that carried with it a photo of him from back on Earth, a thought-concept that his Home-Bound skill manifested in every Maya he stepped into, slackened.

He took in the blurry, trembling world he found himself in, the long hallway that he could now place as one that was flanked by classrooms on either end.

The world itself is unstable and vague, as if it were a fleeting dream, Tom remarked as he passed by a group of students. Or atleast, what he assumed to be a gaggle of students behind the white haze that obscured their faces. I guess there are consequences to using Maya on unconscious people. I cant explore the academy first hand, but at the same time, it is only a reconstruction from memory. Naliels memories have told me enough already.

Tom continued strolling down the hallway, grateful for how much easier breaking free of the web of illusions that Maya weaved for him each time he relied on the ability. Just because he had gotten used to forgetting everything about ones sense of self and using the dissonance between body and mind to trace his path back to himself, it wouldnt ever be an enjoyable experience for him. Not that he succeeded every time he tried, either.

If it werent for his sub-skill, home-bound, rescuing him, he would presently be wandering Artezia believing he was Zirel Covan Nottrakon, Fourth Prince of the Syrelore Kingdom.

Merely the thought of that scenario was enough to make him shudder, everytime.

His Sub-Skill Moh Maya couldnt help him when it came to Astral Gold Stars.

Nothing but his own will-power could.

I will persist, Tom thought in reaffirmation, meaning every word. For someone who had been used to negative self-talk far longer than positive affirmation, encouraging himself was a habit he had only picked up in Artezia.

This world had given him strength, confidence and proven to him that he could win. It had come at the cost of many dangers and a growing list of people that would be pursuing him in the near future, but it had still been worth it. Most of all, it had reminded him very recently that he still had a long way to go.

After losing to Zirel so thoroughly that it was more accurate to term it decimated, Tom refused to be crushed by the will of an unconscious professor.

Iwant it, Tom croaked out, as he felt his strength leave him three-fourths of the way into the Astral Gold territory. I will keep going, Tom closed his eyes and commanded, screamed, yelled, cried, pleaded, begged and beseeched his body to move.

The headache that tore away at his skull was mild compared to the intense discomfort he felt as his body felt as if it were being pulled away in two different directions. The world wished to rip him apart, but Tom was equally determined to see his attempt, the closest he had got to an Astral Gold star, succeed.

Five minutes later, back in the real world, Tom opened his eyes.

Then he staggered backwards in shock, his expression pale as he crashed into a wooden table, knocking both it and the cutlery on it onto the ground.

He stared at the professor with a shell shocked expression, his hands lightly trembling from the weight of realisation.

Tom had expected a great many things from the Astral Gold star, ranging from powerful Glyphs to personal secrets or even historical records that had uncovered findings the professor could not publish publicly.

Never in his wildest dreams did he expect that the professor, along with over half the Academy teaching staff, had been bought out by the Nottrakon Family.

Of course, that wasnt enough to surprise Tom.

. Had he not uncovered a plot by the Nottrakon Family to assassinate Valeria Nezarie, only daughter of the Kings very own right hand, with intent to pin the blame on the Zenari family.

Tom would indeed, not have been too surprised.

A week, He whispered, burdened by knowledge he had not asked for.

An old-world saying echoed in his mind.

Be careful what you wish for.