Chapter 95: Fare thee well, Nvein

Chapter 95: Fare thee well, Nvein

First, Tom circled back to The Warm Hearth, the inn where the real professor Neliel was still sleeping and due to wake up soon.

Scaling the first floor window required little effort on his part at this stage, the innkeeper woefully unaware of his silent infiltration. Adding two lines to the note he left behind was accomplished just as easily enough, as he directed the Professor to find his way back to the academy through unofficial means if he did not wish to arouse suspicion.

Of course, Tom was well aware that all he was accomplishing was stacking up a house of cards. There were too many ways Neliel could see through his deception, but none Tom could do anything about at this stage. He could not even kill the professor even if his moral compass would allow such a thing, because the death of a member of the conspiracy would likely push back the assassination.

Purpose accomplished, Tom stalked back into the safety of the shadows.

The Shadow card allowed him to cut a path through the Noble District, across scaled buildings and narrow alleyways. The patrolling Royal Knights would not take kindly to finding him lurking around their territory without proper identification and Tom wasnt too enthused about the prospect of being caught either. DiScover new stories at novelhall.com

Fighting within the Noble District would mean it was his loss, regardless of the outcome of the battle.

Roughly ten minutes passed by him before he slowed his approach and canceled the effect of his The Shadow card, approaching the grand tent painted in the Royal Knights livery with his hands disarmingly raised high in the air.

Halt! The barked out order came, forcing Toms footsteps to freeze in place.

The Royal Knight, Nvein, stepped out from inside the tent, undoubtedly having senses his presence before visually confirming it.

Its me, Tom rasped out, using Alaan Zenaris inflection since he was still using his physical features as a disguise, albeit wearing a mask over his visage.

Nveins tone turned tense as he took in the masked Elite Guard before he asked, Can you confirm?

Naturally, Tom replied without skipping a beat, even as his heart rate picked up. He could lie, trick and conceal for only so long before he hit a rock wall that was knowledge he always possessed. He had known that it was a very real possibility that Nvein would report such an important matter to his superiors and at this point, he had no way to stop it without sounding suspicious.

However, Tom added, just as Nvein was about to reply. I urge you to do so after I leave. My duty compels me to report to the king at the earliest, come what may.

Of course, Nvein replied, even as his brow twitched. Of course, I understand, He repeated, as he stepped aside.

You may pass, Nvein finally confirmed, as he stepped aside.

Thank you, Royal Knight. Though it was brief, you make for enjoyable company. Let us hope that Renovia does not require my services again in the near future, Tom offered a word of farewell, aware of the possibility that he may never get to meet the knight again after this.

Let us hope so, indeed, Nvein copied his odd style of farewell, turning his gaze slightly to observe as Tom stalked outside the tent with haste.

Only after the purported Elite Guard left his presence, did Nvein finally allow himself to address his doubts he was harboring.

I must have been imagining it. His gait, speech pattern and even height felt different, but I was a bit too taken aback by our first meeting to register everything carefully. The Crest of the Nottrakon Family cannot be faked or imitated, I saw it myself. If one was stolen, the king would certainly know. Im overthinking it again, maybe I should tell Serawin to stop sending lost puppies my way. Its for a good cause, but a guilty conscience will eventually lead to mistakes.

Sighing loudly, Nvein shook his head and sat down on the only armchair in the room. Another hour and a different Royal Knight would take over the night shift for him. Maybe he just needed a rest.

Come to think of it, when was the last time he had been on a vacation?

Now that this whole imposter business was resolved, with the culprit dead in the ground, he could go on one. Nvein had certainly distinguished himself enough in his service to ask for a leave, after all.