"So, did you think what we should be doing for the faction festival?" Luka's questions hit Albert like an arrow as he tilted his head to the side. The other two of the faction were already making the most of whatever deals they had pulled behind the scenes and were slacking off with all their might.
On top of all the bullshit his homeland pulled, with the new country now a part of them, he also had to deal with this faction shit, his own classes, his own intelligence guild, his own secret army, his own succession war, his own politics from his mother's side, his own guild, and worst of all, Luka.
Now that this factional festival trash was heaped on top of his head, Albert was losing more and more desire to work.
In all honesty, he was still slacking off.
All his work he could complete half asleep.0
Eugene was a genius, sure, but Albert's mind was incomparable. He remembered sucking on a pacifier while he was given a prize for a college olympiad. He was pretty ruthless back in those days, but then he fell in love with an older woman and a whole fiasco went down turning him into a pushover.
Well, that was for the old world.
"Did you decide? Hey, did you? Albert. It'll be fun, let's make a band or something."
Of course, nothing was worse than Luka.
Was he always this annoying? He definitely was. Albert could tell why Eugene and him barely had any screen time together. Make them meet and fists are going to fly.
Sighing, he decided to manage this as well.
"Do you play any instrument?" Albert asked.
"Yeah, I can do the cello or the bass."
"Alright, I'll make sure they never come on our Island."
"Huh?"
Albert walked on. Not like he was going to be forced to take part in this thing, who cared? Just as he passed through the bridges of the islands while thinking so, a small magpie fluttered in front of him, a letter stuck to its feet.
"Hey! It's the principal's bird! What does it say? Does he want us to make a band?"
Albert sighed and took the letter.
"I know you've never had friends, but you're coming off a little strong."
"Hah…"
Albert narrowed his eyes at the letter.
[Hey, participate in the faction festival or I am closing that faction. It's the last thing before the end of the first trimester, so all good.
Your lovable favorite principal
Loshan]
"He spelled his name wrong."
"Oh, he did…"
***
An intense face off began in Eugene's room. Keith had found his way back in all the delay the young master and the old sage made, but he was quite interested, so he hung to the window and watched.
"First things first, how did you know?" Eugene asked
"Know what, child—"
Eugene banged the side of the bed.
"You know exactly what I am talking about. How did you know about me?"
The old man smiled. Under his unperturbed visage, only one thought ran in his mind. 'KNOW WHAT!?'
Alas, his screams were only his to hear.
How did he know about him, he asked. Him. Did he just mean how the shaman found his identity out?
"It was revealed to me." By Keith.
Of course, someone else was way too paranoid after just having faced a demon that could read minds.
It was revealed to me meant nothing other than someone being onto him.
"Is that a threat again, old man? Don't assume I will let you go."
Eugene leaned ahead. His red eyes hidden behind a few locks of his white hair were like the gates of hell. His words the sound of the gavel, and the old shaman a sinner.
He took in a deep breath.
"I am only here, to assist you, and all the lost lambs like yourself. Think of me, not an enemy, but a friend, a confidant."
This worked always, and now, something to steal back the control of the conversation. The old shaman desperately looked at the man in front of him, he was handsome, terrifyingly so. There were already two women in his room.
Hah.
Easy, he had tricked many a celebrities. The old shaman knew there were only two possibilities. Either this fucker was two-timing and was having a hard time choosing one, or was the oblivious rom-com type and was unable to understand his own looks.
In the eyes of an amateur, that is.
There was a third option. Called both.
"You are having troubles with romantic associations, are you not?"
Eugene reeled back.
In fact, two ladies were almost fighting over him just then. There was also the problem of the entire school believing him and Noa were an item.
"And you fail to see what others do, almost as if you are oblivious, blind to it all alone."
Eugene's jaw dropped open.
No one could ever tell he couldn't see faces! Is what he thought. Though almost everyone he knew had guessed that much.
"Child, I know of your troubles, and I am here to solve them."
Eugene couldn't help but find it suspicious. But if things were true, this man was one of the most formidable he had come across. Chuuni or not, Titania was so powerful that even Agares had to respect her. He could understand a demon or an angel being able to tell, but he didn't think someone that was of neither race could tell his current condition.
It seemed to be working.
The shaman wanted to squeal like a child that had just received a new set of crayons, but that would have to wait.
He moved ahead and grabbed Eugene's hands.
"Your future may be hidden behind the clouds, child, but the stars and the moon are your guides. Trust this sage—"
"Indeed. For now, simply because you have proved your capabilities, I will entertain you."
Formidable didn't mean strong.
"W-what?" The sage asked.
"What do these stars of mine say?"
"AH… uh…"
The sage had to get away. ASAP. What would the reaction be if he told this bastard that, no, he actually knew as much about the stars as a toddler?
Can't be anything good.
"You are special, boy. I must see it from the place closest to your self, for three fortnights. The skies, that is."
Eugene narrowed his eyes further.
He deeply considered listening to the old man.
In the end, he did have some manpower to spare.
"Keith, come inside."
Keith crawled in.
"Hand the sage over to glasses of Dark Moon. Make sure he's treated well and gets to see the stars for three weeks." Eugene then turned to the sage. "I better hear something good."
"A-about what?"
"Hah, didn't you say you already know."
With that, Eugene dusted his hands and walked back to the dining table.
"Um, young master, food—"
"No, get to work, slacker."
Well, as long as the Shaman was getting meals and a bed without having to run! It was all good. His scam was successful!
Little did he know, it was the worst mistake he had made in his life.