Chapter 228: Shadows To A Flame (Timothy)

A dark-haired young man sat at the table, his arms crossed, and with a perpetual frown on his face even as he listened to Han rebut Penelope's words about Ellynn. It wasn't like the smell was that bad compared to Betsy and her friend's dung pile or anything—but it was unpleasant.

Orange stone pounded to fine dust, the seeds of the flaming capsis, some bark from the invasive whiar tree… make the flame burn brighter and then everything erupts into a smell resembling rotten fish.

Case in point, why Timothy didn't think it was that bad—but everybody else thought it was horrible. When his own plate was served in front of him, a flash of concern made its way to his chest. But then he remembered Iola would be fine.

[ Double Rations ] did the trick, and he had done it twice thanks to Han tagging along for breakfast.

Now the two of them were exactly the same meal. Although there had been the look that Iola threw at him for probably not giving her variety—at least he didn't have to go there right now and subject her to the same atrocities the other Students were experiencing. Someone like her would enjoy the silence and peace of having all the room to herself.

Besides… Timothy was sure that he'd receive an earful of complaints from the very moment he stepped into the room.

If there was anything he knew from interacting with women—they always had a lot of things to say. Surely smelling like rotten fish would be something that would be at the top of their list to complain about.

Well, he also had his own problems.

Compared to Penelope and Elliot, who were in front, Timothy sat right beside the Half Elf. He could still read the atmosphere even if his mother said that he couldn't.

Timothy had done his best to give the Half Elf space, because if he said a word—it felt like he would release all the pent up pressure surrounding her. And who would have known that it would happen even without his doing?

A sudden gust of wind erupted inside the classroom without a hint of warning. And instead of extinguishing the flame in the stoves—it had made every fire burst up. The bright flames became even stronger. Soon it was followed along by the stench as their fire blast potion exploded before they could finish it.

Professor Lavelda hadn't been able to stop it since the woman passed out.

Literally collapsing at the smell.

… that made him lose respect for the Professor by a tad bit. He had a sharp nose thanks to his Skill but nobody saw him complaining, did they? And even when the fire and the potion exploded in his face—he had quelled the flames and salvaged the brew. The potion now rested in his bag, and he wasn't even sure how to use it. Maybe it was some sort of projectile?

Who drank fire blast potions, anyway?

Would you spit out fire once you drank it? He glanced at Han and half-wondered if the guy would drink if he offered it to them. But complaints aside, Timothy kept to himself and ate his lunch as fast as he could. If Professor Lavelda was still out of commission, the other Students brought her to the faculty's office, then it meant that he could study his Spells in the meantime.

There was Elliot and Penelope later this evening—well, he hoped that the young boy would reconsider tutoring him despite last night, but he also prepared himself to study alone. And perhaps he would drag Han. It was better to learn a new Spell than getting chased around by Elemental Orbs.

He put his spoon down and glanced at the rest of the people in the table, almost everyone of them were unfamiliar faces. Those he actually could recognize like Sir Harrington didn't exactly make him feel comfortable either.

Timothy pulled himself up to his feet and slung his bag over his shoulder. The thick cloth able to hold the multiple books he had gotten from the library and included among it this time was the tome. He glanced once over at Han, "I'm leaving," he muttered.

And the man gazed at him with a confused expression, "What?"

It seemed like Han didn't have an interest in tagging along then, or even heard him at all.

"Oh, you're leaving already, Timothy?" Penelope asked.

He gave a curt nod, "See you in our next class." And without waiting for anybody else to spare him any other greetings, Timothy left the table and the dining hall.

.

.

.

The very moment he stepped out of the dining hall was when a familiar figure appeared—or rather, an unknown face. But with how they were looking at him spoke volumes, he raised a brow, "Kai?"

"...you got it right," he looked put out, and yet managed a grin, "But what is this? Leaving so soon?"

He huffed and stepped away and yet found himself blocked by the Mage. The young man in his path. He glared at him, "It's none of your business—and your business I believe is about Han?" What was it with Han that had everyone searching for him? Timothy had no intentions of helping the old man he met at the city, and neither did he have any desire to associate himself with the Mage here.

"After all the effort I did to help you out in your class?"

Timothy paused, "What?"

Kai's tone was seriously offended. And though it shouldn't be anything good to get sucked into this obviously Illusionary Mage's words that could be nothing more than lies, Timothy still looked at him.

"Did you see the look on Professor Howard's face?" Kai's face morphed momentarily to that of the Headmaster. A stern expression on his face, "Do you honestly think that I would have the time to wander around and teach that man a lesson?" he then shifted back into his normal form of a young man with the shaggy and unkempt hair.

Timothy shook his head, "I don't think a Student would fool a senior Battle Mage. If you have anything you want to know, ask the man directly instead of me, all of this has got nothing to do with me."

"Indeed, it seems unbelievable—but I'm able to do so," the man traced out a symbol in the air, a glowing glyph that burst and shattered dust around them, "Because I have more experienced people backing me."

"What?"

"A hidden faction within Kraelonia Academy if you will, a shadow group that seeks to pursue its agenda and those of the Academy's growth."

"... if that doesn't sound suspicious to me, I'm not sure what will." Timothy frowned and clenched his fist tight around his bag. "What's this Spell that you casted? Some kind of silent circle?"

The Illusionary Mage blinked, "You could identify it with one glance?"

"I've seen it before," he replied.

"Ah, that makes sense," The Mage rubbed his chin, "And yet a Spell of this caliber are taught to those of higher levels, or used for secret conversations to prevent eavesdropping and so it's far more likely that you've involved yourself in a private talk requiring this… and yet when? And who?"

Timothy clicked his tongue. This man was practically dissecting every mere word he was saying—and yet if what the Mage said was true. His fingers clutched his bag tighter and bared a smile, "As I've said before, it's none of your business."

He whacked the bag on the man's face.

And promptly watched the figure dissipate.

"Oh geez, I didn't think you would hit another Student and yet here we are," Another voice sounded within his ears, a silky voice unlike that of the boy from earlier. "It seems like the Headmaster has allowed Barbarians into the premises of this distinguished Academy. A splendid job to Kai for catching this little Cook."

Compared to his earlier bravado, it dissipated like a cloud of smoke. They knew his Class. The Headmaster seemed to know it, and perhaps those of higher-levels could read it. And yet that wasn't what made his palms grow sweaty.

Dealing with Kai had been fine, but this?

Shadow faction. A secret group that operated within the Academy? The man didn't want to be part of this. He grasped his bag and then ran off; it had only been a silent circle—and yet found himself in the same spot as before.

Was this an illusion or had he really returned?

He threw a gust of fire in front of him and found the flames suck into darkness.

This situation reminded him of the time spent in the library's underground corridors. He had gotten stuck to one place with a singular etching on the wall. His mind attached back then to the symbol, but now he was being held against his will. Even his own flames were useless to this kind of situation.

And all of this was happening because they wanted information about Han?

Kai had started his interrogation right when he had woke up, but they were this incessant on gaining information? This wasn't the place he wanted to be in right now.

Timothy's gaze flickered across the empty hallway, "What is it you guys want?"

If he could get over these questions all at once, then he could get through with his own agendas without them bothering him. And if they had some truth crystal or something around the corner…? Well, he would say nothing that would jeopardize them.

"My boy, we want to know everything."