"…"
"…"
Ashen exhaled softly, the corners of his lips twitching before the smile faded entirely.
The silence lingered. He rubbed his thumb against his palm, gaze distant.
"…So," he finally muttered, his voice low, "how did you manage the recruitment selection this time?"
Lucia acknowledged his sidestep from the topic by following along with the new subject. "It was a disaster."
The statement made Ashen snap out of his melancholic mood. "…That bad?"
"Yes." She nodded indifferently. "All dead."
His face darkened at the sound of her words. He knew that she'd recruited at least more than fifty this time. But for them to all end up dead, even with the harshness of the tutorial phase, was unnatural.
'…This is not the first time either,' he thought, knowing that the last time was practically the same, with only him surviving from the batch.
"Wait… How'd you even know they died? I thought it was forbidden to contact recruits during that phase?"
Lucia smiled faintly. "I had to take some precautions after the last failure. One of my skills lets me monitor their location and whether they're alive or dead."
Ashen nodded, impressed. "That's an impressive skill, though I'd doubt they would be comfortable with being constantly monitored if they found out. Not that it matters now…"
Lucia tilted her head. "Aren't you in the same boat, though?"
Blink.
Blink, Blink.
"…Sorry, what?"
"I'm also monitoring your well-being, of course. What did you think I'd monitor fifty nameless recruits and leave my most precious investment unattended? Even with you being in an infinitely more dangerous position?"
"…"
"I even have half of my skills active on you. You should be thankful." Lucia continued, not noticing—or deliberately ignoring—Ashen's cramping expression.
"Wait… let me get this straight." He held one hand up. "So you've been monitoring me without my knowledge… since when?"
Lucia tilted her head. "I thought it was obvious, so I didn't bother asking for permission. I've been doing it since we signed the contract and became partners, of course."
Ashen's fists clenched tight. He didn't know if it was frustration at himself for letting himself get tracked so easily or at her for taking the act of monitoring him as if it were her rightful duty.
But he knew snapping would accomplish nothing here, and Lucia probably did it out of protection, as she said.
He wasn't buying her bullshit about it being "obvious," though.
And he wasn't going to let this go without compensation either.
"Can I see what skills you used on me, partner?" His cramped face barely managed a smile.
He knew she would most probably accept, since, with her motto being an eye for an eye, he knew he was entitled to some kind of compensation for the infringement of his privacy.
"Sure." Lucia readily nodded.
'Sure enough…' Ashen confirmed. 'She probably went through this convoluted route to spy on me because she knew I'd resist if she asked normally. What a sly woman.'
"I'll just show you the skill descriptions." She pulled up her status window, then tapped the relevant skills and made the first skill window rotate to his position.
==============================
Mark
Only one individual can be marked at a time.
The target must be someone the host genuinely envies in some way. The stronger and more numerous the points of envy, the deeper the link formed.
Through this mark, the host gains awareness of the target's physical condition and current location.
The host can foresee the target's death up to three days in advance based on the state of the link, and a distinct warning resonates whenever the target approaches mortal danger.
Current Target: Ashen Hart
Physical condition: Excellent/Damaged Circuits
Current Location: The Ashbastion's Grand Library
==============================
"I use this to keep track of you," Lucia explained after showing him the first skill.
Ashen read through the description and widened his eyes. 'This can even predict my death?'
Lucia didn't seem to be finished with the surprises, though.
She snapped the next window into place.
==============================
Ward
Allows the host to designate one individual for protection against deviations.
The more genuine the envy toward the target, the more reliable the protection.
The ward can be overpowered by higher or forceful measures.
Current target: Ashen Hart
==============================
"This one, I used to shield your secrets, since you seem to have plenty." She glanced at the half-empty cup of Veyra with half-lidded eyes, as if to make a point.
But the subtle jab didn't reach its intended target, since he was internally freezing.
It wasn't strange that he was. He'd found out that the solution to his old problem of protection against unseen phenomena, such as divination, which his other self had warned him about, was sitting in front of him the whole time.
'This is the first time I'm feeling grateful for being spied on…' Ashen wanted to laugh, but the irony of it all held it back.
Lucia didn't seem to mind his silence, knowing what kind of impact her skills would make. "This is the last one I used on you… for now."
A swipe of her fingers whooshed the window to his face.
==============================
Mindshield
Creates a mental barrier around a chosen person, shielding them from illusions, manipulation, and psychic intrusion, excluding the host. Works best on individuals the host regards with both envy and reluctant admiration.
Current Target: Ashen Hart
==============================
Lucia uncrossed and then crossed the other leg, "I don't think you'd need this one this early, since you won't be fighting psychic Narkals yet, but just in case. You never know, after all."
Ashen didn't agree, though. "No, this one was very helpful as well. Thank you, Lucia."
Ashen had always wondered why his hallucinations were always suspiciously on the lighter side, even though his condition was bad enough that it had even developed into a trait.
Mindshield was the answer. The only illusions that he saw were probably the ones that overwhelmed the skill and passed through.
"Just doing my part, partner." She smiled, then thought of something and glided one last window toward him.
==============================
Net
Up to fifty individuals can be placed within a sensory web, allowing passive monitoring of their approximate location and physical state. Each must harbor at least a trace of envy toward the host, forming a one-sided resonance. The more intense their envy, the clearer the feedback.
Current targets:
Arjun Mehta — State: Dead / Position: -
Sofia Alvarez — State: Dead / Position: -
Kenji Sato — State: Dead / Position: -
.
.
.
Noah Williams — State: Dead / Position: -
==============================
Ashen heard Lucia's offhanded comment as he looked at the unexpected bonus. "This one, I used to monitor the recruits. Since we already talked about it, it doesn't hurt to show it."
He slowly nodded. "Thank you for your trust."
"Don't mention it."
"And you can keep using your skills on me."
"I don't think I need permission to keep my investments alive, but I'm glad to have your 'permission' anyway."
"…Right." Ashen's lips twitched.
One thing he noticed, though, was that she had to envy her target for the skills to work. 'But envy me? Should I be worried or flattered? What would she envy about me, anyway?'
But he didn't dwell on that much, as clearly, from the skills' description, her envy wasn't harmful but veering more toward admiration. 'Protective envy, if that makes sense. hah.'
"So, you're Envy, huh?" he casually asked, like it wasn't obvious enough through the skills.
"That, I am," Lucia said with unflinching ease. "5th step of Envy, one of the few presiding over the Prognōsis Thema—the Precog, Lucia."
Ashen raised an eyebrow. "Is that some kind of title?"
She nodded. "That's what others mostly know me by."
"Fancy."
"Not as fancy as you, Mr. Seer~" She smirked.
"As expected of you, you always seem to know everything…" Ashen shook his head helplessly.
"Only if it comes to you." Lucia corrected.
"Am I supposed to be flattered?"
"Yes, it's a privilege of being my ally. Aren't you glad?"
"Glad, very glad…" He nodded along, not even being sarcastic, especially after seeing her skills.
"So, what is the problem with the recruits? Did you figure it out?" Ashen circled back to the subject that they'd glossed over earlier.
Lucia grimly shook her head. "All I know is that some cult is involved. They've been enticing recruits, and those who didn't fall for their lures were dealt with instead. And you know how easy it is to bury someone there."
The moment Ashen heard the word "cult," all his nerves flared, and his attention honed instantly.
"The tutorial city brings new soldiers every six months, and every faction has a hand in it. How can they let cults run rampant there?" he asked, confusion mixed with frustration in his tone.
Lucia explained, "You have to understand that cults have been infesting every part of our structure for so long that they practically became cancerous."
But then she nodded. "What you said about the tutorial city is true, however, and the higher-ups always move to eliminate the pests before they make any waves…"
"…But?" Ashen asked for the inevitable.
"…But, strangely… they were only focusing on recruits marked for the Wrath Domain the last two times… so the response of the other factions has been somewhat late."
Ashen's brow creased. The facts and events that he'd gathered swirled inside his brain.
First, the involvement of cults. But from his recent history studies, he knew that every cult was somehow directly or indirectly controlled by only one: The Veiled Moon.
Second, their selective targeting of the Wrath Domain, which was the backbone of humanity's defense and the frontline of the ongoing war.
Third, the strange movements happening on the frontline, and the unnatural spike of Narkal presence near the Ashbastion.
Fourth, the elves' ominous warning…
Every point started connecting and painting a really foreboding picture…
But all of this didn't concern Ashen as much as the immediate consequences, namely Lucia's position.
"There must be repercussions for having only one recruit in one year, right? Are you going to be alright?" he asked carefully.
Lucia smiled, almost gratefully. "You don't have to worry about that. Rather, you're the one that solved it. After all, I may have one recruit, but that one man is doing the work of a hundred."
"Oh." Ashen didn't think his plan to be an overachiever to get discharged early for Alice would have such an unexpected benefit.
"I guess the war hero plan is going more smoothly than I thought?" he noted, amused.
"Surprisingly so." She nodded, giving him a rare praising look. "If you keep this up, you might really make it."
Ashen bobbed his head in agreement and took another sip of the Veyra cup, but Lucia could see that his mind kept wandering.
This had been constantly happening after their conversation about Alice, and she knew that something had been bothering him since then.
"It seems that you have your mind elsewhere. Why don't you go and visit her now? Maybe that would wipe the grumpiness out of your face."
Ashen gave her an apologetic look. "...Yes, maybe you're right. I'll do that, but stay around. We need to catch up more. I haven't recounted how I got that Seer title, after all."
Lucia merely waved her hand. "Go. I'll be around for the next couple of days."
Ashen nodded gratefully before getting up. But he didn't take three steps away before going back and standing before her.
Lucia raised her head while reclining on the sofa, shooting a puzzled look at Ashen, who was towering above her.
"I forgot that I had to 'mess' with your body, hehe." He playfully laughed before grabbing both her slender hands and activating SA.
{Activated Path Skill: Somatic Autonomy.}
Lucia felt her mana move without her consent but didn't resist.
"Think of how you'd like your taste buds to behave. The more beneficial the food, the tastier… Everything that nourishes you is more savory… Everything that harms you, your tongue can't tolerate…"
Lucia obeyed and thought as he instructed, but she had to look at him once more as she felt more than half of her mana drain.
Ashen simply smirked, looking at the oddly cute but confused look on her face. "The more mana, the better the effect. Don't worry."
Finally, he let go of her hand after SA stopped consuming her mana, indicating that the task was done.
Ashen picked up his half-drunk cup and hovered it right above her lips. "C'mon, try it."
Lucia, as if hypnotized, slowly inclined forward and took a sip from the cup in his hands.
"Ah~" She let out an involuntary moan from the divine flavor, leaning back without realizing it, chest heaving and lips parted.
"…It seems I'll have a completely new set of problems after drinking this," she murmured, after regaining her composure.
Ashen shrugged, amusement dancing in his eyes. "What a sweet problem to have, right? Beats choking down that revolting stuff from before."
"Hmm~" Lucia hummed softly in agreement as he handed her the cup, her gaze lingering on him while he walked away with a lazy wave.