One moment, she felt emotional. In another fleeting moment, she turned cold. Sandra was such a mood swinger.
But I never reserved the right of accusation to the system as a writer. How then is it claiming that I disappointed Sandra as a husband-to-be?
Besides, this isn't the right time to think over some of these sub-matters without knowing their root. Was there a glitch in the system, or what might have caused this change?
Since this was not a VR game novel, I immediately discarded my first assumption that a glitch must have been introduced into the system… but even if that was true, it wouldn't have been the cause of a change of plot.
After scanning through my assumed options, I finally resolved that it must have been caused by a change in the novel's premise: maybe a change of character, location, or, most importantly, a change in actions.
Recounting deeds from my reincarnation up until this moment, I almost falsely blamed Muna for changing the location of our training. But even she shouldn't be blamed, she could have been acting according to the plan if there was no mastermind.
And the only mastermind that instantly came to my mind was myself.
Based on my deeds, the only change I had brought to the premise was declining the fact that the original Mobix had used his wives and harem members as puppets to go stronger.
I'm not necessarily claiming innocence to this fact; of course, I would make good use of the Harem Sharing System. But, I won't drop them off just like my crafted MC did.
I think that very decision of not sharing Muna's 50% stats when the opportunity was there was the mastermind of the change of plot.
'Okay, easy way to go. Just have the basic and natural info of your novel in mind. And act according to rightful decisions.'
Accepting the reality before me, I decided to play the bull by the horns. What's important is that every scene I had crafted in my novel played out, then, having known my objectives in each of them, acting wouldn't have to be adoptive.
"Mobix, are you done day-dreaming?" Muna's voice cut through my thoughts.
Then, I realized they had watched me lost for a long while. Yes, they did because I didn't even notice Linda had escaped my shadow and was now floating beside Muna.
"I wonder what your murmurs were while I was yet to return from the adventure," I said to them, trying to follow up with Muna's light tone of words.
"Adventure? Or were you thinking about your personal failure?" Muna blotted coldly, then, picking up the backpack she had prepared for the 'training journey' as she claims, added. "You did better see your disappointment as a blessing."
Muna tried to sound calm with her last words, but her body reactions betrayed that impression.
"And a blessing is a win, little Lord," Linda supported the motion as we all stepped out of the grave hall, with its door closing with a slow, creaking sound behind us.
…
After about one hour of trekking, we arrived at an insane geography. Insane because the reality here was different.
The air around us convulsed, twisting with every whirl it made as though some invisible hand was wringing reality apart. Not only was the air fierce, if my speculation was right, it could be violent to any stranger who stepped into its circle.
Looking forward, our path was covered in thick fog, with its fume dispersing to fill the environment's atmosphere just so that we weren't able to view the outside from inside.
A deafening hum soon vibrated through the thicker fogged area, followed by a crackling surge of energy that felt like a shattered glass being ground together.
Seconds after seconds, with each powerful change, my worry couldn't contain my doubt. I turned to Linda to know if she had an explanation, but she shook her head negatively and hovered closer to my side. Yet, Muna remained composed in front of us, waiting patiently as if she anticipated the occurrence.
Colors began to bleed out from the fog, shifting in turns from the hues of violet to obsidian, and then to a blinding silver. Coming to a halt right in front of the thicker fog, each color flickered and folded over itself, joining to form a whirling, violent dance.
The surrounding fog wind soon joined in their dance, and after a moment of stirring over themselves, a burst of bright red energy shot outwards, causing us to block our vision with our hands.
As we removed our hands, which we had used as a defensive coverage against the burst of energy, lo, and behold, a red tear spiraled open, whirling in chaotic motion of a ravenous vortex.
The fog around us had cleared, but we seemed to have entered another realm.
I felt awe and dread, turning to shoot Muna a fierce, inquisitive glance, but she didn't even look to see.
Without uttering any word, Muna went closer to the tear and cubed her fingers like a shooter of webs, channeling a gush of mana energy towards it.
"This is not the Seafrost Training Arena," Linda whispered to my ear. "It's a spatial tear."
'A spatial tear?'
To the best of my knowledge as an author, spatial tears acted as another form of habitat for mythical creatures, popularly known as dungeon beasts. Put simply, the inhabitants that can be found in a spatial tear were absolutely abnormal.
"So, how is taking me to one of them a training?" I asked Linda.
After a repulsive gaze at the tear, Linda replied. "Well, I'm not able to guess the particular rank of this red spatial tear. But to be frank, this is not a real one."
Huh? Linda wasn't even listening.
"I mean, only the authorities and top-ranked mages can identify an available tear, then Purifiers would be sent in as per their ranks. Muna can't be that powerful to identify one," Linda reported, surprise lurking around her tone.
"Oh." I retorted, bringing the dialogue to an end after seeing the consistent shock in Linda's gaze.
I, myself, would fail to believe Muna was able to identify a spatial tear.
Spatial tears were grouped according to the rank of the creatures inhabiting them. And, any creature residing in a spatial tear was generally called a Demon according to the Purity Academy.
So, there was a 'Normal' tear, occupied by 'Normal' demons. These demons were considered to still be growing in power. In most cases, they were in the forms of ordinary mythical creatures: snakes, wolves, slimes, and other low-level creatures.
When a Normal Demon gathers enough power through their kills and drinks enough blood of especially Purifiers, they advance to 'Prospective' demons. However, unlike the Normal demons, which are made up of as many as growing mythical creatures, the Prospectives were limited to four.
The four creatures are seen as the evolved edition of the Normal demons and were only the Dragons, the Phoenix, the Griffin, and the Hydra.
Novice-level and Adept-level mage awakeners were never advised to be involved in a Prospective Tear demon raid, since they were considered weaklings in the midst of these creatures.
It is usually the Expert-level mages who could take them on in fights, but with struggles. The Masters, however, would find it easier to attain victory for the Purifiers in such a fight.
However, in most cases, these two levels were mixed for these kinds of demon raids. And, the demons didn't end at being ranked as Normals and Prospectives as well; there was more to their ranking.
The Normals and Prospectives were just the common demons who were easily found in appearing spatial tears.
"I mean, whatever creature we would face, they won't be beyond our current levels," I muttered to Linda, whose attention was now concentrated on the Spatial tear before us.
Having absorbed enough of the energy Muna fed it, the tear finally turned pale.
That was only when Muna turned to me and announced. "It's time. Assuming this pale status, the tear is fit for us to enter. But, before we venture further, you must know the formalities for this training."
Muna let a growing silence ensue after making her announcement, only staring at my blank-faced expression.
Linda tapped me several times and whispered into my ear. "Little Lord."
Clearing my eyes with several blinks, I asked. "But why a Spatial Tear?"