Listeria Academy - Early Morning
Habiki's Room - Bath
She immersed in a skin care-treated bath, abandoning herself to the soothing embrace of soap, foams and warmth.
Keifa's bell settled on the tub's counter.
"Huhhh," she exhaled in quiet relaxation. Looking at the ceiling, she recalled events of yesterday.
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[Naki] "That was scary. Appreciate the assist in the end there." when she protected him from Orochi
[Naki] "Well, good thing I have a prodigy by my side then," when they talked about saving the world while playing the devil's game.
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These moments made her blush, as she sank deeper into the bath to hide her face from no one.
Keifa's bell let a soft glow, "[You seem happy, Habi]"
"Yeah", she smiled. "It's a good feeling, mistress Keifa, being needed."
"[I'm confused. Doesn't being president cover that?]" Keifa asked
"I know that! But...being wanted as president feels like a responsibility."
"[Ohhh, and...what does being wanted by Naki feels like?]"
Her cheeks' redness intensified as she hid herself in the bath.
"[Hahaha]" Keifa chuckled, "[I see, I see. No words are needed.]"
Bubbles formed above the water surface, a response before she pulled her head above water once more.
"[Still, you mustn't forget our mission. We have to train the boy. Lucille shall share with us knowledge on how to free me from this curse]" Keifa said.
"I understand," she nodded.
"I have already sent a message to Maya. Today will be sparring practice. That way we'll wrap up quickly and catch up with Naki."
She said, playing with the bubbles.
"Once we see what the details say. we'll plan our next step."
"(If we juxtapose our mission with Lucille's, it'll be killing 2 birds with one stone. That way, I can free both him and Keifa at the same time)"
"[Sounds like a plan.]"
"Yeah. I only hope he hasn't looked through it without me and started coming up with weird ideas," she jokingly said.
However,
In Naki's Room
She wouldn't believe how close she was to the truth.
Naki was on his window's bottom frame, analyzing his sigil's interface while enduring the cool breeze from the outside.
---------- DEVIL'S MERCY -----------
Soul - Naki.
Title - Devil Child
Vice_Level - 1 [2 more vice for Level 2]
Vessel's Path - Trickster, Lohki.
Mercy Perks[3/3] - The Devil's Favor, Black Flames of Gehenna, Shadow Trick.
Debt Limit - 378/700
Devil Traits Active- Crow's Visage
Manifestation - LOCKED (req: complete a path)
-> -> -> Swipe Right for Vessel's Path...
--------------------------------------
"I see, the mercy perks has shadow trick as a new addition and crow's visage as a trait. This was promised for Lohki's path level 1." he muttered then focused on the new additions.
---Crow's VIsage:Focus toEnhance sight, to extend view range while exposing aura readings of living beings and their extensions.
"(With mastery of aura readings, I get a rough idea of my opponents next move, or their state of being. Are they confident, focused, unsettled...)" Naki thought, recalling his battle with Irauki.
He recalled Orochi's rearing his second head suddenly.
"(Had I crow's visage I would've seen that coming, I need to master this.)"
Then he moved to the next.
---Shadow Trick:Manipulate existing shadows for ghost tricks and sabotage plus shadow clones for subterfuge.
"Manipulating shadows for ghost tricks and clones for subterfuge huh. This will certainly impress the eager vixen." Naki smiled at the prospect of showing Bisky his new tricks.
"I'll try this out when Habiki and I visit the training facilities later. For now,"
Naki swiped all the way to the mission details screen.
Just when he was about to have a look, there was a knock on his door.
"Mr. Naruki!! are you awake"
It sounded like Instructor Samantha on the otherside
"hm!? isn't that?" he murmured.
"Mr. Naruki? hello!!!" she called once again
"Just a moment!"
Naki answered and turned off the sigil's interface.
He approached and opened the door to reveal Samantha already in instructor attire.
"Ah good, you're already up."
"Instructor Samantha!? how can I help?"
"Headmaster Frowart requests an audience with all the top instructors of Listeria Academy as we need to finalize plans for the upcoming magical competition."
"(Magic competition? First I'm hearing of this)" Naki nodded, while masking his ignorance.
she carried on as if she expected Naki to be privy to the plans,
"Since you're new and we haven't establish an efficient link yet, here"
Samantha handed Naki a small magical garnet ring, "Infused in this ring is common comms. magic. With this, we can exchange important information in the future. I'll "
Naki accepted the ring. "Thank you"
"I know this is all too sudden and really you were brought in as a student-instructor but now you're involved in these important affairs. So I just want to say-"
she brought her hands together in acknowledge the huge part she played
"Sorry!! I forced the overseer position on you Sir Naruki, believe me If I could handle it I wouldn't have" she said with a sympathic grin.
Naki gulped and chuckled "haha, it's no big deal, really."
"(Whoa, what is expected of an overseer in this place really?)" he thought.
"Anyways, that will be all. I'm sure you've communicated with Maya already but class sessions usually kick off 7am, so I'll use this time to get ready" she said.
Naki nodded with a cheeky grin, "Appreciate you looking out"
"Anytime. I'm just a few steps away if you need me. See ya!"
She waved goodbye and left the corridors. Naki closed the door gently.
"Another meeting with the old man..."
Naki recalled him stealing glances at his sigil hand the last time they met.
"I'll have to figure out a way to mask the sigil before then."
He stared at the sigil, glowing a faint crimson with dark green accent.
"...perhaps with the shadow trick I can pull it off." he smiled.
"For now, I should go meet the sage potentials"
He got into instructor attire and made his way to the sage class.
The Sage class Hallway
He arrived and met Jhun by the door.
"Huh. Jhun?" he called.
"Sir Naruki. You're here." Jhun fixed his glasses and made his way forward.
"What's the matter, why are you standing outside?" Naki asked.
"I guess the president was right, you are not yet aware of the changes."
"(what is he talking about?)" Naki shot him a curious look.
"Please, follow me. I shall take you to the sparring facility."
Jhun said, taking the lead.
Naki watched him go for a brief before catching up.
"Sparring facility? What is that?" he asked.
"Hm? Didn't you have a sparring facility in your school instructor?"
"(crap, I should watch my questions. This one is sharp)"
"We might've, just didn't call it as such." Naki played a narrow escape line.
A line Jhun bought.
"Hmph. I see. It's like the training facilities we use. To prevent injuries while allowing us the opportunity to go all out."
They arrived at the facility doors.
"Which is to say our lessons for today will be 1v1 combat practice."
Jhun said opening the doors to reveal a large training hall for the sage potentials.
Everyone was already in and dressed in training attire. That allows for flexible movement.
Louise and Maya stuck to each other like glue as usual, while Bisky blowing bubble gum shot Naki a teasing look.
Habiki was setting up configurations in a small device at the center.
"Prez! you dun yet?? teach is here!" Bisky said as Habiki turned around.
"Ah, instructor Naruki. I see you're here. Good, I'm through with the configurations"
Naki reluctantly nodded then, "(Configurations? what configurations?)"
Habiki noticed he was confused and smiled.
"Since you're new, I thought it'd be a good idea for you to gauge everyone's potential. Given the magic competition is coming soon, what better way than with some light sparring" she said.
"I see, g-good, that will help you guys brush off some rustiness before the big day too" Naki replied, voice still not convinced about Habiki's impromptu move.
He could swear Habiki suppressed a laugh.
"(Heh, How do you like that Naki? next time you won't pull off any moves without telling me first.)" she got back at Naki for using her as a foil during the first lesson.
Then Louise let out a cheeky laugh.
"Alright, so how do you guys go about this here?" Naki asked walking further in.
"Hihihi, instructor is so funny! You'll be taking part in the session too you know!"
she announced to Naki's surprise.
"Wait! WHAT!??" he yelled.