For some reason, when the witch questioned Seth...
He could not help but feel the huge need to obey.
It was like a clog found itself into his airway.
He had to resist exposing himself.... but the urge to admit his true origins was growing by the second.
'What kind of fucking power is this...'
Seth's nails dug into his palm.
He was trying to control himself but it was barely working...
Briefly, Seth recalled the feeling of being scolded by his mother.
He knew what he'd done wrong and he knew she knew, but an explanation was still demanded from his own lips.
That was years ago, from a time he couldn't care to remember.
He'd grown better at lying since then.
Speaking the truth and coming up with a story were one and the same to him.
Both required minimal effort and he felt not an ounce of shame lying in his relationships.
Now, there he was.
A child once again, a few tears away from blurting out a confession.
It was equal parts humiliating and mortifying.
"I just explained to the officer that my friend's looking for clothes at the thrift store…"
He tried to answer like a man and make it known that he was not to be toyed with!
But his voice could barely reach the officer's ears.
It was made worse by the bumbling crowd.
"If that's the case, why aren't you accompanying her? She's your friend, is she not?"
The witch tilted his head.
That was a totally unnecessary question!
The witch knew it was none of his business, but there he was pushing at Seth's buttons, trying to get him to say more than he ought to.
Something was cruel about the way he was trying to be cheeky while Seth suffered trying to cover up his situation.
Just as Seth opened his mouth to defend himself, a lady rushing towards where they were suddenly shouted.
"Mr. Witch! Mr. Witch.. Please… please look for my daughter!"
Seth's answer was interrupted as his gaze landed on a lady with a sickly frame, skin pale as a sheet of paper and eyes that drooped with exhaustion.
Her hair was unkempt, as were her clothes.
Her cries stole the attention of a few civilians passing by, but not enough to distract them from the ongoing situation… missing body and all…
"You have to help me. My daughter, Elara… she's been missing for three days."
She clutched at the fabric of her dirty dress.
"She's only fourteen! She's a good girl, I swear it! A little wild, yes, she loves to explore, but her heart is pure! She is not a demon! I swear by the heavens above, she is my child!"
The woman's trembling hands scrambled in her pockets, finally pulling out a small object.
"Look! I have a witch's coin!"
She said, holding it out on her palm like a sacred offering.
"The law says anyone with a witch's coin can ask for a favor! Please, I'm begging you, just find her. Bring my baby home."
The male witch was silent for a moment.
He eyed the coin on the woman's hand.
It was the size of a thumb but it had nothing written on it. There were no numbers or engraved signs.
It was reddish in color and definitely looked like the witch's coin that the people in this world were familiar with.
However, the male witch only frowned as he squinted his eyes.
"That coin's favor has already been spent."
He stated, his voice flat.
"Its power is gone. And furthermore, you can only request a favor from the specific witch who issued it. I have not distributed any such coins in recent months."
The woman flinched as if struck.
"No… that can't be..."
She stammered, her hope visibly shattering.
"The man who sold it to me… he said it was real! He said it would work! Please, you have to believe me, it hasn't been used! My daughter—"
"I said leave."
The witch's voice changed as though some sort of power was engraved in it.
It was a subtle effect and the average person would not be able to point it out, but he'd known it to be effective.
Hearing his words, the woman could not help but feel compelled to comply.
She lowered her head and slowly scurried away, worn shoes dragging against the ground.
Her face held none of the fear and grief it had moments ago, instead the woman blankly stared down.
The male witch's gaze followed her for a moment.
'Hm. I should not feel bad.'
He told himself, rationalizing his coldness. '
'There are already other witches assigned to finding her daughter, after all. My duty lies elsewhere.'
His attention then snapped back to his primary investigation.
He turned, his dark cloak swirling, fully intending to continue questioning the pale-haired young man with the loaf of bread.
But when he looked…
The spot was empty and the man was gone.
…
"So? Did seeing the town jog any of your memories loose?"
Phoebe asked, her gaze falling on Seth as they walked side-by-side, putting distance between themselves and the market.
Seth managed a casual smile, though a faint sheen of sweat cooled on his forehead.
"No."
He replied.
"I still can't recall anything."
Internally, however, his heart was pounding with a mix of panic and triumph.
'It worked! My ability actually worked!'
While the witch was distracted by the pleading lady, Seth used the chance to secretly activate [Null Presence] which was one of the abilities he had gained upon entering this new world!
He hadn't been sure how to activate it, thinking it might require a chant or a gesture...
But in that moment of need, it had felt as easy and natural as breathing.
As though such an ability was a part of him that he could control naturally!
Thinking of what he did, Seth could not help but feel a bit of panic.
What if doing such a thing had incurred the witch's suspicion hence he would be followed and investigated even further?
However, upon further thinking of the situation…
Any normal person would naturally scurry away after being approached by a witch!
One with such a domineering presence too!
After all, even the bystanders seemed to fear the witch!!
His escape would look like self-preservation, not supernatural evasion.
He focused on the description of his ability once more...
[Null Presence] Others overlook your existence, forgetting details about you easily. Tracking abilities, clairvoyance, and even fate-based targeting struggle to lock onto you. This ability also allows you to become invisible against people who do not actively seek you out.