The Black Swan

Chapter 30: Stepping Stones

"What for?" The High Lady asked, looking up from her pile of papers.

"She would remember a thing or two about Black Magic - especially when she first saw it being used by Soyeon."

"Oh, sure." Eunbi continues ruffling through her documents, unphased by whatever Yoonie has said.

Well, that was easy.

"You'll be meeting her at the Magnum Colloquium tomorrow, anyway."

"The... What?" Yoonie made a strangled sound, confused, at a total loss.

"You're getting an award at the conference?" Eunbi stated, raising an eyebrow at her ignorance. "You're supposed to be giving a speech for that, too." She sighs, putting down her pen in resignation.

Oh, I forgot.

"S....She will be attending?"

"Now you know - and she's one of the King's Scholars, just like you. In fact, I think she's 2 years senior to you, in Sotia."

"Well that's not surprising - considering the fact that her magic is strangely unique." Before she realised, she had already piqued Eunbi's interest.

"What exactly have you uncovered in your research?" Eunbi leans forward, her attention drawn away from the correspondence she was working on. Yoonie's heart stopped for a moment, as she thought about how to respond. While she had promised to come clean with the leader, she would not want to say anything out of place.

Should I tell her? It could potentially put Minju in a tough spot...

I'm not too sure about her powers anyway.

"The fundamental magics sprout from nature's basic elements. Magics such as Minju's are said to be evolutionary - like a quasi-form of Imperium Genesis," her instincts did not fail her, as Yoonie pulled up another academic explanation for her need to meet Minju. It wasn't exactly the truth, but it wasn't all false either. She couldn't tell Eunbi the truth. She simply couldn't afford to put Minju in harm's way - the knowledge Yoonie held was too dangerous. Even the High Lady's awareness that Black Magic potentially exists amongst other users is a huge threat to her holding office as the leader.

Thankfully, the leader seemed content with Yoonie's answer, prodding no further. But Yoonie elaborates to avoid the suspicion that she was concealing something. "It makes a lot of sense. We draw energy from nature in the food we eat and the air we breathe. It makes sense that our powers originate from the sources around us."

"I think they taught this concept a decade ago in Sotia. Though, I'm not sure why that abolished that teaching." A sound of surprise escaped Yoonie's lips as she took in this. Eunbi gives a questioning look, gesturing her to leave her office.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Time to get started on that speech."

———

"Yoonie? I heard you're giving a speech later." It was a familiar trail of melodious words. Yoonie, too occupied with her musings, straightened herself. Turning around, she sees that the mind-bending assassin had already found her. How surprising for someone sneaky like her, to make the first move. "Yea... I'm, kinda nervous - not gonna lie."

"Oh? You don't look like it." Minju commented, her face a deadpan expression as she responded. "Hmm...

...Do you want me to control your mind during the speech? I can read the speech for you - and you won't feel a thing." She pointed towards the pieces of paper in Yoonie's hands - her script.