TBATE - Not Bound By Fate

Part 37

After the sparring session with Seele and having breakfast with Sylvie, I went to the DC meeting room to get a head start on the paperwork for the day. And good thing I did, as I saw there were quite a few unfiled reports from yesterday, so I got started with organizing them. About halfway through the morning Curtis, Claire and Theodore showed up and helped me with the work after having finished their morning patrols.

During lunch break, Caera had pulled me aside and told me about her encounter with Draneve and the information Cylrit had given her. I wasn't pleased to know the attack would happen a week earlier than expected, because that meant the radical faction had grown faster than last time, despite all the effort Cynthia and Caera had put into making the students less susceptible to propaganda.

One of the measures the director had taken involved hiring professors of all three races to work at the academy. A good example is elder Camus as the professor for Practical Mana Manipulation. After training with him back in the floating castle, I knew he was not only one of the most skilled mages in the continent but also had great teaching skills.

As for what Caera has been doing, it involved mostly feeding false information to Draneve and misdirecting students that wanted to join the radical faction by spreading rumors of their purpose. Things like being a place boys gathered to discuss the girls of the schools and what they wanted to do to them or saying it wasn't actually about being against the unification of the continent and was actually a trap by the council to catch traitors.

When I first heard about it, I couldn't help but laugh seeing how gullible these kids were. Caera may have been a great liar and actress when she wanted to be, but that was in the previous timeline. The Caera I knew now didn't had those years of experience navigating the political world of high bloods nor the lessons from Seris in the subject, so for all intents and purposes, the current Caera was actually really bad at those things. But if it's working, who am I to judge? Still teased her for it though.

Once Caera and I finished discussing the issue of the attack, we agreed to meet later and start planning more thoroughly for it. After that I started heading back to my room to get some materials for my classes, only to be stopped by the sight of the second headache I would be having today.

Walking through the academy campus, was none other than Otis Vayhur Wykes, father to Bairon and Lucas. Seeing him soured my mood as I remembered how he betrayed Dicathen. And then it soured even more when I realized he was heading to the SC/DC building. Just what could he possibly want there? Well, no point just sitting around, might as well go after him and see what is going on.

And so I followed. When he entered the building, Otis went straight for the student council meeting room. I kept my distance to not be noticed so I couldn't hear whatever he was saying inside. But I got my answer soon, as I saw him and Sylvie leaving the room and going to the extra meeting room we had for attending to individual students. Lucky for me there was a window in there. How convenient for the room to have such a perfect eavesdropping point.

Circling the building I reached the window and crouched underneath it while activating Mirage Walk to make sure Otis wouldn't notice me.

"I'm glad you spared some of your time for me, Miss Leywin. We have much to talk about." He began and I wondered yet again just why he was here.

"Is that so? As far as I know, I have no connection to the Wykes household, so I'm not sure why you wanted to talk with me." Sylvie replied, sounding genuinely confused. Her acting really improved since joining the academy.

"There is no need to pretend ignorance. I am well aware who is responsible for the death of my son." His tone became sharp and cold.

"Is Lance Bairon dead?" Sylvie faked being surprised.

Otis let out a deep sigh. "Enough with the mockery. You and I both know I'm talking about Lucas. You, Miss Leywin, killed him inside a dungeon."

"So what? He wronged me and my family. Lucas simply got what he deserved." Sylvie's voice was now filled with indifference.

"I don't doubt you in that regard, he was always causing trouble for others. And I am no stranger when it comes to paying back these sorts of debts. So I came today with an offer, one you won't be able to refuse, for the sake of your so-called family." Otis stopped, waiting for Sylvie to absorb his words.

"Go on. Though I doubt you are capable of being a threat to me and those I love."

"My offer is quite simple. You see, your father, the real one, reached out to me some time ago, and asked me to bring you to him. So here is what is going to happen, you will meet me at this address tonight at midnight. Do that and I will keep quiet about what you did to my son." Otis finished as if he already had won if his voice was anything to go by.

Sylvie simply laughed. "My father reached out to you? Color me surprised. But it doesn't matter. I have no reason to do what you want."

"Are you sure about that? Do you understand the consequences of what you are saying? What do you think will happen to the humans you call family? Or to Arthur's position as Lance Alea's flagbearer and his engagement to the elven princess?"

"Absolutely nothing. Otis, if my father contacted you, that means you are aware of the existence of us Asura, are you not?" There was a brief pause and I assumed Otis just nodded in affirmation considering what came next. "Then let me properly introduce myself. I am Sylvie Indrath, granddaughter of Kezess Indrath, the current ruler of Epheotus and the dragon who Agrona is waging war against." I could feel the disgust Sylvie had calling herself that through our bond.

There was silence for the next few seconds before Sylvie continued speaking. "Do you understand the position you're in now? If not, let me clarify it for you. You are powerless against me. One word from me and the council will be under Kezess's control. One word, and house Wykes will no longer be a part of history. So I suggest to you, Otis, to keep your mouth shut and ignore whatever the Vritra tells you, if you want to keep enjoying the life you currently have."

Another few seconds of silence and a door slammed and the window opened. Taking that as Otis leaving I jumped in through the window and sat opposite to Sylvie.

"He sure gave up pretty fast." I commented.

"A shame, really. Didn't even give me the chance to tell him what I did to Lucas, or rather, what I would have done if that little bug deserved any sort of effort towards him."

"Now that you mentioned it, you never told me how things went in the dungeon."

"There isn't much of a story to tell. I killed the Elderwood Guardian, waited for the party to arrive and when they did, had them leave Lucas behind in exchange for their silence and lives."

"I guess one of them talked." She looked at me confused for a second then realized what I meant.

"Right, otherwise how would Agrona know and inform Otis."

"That or the core of corrupted mana beast somehow have a recording function on them." I just threw out the idea knowing how absurd it is, but at this point I wouldn't doubt if someone told me it was possible.

"Even if they had, I destroyed the core so it can't be that."

I let out a sigh. "Another mystery for us to solve. Should we go check out the Dire Tombs?"

After a few seconds of thinking, Sylvie replied. "Nah, just send Regis."

At that we both felt him grumbling through our connection, but he complied as curiosity got the better of him. Unfortunately when he returned the next day, it was empty handed, so we couldn't figure out how Agrona learned of Lucas' death. If we don't figure it out, it could really come back to bite us later. I should tell gramps about it, maybe ask elder Rinia. Though I'm not sure she would give an answer, it's worth a shot. Guess I'm going on a weekend trip to Elenoir.