After Northern’s discussion with Headmaster Gilbert, a few things were established.
The most important one however was that he was able to maintain his independence.
Northern managed to negotiate his way out of being directly associated with them or joining any parties while still securing certain benefits.
Of course, Gilbert was an experienced drifter, a sage at that. He wasn’t the kind of man Northern could simply manipulate to his own ends.
In fact, Northern even suspected that Gilbert had accepted some of his terms because the old man had his own cunning plans afoot.
The thought made him incredibly uneasy. ‘I need to be very wary of him going forward…he’s a runaway train headed for a wreck.’
Northern believed Gilbert’s heroic ideals were utterly nonsensical.
He didn’t understand why anyone would want to play the selfless savior amid this disaster when they could simply focus on finding a way back home.
‘Stupid…he is incredibly stupid. I can’t entirely blame him though. He has never even faced the Night Terror.’
Northern suddenly halted mid-stride as an idea sparked in his mind.
He curled one corner of his lips into a devious smirk, concocting a cunning plan.
“That grin of yours is giving me the creeps,” Annette remarked.
He glanced at her, nearly forgetting the master was walking beside him.
“You’re still here?”
“Yes, I’m still here. Why do you have to say it like that?” she grunted.
Northern tilted his head, confused for a moment. “Uhm, sorry I guess…?”
Annette stared at him silently for a few beats before letting out a whirl of laughter that filled the dark hallway with echoing peals.
Her abrupt mirth only compounded Northern’s bewilderment.
She looked at him with those vibrant, flaming eyes.
“So you are like that, huh? Socially awkward, yet you displayed such impressive composure before a sage.”
Northern offered a shy smile.
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure if it would work. I just had to try, regardless…”
A frown creased his pale brows.
“That man…he’s a sinking ship. His crazy ideals will destroy everyone around him.”
Annette studied him blankly for a moment.
“I guess you must have seen your own fair share of hell.”
His frown deepened into a malevolent glare. “That was far more than a mere ‘fair share’, Instructor Anne.” He strode forward determinedly.
Dazed for a few seconds, Annette watched him go before hastening to catch up.
“Still, if you’re talking about the one with crazy ideals, I don’t think Gilbert should be your primary concern.”
“What do you mean?” he asked without turning his head.
As they emerged from the hallway, a flowery scent washed over Northern, making him stop abruptly.
‘I recognize this smell.’
He glanced left and right urgently.
“What’s wrong?” Annette queried, seeing his sudden halt.
At that moment, two feminine figures ascended the stairs to the platform from the right side.
Annette smiled wickedly. “Speak of the devil…” she muttered under her breath.
Raven and Terence came to a stop before Northern, the air instantly chilling with awkward tension for several heartbeats.
Northern studied her intently, gauging her abilities, while she too… seemed be doing the same to him.
‘Shit…if we leave these two be, they could spend hours just staring at each other. Raven is the worst match for socially awkward Northern,’ Annette deliberated.
And it seemed she wasn’t the only one concerned about the situation.
Her gaze met Terence’s, and the two temporary comrades nodded in silent accord.
Terence clapped lightly and cutely cocked her head.
“Oh? This must be the new drifter from the rift. Care to introduce yourself, Light?”
Raven nodded curtly. “Hi.”
Terence froze, her attempt at lightening the mood having backfired spectacularly.
“Hello…” Northern responded simply.
Raven squinted at him, then stated bluntly, “You’re strong. And you don’t have a soul core or soul essence.”
“I get that often I guess…?”
Northern curled one corner of his lips, trying to hide his rising terror.
‘She could discern that much just from looking at me?’
He could only perceive Raven as incredibly powerful due to his eyes: [All Eyes].
Perhaps using [The Unseeing Eyes] would reveal more, but that could draw unwanted attention with his eyes glowing brighter than usual.
For now, he wanted to keep as low a profile as possible in this place.
Not to hide his strength necessarily, but not to overtly show it either.
That way, people would let their guards down around him allowing him to take his precious time identifying new talents to copy.
“Northern…this is Raven. She’s probably the strongest drifter among your peers,” Annette’s throaty voice shattered the heavy silence.
Raven shot her an indifferent, unimpressed look before turning back to Northern.
“I don’t consider myself the strongest. There are probably many who could defeat me if they used their abilities properly and their senses keenly. Like Adrien, for instance—”
“Hey Light, let’s not do that here,” Terence quickly interrupted with a nervous laugh. “I’m sorry, she’s something of a talent ability geek.” She bowed slightly and steered Raven toward the hallway.
Almost reaching it, Raven paused and glanced back, her silvery voice lilting, “What’s your name?”
Northern also turned slightly, that floral scent seem to intensify at that moment.
“My name is Northern.”
A frown creased her delicate brows. “What a strange name. Don’t you have another?”
“Well, my mother often calls me Lael… it’s supposed to be some native name she gave me, so…”
“Alright then, I’ll call you Lael.”
Northern arched a brow. ‘I was about to say she secretly calls me that…’
Still, it felt strangely nice to hear.
“What party do you plan to join, Lael?”
He lifted his chin slightly, brimming with confidence. “I don’t plan on joining any…”
Disappointment flickered across Raven’s features as she glanced down briefly before meeting his gaze again.
“Very well then. We’ll meet again, Lael.” With that, she turned and vanished into the dark hallway, Terence in tow.
Northern stared after her departing form for a few moments.
“What a strange girl,” he muttered under his breath.