"Have you killed someone before?" Henrick asked with a stoic expression as if he was asking about the weather. Arthur flinched and his mouth felt suddenly dry.
This wasn't the first question that Henrick asked, but it was the one that stumped Arthur the most. His earlier questions were normal, mundane to put it more accurately. His interests, his aspirations, and his fears. Runes, to become stronger, and to be helpless were his answers respectively.
"Yes," Arthur nodded with hesitation. Henrick looked through his monocle and it didn't react.
"Reasons?"
"Self-defense."
His words were true again. At this time, Arthur remembered how he had massacred those soldiers that were trying to invade the Union. In a way, his words were true.
"Mm," Henrick nodded as he jolted things down. Even with how advanced their civilization was, there were a lot of outlaws living in the wilderness. It wasn't odd to kill or be killed for awakeners, as that was one of the reasons why one aimed to become stronger.
"What would you do in a dungeon break?"
"Hunt the monsters." Arthur's words came as soon as the question was asked.
"Why not evacuate the civilians?"
"That can be achieved by government workers and non-awakeners. My job is clear as soon as I awakened my ability, to hunt."
"Very well," Henrick nodded. "Would you risk your life to stop the monsters from hurting the public?"
Arthur paused here as Henrick's earlier words resurfaced in his memory. The third test was a test of character, so this question was crucial.
"If the odds aren't against me, I would protect them. If I would end up dying, I will protect myself."
Henrick stared at Arthur quietly and nodded. He then gestured for Arthur to stand up before throwing another question.
"Why have you applied to Jerano, Alexie?"
"To get stronger and learn about runes."
"Is that all?" Henrick stared at him, using his monocle to find the truth in Arthur's words. The answer was no, but Arthur couldn't trust him.
"Yes," Arthur stared at the monocle and it was unresponsive, the same as it was earlier. He felt relieved that his hypothesis was correct.
The quality of this artifact to be a lie detector didn't come from runes, as he would have felt that when he first saw it. It stemmed from something external and Arthur already had an answer in mind.
Rayxin.
He had gambled that Rayxin would keep his identity and motives a secret from Jerano and it fruited in success. This monocle was connected to the guardian of Jerano and it was the way they discovered lies.
Arthur left the room after that and saw Master Ronin standing beside a window, looking at the lively streets of Jerano city. As Arthur came and stopped next to him, Master Ronin began speaking without turning toward him.
"It was one of my great fears and anticipation that you would meet Rayxin."
"You knew I would meet him?" Arthur furrowed his brows. "Why didn't you tell me about his ability?"
"I do not temper with fate." Master Ronin shook his head. "Rayxin is trustworthy, one of the few that you can trust. It's the ancient guardian of Jerano, the lighthouse of knowledge in the academic world."
"He knows of my identity."
"He knows of my prophecies. It wasn't hard for him to connect the dots when you stumbled upon his space."
"It was by chance that I did," Arthur said.
"Was it also by chance that you listened to Sier months ago?"
"It was because…"
"Of your legacy. It's the instinct that drives you forward. Haven't you realized it yet, Arthur? You're slowly, but very subtly, changing into someone else. Or rather… becoming yourself."
"Master, you know something." Arthur squinted his eyes. "Why is that you like talking in riddles?"
"They're no riddles. But I want you to find your answers." Master Ronin said and paused.
"Why don't just give them to me, then?"
"Sometimes, we know the truth. Despite that, we need to taste it." Master Ronin stroked his beard. "Me telling you things isn't the best way for you to believe them. Go out there and find your answers; see the truth for yourself instead of listening to me."
"You're simply making it more difficult for me." Arthur sighed.
"I am, and that's the point. We grow through difficulties. That's all I care about, your growth."
Arthur stared into Master Ronin's eyes, lined by his aged eyelids. They were clear and unwavering. Sincere, even. He nodded his head and bowed his head before turning away.
"That was my plan since the beginning."
***
Arthur never questioned his identity before, but now he did. Master Ronin's words seemed to imply that he had changed after his legacy. As Arthur looked back, there were instances where his legacy guided him.
He was influenced by his legacy to make certain decisions. He hated this notion that made him question his free will. He still debated whether he wasn't the one to make those decisions, but he wasn't sure anymore.
'Am I becoming like Sier?' Arthur wondered to himself as he followed after a student who guided him toward a giant park in the middle of the city. 'Is Jizo trying to take over my body?'
The doubt was there but Arthur didn't know what to do even if his fears were real. At the moment, he needed the legacy more than ever. He had enemies and he had barely left his weak past behind.
He was committed to this hand of cards that he was dealt. If he backed away now, he would simply be throwing himself into the lion's den defenseless.
That's why he had another goal now. Master Ronin asked him to find his answers and Arthur planned on doing that. He would search for clues of the guardians and investigate Jizo's identity and past.
The senior led him to one of the residence complexes beside the park and explained that he would need to spend the night until the interviews are over.
Arthur took a key from the reception and headed to the room he was assigned for. He walked into the room and whistled at how well organized it was.
There were a bedroom and a bathroom with a balcony outside. There were also a study desk and a couch beside the bed for Arthur to make use of. He saw another door and found another room, as big as the bedroom, that had black floor tiles with a spongy structure.
It was a training room where Arthur can use his Art or learn certain battle arts. It had a giant TV and a mirror to help his training.
Arthur threw himself on the bedroom as a sense of déjà vu overtook him. He snapped from his daze and ran to the bathroom, opening the door to see what was inside.
To his relief, there was nothing in there. A bathtub, a shower, a sink, and a separate toilet. Arthur walked to the bathtub and pushed the curtains away. There was nothing.
"Thank god he's not here."
"Let's take a bath together, junior!"
The shout made Arthur flinch and he turned to see a fat orange cat standing in front of the bathroom's door. It began walking toward him as its fat jiggled.
"Reece?" Arthur sighed with resignation. "How did you find me so quickly?"
"I looked through the names of the students and found your room's number," Reece said as he licked his paws. "Damn, how can cats like their own fur?"
"Why are you here, Reece?" Arthur left the bathroom and sat on the couch. "Do you have any information?"
"Yeah, I saw two people next door making out. I need to tell you; these youngsters are having the time of their life. The guy used a cheeky line, he said…"
"Reece, you're going to gossip about other people's love affairs?" Arthur was always troubled by how he should treat Reece. He felt like he was talking to a five years old kid. The thing is that Arthur wasn't that mature himself, but he needs to be if Reece was involved.
"I'm kidding, junior! Even though I would love it if you had some fun here and there." Reece winked at him, making a lewd expression a cat would never make.
"Is this related to Hua?" Arthur felt that something at play here. "Did she set you up for his?"
"No, of course."
"Your tail is swaying in circles that you're turning into a helicopter. Are you lying?"
"I would never!"
"Fine, just tell me if you found anything."
"I did overhear something." Reece nodded. "There are students that went missing last year. Not many, just a few. However, they were never found so it remained as a mystery."
"Do you think that the Nether Beings are involved?" Arthur pondered seriously. "Is this a good clue for us to chase? I mean, if even Jerano didn't find anything, then it must be a dead end."
"That's true, but there's very little we can work with regarding this. I'll try to get the names of those students and we can ask the people who know them."
"Sounds like a plan." Arthur nodded his head. "I still need to wait for my acceptance, so make yourself busy." This plan might be more successful than Reece thought because he didn't know that Arthur could detect Ender's existence.