Whispers Hidden in the Night (6)

Fatenai took a step back, only to find what felt like a barrier behind her, preventing her from retreating. She turned her face slightly to the side, then looked straight at Chris Aberge again. "Why did you approach me? I don't think I'm particularly interesting to you—and you have plenty of dark secrets of your own."

"You catch on quickly." Chris Aberge chuckled. Her fingers, which had been moving idly, suddenly spread wide. As she flexed them, Fatenai couldn't help thinking that, though the movement should have looked nimble, it seemed mechanical when Chris Aberge did it. But she had no time to dwell on that thought. Something seized her, then flung her sideways!

The sudden attack left Fatenai with no idea how to respond—in truth, she had no way to respond at all.

Where had the attack come from?

It was like facing an unknown enemy.

"Cough, cough..." Fatenai was flung against the wall. Pain shot through her back, and she couldn't help coughing. Chris Aberge walked up to her. With her head bowed as she coughed, all Fatenai could see was the other woman's little lambskin boots.

Chris Aberge bent down to "admire" Fatenai. "What beautiful hair."

Fatenai ignored her feigned compliment. Then she felt someone seize her hair, and her head was jerked up. "Ugh—!"

"But you're so stubborn. So very... A newcomer shouldn't think that way—but you won't get another chance." Chris Aberge whispered into Fatenai's ear.

It was as if something invisible surrounded Chris Aberge, protecting her.

"Honestly..." Fatenai smiled—a rare expression for her.

It was certainly not a happy smile. It was difficult to interpret, but leaned more toward helpless resignation.

Chris Aberge paid no heed to her reaction. Still smiling, she yanked Fatenai's hair, and that invisible force slammed into Fatenai's abdomen!

"Ugh—cough, cough, cough!" Fatenai's coughing grew violent. Her body wouldn't move.

So this was what overwhelming force felt like...

Fatenai's vision blurred. To her surprise, Ed Ansendil's voice rang in her ears. She felt, with some amazement, that he really did know something.

Still, Ed Ansendil had let her get cornered like this. It was probably deliberate payback for her earlier, rather unpleasant attitude toward him.

But what did it matter?

"Hey, Chris Aberge." Her hair was released, and her head drooped again. She did her best to lift it, her voice calm.

"Hmm?" Chris Aberge seemed quite curious about what Fatenai would say.

"Do you know about the Black Demon Vine?" Fatenai asked casually, as if she were discussing what to have with afternoon tea.

Chris Aberge's expression froze.

Fatenai realized she knew nothing about it and couldn't help frowning. "Honestly... You should read more."

Thump—!

Several black vines suddenly burst from the ground, crawling across it in a series of twisted patterns. Catching Chris Aberge off guard, they wrapped around her!

Fatenai felt the force holding her loosen. Her eyes widened, and the flow of mana became crystal clear in her vision. Without a second thought, she headed for the "exit." It might be some kind of spell, but it also made use of the Academy's alchemical architecture—in other words, it couldn't be infinite.

The Eye of Connection could not be fooled by the flow of mana.

As she ran, Fatenai remembered to toss out the plants she had prepared. The "specialties" she had brought back from the forest each had their own uses—and she wasn't about to be stingy with them now.

Yet a sliver of doubt lingered in her mind. When she'd hit the wall, she'd felt as if her body had nearly fallen apart, but her hands barely hurt. That was why she'd been able to locate the Black Demon Vine hidden on her. And in theory, the Eye of Connection should let her see the entire process of mana at work—but there were certain "key" parts she couldn't find.

There was no time to think about it.

Click.

"Damn it..." Fatenai quickly reached the "exit"—the end of the corridor. At the same time, Chris Aberge's voice came from behind her. Just as she stepped through, Fatenai couldn't help turning to look back. Chris Aberge stood motionless some distance away, like a phantom that couldn't bear the light and had to keep well away from it.

Whoosh—! Just as Fatenai was about to take her final step, the invisible things surrounding Chris Aberge came lashing toward her!

"Heh... As if I'd... let you get away..." Chris Aberge's face had shifted into a smile. The sudden change gave her an unhinged air. "Hahaha... Why do you have to know so much? And make her find out, too... I'll just have to kill you..."

But she suddenly stopped. The invisible things hadn't caught anything.

Fatenai moved like a dancer, twisting sideways and bending low. Even a simple knee bend was perfectly timed to keep the unseen attackers at bay.

"How..." It was unbelievable. Chris Aberge stared at Fatenai in astonishment. Fatenai dodged the tendrils, then deliberately toppled sideways at the last moment. She rolled across the floor with effortless composure and landed outside.

If other people feared these things made of condensed mana, Fatenai didn't.

Her eyes had already seen everything.

But...

"Hiss..." Fatenai had made it through the "exit." Behind her, the corridor had turned into a wall. And yet... she couldn't move.

What had gone wrong?

Fatenai frowned, trying to focus. Everything that had happened over the past two weeks echoed in her mind...

Shirey, Christie, Chris Aberge...

The lights that had suddenly gone out that day, the body that had appeared for no reason and then vanished just as mysteriously, the nighttime pursuit, the strange nightmares... and...

"There isn't a single mage who isn't special." Lyteta's voice put an end to all her guesses.

Fatenai looked behind her, utterly calm.

Chris Aberge hated Christie, so she wanted to kill her—that made sense for someone with dark secrets of her own. But what were those secrets? Why did Chris Aberge hate Christie?

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The sound of water had grown familiar by now. Fatenai's face turned ashen. There was no mistake: it was the sound of the building's alchemical mechanism activating.

So that was it.

Fatenai stood where she was, sweat sliding down her forehead. The water was the only clear sound. All around her, an oppressive atmosphere seemed to be brewing.

Suddenly, someone appeared, shattering it all. Fatenai felt herself breathing different air. She stared in astonishment at the newcomer: long lake-blue hair, gentle features, and a face that was always calm and unruffled. Clad in a white robe at all times, the person looked like an ascetic. "Arthur."

"Merlin?" Fatenai found it hard to believe.