You're a Lightning Rod, Not a Lightning-Firing Rod

Theus raised an eyebrow. "What is it? Don't panic. Catch your breath first, then tell me slowly."

Zoe was a Transcendent. For her to be so out of breath from running, it was clear she was incredibly anxious.

"Lord, what I'm about to tell you, please don't be frightened..."

Theus fought back a laugh. "What could it be? That strange link connected again?"

Zoe froze. After a long while, she shakily raised a finger and pointed at him. "C-Could it be... could it be that you learned divination?"

Theus did his best to keep a straight face. "No, it's deduction."

"Huh?"

"You and I came back on the same cargo ship, yet you didn't report to me after returning. That means it didn't happen in the past few days. And the area you oversee is more clerical in nature, so it would be difficult for anything major to occur—unless Yami blew up the school, of course?"

"And if it were a sudden crisis, the Banshees would have used Mind Link to report to me before you did."

"Once every impossible possibility has been ruled out, whatever remains, no matter how bizarre, must be the truth. And for you, the only matter important enough to require an immediate report—"

"Was that the link had connected again."

Theus crossed his hands before his face, concealing most of his expression. His calm voice was like a sharp razor, peeling back layer after layer to reveal the truth.

Zoe sat dumbly in her chair, as though enlightenment had struck her, her face full of shock.

A moment later, her face flushed red. "I-Incredible! Lord! I've only ever seen scenes like this in detective novels!"

Funny enough, I've only ever seen them in detective novels too, Theus thought.

"Lord, can you teach me how to