Chapter 23: Not Entirely Human
My entry into the classroom earned a little reaction, not entirely unexpected. My grabbing of Saeko's arm and dragging her from the classroom earned either bigger reaction. I would admit the fawning of teenage girls was getting a little annoying, was this really what teenage girls acted like? Or was it just that extras like these that acted exactly like anime characters?
Either way, it was a little annoying.
Wait, did that make me similar to every other prodigious, good-looking anime character who was usually a rival to the MC? Please God I hope not, that would be such a downward spiral. I had already caught a few of the gossiping teenage girls talking about my supposed relationship with Saeko. They were mostly jealous, but also highly excited about the concept at the same time. I had even caught a few people talking about my constant flirtation with Akeno, all completely ignoring the fact that she was the one who started it.
Somehow I had earned the reputation as a playboy who would cheat on his girlfriend with other girls.
Completely ignoring the fact that I wasn't dating Saeko and my flirtation with Akeno was purely defensive. I had come to learn very early on that simply ignoring Akeno was not the best policy. Being ignored only seemed to further fuel her. The best way to deal with her was to simply out flirt her. That was only the way to ensure some peace and quiet.
Teenagers were a gossip machine and were very capable of building these widely extreme and completely wild theories and stories in their minds. I just happened to be at the centre of it and honestly, it was getting very annoying to deal with.
Life in Kouh was interesting, to say the least.
But at this point, I didn't want to be the centre of the attention as much as I was. I finally had magic and I wanted to work upon that. My fight with Saeko proved that magic was highly dangerous and a great equaliser. If I was going to progress through this world, I would need that under my control.
But first I needed some questions answered.
'Though perhaps I could have done it more subtly.' I thought to myself as Saeko and I came to a stop on a small corner. A few students passed us by, but a single look from the two of us made the scurry on past quickly, heads ducked down.
"Well, that was certainly an interesting way to get me alone," Saeko murmured, slightly rubbing her arm. It would bruise slightly, my grip being tight yet I didn't care. "Can I ask why you seemed so annoyed?"
"What the hell did you put in that pool?"
Saeko rose a brow. "What do you mean?"
"Don't bullshit me." I retorted. "I've read the books you gave me and I have it on good authority that magic for humans isn't something that one can grasp ahold of in a single night. So, I'll ask again, what the hell did you put in that pool?"
"I'm still not completely sure what you-"
Before Saeko could finish, I punched the wall by the side of her face, she didn't blink in surprise, but her eyes did become more alert. "I'm saying that whatever you put in that pool, allowed me to use telekinesis in a single night. Not only that, but I tested it out this morning, the amount of magic at my disposal has doubled. Do you need me to explain it any more clearly than that, or are you going to continue to pretend to be clueless?"
I wasn't going to say that it was actually Ingrid who told me this morning that something was highly strange about my training the night before. We had started off with a simple exercise of moving a pen with telekinesis, nothing major but something that most new practitioners started doing as a means to gain some control of magic.
Apparently, Ingrid's initial approach to training me was to try and see me use magic, fail and then explain what I needed to do. Explain how to dismantle magic into its individual components, understand each facet and then teach me to build it all together. The fundamental aspect that all human practitioners of magic needed in order to utilise magic properly.
Or at least, that was the intention.
On my first go, I made the pen move, spin it ninety degrees so the tip pointed directly at me. Despite the initial shock, I continued and within the space of an hour, managed to lift the pen off the table, a stunned Ingrid watching it all unfold before her eyes.
"That doesn't make any sense," Saeko said, just as surprised by my revelation as Ingrid had been to see it. "Humans have to-"
"Break down the spell, understand each part and then rebuild it, I know." I interrupted. "Except, I didn't need to do any of that, so I'd like an explanation if you don't mind."
Saeko then moved, hand pushing me away and reflexively I went to grab ahold of her, except she spun around, hand coated in magic slashing into the air. There, two halves of some kind of creature dropped to the ground. I myself looked upon it in surprise having not even sensed it yet I also didn't need to question what it was. Having seen enough anime and other fantasy stories, it was obviously some kind of familiar someone had been using to spy on us.
"This is why conversations like these are best had somewhere secure," Saeko said, turning to me. "Someone already knows and I have an idea who?"
"Who?"
"Sona Sitri," Saeko responded, frowning deeply. "She's cunning like that, not as powerful as Rias nor possessing as dangerous a power. Her Peerage itself is also, not all that powerful, but she is highly intelligent. I've caught more than a few familiars like these trying to follow me on many occasions. She's even attempted to gain access to the Busujima Clans' territory."
"And you can't do anything about it because?"
"Because of her sister. She's a Satan, one of the four most powerful Devils currently alive. The moment I laid a hand on Sona, her sister would come and kill me. I enjoy a fight as much as you do, but not if it means certain death."
Huh, I guess me and Saeko are a lot alike in that regard. Smart enough to recognise a losing battle when we saw one. But also not afraid to get our hands dirty if need be, in fact we prefer to do it.
"What does that mean for us then?"
Saeko shrugged. "For now, nothing. I asked for you to be left alone, Rias agreed no doubt believing that I would handle you myself. Rin and Sakura also agreed, so because of that, Sona had no choice but to agree. As Rias is a Devil of Pride, she won't break her word which means that Sona can't even. So you can be content with the knowledge that you're not under any threat yet. Just expect to be spied upon much closer from now on, you have caught the attention of Sona and no doubt by the end of the day, Rias will be told as well."
"Told what?"
"You're not entirely human."
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