บท 114: Infiltration
A new announcement once again moved masses of immortals to flock to the front plaza of the academy. Hoping they could be accepted and graduate as exorcists.
Compared to the first year where only 30 students were accepted, the academy now was brimming with life and proudly flaunting 300 students currently enrolled.
Successful alumni were recruited as teachers to train and guide the new talents. The capital and the Immortal World overflowed with an abundance of exorcists, and vengeful ghosts in the core gradually got less.
In the city next to the capital, close to the second layer's border in the core, seven people made their way to a house in a quiet and nature-rich landscape. The lonely house amidst fields of grass and a tranquil river was peaceful and soothingly welcome.
As they entered, Noel exclaimed, "Nothing's changed. Did you leave when I left? Not able to live alone without me?"
"Shut up," Lia couldn't admit that part of the reason she decided to move to the second layer and then found Xavi was because Noel's absence left too big of an impact.
"You lived with Noel here alone?" Mika strolled around the house and popped his head out of the kitchen.
"He freeloaded and nothing I did would get him out."
"Don't lie you liked my presence."
"Shut up."
"A parasite," Susa concluded.
"That's not very nice," Noel shrugged his shoulders.
"It's nice," immediately laying his little tired legs was Xavi, "So, we'll stay here and use this as our base while Lia and Nana infiltrate the academy."
"We're here to find the prop," Mika came back and made Xavi scoot over.
"Don't treat young master like this!" Lily got immediately offended.
"There's no clue, however. I can't locate it either," Susa brought some tea.
"Oh," Noel's eyes brightened up, "Speaking of tea, we should get some bubble tea."
Xavi instantly jumped up, "That legendary mochi mochi drink? Is it? Is it?"
"Young Master, too much sugar isn't good for you."
"Ah is it? What?" Nana was clueless but how Xavi described it was too tempting.
"It's really amazing and supposed to be super delicious!" Xavi and Nana excitedly exchanged information until Noel coughed and arrogantly said, "I've tried it before. Ask me all about it."
Nana and Xavi knelt before Noel as he explained each flavour and gave them tips and tricks for choosing the best drink.
"Just go and buy it instead of wasting time here," Lia brushed the topic away and in an instant, the three of them ran out with Noel leading and Lily in pursuit, "Young Master! You need to be careful and… I also want to try!"
Only Susa, Mika and Lia were left. Lia sighed and turned to them, "You're not going as well?"
"They'll bring some back for us," Susa nonchalantly said. Lia widened her eyes, "You use your power like this?"
Susa laughed and shook her head, "It's too obvious to use my power for that."
"The journey was long and I'm tired," now that Xavi was gone, Mika could fully lay on the sofa.
"Oh, that's right. You all need some bedding. Obviously, two can use my bedroom, one the sofa and two have to sleep on the floor."
Mika turned on the sofa and mumbled, "What are you turning into? A mum?"
Then a second later, he said louder, "Of course, Noel and I have to sleep on the floor. Susa on the sofa and Xavi and Lily on the bed."
"That makes sense. Mika's all grown up," Lia teased him and Mika didn't retort.
"Then Mika and Noel will sleep here in the living room with me, ok? You can sleep next to the sofa, I-" Susa was a bit embarrassed, "I don't like to sleep alone."
"Oh," was the only thing Mika said. Susa turned a bit red before jumping at Lia, "Let's do the bedding for Mika and Noel, I'll help you."
A while later, all the preparations were done and the three of them sat in the living room.
"You and Nana will be fine, right?" Susa tenderly looked at Lia and Lia smiled back, "Don't worry. The problem is the ring."
"Literally no clue," Mika yawned, "We have to start from 0. Elder T did say capital but it could be anywhere."
"Yeah… it'll be manageable," Susa tried to diffuse any worry Lia had, "Also we won't be flying around either. Once you come back, you'll see how much stronger our power has gotten!"
"Ok, I'll anticipate it," Lia laughed and the front door opened. Immediately Susa's, Mika's and Lia's faces blanked.
What the hell was with the amount of bubble tea brought back? Four whole bags! Each of the returners brought a bag home.
"Aren't you too excessive?" Lia was afraid her house would turn into a bubble tea store.
"They have new flavours," Noel shrugged his shoulder and put all the goods on the counter.
"It was absolutely stunning! I've never seen anything as beautiful as that store with so many assets, so many-" Nana had literal tears in her eyes.
"Here," Noel brought Lia's favourite tea to her.
"Oh thanks," Lia was surprised he still remembered.
As Susa and Mika took a sip, they joined the train of excitement shared and became bubble tea fanatics. Lia's worst nightmare came true. If she threw out and forbade all bubble tea, would they suffer from withdrawal symptoms?
The rest of the day merely passed and at night they slept peacefully after talking until they fell asleep.
The next day, Lia and Nana would set out. Lia was a bit sad at the thought and couldn't help not wanting to leave. Everyone finally got together and the time they spent was happy and bright.
Lia wished this could go on forever. Living together without a care in the world. It was the kind of happiness she dreamt of. That was why she was reluctant to be already separated from them for a long time.
But as long as Min still lived, there would be no happiness, neither for Lia nor both worlds.
How long would it take and when could they reunite and continue these days of joy? With these thoughts, Lia was the last to fall asleep and unknowingly a single tear ran down her face.
But there was someone else who slept without knowing. Susa's face was stained with tears that had already dried the next day she woke up.
Weirdly, the others didn't feel that this was a long term separating as Lia did. For some reason, she felt uneasy and dreaded to leave them, but she pushed this weird sensation down and hugged everyone goodbye.
Once, her infiltration with Nana was successful, she would come back home to live with everyone before they'd step into their final battle.
And so Lia and Nana headed to the capital. A few hours of walking that was quickly covered in less than an hour due to their improved physical endurance and strength.
Lia wore her cloak and covered her face. Noel said that they should first head to the M family's residence where Lia could attain a new appearance. Lia had no idea how that would work but anything was better than going in with her face ready to be recognised.
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