Chapter 352 – A Matter of Trust

Chapter 352 – A Matter of Trust

Kai strode to intercept the students besieging Alden. His roommate stalked ahead with a frigid scowl, eyes flicking between the passages leading into darkness, probably debating a dash into one to shake off his hangers-on.

Take that, Hobbes. I can rescue people too!

The distance closed too fast. Before he could formulate a strategy, he’d reached the group. His steps faltered. The petite girl shoved to the back noticed him, pursing her lips at another rival. Her gaze drew the attention of a teen from Martial Studies. Both scanned him with undisguised hostility.

“Move along, freshie,” she snorted, echoed by the stout older teen. “Scram if you know what’s good for you.”

Their disdain killed whatever hesitation Kai had. Ignoring their words, he channeled a trickle of Empower to slip past them and get his roommate’s attention.

“Hey! I’m talking with you—” The Martial student moved to bar his path, relying on his size and physical profession. That might have worked if they were both at Yellow ★—they weren’t. When their shoulders met, the teen staggered back with a surprised yelp.

Still without a plan, Kai had a second to think before the commotion made seven pairs of eyes shift toward him, including Alden’s. His deep violet irises widened upon seeing him.

Yeah, you owe me a week of dishes for this.

If only he still had Improvisation telling him how to manipulate the situation in his favor. Alas, having easy lies at his fingertips carried its own set of problems. And did he really need a skill to spout bullshit?

“Forgive the intrusion, Master Blackwoods,” Kai said. Not trusting he could pull off their obsequious flattery, he aimed for dry reverence. “It would be my honor to offer my aid, however meager. I have good scouting and mapping skills to find the fastest way out. I’ll gladly relinquish any credit I earn from these Trials to accompany you.”

The stunned silence following his statement made him doubt his acting skills. Instants stretched as he forced an earnest demeanor, clamping down on rising embarrassment. Had he laid it down too thick? Did he lose his flair for drama in the Sanctuary? Were they all about to burst out laughing?

This is worth at least two weeks of dishes.

Thankfully, Alden was the first to react. With the slightest shift in posture, he regarded him like a prince might a horse he considered buying. “I will allow it.” He tilted his head as if bestowing a great boon and motioning him on. “Lead the way.”

Damn, he’s good.

So good that Kai wondered if his roommate had gotten the hint or was taking him seriously. Head bowed to hide his expression, he channeled more Empower to slip past the group before they could recover. “Please, follow me.”

I should ask for a month of dishes.

He strode toward the tunnels, Alden close behind, nearly clipping his heels. The approaching passages forced him into another quick decision. His mind strained, keen to catch any hint from Hallowed Intuition. He had the inkling that the passage marked with the hourglass would be problematic, but had nothing on the other two. If he were to guess, the crossed spears might indicate a team or combat challenge, and the key with six locks a puzzle or split paths.

Traces of faint runes glimmered beneath the marks carved in the stone—possibly a clue on the paths.

No time to study them.

The gazes of the others still pierced their backs, joined by the fainter scrutiny from the bickering patricians. If any of them chased them, they could be put in an awkward position. There were no rules encouraging conflict, but neither any to deter it.

Better we get ahead before they get their act together.

Whatever obstacles or dangers waited for him, a bunch of unpredictable teenagers was unlikely to make them easier.

Shoulders squared with feigned confidence, Kai picked the key and locks since he had already walked past the crossed spears while thinking. Heading into the passage, the flare of Light spells dimmed as the tunnel twisted and sloped downward—not the most promising start.

His boot sent a rock skidding forward and nearly tripped him in the dark. He reached for a crystal light in his ring, just to realize his spatial artifact wasn’t there, cursing under his breath. He rubbed his fingers. His hand felt bare without it. Since Elijah had gifted it to him over three years ago, he had almost never taken it off.

They sabotage my preparations and call it fairness

As his eyes got used to the darkness, the bluish moss draping the walls cast enough light to see where he was going. Three lines faintly glowed on the silver band on his wrist. Behind him, Alden’s steps softly pressed on the ground, seemingly at ease.

They did give us days for the Trials.

He didn’t want to waste his Fire reserve on a torch in the first hour of the Trials, especially when he might not get a chance to restock. The dense essence underground strongly skewed toward Earth and Shadow, highlighting the widening passage.

“No one seems to be following us.” Kai slowed his reckless pace enough to react to potential whispers of danger. “Also, I’m not giving you my credits.”

“That’s… fine. I didn’t think you would.” Alden caught up on his left, appearing thoughtful. His voice had lost its imperious lilt, though it remained too level to reveal much else. “You didn’t have to walk up to them and drag me away.”

“We’re roommates. It looked like you could use the help.”

“Hmm… thank you.”

Trekking through the tunnel in the dark was almost enough not to make the silences awkward. The more Kai wrung his brain for something to say, the more ideas seemed to flee him.

Should I tell him he owes me a month of dishes?

“I didn’t really get why you were so… particular about your name before today. It must be annoying having people suck up to you who can’t even take a no.”

“It’s inconvenient, yes. They usually back off when I tell them, but the Trials made them more persistent.”

“Sounds bothersome,” Kai sympathized. He halfway raised his arm for a friendly clap before he thought better of it, turning his gesture into a smooth stretch. “What would they even do? Do they think you’ll shoo them away with bags of gold if they annoy you enough?”

“Even scraps from a Great House can change the life of most people and their families,” Alden said dryly, merely stating a fact. “They likely assumed I’d overlook their rudeness if they proved themselves useful in the Trials.”

“How terribly naive of them. Hey, maybe you should raze their homes and salt their fields. A bold statement, you know? Build a reputation of dread, so people will shiver in your presence.”

“Do you think it would work?” Alden asked, thoughtful. “There are laws to punish people who’ve insulted my House. Salting their land might be difficult, but there are more ways to make their land barren for generations. That might solve the issue…”

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“I—no, no. I was just trying to be funny. Please, don’t do that. ”

“I know, Mat. I can tell a joke, too. I’m not going to destroy another student because they annoyed me. Not on their first offense.”

“You’re still joking, right?”

“Of course,” Alden said, the smallest inflection betraying a smile. “They would have to offend me repeatedly and severely. Most people don’t cross my path often enough for that.”

Kai gave a forced chuckle and scratched his neck. “So, uh… your family must be really, really important if people act crazy like that?”

“I’ve only been asked that question twice in my life. Both times by you.”

“Really? I knew I was special.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Kai laughed more naturally, keeping a close eye on Hallowed Intuition.

How long are we gonna walk? Please, tell me I didn’t pick some test of patience.