12: Night
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My sister takes after our mother, dark blonde hair, sharp face and a slightly pale skin. She is heterochromatic, her left eye dark gray and the right blue.

Just that. A single eye and a skin color that, being honest, is a bit unhealthy and means we prefer cloudy days.

“Brother...”

“Juli, I missed you.” Even as I squeeze these words, my expression doesn't change.

It feels so forced, so fake, but I am too afraid of letting my emotions show.

Juliana trembles slightly, her face darker. I can almost smell the fear off of her. A fear from me, so ridiculous. I'm just her loving eldest brother. The brother that doesn't spend time with his sister, that doesn't smile; not one genuine smile.

It's not like I do this on purpose. Smiling for real—showing any real emotion—is impossible through such a way of puppeteering my facial muscles. It took me months to figure out how to express basic emotions, hundreds of hours staring at the mirror trying to resemble a human being. Sometimes, it's easier to do nothing. Speaking is already difficult as it is; expressions are a luxury for me.

No, that's just an excuse.

That's why I trained with Sage to restore my nerves to normal.

I am not perfectly fixed, but it should have been enough. So all that's left are the years of habit.

“...Really?”

“Yes.”

“You are not mad?”

Come on, spill it already! Just say you were hurt, that you can never be mad at her. Spit these simple words out.

“No,” I say, cursing myself. “How was it like while I was gone?”

Juliana blinks a few times. “Theo has been busy studying and doing the tasks Miss Katherine gives him. Mom and dad are out working. I haven't seen them in days now.”

“That's unusual even for them.”

“I heard them whisper something about work.” She shrugs. “They probably won't be back for a while.”

This casual attitude is painful to watch. We are both so used to this empty feeling, it almost doesn't bother us. Juliana shouldn't be accustomed to it. It's already been 20 years since the war ended, but they actually get busier with every year. Damned parents.

Well, I am not any better.


Flashback: Percival - 12 years old

“How are you feeling today, Percival?” Saintess Vania, acting as Percival's doctor.

“Brimming with energy.” Stretching lazily, Percival executed complex, lightning-fast movements with extraordinary precision.

After two years, he had finally completed his “rehabilitation”, which was, in truth, mastering his superhuman technique. Now Percival could move and speak the same as a normal person, or even better.

Vania examined his body and nodded. “No more morse code? No sign language?”

“They will have their uses, I'm sure, but no.” He smiled slightly, a charming, artificial smile. That's the smile he would wear from now on.

The process was hellish, in many ways, yet Percival had succeeded in overcoming this hurdle. He wasn't quite the same as before, but he adapted and evolved, becoming a machine. The price is evident, along with the regret.

Now all that's left was to marvel at his own achievement. The youngest ever Pioneer was an indicator of Percival's immense talent and potential.

And the best part was that his parents weren't Pioneers. Even their respective superhuman techniques were learned at a much later age. No one could contain this achievement even under the shadow of heroes.

He decided against revealing his achievement yet, only until he became powerful enough.

“Are you sure you want it to be left like this?” Vania asked, reading his intentions.

Percival shrugged, still smiling. “Yes.”

“Is there anything I can do to change your mind?”

“No,” Percival answered curtly.

“There is no harm in revealing yourself. No one will dare mock a Pioneer.”

For a moment, it appeared as though Vania was going to say more, but then she merely sighed. “Come visit me from time to time.”

Leaving like this, Percival was left alone, his heart darkening beneath his smile.

Looking out of the window of his room on the second floor, he observed Nara, his mother, demonstrating her martial arts to Juliana. His sister excitedly emulated every move.

However unrefined, the glimmers of talent were evident, shining upon a bright future. Mana boosted her movements, allowing rapid speed and incredible strength, all supported by a vast reserve of mana.

A single forgotten zero.

That was the difference between the talented and talentless.

The mocked and the praised.

An act of resolution, and foolishness that brings despair.


I wait for the twelfth hour of the night to make my move.

Kaelith is a big city. Beyond the orderly and beautiful mansions and buildings in the nobles' district sprawling densely placed buildings, forming narrow alleys. Disorder built on order as the city evolved without control, forming a beautiful mess.

Midnight is not any less bustling than daytime. There are establishments that provide various services that cannot operate under the light of day. Some legal, some less. I hope I won't have any business in those shady places.

In my hand, I hold a cutting-edge technology that scans mana signatures over a wide area. It's the same shape as a pocket watch, twice the size. The signatures it picks over the range of 1 kilometer are colored differently depending on the mana pool. It isn't nearly as accurate as a standard scanner but this tool is a godsend when assessing the number and threat level of enemy forces.

This device is also unlocked with my mana signature alone, so stealing it won't help anyone. I think we can improve this drastically, but I will have to put more funding into it.

And keep it a secret. There are plenty of dissatisfied Detectors not liking their easy, well-paying jobs becoming obsolete.

The mysterious “Shadow” is definitely real, otherwise the Saintess wouldn't have mentioned it. Whatever it is, I have a feeling it's connected to me, or at least it will affect me. I have to find it and assess the situation.

If it's an enemy, I will kill them.

The crystal in my pocket brings me confidence, and I practice Infinity while filling it using Manipulation.

I notice how different the skill feels compared to using mana without it. Right now, it's worse than my own ability without it, but I think the fault lies with the way I use this skill.

Considering all the skill I acquired thus far are about mana usage I had before, I can only guess skills will elevate my original mana capabilities once I utilize them properly.

My scanner doesn't show any particularly powerful signature, but I don't let it bother me. If they haven't Ignited their mana and even suppressed it then the scanner won't work. Sneaky shadows would know a suppression technique or two, no? I simply sharpen my senses, jumping from rooftop to another, observing from above.

Most of Kaelith is the same as before, but as I reach the poorer parts, a deafening silence stands. The tension is palpable. I can almost smell fear. Even those without a home don't wander, forming groups for their safety.

How did they let it get this bad?

I look at the scanner. No impressive signature.

“Better not use this device.” A deep voice reverberates around me, startling me. I look around just a second later, but I see no one. “It compromises your location.”

Shadows engulf me. I let my mana Surge strongly, even borrowing some from the crystal.

I unsheathe my sword and slash at an unmatched speed, hitting the shadow. It bounces off, however dozens of strikes I unleash.

Seconds later, I am submerged in shadows, swallowed whole.

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