When I woke up in the morning and went down to the kitchen for breakfast, I felt a continuous stare on me. A look that belonged to Lillie. Earlier, she'd been watching Rudeus with that same gaze. I'm beginning to think she's really sensitive to magical energy. It could be a problem if she sensed my magic - not because she didn't know I was practicing it. She knew that before, at least from what Rudeus and I think. We noticed that when he was learning magic, she always knew it. That's why I used magical barriers, so my magic and my magical signature wouldn't be sensed.
Only yesterday, I foolishly didn't do that. I thought that everyone was asleep, so no one would notice. Probably the weight of my magic woke her up. The reason that could be a problem is because my magic carried a divine presence yesterday. After all, I created a soul... Could she tell a divine presence from that? I don't think so. She's more surprised at how pure and high quality my mana was.
The moment I settled down, I noticed a new perspective. A look that said to itself, "I know what you did last night!" That look belonged to Rudeus. Which is weird. His mana pool and mana sensitivity are incredible, but that much? It can't be stronger than canon, can it!
Breakfast went fine, nothing special happened. I know Lillia knows something, but I'll let it go for now. After all, she hasn't solved it herself yet. After breakfast, I helped with the dishes and a little cleaning. When I decided to return to my room, I found a visitor waiting at the door in the form of Rudeus…
"Seriously, why now?!" I thought to myself. But at the same moment I spoke, "Rudy, what brings you here? I thought you wanted to practice magic before our sensei comes." Right after saying that, he frowned at me and pulled me inside my room, but didn't say anything.
I sat down on the bed while Rudeus paced back and forth in front of me. He was holding his chin and muttering something under his beard. This went on for several seconds to minutes. I didn't really notice what he was murmuring until he turned abruptly to me, looked me straight in the eye and spoke with enthusiasm, "So, what was that spell last night? It was so powerful it woke me up."
I had visible astonishment in my eyes. I really didn't expect him to feel it. The only option I could think of at that moment was to act stupid. "Ehh, what are you talking about, Rudy? I didn't feel anything last night..."
Rudy's face showed features of indignation. After my reply, he shouted at me, "I'm not an idiot, Mephisto! That mana had your signature on it! Are you forgetting that you taught me some spells? But what I felt... the power, the concentration, and the purity! What was that? Tell me or I'll tell Mom!"
I really didn't expect that. Does he want to play it like that? Should I erase his memories? No, I shouldn't do that to my family. But what can I do now? Should I threaten him or tell him the truth? I sighed heavily and shook my head. "Please don't tell Mom. I was just trying something and it didn't work out, okay…"
Even though I tried to talk my way out of it, he didn't seem to buy it. The first thing Rudy did was shake his head violently and speak, "I don't believe a word you say! Show me or I'll go tell my mom downstairs! You're the one who's always worked every spell. If it didn't work, show it again, maybe I can help you!"
Even though he really seemed to want to help me, I didn't believe a word he said. I noticed the corners of his mouth twitch into a smile. He probably really thinks he's won, huh? But I still have a plan to get out of this. And if worse came to worst, I'd create something I'd intentionally screw up. After all, I can't show him the truth. At least not yet.
"Rudy, you said it yourself. It was a huge concentration and mana purity... My reserves haven't filled up yet, unfortunately I can't show you now. I'm sorry..."
A winning smile appeared in my mind. The smirk tried to get out, but I suppressed it. Rudy lowered his head. "That I'd actually win?" flashed through my mind. Then Rudy finally, but disappointedly, spoke, "Then please promise to show me when you have the mana."
I was able to accept that, so I agreed. Rudy left my room, but after he left, another unexpected guest arrived.
The guest was our maid, basically my second mother, Lillia. Several exclamation points appeared in my mind. "Don't tell me she'll want to see Kuray too!"
But to my amazement, she just came up to me and hugged me.
"What's wrong!?"
I didn't know what to say, so all I could muster was, "Lily, are you okay? Is something wrong?"
I could see that she was in tears. "Why is she crying? Did I do something? I've never had a good relationship with her. I treated her like an older sister, nothing more, nothing less."
Lillia spoke, "I'm sorry... I'm just glad you're okay..."
The only sentence I could blurt out was: "Why wouldn't I be?"
Then a smile appeared on her face. A smile that shone like sunlight in summer. The last time I saw that smile was when I was born... To give you an idea, Lillia herself had a tragic past. Her family disowned her after what Paul did, so it's no wonder she doesn't smile often. All these years, I've seen her with a neutral or sad expression. And yet... now she's smiling. Why is she smiling?
After a moment of silence, she spoke again: "Last night I felt something completely incomprehensible... an energy of purity, as if God himself had descended into this world..."
I held my breath. How do I explain this...?
After a pause, she returned to speaking. All I could think of at that moment was how I was going to explain it all. "But that wasn't the only thing, there was darkness too, like death came to visit you..."
I'm totally fucked with what she just said. Not only have I fucked up with Rudy, but now I've fucked up with her. "Oh, sorry, I slept pretty soundly so I don't remember anyone being here. Besides, why, if you felt something so strong, didn't you come check on me?" That's what I thought when she felt it, why didn't she come?
This question was answered immediately, "I couldn't, I couldn't. The pressure I felt when I tried to get here was enormous."
"Still, I can't believe you're okay. I thought you had died. The power, all of it... it was like God was protecting you from death. I'm glad you're okay..." With that sentence, she turned away from me and wiped her tears.
The last thing she said before leaving was, "God is on your side, cherish him, Mephisto. And be careful. I don't know if it was real or not, but I know it was the scariest thing I've ever felt...' With that, she left the room.
I'm honestly not surprised that she found it scary, because she was focused on the whole thing in a divided way and not in its entirety, which is why her reaction was so different from Rudy's. The energy of death was only there when I was manipulating the soul that was out of the body. In contrast, the energy of God, as Lillia called it, was there the moment I created it.
"I'll have to keep an eye on it, especially when Roxy comes, it could be a problem. Rachel, we'll start barrier training from tonight." I'm sure of that decision. I'd need it sooner or later anyway. If I start now, I won't spoil anything.