Chapter 176 - The Power of the Aspect of the Soul

  Soon after, my cousin Chloe arrived, and I noticed Edmund giving me a curious look.

  "Pleasure to meet you, miss. My name is Edmund Valemont," he said fidently with a charming smile.

  "Pl-pleasure..." Kinue responded shyly, clearly a bit unfortable.

  "Kihis is our cssmate as well. He lives in the dorm," I added, trying to ease the tension.

  Edmund g me for a moment, then at Kinue, as if trying to pieething together.

  "You two know each other?" he asked, still intrigued.

  "We grew up together... I'm one of his family's maids," Kinue expined.

  "What!?" Edmund excimed, visibly shocked.

  He nudged me slightly with his elbow, wearing a grin that suggested he was formuting his own theory about the situation.

  "Now it makes sense why you ighe stares from the irls..." he whispered to me.

  "It's not what you're thinking, my dear friend," I tried to crify.

  She is a maid... but a warrior maid...

  We tinued eating and chatting about our weekend pns.

  "And you, Kinue?" Chloe asked.

  "I’ll probably stay at the dorm," Kinue answered, a little hesitant.

  Chloe seemed to think for a moment.

  "Why don't you e spend the weekend with us? It'll be more fun than staying at the academy," Chloe suggested.

  "Are you sure? Your Aunt Katie will be there, and I don’t want to intrude on your first weekend together," Kinue replied, sounding ed.

  "It’s no problem at all," Chloe reassured her with a smile.

  Edmund gave me another look, this time as if he was starting to piece together more details.

  "Aunt Katie?" he whispered, intrigued.

  "She’s my mother," I crified.

  Edmund nudged me again, this time with a mischievous grin.

  "Nathan, you're clever. I thought you were just a simple guy... but turns out I had a real tender o me this whole time," he teased, clearly enjoying the banter.

  "It’s not what you’re thinking..." I repeated, a bit more serious this time.

  "Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. But it seems like everyone’s looking at us anyway."

  When I gnced around, I noticed that some students were indeed casting curious gnces in our dire. Apparently, Kinue's presen the cafeteria was a rare sight.

  I got up after finishing my meal, notig that our usual panions, Thyra and Syvis, still hadn’t shown up.

  They must be stu some practical lesson, I thought.

  I dropped off my tray at the ing station and headed toward the bathroom to brush my teeth.

  "Hello..." a girl greeted me as she passed by.

  "Hello," I responded politely, not paying much attention, and tinued walking.

  The girl rushed back to a group of her friends, and I noticed them all whisperiedly to each other.

  I didn’t uand what was going on.

  ***

  We were waiting outside the academy for the arrival of the carriage. There was a mix of emotions in the air: the youudents were eager to reuh their families, while the older ones, already familiar with the routine, seemed calm, ready for another weekend at home.

  "Kinue, did you pack extra clothes in your ste bracelet? Don’t fet anything," Chloe reminded her, always mindful of the details.

  "Yes, I packed everything. I always carry emergency clothes with me," Kinue replied, holding a small bag.

  Since Kinue was a demi-human, she needed clothes specially adapted for her, especially because of her tail. That made it difficult for Chloe to lend her any clothes. During our childhood, Professor Adrihna would always brira clothes when visiting Kinue, as it was hard to find demi-human clothing in the human kingdom. In Evenhart territory, not even in our main city were such clothes avaible, as we were the st civilized frontier before the Cursed Sea. Usually, demi-humans who traveled to the human kingdom stayed in the Royal Capital. Fortunately, the city of Apsalon was diverse, with shops catering to all species, making life easier for Kinue.

  And then, once again, that strange sensation...

  Someone was watg me. It felt as though a teique was being used, something I suspected was a lesser version or derivative of killing i. Whoever it was, their focus was entirely on me, gradually trying to destabilize my mind and diminish my awareness of the surroundings.

  This kind of teique, though inferior to real killing i, had a clear purpose: assassination. Someone wao overwhelm me mentally, flooding my mind with this malicious energy like a snake paralyzing its prey with venom before striking. The assassin mage was trying to slowly numb my awareness, preparing me for the final blow.

  It was a subtle and dangerous teique, meant to chip away at one’s senses. I only realized I was being affected because of my past life, having been raised in an enviro where death and violence were stant panions. Naturally, anyone from my family was trained not to feel primitive fears, and this teique was meant to overload the brain with a creeping sense of dread.

  I tinued chatting with the girls, not letting on that I was aware of the threat.

  This teique might work on a normal person, but I’m no ordinary person. I’m the greatest user of this art that’s ever existed. Even without the Aura, I master killing ihrough mana. While this teique is inferior to the inal power, it’s still effective.

  It was clear that this mage wao kill me.

  SOUL ASPECT!

  Reality shifted, and I began to see the world differently. Now, the distinct outline of my stalker stood out from the crowd walking along the street. Using the Soul Aspect, I kept the assassin in my line of sight without them knowing, ready for any sudden movements.

  As I observed Cyl, who was sitting beside me in her panther cub form, I noticed that she was pletely invisible to the Soul Aspect. Her mana perfectly mimicked that of a baby ellian panther.

  The power of her Body Aspect is impressive, capable of even replig the mana of the creature she’s transformed into.

  "So, you noticed…" Cyl said to me. "The person watg us."

  I hadn’t mentioned anything about the stalker to her.

  Part of me sidered that this might be some observer from the elves or perhaps the human kingdom. I wasirely sure how my diplomatic situation worked, so I hadn’t acted against the stalker up until this point. But now, it was crossing a line.

  Now it was clear: you want me dead. Someone merely watg wouldn’t use such a specific teique. You’re a trained assassin.

  The carriage arrived, and I boarded, keeping the Soul Aspect active.

  By ce, I’m also an assassin…

  I focused on my pursuer, atg me ehe carriage. His teique had beeivated, likely because he o have me in his line of sight.

  But even through walls, I could still see his mana with my Soul Aspect.

  Time to py with you a bit.

  I rested my head against my hand.

  The punishment for anyone who dares to harm me or my family is death.