Rhamn looked like she was enjoying herself right now. She licked her lower lip, still remembering the intoxicating taste of the Black Tulip. He could understand her; how could anyone forget that feeling?
However, instead of admiring her beauty, Cyril was currently more concerned with what she just said.
At the very beginning, Rhamn kept saying how she was a 'part of him'. Until now he always thought of it in a more figurative manner. Like perhaps she was a soul attached to him, maybe even a split personality.
"No, no, I am literally a part of your body. I am your heart." Rhamn changed now somehow; she was now louder, even more confident, almost sensual.
"You are telling me my heart is another living organism?" Even these words, which logically should unnerve him, didn't.
"Not 'another organism.'. We are one and the same, and yet we aren't. It's a bit confusing even for me, to be honest." She sheepishly smiled and gave herself a soft knock on the head. Even this silly action was more enchanting now.
"If my heart is so special, then why was no healer able to discover anything wrong?" A healer's examination was quite thorough; with the right spell, no change in a human body can evade their eyes.
Rhamn, wearing tights, elegantly sat on the chair and crossed her legs. "It's miraculous, really. Your heart—to them, 'I' don't look any different from a normal human heart. No matter how hard they look, if I don't allow it, they won't see anything unusual."
"That is... impressive." This kind of quality is magical indeed.
This conversation raised a long-existing question in Cyril: "Then, could it be that I am not even a human?" This was the only explanation he could offer at this moment.
In this world exists a myriad of creatures with extraordinary qualities. It is rare to meet one in the Empire, but there are numerous records of different races enhanced by the existence of magic. Be it elves, dwarves, vampires, or many others.
He heard many legends about their supernatural abilities; it is not too unbelievable that one of them shares similarities with him.
To his question, Rhamn raised her point finger to her chin in a thinking gesture and thought for a moment, "I guess?"
Then she moved her hands apart and shrugged, "Don't ask me; I am in the same situation as you."
Hearing her say this, Cyril went silent. His thought was unknown to anyone, aside from Rhamn, but she didn't disturb him.
They stayed like this for some time.
Eventually he sighed and sat on the other chair.
It is what it is. These news didn't rattle him too much. He had more willpower than he thought.
Or is that because I am supposed to be like that? Either way, the world continued.
Rhamn snapped her fingers in fanfare. "That's the spirit!"
Cyril grabbed the rock again; this time he didn't feel as strong of a pull. He calmly put it back in the cupboard where it belongs.
"This snack will not last us too long. I propose we find more in the future." If this thing can really make him stronger, then he didn't mind finding more.
The issue is that it appears to be incredibly rare, at least according to Myra.
I'll think about this later. Whatever happens, happens. Cyril shook off any distracting thoughts.
He pulled a few books and started studying for tomorrow. His plans in life didn't change; he still wanted to get stronger and find decent enough work.
...
The next day, the lessons passed by without anything particular happening.
During the spell-making, they mostly focused on perfecting the known spells, learning to manipulate them in the way you see fit.
As Rose predicted, Myra struggled with this suddenly. At times, she appeared like an all-knowing being, but at other times, she seemed like someone learning magic for the first time.
It was an uncanny effect; Rhamn had ridiculed her plenty of times because of that, not that she would be able to hear any of that.
Still keeping Lapis in mind, Cyril paid attention to the newspapers lately.
From them, he found out they attacked the research laboratory somewhere near the Tower.
Cyril heard firsthand what people thought of the knights for failing to catch Lapis; they were, to say the least, dissatisfied.
The newspaper, however, was very supportive of them, even blaming the failure this time on the convoluted construction of the laboratory itself, preventing the brave knights from doing their duties.
"What else are they going to write? They don't have much choice I bet." Cyril could only agree with her this time.
The important thing from this was the date of the incident; it perfectly coincided with the visit to that house.
Even though Cyril occasionally met Cedric, the two never discussed what happened; no one wanted to give up that woman to the authorities.
Cyril now worried a bit about any investigation by the Empire, since he considered himself something other than human now.
It was rare to see non-humans in the city for a valid reason. He could imagine how they would tie him up and take him to do a dissection for research purposes.
But Cyril wasn't sure why Cedric never did anything; he was always so willing to be the good guy before, but not this time.
"Maybe he is scared they will find a connection with the Arken family. To prevent implicating his estranged family, he is willing to let a terrorist run wild; what a good person he is."
Despite how hostile she sounded, Cyril felt she had a point.
It was still unknown how Anna's stolen bracelet ended up in the possession of a Lapis member; it could've been a simple transaction, or it could be something worse.
Cyril also heard from the two; the academy made an investigation into the robbery, but nothing conclusive was found. Whoever did that knew what they were doing.
Anna was given some compensation, and they moved her to a different room. Then this matter was put under the rug by everyone.
...
The day passed in a flash, and soon it was finally the day before the Tower tour.
Finding it necessary, the group was gathered in their usual spot now at the park.
Everyone here was eagerly anticipating the trip, but some for a different reason.
The most excited one about the visit was undoubtedly Rose. She, who was usually a quiet and peace-loving student, fought hard to enter the top 10.
It wasn't hard for Cyril to understand her. If you ask a random person on the street what would be the place they are most curious about, they would answer the Tower.
A long time ago, even the Emperor has moved his residence to the top of the Tower. "Megalomaniac, no doubt."
It was a center of research and development. Thousands of mages, the brightest minds of the city, were working there day and night for the betterment of the whole world.
At least that was what the Empire portrayed it as. Who knew what actually went on behind the closed doors? Ordinary people are not even allowed to come close to it.
Another reason behind the Tower's prestige is its location.
It was built on top of the largest cluster of mana veins in the world. Its inexhaustible supply of mana was used to power the whole city, from the manarail to the streetlights.
Not only that. It also injected more mana into the air, increasing everyone's ability to cast spells and mana recovery.
If one had to mention a downside to such a way of living, many agree on a common one: the mana veins are few, and they are stationary.
Because humanity started relying so heavily on the conveniences brought by being in proximity to a mana vein, there is no possibility of the Empire spreading its territory.
This one city is the only one the great Empire has. At most there are farms and mining stations somewhere not too far away, relying on long-distance wires to bring a minimal amount of mana.
There are many disputes in the higher circle about the possible dangers of this in the future.
The highest concern of some is the unchecked growth of the Kingdom.
It doesn't rely on mana like the Empire, instead preferring a barbaric, according to the newspapers, practice of spirit arts.
Thanks to this, their cities are spread far and wide, much to the Empire's annoyance.
Their magical superiority would be more than enough to crush any army the Kingdom can throw at them, the problem being that they must move closer first.
Not even mentioning how the Empire was constantly attacked by demons, a fate Kingdom escaped due to its geographical location.
"Alright, we get it." Before the day was over, they still needed to discuss important things about the trip, so Cyril finally interrupted the enthusiastic Rose.