"I told you, sir Steyton, you won't be able to leave this place until you answer my questions."
'What the hell, why did a simple meeting with a professor turn into a detective movie?'
Kairen knocked on the door a few times but there were no answers coming from outside. He still didn't move away from the door and stood there, observing the other man that was in the same room. The professor finished his coffee and put the cup down, folded his arms, and stared back at Kairen.
"What is the meaning of this, professor?"
"Please, stop playing dumb and tell me how you fused that power into your mana?"
"That power?"
Professor Exell stood up and walked to his desk. He picked up the calendar that was placed on his desk and moved it up so that Kairen could also see it. Then, he pointed at a date on it. It was 9 days ago.
"You see this sir Steyton? This is the date that the most recent terrorist attack of Philomns took place in Bordkly. 32 deaths and 654 injured. You are familiar with their method as well; we both know what power they use in their weapons."
'Who did what in where?'
The only thing that Kairen understood from this man's words was that a terrorist attack had accrued somewhere in this world. How was he supposed to know that? He had only been in this world for 5 days.
Kairen didn't know how he should react now and what is he supposed to say, he kept looking at the professor silently with a dumbfounded face. He didn't know that his silence was really irritating this professor right now. Professor Exell was sure of what he had sensed 5 days ago. He kept silent about it at first as he couldn't move rashly. He spent 3 days investigating Kairen Steyton's past, and it was really weird. This man had no family, no known relatives, and no origin. There aren't any records of his past except for the last 10 years, as if he didn't exist before then. It was really suspicious. And yesterday, he could finally get a permit from his higher-ups to act as he wanted.
Of course, Kairen didn't know any of these and was wondering how he ended up in a movie-like situation. He felt sorry for himself for feeling sorry for Kairen 1 a few days ago! Kairen 1 was the one ruining his life, not him!
Kairen peeked at the man again, his gaze was getting more and more furious and it was impossible for Kairen to look straight at his eyes. cold sweat was formed on his head and his hands were sweaty. He made up something in his mind and began talking.
"I don't really r-remember what happened just before I got hit. The doctor said it was because of the shock…"
"Hmm? I read your doctor's report. It also said that you had a memory loss because of the shock."
"Y-yes."
"How funny! A nice excuse!"
'Come on dude!'
"I seriously can't remember. Can't you wait till I regain my memories?"
"Pftt."
'Don't laugh at me! Don't laugh!'
Kairen felt like it was a mistake to keep his memory loss a secret. But then again, this guy wouldn't believe it even if he had told everyone, would he? Just what has that previous Kairen done?
"Look, boy. I don't have that much free time to exchange jokes with you. Isn't it better to confess here while drinking coffee than being forced to do so after going through torture?"
"T-torture?"
Kairen, his voice shaking, asked while wishing that he had just heard it wrongly.
"I will have to hand you over to The Special Military Forces if you keep silent. Believe me, it is not easy going through their interrogation."
Torture and interrogation. Kairen felt his heart go cold just imagining them. He was just an ordinary person, his only worry was finding a job and earning money. It was obvious that he would be scared like hell in this kind of situation. He opened his mouth and said everything that came to his mind out of fear.
"I- I don't really know anything. I can't remember. I don't remember anything. I have forgotten my past. Even all the spells I knew. I can't even sense my mana. Believe me, I am telling the truth!"
The man stared at him without saying anything.
"I don't remember anything from the past, but- but…but… Ah, but?"
"But what?"
"Yeah, but what? What was I going to say?"
Kairen really forgot what he wanted to say! Was it because of the stress? He felt so embarrassed now despite being scared. He could see Professor Exell laughing at him.
"PFtt ahahaha! Ahem! So you are saying that you have really lost your memories, hmm? Then can you prove it?"
"Prove?"
"What if we test it here and now?"
"T-test?"
The man smiled as he moved his hand. Something weird happened at the moment. Small shiny shapes started to appear around his body. They were faint but still visible. Then, a huge wave of light and energy appeared out of nowhere. The newly appeared wave started moving towards Kairen at a fast speed, destroying everything on its way. The room turned to a mess in a few seconds, broken glass and wood scattered everywhere.
Kairen was frozen in his place, his mouth wide open and his face pale.
'WHAT THE HELL WHAT THE HELL WHAT THE HEELLLL!'
What happened? Is this the so-called magic? What was he supposed to do now? Would it hurt if it hit him? He felt like his mind went numb as he watched the wave moving closer and closer to him. His body was shaking and his heart was beating fast. He was screaming internally. He took a step back, his back now touching the door, and closed his eyes, waiting for it to hit his body helplessly.
He waited.
And waited.
But nothing happened.
"…"
He slightly opened his eyes and peeked at his surroundings. There was nothing. Everything was intact and there was nothing like a wave around him. It was the clean and cozy room once again, without anything broken or anywhere destroyed as if nothing happened just now.
"Huh?"
Cold sweat dripped down Kairen's forehead and he felt the strength leave his knees for a moment. He plopped down on the floor.
"W-what t-that… t-that"
He was so shocked that he couldn't talk properly. Kairen felt like he had lost like… 5 years of his life just now.
"T-that was m-magic? B-but t-the room… where did i-it?"
"…."
Professor Exell was staring at him with a weird look. He examined Kairen from head to toe and started walking towards him. He could see a startled Kairen trying to drag his body backward, but his back was already touching the door. Professor Exell bent down and placed his hand on Kairen's chest.
"Gasp"
He could hear the scared boy's gasping but ignored that as he focused on what he was doing.
"You said you can't sense your mana?"
"…y-yes sir."
Unable to sense one's mana. He could indeed feel the chaotic mana around this man. He thought that it was because of that power, making him even more irritated, but now that he examined up close, there wasn't any trace of the power he felt that day in him.
He had another thought. Mana was something like a sixth sense for mages, which meant you gain complete control over it the moment you start sensing it. it was impossible to let your mana whirl around aimlessly like this after you've sensed it. It was indeed weird.
Professor Exell moved his hand back and asked another question.
"So, why haven't you informed the academy if you can't even sense your mana?"
"T-that… Reyan said that I may get expelled if- if I do so…"
"Reyan? You mean Reyan Heartz is also aware of your condition?"
"Yes..."
Reyan Heartz. He was a hardworking swordsman and had a remarkable talent. As a member of the Heartz family, it was to be expected though. He knew they were close friends as he had spent 3 days digging up everything from this man's past. If even he, his close friend and a talented student, as well as a member of the Heartz family, believed that he had lost his memories… then… could it be really the case? Even if he was still young, it was hard to believe that he would get deceived this easily.
This made him doubt his own conclusion, especially seeing how this man reacted to his "trick" just now. His illusion magic was strong, but a nearly graduated mage shouldn't fall into it that easily. Did Kairen do it on purpose to fool him? And to add up, the man he had investigated was also his student for a few semesters. He didn't have this kind of stupid behavior that this man was showing! Could this boy be so skilled in acting that he could fool them all, and even be able to move his mana in such a manner? He could see the boy nervously glancing at him with a pale face. He went through lots of theories in his head before finally deciding on what to do.
Professor Exell moved his hand once again, making faint and small marks appear all around him. That made Kairen terrified again, but there was nothing he could do. So he just helplessly watched it happen. Kairen saw some of the marks on the air move and forge together and change shape. At that moment, a faint bean-sized pink light appeared and started moving towards Kairen once again. It circled around his wrist a few times before gently touching his skin. A bracelet-shaped mark appeared around Kairen's wrist before disappearing alongside that pink light. Kairen rubbed his wrist with confusion.
"Huh?"
"I placed a temporary tracker on you. It will help me know your whereabouts, health condition, mana usage, and lots of other things. Means, you are under surveillance for now."
"…."
"I won't hand you over to The Special Military Forces yet, not until I make sure of my hypothesis."
"…."
'Should I be thankful now? You did all this to finally say I am under surveillance? Are you crazy?'
"And, the content of our meeting is a secret. You got it?"
"… Yes."
Professor Exell stood up and placed his hand in the door. Some small shapes appeared and disappeared again before he grabbed the door's handle and opened it.
'He locked the door by magic?'
"Well then, see you later sir Steyton."
He said that with a smile before pushing Kairen out of the room.