Douglas's eyeballs contracted into the size of pinholes. His mind was completely in a daze. The question 'how' kept reoccurring and reoccurring constantly in his mind.
From the Amphitheater, to his room, to drop his sword and freshen up, to strolling with Jason and Illenia, back to the Ashanti palace to have his dinner in the dining hall and now, back to his room. If what this man was saying was true, and given the concrete evidence he had just laid out, he was with him throughout, this whole time. Undetected. Inconspicuous. It was difficult for him to wrap his head around this.
A mediocre fellow might reason along the lines that; the man was a soldier of the capital, and a high ranking official even, so being able to perform deeds beyond the common knowledge and understanding of mere mortals, might not be too strange, nor an impossible feat.
But, Douglas knew better.
There are fundamental laws to how things were been done. Laws that guide the way of mana and its usage.
Being able to turn invisible and be undetectable to the naked eye, might sound unbelievable, but it was not impossible. But, what shocked Douglas's reasoning the most, was been able to be invisible, but not leak a single aura. Now, that shouldn't be possible. Because, any superhuman feat requires mana. Whether it's the generation of water, fire, or electro telekinesis or any other elemental ability of sorts, superhuman strength, weaponry techniques, supersonic speed; basically anything of the likes in general, requires the usage of Mana. And when mana is in usage, one's aura is prominent and exposed.
Experts can make their aura to be barely noticeable for simpletons to detect, but in the end, their aura is still been leaked.
One can't use mana, without exposing his aura. It just wasn't possible.
Douglas had very high sensitivity to people's aura. He was born that way. It didnt matter how tiny or insignificant of a leak it was, as long as it's within his radius, he would pick it up very easily and he would easily trace the perpetrator.
This was a skill that every practitioner wished to obtain. They train hard and struggle passionatly for it. The ability to accurately detect the aura of others and decipher how powerful or competent the other was. Even old experts with high level of experience and competence, able to achieve this skill, don't have the level of sensitivity of Douglas. And he got this on a platter of gold. Sort of
The aura of others irritated him. When he was a kid, he used to have goose bumps break out all over his skin, when he perceived someone's aura.
It was a nightmare. It was like a million ants crawling under one's skin.
Though, his skin had gotten used to it by a lot, but it still didn't dampen the irritation by a cent. The more powerful one's aura was, the more irritating the sensation would be. Sometimes the sensation might even cause him to feel pain, just like with the case of the masked woman.
Even if it was just a wisp of release, it was a lot harder to not notice than to notice. So, there was no way in hell, he wouldn't have noticed an 'invisible man' behind him. One can't just turn invisible without the usage of Mana, unless such person was a ghost.
Douglas's lips betrayed him and he unconsciously leaked the singular question that he had been wrestling with, in his mind.
"H-how?"
"The 'how' is of zero importance."
The man brushed off Douglas's unintentional inquiry. His manly frame shot off from the bed and with his palms clasped behind his back, he gently strolled the length of the room.
"I risked a lot, not only for the debt I owe, but also for my selfish interest. You might think been a soldier of the capital is a mighty achievement and been a high ranking one, like attaining the status of a Lieutenant and been in charge of a battalion of a thousand men, like myself; an even greater achievement, but honestly, it's not really as you think. Sure, I enjoy a lot of amenities that come with the rank and I could easily get as many b*tches as I want, even those of noble status, but it's fucking boring. What's the point of been in charge of a battalion when there is no one to fight, hmmm? What's the point of all the morning drills and odious training, if there is none to go against?
You know, I really envy the red monks. They get to see a lot of action, but we in the army, we are just sitting ducks. Though, I get that we are way too strong and sending us out to tackle the little disputes, delegated to the red monks, would be like using a butchers knife to kill a baby chick, but come on, at least give us something to do. What's the point of even climbing up the ladder, when the higher the position, the more boring shit gets?" The man then turned around and pointed straight at Douglas, "Anyways, this is where you come in. You are going to assist in temporarily keeping me entertained."
Having recovered from his earlier shock, Douglas listenened halfheartedly to whatever the man was rambling about, while fully clothing himself in his 'nighties' (a faded Tshirt and a boxer short). He frowned deeply at the man's last sentence.
"Do not mistake me to be your play toy. I am here for my own personal business and that is that. I have no time or energy to indulge whatever fantasies you are dreaming about, while I'm focusing on the tournament."
"Dont lie to me, you are not just here for the tournament." The man dismissed Douglass claim, "I can feel it deep in my bones. Right from the time, when you jumped in front of my carriage and cajoled me to get you into the tournament, I could feel it. I am sure of it. It's in your eyes. It betrays you. Those eyes aren't the eyes of an innocent, ignorant kid. No, they aren't. They are the eyes of someone wanting to end a life. You try to mask the killing intent in your eyes, but no, I can see it clearly. You have a bloody vendetta against some person here in the capital. That's why you are here."
"You are imagining things. Stop being delusional." Douglas denied with a poker face.
"I might not know who it is you have it in for, but I am certain that it won't take too long, before you reveal your secret" The man continued on, despite Douglas's denial. "So you see, observing you would keep me entertained."
"So what, you are just going to stay invisible all the time, watching me and salivating, while you play with your little pecker, you creep? You've got nothing better to do, than invading my privacy?" Douglas complained with a frown.
"Hehhehhehheh!!!" The man chuckled lightly. "It's cute mistaking my stealthy ability for mere invisibility. It's mildly insulting, but I will forgive your ignorance."
"What is it, then, if not, invisibility?" inquired Douglas, struggling to hide his intense curiosity, especially since the notion of invisibility he had come to the conclusion to in his mind, had been debunked.
"I will answer your question, if you answer a question of my own." The man said, while chuckling. He seemed to be in a good mood, for some reason.
Douglas thought to himself for a moment. He had never liked this man, right from the onset. Right from the first time he had laid his eyes on him, he just had this indistinct feeling within him, that this man shouldn't be trusted. If not that he was desperate to participate in the tournament and the man was the only means available, he wouldn't have ever associated with him.
The man was strange and complex and he always gave off a certain kind of displeasing aura. He was incredibly hard to read. He didn't want to share anything of personal importance concerning himself, with this man, but this was a chance for him to get information on something useful. A chance like this only came once in a blue moon. He couldn't pass up a chance like this. Who knows, this might even help him out in the tournament or any other life-threatening moment. It was a risk he had to take.
But he had to be smart about this. He didnt want to sound too desperate.
"Alright, but you are to answer mine first." Douglas said
"No." The man blatantly refused.
"No?"
"No. That's not how this will go. Look kid, I will be sharing a knowledge of an advanced technique with you. Something very very few personnels in top positions in the military know about and fewer still are able to execute. Not even Jehoshaphat, your master knows about it. And I wish to share this with you, as a payment for the entertainment you would provide onto me soon enough. Think of this knowledge, as a payment in advance. So, if you aren't ready to answer my question, then just forget about it. This is a onetime offer." The man said and then stopped pacing the room and stared squarely at Douglas, waiting patiently for his answer.
Douglas unconsciously gulped down his saliva. If his interest in this of before, was in relation with the size of an anthill, his interest now was like a towering mountain. He would be a fool to reject this. Just this knowledge alone was priceless. Resolving himself to not hold anything back any longer, he wasted no time in saying,
"Fine, I accept. Ask away, I will try my best to answer truthfully."
"Oh, don't be so tense. It's just a simple yes or no question. I already know the answer. I just want to confirm something." The man grinned broadly, as he cheerfully said.
"Go ahead, then." Douglas said impatiently.
"Good, good." The man nodded. "The reason you are here, illegally competing in the tournament, is because of the situation of your province, isn't it? You are here to clear your province's name and expose the truth to everyone, aren't you?"
"Partly, but yes." Douglas unhesitatingly confirmed.
"But, in order to have any hope of achieving that, you would have to win the tournament. Do you really have what it takes to win? The other kids will compete hard, you know. And there are some good prospects in this edition, like Rutger Reigin, kid army commander Ken Battler, Estella Fuentes and others in the Xis and even some others outside of the Xis, like Ajito Joe. Do you have a chance of defeating them all? Are you strong enough? Do you have the ability and the resolve?"
"I don't think that's any of your business! Whether I win or not, is none of your concern! Look, we had a deal, so honor your part. I answered yours, so it's your turn." Douglas rudely said.
He didn't want to spend another second, discussing something of no value right now, when a golden knowledge was just around the corner.
The man stroked his overgrown beard, as he spoke, ignoring Douglas's impatience,
"Truthfully, I don't see you winning, but you might just spring up a surprise. Your purpose might just give you that extra edge and determination. I'm an avid gambler and I always love placing my bets on the underdog. Sometimes I win, most times I lose, but it's who I am. What can a man do? I always love me an upset.
So, I will be placing my bets on you. By the start of the round of 16, when the betting sites and shops will open, I will be throwing in a ton of gold coins on you. That is, if you even make it into the round of 16." The man paused, then snickered and said,
"Of course, if you don't make it into the round of 16, I would have to kill you. Because, it simply means you are a waste of space and my strenuous efforts to get you in here would all be for nothing. But, I trust you would impress me. Your desperate struggles will satisfy my boredom. Whether your journey here would end in despair or elation; it would be a joy to watch."
"Are you finished? Will you honor your side of the deal now?"
Douglas impatience had reached the ceiling, listening to whatever bullshit the man was spewing out.
He didn't even flinch, when the man said he would kill him, if he fails to make it into the round of 16, because of his intense anticipation. He needed this knowledge and he needed it now. Anything that could escape his mutated sensory receptors, was worth learning about.
"I guess it's only fair that I do so, because I, Lieutenant Weiser Smith, I am a man of my word. Alright, so, listen attentively, for I won't repeat myself again." The man said sternly, as he began to reveal the secrets of a technique of the utmost rarity.