[Well, what do you think?]
Kai leaned back against the classroom wall, his hand continuously rubbing at his chin as if trying to scratch off his unshaved stubble. The conversation with Sydney hadn't lasted long, but it did a lot to further his guesses of what was going on.
The similarity of the temple structure, the suspiciously familiar statue, and now the name of the sect.
"I don't know… Are you sure that the others didn't somehow end up in an earlier time period than us?"
[Yes. After spending more time talking to Brewan and looking through his magic book, I understand all of the runes I saw on the tokens. None of them relate to time. All of the symbols that I couldn't recognize before are only there to augment and alter what the main ones are doing.]
"Didn't you say before we used them that you didn't know anything about them?"
[I didn't know their exact use, but I did recognize some of the runes. A few of them were closely related to the research I did for the other disciples.]
Kai didn't have any of the tokens on him, but Halia instructed him to hold up her necklace, then started pointing out the runes that had also been on the tokens.
[Soul] [Guard]
She then pointed out a rune scribbled on one of the blackboards, a [Link] rune that she had used when making the ruby staff she gave to Edwin.
[They probably have different names here, I've just been making up stuff as I go.]
Kai walked over to the blackboard, his gaze scanning over the lines of chalk as he recognized some of the runes Halia had just pointed out.
"Halia. I just realized something."
[Hmm?]
"I understand none of this. I don't think I will, even if I try to."
Kai could do swords, and he could do political interactions with other sects. The voodoo "math and magic science" that Halia proclaimed herself a master of made less sense to Kai than a flying pig.
[Heh, then don't worry about it. I'm stuck in this necklace anyway, it'd be dumb if I didn't at least use my time to cover some of your many deficits.]
"Oi, where's your respect for your seniors?! Me going out and exploring the region instead of hiding in the sect isn't a deficit!"
[...]
Something in the back of Kai's mind itched like he'd just said something wrong, but he brushed it aside and continued the conversation.
"Back to the main topic. This place is definitely related to our sect. Everything, even down to the name, is too similar."
Kai paced around the room, his hand idly rubbing at the stubble on his chin.
"What if other tokens were used in the past? If they were used to bring previous disciples here, that could explain everything!"
A tired sigh echoed in Kai's mind.
[You're the sixth person who joined the sect. Who before you do you think could've come over here to create this place?]
Ah. Before I joined, the only members of the sect were Enla, Edwin, Dwight- the third disciple, and Lilli, the fourth disciple. Aside from them and the sect's founder, who is buried on sect grounds, there weren't any other members before me.
There wasn't anyone from the sect that could've come over to this world in the past. The opposite, though…
It actually makes a lot of sense. The runes back home, the unknown ruby material, and how a tiny sect like ours could have a bunch of disciples whose talent could topple the ranks of sects hundreds of times our size. Halia and I were the only outliers among the core disciples…
Kia's expression darkened a bit as he slumped back against the wall behind him.
Or rather, just me. She isn't normal either. Me, on the other hand…
[Hey, are you mad at me for not telling you right away when I figured it out? Hmph, it's only natural that the one who hid in the sect researching and learning instead of being able to go out and explore without worrying about dying to a random beast would figure it out first.]
The dripping bitterness in Halia's tone only plunged Kai deeper into his own mind.
Right. If she'd had a constitution that could support cultivation, Halia wouldn't have been stuck in the sect doing research. She might've even been the one slated to lead the sect in the future...
"...Sorry."
Kai's mind went silent for almost a minute as his mind continued to stew progressively more uncertain thoughts. Eventually, Halia spoke up again.
[It's alright. People tire me out quickly, I could never deal with all of the competitions and political stuff you handled for the sect. I'm sure even if I got to go out and adventure, I'd end up wanting to go back to researching most of the time anyway.]
Halia's voice started to regain its normal playfulness as she continued.
[Besides, playing support for the famed first disciple sounds like a good time. It's a good change of pace to be able to bug someone who tries to seem mature.]
"Tries? I am!"
Kai's previously depressed expression turned into a scowl as Halia cackled mischievously in his mind.
Hmph, I apologize to her, and she just goes right back to trying to make fun of me?! I don't even know why I was feeling bad before. Halia wouldn't've been able to replace me, even if she could cultivate. I'm still the only one who's mature enough to lead our sect!
[Right, I was going to work on fixing your robes. I'm pretty sure I will figure out a spell for them with a bit more help from Brewan.. After that, I'm going to start learning more magic!]
Kai could practically feel the excitement returning to her voice as she refocused on her pursuit of magical knowledge.
It's almost like she has two states of being. She's either resolutely focused on her research, or doing her best to annoy and embarrass me. Or both.
Still, a small grin couldn't help but linger in the corner of Kai's mouth. Even if talking to Halia made him perpetually rub at the bridge of his nose, her positivity was infectious. Somehow, listening to her swept away all of the self-doubts that threatened to creep into Kai's mind.
Maybe it wasn't so bad to have her around.
"This time, I'll try to show you more of the world."
[Eh?]
"It was a bit like you were trapped at the sect before, right? Even if you liked researching, I know you also loved it whenever we went out into the wilderness with the other disciples."
[Thanks… I am kind of a necklace right now, though. I'm stuck with you anyway.]
Kai glanced down at the ruby stone resting against his chest, his cheeks heating up a bit as he realized how useless his statement had been.
"O- obviously that's why I said it!"
[Sure. I definitely believe you.]