"So how are you going to take care of the backlash?" Jack queried.
"Backlash? You think I can't take care of a few rotten bastards? Besides you're getting in via recommendation, so stop worrying," Shia replies, playing with a strand of her hair.
"Recommendation? Who's gonna recommend me?"
"The kind princess of the empire, Miss Daniela," Shia spoke gesturing towards Daniela who was watching the whole scene.
Jack's eyes widened as he bowed, "Oh, Your Highness, forgive me for not recognising you."
"Please stop, I'm no longer the princess, besides I'm not the one who's going to recommend you, Mr Jonathan, since I no longer have any powers," Daniela said waving him off. Everything is going well, just need to clean this mess up, so let's move on to step four.
"Huh... Then who?"
"Sir Thomas will do it since he was the one who duelled you, also the eldest child of the Radagar family should have some power," Daniela spoke.
"Miss, please do not refer to me as such, and I am not up there on the political ladder if I were to recommend him, both me and Ms Shia would suffer the consequences," Thomas spoke, his fingers tapping against his legs.
"Hmm, if that's a problem, sister why don't you get elder brother Thaddeus to recommend Mr Jonathan? He is very influential among the nobles," Gabriel suggested.
"That's a great idea," Daniela replies smiling, "Too bad I'm not on good terms with my brother."
Gabriel lets out a bitter smile upon hearing her words.
"How about I get someone from the academy to recommend Mr Jonathan, I know someone who faced some similar talent issues like you, but she's doing pretty well now."
"Talent issues? Who?"
"Hailee Ember, the first child of Marquis Ember."
Jack perked up at the words. "Hailee? She's a professor at Nexarion?" Jack probed.
"It seems you know her. Yes, she majors in—"
"Spiritology, right? I know. Although born with scarlet hair, she had the Animic Eyes letting her look into the Animic realm."
"Friend of yours?"
"Our situations were pretty similar," Jack's smile softening, "The only thing different was her family stood by her."
"Well, then asking her to recommend Mr Jonathan shouldn't be difficult, well problem solved," Shia said.
Jack shook his head, "I haven't talked to her for years, I'm not sure if she even remembers me, how am I supposed to go ask her? I don't want to seem like someone who uses people and throws them away after use."
Oh, she remembers him alright. I still remember her death, it was around the time the story went in a different direction, Daniela mused.
"Don't worry about small details like that, I'm pretty sure she would be willing to help if she truly was your friend," Shia pointed out.
"She was my friend alright but that just feels wrong," Jack mutters.
"For a big guy, you sure are scared of the small stuff," Shia teased.
"Jack groaned before replying, "Please stop with the big guy, it's embarrassing."
But why is Finn here? Based on their interaction in the story Jonathan and Finn have never met before, but the situation tells me otherwise. Let's wait and see. Daniela thought.
"Look if you're too scared to ask, I'll do it. Since I was the one who wanted you," Shia replied with a smile.
----
Meanwhile outside—
Something's wrong here, if only I could clear out my head. Why is the princess giving up on succession? Does that mean this happened in my previous life too? Finn paced around.
He clutched his head, "Jonathan... Jonathan... Jonathan... Jonathan...", 'huff' The only thing happening is my head getting split apart from the stress. But this feeling of unease... and that holograph from earlier... Original scenario... What's that supposed to mean?
Trying to clear his thoughts, Finn thought back, Alright let's calm down and think this through. Yesterday I got memories of my past life, and in my last life I died while fighting a black dragon, and I was near some Duke when I died. I am part of a noble lineage, The Tenebrion and we inherently have the Dark of the Night talent, but because I made a mistake in core formation I lost it.
And my grandfather who went away for a trip a month ago, the so-called trip was about... Aargh! I'm going to lose my mind. Why did I get those memories if I can't fucking remember them.
"Should I use a mind clearance technique? The stress might end up biting my ass later. Let's not make any rash decisions... fuck... I'll wait." Finn mumbled, his voice barely audible.
----
"So Mr Jonathan, it's time for goodbye. This was a very enjoyable trip. But it's time to part." The voice coming out of Shia, laced with mock sentiments.
"Why are you still here? Leave," Jack replies mockingly.
"Oh how I'm going to miss you, Mr Jonathan, I think we'll be best friends forever."
"Yay," Jack muttered, his voice lifeless, seemingly horrified by Shia's words, "Can't wait to work with you."
"I'll be back tomorrow, Oh, and class starts next week."
"Next week!' Jack roared, 'You're telling me now! What am I supposed to teach?"
"Oh, quit being such a killjoy big guy. I'll bring you the syllabus tomorrow, you haven't lost your edge at all, I'd say you'll do pretty well even without the syllabus."
"If you're my boss, then I'm screwed. Why do you want to make me suffer?" Jack retorts.
"Because that's what makes life interesting," Shia replies with a hint of mischief, "So I'll be back around at four in the evening, tomorrow."
"Thanks, I guess?"
"See you tomorrow, darling."
"Again, not charming, weirdo."
"We're going to be the best of friends."
"I'm scared."
"Goodbye Mr Jonathan, see you soon."
"Unfortunately I'm stuck with you."
"Goodbye."
"Why are you still here? That's the third goodbye."
"Goodbye, for real this time."
"Yeah, yeah, get out."
"Alright, Goodbye."
Daniela stood up and pushed open the door with the other following behind her. Outside she was greeted by Finn's troubled visage. He was seen leaning on a nearby tree.
Thomas glanced at Finn, only to receive a smile in kind, Thomas smiles back at Finn.
That's it I'll wait for my memory to recover on its own. Now I have other things to care for.
Wyge turns to look for Gabriel but sees Thomas glancing at Finn. Curious, Wyge turns to see a boy younger than her leaning on a tree, his hazel eyes meeting her eyes before looking away.
Finn upon noticing the guests were leaving walks back towards the cabin. He pushes open the creaking door to see Jack laying on his bed.
"So, Mister did you pass her little tes— Is that red?"
"Unfortunately," Jack grumbled, "Yes and yes."
Finn chuckles, "Unfortunately? Haahaa. Cheer up Mister, now we'll be able to see a bit more often, and red suits you a lot more than brown."
"I wish I could see things in a positive light like you, kid."
Finn grinned, "Why are you getting all gloomy, besides I still have three questions left."
"Two," Jack corrected, "Only two, you asked for my name, then you asked me if I was framed."
"Did you really count?" Finn raised an eyebrow, "And speaking of Count, care to explain, mister?"
----
BLEH
"Sister, what's up with you today?" Gabriel queried, "You've used the gate multiple times before, yet you're getting the reaction of people who use it for the first time."
"I wish I knew, anyways Gabriel thanks for coming with me," Daniela spoke, her voice strained.
"Thanks? Sister did you hit your head or something? You have been acting very strange?"
"Ah?" Daniela panicked, "Hey, I decided to change for the best, a little support would be good, besides you got quite the spectacle today, right?"
"Yes, if possible I want to meet him again. He was the most interesting man I've met. He's weaker than your average mage but he has the ability... no what's the word—Ahh, Yes, the skill, to make up for it."
"He sure does, bye brother, my head hurts and I really want to lay down," Daniela spoke, rubbing her temples.
"Rest well, sister, see you for dinner."
"You can go back as well Wyge, I'll go back on my own."
"Yes, Princess."
Oh shit, I don't know the way back to my room. Guess I'll have to ask her. "Wyge, can you help me, I'm feeling a little dizzy."
"Yes, Princess."
Wyge walks up to Daniela and puts her arms over her, helping her back to her room.
As they were walking, Wyge posed a question, "Princess, if you don't mind me asking, how did you know of that man? You recommended him almost as if you knew he would pass the test."
"Let's just say I heard of his case and I don't know if it was instinct but I knew he was innocent. On the outside he might seem like the culprit of the plagiarism but I did some research and found some interesting things," Daniela spoke, her voice gaining life once more.
"And that is..."
"Like the fact that his younger brother was the one who was supposed to go to the demonic battlefront for the cleanup operation, but he was the one that was sent off."
"Maybe he asked to go in place of his younger brother?"
"He had partial mana blockage, you think someone with mana blockage will go to the battlefield willingly."
"He had mana blockage? Partial or not, how did he recover from that?" Wyge enquired from immense curiosity.
"I don't know how, but I'm sure the research he presented had methods of solving multiple problems we face, but not a single record can be found of it," Daniela sighed.
"The research completely disappeared? How? Even if someone is caught for plagiarism, wouldn't the thesis later be made public."
"Yes, normally that's how things should be, but I am sure he found out something and the nobles did not like that, so they pinned him down with plagiarism as a reason and the worst of it was his elder brother was the one who planned it."
Wyge's face darkened at the words. She too was someone who suffered the wrath of corruption. After her family's fall not one relative turned to help her. She made it this far through her hardwork and perseverance alone.
"Continue, Princess," Wyge spoke her expression going back to how it was.
"But the most interesting piece of information was that he was a genius," Daniela's face lit up with joy.
"Genius, how so?"
"There is a small detail that went unnoticed." Daniela's tone changed, whispering, "You know how no one has ever become a six-star mage, manakai or martial artist in their thirties, well at the age of twenty seven, he di—."
"TWENTY SEVEN!" Wyge roared in surprise. "Ahem, pardon me, but twenty seven? Isn't that a record?" Wyge spoke regaining her composure.
"Don't worry, I had the same reaction." Not just me, but all the readers of Duke's Liebling had the same reaction. "It went under, along with his research, and if my suspicions are correct, he found some method of cultivation that prevents both cultivation failure and eonweave poisoning."
"That explains his unprecedented growth in cultivation. Even though I hold the title for youngest four-star, I haven't been able to advance to the next stage ever since because of those two things but if he did..." Wyge went silent contemplating.
The two fell into silence as they reached Daniela's room, Wyge slowly pushed open the door and led Daniela inside seating her on her bed.
"Then I shall take my leave, princess," Wyge bowed before leaving.
Daniela gave a small nod in response, before sinking back into her bed.
That should keep Wyge hooked up on Jonathan, step four was a success. Now she'll try to investigate the case and bring it to light. Wyge has a strong sense of justice, pair that with her own experience of getting betrayed by nobles, she's sure to look into Jonathan's case. Of course I already know everything about it but I can't just walk around trying to find it, besides this is for her growth as a person.
****