Tyrus squinted against the blinding ray of light that seemed to focus directly on him as he faced the woman before him. On a cushioned velvet chair, Selena sat in a regal posture. She commanded attention with her presence, and a slight smile played on her lips as she gazed intently at Tyrus and Fiona, who sat on wooden chairs in the lavishly decorated room. The walls were lined with bookshelves and paintings, while a compass emblem was painted on the floor.
A flicker of movement from Selena made him turn his eyes back to her. She wore the same attire as the receptionist, except she wore a jabot that matched her hair color. Selena would tap on her desk, waiting for her guests to speak. When Tyrus looked at Fiona, he noticed she was visibly sweating. At that moment, he thought whatever plan Fiona had was doomed to fail.
"Ah screw it!" Fiona grumbled. She straightened her back and stared right into the woman's eyes. "Although I would love to have Tyrus in Blue Dawn, he is not yet old enough to meet the requirements. I was hoping for your assistance, being a branch leader and all."
Selena put on a fake innocent expression and requested, "Please enlighten me. What was your desired action?"
"Create some fake documents," Fiona said in a rush.
Leaning back, the branch leader smiled. "Forgery? Do you understand the outcomes of such actions? There's a chance that I might lose my position, assets, and prized connections. The imperial family might even behead me. Asking such a thing applies to you as well."
"Come on, it's not like they'll ever find out. You're among the most crafty people I know. Forging documents for someone like Tyrus, who has no records, is a simple task for you. Even if they discovered it was you, why would they behead you? Why bother about a kid with no background or achievements?"
Selena's smile transformed into a frown as she leaned forward. "Fiona… Are you currently aware of the predicament Lethos is facing?"
Confusion crossed Fiona's face as she furrowed her brow. "Yes, but what does that have to do with–"
"Tensions are high in Dharmere. Rumors suggest that the imperial family and Great Lineages have been the subject of assassinations worldwide. Did your father tell you about this?"
Fiona's eyes betrayed a hint of pain, which Tyrus noticed. Her eyes briefly lowered before meeting Selena's gaze at eye level. "…I have heard no word from the family head for weeks."
"That's because he's extremely busy nowadays," Selena said with a shrug. "The family heads are busy dealing with assassinations and protecting their land from various threats. My stance is that there needs to be a highly convincing reason for me to provide aid in this instance. For all I know, he could be an assassin from Ethia… or daresay–the Beastfolk Kingdom?"
The temperature in the room had plummeted to where it felt like a tundra. Though he had been quiet, Tyrus couldn't help but gasp at the end. He rose from his seat, shoving the chair out of the way, and fixed Selena with a deadly stare.
She definitely knew that Tyrus was a Beastfolk. There was no other explanation. The mischievous grin and the alarm bells ringing in his brain had revealed it. Now suddenly, she speaks of Beastfolk while glancing his way? Only an idiot wouldn't know something was up.
Despite Fiona's worried look, Tyrus ignored her. He continuously scowled at the branch leader as he sat on the chair he picked up. Tyrus remained silent and waited for her to proceed. Unpleasant words would be spoken if he opened his mouth.
"It is reasonable for you to feel upset about my belief that you are an assassin. There are ample reasons for me to exercise caution. Having been informed of the circumstances, do you still hold the view that you can persuade me?"
Once again, an unsettling silence filled the room as the three stared at each other. Tyrus glanced at Fiona and saw her getting up and shuffling towards the desk. "Even with everything I heard today, I believe that forging documents won't be an issue for you. I can confirm that Tyrus has no intention of assassinating the imperial family or the Great Lineages. He's a young boy who has been surviving on his own in the Valier Forest."
"We came across him following our group in the Wasteful Wetlands and questioned him on his motives. It was then that we were ambushed by goblins and a hobgoblin. He didn't use the chaos as an opportunity to escape; instead, he stood firm and battled alongside us. What motivates an assassin to put their life in danger for a group as insignificant as ours?"
"It is a common practice for assassins to conceal their true power until the opportune moment arises. Does it not strike you as suspicious that a young child is living alone in Valier Forest? I'm curious as to how he can live on his own with no aid."
"That's because Tyrus is a sorcerer just at the age of nine."
Selena sighed and waved Fiona off. "You're stating something I already knew. At first glance, I knew that boy possessed mana within him."
A sudden shock overtook Fiona's expression. "You knew? If you're still skeptical about him, then what should we do to convince you?"
The branch leader tapped her chin thoughtfully and pointed at the door. "Would you mind giving us some alone time, Fiona? I'm interested in asking him some questions."
"B-But–"
"You can relax. I won't lay a finger on him."
Fiona held her tongue and slowly backed away from the front. She tapped Tyrus on the shoulder, giving him a comforting look before silently leaving the room.
"You can show them," Selena said suddenly.
I knew it, Tyrus thought. Selena truly knew that he was a Demi-human. He figured there was no point in hiding them any longer and hesitantly removed the cap. His black ears shook in appreciation of their newfound freedom. When Selena spotted them, she let out a snicker.
"A special pup has just wandered into my territory! What's a Beastfolk like you so far from home? Was I actually right that you were an assassin sent from the Beastfolk Kingdom?"
"What's going to happen to me now?" Tyrus asked. "Removing my hat must have a purpose for you."
"What will become of you?" she repeated. "It's hard to say. Why do you seek to join the Explorer Guild?"
Tyrus narrowed his eyes while contemplating his response. Was she seeking a particular answer from him? She suspected he was an assassin. Child assassins were a completely new concept to him. On the other hand, he was unaware of the situation in Lethos and other countries. There must be some kind of plan Selena had in mind.
Tyrus thought it over many times, but nothing came up. Since testing his luck with lying was no good and he needed to earn some sort of trust, speaking the truth was the only option. "I want to join the Explorers Guild so that I can earn the money to live the life I want. To reach that goal, I need the Explorers Guild."
"Might I ask what is preventing you from waiting for two years? If it is indeed true that you are nine, then you must wait until the age of eleven."
He shook his head. "The wait is too long for me. I'm sorry, but the sooner I start, the better."
"I see…"
Selena drummed her fingers along her desk, glancing Tyrus up and down as if sizing him up. A cloud slowly passed by the building, casting a dark shadow that crept across the room. The branch leader's blood-red eyes glared through the veil, like a sinister demon emerging from the darkness. From near the door, Tyrus heard scuttling, which he assumed was Fiona waiting for him. When the cloud had vanished, Selena extended her arm abruptly.
In that moment, Tyrus found himself completely engulfed by the overwhelming torrent of mana emanating from Selena's palm. The sheer force of the energy had him gasping for air. With increasing pressure, he found himself sinking further into a dark abyss, unable to move under the heavy burden of mana.
With time dragging on, his body was begging for air and panic overwhelmed his mind. The sensation of being buried alive, trapped and unable to breathe, sent his heart pounding in his chest. His eyes bulged as he gazed upward at the woman.
Calm down… Don't let her intimidate you.
Instantly, Tyrus realized the woman had no intention of killing him. Unless she was the type to relish in the kill, it wasn't happening yet. Her suppressive mana was being used to make Tyrus yield to her. He had the option to remain motionless and wait for her to finish, but something within him prevented it.
Attempting to control his breathing, Tyrus struggled to calm his mind despite the staggering pressure. Though with effort, he willed mana to course through his body and activated augmentation. The beginning was tough, but he was gradually experiencing some relief from the pressure. On one knee, Tyrus pushed out as much mana as possible. Soon, he stood, yet his knees felt like they would snap like twigs.
Tyrus battled to suppress the familiar ache in his chest, but frustration engulfed him. He knew the dangers of going beyond his limits, so he gritted his teeth and willed the augmentation to stop. His desire to join early was crushed, and he felt like a toddler taking their first wobbly steps. He couldn't stand, but he still gave Selena a glare that mixed with anger and pain.
"Hm… I've seen enough."
The mana build-up receded slowly after she uttered those words. The suffocating atmosphere vanished before long. With a heave, Tyrus got up and held his throat.
"It seems unlikely that you are an assassin, and the statements made by Fiona have been demonstrated to be valid. While you are undoubtedly a sorcerer, I sense you are a Multi-Specialist. You're an Augmentation Sorcerer, but the other…"
After taking a deep breath, Tyrus spoke a few words through his wheezing. "E-Elemental Sorcerer…"
"Oh? And what's your primary affinity?"
Tyrus raised his arm and activated his lightning element. The element danced on his palm before he turned it off, and Selena smiled in amusement. "A Demi-human that's a Multi-Specialist with a primary affinity for lightning? You would be a valuable addition to the Explorer Guild."
His lack of fondness for Selena made him unable to feel happy despite hearing those words. He wore his cap and scowled. "Does that mean you'll do what Fiona asked?"
"Tsk, Tsk. Little cub, don't be too hasty. In order for me to commit forgery, you'll need to run a small errand for me."
Oh, I do not like where this is going…
As conflicting thoughts swirled within him, Tyrus realized he stood at a crossroads of decisions with far-reaching consequences. Refusing Selena's offer was tempting, driven by a desire to retain control over his destiny and to avoid the unknown that lay ahead. However, the temptation of being an early joiner, the chance to achieve his objectives faster, pulled at his emotions with an irresistible strength. He recognized he could not turn away from this chance. To reach his aspirations, he needed to seize every opportunity that presented itself, even if it meant stepping into the uncertainty that awaited him.
Tyrus sighed and said, "What do you want me to do?"