"Does that... make sense?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
Of course, it made sense. She was trying to reconstruct her son through the eyes of others, to understand the man he’d become in his final days.
Lady Selva continued. "Would it be alright to her now? I... I would like to hear about my son from someone who knew him. Even if it brings tears, they would be grateful ones."
I felt a sharp pang in my chest at her words.
The way she spoke about ’Amaniel’ - about me - with such tender love and lingering sorrow...
She had no idea that the son she was mourning for was standing right in front of her, alive but... changed beyond recognition.
"I think it’s alright. You can talk over a meal since it’s almost lunchtime." I managed to say, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "She seems like a nice person. I believe that she truly cared about him."
If not, why come all the way here?
"Then, please bring her to me." Lady Selva said, rising from her chair with newfound energy. "I’ll ask the kitchen to prepare some of Amaniel’s favorite tea blend. Perhaps... perhaps she would enjoy it too."
The irony wasn’t lost on me.
She was preparing to serve my past self’s favorite tea to someone who was looking for him, while I stood here, unable to reveal that I was the very person they would be discussing.
"In that case, I’ll fetch her now," I said, bowing politely. "And please, don’t overexert yourself preparing. I’m sure she’ll appreciate your hospitality regardless."
As I turned to leave, Lady Selva called out softly. "Mr. Lumin... Thank you. For bringing her here. It... It means more than you might realize, to know that Amaniel had even more friends who still remember him."
I paused at the doorway, not trusting myself to look back. I feared my expression would betray me. "He was... he was lucky to have a mother like you who loved him so deeply."
With that, I stepped into the corridor and closed the door. And now came the tricky part, preparing Cassandra for the talk with my mother.
I would have to ’tell’ her what to reveal and what not to...
Using the Pulse of the Unseen, I quickly reached the guest room she was in and entered.
I was surprised to see her veilless and with her real appearance. But I didn’t show it.
"I didn’t make you wait, did I?" I asked with a smile and took a seat opposite her. "You can be reassured, I just talked with Lady Selva, she wants to see you now."
But Cassandra didn’t say anything, just stared at me with an indifferent expression. Then she extended her hand, a glowing orb. In an instant, a three-layered barrier enveloped both of us.
I could guess what it was for.
"This is a Legacy Relic," Cassandra explained. "It can block any form of surveillance or eavesdropping. Now we can talk freely."
She leaned back on her chair, her sapphire eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that made me uncomfortable.
"So, Amaniel," she said, her voice calm but carrying that familiar sharp edge. "Care to explain why you’re..."
"Alive?" I finished for her, my expression becoming indifferent.
"...Yes," Cassandra replied after a pause. "But I want to know what exactly happened. How you ’died’ and survived. And why are you hiding ? If it’s not uncomfortable or impossible, then please tell me."
"..." I stayed silent.
Our relationship wasn’t that deep before. She was my boss and a person whom I would call a friend. There was nothing else between us.
But I didn’t know what she thought of me before or now. And I knew the risks of my identity being discovered, the more people who know.
Even so, I have already decided to tell her the truth. Not exactly everything, but the important parts.
"You are right to ask," I said. "And I truly appreciate you coming all the way here. But you should understand that what I’m about to tell you carries risks for both of us. Some truths are dangerous to know. Do you really want to hear it?"
Cassandra didn’t hesitate, leaning forward, her expression resolute. "I’m not afraid of danger, Amaniel. Besides, I can’t just leave empty-handed after coming all the way here, right? And don’t worry," she paused, a slight smile playing on her lips. "I have got something to tell you too. To make it even."
I nodded, appreciating her directness. "Very well. I’ll explain everything then, but quickly since Lady Selva is still waiting for you."
"Ok." Cassandra nodded with a focused expression. "I’m all ears, Mr. Certified Traveler."
"It all started..." I began crafting my story with carefully constructed truths and lies. I had explained that I had been experiencing assassination attempts - that someone had been after my life for reasons I didn’t even know. I told her about the Black Star being behind it and how the situation escalated over time. From ordinary assassins to elite killers, and finally culminating in that incident at the town and the academy.
I describe my death plan to her - how I realized that if I continued to live, I would potentially put everyone around me and close to me in danger. The people targeting me wouldn’t hesitate to use my family, friends, or colleagues as leverage against me. Even her.
"Thankfully, the plan was successful," I continued. "Amaniel died. And with the help of a relic, the current me - Lumin was born."
"As for why I am here, you can guess it easily."
"...To check up on your family?"
"Right. And I’m now relieved with that decision. If not, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life."
"As for the rest, we both know what happened. I went to the city and saw you. Of course, I didn’t recognize you at first. But after the lunch, I had a suspicion about your identity, and that was also one of the reasons why I approached you after the auction."
"...So, it wasn’t a coincidence then?" Cassandra muttered, eyeing me suspiciously.
"No, our encounters were a coincidence..."
"Hmmm?" Her stare intensified.
"Ok, except that one."
I admitted the truth.