"By the way, aren’t those kids taking a beating going to be okay?" Boone asked, looking at the sorry state of the field with a shake of his head.
He turned his head to Colin as if he wanted an answer.
"Even though Malin is fundamentally suppressing all the apprentices, the ability of our Church apprentices to resist getting hit is rapidly improving. Within a month, all the older apprentices have learned to protect themselves when an attack is imminent, using their most resilient parts to block, and even attempting to counterattack as the blow comes," Colin said with a smile, "Although they usually fail to do so because of Malin’s rapid strikes, their progress is plain for all to see."
"They’re even thinking about counterattacking?!" Butch frowned, "Even I find it somewhat difficult to keep up with Malin’s pace when I’m not unleashed."
"You haven’t unleashed?" Boone looked at his brother.
"Me, unleashed, fighting against a kid? Even if I win, it would be nothing but shameful," Butch replied with a shake of his head after glancing at his brother.
"...You, I thought you were the type who always wants to win," Boone said as he chuckled and patted his brother on the shoulder.
"That depends on the person. But I do wish the kid would take a loss sooner or later. Only that way can he truly grow and avoid becoming overly arrogant," Butch stated, then turned to Colin, "Colin, do you have such plans?"
"No, Malin has a very good mindset. Mr. Ferreiro said there’s no need to use such stimulation on Malin. He told me that Malin’s self-regulation far exceeds his peers, and his mental strength is even stronger than that of the average adult," Colin answered and turned to see Maya approaching. He turned his attention to Malin, who was reviewing the fight with his squad members: "Malin, your sister is here."
"Mr. Colin, where do you intend to put this mirror?" The voice from beside him made Colin turn. He saw two guards of the Church, one pushing a cart carrying a standing mirror.
"Ah, this must be the gift Margaret said she’d give me. Just leave it here for now; I’ll push it back to my bedroom later." A brand-new full-length mirror was one of the best gifts in the human world recently, allowing one to see themselves in their true form. Before this, the stores only had old-fashioned mirrors that were very costly. The new ones reduced the cost by half, which is why they’re quite popular across the human world.
"Even I got this mirror with the help of Lady Anna. So, what do you think, should you properly thank me?" Margaret asked with a smile.
Colin started to laugh, then wrapped his arms around Margaret and kissed her on the face.
Right, Margaret’s birthday gift for him this year was so precious; Colin felt he should really think about how to return the sentiment.
Maya entered the hall and saw her brother talking with others. It was still early, so Maya didn’t mind—in any case, they were just going to have dinner, and it was only three in the afternoon.
So, she looked around—hm, nothing interesting. Maya then spotted two tall figures sitting there.
She also saw Colin and Margaret, along with the large mirror beside them.
It was beautiful, even prettier than any mirror Maya had seen before. Even just their reflections, Mr. Colin and Miss Margaret looked superb in the mirror, their backs making the pair seem just like a married couple.
Thinking this, Maya cheerfully took a step forward, and as she did, the figures in the mirror gradually changed into that... tall figure.
Maya stopped in her tracks and checked again, then noticed that the one who disappeared was the thinner one.
Huh, how did he vanish?
Maya became curious, wondering if the thin tall guy had died?
Lately, Maya felt her abilities were getting stronger. Though she could only confirm it using mirrors, no matter how it appeared in the mirror, those who Maya had seen change would definitely experience corresponding harm or change, the earliest on that day, or within a week at most.
For instance, a couple of days ago, the guy Maya had seen in the mirror with a missing front tooth indeed had no tooth when she saw him this morning.
Later, she heard he fell, knocking out his front tooth.
What an unfortunate fellow indeed.
Moreover, Maya had seen Camian’s sister’s Otherworld hound, a dog named Butch. Three days ago, Maya saw in the mirror that it got burnt to a crisp on the outside but remained tender inside. Today, she wondered if she could still see that dog try to attack her.
Ha, anyway, if the Otherworld hound dies it can be summoned again, Camian’s sister wouldn’t lose it forever.
With that thought, Maya took two more steps forward and then, with a start of fright, realized that the burly figure had disappeared from the mirror.
Maya stopped in her tracks, she stepped back and saw the burly figure reappear.
This left Maya...unable to think, furrowing her brows, she wondered what was going on? If she walked forward it would die, what about that skinny tall one?
Thinking this, Maya took five steps back in the direction where she could see them, and then she saw the skinny tall one appear in the mirror.
Maya thought for a moment and decided to call for backup, "Brother, please come here for a moment!"
Today’s events were already beyond Maya’s control. She felt... she couldn’t just watch two people die because of her, even if they were just strangers.
Having heard his sister calling him, Malin had already noticed his sister’s strange movements; she was moving forward and then stepping back... wait a second, these weren’t dance moves, were they?
Then Malin saw his sister signaling him with her hand.
"Excuse me, I have to go over there," said Malin somewhat embarrassed to his mentor.
"No problem, go ahead," the mentor said with a smile, signaling Malin to hurry over.
So, after saying goodbye to the mentor and the senior apprentices, Malin ran to his sister’s side, "What’s wrong?"
"Brother... I, I don’t quite know how to say this," Maya pointed behind Malin, who turned to see the Boone and Dark brothers whom his sister was pointing at.
"Ah, them? They’re Margaret and Faye’s brothers, what about them?" Malin asked curiously.
"In the mirror, I can’t see them," Maya said in a voice so low, Malin could barely hear her.
In the mirror? Malin glanced at the mirror and saw the two brothers talking to Colin.
"I can see them..." Malin fell silent for a moment, then looked at his sister with an excitement he almost shouted out—his sister, she had awakened!
It must be that Maya had awakened her Transcendent abilities, that’s why in the mirror...wait a second?
Malin turned around—he had to confirm one thing because his sister said she couldn’t see those two brothers anymore.
Why can’t she see them? How can she not see them? Does not being able to see them mean... something bad is going to happen!
With that thought, as Malin turned around, he just happened to see a shadowy figure darting out from behind his sister’s shadow, swiftly passing in front of him.
What... did it want to do?
Following its charge, Malin saw the cold gleam in its hand.
He also saw the destination, the two brothers who were facing away from them.