Kazuya should like this one. Jude pulled out a book that had been stashed away at the back of her closet. It was a copy of ‘One Shot’ written by Lee Child. He had asked her if she could loan him a crime thriller to kill time with. She spent hours turning her room inside out for that book, which she had hidden away from her father’s prying eyes. He did not like her reading books that ‘promoted violence’ when she was younger and would still nag her if he ever saw her thrillers.
It was well past midnight by the time Jude started to make her way to Kazuya’s ward. He was still under strict observation under her father’s orders.
When Jude arrived, the only person around was the charge nurse, whom she snuck past easily. Her slippers smacked quietly against the vinyl flooring as she headed down the hallway. Just before she turned a corner, she picked up a familiar presence.
Jude stopped in her tracks. The moment she detected the slightest spark of Essence, she quickly disabled her ability before she got caught. Curling up her toes to keep her slippers stuck to the soles of her feet so she could walk in absolute silence, she quietly changed course.
What on earth is he doing at Ace’s ward at this hour? Jude hastened her footsteps. The more she thought about it, the more odd it was to her. Visiting hours were long over, though following rules was not exactly Felix’s forte. From her father’s occasional rants about him, Felix did not seem to be the kind to keep vigil at his student’s bedside.
A breeze swept up Jude’s hair, and the presence she picked up earlier grew intense.
Felix was behind her.
“Visiting hours are over,” Felix drawled next to her ear, bending down to her level.
“Same goes for you.” Jude gave him a hard side-eye. Fuck, he sensed me as well.
“I was dropping by to see how Ace was doing.”
“Really?”
“Do you think so lowly of me?” Felix gasped exaggeratedly. “I was here because Dr. Lee called me down.”
“For what?” Jude narrowed her eyes. The Lees didn’t exactly have that ability, but they had plenty of quirks – like knowing when someone was keeping a secret or lying. Even her father was acting strangely around her recently.
“To update me on Ace’s condition.”
“Oh, I’ll just get Dr. Lee to fill me in.” Jude turned her head in the direction of Ace’s room, but Felix clapped his hand over her eyes.
“I knew it. You’re up to something. So is my dad, by extension.” Jude tried her best not to bite Felix's other arm, which was loosely around her neck.
“Usage of techniques on Sanctum grounds without approval or supervision is prohibited for students.”
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“Too bad that we are all cut from the same stinkin’ cloth!” Jude activated her ability before Felix could stop her.
Ace’s presence was not where it was supposed to be.
It was gone.
“Let me go before I yell,” Jude warned.
Felix exhaled and seemed resigned to whatever fate he had to face. “Nothing escapes your eyes,” he said, taking his hands off her. “Come to my office.”
Jude followed Felix to his office. Papers were piled high to the ceiling, teetering dangerously. Dust motes drifted lazily in the heavy, unmoving air, catching the dim light like tiny flecks of ash. The smell of old sweat and spiced vanilla cologne immediately clung to her body. “Smells bad,” she remarked.
“I was stressed. When I’m stressed, I sweat,” Felix sighed. He guided her to a seat and made her sit by pushing down on her shoulders. He took a seat on the other side of the table.
“What’s going on?” Jude narrowed her eyes as she watched Felix spin in his chair.
“I was planning to tell you much later, but I guess I can’t keep anything from this family for long. Judging that you have a pretty good head on your shoulders, you’ll keep this a secret until the time comes.” Felix stopped spinning to face her. “What do you think of my judgment of character? Pretty good, eh?”
“You’ve already lied to me once. What makes you think that I would listen to you?”
“You will.”
Jude’s lungs were immediately filled with warm, dry air as she met Felix’s eyes. For a moment, she thought she saw faint lines framing Felix’s eyes and multiple rings in his eyes. However, as quickly as they came, they faded, replaced by his trademark glint. “Sorry, didn’t mean to do that. I was just checking if there were eavesdroppers,” Felix said. “ But look, let’s try to keep things chill for now, yeah?”
Felix filled her in on everything that happened to Ace. When he was done, Jude could only stare at him with an open mouth. “T-That’s a death sentence for him!” she stammered as she pushed up her bangs. Her palm became slick with sweat, which she flicked away.
“I know, I know… But rest assured, that everything will turn out fine,” Felix said. “What’s done is done. We can only take things one step at a time from here on. You and I know full well that he would not walk down that path of no return.”
“What are your plans?”
Felix remained silent.
Jude reached out and twisted the skin on Felix’s hand. “Ow! Geez, I do have plans! For now, I’ll be sending him away to somewhere safe,” he said as he snatched his hand away. “Also, I’ll be on leave for a while. You will be under Lady Meng’s supervision. She takes the second-years, so you’ll train with them for the time being. Tell the rest as well about the temporary arrangements.”
“What do I tell them about Ace?”
“I would not recommend telling them the truth.”
“So you want me to lie for you?”
“When they ask about him, yes.” Felix raised his index finger as he articulated his words. “Just hold up until I return.”
“Where will you be going?”
“To look for a… friend.” Felix closed his eyes and tipped his head forward slightly in a solemn nod. “My friend.”
Felix leaned back in his seat, his eyes still closed. The ends of his lips were curled upwards slightly in a small smile. Yet, Jude caught a peculiar look in his eyes before he shut them.
They were, for some reason, watery.
Ah, whatever. I'm screwed enough. I don't need to pry any more, she thought and left the room without Felix telling her to.
Almost is still nothing."
“So you see, everyone started from somewhere. Everyone’s a work in progress, but…” Lady Meng sighed wistfully as she lay down on the grass. There was a long silence before she completed her sentence.
“... a complete work is different from a concluded one. Remember that.”
"Only through me will there be worship."