"So what exactly did you do to my crystal?"
Killian's mind moved fast, but there was nothing he could come up with.
There was no logical explanation to back up the disintegration and clear removal of pieces.
Only the Void could completely consume it. "My fire is unstable. Maybe it did do something to it—"
"No." Jenovan turned to the crystal shards. "Even my own fire wouldn't create this much damage within that short time." He turned back to Killian.
This is what happens when I get too greedy.
He looked down. "I don't know," was the only answer he could give.
It could cost him Jenovan's training he looked forward to, and his integrity, but at least not his life or putting his sister in danger.
Killian froze when Jenovan came closer.
"I should leave. Sorry for making you break your—"
The door slammed shut. Killian's head shot up.
His brows creased together as he turned to the man, who still had a displeased expression.
"Tell me or I won't let you go."
Killian stiffened. "What? I am not your child."
"Yes, but you are my student, aren't you?" Jenovan pointed at the crystal. "Is there a way you can break crystals without a trace? I want to know."
The way he rephrased the question made Killian wonder if he was just curious, not annoyed. Also, he still considered him his student.
He raised his shoulders in a shrug. "Isn't there a possibility they weren't very strong to start with?"
But Jenovan's expression made Killian kill the following questions.
Killian's eyes lit up. He just had the brightest idea he had ever had in his entire life. He looked into the man's eyes.
"Fine, you are the first to know this but… I am a Dual-Element User."
"..."
Silence? Seeing is believing then. Killian discreetly rubbed his throat, and rushed to the worktable, totally ignoring the high-level crystals on the ground.
He picked a cheaper crystal, and showed it to the man whose expression was still confused.
This Sound Bead isn't really powerful but it can break a low-level crystal at least!
"
C-r-rack!
Killian swallowed hard. It only cracked a low-level crystal. That said a lot about how sturdy Jenovan's crystals actually were.
That would barely convince him.
Killian grabbed another one desperately. "W-Watch!"
He faced it towards him. "
There was a better reaction as the crystal shattered to three parts.
Right! I need to raise my voice too. The sound waves are my voice waves.
He looked up at Jenovan but his eyes were still on him quizzically, and not on his demonstration.
Didn't that sell it? Fine.
"I will repay the glass if you're so upset." He said through gritted teeth.
His hard-earned WCoins and the mana restoration vials he wanted to buy, would be gone along with his fifteen years of savings.
But he wouldn't be hunted by the organisation, or wrapped in a present and handed to the angel who wanted to kill him— then it was a worthy sacrifice.
There were no records of Forbidden Element Users on the internet, or even the libraries he checked.
That meant they were completely erased.
He couldn't risk that.
There was silence in the workroom, and Killian counted the beats of his heart. He glanced at the crystals on the ground.
If he bought it, he would get to keep it and eat it. His tendrils will be happy and he could figure out how to unlock Void Reborn.
It wasn't a bad deal. "Will you say something?"
"Are you sure you're a newbie?"
Killian frowned. They were talking about business. Did he underestimate his customer? "I can afford it. I still get gift money from my grandparents."
Jenovan chuckled softly. "No, no, that's not what I meant." His shoulder eased out.
"This year's top scorer, and as Big Stepper bragged, top scorer ever. Then you gained a title, Triple Realm Walker, within two weeks. Now this? Are you sure you're not the reincarnation of some great Mage of the past?"
"Well, if I was…" Killian looked at the crystals. "Will you let this go, and give me the crystals for free?"
Jenovan raised a brow, and then laughed heartily.
But Killian was serious. This situation was already so bad that he had let out a secret. At least he should leave with the crystals. "I guess that's a no?"
"It is. It's easier to reassemble broken crystals than to create new ones. But I will take your excuse. Sound Element is truly one of the worst match-ups for Crystals."
Killian exhaled out a breath he didn't even know he held.
Even if Jenovan took it as an excuse, he would only suspect that he had a better Sound Skill that actually broke a high-level crystal. And nothing else.
"Your mother is a Lightning Element User, right?" Jenovan asked, as he gathered up the crystals.
"Yes." Killian said quickly. "The Sound Element is a derived element from the Lightning Element so I might've inherited it somehow."
"I know that, Killian." Jenovan sighed. "Are you so nervous to explain Element 001 to me?"
I should relax.
Killian bit his lower lips till it bled. It calmed him down. "I am not nervous. I feel guilty, that's all."
"Just rest. We will continue the day after your training. If your mana is still acting crazy, tell Big Stepper to cancel the duels. You don't even need it at the speed you're growing."
Killian said nothing but nodded obediently. He looked at the crystals one more time before leaving.
"Do you really want one? Have a piece then."
Killian paused. He would've grabbed it immediately, but he held himself. "It's fine. I'd just buy them when I have a lot of WCoins. Thank you."
He rushed out of the room before he could take back his words. The tendrils already ate a good amount. It would be unfair to take more for free.
"This Sound Bead literally saved my life."
He massaged his throat. If the Void never noticed it in the C-tier Realm Bird, he would never find it.
At least my money is saved. I can afford one or two mana restoration vials with that amount.
Those vials also saved my life in my last fight.
On the way out of the building, he saw Quara rushing in. He wanted to tell her all that happened but her expression was urgent.
She spotted him and increased her steps. "Killian, are you alright? You look like you lost a fight."
Before Killian could answer, she quickly added. "And did you see Keith? He's not in the hospital."
Killian's shoulders lowered. "Welcome back from your mission, Sis. How did it go?"
Quara paused, as if wondering why his response was totally different from her question.
"Killian, someone sent Keith ten mana restoration vials. And your brother wants to return them. Where is he?"
Killian immediately switched. Ten? "Where is the idiot?"
"That's what I'm asking. Where is Keith—"
"Where is the idiot who gave him ten vials!"