'Fire.'
Flame ignited.
'A sheet of paper.'
Just as Leomaris had imagined, a plain sheet came into view.
He toyed with it over and over until he was quite certain the key to illusions lay in imagination.
He'd seen Gabriel use his Trick of Command, and as the name suggested, it was simply a matter of issuing commands. Though Leo had noticed something rather interesting.
He'd received the Core of Illusion for consuming the diamond card, and he was at the novice level, which was rather disappointing. Everything he brought to life was weak. He couldn't even feel them.
The fire didn't burn, and the sheet of paper hardly felt like it existed at all. He could see it between his fingers and feel his hands pressing against it, but that was rather the extent of it. Hold it a moment longer, and he might have forgotten it was there.
The illusions may be weak, but they reacted to the wind well enough to appear real, at least to some extent.
That set him thinking. He worked through everything he could imagine, materialising each one in turn.
"Regardless of what it is, illusions are inherently false, though they may reach varying degrees of realism depending on mastery of the Trick. What does it mean to wield the core of illusion? If I recall correctly, the system stated that illusions belong to me."
He sighed deeply. Overthinking wasn't going to get him anywhere. Even Gabriel's commands hadn't been particularly effective, now that he thought about it. He simply had to wait for Unlit to finish her Task. Her Trick, whatever it turned out to be, would surely shed some light on what it meant to be the essence of illusion.
"Oh, right… she mentioned something relevant. When I asked about her preparation for the fifth task, she showed no sign of confusion. I must assume there are more than five tasks."
He ruffled his golden hair and relaxed in his seat. Unlit had mentioned the possibility of others praying to him, and that required careful thought. He couldn't let anyone who might drag him down into his realm, and betrayal was hardly out of the question.
"The next task is in ten days, isn't it? I must get out of here, no matter what, and gather information… I will convince her to tell me where I can find information about the realms, particularly the Realm of Authority."
He hadn't finished his thoughts when Unlit materialised in the distance. A golden card floated above her, just as his had done, though he'd barely had a moment to take it in before the bronze status appeared.
[ Unlit has successfully completed her First Task. The Second Task will commence in 9 days: 23 hours: 59 minutes: 57 seconds. ]
He shrugged it off and gave Unlit his attention. He'd known there would be more than one card. Judging by how he'd received the diamond whilst Unlit got gold, his had to be the highest rank… the highest potential for the ability, most likely. Though what lay below them was another matter entirely. Bronze? Silver? Copper?
His mind was still wandering when Unlit consumed her card and dropped to one knee before him.
"I thank you for your blessing, Lord Trinity. I have been granted the Trick of Cognitive Illusion, and I shall serve you faithfully, to the best of my ability. May all other realms fall beneath you."
She couldn't hide the excitement. Her bloodline and connections to Lord Trinity had made her a target for many. She could finally defend herself.
'Cognitive illusion? Does that mean it only affects the mind? Then there must be another that affects the senses… Oh, wait.'
Thinking on it, he found himself wondering why he was referred to as Trinity at all. Had it something to do with the kinds of illusions he possessed?
"Tell me, what do you understand about Trinity?"
Hazel gulped, her blue eyes darting frantically across the floor as she turned her words over in her mind. This was a test, it had to be. And if she failed it, it would mean she didn't truly know the lord she served.
"The Trinity represents the Veiled Three, standing upon the very forces your illusions can manipulate, O Lord. These three are Sensory, Cognitive, and Glitches. Your presence alone compels others to question what is real and what is not. The word 'Trinity' itself embodies your elusiveness."
Leo hadn't expected her to be so thorough, but he was glad she was. It meant he possessed all three skills. Glitches, on the other hand, made little sense to him, though that could wait. What he needed now was information about the realms in the real world.
"You are to spread my name, but remain vigilant. You must not reveal my presence to those who should not know. Now tell me… how do you intend to proceed, and where will you spread the word?"
She answered at once, with the urgency of someone certain they'd be punished for missing the smallest detail.
"I understand this is a difficult task, and since the world is already oblivious to the existence of the realms, I will proceed with caution. However, I cannot remain hidden forever. I will go to the Forca Tavern on Dr. Kanin Street in Ransmburg. Much occurs there, and I believe I can recruit one or two members without exposing your presence."
Leomaris received her words graciously. Detailed, thoroughly so, and he was grateful for it. He was considering going after the homeless and slaves to recruit. But information mattered.
He'd be heading to the tavern, and perhaps they'd cross paths. If they did, learning more about her wouldn't go amiss. Whether she could be trusted was another matter entirely.
"Your service is appreciated. You may take your leave, but be sure to return within five days bearing valuable information that will please me."
"Thank you, Lord Trinity."
The moment she spoke, she vanished.
"Can that command apply to me as well? Or could I command myself to leave?"
He let out a slow breath. The real world was rather the problem… he was quite infamous there, and he was supposed to be dead besides. Still, he couldn't stay here forever.
"I will take my leave for the human realm."
[ You have been granted access to leave the Realm of Illusion. You will lose accessibility to the status window but will keep your Tricks as a Trickster. Please select a destination to be teleported to. ]
Relief coursed through him, and he allowed himself a small smile.
—
Meanwhile, at Billy University. Hazel Dabria had just exited the Realm of Illusion, and found herself in quite the predicament. She thought she'd been careful. For her situation, careless was understandable. It wouldn't save her.