Anger, fear, joy, sadness.

  He felt the emotions shift within himself.

  Boredom, determination, tranquility, malice.

  The clouds condensed and dissipated with his will until he’d returned to his normal state. It wasn’t perfect and slow compared to Shaden’s control, but it would be suitable for the task he had before him. Getting up from his bed, he glanced at the clock and exited the room.

  It was time for Laveny’s therapy session, and he was much more prepared than before. He could see why mages bet their lives on increasing their mana circles. It was, he agreed, revolutionary.

  Even before he knocked on Laveny’s door, it opened for him. She’d been waiting, no doubt. That was new. It was a good sign.

  Demund stepped into the room. The door shut behind him. He was suddenly face-to-face with Laveny, who’d jumped out of her seat to get to him. She looked tired and a little annoyed, standing with her arms crossed. She pushed back her messy hair behind her ears.

  “Teach me now,” she demanded, putting a hand out. There was a subtle urgency in her movement. He took it—it felt soft and small in his hands.

  Instead of casting magic, he led her to her seat and made her sit down. She looked up to him, puzzled.

  “Maybe the first thing I can teach you tonight is being content even if you fail,” Demund told her, sitting down next to her. “It’s okay to fail. No one is perfect.”

  “It’s okay to fail when nothing is at stake,” Laveny grumbled.

  “Is this a high-stakes situation?”

  She threw him an annoyed look. “Not now. Eventually, yes.”

  “How soon is eventually?”

  “A few years.”

  “I think you can spare a little time,” Demund said. “Besides, we agreed to spend this time lazing around, right?”

  “You also said you would teach me.”

  “Yes, but that’s secondary.”

  Demund held her hand again. It was easier that way. Laveny seemed a little uncomfortable but didn’t say anything.

  “I have another gift, you see,” Demund confessed. “It helps me soothe people.”

  “I don’t need soothing.”

  “Well, just see. Close your eyes and relax.”

  Albeit with a little hesitation, Laveny leaned back on her chair and shut her eyes. Her body was tense and looked uncomfortable.

  “You seem to be frustrated,” Demund began. “Can you tell me why?”

  “Clearly, I need to be practicing,” Laveny muttered, “not doing therapy.”

  “Not looking after yourself properly could hurt you.”

  “I can handle it.”

  “Your heart says otherwise.”

  Laveny’s hand tightened around his, and her face contorted with anger. Her eyes snapped open, and immediately regaining her composure, she looked directly at him.

  “What did you do?” she demanded.

  “Helping you be honest with yourself,” Demund answered. “You could ignore it, but what you felt just now exists inside your heart. I simply brought it to the surface.”

  “How?”

  “Someday, I might teach you. But not today.”

  “...fine.”

  She placed her head on the chair again.

  “So, what could be the reason behind all that anger?” Demund asked.

  “I told you.”

  “There seems to be more than that.”

  Another emotion made itself known to them—fear. Laveny’s hand trembled slightly this time.

  “I—I don’t like this.”

  He made the emotion go away.

  “Would you share it with me?”

  “............”

  She was silent for a moment. Breathing deeply, she spoke again.

  “I’m scared of not meeting expectations. There’s something only I can do, and I have to do it.”

  “Managing the portal, right?”

  Laveny nodded. “Deion said it will destroy the world if nothing is done about it.”

  Deion. The word gave way to another feeling.

  “Who is Deion to you?” Demund asked.

  “He’s…”

  She didn’t seem to be able to find the right word. But her emotions told him enough. Admiration, trust, comfort. There was something a little strange mixed in, however.

  “A caretaker, right? But you’re afraid that he might leave someday.”

  “......!”

  Laveny glared at him. “You don’t know that.”

  “I can guess. You’re envious of someone…but also feel guilty for it.”

  “Hey!”

  She pulled her hand back. “Why are you doing this?”

  “I’m trying to help.”

  “You’re not helping at all!” she complained, getting up from her chair. Without stopping, she went to her room. Demund followed her hesitantly. But she wasn’t forcing him to walk away, which was a good sign.

  He didn’t sense aversion from her. So he simply waited by the door. Laveny had plopped her body on her bed, face down on the sheets. She turned her head to look at him.

  “.........”

  His robotic leg took a step forward, and the door closed behind him. Laveny sat up on her bed with a worried look.

  “You don’t know who might be listening,” she muttered. “Don’t say things like that out loud.”

  “But there are only two of us?”

  “Three. But not here.”

  She motioned with her hand. “It’s amusing. Continue.”

  “Er, alright.”

  He held her hand again, and this time, she was comfortably lying on her bed. He began once more.

  “Could you explain the envy?”

  “No. Move on to something else.”

  “...alright.”

  He scoured for other emotions that were on the surface. The deeper ones, he didn’t dare touch yet. Just sensing them was enough to make his mana rattle.

  “So, Deion.”

  “Skip that as well.”

  “Me, then,” Demund said. “What am I to you?”

  “A tutor.”

  He felt a surprising lack of emotion from her. It would be a lie to say that he wasn’t disappointed.

  “I guess I’m amusing to you,” he sniffed. “And annoying?”

  “A lot more, lately,” she snorted.

  “Well, let’s move on,” Demund coughed. “You seem to dislike Aia Laia. Why is that?”

  “She’s annoying.”

  “There seems to be more than that.”

  “I don’t know!” Laveny complained. “She rubs me the wrong way.”

  “I can feel a little envy.”

  It wasn’t the guilty envy he’d felt before, but something a little different. Admiration? Maybe discontentment?

  “Argh.” Laveny furrowed her eyebrows.

  He could tell he’d touched her pride.

  “Okay, okay. You’re not comfortable with it yet. Let’s think of happier things. What hobbies do you have?”

  “None.”

  “Really? What about playing with Dolgo?”

  “I don’t play with him,” Laveny snapped. “He just…makes me comfortable.”

  “Then you don’t do anything for fun?”

  “Magic is fun,” she admitted.

  “But there’s also the burden of responsibility.”

  “I thought I made that clear.”

  “What other things make you happy?”

  “...sweets.”

  “And?”

  “Achieving things.”

  Demund noticed something. This familiar feeling that accompanied success—

  “You like being complimented.”

  “......”

  A feeling of embarrassment emerged and was suppressed, but he urged it to come out to the surface, causing Laveny’s face to grow redder.

  “Fine!” she admitted. “But who doesn’t?”

  “But it’s not the general kind, is it?” Demund noticed. “Let me guess—you like being complimented by Deion.”

  She peeked at him sheepishly.

  “Well, I mean…who doesn’t?”

  Demund cleared his throat. “From what I can tell, Deion brings you the most happiness.”

  Laveny’s face reddened even more.

  “But…” Demund sighed. “I don’t know if I should say this.”

  “What? Say it. You’ve said a lot already.”

  Demund pursed his lips.

  “From what I can tell, you’re obsessed with him,” Demund informed. “It’s an intense, unhealthy one. I don’t understand how you seem so…normal.”

  “I’m not obsessed,” Laveny rolled her eyes. “Just very grateful.”

  It didn’t seem like it. Demund had dared to scratch the surface of her deeper feelings, and this was the first thing that had emerged. And right before his eyes, the emotions were being sucked back in, into the abyss that was the cloud of unimaginable intensity.

  It was repression beyond anything he’d seen before. Even the Veurbois art of separating emotions wasn’t as appalling as this.

  Was she not aware of it?

  “Anyways,” Demund moved on, “it’s time for the final part. How are you feeling?”

  “Like I’m being dissected,” Laveny said.

  “Uh…let’s focus on the happy things. The room is cool and nice, the bed feels great to be in, and your pillow is like a squishy marshmallow…”

  “Hmm…”

  “You can feel your worries melting away. The day is over, and it’s time to rest.”

  Demund intricately subdued the negative emotions and slowly brought forward the comforting ones. Laveny visibly relaxed, and her breathing softened.

  “Well…” she mumbled.

  “Not bad, right? You can fall asleep if you want.”

  Laveny’s eyes snapped open. Demund suddenly lost control and winced at the unexpected cutoff.

  “That was okay, but I can’t sleep yet,” she said, getting up. “What’s wrong?”

  A frown had subconsciously formed on his face. He blinked and tried to smile.

  Her emotions had been reset—no, wiped. All the negative and positive emotions he’d observed so far—

  They’d all vanished. It wasn’t hard to guess where they’d gone.

  “Laveny.”

  “Yes?”

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine. I think it was fun. But in the end, it doesn’t really help, does it? I should thank you for reminding me.”

  She tapped on her head. “I was being careless lately, but I’m smart enough to handle myself. What I feel doesn’t matter.”

  “Laveny.”

  “Yes?”

  She looked up to him innocently. But he failed to see her eyes.

  All he saw was a dark mass within her that had grown slightly larger. He reached for it and touched it.

  Oh.

  Oh no.

  It was worse than before.

  “Are—are you okay?”

  “What do you mean?”

  Laveny smiled—a pure, childish smile.

  “I’m perfectly fine. But I think our time is up. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  The door opened for him. He hesitantly walked out, half-expecting his leg to jerk forward. It didn’t.

  He looked back to see Laveny waving at him. She looked like a little angel, free of the world’s worries. A normal, happy eleven-year-old.

  And she would continue to be as such.

  “Complete and perfect control of her mind.”

  “Sorry?”

  Kenna put down her weights and wiped her face with a towel.

  “It’s self-explanatory. If she wants to be a genius, she can. If she wants to have a photographic memory, she can. If she wants to master any sport, language, or trade, she can. Don’t worry about her current demeanor. She shifts through multiple whenever she learns something new.”

  The older lady took a swig out of her water bottle. “Deion calls it adaptive behavior. Makes it more efficient for her.”

  “Adaptive behavior. So it isn’t harmful to her?”

  “Harmful? What makes you ask?”

  Demund scratched his cheek. “I mean…I wouldn’t think it’s healthy to change personalities.”

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  “Don’t worry about it. It’s like acting to her. She returns to normal after a while.”

  “What’s ‘normal’ for her?”

  Kenna shrugged.

  “Quiet, expressionless. Unless she has something to learn, which is all the time now.”

  “You don’t think that's strange?”

  “She’s had a rough past,” Kenna said. “Don’t think badly of her.”

  “I’m—I’m not,” Demund clarified. “I’m just worried for her.”

  “She’s stronger than you think,” Kenna said, patting him on the shoulder. “But good for you to care. You’re a good man.”

  She left, leaving Demund standing in the gym. He stood in place, lost in thought.

  No one knows about what’s going on inside Laveny.

  Would he have to tell Kenna everything? She was, after all, the caretaker. But he wasn’t sure if she’d be convinced. If he did tell her, what then? ‘Laveny is bundling up everything inside. She should stop everything and get therapy.’ That didn’t make sense, did it?

  Especially when the world was at stake.

  “Hah…”

  He didn’t know what to do. It made less sense since Laveny’s current demeanor was ideal. She got along with Aia Laia, listened intently to his instructions, smiled and laughed more, and enjoyed their therapy sessions. It hadn’t been once that she’d fallen asleep during their sessions, breathing softly like a baby as he carried her to her bed. Outwardly, she appeared much more comfortable.

  “She’s so adorable!” Aia had whispered to him once. “I can’t believe how much she changed. I think it’s because of you.”

  She wasn’t exactly wrong. Laveny had changed after that therapy session. Now, whenever she saw him, she smiled. She pulled on his arm to hurry up and teach her. She waved goodbye at night.

  “Thanks, again,” she’d told him. “I’ve never had this much fun before. How are your studies going? Do you have anything you need help with? I could help.”

  Indeed, she could. She was a great teacher, and he was a good learner. She was especially cute when she clapped her hands in satisfaction.

  He could enjoy the new change.

  Close his eyes to the disturbances.

  No one else thought that there was anything wrong with her, right?

  Aia Laia suggested that they play a board game for a change. To everyone’s surprise, Laveny agreed. Now, the four of them were seated in a circle, rolling dice as they moved their game pieces around the board.

  “The probability that I will land on that spot is 2.71%,” Laveny calculated, shaking her cup, “but if I do this,”

  She rolled the die, resulting in a sum of seven. With a grin of victory, she moved her piece to the desired spot.

  “I win.”

  The rest of them groaned. After all, it was her third win in a row.

  “Not fair!” Aia complained, throwing down her pieces. “How do you win every single time?”

  “It’s all about probability,” Laveny said with pride. “Luck can be calculated.”

  “Fine. Why don’t we play something more psychological?”

  So they moved on to poker. After they learned the rules, Laveny summoned a robot to do the shuffling for them to avoid cheating. She could, after all, memorize all of the cards and their locations. They began a fair game, and after a few rounds, Demund had the biggest pile of them all.

  “How do you always back out when I have good cards?” Aia complained, throwing down her cards. “It’s like you’re reading my mind!”

  “Haha,” Demund said, avoiding Laveny’s judging eyes. “I was lucky.”

  “Lucky,” Laveny muttered. She had the second-largest pile.

  “I think you forgot that these two are geniuses,” Kenna chuckled. “I think it’s time for a physical game! What do you think?”

  All three of them let out nervous laughs.

  “Come on now, just a little game of football.”

  “I don’t like sweating.”

  “Neither do I.”

  “Well, that’s no fun. Table tennis, then?”

  Unfortunate for Aia Laia, she sucked at games. She came last this time as well, with Kenna being first, Demund second, and Laveny third. It had been a close match between him and Laveny, and she would have won if not for her stamina.

  “That was fun!” Laveny told him as they returned to their rooms.

  Demund smiled. “It’s good to have days like this, right?”

  Laveny beamed in agreement.

  “Yep!”

  How beautiful her smile was. He watched her until the door to her room closed. Silently, he went to his room and sat on his bed.

  “.........”

  Every day, he’d hoped for a change. That wasn’t to say that Laveny hadn’t changed. She had changed, and for the better. What had been an awkward relationship between the four of them had softened into a kind of warm friendship. He wanted to fully enjoy it. There were days when he had. When he’d ignored what lay within.

  There was no happiness in Laveny’s heart. No positivity. No negativity.

  When she smiled, he felt nothing.

  Nothing but the giant, forbidding mass.

  Demund didn’t know what to do. To him, all Laveny was doing was keeping up an appearance. She was acting so perfectly that to everyone else, it was genuine. He wanted it to be as well.

  But…but he couldn’t just ignore it.

  “At least Aia Laia is her friend now…”

  Making friends. That was what the mysterious lady had wanted for Laveny.

  Demund blinked.

  The mysterious lady.

  Laveny had also mentioned there being three of them in her room. The lady had been the first one to notice that he could read emotions, which likely meant that she could as well. At least, she would understand him better than anyone.

  “Mysterious lady, are you there?” he said out loud. “I could use some help.”

  He sat there until he began to feel stupid. Sighing, he lay on his bed.

  Would the lady only reply in Laveny’s room?

  Thinking about it, she’d talked to him when he was inside Laveny’s bedroom, contrary to the genius girl’s belief. But he hadn’t sensed anything special about that room. He theorized that the lady sometimes watched over Laveny’s room, but her abilities weren’t restricted to it. Also, she’d appeared on the computer monitors as well.

  “Hmm…”

  He had an idea. Exiting his room, he walked over to a security camera and waved at it.

  “Hello? Is anyone there?”

  No reply. He guessed as much.

  But what had the lady reacted to? Laveny had tried to circulate, and it had caused her to faint. Had the lady responded because, potentially, Laveny was in danger?

  That seemed like a solid hypothesis. It wasn’t something he could test, however. So, he decided to take the simple path.

  “She talked to you?”

  Genuine surprise. For the first time in days, he sensed actual emotion from Laveny (even though it vanished quickly).

  “When you fainted,” he explained. “I think she was making sure you were okay.”

  “What did she say?”

  “Uh…to get along with you?”

  Laveny blinked at him. He just stared back.

  “I see,” she nodded.

  Demund scratched his cheek. “I was wondering if there was a way I could contact her.”

  Again, surprise. But it felt closer to panic this time.

  “Why?” she asked.

  “Just curiosity?”

  “Um……I don’t know,” Laveny said, shaking her head. “I only talk to her when she talks to me.”

  “Oh. I thought she was your friend.”

  “She said that?”

  Laveny covered her mouth. She’d hidden her emotions this time, but her reactions were very suspicious. Demund didn’t know why she was acting so…sensitively.

  “Well…I’ll ask if I ever talk to her,” Laveny replied.

  Demund raised an eyebrow. The feeling in the room had shifted ever so slightly.

  “Alright,” he said.

  “But I don’t think it’s good for you to get too close to her,” Laveny added. “She’s not—she’s a machine. She’s like artificial intelligence.”

  “Is that a problem?”

  “Um…”

  Laveny hesitated. She seemed to be thinking.

  “Isn’t it better to talk to real people?” she smiled nervously.

  Demund raised his eyebrow even more.

  “Alright,” he shrugged. It caused Laveny’s face to bloom with relief.

  Thirty minutes quickly flew by, and he was in his room again. Still, no reply from the lady. After preparing to sleep, he lay down on his bed and stared at the ceiling.

  “Are you not there?” he asked. “I need some guidance.”

  Again, no reply.

  “Hmm…”

  Thinking about it, the lady had responded to his mana—she’d sensed him reading Laveny’s emotions. She’d explicitly stated that she could sense SAP.

  Then what better way to summon her than by doing something that she couldn’t ignore?

  “…………”

  Demund decided to go to sleep. There was nothing good in provoking the lady, and Laveny would let her know as well. He’d have to wait, which he could do. Patience was key now. If the lady wanted to talk to him, she would.

  He fell asleep, looking forward to traveling as Shaden once more.

  “Living without any emotions?”

  Eilae tilted her head. “I suppose it's possible. Why do you ask?”

  Shaden swung his legs. “I was wondering if it was any good.”

  “Hmm.”

  They were sitting on the highest rooftop that overlooked Rvenruck’s capital city of Kymaheim. The sun was setting on the beautiful city, painting an unforgettable scenery of gold and orange, considered one of the best sights in the Empire.

  “You would not appreciate anything,” Eilae said, “nor would you dislike anything. This sight would be mere colors in your eyes. Life would be meaningless.”

  “What if you could think your way through it?”

  “Elaborate.”

  “You make yourself think that you are happy, even though you aren’t.”

  “The mind is a potent instrument,” Eilae nodded. “So, you would be putting yourself in an illusion. But the person is not truly happy, yes?”

  “Yep.”

  “I suppose it would be like telling yourself cucumbers taste good even though they don’t. You could force yourself to eat them, but at the end of it, what remains? There would be no enjoyment—only the bad taste of cucumber lingers in your mouth.”

  “What if you don’t dislike or like cucumbers?”

  “It would be more bearable, would it not? You wouldn't have to force yourself to think that they are good. You could simply chew and swallow.”

  Eilae swung her legs as well, even though she’d told him that it was a childish thing to do before.

  “Returning to the topic of living life without emotions…you would require a reason to live. If that reason is fulfilled—”

  Eilae made a blowing sound with her mouth. “That would be the end of your life.”

  The end of one’s life.

  “So emotions are necessary.”

  “Emotions are like the filling in a pie,” Eilae reasoned. “It cannot be called a pie without filling. Can a human without emotions be called a person? They would be like a spirit or a golem, doing only what they are tasked to do. When that task is done, so is the meaning of their existence.”

  Ah, that was heavier than he’d expected. But there was truth in her words, and he found himself nodding to them.

  It wouldn’t be as such for Laveny, right? After all, she had Deion to look after her.

  He frowned, remembering something. Laveny had been afraid that Deion would leave her. That feeling, mixed with a sense of envy…

  Feeling something off, he peeked to the side and noticed Eilae looking at him.

  “Are you thinking of someone else?” Eilae pouted.

  “No! Of course not!” Shaden exclaimed. “I mean, an imaginary person?”

  “Hmm…”

  She narrowed her eyes. After a brief moment of inspecting him, she sighed.

  “And here I was wondering if this was a date,” she muttered, leaning on her hand. She looked at him with inquiring eyes. “Well?”

  Shaden froze. They were?

  “Do you want it to be?” he asked.

  Eilae’s face shifted into a mischievous smile, and she lowered her head to the side, letting her silky hair fall. She eyed him playfully.

  “Maybe we’re too young,” she said.

  Shaden felt his heart pound. But it was weird for him to think of her this way. He turned away, feeling the heat on his face.

  “I guess,” he muttered. “When do you usually start dating?”

  “Silly, nobles don’t date. They court. I suppose it begins when we become of age. So—”

  Their eyes met.

  “On my fifteenth birthday,” she finished.

  Shaden held back the urge to gulp. It was quite obvious to him what she was implying. I mean, she had been sending him signs, had she not? Through gentle words and affectionate gestures. He didn’t need to read her to understand.

  “Shall I ask you then?”

  Eilae’s eyes seemed to smile. “What would you ask?”

  “What you’d like on your birthday,” Shaden snorted, crossing his arms. “I am willing to say that I could get almost anything for you.”

  “Anything?”

  “As long as it is reasonable.”

  “Hmm. I do have something I want.”

  “Which is?”

  She looked at him again. But this time, she couldn’t quite meet his eyes.

  “It’s a secret,” she muttered.

  “I—I see.”

  Shaden wanted to jump off the ledge. Lately, this kind of uncomfortable mood had become more common between them. Always treading the waters, never saying anything bluntly. Was it because it was too embarrassing? Or because they’d been taught that there was power in words? Whatever the case, things were becoming more awkward.

  But it wasn’t an unpleasant kind. He kind of enjoyed it. He guessed that Eilae was enjoying it as well, since it was mostly her who teased him like this.

  They watched the sunset until the sky turned dark. Then, carrying Eilae in his arms, he floated down from the rooftop and set her gently on the ground. She then wrapped her arms around his, and they walked down the street, unnoticed by anyone, discussing what they should ask Elder Hakken when he came to teach them.

  Truly, it was the most dreamlike he’d ever felt since beginning his journey through the four families.

  Perhaps…ever since he began to dream.

  “Today, we’ll be doing something a little different.”

  Laveny looked at him with curiosity. “Which is?”

  “I’m going to bring up your subconsciousness.”

  The genius girl made a funny expression. Demund simply smiled.

  After enjoying his time with Eilae so much, he’d suddenly felt immense pity for Laveny. The poor girl wasn’t able to experience any emotion because of her repression. After practicing thoroughly as Shaden, he’d made up his mind to give Laveny the treatment she truly needed.

  “My subconsciousness?” she asked.

  Demund nodded. “There are a lot of things pent-up in there, I think. Let’s try and alleviate them.”

  “I already know,” Laveny said, her expression turning dead serious. “I know what you’re trying to do with my emotions. But it’s not necessary. My emotions aren’t necessary.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Or has my demeanor been unsatisfactory?”

  “No. You’re doing excellent.”

  Laveny snorted. “I know. What’s with the sudden change?”

  Her eyes seemed to scan him. There were no emotions in them even now. Demund couldn’t help but hurt a little every time he looked into her heart.

  “Right now, you’re like a robot,” he said.

  “And the problem with that is?”

  “You can’t feel happiness.”

  Laveny blinked. “I don’t need to be happy. Not yet.”

  “Your smiles are fake.”

  “Does that offend you?”

  “No. Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. It’s…just too sad. Looking at you makes me sad.”

  “But—why?”

  “You’re my student. Isn’t it obvious that I would care for you?”

  Demund sighed. “You’re just a young girl. You should be honest with your emotions. Complain when you want to. Cry when you want to. Throw a fit, I don’t know.”

  “That’s lacking self-control.”

  “Maybe. But I think tantrums are necessary sometimes. Keeping everything in will only make your burst.”

  “Yes, but only for people who are immature,” Laveny argued. “Mature people can handle themselves.”

  He stared into her. The mass was still there.

  “If it is as you say, then this won’t be a problem, right?” he said. “Let’s do a simple check.”

  He reached for her hand, causing it to twitch. He realized what was happening then.

  Demund’s eyes widened. He looked at Laveny.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  Laveny raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t.”

  “Then, are you willing to do this?”

  “Go ahead.”

  He gently held her hand. As he did, he felt the mass in her heart shift and groan, condensing and hardening. Slowly but surely, she was repressing everything even more, keeping it away from an outsider’s touch. When he moved his mana to interact with it, he was repelled by an iron wall of resolve.

  It made him think. She hadn’t been this defensive the first time. Realization hit him like a cold splash of water. It was such an obvious thing—and he’d completely disregarded it.

  He let go of her hand.

  “I’m—I’m so sorry for hurting you.”

  Laveny didn’t move. “What do you mean?”

  Demund looked into her eyes. “For probing too much. For making you forcefully share things. There are things you must want to keep a secret, but I was too insensitive.”

  He lowered his head. “I’m really, really sorry. Having your emotions read by someone else must have felt uncomfortable. I won’t do it again without your consent.”

  He’d forgotten the first rule of reading emotions between family and friends—getting permission. Even if no one found out, it was a rude thing to do. Even he wouldn’t want to be inspected and judged in such a way.

  She didn’t reply for some time. Finally, she sighed.

  “It’s nothing,” she muttered.

  “Are you sure? You can punch me if you’d like.”

  “Yes, it’s nothing!” Laveny exclaimed. “I am not fazed whatsoever.”

  Demund scratched his cheek. “Then—may I get permission to read your emotions?”

  Laveny’s mouth opened, but she looked away, leaning on her hand. She didn’t speak to him.

  Okay, that was a definite no.

  “I promise I won’t pry into anything,” Demund assured. “I’m not sure if you know it—no, you did say you do know it. The pent-up things, right?”

  She didn’t reply.

  “I won’t read them. I only want to make it less severe. Try it, and if you don’t like it, I won’t do it again.”

  He waited for her to reply. Finally, she slowly turned her head and peeked at him.

  “…you’ll teach me anything I ask for,” she muttered.

  “Well—if it is teachable, yes.”

  Laveny turned to look at him, then turned away. After a short exhalation, she offered her hand to him.

  “Make it quick,” she said.

  Demund beamed. Gently taking her hand, he closed his eyes and began to concentrate.

  Every cloud of emotion had an energy source. He would have to locate all of the sources going into the mass and redirect them elsewhere. The problem began when he finally got a good look at everything after positioning himself for the task.

  All sources were going into the mass. Usually, clouds were separate from each other, and so were the sources. He’d never seen anything like this. How many sources were there? A thousand? A hundred thousand? They were like hairs—numerous and uncountable.

  “Well?” Laveny asked.

  Demund felt a drop of sweat roll down his back. He laughed nervously. He could begin disconnecting the sources one by one. He’d then accidentally cut off the source for happiness, then boom! Laveny now had depression.

  No, that was too dangerous. He glanced at her. Unless?

  “You said that emotions don’t matter, right?” Demund asked. “So would it be okay if I remove them one by one? The problem is…I don’t know which one is which.”

  “Huh?” Laveny frowned. “I mean, try it.”

  “Ahem. Alright.”

  He took a deep breath and located one strand. Concentrating his mana, he silently prayed for success and in one clean motion—

  Cut the strand off.

  Demund cautiously looked out for any distortions. The mass didn’t change, but the now-detached strand dissipated into nothingness. He gulped, looking at Laveny.

  “How do you feel?” he asked.

  Laveny tilted her head. “Fine, I guess?”

  “Alright. Let’s do another.”

  Isolating another strand, he cut it off. He looked at Laveny.

  She shrugged. “I feel something, but it’s not substantial.”

  “Hmm.”

  The mass showed no sign of changing. It would take years to unravel it this way.

  “I’m going to try it in bulk,” he informed. Laveny nodded. He took hold of a handful of strands, a couple hundred probably, and after a second of mental preparation, sliced through them all in one swift motion.

  The mass began to shift ever so slightly.

  That’s probably a good sign…right?

  He looked at Laveny. She was expressionless.

  “Well?”

  She didn’t reply. Her eyes remained fixed where they were. Then they slowly turned to him.

  Laveny opened her mouth, but no words came out. She closed them again. Her expression changed ever so slightly.

  Then she began to sweat.

  “Laveny?”

  Beads of perspiration began to roll down her face and neck. Her face began to change into an unhealthy shade of pink and red. The mass within her was changing—but the slow swirl was becoming a kind of unleashed flood, bubbling and boiling, wishing to come out. Wishing to explode.

  “W-what’s this,” she choked, beginning to tremble. “D-Demund?”

  Demund began to panic.