Chapter 679: Revin's Pranks |
“You thought you could lie?” Garina asked, stepping toward James. “To me?”
“Technically, I didn’t lie. I just didn’t tell the truth.”
Noah tensed. He prepared to jump forward and tackle James out of the way. Even though Garina had just promised not to hurt his students, James was definitely doing his absolute best to try her patience. There was only so much that an Apostle was going to allow for.
But Garina stayed her hand. The only thing she did was narrow her gaze. For a long second, she stared at James.
“You’re one of Revin’s, aren’t you?”
“Is answering yes going to get me in more trouble than not speaking? Because that was the reason I didn’t do anything the first time around.”
Emily elbowed James in the side. “James! Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Garina raised a hand. Her eyes didn’t leave James for an instant. “No, no. I already promised I wouldn’t be breaking any of you during the lesson, no matter how impudent you may be. I don’t expect much from children. And taking action here would just be cruel.”
“Absolutely. So perhaps we should just skip past this whole thing?” James offered. “I’ll just sit back and do what I do best. Nothing. Really, there’s no reason to waste your time and effort on me. Just focus on the other students.”
James grimaced. “I can assure you that I couldn’t be of use even if I wanted to — and I don’t. There’s no reason for you to waste your effort on me.”
Noah’s lips thinned and he chewed on the inside of his cheek. James was really doing everything he could to push Garina’s promise. It almost felt like he was trying to piss her off.
Something was wrong. James wasn’t this stupid.
Being lazy was one thing. But openly defying someone as powerful as Garina was an entirely different one altogether. It made no sense. He wasn’t getting anything that important out of trying to piss her off.
Helping out with the class might have been a bit of a pain in the ass, but James clearly had access to the soul-shaping technique Garina had mentioned. It couldn’t have been that much of a bother for him to put up with a bit of extra effort for a few hours.
So why is he doing it? This whole argument and all the attention he’s bringing onto himself are going to be way more of a bother than just doing what she wanted.
“Now you’re just underselling yourself,” Garina said. She leaned down so she was eye-level with James. “I recognize that technique of yours, James. And I know who taught it to you.”
“I apologize for any actions my teacher may have caused in your past, present, or future,” James immediately said in a tone that made it abundantly clear that this was a speech he had rehearsed many times before. “He is sorry for what he did or will do. I pass along my deepest sympathies for any harm he caused but am not responsible for the actions of a raving lunatic. Should I have the misfortune of meeting him in the near future, I will ensure that your complaints are added to the list.”
Garina snorted. “Drop the bullshit, boy. Revin clearly crammed your head full of it, but I recognize his touch in your abilities. What did he tell you about soul shaping?”
James did not reply. He stared at Garina mutely, his jaw set like it was carved from stone. Emily swallowed as Garina’s eyes bore into them. It was hard to blame her. There were few things quite as intense as the Apostle’s complete and utter attention. Even without the might of her domain bearing down, standing against Garina was like trying to hold up a mountain.
But Emily didn’t budge. Even though James was actively waving a red flag directly in front of a rather pissed off bull, she stood her ground.
“Perhaps we should move on,” Moxie said. “This isn’t productive.”
“I’ll let that slide because you’re concerned for your students,” Garina said without even glancing away from James. “But you’re wrong. Every student here deserves to be taught. Is that not true?”
“It is,” Noah said. “But—”
“No buts. No exceptions. Or do you not care about everyone here equally?” Garina turned to Sticky, finally breaking her line of sight with James, and crouched beside the small demon. “Perhaps I should stop teaching this little one because of what she bears within her.”
Violet moved to stand between them. “Don’t single her out.”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Garina’s lips twitched. “Hoard Demon for people? Cute. I like you. Now get out of my way. I’m speaking to the little vessel. Standing in the path of an Apostle whilst they have a task is a poor idea indeed.”
Violet paled. She took a step back. Then her jaw set. “No.”
“It’s okay,” Sticky said, stepping out from behind Violet. She stared at Garina with sharp, piercing eyes and her small hands tightened into balls at her sides. “You don’t have to get hurt for me, Violet. I can fight.”
“Oh, fuck’s sake,” Garina said, throwing her hands up into the air. “Enough with the melodrama, you brats. I was trying to make a point. I don’t go around punting children unless they really deserve it.”
Nearly everyone stared at her in confusion. The only exceptions were Yoru, whose mask completely concealed any expression she may have had, and Aylin, who nodded knowingly.
“Makes sense,” Aylin said.
“No,” Noah said. “It really doesn’t.”
“She’s asking if Sticky deserves to be taught,” Aylin said.
“Good,” Garina said. “Thank you. Now stop trying to nibble at my soul or I’ll reorganize your organs.”
“Sorry.” Aylin paused for a moment. Then he tilted his head to the other side. “Wait. Wouldn’t that count as hurting me?”
“I can just shake you. Really hard.”
“Noted.”
“Good. Now, what I was trying to get at is that all of your students deserve an equal chance to learn and grow. Is that not true?” Garina crossed her arms and turned to send a sharp look at Moxie and Noah.
“Of course it is,” Moxie said. “Where are you going with this?”
“I include your lazy little shit in that number,” Garina said. She pointed back at James. “Or is he an exception?”
That hadn’t been what Noah was expecting at all. He blinked in surprise.
Doesn’t James already know the thing that Garina wants to teach everyone? That’s the whole reason we’re having this stupid argument in the first place.
“No. Why would he be? I think I may be missing some key information here.”
“James seems to be under the assumption that if he shares information about soul shaping, his soul will shred itself to pieces due to a Rune Oath he made with Revin.” Garina turned back to James with a cold smile. “Am I wrong?”
James gritted his teeth. He said nothing.
“You’ve got a Rune Oath with Revin?” Noah asked, his eyes widening. “Seriously?”
“He can’t talk about it,” Emily said. “He told me last night, but only that he couldn’t say anything. It’s a really strong one. Strong enough to basically kill him on the spot. No chances for anyone to stop it.”
“That fucking piece of shit.” A swirl of anger ignited in Noah’s stomach. Revin never knew when to stop. He seemingly just acted according to whatever he thought would be the most fun or interesting without caring about the damage his actions caused.
No wonder the Apostles kicked his ass out. When I get my hands on him…
“He’s screwing with you,” Garina said.
“Of course he is,” James said. “That’s what Revin does. But I trust you can see why I can’t answer your questions. There are some things I’m allowed to do, but I can’t talk about what they are. Don’t worry about me. I know what I’m doing—”
“No, you don’t,” Garina replied. She was suddenly before James, having moved so fast that her motion may as well have been instant. Garina flicked him in the forehead. “You don’t have a Rune Oath.”
James stared at her in confusion. “What?”
“How do you think a Rune Oath works?” Garina asked. “It binds around you, using your very soul as an anchor and your Runes as a lynchpin. Break it, the oath snaps, runes get shattered. But what do you think happens when the soul that the oath is connected to starts changing?”
It was several seconds before anyone spoke.
“It changes how it works?” Vrith offered, scratching at her furred ears.
“Close, but not exactly,” Garina said. “Pretend your soul is a perfect cube. Then you wrap some rope around it really tight. What happens when that cube becomes, say, a sphere?”
“Rope falls off,” Sticky said.
“Rope falls off,” Garina agreed. “You haven’t been bound by your Rune Oath since the first time you shaped your soul, James. Nobody who knows soul shaping can ever be constrained by a Rune Oath. Revin was screwing with you. I’d imagine he only made you swear that oath shortly before you learned rune shaping, then immediately made you shape your soul afterward. Am I wrong?”
James stared at her for a long second. Then his eye twitched.
“Damned Plains. He got me. That bastard.”
Noah couldn’t tell if he wanted to let out a relieved sigh or go throttle Revin on the spot.
He’s really something else. Playing games like this is just screwed up. Poor James… though, something tells me he wouldn’t have said shit about soul shaping anyway if he could have avoided it. Maybe Revin was just giving James an excuse to avoid work.
Garina snorted. “Thought so. Revin loves that one. Annoying little shit. Now… I’m going to ask one more time. Who here knows what soul shaping is?”
Everyone stared at James.
James grimaced. “Do I have to?”
“Yes.” Garina crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Or I turn you into a drink on the rocks and shake you so hard that your brains come out your ass. Figuratively, of course. You’ll live.”
James sighed. Then he raised his hand.
Garina smiled.
“Fantastic. I have my test dummy. Then let’s get started, shall we?” She planted a hand on James’ shoulder. “Soul Shaping is surprisingly simple. It’s easy to understand but hard to master, like most things in life that have any real importance. Care to share the first step with the class, James?”
James sighed again. “You have to get in touch with your soul.”
“And how do you do that?”
“By being tired. Really, really tired.”
“Lovely.” Garina’s smile turned predatory. “It’s not easy to be truly and utterly tired. Your body usually tries to stop you well before that happens. But don’t worry. Fortunately for everyone here, I’m more than happy to help with that particular issue. Ready up, all. I want all of you to attack me at once.”
“All of us?” Yoru asked, tilting her head to the side.
“All of you,” Garina confirmed, lowering her stance. “And don’t stop until you can’t move anymore. Now, no more questions. Treat this like a real fight. Let’s spar, shall we?”