Outworld: Awakening

A few hours earlier.

While Adam made his way to Bricteva's tavern in the southern region of Dratol, other series of events unfolded in Varidan Academy. Unlike the crystal clear skies in the central region, thick dark clouds accompanied by gale covered the expanse of Varidan's territory. Students and instructors walked at a faster pace hurrying to avoid Varidan's infamous rains.

Varidan Academy had a unique climate compared to the other regions of Dratol. When it rained in Varidan territory, it poured.

While students and instructors hurried to avoid the imminent downpour, Hensley Maxine, with her head slightly lowered walked at a measured pace while muttering to herself. Her trenchcoat fluttered in all directions, while the bands holding her hair barely kept them in place. She ignored the greetings of students and instructors alike.

A few meters ahead, one could see an unnaturally slanted dome shaped building. As she got closer to the building, only a few masked instructors and guards came into view.

With a hundred feet separating Hensley from the magnificent structure, a colorless portal appeared out of thin air.

"Dean Hensley, I have been expecting you. It's good to see you again."

For the first time, Hensley paused in her steps while raising her head. She wore a slight frown, but said nothing. Her hazel eyes lingered on the feminine outline of a masked instructor.

"Dean, I'm sorry for having you come all the way here. Forgive us, we are still configuring the portal to accommodate you," the masked instructor pleaded.

In the opened portal, she made a series of hand gestures which gradually changed the colorless portal. Hensley watched as an eerie purple-black hue covered the portal which also covered the outline of the masked instructor.

"I apologize for the delay, Dean. Please go in."

Saying nothing, Hensley approached the portal with no hesitation. Within seconds, she disappeared within the portal.

A split second later, she appeared in a luxuriously designed office. To her left, she could see a large wooden bookshelf stacked with many books, and to her right, she could see an animated and more elaborate version of the map given to all Varidan students. In front of her stood a leather chair and an ash brown desk which had two files laying on its surface. The only source of illumination in the room came from the spinning map.

Just then, a melodious female voice echoed, "Welcome, Dean Hensley. It's a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to have you here."

A smile donned Hensley's lips, however, she didn't turn her head. Instead, she walked towards the leather chair, before taking her seat. With her legs placed on the surface of the table while reclining, Hensley reached for one of the two files.

"All right. I don't have a lot of time to waste here. State your report," Hensley said.

Her eyes lingered on the petite figure of an instructor wearing a white trenchcoat. She wore a rabbit mask which only had eye slits, revealing the crimson eyes of its user.

"Dean, we have conclude our investigation into Incident V, and we can confirm our prime suspect, Gareet, had no hand in the incident."

Hensley nodded, but her eyes lingered on the file in her hands. It contained a more detailed explanation of the instructors report.

"Forward the report to Varidan Towers. However, leave him in the gallows for another day or two," Hensley said while flinging the file into a nearby trash can. It disintegrated into ash less than five seconds later.

"So, what about the second suspect? What have you found out?" Hensley said.

She fiddled with the second file without opening it, her eyes lingered on the instructor.

"Dean, we came to the same conclusion with Student 009. However, I noticed some irregularities with this suspect," the masked instructor said.

"Oh? What is it? What could be particular about a priority E suspect?" Hensley said.

For the first time, her eyes lit up. However, she reframed from opening the file.

"Dean, this are my thoughts on the target."

Just then, another file appeared on the table.

Even before the instructor finished her statement, Hensley had already flipped through the contents of the file. With each page she turned, the slight smile on her face disappeared with a frown replacing it.

"Are you certain of this?" Hensley said. Her voice firmer than usual.

"Dean, this are only my thoughts. I'm seventy percent certain," the instructor said.

"Where is he now?" Hensley said.

"I'm sorry, Dean. We can't track him. Unlike other students, his amulet his not always active. I believe he has an item capable of blocking our signals. It's not uncommon, but this is the first time I've seen a rank E student possessing such an Item."

"Let's be clear here, you're telling me that while observing Student 009, six Awakened ambushed you. Meaning that you lost track of your target for some hours. Is this correct?" Hensley asked.

Saying nothing, the instructor nodded.

"And, you're telling me the place he stayed instead of returning to the Academy is a front for a guild, yes?"

Again, the instructor nodded.

"Last, you're telling a ranked E Awakened completed two missions above his rank. Not only that, the signal from his amulet showed he was near the Valar incident, is this correct?"

Hensley eyes had an indiscernible gleam in them as she stared at the instructor.

"Yes, Dean."

'How is this possible? A mission in Valar Pits isn't something a rank E Awakened can complete, and on his own for that matter. First was the incident in Pyren's Valley, then a group ambushed the person sent to watch him. During that period, a misfortune struck the Armstrong family, while news of Student 009's death circulated. Now, there's the incident in Valar. Something doesn't seem right here…'

Deep in thought, the reports concerning Adam's endeavors continued to flash through Hensley's mind. Initially, she only came because she wanted to know whether Gareet was the culprit behind the explosion at Pyren's valley. She didn't expect Adam, who she deemed another insignificant lower ranked Awakened, to have so many odd circ.u.mstances surrounding him.

With Varidan's resources, it was easy for them to carryout a thorough background check on their students, and from the instructors report, she knew nothing out of the ordinary stood out about Adam's background. In fact, they had investigated Adam's sponsor, Aldo Gibbs, too. Yet, they had found nothing out of the ordinary.

Even the Thieves of the Night didn't have any suspicious connections. Although they dabbled in a lot of shady dealings, it didn't pique Varidan's interest. To them, guilds on that level were insignificant.

'Although it doesn't seem like this student is in cahoots with Varidan's enemies, the events surrounding him are really strange. Or, is it possible he's hiding his true powers? No. That shouldn't be possible. Only a S ranked Awakened can do that, and if he was one, those Elder would have known…'

Absorbed in her thoughts, the instructor's voice reached Hensley again, "Dean, what's your recommendation?"

Hensley raised her head to meet the instructor's gaze, "We don't have enough information to conclude he's not a threat yet. With that said, for the next three months, his priority level will be at B. I want you and your party to continue investigating him. Notify Varidan Towers of my decision," Hensley said.

Behind her mask, the eyes of the instructor quivered while her hands trembled slightly.

"Oh. Send a message to him. He must return to Varidan Academy for debriefing. I don't care what business he has with the Armstrong family. That will be all," Hensley added.

Saying nothing, the instructor nodded. A split second later, a portal opened underneath her feet and she disappeared from the room. At that same moment, Hensley tapped the surface of the table. Ripples formed and the files slowly submerged. Within seconds, the table had returned to its previous state.

'Those elders would chew my head off for attaching such importance to a rank E Awakened…' A wry smile tugged at the sides of Hensley's lips as she fiddled with her hair.

'Forget it. It doesn't matter. What's done is done. It better not to have a repeat of the Vakaz incident. That reminds me, Arlette said she had something to discuss with me. Maybe I should… huh?'

Mid-thought, Hensley's eyes suddenly serious. A moment later, a blue-black portal opened in the room.

Just then, a soothing baritone voice filled the room, "Hensley, why so serious?"

'Oh? How long has it been? When did he come back?' Hensley mused.

A radiant smile had replaced the frown on her face while she slowly rose to her feet.

A second later, her eyes lingered on an elegantly dressed, handsome man. Standing over six feet with hair akin to gold, he wore a caramel safari-like jacket matched with gray pants and thick desert boots. He hung a white trenchcoat over his left shoulder while he held a small wooden cane with his right hand. He wore a smile that would smelt the coldest of hearts, while his irises had a golden gleam in them.

"When did you get back? How did you know I was here?" Hensley asked. She couldn't stop herself from smiling bashfully.

"A few days ago. I'm sorry for not informing you beforehand. I was excited to see that smile of yours."

"I see you haven't lost that habit of yours. As a Reeves, are you sure you want the public to know you as a playboy?" Hensley quipped.

"Hahaha… does it matter? I'm a Reeves, after all. What can they do?" Amittai Reeves said.

Although his words carried a quirky arrogance within them, Hensley chuckled while cl.i.c.k.i.n.g her fingers. Just then, the portal disappeared and a beautiful chair appeared behind Amittai.

"Does Arianna know your are back? That girl has been disturbing me because you didn't tell her where you went," Hensley said.

"She doesn't know yet. Once I'm done here, I will head over to her place. As her master, I can't let her be over dependent on me." A wry smile tugged at the sides of Amittai's lips as he avoided Hensley's gaze.

"You lair. Well, I'm sure she will handle you later on," Hensley chided.

Amittai couldn't stop himself from laughing.

"As much as I'd love to talk with you, I have a lot on my plate right now. And, I know you have something important to say if you came here of all places," Hensley added.

"Hahaha… you know me too well."

Just then, Amittai stopped laughing as his demeanor turned serious.

"Can we talk here?" Amittai asked.

"Hold on, let me make sure no one will listen," Hensley said. Just then, she clapped her hands twice.

Her trenchcoat turned into an amoebic slime which slowly covered the room. Within seconds, Hensley and Amittai sat in an endless void devoid of any light apart from a glistening raven shaped birthmark on Hensley's forehead.

"You can talk now."

From Amittai's calm expression, it wasn't the first time he had experienced Hensley's strange ability.

"Something big is happening in the grand dungeons. Something has upset the delicate balance between the Lords of the Omen," Amittai said.

Hensley's eyes bulged while her mouth dropped. Unlike most people, she was privy to information on threats greater than the Èṣù.

"W-What do you mean something as disturbed the balance?" Hensley couldn't hide her apprehension.

"Don't worry, it's not that serious, at least not yet. According to my contacts, even the Lords do not know what happened. But, someone had broken the Omen treaty they had with each other. A brutal war may come in the next few years, however, it will only take place in the grand dungeons. The descent of the grand dungeon in Targarth will be the first of many in the next few years, and a bridge as connected all the grand dungeons."

'The grand dungeons are connecting? This is not good.' Hensley stared eyes wide.

"And, that's not the least of our worries," Amittai added.

'That's not the end? What could be more important than a war in the grand dungeons?'

Hensley couldn't imagine any news that would surprise her more than the previous declaration.

"The Eight Gates have begun another ascension—"

"What?!" Hensley involuntarily blurted out.

Thick veins covered her necks and curled fists, while her eyes had turned bloodshot.

"Calm down, Hensley. Remember the condition of your heart. You can't become too excited. We haven't expelled all of Romolu's poison yet," Amittai said while urging Hensley to take her seat.

Although she refused, she calmed down a bit after Amittai's reminder.

"They have begun the search for a new master for the vacant seventh gate. The leaders of the other gates have chosen their preferred candidates. I'm still working on finding out the identities of the seven candidates. Don't worry, we won't let those bastards do as they please," Amittai said.

"I haven't informed the elders yet, I wanted you to know first. By the way, be careful where you send your students. The Scavengers have resurfaced. The Knights of Bardon killed some a few days back, surely there are more of them out there. Here, take this."

Amittai suddenly threw a wooden amulet towards Hensley which she caught on reflex.

"It contains the blood essence of the hearts of seven nightmare dragons. It should help in dispelling part of Romolu's poison. Oh, it seems little Arlette is looking everywhere for you. I will leave now…"

While Amittai's words trailed off, his body broke into tiny stardust. At that same moment, Hensley dispelled her strange technique.

'It's only been twenty years since the death of that traitor, yet they have already found seven worthy successors. Those bastards will pay for what they did to us!'

Hensley's grip around the wooden amulet tightened as different thoughts flashed through her mind.