I Reincarnated into a Single-celled Organism! - Chapter 221

I didn’t head over to the city. After all, Erika wasn’t staying there. She was supposed to be staying as a guest at the academy until further notice. Right now, no one knew that I was back in town. Actually, they might not have been aware I ever left. I hadn’t forgotten how I‘d left things… I was technically under house arrest, wanted for execution by the Stride family.

It was unclear to me whether my leaving had been noticed or not, but it was safe to say that all eyes looking for me would be locked on the Capala household. Yet, the moment I revealed myself, I’d be targeted once again and likely unable to assist. That said, I could have altered my face to truly remain undetectable, but I decided against that. Once people knew you could do something, it became less effective. Besides, there were reasons why I wanted my face to be known.

“Stop right there.” A voice came from behind.

From the moment I entered the academy grounds, I could sense her tracking me. I was impressed at how quickly she took notice. Considering how late it was, I would have expected her to take her sweet time. I turned and saw her. She was wearing nothing but a thin shift and stockings.

“Headmistress,” I responded, pulling back my hood with a smile. “You’re just the woman I wanted to see.”

She frowned in return, remaining guarded. “Young master Spirit, what are you doing skulking around my academy this late at night. Shouldn’t you be hiding in the Capala compound?”

Just because she asked that question didn’t mean she didn’t know I had left with Lou. These families could be quite skilled with their words when they wanted to be, feigning ignorance when convenient. The headmistress wasn’t with one of the families, but she was part of a faction that rivaled the provincial lord, so I suspected she had the wiles to match.

“I was… invited,” I responded after a moment of thought. “I’m looking for Erika Blanche.”

Her frown deepened. “She invited you here?”

“Not here specifically, but is she not around?” I asked, suddenly getting a bad feeling.

“As it so happens, yesterday, her father called her to return to the Blanche household.”

“And she hasn’t returned since?” I took a frustrated step forward. “That didn’t clue you in that something might be wrong?”

She blinked, clearly taken aback. “She’s a grown woman who chose to visit her family. What danger would she be in? Besides, I received a letter last night informing me she’d be staying longer.”

“From her?” I asked.

She stared at me for another moment and then flicked her wrist, making a letter appear within her fingers before holding it out for me. I took it immediately.

Dear Headmistress,

 I will be staying with my family from hereon. I feel safer and comfortable at home. Thank you for the hospitality you granted me.

Sincerely,

Erika Blanche

“This isn’t her writing!” I cursed.

With my ability to transcribe, I was able to compare the penmanship of the letter to other pieces of Erika’s writing I had seen. It was blatantly clear.

“I know,” The headmistress responded as she took the letter back.

“You know, what do you mean you know?” I demanded.

“I’m surprised by your concern. I wasn’t aware that you and Erika were so close.”

“How close I am to her is meaningless,” I shot back. “She sent me a signal that she needed help, so I came. Now, answer me.”

“How bold… You were quite polite the first time we met. A week in solitude hasn’t done you any favors.”

When I held my stare, she sighed and added. “I told Erika not to call me headmistress. She wouldn’t have addressed a letter to me so formally. At worst, she would have called me senior.”

I forced myself to take a breath. “I apologize for barging in on you. Thank you for the information.”

I turned to leave, but the headmistress gasped, surprised, before reaching out and grabbing my arm. I stopped and glanced back at her.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she said, a surprised look on her face.

“You told me she’s in the Blanche household. I’m heading there.”

She stared at me a moment and then shook her head and muttered under her breath. “Impulsive youth.”

“Is that all?” I asked.

She continued to look me up and down as if considering something, and then finally groaned. “You better not make me regret this.”

“Huh?”

She flicked her wrist again, and then a new letter appeared in her hand. “When they sent me that note, they also sent me this one.”

This one wasn’t a personal note, but something done in fancy calligraphy. I could even feel a bit of magic emanating from it. I read the golden text and then raised an eyebrow.

“An invitation to a party?” I read the card, which was addressed to ‘Veronica Domini’.

“A banquet,” she corrected. “It will be tonight. It’s not uncommon for one of the houses to be throwing some kind of feast every week, but, oddly, they’re doing it on such short notice. This usually precedes some kind of announcement. It’s customary to invite the headmistress of the local academy, seeing as I oversee most of their children’s education. However, I usually avoid these gatherings. It’s best not to get involved in the families and their drama.”

“The name…” I said, frowning at the invitation.

“I do have a first name!” She took the card back and blushed angrily. “Or did you actually think my full name was ‘Headmistress Domini’?

“I meant that your name is on the invitation. It’s no good to me.”

She looked away, embarrassed. “The invitation allows me to bring a plus one.”

“You would allow this?”

She looked back. “As long as you don’t cause me trouble. You’ll be my guest, so if you end up doing something foolish, you’re not just offending me, but my entire family.”

“I’m not worried about that.”

She gave me a side look, as if not sure how to take my words. “If I take you tonight, will you not try to storm into a rival family’s residence in the middle of the day?”

I thought about it carefully. If I did break in, I would be causing a great deal of trouble. I couldn’t just think of myself. There was Mara, Abigail, and even Fate. They would all be affected by my actions in one way or another. As much as it would complicate things, it was better to play by the rules.

I glanced back at the Headmistress and gave her a nod. “I’ll go.”

She snorted. “In that case, it won’t be safe for you to return to the Capala mansion. It would be best if you remained in the academy today. Although if the wrong people learn you’re here, that might also cause conflict. You’re a difficult person to deal with, Mr. Capala.”

“Then, I must appreciate your hospitality,” I responded.

She pressed her lips together. “Acting smooth now that you’re getting what you want. Fine, I will sneak you into my residence for now. You will stay there out of sight until tonight. If you are seen, it will create a scandal. I am still an unwed woman, after all.”

“I wouldn’t dream of sullying your name.” I smiled.

“Come with me.” She gave me one last hesitant look before turning away.

I followed her down a pathway. We didn’t have to travel far, as we were just outside the residential area of the academy. Much like the family houses, this place was lavish with its decor. There was a beautiful garden out front, as well as several fountains in use.

“This is your personal residence?” I said in disbelief.

“Yeah?” She gave me a questioning look.

Although she belonged to a paragon family, I had expected someone who took on the modest role of supervising a school wouldn’t live in the same kind of opulence as the families did. Apparently, I was mistaken. If they had the money and ability, it appeared all paragons chose to live by the lavish standard. The headmistress must have sensed something from my expression, as she decided to speak some more.

“They aren’t large simply because residents want them to be, but because they need to be. Paragon engineers design these facilities to maximize the level of native passive energy. Small rooms can spontaneously explode if too much energy is released in them, so they make them large and spacious. Meanwhile, the fountains allow for running water, the living things convert sunlight, and even the stones are all selected to collect and funnel energy through their conductive or insulative properties. This isn’t just to promote evolution, but this same energy powers various formations that protect the paragons and mortals alike. It’s a merger of form and function.”

“Is that so?” I said, slightly doubtful.

“There is a popular story about an immortal who liked to sleep under the stars. One night, he had a nightmare, and that nightmare ended up killing an entire village of people nearly a hundred miles away. This is the responsibility that comes with being a paragon. When we become a paragon, we cease to be human.”

I turned to her and smiled. “Don’t worry, I know all about that.”

She gave me another hesitant look and then sighed. “Just stay put until tonight. I will come fetch you when the time comes.”