One try.

Two tries.

Nothing.

He then felt a little tug at his brain.

"It feels like something is pulling at my brain." He informed the others.

"That's normal. Mental spells often do that." Jach told him. "There's usually an instinctive reaction to repel against it. Don't know how you haven't felt it yet, as you've been using telepathy for so long."

"So, I try to not repel? That's it?" Kyvas asked.

"Pretty much."

Kyvas tried to do just that. He tried to send the image while keeping a look out for that tug again. He 'let go' when he felt the tug, letting his brain drift for a second, before the image was seemingly copied and sent outwards.

He saw Jach's and Krys's brow furrow.

"Seems like it worked." He muttered.

"...I guess you really are from another world." Krys frowned. "We'll need to get in touch with Immortal as soon as we can."

===

The first thing Seph did after leaving the lab was wash her face.

The second was a hearty breakfast.

Usually on days like this with free periods, she'd meet up with her group of friends. They would either sit around and talk, or if time permitted them they'd descend the tower and roam around in its lower floors. The indoor gardens at the third floor were a common spot for them. Nature is hard to not enjoy, especially when you're cooped up inside stone and crystal rooms (sometimes lined with wood) with no windows and a plethora of artificial lighting most days of the year. Plus they also held the occasional magic contest. There was this magic - tag - battle royale thing a group of uppercla.s.smen hosted last month. Such a fun time.

Right now, however, she needed to think. To plan. And most importantly she needed information.

Firstly, she needed a sketch of the dagger. Not too hard of a job. She wasn't proud of her artistic ability, but it should still be enough to prepare a sketch of the thing.

So out of her cloak came a bottle of ink, her quill, and a small paper pad.

She set it on the cafeteria table on front of her and started sketching.

This wasn't an unusual sight for the cafeteria, so no one bothered her. Every once in a while she would stop sketching and take a sip of her beverage -- a pineapple juice she did not want to finish quickly -- and appreciated her drawing. Pretty spot on if one considered her skill.

Right as she had just about finished her sketch, a touch on the shoulder startled her.

"There you are! Missed breakfast again?" Hiila, her friend and cla.s.smate, called out from behind her.

"You scared her, Hiila." Teak rolled his eyes and made his way in front of her. "So, what are you doing?" His eyes were already on the pad Seph had been drawing on.

Seph calmed her breathing and glared at Hiila. "I would have spilled my juice on you if you had made me mess up a line." She ignored Teak. He wouldn't stop asking so soon anyway.

"That so?" Hiila snickered. "Theeeennn--"

Seph's eyes widened as Hiila swiftly reached for her juice cup. She extended her hands towards it, but it was too late.

Hila had already grabbed it and pulled it out of her arms reach.

"You wouldn't mind me taking a sip, right?" Hiila laughed and took a couple of steps away from the table.

"Oh no, you won't!" Seph growled. Hiila started run, laughing gleefully. The table and chair gave her a headstart over Seph, who gave chase without another thought.

Teak rolled his eyes and smiled. Then grabbed Seph's stuff from the table and went after them at a leisurely pace.

===

A few minutes later, and a few floors under, Seph now sat with her friends in the gardens. Hiila had dragged her there. Teak followed soon after.

Here she met up with the last of their group of four, Callu.

The four had gone down a new path this time, leading to a clearing they hadn't seen before. It was a quiet but overgrown s.p.a.ce, but without much gra.s.s. Seemed like the gardeners hadn't frequented this area in a while.

Not surprising, since even in her six years inside the academy, she hadn't explored the entirety of the gardens.

Seph was on her back, lying on the ground and looking up. Callu was using her stomach as a pillow. She hadn't had much sleep last night, apparently. Seph took advantage of this to play with Callu's hair. It was just too soft!

The other two sat nearby. Hiila had taken out her playing cards and had offered a game. Seph and Callu had denied. So she was dealing cards to herself and Teak.

Teak meanwhile asked about the drawing. "What was up with that dagger?"

Seph looked up at the ceiling. Tall and cavernous, but bright with numerous lamps.

"Commission for your guts." Seph flatly replied.

Teak gasped sarcastically. Hiila chuckled.

"It's the experiment Krys and Jach are working on." She added before Teak could say anything.

"You should have it commissioned anyway. Keep Callu's suitors at bay." Hiila teased.

"Oi." Seph gave her a blank stare. "Bad Hiila."

Hiila had started making these jokes earlier this year. She didn't get them. That annoyed her.

Frankly though, she didn't take the statement entirely as a joke. In fact it really did make her consider getting a knife. Callu was cute, some called her the gem of their cla.s.s. A lot of boys had tried to make advances at her, even when she was with hanging out with them. At first, it was honestly funny. Most of them were so corny, and Callu used to get so fl.u.s.tered at them. But the novelty wore off rather quickly. Callu stopped reacting to them and they were just annoying now. Some didn't know when to give up.

Plus knives are cool. And Callu is soft.

Callu mumbled something sleepily, then s.h.i.+fted. Seph patted her head. "Couldn't hear that." Seph told Callu.

"Mh" Callu nodded lightly. "Commission from queen I heard", She practically mumbled into her stomach. It ticked. But it was loud enough for everyone to hear.

Teak got a glimmer in his eyes. "We're going to steal a commission from the Queen? Cool!"

Hiila hit him on the head.

Seph frowned. "We don't steal you idiot." She then turned to Hiila. "Hit him again, please." Hiila complied. Teak yelled a complaint.

"I don't know what we're going to it. I just saw it." She muttered.

Teak picked up his cards and looked at Seph, frowning and a little disappointed. "Right. So you're going to ask us to sneak around and spot that dagger. Let you know where it's kept, how they are handling it and all. All for no reason. Again." He focussed on the cards now, still frowning.

"..."

Seph furrowed her brows. That was exactly what she would have asked these three today.

She felt Callu raise her head and so looked at her.

She was looking at her and smiling.

"You're right, Teak." Callu confirmed it for him.

She then moved from Seph's stomach to her shoulder, laid her head there and mumbled. Quietly, but loud enough for Seph to hear.

"You're so easy to read sometimes..."

Seph broke out into a frown. She did not want to be easy to read.