"Maki, we've been waiting for you." Susan gestured for me to sit on a chair across from them. "This is my daughter, Areci." Areci? She's her daughter? I finally got to meet her—Susan has never stopped talking about her in any of our meetings.

"Hello, Areci, my name is Maki Vichag, it's a pleasure to meet you. Your mother has told me a lot about you." I tried to sound both refined and casual, not wanting to come off as too noble or too informal.

"Hello, Maki, nice to meet you too." She turned toward Susan with a questioning look. "Mother… are you sure he's twelve years old?" Susan laughed softly while I scratched my head awkwardly. It's normal for people to think I'm older.

"Yes, I told you already. Maki is very mature for his age—sometimes he even seems older than you." Susan laughed again while her daughter turned her gaze away, slightly indignant. "Maki, sit down; it's time for a good dinner together." I had forgotten to sit from nerves, so I followed her advice and took my seat. The table was filled with delicious food.

Before starting to eat, both of them were staring at me as if expecting something. My mind went blank for a moment—was I supposed to bring a gift? Maybe a bottle of wine for Susan? A present for her daughter? How could I? Susan never told me I'd be meeting her daughter today. Areci's stare grew more intense, as if she were studying me.

I met Susan's eyes, and for a fraction of a second she glanced toward the corner where the third person was hidden. My mind immediately put one and one together—they were waiting for me to say something about the person concealed there. It was clearly a test from Areci, and Susan seemed to be enjoying it.

I was honestly impressed by that person's skill. I couldn't see her at all, as if she were wrapped in some shadow- or darkness-based ability. When I first entered the office, I gave a quick glance around, and everything looked completely normal—like no one was there.

Even my Personal World was avoiding her, as if she were submerged in the darkness of that corner. It reminded me of Ho's ability, though different somehow—I just didn't know how. I only noticed because the "void" her power created was so obvious to me; any other detection ability would have missed it.

That person was literally creating a pocket of darkness around herself that caused all senses to avoid it. But to me, that void stood out like a firefly in pitch blackness. It was impossible not to notice when "nothing" suddenly contained "something."

I sighed, turned toward the corner, and spoke. "It's dinner time. Aren't you going to join us? The food looks delicious." I felt a small reaction within my Personal World from that direction. Areci's mouth fell open in surprise, and Susan clapped her hands, laughing lightly.

Point of View: Areci

I couldn't keep my mouth shut when this "kid" in front of me turned to look exactly where my friend was hiding—and even spoke to her as if he'd known about her presence all along. Is he really someone who just reached Sapphire Rank?

I also have a skill that heightens my senses; I always use it to detect hidden people or monsters. When I use it with Shawu, it's nearly impossible to sense her from that distance. I have to be relatively close just to pick up the faint mana fluctuation around her, and even then, pinpointing her exact location is extremely difficult once she retreats.

Maki had detected her far beyond my maximum range, and with such natural ease that I'd only ever seen in a handful of people—all of them at least Diamond Rank and incredibly strong. My mother had already warned me about Maki; he's another limit-breaker like me—the third one in this academy.

Shawu is at the very peak of Sapphire Rank; she can last several minutes against a Ruby-Rank opponent if she focuses on running or hiding thanks to her affinity with shadows. That alone says a lot— the difference between Sapphire and Ruby is immense. Being able to endure for minutes places her near the top of our rank.

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Shawu is among the ten strongest students in our year. Her attack power and Imra control might be lacking, but her mastery of her abilities, agility, and speed are among the best. For her to be detected by someone six or seven years younger—a newly advanced Sapphire—must have shocked her just as much as it shocked me.

Who is this boy? The more I wondered, the bigger my smile grew. I'd finally found someone who could push me to the next level.

"When did you notice her, Maki?" my mother broke the awkward silence.

"From the moment I set foot in the room," he replied calmly.

"I figured as much." My mother nodded. "Shawu, you can come out now and join us for dinner." At that, my best friend appeared and walked slowly toward the open chair, keeping her eyes fixed on Maki.

I took the chance to introduce my long-lashed, red-haired friend. "As you just heard, this is Shawu. She's my best friend and one of the strongest students in the academy." Maki gave a polite bow.

"Sorry for testing you with that little prank." Maki raised an eyebrow, curiosity flashing across his face. "We didn't fully believe my mother's words about your strength, so we decided to test your sensory ability with a small trick." I apologized for the joke—honestly, I never thought Maki would be able to find her.

"No problem." Maki smiled, taking it lightly. "So then, what's your verdict? Did I pass the test?" He looked at me, then at my friend.

"Yes, you definitely passed. Your sensory ability is impressive." I couldn't help but praise him—finding such a capable Sapphire Rank was like discovering a phoenix feather.

"Of course you passed; I'm still stunned you could detect me. Can I know where I failed? How did you find me?" Shawu, now comfortable, was about to flood him with questions; she loved to talk, especially if it helped her grow stronger.

Maki didn't answer right away, which made her fidget impatiently. He turned to look at my mother as if asking her a silent question. My mother smiled before speaking. "They don't know much about you yet, only that you're absurdly strong for your age. They made this plan without asking me first." When she finished, he sighed.

"You didn't fail at all, Shawu. Your skill is incredible—you blended perfectly with the environment. I couldn't see you or sense any mana fluctuations." Maki paused for a moment to think. "The problem was the perfection of your ability. You camouflaged yourself so completely that you created a void where something should have been. Within my ability, that void shines like a light in a dark room." I was left confused by his explanation, and apparently, I wasn't the only one.

My friend furrowed her brows, trying to understand, and finally seemed to give up. "I don't get it. My skill is so perfect that it becomes imperfect? How is that even possible?" She was practically eating Maki alive with her stare.

"I don't know how other sensory skills work—mine's a bit particular. Your camouflage lets you disappear, leaving an empty space where you should be. In my ability, that void becomes a marker of something hidden." He brought a hand to his face. "Let me show you an example." Maki released his Imra, and I was honestly shocked, though I didn't show it.

His Imra was well-developed, dense, and flowing. It was clear he had been honing it for years—many years. Maki lifted a water pitcher with his Imra. "Imagine this table is the office, this pitcher is you, and your camouflage is my Imra. You vanish from the table, right? My ability then detects a gap in that spot—that's how I knew someone was there." His words finally made sense.

Shawu's camouflage didn't actually blend her with the surroundings—it simply erased her presence, leaving a void. Judging by the sparkle in her eyes, she'd realized it too. She'd been stuck with her ability for months, and now it seemed she had found the key to improve it.

Point of View: Maki

Dinner with Susan and the two red-eyed girls was pleasant. It was the first time I'd met anyone with that eye color—and I'd met two in one day. Areci's red was a deep wine shade, while Shawu's was lighter, like diluted blood.

We talked about all sorts of things throughout dinner. Shawu was very talkative—she could keep going regardless of others' opinions and sometimes spoke without thinking. I only saw her restrain herself when addressing Susan.

The food was a solid ten out of ten—most of the dishes were fish-based and absolutely delicious. It reminded me that I needed to prepare my favorite dish, which was also why I declined their offer to train tomorrow. Instead, I'd go into the city to look for fresh fish and the necessary ingredients. They suggested buying them at the academy's shopping center, but I refused.

It wasn't just about shopping—I wanted to explore the city and maybe find some interesting food stalls. I promised to join them for training soon. I didn't mention my Cube's condition, though they seemed a bit disappointed and even upset by my decision; in the end, they agreed to wait.

Finally, tomorrow I'll get to explore and gather what I need to make my favorite dish. Tomorrow will be the day I make Ceviche!

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