Seth Clayford has always been a special case.

He had a prestigious position in the Clergy Department despite having a seemingly ordinary background. All the Clergy Students treated him like a special being, and the Professors in that Department always showed him deep favor. In fact, his very actions affected the Clergy Department, almost like he was its representative.

Last but not least, the Bishop and Head of the Church in the Randalorion Kingdom is his godfather. As a student, I didn't know of Father Gerome's identity, but down the line, I came to discover who he really is.

This further deepened my impression of Seth.

However, these things aren't what made Seth special. No, it's actually the opposite.

It's because Seth is special that he has all of these things.

"Seth…" I mutter softly while staring into his beautiful, teary eyes. "… You are a Diviner, aren't you?"

"E-eh…?"

"It's no use trying to hide it from me. I suspected it back when we were students, but after traveling the Kingdom and meeting many people, one of whom was a Diviner and became my friend, I came to realize the truth."

There's also my conversation with Freya, which revealed her history with the Church.

'The Church seeks out special people, preferably children, and nurtures them from a young age. These children's gifts then become the strength of the Church, allowing them to remain relevant despite their disadvantageous position in the Randalorion Kingdom.'

It has become apparent to me that Seth is one of those people.

He is a Diviner.

'Father Gerome must have groomed him personally because of this very reason. Diviners are quite rare, and the Church is very secretive about the identities of the special children they have and what their gifts are. Even the Royal Family doesn't know…'

But I do.

Because, apart from my deduction on the issue, there's also my Aego Sight.

I can clearly tell if someone is special at a glance.

For Leviathans, our existence is defined more clearly than normal humans. Magivores share the same quality, and the same applies to Armaments and Potions.

As for humans…

'I can detect their current state with Aego Sight, and although their existence remains loose and undefined, there are exceptions… like Seth here.' I smile to myself.

In the past, I used Aego Sight to determine that Klein was corrupted with something, which eventually led to me finding out about his Potion Dependency Syndrome. When it came to the Sixfold Helm of Darkness, I could discern their abilities because of the Special Resources, Armaments, and Potions that they had at their disposal, but their existences were fairly ordinary.

However, this Seth is quite unique.

His existence is not ordinary at all! It looks very similar to how Dreyfus' existence appeared after consuming the Magivore Transformation Potion.

But this looks more refined.

The uniqueness has perfectly fused with his existence, making it more sturdy, unlike Dreyfus, whose uniqueness was bleeding away with time, since the Potion's effects were temporary. Also, unlike with Dreyfus, who took a Potion, I sense no Trace Elements from Seth.

He has taken no Potion.

This is the normal state of his existence.

'Unbelievable! I have never seen a human have this much definition before—even when they take Potions!' My eyes twitch mildly, but I remain calm. 'He is certainly more Special than a Diviner, as Freya's existence didn't come close to this.'

I could be wrong.

Maybe Seth isn't even a Diviner.

But how else could he be so certain that something wrong will happen in this Excursion?

Maybe someone else in the church made the Divination.

But why would Seth want to take personal responsibility for it, even leaving the safety of the Church to seek me out for this purpose? No, I'm sure he was the one who made the Divination, which means my inference isn't wrong.

"As perceptive as ever…" Seth sighs, a defeated smile on his serene face. "You're right, Javier. I am a Diviner."

I guess that settles it, then.

"Are you just saying that so I believe your words regarding the Excursion?" I respond, just as an act of precaution.

"I don't lie, Javier. And I wouldn't start with you."

"Fine. I believe you."

Now that Seth has confirmed that he is a Diviner, this has complicated matters even more.

After all, this means his warning must be taken seriously.

"Why don't you tell me everything, from start to finish. When you're done, I'll see what can be done about the matter." I tell him, my expression turning grim.

"Okay…"

After Seth nods, he begins to explain.

He tells me about the brutal dream he had about the slaughter of the Royal Academy's students and professors. He also noted that the place they occupied wasn't the Royal Academy, which meant they were outside.

But, where else would so many students and professors be gathered at once?

It can only be the annual Excursion.

"Are you sure it'll be the Excursion this year?" I ask him calmly, though turbulent feelings rise within me.

"It has to be. I can't see too far into the past or future." His response feels desperate, but I don't think he is lying. No, even if there is a small chance he is telling the truth, I have to take this warning very seriously.

Over a thousand students attend the Excursion every year.

A few Professors and staff of the Academy will also be present, acting as their chaperone.

If they all die—

"This Divination… can you conduct it again to have more details?"

Seth shakes his head and sighs.

"My Divinations come in dreams, and I can't control how they operate. Ordinary Divinations also don't work when I try them, which means my powers are random. Although this gift is extremely rare, I can't choose what I see and when I see it."

"I see…"

"I'm only telling you these things because I trust you, Javier. Only the higher-ups of the Church know about this, and I only ever discuss my dreams with Father Gerome."

"If that's the case, won't you get in trouble for telling me all of this?"

Seth shakes his head.

"I'm allowed to tell those I wish. It's just better that I don't, since it's for my protection and also for the sake of the Church. It's not like I'll be penalized by some law. I only choose to obey the will of the Church because of Father Gerome."

'I see…'

Seth has certainly matured in his own way during these years.

In the past, he was extremely loyal to the Church and its doctrines, but that no longer seems to be the case. Now, his personal attachment to Father Gerome is what motivates him.

'Did he learn of the corruption of the church? Maybe he had some dreams that exposed the institution for what it is. Since he has chosen to trust Father Gerome, does that mean the Bishop is actually a good person? But what if this loyalty only exists because he raised Seth?'

But, all of these things aside…

'To think Seth can conduct Divination through dreams. This is the first time I've heard of such an absurd thing. Is that even possible? Scientifically, it makes no sense…'

The concept of Divination is not too complex.

Humans simply take certain Special Resources and conduct a ritual, centering their mind on a certain target, so they can get results on it. It essentially operates the same way Ruthina divined the location of the Duke's family, or how Freya divined the deceased Duke Kaelen's manor.

There have to be five elements involved before Divination can take place:

Potions.

Special Resources.

Ritual Sacrifices.

Human anchor, also known as the Diviner.

Target, also known as the Object of Divination.

All of these work in tandem with each other, and they create the mystical phenomenon known as Divination. However, not all people can divine, as this power can only be used by people who have a certain compatibility with the act of Divination.

These individuals are very rare, too.

However, just because they are exceptional, it doesn't mean they have mystical powers on their own. No, they're more akin to geniuses rather than supernatural beings.

No human can cause mystical phenomena on their own.

This is an ironclad rule of reality.

It's one of the reasons Leviathans are so special, and why Trace Elements remain as relevant as they are. Diviners still need to ingest Potions and sacrifice objects while also using Special Resources in their ritual.

These rituals are complicated and also drain the Diviner.

As such, Divination—while being plenty effective—is not a convenient power to possess.

'Yet Seth seems to have bypassed this process and is conducting Divination without taking in Potions or performing a ritual. He is also doing it without a target in mind, and he has no control over what he experiences.' My mind hurts just thinking about it. 'This makes no sense.'

The only reasonable explanation is that he is a Leviathan.

But Seth isn't one.

If he were, his existence would be a lot more defined than it is at the moment.

'It's almost like he is a walking Special Resource. There are no Trace Elements, but he definitely possesses special properties that humans don't.'

This is a first for me.

'I suppose all of my observations give his words more credibility. I believe him, and I honestly don't think he is lying. Why would he come all this way if he didn't believe what he saw? Also, he must have had a reliable history of successful predictions, which is why he is so confident about the Divination.'

All of these tell me that I have to take his words seriously.

But—

"Unfortunately, I don't have the power to cancel the Excursion. Not only is the planning in its concluding stage, but this is an activity that was established by King Eldrian II, the founder of the Royal Academy. It is a tradition that has never been called off in the history of the Kingdom and has a symbolic meaning—not only to the Nobles, but also to the commoners." I calmly explain things to Seth.

In the Royal Academy Excursion, students would spend three weeks exploring the Randalorion Kingdom, taking in all the sights and witnessing its grandeur. They would also interact with locals and give people the assurance that the Royals and Nobles care for them.

The commoners will get a rare privilege to see their future leaders, and the students will get an insight into the affairs of the Kingdom.

Many Nobles and Royals will return from this experience as changed people and will then make efforts to better the Kingdom once they reach positions of power. This ensures that the defects of the Kingdom are resolved by the incoming generation, and its grandness is appreciated as well.

Most importantly, it allows the commoners to feel the sincerity of their leaders.

It grants the Nobles and Royals more legitimacy.

The Royal Academy Excursion was established with all of these in mind.

They serve as its ethos.

These days, though, students view it as some kind of vacation and sightseeing activity. They don't take it very seriously, which is why Seth probably thought I could do something about it.

But… I can't.

In fact, even the King does not have the sole power to call it off.

This involves the will of the founder, and it has been respected by all the Kings of the past.

If the Royal Family steps in, it will be a severe breach of authority, and the consequences will be dire. Not only will the Noble Faction pounce at the opportunity like hungry hyenas, but many commoners will jump in to criticize as well.

It won't be a good look for the present King, and I doubt he would agree to it even if I used my Leviathan authority. Unless I threaten him and the Kingdom, he won't budge.

That's certainly a way to go about things, but I don't want to get on the bad side of the Royal Family, especially after all the effort I made to establish a positive relationship with it. In fact, I predict that the King will try to make me protect the students if I bring the situation up.

'Seth's identity is something the church wants to protect, but I'm sure he'll be willing to expose himself if it means saving lives. At the very least, the Bishop will be more than willing to use all of his authority to convince the King of the situation, but I'm guessing the old man already knows how pointless it is, which is why he allowed Seth to also try his best.' I sigh, trying to examine all the possible routes to take.

The truth is that there is almost none, unless I force the hand of the Royal Family.

The Royal Academy is not their sole property.

While the Royal Faction is indeed the dominant force here, the Noble Faction also exists, and they won't take this lying down.

The two opposing Dukes and their forces certainly resist and will find a way to green-light the Excursion, even if the Royal Family expressly forbids it. The worst part is… they would be well within their rights to do this, since it is the Royal Family that will be in the wrong by disobeying the will of King Eldrian II.

Convincing all the members of the Noble Faction is next to impossible, not without exposing my identity as a Leviathan.

But, even if I were willing to go that far and could succeed… There is no time.

The Excursion will take place in about two weeks.

There isn't enough time to convince everyone to cancel the whole thing, especially when the source of information is the Church—or, more precisely, Seth Clayford.

All manner of excuses can be given, and countless seeds of doubt will form even if they listen to his story and understand his position. Even I can think of a few things that could discredit Seth and also raise suspicions with regard to his true intentions.

Bottom line is… the Royal Academy Excursion is definitely not going to be called off.

Father Gerome has likely accepted this outcome.

He simply allowed Seth to do what he wanted just so the boy would feel like he had tried his best.

But that doesn't mean I can't do anything about the matter.

'I don't want to act out too much and expose more flaws to Regulus, and I absolutely cannot let anyone else know I am a Leviathan. I'm already in a delicate place with the Dark Guild, so making any major moves now will be foolish.' I sigh, almost scratching my head at the frustrating situation that has visited me just when I was beginning to enjoy myself.

'Nothing good will come out of pushing too hard for this cancellation, especially with my very limited resources. The way I see it, there's only one option…'

"I wasn't planning on going before, but it seems I have no choice." I cast my gaze on Seth and give him a resolute smile.

This is quite a drastic decision, but it's the right one.

"I'll be going for the Royal Academy Excursion, so don't worry too much."

No matter what… I will protect them.

All my students.

My colleagues… my friends.

I have no idea what kind of slaughter awaits us during this Royal Academy Excursion, but I refuse to believe that there isn't something I can do about it. I'll constantly investigate the locations and ensure we are able to retreat once things become dangerous.

This is the only thing I can do.

"Then… can I tag along too?" Seth says, his eyes also showing resolution. "I don't think I'll be at rest otherwise."

"What about the Church, and—"

"I'll inform them of my decision, so don't worry about that."

I sigh and nod.

"Sure. I can make that happen."

Although stopping the whole thing is impossible for me to do at the moment, I can at least manage to insert myself and Seth, even though preparations are almost complete.

But isn't this quite the predicament?

If Seth had arrived earlier, I would have had more options to consider. If he arrived later, I wouldn't be able to do anything at all. But, he arrived just in time for my only option to be involving myself and him in this oddly mysterious affair.

How very convenient

It must be fate.

Or…

"By the way, Seth… do you happen to know any Senior Alchemist?"

"No, I don't."

To those words, I can't help but sigh in disappointment.

After all, what I need most urgently at the moment are more Senior Alchemists to assist Jasper.

"Oh… okay."

'Looks like it isn't as convenient as I want…'

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