"Regardless of what you saw there, no matter how minor, those in the know will not be able to resist the urge to probe you…" he then turned to look pointedly at Althea, his previous smile returning.

"Not to mention the fact that you, Althea… within you I had sensed the trace of something familiar — The traces of a Transcendent's fragment. Though I dared not believe it. So I did not factor that into my plans at all… For that, I am sorry," he bowed, taking both Althea and Finn by surprise.

Althea visibly looked uncomfortable by the display, but the Preceptor simply chuckled. "You might not know just how valuable you are to the Ossuary. But I do. And seeing the Abstract Path of Order you possess too…?" his voice came out in a rasp like he couldn't believe it himself.

"Perhaps that is why they acted so decisively. The Harvester cult's path is one of Chaos. It conflicts directly with your Order," he said more to himself than to them, musing, before shaking his head.

"Again, I apologize for my bold move. Even though they had an outside party possessing a Disguise path just as I had suspected, I never expected they would best me so thoroughly that I couldn't even sense a trace of either of you, despite the precautionary measures I set in place." He looked thoroughly incensed with himself.

Finn reckoned the Preceptor felt more sore about it now that he knew Althea possessed this… Order path…

Speaking of paths, had the Preceptor not sensed anything within him too?

Finn was even more surprised than the Preceptor after finding out about this Order pathway thing, and the fact that Althea, who had been close to him the whole time, possessed a non-standard magic, yet he never once sensed the slightest trace of it…

Now that it had been revealed, he could definitely see that it made sense. One could usually tell the nature of a soul mass from the soul debts. Seeing how Althea, and the Seneschal family in general, were extremely ordered in their actions, as if it ran deep in their blood, Althea's possession of the Order fragment, or whatnot, was apparent.

Maybe the Transcendent fragment rubbed off on her family because of her? Finn thought.

He knew he was far-reaching with his random thoughts, but he had nothing else to go by. It wasn't like he could start asking the Preceptor deep questions about what Transcendents were. He could already see that the old man didn't even want him here hearing this. His attention was solely on Althea.

Finn knew this was not public knowledge. In fact, within the Ossuary, he doubted it was common knowledge even among high-ranked Ossuarists.

Micah, for sure, did not know about this. Finn couldn't be certain, but he could bet anything on it that the green-haired smoker didn't know about it.

In fact, by that logic, all Caretaker ranked Ossuarists very likely also did not know about it.

The exception now was the Preceptor Rank.

Preceptor Elias had not batted an eye when he arrived at the scene of the Lost Age pocket space destruction because he already knew what had happened from a glance.

Finn schooled his expression as his mind analyzed all the clues he could get.

But through it all, he still couldn't help the nagging question at the back of his mind from surfacing.

If the Preceptor had so much inside knowledge, and had even sensed that Althea had something within her, why then couldn't he sense the same about him?

Was what lied within him — his title as: The Errant Heretic, the 'Intuition' that had guided him thus far, and the unknown Soul Masses that lay dormant within him — were they all not perceivable to the Preceptor just like he had perceived something from Althea?

If his Title and his Intuition were things that couldn't be sensed, what about the soul masses?

Finn had always remained silent when anyone mentioned he was a 'Sepulchre level talent' — something he had no frame of reference for, but only knew it meant very talented.

Even before he created his soul register, thereby gaining the passive ability to prevent any stronger Ossuarist from probing his soul and finding how many soul masses he had within, Micah had still interpreted the soul masses within him back when he was like an open book, as 'assimilated.'

But Finn knew he only had two assimilated soul masses — three now, considering the obvious Ferropteryx wings on his back. The others were in this weird and unheard-of state of dormancy. Not to mention the fact that he still did not remember specifically, how a single one of them came to be bound to him.

He only had a vague patch in his memory that didn't hold up when he probed about it.

Finn definitely knew he was not normal in the slightest. He could go as far as to say he had a Transcendent fragment of his own. What it was, he didn't know. But he knew he surely had one like Althea.

And yet the Preceptor had sensed… nothing?

His mind returned to the present after he realized he was being addressed.

"Huh?" he looked at the Preceptor who was staring at him as if expecting a reply.

A stiff smile spread on the Preceptor's face and he repeated his question.

"I said. You are lucky to have witnessed all of this occurrence. Not many have the chance to learn of this hidden world. Not even Grade 3 Caretakers who have toiled for the Ossuary for years—"

So I was right…

"You have joined a special group of people who are of low rank and have regular or maybe good talent, perhaps even outstanding talent, but were still bound for the Caretaker Rank at most. But these individuals were lucky to witness something like this. In the Ossuary, we call them The Vested," he paused, as if expecting a reaction out of Finn.

Expertly, Finn's eyes flickered with just the right amount of subtle interest, laced with a tinge of… ambition.

The Preceptor noticed this and continued. "You now bear a rank separate from the norm. You are no longer an Initiate Rank Ossuarist," he walked up to Finn with steady steps, as if performing a sacred rite.

"I, Elias, 101st Preceptor of the Aethelos region, holder of a Fragment of the Transcendents, bearer of the Abstract Magic: Restriction, hereby grant you, Finnegan Slade, the title of The Vested."

Finn dropped to his knees immediately, as if brimming with dedication and respect of the special rank being bestowed upon him.

But inwardly, he sneered.

What vested? What utter and totally empty title that is!

To him, all that sounded like was a chain. A shackle that he did not for a moment fail to realize for what it truly was.

Finn could clearly see the veiled threat behind the Preceptor's choice of words.

He spoke of a 'special rank,' of a 'special group of people' who were opportuned to chance upon the same secret he just had, who were bound for great heights in the Ossuary. But all Finn could hear in those words were the finality of them.

​You have joined…

You have become…

You are now…

​Not would you, not will you, not even you must. The Preceptor spoke as if it were already done… Because, in reality, it was.

​Finn understood perfectly. There had never been a choice here. He might've had a chance after witnessing the pocket space of the Lost Era, it could've maybe been explained away as something else — though Finn would likely not have believed it anyway.

But now that he had heard the whole secret, and everything had been laid bare before him… his fate was sealed.

​Accept the title, or die. Those were the only options.

There was nothing else but death if he felt like he didn't want the title.

​"Rise, for you are now a Vested." The Preceptor spoke, waiting not for acceptance, but for Finn to play his part in the farce they both clearly knew the implications of.

​So Finn did.

He rose slowly from his knees and let a smile spread across his face. Grateful. Honored. The smile of someone who understood they'd been given something precious. Finn's act was so perfect, he almost believed it himself.

With reverence and the weight of duty in his voice, he bowed his head and said:

"Thank you, Preceptor. I will strive to repay the opportunity and grace the Ossuary has bestowed upon me with my diligent service."

An amused look of approval colored the Preceptor's face for the briefest of moments before he turned sharply and nodded.

"Good. Now your first trial awaits. Both of you," he glanced at Althea who had taken in the whole exchange with a terse expression, but understood there was nothing that could be done.

The Preceptor didn't care for that look in her eyes, though. He simply continued as if he hadn't seen it, smiling lightly her way.

"...The Emissary of the Queen of Aethelos has arrived. In fact, he is right outside."

So that was the other presence I sensed, Finn glanced towards the open glass, even though he couldn't see the Caretaker who was ways high above.

"School your expressions. Prepare your minds. Ready yourself for a mental battle. The Emissary she sent is a smart one. He will surely pick up on any lie you tell," the Preceptor said, before pausing.

Then with a shrug, he said:

"So for this interrogation… simply tell the truth."

…Huh?

"You heard me right." The Preceptor said after noticing the looks of surprise on both Finn and Althea's faces.

"About the pocket space and what you saw within… Tell him everything without missing a single detail."

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