Magister Insanity

Stepping onto the bustling streets in pursuit of my targets, I found myself momentarily distracted by the scene. This was Aurora's District, if memory served. Bright lanterns spilled warm light over cobblestone roads, while vendors shouted their wares from rows of colorful stalls. Food carts hissed with fragrant steam, trinket shops glittered with curiosities, and street performers entertained clusters of eager onlookers.

Everyone moved with such energy, as if caught in a festival that had no end.

Yet the more I looked, the heavier the unease grew. It wasn't the discomfort of an introvert lost in a crowd. It was something simpler and potentially horrifying to an outsider.

I had no shadow.

My strange, ravenous companion had already slunk off in pursuit of the two. Without it tethered to me, I felt not only exposed, but profoundly out of place like an intruder stumbling through a world not meant for me.

Well… technically, this was another world, one I hadn't even known existed until now. I'd felt like an outsider from the start.

Still, if anyone noticed the absence of my shadow, things could spiral quickly. I might be mistaken for some great terror that had slipped past the fortress walls.

What a nuisance.

Burying my unease, I activated [Shared Vision] with the shadow to track where Kael and Xyler had gone.

My vision blurred.

Then another scene came into focus. Lavish storefronts lined the streets, their goods gleaming behind polished glass. Restaurants radiated sophistication, their interiors visible through grand windows, with menus doubtless priced far beyond a modest purse.

Clicking my tongue bitterly, I glanced around through the shadow's eye.

The shadow had halted near a grand fountain at the district's center. And across from its vantage point stood a building — more precisely, a restaurant. It seemed like quite the extravagant establishment, exuding refinement and exclusivity. Golden light from its chandeliers spilled onto the street, while a rich, distinctive aroma lingered in the air.

All sorts of people streamed into the establishment. Among them, two familiar silhouettes drew my attention: Kael and Xyler. They were dressed casually, blending seamlessly with the crowd. Odd. That wasn't what Kael had been wearing when he left the academy. Most likely, they had changed back in the alley.

Ah, I see how it is. Was this their group's usual hangout? If so, then perhaps Lancer was already inside, waiting for them.

…No. I doubted it.

For some reason, that thought rang true. Just because Lancer was from a Great Imperial Clan didn't mean everyone would cater to him every waking moment. That would be exhausting, and his lackeys were bound to harbor resentment if forced into it constantly.

More likely, this place was their own refuge, a spot the lackeys used to get away from Lancer, or something along those lines. But from this distance, how could I be certain?

In the end, the master would have to investigate personally.

Determined, I eased into the crowd and made my way toward the restaurant. Moving without a shadow was awkward, so I compensated by staying tucked behind other people and slipping into their shadows whenever I could.

Strange, really. I walked behind them and yet they gave no sign of noticing me, as if I were invisible.

Normally, the brain picked up odd signals from the environment. That creeping sensation along the spine — the small prickling that tells you someone might be watching — was a reliable alarm. If you've ever felt that, there's a good chance you were being followed.

It didn't happen every time, but it was an instinct worth trusting. Who knows, one day it might even save your life.

But this was different. It was as though that natural instinct was absent entirely.

Was it really alright to be this careless? At least glance back once or twice!

Wait... what if their instincts couldn't sense my presence at all?

At that sudden thought, the description runes of the Sunless trait resurfaced in my mind.

「 As a being of darkness, your presence is muted and silent. You move with an unnatural fluidity and possess accelerated recovery when shrouded in darkness. 」

So that was the reason. My presence was naturally muted, which meant I couldn't be sensed through the five senses. Something like that, at least.

I couldn't tell if I should feel relieved… or disturbed.

How would Mother or Father react if they suddenly realized they couldn't sense me at all? Wouldn't that creep them out?

Best not to dwell on it for now. In the first place, how would they react to what I've become, when I can't even be sure I'll ever return?

A self-mocking smile tugged at my lips for a moment before fading away.

At last, after weaving through the streets, I arrived at the fountain square. From here, the restaurant's grandeur revealed itself in full. Golden light blazed through its windows, spilling onto the cobblestones like molten treasure. Two liveried attendants flanked the entrance, bowing with polished grace as patrons drifted inside.

Sensing my presence, the shadow slithered back to its rightful place beneath my feet.

I allowed a faint smile.

"Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long?"

The shadow shook its head.

"Alright. Now then, where are they?"

In answer, it raised a dark limb and pointed toward a corner of the establishment. The glass walls made it easy enough to confirm: my quarry was inside.

But then the question struck me, what now?

Following them here was one thing; actually approaching was another. I hadn't thought that far ahead, and truth be told, I knew nothing about this place.

Sneaking in as a customer seemed like a plausible option, but hardly convincing if I sat idle without ordering. Worse, I didn't even have a single coin to my name. Earth's currency meant nothing here, and earning shards required hunting beasts in the Eldergrove, a prospect that held no appeal whatsoever.

Even if I had shards, there was no way in hell I'd waste something so valuable on a meal!

Why bother, when the academy already provided food for free? And truthfully, hunger wasn't something I even felt anymore.

For someone like me, spending shards on consumables would be nothing but a waste.

Carefully weighing my options, I concluded the best course was to wait for them to finish and leave. An ambush outside the restaurant would be the easiest way to isolate one of them. From there, I'd feed their soul to the shadow and settle the matter.

If I was careful, the guards would chalk it up to a random disappearance. Feeding the shadow required a physical body, so there wouldn't be any obvious traces.

Yes, this sounded like a plan.

I scanned the square until a secluded alcove caught my eye. I slipped toward it, leaned my back against the cool stone, and waited in silence.

The noise was rather distracting but I managed to ward it off somehow. The problem, however, was the intense rumbling inside my stomach.

My brows furrowed.

W-What... What is this? I'm already feeling hungry? That doesn't make any sense. There should still be some time left, yes? Could it be...

Feeling a bad premonition, I hurriedly summoned the runes.

First Sequence Ability: [Soul Eater]

Ability Description: [You can freely control the Soul Devouring Shadow and wield it as both a blade and a shield. Consuming a soul carries a chance to acquire its individual abilities.]

Shadow Storage: [ ]

Soul Consumed: [1/3]

†

First Sequence Curse: [Sin of Gluttony]

Curse Description: [Your shadow has a unrelenting hunger. Feed it to suppress its ravenous state or else, you might perish.]

Shadow Hunger: [56%]

[Your shadow craves the taste of living souls.]

As expected, my worst fears came true. The shadow's hunger had spiked, increasing all the way to 56%. That shouldn't have been possible under normal circumstances.

What happened? Something must have triggered it.

I glanced down. The shadow quivered faintly in response.

"Wait… did sending you to stalk those lackeys drain your strength, and in turn, increase your appetite?"

Grimly, the shadow nodded. I clicked my tongue.

Damn it! I was such an idiot. Of course long-distance work would sap its energy. It was no different from a normal person exhausting themselves.

Such a brutal blunder!

No, let's stay calm. As long as I completed my objective, I could keep the shadow from tipping into ravenous hunger.

Composure was everything. If I let panic take hold, I'd lose myself even faster.

I drew in a deep breath.

That was when a sudden commotion tore through the street.

"Run! That cursed girl is coming this way!"

"Why today of all days?!"

"Don't let her touch you, if you do, you won't meet the gods. No, scratch that. You'll just disappear!!"

…What?

Everywhere I looked, people were fleeing in blind terror, scattering as though chased by pestilence. The panic spread like wildfire.

What on earth had them so terrified?

Curious, I turned my gaze toward the source.

A figure could be seen moving along the road.

To my surprise, the cause of all the screaming and frantic fleeing wasn't some hideous monster lurking in the shadows, nor a terror creeping unseen.

No, the silhouette that sent the crowd into such hysteria was…

…just an ordinary girl?