Seeds of Discordia

Liam stared at her as calmly as he could. Internally he was trying to figure out how she knew. He knew the others wouldn't have said anything and he didn't do anything that would make her know it was him. His face was hidden thanks to the cloak that formed over his head and the shadowy mask over his mask. So then how did she…

He suddenly remembered a certain racial benefit the Fae had that made him curse internally when it popped into his mind. He then grew confused as he remembered that she said she could smell mana not that she could smell and know who the mana belong to. If she was going off of the smell he probably still had on him lingering then he could play it off as he was crafting with Shadow Mana Extracts. However, if she really could pinpoint who the mana belonged to due to that crazy ability then he messed up. He needed to know if that was the case or not.

Making a slightly confused face Liam responded, "I don't know why you are thanking me personally. I wasn't there when the others protected you."

Omira, keeping that determined expression on her face, stared at Liam. She didn't look like the guarded teenage girl like she had when he first met her. She still had that lonely feeling in her eyes, but other than that she now looked like someone who had faced many situations one shouldn't have to. Liam knew that look. He knew that look all too well.

Omira have him a half smile as she said, "Liam…I know that it wasn't that long when after my…bodyguard and I came to you with accusations. Wrong accusations I will thankfully admit. During that time we talked about what led me to think you were what Sebastean had believed you were. Do you remember what we talked about?"

Liam kept his gaze on her. He knew what she was talking about. It was the very same subject he was going to try and broach. However, it looked like she was going to take the initiative and bring it up herself, which he would gladly take. "You are referring to your Racial Benefit Mana Smell correct?"

Omira nodded. "Yes. I know you are a newly arrived person who is still learning everything from magic and skills to races and their benefits. Also, from our last encounter and the few interactions we've had I believe you are a cautious person who keeps their secrets held tight."

Omira put a hand up to stop whatever Liam was about to say as she continued, "Please do not lie and say something along the lines like you do not have any secrets. Everyone in this world has secrets. That, ironically, is the only thing that isn't a secret. I do not blame you for trying to hold yours but rather applaud you for doing so. I don't know if it's something you have been doing since you were in your old world or have learned to do so here, but keeping secrets is something the inhabitants of this world does to stay safe. Besides coins and abilities, leveraging one's secrets is the most powerful thing a person can do. Whether it is something one gives to another or one takes without the owner knowing, secrets can be the most powerful tool a person have in their pocket."

Liam remained silent. He was confused with where Omira was leading with this. He had believed she was going to explain more on how she knew it was him earlier, but now that she was bringing up secrets he was growing more and more puzzled.

Omira waited to see if Liam would say anything. When he didn't she continued, "When we spoke about the Racial Benefit ability Mana Smell, you had learn that each Mana Type has a unique smell that those in the Fae race can smell. That is no secret. Everyone knows this. The scent mana gives off is related to the Field of Magic that the mana is tied to."

Liam nodded, still not sure where she was going with this. He still had that theory, but the more she talked the more he was starting to think he was wrong about it. Maybe there was something else about smelling mana that made her believe it was him.

"What a good portion of the world as well as many in the Fae race don't know is that there is more to the ability that only select members of the Fae race both know and are able to do with the ability as well about Mana in general," Omira stated with a flat look. "What many people do not know is that there is another unique smell to the mana a person uses. It's called a Personal Mana Scent."

Liam's eyes subtly twitched as he tried to keep a clam composure while he continued to listen to the teenaged girl.

"When a person uses magic, the type of mana they use leaves a smell that is related to the Field of Magic the mana is from. Mixed within that Mana Type smell is the unique Personal Mana Scent that cannot be replicated. Its faint if a person just uses a spell and nothing else, but once they channel mana into the spell…That Personal Mana Scent grows even more into it. Everyone has it, but no one except a select few. Adding to that a very select few in the Fae race have the ability to smell that Personal Mana Scent and know who it belongs to after they smelled it once off a person."

While what she was saying made the theory Liam had early correct, the contents of what she was saying seemed a bit much. While it was true he didn't know much, or a lot, about magic, mana, and even the Fae race, he also wasn't sure if she was just saying this to get him to admit he was the one who showed up to protect her.

What made him wary was the mere fact she had talked about how secrets could be the most powerful tool anyone could have. If she truly believed that then why was she telling him these secrets? He didn't know he angle or what she was playing at, but there was something he did know and understand. The look in her eyes and her body language.

Both her body language and the look in her eye told him she was serious about what she was saying and that she was determined about something. That determination was also mixed with desperation and some fear. That fear was pushed down far in her, but the small amount he was able to see in both her eyes and body language told him that there was more to her telling him all of this.

After internally debating within his own mind, Liam decided he needed to know why she was telling him all this. With a look of his own determination, Liam responded, "While I do have to agree with you that secrets are a very powerful tool for a person to have, I must say that you leave me baffled at the thought of you sharing this…let's call it Fae Secret. I'm not sure what you hope to gain by telling me this."

Not deterred by Liam's words, Omira replied, "My hope, by me divulging this information, is to make you understand that I recently understood that during our last…meeting, I learned you had lied to me about the Shadow Mana. Unless you want to try and make me believe that the Personal Mana Scent of the Shadow Mana I smelled on you that you claimed to belong to a random crafting ingredient… the very same Personal Mana Scent I caught a whiff of earlier when a masked assassin appeared to fight off the other assassins earlier tonight are not related. Or that maybe, just maybe, it was just a coincidence that the source of the Personal Mana Scent just so happened to be on the very same island as us and decided to protect me?"

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Liam stared at her impassively. She had him there. It seemed this Mana Smell Racial Benefit and the Personal Mana Scent was going to be a very big problem for him. He needed to find a way around it or figure out if there is a way to get around it.

The frown on Liam's face sent the wrong message to Omira as she noticed it. A wave of worry washed over her as she quickly said, "I don't want you to feel that I am attacking you. Like I said when I came in here I am thanking you for what you did. If you still think I am here to use what I learned tonight as a way to threaten you then I have prepared something out of goodwill to help dissuade you of that notion."

Liam watched as Omira pulled something out from her inventory. It was a small book. As she passed the book over Liam read the cover. It read Mana Deodorant. Liam raised a brow as he looked back at Omira. Her composure was still a bit frayed as he looked at her. Almost like she understood his unasked question, she stated, "It is a recipe on a Medicinal Creation called Mana Deodorant. It's a spray that will erase the lingering Mana Smell and Personal Mana Scent after a person is done casting spells."

Liam's brows raised in surprise. This was the answer to the problem he had just learned he had. His eyes then narrowed as he realized this was too good to be true. He understood that she was thankful for what he had done, but this was too much. First, she came here telling him that she knew he protected her, then about the secrets of her Racial Benefits, and now the answer to protect himself from that problem. It was all too suspicious.

Liam placed the book down and folded his hands on top of it and looked at her. "I must say, hypothetically, if I was the same person who did protect you. What you have provided me as a thank you, while generous, is also suspicious. Why go to these lengths?"

Omira let out a sigh. From the sound of it, the sigh was full of wariness and tiredness. "I'll be honest with you. I don't like to play mind games. This postulating and attempt of cat and mouse is tiring. So please let us quit it. I plan on telling you exactly why I chose to tell you all of this instead of holding on to this secret. So please do not treat me as if I am wrong."

Liam could respect that. He was also tired of trying to find ways to go about without admitting she was right. There really was no point to at this stage. She knew and she wasn't going to budge from that. He gave her a nod of acknowledgement as he waited for her to continue.

"I will admit that I am pretty shocked when I realized you have an Underground Association membership. Which one you are a part of I can only take a guess but have no proof. The fact you are a Crafter with Shadow Magic is an exceedingly rare thing. Not impossible, but rare. It's not something just anyone can have. I digress though," Omira stated as she waved a hand about in front of her face. "You know who I am correct?"

Liam nodded.

"Can you say it, so I know exactly what you do know please?" Omira requested.

"The information both requests with your name had on it was that you are Third Princess Omira Faeheart," Liam informed.

"Both requests?" Omira questioned with a surprised look.

Liam nodded. "Yes. The Underground Association I belong to had received two requests with you as the target. One was an Assassination request while the other was a Protection request." Liam thought about it some more and decided to add as a gesture of goodwill, "If it helps you feel better, the Underground Association I belong to heavily suggested to not take the Assassination Request. They had also received backup from a second Underground Association I have no knowledge on for the Protection Request."

Omira's expression looked both relieved and happy after hearing that. She caught what she had done and quickly schooled her emotions before saying, "Yes. I am the Third Princess Omira Faeheart from the Faeheart Kingdom. Fifth child to Omiran and Henriette Faeheart. Currently the only Oceanic Fae in the family."

Liam nodded. While she did give him more information than what he was expecting, she did so with no hesitation. Liam froze as he realized what had just happened. Not only did she admit her last name, she had also giving him her position and family standing. He didn't know why she would do that; he understood that her giving him that information was important. His body language shifted to show her she had his full attention.

The gesture created a small smile on her face as she continued, "As you know, this attempt for my life hasn't been the only one." Liam nodded remembering their first encounter and the explanation of what had happened before running into them when they met again on the boat. "There has been several attempts throughout my life after I reached the age of twelve."

Liam's brows furrowed. He knew he was ignorant of many things, but having one's life be in constant danger since the age of twelve? That made him want to know more. He decided to ask, "Why?"

"For several reasons," Omira started. "One of the obvious reasons being succession to the throne. Another being my duties as an Oceanic Fae."

"Succession for the throne?" Liam questioned. "I know I don't know customs in this world, but isn't the oldest usually the one who is in line to succeed?"

Omira shook her head. "I'm not privy to the other nations, but in our kingdom the throne is based on merit amongst the children. The more one gains achievements, does their duties well, and more the higher the chance is to gain the throne."

Liam watched her body language as she explained this. What he saw made him believe that she thought the same thing as he did on what she had said. While it sounded like a good idea, the actual reality of it could cause problems. In fact, this way of doing things could end up causing problems depending on how the siblings were…

Liam's eyes widened slightly as he thought more about what she had said earlier. Taking a chance that he was right, he asked, "Were most of those attempts on your life due to your siblings?"

Omira flinched at the question. Liam knew he was right, but didn't voice it as she replied, "While I do not have definitive proof…the way they treat me speaks volumes."

Liam stared at her. He thought about his own brothers and how they treated each other. While they did argue and fought they never really wanted to kill each other. The answer she gave didn't really say they would try to kill her. Being treated poorly is one thing, but wanting to kill your own sibling was another. If that was all she had to go on then he needed her to understand that. "Just because a sibling treats you poorly it doesn't mean they are trying to kill you."

Omira looked saddened before finally saying as she shook her head, "The ones who attempted to kill me were all connected to my siblings. I say that I don't have definitive proof only because when each attempt failed they acted like they had no dealings with them and created an alibi that made it seem like the people took it upon themselves because they believed I am not worthy."

Liam took in that new bit of information. He could see why she could believe that her siblings were about of it but ultimately decided not to get too involved. He still wasn't sure why she brought this up in the first place. That's what he needed to figure out.

Almost like she was reading his mind, Omira started back up, "Anyways, the reason why I bring this up is because I believe either one, many, or all have been trying to get me killed. The attempt when I left the palace and the attempt on the island…"

"While I could see the attempt with those guys we ran into when we first met you, I don't see how they would try to on that island," Liam stated. "They didn't know you would be there on this day right?"

"That's right," Omira stated. "However, two people employed by my family did." Liam's eyes slowly narrowed as he tried to think about who she was referring to. However, before he could ask, she gave the names willingly. "Key and Sebastean."