At high noon, Jin and Isis finally parted ways as Jin returned to the mansion's front gates.
He still had a pocket of extra change in his hand while he munched on his chocolate glazed donut.
Music played their melodies in his ears. The MP3 player truly was a blessing for someone like Jin.
"Amakusa Jin," a voice proclaimed, revealing themselves to be Kyle, who waited at the front gates. "You seem to be doing well now."
"Hmm? Yeah, I went out with a friend." Jin offered up a donut from his package. His cheeks still puffed out. "There's still a lot here. You want?"
"You seem to be doing well; where's your walking stick?"
"Hmm? Ah, I don't need it anymore. Doesn't hurt as much to walk."
"I see. Then, I want you to come with me."
Jin swallowed. "Oh, is this about me leaving without gaining permission myself? Shouldn't I be able to exercise my right of freedom, Kyle?"
"You're not in trouble. Well, partially."
Jin appeared bewildered. "So what is this about?"
"Lord Arael simply wishes to see you for discussion."
Jin reluctantly obliged to Kyle's wishes as he followed the man inside the mansion. They explored through the first, second, and third floors before arriving at a large double door.
Arael's office? Jin noticed before Kyle pushed the door open. There, he spotted Arael, hands crossed over his desk.
"I see you've taken the pleasure of the outside world into your own hands."
"Well, I would've enjoyed it more if you hadn't called. What do you need?" Jin demanded. He was still ticked off from what Kyle had done before.
"Straight to the point. And my my, such hostility you hold in your eyes."
"Well I'm sorry for my poor manners. A lot of shit happened in this room," Jin retorted. "Now why did you call me?"
Arael laughed at the snappy response.
"Anyways, it's for further discussion on the deal we've set."
Jin's gaze narrowed. "Wasn't it already well and done. What is there to further discuss?"
"It's nothing as bad as it seems."
"Should I be concerned on whether or not you'll threaten to kill my family or friends if I don't find it to my liking?" Jin spat.
Arael waved a hand. "Perhaps? But now? No threats, simply clarification on the academy you'll be attending and another matter. Why don't you take a seat? I'm sure it'll take a long while."
The boy looked at the red couch but shook his head slowly. "I'm good."
"If you insist then," Arael continued on. "The academy you'll be attending is our nation's esteemed Halcendre Academy of Fundemental Science. It's a unique academy which only accepts Exceptions."
"Its a science school?"
Arael nodded. "Yes, it's phrased that way. Though, it's a little different. Anyways, before that, you'll be required to take an entrance exam that takes place in three months, which you'll need to pass if you want to be accepted."
"I see. Well, why do I need to attend this academy specifically? You never bothered explaining the reasons."
"To learn of course. Your powers aren't unique, Jin. But if you're still left unattended without any understanding of how the use them, there's no doubt you may cause some major problem."
"Some problems?"
"Having an uncontrolled Nexus without supervision is dangerous. You've managed well for someone without training, but your stunts and tricks could end up eventually becoming a threat I simply can not look past."
Jin's jaw tightened. "So in the end, this is all so you could keep me on a leash."
"Yes, that's exactly right. I'm glad you came to that conclusion. Though, you should think of this as a possible oppurtunity for yourself. How many Ordinary's get the chance to attend Halcendre's top academy simply out of luck?"
"You expect me to thank you when all of this is of result of you forcing me? Cause, if so, you're a bigger piece of shit than I gave you credit for. Just because you'll be finding my father in return doesn't mean I'm ever going to owe you anything."
"Ahh, that's another thing," Arael uttered. "I'll only be helping with finding your father for as long as you stay in Halcendre. If, by any unfortunate chance, you no longer exist. I'll simply stop."
"And... what's that supposed to mean," Jin frowned.
"Halcendre Academy of Fundemental Science isn't anything like that Education Centre you call a school. It's glorified as the most competetive school in the world with an expulsion rate of more than 80%."
"So even Vassari's don't get special treatment? But that's besides the point, how is that related?"
"It's an institution that is meant to develop to future generation of Halcendre. Yes, it's glorified as a school of scientific study, but it's more or less one that trains the elite. Upon graduation, the student will be granted what's called an Exception License. It is by then, they'll have special permission to legally use their abilities in certain jobs."
"And...?"
"If you, on the unfortunate chance, get expelled. I won't see you with value in keeping you along in Halcendre. In short, I'll be left with no choice but to dismiss you."
So, in other words, he'll have no choice but to leave Halcendre.
Isn't there a few loopholes in that? Finding his father wasn't exactly at the top of Jin's bucket list.
"I'm sure you realised some gaps in what I've mentioned, which is why I'm here to inform you of the weight in what you're dealing with."
Arael's expression hardened but kept smiling.
"You'll also be treated as an Ordinary the moment I dismiss you."
When Jin finally realised what it meant, his fists clenched at the package until veins bulged out.
Jin's voice came out low. "So... I wouldn't be allowed to return home?"
"Not just that," Arael answered. "You would be detained. Possibly executed."
Those words were clean. Unemotional from his lips.
"Your life was under my jurisdiction the moment you popped into my radar, Jin. You're not getting an easy way out of this, like it, or not."
The discussion had ended after only a couple minutes as Jin was guided right out of the room. He was ghost silent.
It was a long walk before he returned to his own room.
When he closed the door, he slammed his fist against the wall. The skin was bruised and split, bleeding. The pain didn't even register.
"At this point," Jin exhaled, voice shaking with tightly-held fury, "I'm no different from being his plaything."
He slid down against the wall, fist throbbing.
Returning back to the Arael's office, both he and Kyle finally have come an agreement after further discussing.
"If what you say is true about him, then I suppose we'll need to adjust the planning and push it a bit further."
"If that's what you wish of me, than I'll do it to the best of my ability, Lord Arael," Kyle bowed before his lord.
"Good. Then I expect that you two start the moment when we arrive back in the family estate in Halcendre. Don't hold back in your training."
***
"I feel utterly ridiculous," Jin cringed, exiting the dresser along with some of the mansion maids as they presented him with care.
"Forgive us for the wait. But, Master Jin's hair colouring has now been complete," annouced one of the maids.
"You look wonderful, Jin!" Nozomi complimented, clasping her hands together in awe.
"BAHAHA, blonde is SO not your colour!" Isis laughed, crying.
"Pfft, yeah, lookin' like a real Vassari there," Taro joined in. "Oh, should we start bowing our heads, oh great Vassari?"
It was a known fact that Vassari's all had rather vibrant hair colours. The natural hair colours of dark red to black which common in Osvain would stand out like a speck on a snow white canvas.
So, Jin was required to get his hair dyed.
His formally rich black hair which he had gotten from his mother had now changed into an unfamiliar dirty blonde.
The purpose of this was so Jin would look like a bonefied Vassari.
"Hey, is this really okay? Some of my strands are seeping through." Jin tugged a part of his hair, indicating to Kyle the faded edges of grey.
"It's fine," Kyle nodded. "That kind of blonde isn't rare among Vassari. You'll fit in quite well in Halcendre. Though... I suppose we could cut your hair."
"Leave my hair out of this. It's already been damaged enough."
"....Fine. Now, we need to choose some sets of clothes for you."
"Clothes...?!" Jin groaned. "I feel like I'm being treated as a fashion model. How is this necessary?"
"Don't be like that. How you present yourself is very important, even in Osvain, Jin!" Nozomi berrated.
"Listen to your mother," Kyle agreed. "In Halcendre, how you dress could be the silver-lining of whether or not your identity would get discovered. It may be inconvenient for you, but this is also inconvenient for the Vaen family."
Jin raised an eyebrow. "And how would it be inconvenient for this family?"
"Lord Arael had put your name under special admission when applying you in for the entrance exam. It means a lot of eyes will be on you on the day."
"If that's the case, why was I put onto such an important position?"
"It was the only way to get your name in without arousing suspicion. Halcendre Academy already has a long waiting list of students who are wishing to apply. They run a background check on all applying students. However, special admission students don't have background checks."
"Why is that?"
"Special admission students are essentially recommended students sent by upstanding families. They don't bother putting them through a screening test to confirm if they're fit to take the exam."
"Ahh, I get it!" Taro ruffled a hand through Jin's hair. "So Jin here is getting bumped through the waiting list and straight to the exam!"
"Yes, that's what I just said."
"Wow, if you really think about it, the Vaen family are risking a lot of face just to put Jin into this entrance exam," Isis commented. "I find it hard to believe that Lord Arael would go through all this trouble."
Jin's muscles tensed from that.
"Everything that is said in this room will not be allowed to leave. If I hear notice that you've told your friends about this, I'll make sure you or they won't go unpunished."
His lips pursed.
"Maybe it's not as important as it seems. We are talking about the Vassari after all," Jin said.
"Meh, still think there's a bit of bullshit in there."
Taro's gaze locked on Jin, noticing the change. Kyle went to the heavy door.
"Kid, I'm going to grab a couple sets of clothes for you. Just wait here."
The enforcer dismissed himself without a second thought. While Nozomi and Isis were talking with eachother, Taro followed Jin on his way to a secluded wall.
The two figures leaned against it in silence.
Then, Taro opened his mouth.
"There's a chance you won't come back, isn't there?" Taro inquired, his voice coming out more lower than he intended.
Jin remained idle. Bittersweetness lapsed across the calm composure he tried so hard to keep. A toothy grin stiched into his features.
"I guess I'm that bad at hiding it from you," Jin gave out, letting out a breathless sigh.
"No, you did a great job. You're just not the type of person to be this compliant with everything that's been going on. And I suspected as much given you're going to the capital."
Taro has known Jin since childhood. Unlike his step-sister, he's familiar with the way Jin thinks when it comes to those he's close to.
"I'm not the smartest guy. I'm only really good for making stuff. But, it doesn't take a genius to notice that you've been really adamant about hanging out with us over the last couple of days when you've been cooped up in the mansion all week before."
"Well, even the most complicated of walls has a limit before the charade is pulled away."
Jin's words didn't echo well with Taro, but the latter didn't bother trying to snap back.
"I'm not going to question what happened or why you've been on edge, but you can't expect Isis not to have noticed too. Cause she does."
Taro's concern didn't extend just as a concerned brother—but a worried friend. More than he could admit, he was just as scared as anyone else about Jin leaving to Halcendre.
The years of growing up in Osvain. All those experiences cultivated towards the Vassari treating Ordinary's like garbage.
With the knowledge that Jin is going to be under the care and radar of a Vassari, it's natural that Taro would feel this way.
"A lot of things could happen in Halcendre. That's the most I could say."
"Would it hurt you to at least trust me more? We aren't kids, Jin. I can keep the secret. And if you don't want Isis to know, I could do that."
Jin turned to Taro with a hesitant glance. "...Sorry. Can't."
Taro sighed. "At least I know you want to."
Guilt flashed over Jin.
There's so many things he wished he could say to him—to Iris—to his mother.
But he also couldn't risk endangering them.
If Jin knew any better, they'd somehow try rushing to save him without a second thought just like when Jin was first captured by Arael.
So he stayed quiet. No further words exchanged between the two boys before Jin was called back for another change in clothes.