Due to Jake Williams’ disguise as Anthony Tangen— whom they had speculated to be a witch with the sin of prophesying— Seth couldn’t help but associate him with the organization this woman described.
He had no close contact with other witches capable of altering people’s fates...
Only Jake Williams fit that description.
Was Jake the fifth teacher she ntioned?
Either way, sweat ford at the back of Seth’s neck.
This ant Jake Williams hadn’t been fooled...
He knew Seth had survived the warehouse explosion.
’It’s fine,’ Seth told himself, forcing calm.
’I already expected to be caught again the mont I chose to stay in this city instead of running.’
As for the reason he stayed...
Seth fell silent into deep contemplation as his mind moved to other concerns.
Was his Blessing of "Secrets" from Lady Light weakening?
Or was Jake simply powerful enough to bypass it indirectly?
If he rembered correctly, he still had about a day left before the blessing expired.
The protection should still be active....
That ant Jake could not directly observe or alter his fate.
Then how?
Seth forced himself to think clearly.
If Jake could not touch his fate directly, then the only logical option was observation through other people...
Watching his movents or guiding others to act around him....
Influencing events without touching him personally.
That would explain everything.
’He cannot control directly... so he’s controlling the environnt around instead?’
It was a bold conclusion...
’Perhaps this matter isn’t related to him at all...’
Even so, this was not the ti to spiral into assumptions.
’I’ll need to contact Lady Light again soon,’ he decided silently.
For now, he had a more imdiate problem.
"You are telling this for what reason?"
Seth asked calmly.
"If you truly belong to an organization that controls fate, then revealing yourselves so openly in front of seems careless."
The woman t his eyes without fear.
"My teacher... the fifth honored disciple of deceit, has already inford that you will cause no harm to us if we reveal our existence," she said.
"On the contrary, you will bring great benefits to us."
She paused to let the weight of her words settle.
"My teacher also said that you are soon to beco a friend of the Great Liar."
She bowed deeply.
"We, the School of Deceit, will assist you greatly, sir."
Seth said nothing.
The more she spoke, the more tangled his thoughts beca.
The Great Liar.
Wasn’t that the sa entity who prophesied this city’s doom?
If so, why would he beco its "friend"?
And what exactly counted as friendship in the world of witches and sins?
Who exactly was this fifth disciple?
If it was Jake, then why help him instead of eliminating him?
Before Seth could organize his thoughts, the woman continued.
"You may choose to believe or not," she said evenly.
"But later, you will require our help in dealing with the powerful witch that Fiona Amoret will bring."
Seth narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Why would I need your help?" he replied.
"I can simply leave this place and never return."
The woman’s expression did not change.
"You are free to think that, sir," she answered softly.
"However, you have already walked into a trap."
Seth’s gaze sharpened.
"What do you an?"
Instead of answering directly, the woman pointed toward the door.
"A spell was cast upon the entrance. Anyone who steps inside is bound to remain here until permission is granted to leave."
Seth turned slowly toward the door.
He walked over and grasped the handle.
It did not budge.
His expression remained calm, but internally, he activated his ability...
He focused, activating [Authority of the aningless] , attempting to transfer the lock’s purpose elsewhere.
But the mont he tried, he felt resistance.
Sothing blocked the alteration.
His hand slowly lowered.
’There really is a spell.’
He turned back toward the counter.
The woman tossed a folded piece of paper toward him.
It landed softly on a nearby table.
"When the ti is right, you may seek our help by chanting the words on that paper," she said calmly.
"We will not force you to do anything, sir. The choice is entirely yours."
Just as the woman reached for the door behind her, Seth called out.
"Wait."
She paused and looked back.
"May I leave?"
Seth asked, his voice serious.
The woman studied him for a mont.
"I am not the one who cast the spell. If you’re asking for my permission because you think I control it, you are free to think that."
Seth cut her off imdiately.
"That doesn’t answer my question. May I leave?"
The woman was silent for a long mont.
Finally, she spoke.
"You may leave."
Without waiting for a response, she turned, walked through the door, and closed it quietly behind her.
Seth waited until he heard her footsteps fade.
Then he approached the front door again.
He activated [Authority of the aningless], attempting to transfer the lock’s purpose once more.
Still t with resistance...
’It was worth trying,’ he thought.
’Either she truly isn’t the caster, or "permission to leave" ans sothing different than I assud.’
He moved to the nearest window... locked.
He tried the sa ability on its latch... nothing.
He searched for another exit— a back door, a kitchen entrance, even a ventilation shaft.
All were sealed by the sa invisible force...
He picked up a chair and struck a windowpane.
The glass didn’t break... It did not even form a crack.
’I really am trapped here,’ he admitted silently.
Seth glanced at the wall clock.
Nearly three in the morning... Hours remained until dawn.
He sat down in a corner, back against the wall, and forced his mind to calm.
Panic would not help... thinking would.
In his hand, he held the crumpled paper the woman had given him.
He did not open it.
He did not even glance at its contents.
If this organization truly controlled fate, the paper itself might be a trap— a spell waiting to activate the mont he read it...
He waited.
The hours passed slowly.
The street outside remained quiet.
Then, just as the first hints of gray light touched the sky, the sound of hooves and wheels approached.
Seth rose and moved to the window.
A luxurious carriage stopped at the teahouse entrance.
The door opened, and a woman with silver hair stepped out, followed by a tall, bulky figure— Fiona Amoret and Jerald.
Seth positioned himself near the front door, waiting.
The door opened.
Fiona stepped inside.
Her eyes widened slightly when she saw him, but she recovered quickly.
"Good morning, Mister Black." She curtsied gracefully.
Seth said nothing... his mind was racing.
He had activated [Null Presence] the mont the door began to open.
His plan had been to slip past them unnoticed when the door opened and escape into the street.
But she was able to see him clearly despite the ability!
’She can see ,’ he realized.
The woman’s warning had been accurate.
A spell was indeed active inside this building, and it nullified his ability to hide...
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