The sanctuary that we had entered went as far as my eyes could see. Mostly because my eyes were obscured by the gargantuan buildings that loomed over me. The street that Amanda and I had landed in started at the gate built into the wall and ended at the biggest building in the city, a giant purple monstrosity. Any architect with a sense of style would cry at the sight and I wouldn't blame them. It was clearly built for utility and not for aesthetics.

“Beautiful, isn't it?” A voice floater toward me.

It was Wahyu.

The man’s inscription tattoos reflected light into my eyes as he moved. His voice was directed at me, but his eyes shone as they explored the sanctuary around us.

I couldn't see what he saw. Every single building looked the same to me, purple splotches that were fine if you needed a place to live but not good for much else.

A shadow crossed over my vision as Gold landed on my shoulder and I scratched the puffer's neck as Wahyu stepped next to me and raised his hand in greeting.

"Hello there.” He said. “I'm Wahyu.”

His words were directed at Amanda, and she bowed lightly in return. To my surprise she moved her hands in front of her heart in the structure of an eye. It was the traditional symbol of prayer used in most of the day churches, but especially in the church of the Crijik.

“Hi." She said. “Lovely to meet you. Andross had told me that you've been a huge help to him.”

I coughed lightly in embarrassment as Wahyu’s face lit up. The man turned toward me with a gleam in his eye and clapped his hands together joyfully.

“A huge help.” He said. “A huuuge help.”

"Weren't you meant to be making connections with the teachers?” I asked.

I decided to cut through the conversation before he became insufferable, but I could see it was already too late. The man's eyes gleamed in the light of the holy land as he turned toward me, not bothering to hide the smug grin on his face.

"They’re all busy.” Wahyu said. “Something about investigating an exploding tree. More importantly, let's go back to talking about what a huge help I am.”

I shot Amanda a glance and she held back a smile. Gold chirped at Wahyu and the church member pretended to listen intently, although I was almost certain that the man couldn't understand the puffer.

"He says that Andross’ inscription skills have increased tenfold since you started teaching him.” Amanda translated.

"Yes, yes. That's true. You wouldn't happen to be willing to tell that symbol teacher of yours what you just said, would you?” Wahyu asked. “The man’s been avoiding me like I'm carrying a plague.”

“I can't imagine why.” I said. "Okay, we've got to get going now.”

A hand shot out and stopped me in place. Wahyu’s head popped up in front of me and his smile blossomed as Gold chirped in amusement.

“Do you know how little breaks I get?” Wahyu asked. “It's rare that I get to spend quality time with my students.”

“Really? Because it looks like you're on break all the time.” I said.

I moved my hand and quietly activated [Earth Manipulation]. A tendril of dirt snaked around his ankles, and with a sharp motion I pulled his leg to the side, tripping him.

Then I realised that nothing had changed. He had moved his foot before I'd been able to catch it.

“You're going to need to try much better than that my student.” Wahyu laughed joyously. “But don't worry, I'm feeling fabulous thanks to all your compliments, so I'll leave you to your exploration. Just don't go running into any exploding trees. Oh, and think fast.”

With a wave of his hand the dirt around me exploded into hands that tried to grab me. I dodged every single one of them and when I looked back at the street Wahyu was gone, leaving behind a very surprised Amanda and Agni.

I didn't spare his sudden attack a second thought. He was just getting me back for the one I’d attempted.

"You realise I'm going to have to hear about that all year now?” I said. "I work with the guy. He talks. A lot.”

“He seems nice.” Amanda ignored me. "What were those things on his arms?”

As she spoke she began to walk, and we fell into a comfortable pace. My eyes scanned the buildings for any physical changes in the environment. My [Mana Sense] didn't work outside, so if there was something to find it would be equally hard for everyone to find it.

That was assuming that anybody was here.

“They’re inscription tattoos.” I said. “I don't know which materials he used, but the green and blue metal travels across his whole body. I think I've seen three or four symbols on his back. And quite a few on his arms.”

Amanda paused in front of a building that looked more like a store than a house. Although it was hard to tell when there was no furniture. She opened the door gently and gave the place a quick scan. She shook her head as she spotted nothing and moved onto the next one.

"Are you saying that he's a regent?” She asked. "Like, living regent.”

“I'm not sure that's even possible.” I said. “I've never actually seen him use them, but l think it's more like he's channeling the energy of the symbols and using it to fuel his magic. Either that or it's decorative and he's really into tattoo fashion.”

Gold shook his head and I glanced at him in surprise.

“Do you think they're real?” I asked.

Gold chirped.

Yes.

“Huh. Do you know what they do?"

As we spoke, I formed a stairway in front of me, climbing up until I could see over the roofs of the houses. There was nothing there, so I dropped back down. Gold glided around me chirping up a storm.

No. Sense. See. Cool. Fashion.

I couldn't catch every word, but I got the feeling that he wanted to get a tattoo.

“It might be a passion project." Amanda mused.

"That wouldn't surprise me. My dad says that every scriber finds a project they're fanatical about at least once in their lives. But their system for making the regent usually boils down to hard work. My dad took a year to make a regent once and I hardly saw him sleep.” I said.

The smaller buildings were a bust.

Even Gold and Agni looked upset at the lack of treasure. Both of them lifted off and flew into the air, their chirps disappearing quickly. Not even the talk of symbols could keep Gold away from potential riches.

“Is there a gold inscriber?” Amanda asked. “I bet their project would be fun to see.”

“I've never heard of one.” I said.

My father, my grandmother, and even professor Pernacles were all silver ranked scribers. It was a far cry from my tin rank, but the gulf between gold and silver was even further apart than tin to silver.

Usually when somebody spoke about a gold ranked inscriber, they meant that the inscriber had reached gold rank in another specialty, and they just happened to also be an inscriber.

"Actually, I'm not sure who gets to decide that.” I said. “If there is no gold ranked scriber, do potential candidates get elected by vote?”

"You're asking the person who doesn't even know if there is a gold scriber.” Amanda said.

I chuckled and was about to respond when I felt something strange in front of me. I paused, and Amanda followed my lead. Her hands immediately transformed into flames as she began to weave spells around her. My mind focused on the sensation of intrusion and my senses dove into the ground. In seconds I was able to discern what was making me feel uneasy.

Somebody was moving across the earth.

Tap. Tap.

Tap.

A glint of light was the only warning I got before I was attacked. I raised my hand into the air as an object moved toward my feet.

It was a knife.

I hadn't seen where it had to come from, or who had fired it, but I didn't need to. The weapon paused in mid-air as my [Metal Manipulation] took control over it. It wasn't made out of silver, so I put it in my inventory to return later.

I’d recognised the knife the moment I saw it. It was one of Berlia’s. That meant that my cousin was exploring the sanctuary and had seen me before I saw her.

It was also blunt. It would've hurt a lot if it had touched me, but it wouldn't gave given me any permanent injuries.

"That was a greeting.” I said. “It wouldn't have had me even if it had reached me.”

What I didn't mention was that it would have sliced the air right underneath my delicates if I hadn't stopped it. Clearly my cousin was sending a message and having fun at the same time.

"What kind of person sends a message with a knife?" Amanda asked.

Her hair was lighting up with fury and I raised my hand to grab her attention before the misunderstanding could grow.

“Sorry, sorry. That was my cousin. You know, the crazy one." I said.

"That was her?" Amanda asked.

The flames that composed her hair quietened but didn't disappear. Instead, she looked around at the street warily. We were in an open position and ripe for attacking.

"Can you find her?" Amanda asked.

“Berlia doesn't use magic. So, my skill wouldn't find her even if the air wasn't filled with fire mana.” I said. “She was with a team last time I saw her, but instead of risking a major headache I can try something else.”

I activated [Earth Manipulation] and spread my focus onto the vibrations I'd felt before. Normally I would use [Mana Communication] to ask where my opponent was, but the thoughts and emotions of the fire mana would drown out any reply.

Amanda stood guard as I scoured the area. Flames erupted into life around me and a wall of fire protected my body.

"She must've gone inside a building.” I said. “Because I can't sense anything—”

My words cut off as there was a tug at my chest.

“Found them?” Amanda asked.

“No. Not that." I said.

There was another tug in my chest, and I stood up. I’d felt it before, as though someone was reaching out to me.

Then a moment later it was gone.

“Did you feel that?" I asked.

Amanda looked at me with concern and shook her head.

“What happened?” She asked.

"I felt something in my chest." I saw her look and rolled my eyes. “I meant Roxxy’s magic. Or maybe another type.”

“Send a message, I'll guard.” Amanda third.

The texting regent was already in my hand. I sent a quick text to Roxxy and William, and a few more to Gerial. A single tug in the chest didn't mean much, but it was always better to be safe than sorry.

As I put the regent away there was a flash of light as Amanda’s flames were pierced. A single ball rolled to a halt next to me and I frowned. It was freezing to the touch, and I could already tell it wasn't made of a material I could control.

It was a weapon designed to counter both Amanda and me.

“I think we found your cousin." She said. “Biggest building, straight ahead.”

"Maybe she's claiming territory.” I said. “Or maybe she's found something. Either way we don't lose anything checking.”

I stepped forward and the earth around me came to life, dirt walls rising into the air to protect me as I moved across the street. This time I didn't take to the skies. I'd need all the earth I could get against Berlia.

The hunt was back on.