"So? What’s wrong with this skill glyph? Why aren’t you answering?"
Rita didn’t respond right away. Instead, she asked, "Didn’t you learn glyph language?"
That was the thing she had studied the most under Foolishness.
This ancient language ford power itself. And within that power, layer after layer of aning, like stories hidden inside structure.
After leaving Divine Instruction, she had even tried to find similar courses among the gods. To her surprise, none existed. The closest thing was sothing like Magic Theory.
But Magic Theory and glyph language were worlds apart.
One was application. The other was origin and aning.
They were connected, but there was still a long gap between them.
"Not every god teaches glyph language in depth," By explained. "I only learned so of it after coming to Graveyard of Bones, from other preserved wills."
She paused, then added, "I can understand this glyph. That’s exactly why I don’t understand why you’ve been staring at it for so long."
Rita smiled and looked back at the glyph under Deceitful Bloom’s brush.
"Maybe it’s because I don’t understand it."
By frowned. "I hate people who talk in riddles."
"So do I." Rita cut straight to the point. "Answer one question and I’ll tell you. Is your divine talent Flower Soil?"
"No."
"You’re sure? Not sothing Deceitful Bloom tampered with?"
By gave her a look.
"You really were fooled badly by her, weren’t you?" she said calmly. "I’m certain my divine talent wasn’t altered. The awareness that cos from a fully ignited soul fire cannot be tampered with by any will."
Rita was about to respond when the Candlebeast sitting to Deceitful Bloom’s left suddenly spoke.
No Light Graffiti pointed at the glyph.
"Magic patterns aren’t Vineborne vines. Why are you making them bloom?"
Deceitful Bloom didn’t even look up.
"Your patterns aren’t Candlebeasts either. Why are you lighting a fla at the end?"
The exchange was brief. Sudden. And just as suddenly, it ended.
By sighed softly.
"Every ti I hear that, I feel like an idiot. I understand Vineborne. I understand this skill of hers. But I still can’t see where the ’bloom’ is."
She paused, then added,
"I can even see the fla in No Light Graffiti’s glyph. But I still can’t see any flower in hers."
Rita stepped behind No Light Graffiti and leaned in to study his drawing.
After a short look, she returned to Deceitful Bloom and watched her again.
The player who had just insisted Starsea was running out of ti suddenly looked completely unhurried.
Once she confird no one here could perceive them, Rita casually walked around to the front of the desk and half-sat on it, openly watching Deceitful Bloom paint.
Only when Deceitful Bloom paused would she glance at No Light Graffiti’s work or By’s.
She was fully focused.
Nivalis, sensing that, didn’t interrupt. The small ice dragon quietly flew over and landed on By’s shoulder.
By, who had likely seen this scene countless tis, seed a little distracted.
Nivalis asked, "So what skill is Deceitful Bloom drawing?"
By answered softly, "A skill she created herself. SSS-rank Deceitful Bloom.
"Deception or control? As long as it’s sothing I set my eyes on, it will belong to . Your pain will beco decoration for this feast."
"No."
By straightened slightly. "I’m listening."
The golden sword at Rita’s waist dissolved into threads of lightning, gathering in midair to form an image.
It was the exact glyph Deceitful Bloom had been drawing.
"You’re too familiar with her," Rita said. "And too familiar with this scene. That’s why you stopped paying attention to certain details."
She pointed lightly at the floating glyph.
"The teacher asked everyone to adjust the order of patterns. Everyone kept revising their work. You did too. So you never really watched her carefully.
"She is revising as well. But if you watch closely, you’ll notice sothing. There are parts of the glyph her brush never actually touches."
The lightning image shifted.
So lines vanished. So bent slightly. So new lines appeared.
At a glance, it looked almost the sa.
But it wasn’t.
"This," Rita said, "is the glyph she’s actually drawing. The one on the canvas is just a disguise.
"It’s still Deceitful Bloom. But the aning has changed."
By stared at it, then slowly spoke.
"Deception or control? Who was the one who started this endless feast of pain."
She read it once. Then unconsciously repeated it under her breath.
Rita continued, "I think she left this flaw on purpose."
Nivalis gasped and flew back onto Rita’s shoulder.
"How?"
"First, the skill she chose." Rita spoke calmly. "I don’t know the exact timing of this training, but from the lecture, it’s clearly beginner level. There’s a lot of breakdown and explanation.
"Everyone else is working on A-rank or S-rank skills.
"She’s the only one working on an SSS-rank skill."
By imdiately objected, "That’s because she’s a genius. She learns faster than anyone. She’s stronger than anyone."
Rita gave her a look.
"Maybe that’s exactly why she can fool you so easily. Because you help her fool yourself."
She pointed at No Light Graffiti’s drawing.
"Second, the fla in his glyph."
Nivalis tilted her head. "Where’s the fla? What does that even an?"
Rita pointed to a specific part of the drawing.
"He added one stroke here. That ans this skill can only be inherited and used by Candlebeasts."
From what she had learned in Divine Instruction, when players died, their skills could be inherited by the next generation.
No Light Graffiti clearly didn’t want that skill to pass to other races.
Rita looked back at By.
"You can see the fla in his glyph. That ans your understanding is fine.
"So why didn’t you question her?
"Why did you assu you were the one who was wrong?"
By didn’t seem to think there was anything strange about that.
She answered in a calm, matter-of-fact tone,
"Because that’s Deceitful Bloom."
Rita choked on that answer.
It took her a mont to recover.
Then she said, flatly,
"...BSCicada, stop pretending. I know it’s you."
By: ???
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