Hellbents
Chapter 27: Actually ...

Ava is aware of Ezra's interest in what she just said. But he was stupid. Completely decided not to heed the prince's presence even though they were always at the same dining table, blame it on Ezra's ingenuity who always asked River, the kindly gentleman who was submissive, not Ava. But that means Ezra is self-conscious that he is indeed shunned by the girl.

"Well, you're smart!" River who was sitting next to Ava ruffled his short black hair. Ava realized this action had become a habit, so she accepted it with a faint smile.

"Don't be amazed yet, because I can still make other things." Ava could practically hear Roy gulping.

At first, Ava thought that also the journal Eve gave was a personal note provided by her kidnapper to help facilitate her life, but it was more than that. The journal contains dozens of recipes that turned out to be unpublished, hidden artifacts belonging to Eve personally, as well as info-info about the gate.

In conclusion, Eve is a scientist as well as a researcher, or in this fantasy world is referred to as an alchemist. Of course, because of that, some potions that require magic in the manufacturing process cannot be practiced Ava.

Speaking of Eve, Ava recalled the words her dopplegangger spoke, "I am you, more clearly a version of yourself in a different dimension." In other words, Eve's identity would later become a problem for Ava who had the exact face. But what kind of trouble? Ava has to find out.

"A-anu, are you a graduate of the academy?" Roy slowly asked.

The Academy. Ava has never been to formal school, learning from books, stories from others, the internet, and her own experiences. Pure autodidact.

Lexa who initiated her curiosity, to survive.

But the knowledge that Ava exhibits, if there is in the modern era, is equivalent to researchers who graduated from college for many years. Science that he only imitated from the journal Eve.

To his knowledge, education in this world is still somewhat backward, ordinary residents who can only read and write will also be considered useful and sought for employment. School fees, even to the academy, require a mountain of coins. That is, who can afford to get an education only the nobles.

Indirectly, Roy, but Ava knows who told her to ask must be Ezra, ascertaining his identity as a commoner or a noble.

"Say, someone taught me." Ava continued, "Ah, are you going to attend the thanksgiving ceremony at the town hall later?" With just that, the topic switched.

"The worship of the goddess Meditrina, isn't it? I'm coming with." Selena nodded her head calmly, glued her palms together, muttering prayers as she closed her eyes. But after that, his flirtatious look appeared, looking up at River, who was bellowing with reddened ear tips. Ava was half sure before, but now sure, Selena hobby gathers with them even though no one invites her because of the handsome faces that surround her.

Ava barely giggled with River's weak defense against a woman's petty seduction. "I'll just rest first." Lies. Ava intends to experiment in the savanna near the beach , as well as release the burden of his emotions that are increasingly piling up.

"I'm not going either. Ah, Rina, we-" But suddenly River decided to stop, stopped continuing his sentence, shocked by what he almost said himself.

His pseudonym came out, but Ava did not want to pressure River if he did not intend to tell her anything on his mind, let alone in public like this. Because of the true nature that Ava remembers to underline in her mental notes is River is actually shy and introverted.

So he directed the conversation to someone else, "What about you guys?" Roy automatically glanced at Ezra and Al, the prince replied, "I'll come."

But this time, Al who was very frugal said, argued differently, "I still have business to take care of." Formal and rigid.

***

The harbour tower bell rang, the rhythm was stable, echoing and resonating with the bells in other towers in the city of Englerock. Ava turned her head, the afternoon sky that looked like watercolor melted orange, green, and blue into a beautiful painting equivalent. While waiting for the ship's departure from a week ago, Ava learned to ride a horse in her spare time, the result is now that she can ride the gallant animal when running slowly without falling. The goal is a spacious plateau above the city, from here Ava can still see dozens of sparkling candles lit in the village hall as a series of gratitude events.

There were no other confinements, so Ava thrust a knife into the neck of the monster that had just raised its level, after which it inserted a new pair of monsters, which was, this time the second mole forced Ava to drink a double EXP potion from her inventory, which is why she got a claw wound on her wrist. After confirming that the effect made the mole which was originally level 1 jump to level 3, Ava crumpled her neck bone that still felt soft. Repeated with the last pair of monsters, the result was the same, Eve's potion worked well, at least on the experiment this time.

Throwing the bodies of the subjects of his experiments into the sea, Ava then sat at the end of the cliff, not caring about the sharp corals that were sticking tens of meters under his feet.

"Miss actually already knows, right?"

Ava was not surprised, half an hour ago she had already felt the presence of others when she meditated to calm herself down. The only person trained enough to hide from his increasingly sharp senses was Al. Now the man in front of him, standing firmly with both hands hidden behind his back.

"Know what you mean?" Ava fully understood the meaning of the man's words, but she still tested her attitude will survive to where.

"You don't have to pretend," Al slashed the cold of the night with his words.

Only the rumbling of the waves sounded as tension slowly emerged between the two people.

Ava looked up, looking straight at the dark silhouette that overshadowed Al's face. "Did your master know you were doing this? Because a confrontation with me is tantamount to confirmation of suspicion, isn't it?"

"Confirmation is on both sides. I just don't want to see my master pursue what he doesn't want to achieve."

Ava's business smile rattled, "So Ezra doesn't know, it's your independent decision."

"I believe that my actions are right."

"It doesn't mean profitable."

"But I prevent bigger losses."

Ava got up from her seat, shaking off the weeds that were stuck in her pants. "Yes, right, I already know," Ava finally confessed.

"Then why did Miss refuse and dodge?"

"Because the politics of the kingdom will be very troublesome."

At that time Ava did not expect to hear laughter from Al. The man showed the two daggers that he had been holding behind his body, then lost in the inventory.

"I guess you have a relationship with another prince or daughter of work."

Ava held back so that her emotions did not appear on the face. He managed to escape.