I am an Eldritch Entity

No matter what role Guardian Sol had, one thing was certain. He must be an important piece of the puzzle.

Co-founder Morris literally chose that person over himself, fully knowing that he might not get information related to the bi-annual student tournament knowing how rigid Guardian Sol was regarding the rules.

The information would've allowed Co-founder Morris to take drastically more effective steps and easily send him to the abyss. Eryndor knew how important sending him to the abyss was.

It might very well be Daoisto's part of the deal that Co-founder Morris must send the eldritch Eryndor to the abyss.

What was more important than fulfilling your end of the deal which you made with literally an eldritch entity?

Eryndor lightly banged his head with his fist as he felt a headache coming up.

In the recent few hours he had done such an intensive thinking that he had begun feeling a slight headache.

Or is it because of stress?

Eryndor took a deep breath and stopped thinking about everything.

Everything he had known up till now, all the dots he had connected up till now, it was still not enough.

There were still missing pieces of information which possibly couldn't be derived from the existing information.

Eryndor didn't consider himself to be so extraordinarily smart that he would've thought of all possible directions, but he had indeed run into a block again.

He couldn't think of a breakthrough.

Arghhhh I need more information.

The next few hours, they journeyed across the lands of the forest, witnessing a wide variety of flora and fauna.

They also came across plenty of important resources which they divided fairly among themselves.

What they did with that was up to them. Use them for themselves or exchange for points? Their choice.

"It's getting dark. We should set up a camp."

Eryndor spoke when saw that the sky was getting darker.

Secret realms didn't really follow the same day night cycle as the outside world.

Some of them always had a day time, while some were shrouded in darkness all around.

Some of them had the same cycle as the outside world, while some had shorter days, longer nights or vice versa.

Some secret realms even had random day night periods such that there was no pattern to track at all.

Some secret realms even had different colors of skies, which made it difficult to even ascertain if it was day or night.

This secret realm where the tournament was taking place had a random day night cycle.

"Yea, let's find a good place."

Edward commented. As a senior who had been to plenty of missions, he was experienced when it came to such matters.

Thankfully they had each carried bags which had their personal tents in it.

Using the sticks from the surroundings, or by cutting up some branches, they set up a camp with the majority of the work being done by Edward.

The three of them sat on logs surrounding the camp fire while talking about trivial things, telling each other about their lives.

Each of them had a good meal, probably the last one they had brought from their villas.

Next time onwards they would have to rely on edible beast meat or food pills.

"What do you prefer?" Valentina asked.

"Food pills. I don't want to go through the trouble of identifying edible parts, cutting, cleaning, cooking and everything. Food pills are convenient."

Eryndor answered before taking a huge bite of his burger.

When Valentina turned to Edward, the senior shrugged, responding with a smile while having a chicken leg in his hand.

He was cooking it over the campfire.

"Honestly? Beast meat. Because it's all about experience.

"I can eat food pills outside, but when is the next time I'll get to experience the act of killing, cutting, cleaning, and making my own food with the friends I've made in this tournament? Sharing the food I've cooked with them?

"Not to mention that some of the beasts present here might be unique to this secret realm. If you wanted to eat them later, you'd have to go to some restaurant and pay money to have it when you could get it here for free.

"Do you also know that some beasts' meat is considered to be good for you?

"Some can speed up your practice, or strengthen your body, your bones, or even your mind. I've even heard of more outrageous claims, but I've personally only experienced the ones I talked about just now."

"A man of knowledge and experience, huh." Valentina commented.

He took a bite of his chicken leg and replied.

"It naturally just happens when you have a researcher dad and a hunter mom."

"That's pretty cool." Eryndor praised. He then glanced at Valentina before asking.

"What about you?"

"Me? I am not sure to be honest. The idea of experiencing everything is extremely attractive, but I also want to peace out and live on food pills.

"I never really thought about getting an ability or the privilege to practice a power system. It was all too sudden for me. Every day I feel surreal that this opportunity has fallen into my lap.

"My parents worked ordinary jobs, and I also thought I'll be walking in their footsteps. A little ambitious maybe, thinking that I would make a little more money than them.

"But this… everything… is just so different. I want to experience everything and also curl in my comfort zone. It's just so different.

"It's like going to a new school. You want to make friends but also remain in solitude for peace."

Valentina looked around, with both of them looking at her in silence before she realized she had talked a little too much.

Redness creeped up her cheeks as she hid her face in her palms.

"Sorryyyy."

The two of them laughed, before Eryndor told her that he had the same background as her.

They talked while their food lasted, then Edward bid them goodnight.

"I am an early sleeper, cya guys."

The two of them waved him good night before silence draped over the surroundings.

Eryndor spoke when he heard Edward's light snoring from his tent.

"About my third ability uhhh—"

Valentina cut him off mid way. "So you're finally willing to share it?"

Of course I am, it's because you sensed me back then.

As if she knew what he was thinking, Valentina chuckled.

"No, you were exposed far earlier than when you blocked Kron's punch.

"Remember that time we set a temporary camp after dealing with the nine students? Your ability activated back then as well.

"I just happened to be tinkering with my ability back then, so I was able to sense it."

Ooooo

A look of realization appeared on Eryndor's face as he thought back to the time when his Sovereign's Cloak briefly activated. He didn't know what it was for, but he had guessed that it might be a location sensing attempt.

He might have probably assumed that Valentina didn't have her ability activated, but she just told him that she happened to have it activated.

Valentina went on.

"And that's not all is it? I sensed Telekinesis as well when you pelted Kron with countless objects.

"Edward might've assumed it was some cultivation art, but because of my ability I could sense that it was another ability in play.

"Your abilities don't radiate the aura of Energy of Consciousness, so I can see why he would assume as such.

"Including me and you, I've only ever witnessed it like three or four times, so it must be absolutely rare."

Back when he had seen professor Melissa fight. He straight up recognised that it was an innate ability of hers she was using instead of a cultivation art because he could sense the energy used.

All this time he had chalked up his own abnormality to the fact that it must be because of his eldritch origin. It was extremely subtle anyway, no one would question it.

Not to mention he never even used the hidden abilities around people unless absolutely necessary.

"Well, what can I say when you already know about my abilities. By the way, do you have any idea how to cover up this aura of energy of Consciousness when using innate abilities?"

Valentina shot him a curious look.

"Do you not know how to do it when you are already doing it?"

"Nope." He shrugged. "It just happens."

Valentina mirrored his action and said. "Same, it just happens."

"Wait, really?"

"Yea."

"Damn." Eryndor couldn't help but chuckle.

If he found Drakarion and Paulina abnormal in the sense that they had too much knowledge and seemed systematically trained, and also the fact that both of them seemed to have been in an eldritch's presence, then he found Valentina abnormal in aspects of her innate ability and luck.

"Four abilities, so cool."

Valentina softly murmured. Eryndor raised an eyebrow as he replied.

"Please, you should be the last person to say that."

The young woman chuckled, "Fair."

There was another bout of silence between them before Valentina spoke again.

"Do you know, there's something else different about your third ability.

"The defensive one which I sensed."

Eryndor's mind had already gone into overdrive as he furiously began coming up with different explanations.

He obviously knew his Sovereign's Cloak was different.

His three abilities - Telekinesis, Cognitive Scrying and Passive Regeneration were all in the main vast hall of his Mind Palace, but his Sovereign's Cloak was unlocked when he opened the door.

As he was lost in his thoughts, Valentina mumbled, her voice thick with confusion.

"I can't seem to copy that ability."