Raven silently consented for Northern to ask his question. She didn't say anything, merely looking at him as he opened his mouth.
"So... like...how are soul cores absorbed?"
Raven's eyes widened.
For an expressionless being like her, this moment was priceless, deserving a space on a trophy shelf.
Northern had managed to surprise her.
A moment later, though, her widened eyes crumpled into a deep frown that made her crimson eyes radiate a deadly glow.
"Are you joking with me?"
Northern closed his eyes and made a polite smile, his hands behind his head.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it that way... It's just that I'm quite inexperienced in a lot of things."
Raven's frown lingered for three more seconds before she relaxed her face into its usual expression.
"I don't know," Northern responded with a shy nod, still scratching the back of his head and trying to smile—which again looked awful on him.
Raven stared silently, then blinked and started, "Absorbing soul cores is simple. There is a general method which every drifter knows, common knowledge that is taught. However, several clans and nobles have managed to develop more potent methods, each fashioned to fit their body formation, battle style, and soul properties. So today, there are several methods used to absorb essence from soul cores, but I can guarantee you that all of them were developed from the general method."
Northern nodded as she finished.
Essence absorption had been one of his concerns, not because he was looking forward to absorbing soul essence one day.
As far as things went, that was still impossible.
But if there existed a slight way to increase the amount of void essence in his soul...
'It's just a presumption. I shouldn't expect too much from it.'
Northern discarded the thoughts and looked at Raven, as silvery voice rang:
"Can I continue my lectures now?"
He nodded to her with a stern facial expression, that of a student ready to devour every bit of knowledge their teacher had to offer.
Raven continued, "Because Sloria and Luinngard act as though this disaster is none of their concern," her facial lines creased into a scowl, "the people of Lotheliwan suffered the most damage and couldn't survive much, their population was heavily affected"
"That's strange, though. Weren't Lotheliwan supposed to be a vassal state of Luinngard too? You said that earlier."
Raven raised a corner of her lips, 'Nice... He pays attention to details.'
The slight smirk disappeared before it could be noticed.
"Before the disaster, the King of Lotheliwan was already defying the Empire and wanted to cut alliances with them."
Northern raised a brow, "Isn't that stupid? In a continent of only three, they want to break away from the lordship of the strongest. Won't that lead to their ruin?"
He looked at Raven intently.
"I suppose the king wouldn't have just wanted to do that... except he had a backing?"
'His thinking is intelligent too...' Raven remarked inwardly.
"The past is no concern of ours. What matters is that because of this act, Lotheliwan was completely abandoned, and its people were left to suffer. Eventually, they scattered everywhere and found safe havens in mountains and caves, managing to live away from monsters and continuing their lives."
Northern turned to look at the ragged people of the outer settlement. He could see kids amidst them, some seated in front of their tents here and there.
Then he looked back at Raven, "I'm quite shocked that they still manage to reproduce even when faced with such horrors. Humans are one funny thing."
Raven watched him keenly, as she had since the first day they met.
'He's mysterious,' she thought, then continued.
"When we arrived, we had to settle somewhere. Going to the caves seemed like the best option, but it would have been a stupid idea."
"Because of the mentality ingrained, right?" Northern continued causing Raven to raise her eyes.
"If you had chosen to live with the native people and accepted their way of life, it would have been hard to leave or make the students leave. They probably have weak mentalities and are only thinking about survival... That would have offered them the best thing they were looking for: safety and comfort."
A small smile made it to his lips and ran away half a second later, replaced by a fearsome glare as he went on, "While those two things do sound like the best, they could be incredibly fatal.
"Because once they all get comfortable and safe, they'll abandon the idea of ever returning home. As long as there's food, they'll eventually continue living in this disaster and eventually forget it all. They'll just live... like worthless nobodies... all because of fear, comfort, and safety."
The surprise on Raven's face took longer to wipe off this time.
'I want him!' Her eyes glittered.
Perhaps, in all her life, Northern was the one person who had managed to amaze her so well.
'His thought pattern is so impressive!'
Raven had been unable to convince any of the students. It was useless; they couldn't see what she was doing when she told them to head to the capital of Lotheliwan and confront the monsters now that they had the strength.
Luckily, Gilbert, Annette, and the twins were already there.
With the presence of a sage, the students were eventually able to fight. And Gilbert also understood her point after much explanation.
But Northern was different. She didn't even need to explain things to him!
It was like... like... he was thinking the exact same way she was!
'But there's something I don't understand... if his thought is this efficient, why did he refuse to join the parties? Surely, he should have seen that this could be the best course of action for him...'
To Raven, Northern might be exceptional, but at the end, he was only a drifter, and there was so little he could do alone as a drifter.
Northern needed people, she understood that fact too.
If they wanted to conquer the rift or even return home, they needed each other.
So, why? Why was Northern excluding himself from the rest of them?