#084. Confession (Part 2)
Ray's claim that he could see emotions.
A brief silence fell over the table.
"Huh... You can see emotions? What do you mean by that?"
"Ray, is this some kind of metaphorical expression?"
Responding to their repeated questions, Ray answered in a calm voice.
"I mean it literally. I can see other people's emotions."
Philip and Veronica tried to understand Ray's words within the bounds of common sense.
But no matter how much they thought about it, 'emotions' and 'seeing' were words that couldn't logically be connected.
Just as they were about to voice their doubts again, Ray continued his explanation.
"All mana has color. I can see those colors with my eyes."
Ray's gaze turned upward.
As if he could see the multicolored mana even now.
Then his eyes moved back to Philip and Veronica's chests - where their hearts would be.
Veronica flusteredly crossed her arms over her chest defensively.
"You're being way too obvious right now..."
"Mana moves through vessels located near people's hearts,"
the boy continued, ignoring the girl's reaction.
"When people feel specific emotions, mana of corresponding colors moves. By seeing that, I can tell what emotion someone is feeling in that moment."
Veronica asked again:
"Vessels around the heart? You mean Circles?"
"No. Different from Circles. The vessels aren't wrapped around the heart - they're separate entities positioned nearby. Like a second heart."
Philip and Veronica momentarily gaped without saying anything.
Hard-to-believe content.
But it was probably true.
They knew Ray wasn't the type to lie or joke about such matters.
Unless it was some special circumstance like deceiving an enemy...
'Mana has colors...?!'
Veronica was especially shocked.
Though she hadn't been immersed in the magical world for long, the boy's words completely contradicted what she'd always accepted as common knowledge among mages - that mana couldn't be seen with eyes, only sensed.
'......'
Moreover, the girl had noticed how the boy sometimes stared at her chest area before.
It was such a subtle movement you'd never notice unless paying close attention, but Veronica had picked up on it ages ago.
'Honestly... that was so awkward.'
At first she wondered if there might be some special reason, but upon observation that didn't seem to be the case.
She'd thought:
Maybe beneath his indifferent exterior, Ray was just an ordinary boy his age in that regard?
She'd considered calling him out but felt too embarrassed to bring it up.
'And now it turns out he was checking my emotions?!'
The misunderstanding cleared up.
A small wave of relief rose in her chest...
only to be followed by other emotions gradually surfacing.
......?
What? This inexplicable sense of betrayal?
While Veronica was confused, Philip continued questioning:
"So you're seeing our emotions right now?"
"Right now the largest presence in both your vessels is deep green mana. That color usually appears when someone's flustered. And analyzing Veronica's emotions further - embarrassment, disappointment, resentment, hurt feelings, a bit of betrayal..."
As he listed them off, Veronica's face turned beet red.
"S-stop! Stop looking!"
She snapped open a menu like a shield as her face burned crimson.
Eyeing the smoked turkey on the menu, Ray added:
"If you're upset I kept this secret so long, I apologize."
She stammered:
"N-no! It's not that..."
A dazed-looking Philip collected himself first:
"I can't believe this. Emotions having colors you can see... Wait no - technically it's the mana that's colored since different colors move with different emotions, you said?"
His quick acceptance and understanding were impressive. Mental calculations already whirred about potential benefits from accurately reading others' emotions...
As their initial shock began fading-
"Also I can manipulate emotions too," Ray dropped casually.
"Wait... what?! Manipulate... them?!"
Their confusion instantly returned full-force.
With action over words this time-Snap!
His fingers summoned a drowsy waiter from nearby:
"Did you need something?" asked the tired-looking young man in his early 20s.
"Forgot to give your tip earlier," Ray explained while producing coins.
The waiter's lukewarm "Thanks," showed it wasn't much money-but enough gratitude existed in his vessel to work with.
'Good.'
Faint orange mana-the foundation was set.
Ray immediately used ambient mana to mix more orange-tinted mana and forcibly injected it into the waiter's vessel (easy since his vessel lacked a core star).
Whoosh-
The new mana magnetically merged with existing orange mana, rapidly expanding its volume.
Watching the waiter's increasingly altered expression and eyes made Philip and Veronica exchange 'no way' looks-which became certainty when:
"Th-thank you! Such generosity!"
Bowing repeatedly before rushing off to bring complimentary drinks and food:
"On the house! ...This too! ...And this-" until Ray stopped him:
"That's enough now."
Their table now overflowed with lavish dishes.
Ray noted mentally: 'Probably using his own money. I'll repay equivalent amount later'-necessary since service far exceeded tip value.
Turning back to speechless companions:
"That's how it works. I can implant emotions into others-though requires preexisting traces of said emotion in their vessel first."
Utterly unbelievable.
Yet undeniably proven moments ago.
Philip kept marveling:
"This is... amazing... incredible... unbelievable!"
While Veronica remained stunned-or rather, having processed initial shock only to face greater one:
'He manipulates emotions?!'
Her stomach dropped.
There was an inexplicable feeling I got whenever I saw Ray.
A feeling that made me stare at his face for no reason, that lingered in my thoughts before sleep.
Like a tiny ember prickling the corners of my heart.
Could it all have been something Ray planted—?
"Of course, there are cases where emotions can’t be implanted—like with you two."
"......"
Veronica’s moment of realization was cut short by Ray’s perfectly timed remark.
Then what is this?
If it’s purely my own emotion... Should I ask Ray what color this feeling is? Or if he recognizes its kind?
But after a pause, she shook her head internally.
For some reason, voicing such questions felt unbearably embarrassing.
And the thought that Ray might see this blush made her cheeks burn hotter—a perpetual motion machine of shame.
"Uh... Veronica, you okay? Your face is red as an apple."
"I-I’m fine! Just keep talking!"
She flapped her hands frantically at her cheeks as Phillip frowned.
He soon brightened again, turning to Ray.
"Anyway, this is incredible! Imagine how useful this’ll be during our travels."
"One last thing."
"Again? What now?"
"I don’t feel emotions."
Silence fell.
"To be precise, my emotional range is extremely narrow. So much so that I might as well say I feel nothing at all. If I focus, I can experience certain emotions intensely—but only in that moment."
He listed examples: no fear in danger, no joy from delicious food.
As he spoke, Phillip and Veronica finally understood the oddness they’d sensed in Ray.
So that’s why.
I always thought he was a bit—no, very—unusual.
His reactions swung between childlike naivety and veteran mercenary coolness.
It all made sense now.
Shocking, but after everything else today, not entirely surprising.
"How long has it been like this?"
"Since long before I can remember."
"Which emotions can you feel when focusing?"
"Anger and worry come easiest."
"I see. Then—"
"Aren’t you scared?" Ray interrupted.
"Huh?"
"Of me not feeling emotions. Or... disgusted?"
The sudden question gave Phillip pause.
Scared? No. Disgusted? Not at all. It’s just... profoundly strange.
But why ask this now?
Then it hit him: He’s met people who were afraid.
Visions of Ray’s past surfaced—someone who could read others’ emotions flawlessly yet couldn’t experience his own.
How lonely must that have been?
How many stayed by his side?
Phillip, no stranger to how differences bred exclusion, glanced at Veronica, who seemed to share his thoughts.
Their hunch was right: buried deep in Ray’s subconscious was the fear that his "abnormality" would drive them away.
"No. Not scared or disgusted."
"Why? I’m different."
"Well... why would we be? Sure, seeing mana is incredible, but we read and evoke emotions without it every day."
Phillip nudged Veronica, who nodded vigorously.
"Exactly! We guess feelings from faces and actions! And as for evoking them—"
Suddenly dead serious, Phillip turned to Veronica:
"Veronica. I’ve thought this since we met: you’re stunning. Not just pretty—beautiful."
"Wh...?"
"No spring flower rivals your glow; no art could thrill me like seeing you."
The corners of Veronica’s lips shot up to her ears despite knowing this was a demonstration for Ray.
The magic of being called "pretty" was irresistible.
"So... you really think I’m that beautiful?" she asked coyly—before Phillip ruined it:
"Nah, total lie. You’re cute-ish, but your temper ruins i—"
THUD!
"Gahk!"
Phillip tumbled to the floor with his chair.
Clutching his bruised ribs, he wheezed:
"My siiiiide..."
"Sorry. My hand slipped."
"What... does slipping hands have to do with magic?!"
"Hmph."
Still feeling slightly guilty, Veronica immediately cast a healing spell on him.
As the pain faded, Phillip righted his chair and turned to Ray.
"Anyway, you get my point?"
"That you shouldn’t take back compliments about Veronica’s looks?"
"Well... that’s true too. But did you see how her emotions shifted when I spoke?"
"Ah."
Ray finally understood Phillip’s intention.
"I saw."
"Right. Words and actions can evoke specific emotions. Like when the waiter felt grateful after you tipped him earlier."
Phillip rubbed his side and continued:
"So don’t worry about us fearing or resenting your ability. You’re just doing what everyone does—in a special way. Honestly, a narrow emotional range might be better than an overwhelming one."
Veronica nodded beside him.
"Exactly! It’s a bit embarrassing knowing you can see through me, but it’s not scary or upsetting."
"......"
Their unexpected reactions left Ray bewildered.
...I thought they’d show at least some discomfort.
The rainbow-hued mana swirling in their vessels confirmed their sincerity.
Why? How?
He couldn’t process this.
No one his age had ever reacted this way upon learning his secret.
"You’re not scared? Not even bothered? Why?"
Phillip and Veronica answered in unison, turning to him:
"Because we’re friends."
"That’s what friends do."
Veronica added:
"Not sure if you think of me as one, though. Let’s settle this now—you do consider me a friend, right?"
Friend.
The word momentarily short-circuited Ray’s mind.
Friend…
A term he’d once defined now glowed with new meaning.
"Answer me! Now!"
With a playful grin, Veronica puppeted Ray’s lips with her fingers, forcing out:
"Y-yes… Veronica is my friend… And I… think she’s… the prettiest… in the world…"
"Veronica. Ever heard of ‘selling your conscience’?"
As the two bickered, Ray remained adrift in his daze.
Sleep would elude him tonight—too busy turning those two warm, glowing syllables over in his mind.
