Dante’s Immortality – Chapter 11

He thought the carriage ride was going rather well.

Apparently, the two siblings had been traveling towards Kenguard for over a month to get to the academy on time, and where ridiculously bored of being holed up inside of the carriage for the entirety of the journey. Everything made much more sense to him after that.

He had been wondering why the two had practically kidnapped him off of the side of the road. When they saw a strange, red-eyed silver-haired boy, they couldn’t help but take him with them on their trip.

Of course, their jubilation at a newfound companion didn’t last very long.

Shortly after joining the two of them in the carriage, Sir Andres sent in two guards to sit on either side of him, completely halting any conversation.

He wasn’t the one to end the conversation though. He was uncomfortable with the two guards being there, but all things considered, he found them to be a reasonable addition to the carriage. If Sir Andres hadn’t put guards inside the carriage, he would have questioned the man’s sanity.

The ones who stopped all conversation were Alexander and Layla. As soon as the two guards stepped into the carriage Alexander stopped mid-sentence to glare at one of them, Layla then took the opportunity to glare at the other. After the two picked their targets, they were relentless. Not another word was uttered for the rest of the day, and he was quite happy to sit there ignored while the two guards next to him sat uncomfortably.

That lasted until the carriage stopped to rest for the night, literally hours later.

Layla was the first to step out of the carriage, arms crossed and a pout on her face. “Hmph, I’m sorry you had to go through that Dante. I have truly been embarrassed by the actions of my house guards.”

Alexander followed after her, also with arms crossed and a pout. “Yes. We have truly brought dishonor upon House Calman.”

Dante followed after them. He found the performance, which was clearly for Sir Andres, to be somewhat comical. “It wasn’t a problem. Actually, I found the trip to be quite enjoyable.”

Layla snorted, turning to Sir Andres with her head tilted slightly up, as if to look down on the man that was almost a half-size taller than her. “Do you see how Dante behaves? That is what manners look like.”

The last two to come out of the carriage were the two guards. They looked utterly defeated. As soon as they appeared, they hurriedly slumped away to help set up camp.

Sir Andres expression didn’t change, he just stood arms crossed. “Your safety is more important than my manners.”

Unlike earlier, Layla didn’t pull rank on Sir Andres, it seemed she knew how to pick he battles. She just stuck her tongue out at Sir Andres, then wordlessly grabbed Dante by the arm and led him to the small clearing where the rest of the guards began to set up tents. It almost seemed like she wanted to set up an interrogation.

As soon as the guards had a small fire going for them, she plopped him down near it, then she and Alexander sat side by side, directly opposite of him, brimming with excitement.

Layla was the first to ask a question, smiling at him. “So, where are you from?”

“I’m from a small town, located somewhat close to here, called Alazel.” Dante wasn’t really sure if he liked where the line of questioning was starting, but he found it hard to resist Layla’s smile. “I’ve lived there for the past couple of years.”

Alexander followed his answer up quickly. “Does everyone there look like you?”

Dante winced. “No.”

Layla swatted Alexander on the head. “It’s rude to point out someone’s differences.”

“Oww!” He rubbed his head. “It’s also rude to hit me when your Strength is so much higher than my Constitution. Besides, how was I supposed to know?”

Layla rolled her eyes. “Sir Andres is from the Outer Edge region, but he’s never seen anyone who looks like him, obviously.”

He saw an opportunity to change the direction of the conversation, and took it by asking a question he already knew the answer to. “So, why did you come to the Outer Edge region?” He needed to find out more about the academy that they kept mentioning.

Alexander’s head tilted slightly to the side. “We’re here to attend the academy, isn’t it the same for you?”

In reply, Dante shook his head. “No, I was only traveling to Kenguard so that I could join a dungeon exploration party.”

Alexander was still visibly confused. “How would you have joined a dungeon exploration party if you just got your Status, wouldn’t it be better for a commoner to join the academy?”

He still didn’t understand the significance of the academy, or why it was better for him to join it instead of a dungeon exploration party. “I have only heard that Kenguard is located in the highest world essence density area in the Outer Edge region, and surrounded by dungeons, which is why I was traveling there. The first time that I have heard of this academy, was when you mentioned it earlier today.”

Both of their eyebrows knitted together, then at the same time, they both looked to check his combatant’s glove. “Didn’t your local lord give you the option to go to the academy when he sent the new recruits?”

Dante just scratched his head. “Um… no.” Technically, the only people who even knew he had a combat Classification were Edward and Sam.

He knew that when someone got a combat Classification, they either stayed with the city guard or left for adventuring, but he wasn’t really sure what that entailed.

Layla still had a slightly confused expression on her face. “Do you have a strange combat Classification that’s not suited for fighting?”

Alexander nodded hurriedly. “Yes, that must be it.” He turned back to Layla. “Why else wouldn’t they tell him.”

Dante thought about how best to answer Layla’s question for a moment. He needed a way to get the conversation off of him and back onto the academy itself. Thus far, he had learned basically nothing except that he should have been invited upon getting a combat Classification. But even after thinking about where he should take the conversation for a moment, he had no idea what to say.

“I think it might be unusual.” Dante shrugged nonchalantly, trying not to make it seem like a big deal. “So, why is the academy so important?”

Of course, as soon as Layla heard his first answer, she completely ignored his question that followed. “You might have an unusual Classification? What is it?” She was staring at him intently, in a way that was somewhat frightening.

Alexander surprised him by quickly cutting in. “I think that Sir Andres said that combatant’s in the Outer Edge region like to keep their Classifications hidden. Maybe we shouldn’t make him tell us.”

Seeing an opportunity to switch the topic of conversation off of himself, he took it. “Do people in the Outer region not hide their Classifications?”

“I suppose a few of the unaligned combatants do…” Layla’s eyes shifted upward in thought. “But in polite society, it is considered rude to try and hide your Classification. Besides, it wouldn’t matter anyway, there are too many spies in noble houses. Still, you won’t be able to continue to hide your Classification if you want to enroll in the academy.”

He wasn’t sure how he felt about that piece of information. The academy might not be worth it to him if he had to expose his Classifications. “What do you mean?”

Alexander saw his expression and attempted to reassure him. “If the academy didn’t know what your Classification was, they wouldn’t know how to train you. Even though the academy focuses on individual freedom, there are still some mandatory classes. A Mage won’t learn how to fight with world essence manipulation, and a Warrior won’t learn mana manipulation.”

World essence manipulation and mana manipulation?

World essence manipulation seemed standard, it was how he activated the Status on his wrist. But if there was a class for it, there were clearly uses for it that he wasn’t aware of. That alone might be worth going to the academy to learn, but he had never even heard of mana manipulation. “Do you have to show your Classification to the academy?”

“Yes, otherwise they won’t accept you.” After considering it for another moment, Layla continued. “Sometimes nobles will only show one of their Classifications. To nobles, power is everything. Anytime one of us has a useless non-combat Classification, it is seen as a sign of impure blood. But hiding a Classification is pointless, everyone will assume the worst anyways.”

So, he could join the academy if he only showed one of his Classifications, but the one he chose would be crucial. Alexander had said his Classification would change his curriculum in the academy. He didn’t know what mana manipulation was but, it sounded useful. He also hadn’t learned how to properly use a sword yet.

Another way to choose the Classification he would reveal, would be to use the Classification that would bring him the least amount of attention. Edward had mentioned that he recognized his Blader Classification, and even though he said it was rare and powerful, his reaction wasn’t too extreme. Also, revealing his Blader Classification wouldn’t put him at risk. Even if someone attacked him with a way to neutralize his Blader skills, he had three other Classifications to take them off guard.

Layla saw the pondering look on Dante’s face and sat forward expectantly. “So, will you tell us your Classification now?”

“I guess so, I have the Blader Classification.”

There was no obvious change on Layla’s face, but Alexander’s mouth was agape.

“A-Are you sure you have the Blader Classification?” Alexander seemed to be having trouble coming to terms with the new information.

“Um, yes?” He now had a feeling that Edward had underplayed how rare his Blader Classification was. Edward said that it was rare and powerful, but there were plenty of rare and powerful Classifications. Lance’s Lancer Classification, for example, was rare and powerful. It wouldn’t have elicited a response like this though. Dante silently cursed the man.

Layla’s expression changed to something he couldn’t comprehend, then she stood and walked off.

Dante turned to Alexander, who was staring at him with a blank face. “Did I do something wrong?”

Alexander began to rub his forehead. “You didn’t, but the fact that you didn’t even know about the academy is a massive issue.”

He was really starting to regret telling them about his Classification. “What do you mean?”

“My house, House Calman, originated in the Outer Edge region. We were actually the ruling house in Kenguard before we moved into the Outer region. Initially, we had trouble finding a foothold there because no one wanted to join a new and unstable house, and we had a hard time recruiting combatants. It was why our house set up the academy in the Outer region, it is a tool to recruit talents from all over the Outer Edge region every year. It is, for example, where we recruited Sir Andres.”

Alexander looked over at Dante. “We pay a yearly stipend to nobles in the Outer Edge region, nearly a fortune, so that they will send anyone with a rare Classification to the academy. That fact that we almost missed out on a Blader Classification because someone didn’t tell you about the academy…” He cleared his throat. “Needless to say, there has been a large oversight.”

“Is the Blader Classification that rare?”

Alexander looked at Dante as if staring at an idiot. “Are you serious? There is only one Blader Classification in the entirety of the Outer region; Edward Ailloss. Not only is he the head of one of the strongest houses, but he is also a complete monster. Recently, when his son was murdered, he wiped out an entire house in one night, singlehandedly. He killed thousands.”

Damn him. I should have chosen a Classification no one has heard of.

Just as Dante began to curse Edward internally, Layla came back, dragging Sir Andres by the arm.

Sir Andres didn’t look happy to be dragged around their makeshift camp. “What is this all about?”

Layla wasn’t in the mood for his attitude and snapped at him. “What ‘this is all about’ is a Blader Classification not even knowing about our academy.” She pointed to Dante.

Sir Andres looked at Dante. “Him? A Blader Classification?” The sarcasm was almost palpable.

Dante had an ugly expression on his face, it seemed it was too late to take his words back.

Sir Andres just snorted, pulled out a short sword from the sheath at his side, then tossed it to Dante. “Let’s see what you can do then.”