Chapter 13: Admission for the Academy

After the event that took place in the plaza located at District 3 of the city, King Nafari and Boro went back to the palace. The face of the king is still depressed, the insect that dared attacked him was not worthy to release the negative emotion he is feeling right now.

“Boro, you know I have lived for a hundred years but this is the first time I have felt so down, it may sound crazy but I regret the loss of your master and not on my little brother.”

“My king….” Boro was surprised by the sudden words of the king, it was rare for him.

“Long time ago, Durwin and I would go hunting monsters, grinding for materials and equipments and we would even venture on undiscovered areas just for the thrill of adventuring, I admired him as he was a strong adventurer. There was one time he had saved my life. It was when we accidentally awaken an ancient monster, Cataclysmic Panda. We struggled to even scratch its hp, both defense and offense of the monster was extremely high and we were both SSS Class at that time. During the battle I almost fainted due to the extreme use of my mp and Durwin used the item that we received when we entered the dungeon of the ancient monster and we were teleported back in Dalen, I owed him my life.”

“….is this, the item you were talking my king?” Boro reached on his inventory and reveal a white token in his palm

“Yes…your master does not value his own life instead he would put his own self in danger just to save someone close to him” the king was deeply sad with a little bit of happiness in his face

“It is true my king” Boro agreed to the statement

“But I can’t imagine my little brother dare to go against Durwin, he knew he is in my level, even with the Five Elemental Rings it is still not enough”

“There was this one thing I noticed my king, Faheem used a skill that looks like a barrier and when I had used Absolute Bail and return to the scene, I saw four huge magic stones that was place on four different directions and is supplying magic to the barrier, I thought it was just the same barrier that will trap people inside, so I did not include it in my report, I think the name of the skill was Mischief Dome?”

“Mischievous Dome!” the king was surprised

“That is correct my king, you know of it?” Boro asked inquisitively

“It is a legendary skill that can be activated only by the use four huge magic stones, upon the activation of the skill, the user can resurrect 20 times the event will return to the time it was invoked. The user will reset its hp and mp but the opponent will not, with this skill and the rings he has the chance on defeating Durwin”

“…….” Boro was surprised and bitter as he realized that if he had just arrived faster and acted instantly he could have saved his master.

“My IDIOT BROTHER!!!” the king shouted and the whole palace was shaken

The door leading to the throne room opened suddenly and a young boy entered the room.

“Sir Boro!” the young boy shouted and he ran towards Boro

“Sir Boro what happened? I felt a strong aura in your location and I immediately ran towards you”

“I’m okay Grae” Boro replied in relief

“Who is this child Boro?”

“Aaah forgive me for my rudeness my king, this child’s family had a close relationship with master Durwin and he was the only survivor of the massacre in Tulan his name is Grae”

“Forgive my rudeness my king” the young boy bowed deeply

“How did you found us here, even when you said you sensed my aura, it is still hard for a young child to accurately locate the source?” the king asked

“I left the carriage and wandered inside the castle and coincidentally I sensed your aura near me and your scream was also loud my king”

“Nonsense! I did not felt your presence near us and I am able to sense even a stealthy assassin creeping inside my castle, don’t lie to me child”

“Grae…just tell him the truth” Boro plead to the young boy

“My king I do not dare to lie in front of you, I am just little child with a very weak aura that is even lower than a weak adventurer”

“…..” the King was contemplating at the words of the young boy and was even surprised that the kid did not display any sign of fear in front of him, his words and actions were like a fake display of urgency instead he can feel the calmness of the boy.

“My King please forgive our rudeness” Boro interrupted with a meek voice

“It is fine Boro, I was just surprised with the sudden guest, and what do you plan for this child?”

“At first I wanted to protect Grae, but I realized that there would be a time where I would be powerless and break my promise, so I want him to become strong and I don’t have the qualification of a good teacher. I hope the king would allow this young boy to enroll at the academy.”

“Even I wanted to, the academy’s system is merit based, I can’t promise you his admission to the center of the academy however, if he happens to fail the entrance exam I could only ask the principal to let him enter at the lower part of the academy” the king replied

“It is alright my king, we greatly appreciated it” Boro replied with gladness and the young boy deeply bowed.

“Is the boy’s family consist of human and minotaur?” the king asked

“Ah…the minotaur had caused the massacre of his family my king and this poor child maybe was used by the minotaur and experimented him. This is just my opinion my king, even Grae could not remember what had happened” Boro answered.

“…” the king look at the bowing young boy with two horns on his temple a ripped and tanned body

“Dalen is also filled with hybrids and monsters that had evolved, don’t worry a thing my child” the king encourages the young boy.

“Thank you my King” Grae replied still deeply bowed in front of the king

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Somewhere in the continent of Cayam, there were five people gathered in a shady place, three men and two women. They were sitting in a round table and were conducting a meeting.

“How’s the experiment in Dalen, Lara?” the man with an intimidating voice asked

“It went smoothly Luther, though the subject only gathered around 20 people, it shows that this forbidden technique has a lot of potential” Lara replied confidently.

“Good and the heroes Violet?” Luther asked the woman whose sex appeal can attract hundreds of men in just a glance.

“It went well also, I hate that I have to transform into an old hag just to accomplish a simple task” Violet complained seductively.

“Just deal with it Violet” he retorted her

“Luther, I think the odds are with us, two members of the King’s Guild clashed and both of them perished, I can see the victory for our group” a man with an eye patched on his left eye spoke with a serious tone.

‘Nod’ the man in a red robe nodded.

“That is because you Arvel and Morgan did your job correctly, just by giving tip to Faheem and manipulating his grudge towards Durwin both of you manage to make them fight” Luther encourages the two.

“We are honored” the two lowered their heads.

“Now, don’t let this momentum go to waste, slowly, slowly we can overtake Dalen and kill King Nafari” Luther grinned in a menacing way.

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District 3, City of Dalen

‘Phew, the king was a strong individual, a little mistake from my earlier actions, he could have noticed that I dashed from the carriage towards the room, by blending my presence with a sudden burst of his aura, I manage to erase my existence. I wonder how I did that, but somehow it felt like I am very familiar with this technique. Anyways, I doubt the king believed in my words but thankfully sir Boro was there’ Grae sighed with these thoughts.

“Well with this amount of gold I can buy a beginner’s armor for me”

Earlier, sir Boro gave me a sum of gold and he told me to prepare for the entrance exam in the academy. He sent a soldier to escort me to the central market located in District 3 where mixture of merchants, blacksmith and guilds were located.

“Yes that is for sure, come I know a good place to buy things like that and he is good man” the soldier told me.

Then we arrived at a store. There was a sign that display’s a hammer and I can see a furnace inside with metals steaming while being soaked in water, the place was a little humid and the three workers were sweating heavily but they were not bothered by it.

‘They seem to love their profession’ I thought

“Grae this is Treant Blacksmith Shop” the soldier gladly announced.

“Whoa, this place is amazing!” I put up a fake ignorant child display

“That’s right!” the soldier proudly agreed with me.

“Good Day cust…Oh Morton it’s you, is that a new customer you brought for me?” a short muscular man with a long beard greeted us.

‘Ah so his name was Morton, well anyways it’s not that I care’ I thought

“Yes sir! Please allow him to indulge in your marvelous works sir Egbert” Morton poetically spoke.

“Hahaha, you are such a funny guy Morton”

“Grae, I need to report to the headquarters, stay here okay? I will be back immediately after my report” Morton told me.

“Okay sir” and I put a wide smile and big curios eyes.

“Good, Sir Egbert can please take care of Grae for me for a little while, I just need to do some business, I’ll be back in a flash”

“It’s okay Morton, as long as he buys one of my works, hehe” the short muscular man brushed his beard while laughing inwardly.

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“Come inside child, so your name is Grae?” he asked me.

“Yes Sir Egbert”

“Are you a child of a minotaur?” he asked me inquisitively while we entered into his shop.

“Yes sir” the same lie that was told to Morton by sir Boro.

“Oooh and because of that I gave you a discount of 20% on all of my works!” he suddenly announced.

“Huh? Why is that sir? I was dumbfounded.

“Because I am also a hybrid! I am half human and half dwarf, hahaha” he gladly replied.

“Aaahh, thank you a lot sir!”

I did not bother to ask why because I can feel something inside me is irritated with his clingy attitude. So I went to check upon his works and I saw a set of armor.

“What is this sir?”

“Oh that one? It is a failed experiment of mine, I tried to sell it but to no avail. That armor has a very low defense, it was meant for assassin type adventurer but my plan on increasing its defense did not go well.”

“I’ll take this sir”

“Are you sure? It is not worth it you know”

“I can only afford this one sir, and I also need to buy a shield and a mace”

“Hahaha, you are a little boy but you act like an old guy. Okay I will give this armor for free so that you can select a good shield and a mace, sounds good? Egbert told me.

“Oh wow! Thank you sir Egbert. Umm sir what is class mastery?” I asked him all of a sudden.

“Ah, it means how you are adept with the profession you have chosen, for example a blacksmith like me, I need to use my hammer to increase my mastery in blacksmithing. High mastery means that you are extremely aware how to perform your profession. Anyways, are you a cleric?”

“Yes sir, a cleric that will become the greatest hero!” I’m getting used in lying and acting.

“Hahahaha that’s the spirit my boy!” Egbert patted me.

“Ugh, why can’t I lift up this staff sir? I asked him after I curiously inspect a staff that was displayed.

“Ah it is because your class is not associated with this kind of weapon, you are a cleric and this staff is for mage. Some items have restriction like this.”

“Then what is soulbound sir?”

“It means that the user is only entitled to use the item, from the word itself ‘bound to your soul’ If other people tries to steal is, they cannot wield it unless they killed you, the attacker will inherit the item and then it is bound to him” he told me while imagining something.

“Ahhh..”

“Why did you asked?” he tilted his head.

“I read it in the book sir and was curious about it. Is there other restrictions on items sir?”

“Umm let’s see, class type, soulbound and…aha! The requirement of the item in order to wield it. Say for example, you have looted a shield and when you are about to equip it you saw a notification that tells you that the item required at least 20 strength or class mastery should be above E. This notification appears on those items below Extremely Rare. I don’t know what notification well appear if you happen to loot a mythical or legendary item. Some says it is the same others says that the requirements is vague, sometimes written in riddles.” Egbert informatively told me.

“Ah thanks a lot sir, you are such a kind man, here is my payment for the item 10 gold”

“Hahahaha it’s nothing Grae, thank you for your patronage!”

I waited for a while and then Morton arrived and we bid farewell to Egbert. We then walked back towards the castle.

‘Thanks to Egbert’s information, I confirmed what I suspected about the vague message I received when I picked up the ring in Tulan’