Walking through the medieval-looking city impressed Hiro. Since being born, all he had seen were destroyed civilizations or high-tech built cities by the invading races. The stone city made Hiro feel relaxed for some reason.
The people he saw were happy. Some were cultivating, and some were going about their chores. This place seemed like something out of a fairytale.
Aarav and Paulus both went to Lankani City, so they were used to seeing a bustling, friendly city. Aarav had the most experience, and he was the best known here in Divine City. Angel Corps tried to recruit him several times. They didn't even ask Paulus with his standoffish attitude.
A winged Angel Corps flew down seeing Aarav walking towards the storm sect. This winged human was a lieutenant in the Angel Corps. He had blueish armor and had long blonde hair.
"Good day, Aarav." The winged man flew down to the ground and gave him a broad smile.
"Hello, Khamael." A bright smile flashed across Aarav's face. Ever since Khamael rescued the men off Hope, Aarav was grateful to him.
"Aarav, oh look, it's your boyfriend." Paulus jested.
Aarav turned around and shot Paulus a stern look. "Paulus, stop." Hiro reached out his hand for a handshake. "Nice to meet you, Khamael. My name is Hiro."
Khamael shook his hand and said, "Likewise. Glad to see you are well."
"Khamael, we are heading to Storm Sect to show Hiro around. We think he should join."
Hiro sensing that Khamael was disappointed in hearing Aarav explanation. He interjected quickly, "Aarav, Paulus can show me around. Go talk with your new friend for a bit."
Aarav mouth dropped open. He was stunned with Hiro's forwardness. "Aarav, we will see you later. This way, Hiro." Paulus led Hiro away.
Khamael was happy to get Aarav alone. Aarav, on the other hand, didn't know what to do.
Walking away, Hiro asked, "Can we trust that guy?"
"He is the guy that rescued you and your men. He even used a healing spell to heal your wounds. You might want to thank him later."
Hiro looked at Paulus like you couldn't have told me that earlier. He just shook his head and kept walking.
A large castle came into view. "Is this it?" Hiro asked while reading a sign that said, 'Storm Sect.'
"Yes, the gate guard is coming to meet us now."
A large man in a white toga stepped forward. His mana started to fluctuate telling Paulus this man was at least in Shattering stage warrior. Hiro was surprised. There were not many humans stronger than him and Blood Knight.
"Hello, Paulus."
"Hello, Relthe." Paulus nodded towards the sizeable light-skinned man.
"Is this man you spoke of before?"
"Yes, this is Hiro. I think he might be interested in joining your Sect."
Hiro stepped forward to shake the big man's hand. "Oh, you're at peak Core Builder, and you use wind and lighting laws. I think it is the right place for you."
Hiro looked down at his hand like how he could tell all that from his handshake. He looked up at Relthe's face and wondered how strong this man in front of him was. Paulus just chuckled. He also gaged his and Aarav's level after only a handshake too.
"Please follow me in. I will have someone show you around."
Relthe showed them through two large wooden gates into the inner castle area. There were several people scattered around the domain practicing lighting and wind spells.
Hiro was fascinated as soon as he walked in. Mostly in his life, he had to be a steadfast warrior in this one moment he looked like a kid again.
"These are our outer disciples. They are mostly at the Tempered and Mana Fighter level."
What caught Hiro's eyes were that some these lower level warriors were using more mixed martial arts then he used. For example, he watched as this man conjured wind below the man's feet, allowing him to run across the air.
Relthe smiled at Hiro and said, "Follow me this way to the inner court."
The three of them walked through another set of gates and a large stone wall. In this courtyard, there were a lot fewer people, but there was at least twenty training.
A black-haired beauty saw Relthe and the two behind. Seeing Hiro walking with them, her interest was piqued. She walked over with her white robes flapping from all the wind. The blue-eyed woman walked up and said, "Hey, Relthe. What brings you to the inner disciple area." She looked over and gave Paulus and Hiro a once over.
"Oh, this one here is interested in joining." Relthe pointed at Hiro, and he stepped forward.
Hiro looked at the woman and was awestruck. Then the woman smiled at him. Hiro's heart started to thump, and he didn't understand what was going on.
The woman knew this must be man Aarav mentioned. She stepped forward to shake his hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm Alice Suzuki. My father was Japanese, and my mother Swedish."
This must be the woman Aarav mentioned. "I'm Hiro, Nakamura." They shook hands, and then Alice caught him off guard.
"Do you wish to spar?"
"What?"
"I would like to know how strong you are."
Hiro panicked and looked back at Paulus, and he just shrugged his shoulders. "Don't underestimate her, Hiro," Paulus said with a laugh. Almost like he knew this was going to happen.
"I will oversee the fight. You two get some distance."
Alice took a few steps back. Hiro, on the other hand, felt like this was happening to fast. Was he set up?
"Hiro back up." Relthe said one more time.
Hiro backed up and looked at Alice. This woman just met him and wanted to fight him. Hiro took up a fighting stance and looked at this woman staring at him thoughtfully. What surprised him was she was only at mid-level Core Builder.
"Get ready...Fight."