' Hari what are you doing! why are you provoking the hornets nest … ' thought Daksh as he nudged Hari with his arm.
Hari Ignored Daksh's nudge and said " if you don't have anything else to say please move my friend and I are going to train here."
" I came here to spar a little with you but it seems like you are not interested. But I don't know if your friend Daksh here would be interested to be my sparring partner." said Bert eloquently barely controlling his angry.
" this …. we are.." Daksh was overwhelmed, as he did not know how to refuse Bert Politely and not offend him.
"don't hurry to refuse my friend, I am willing to pay for your time. I don't have federation credits on me but I have Mana stones I am willing to pay with them"
" Mana stones !!!" Daksh's mouth opened wide enough to fit a egg.
" I don't have many just 8 … since i am paying you lets make this spar bit more interesting, how about this for every 1 minute you are able to spar with me I will give you 1 energy stone. so, 8 mana stones for 8 minutes. what do you think. you can earn 8 energy stones in 8 minutes."
" 8 energy stones in 8 minutes .. " Daksh's eyes shone.
"… " same as before Hari still stayed uninterested.
" let me warn you it is not going to be easy money as I am a 10 star Magic Apprentice and I am not going to hold back like in mock practice spars this is going to be for real and you can get injured or worse. so, please think over twice before agreeing." Bert Knew that the Fish had already been hooked in when he mentioned mana stone and no matter how much he warns the other party will still willingly fall in his trap.
Bert watch at Hari's reaction with the corner of his eyes, even though Hari still looked uninterested he thought Hari would around as he knew nobody could resist the greed of a mana stone.
When Bert said " I am a 10 star Magic Apprentice and I am not going to hold back like in mock practice spars, this spar is going to be for real and you can get injured or worse. so, please think over twice before agreeing" a red flag did rise in Daksh's mind but the fog of Greed brought by mana stones had already clouded his judgement. he thought, So what if Bert is a 10 star Magic apprentice With my 7-star magic apprentice strength I can easily hold my ground for a minute, that is 1 energy stone which is 5 lakh Federation credits almost equal to my father's annual pay. Higher the risk higher the reward.
Before answering to Bert Daksh turned and looked at Hari with a complicated gaze. seeing Daksh's dilemma Hari raised his hand and said " do what you must, I can find someone else to spar with"
Daksh gave a nod to Hari and hurriedly said to Bert " okay lets go"
Seeing Daksh's crazy state Hari shook his head in disappointment. but sighed afterwards considering that if it was previous naive Hari was he would fight with Daksh to go first. But in the eyes of an ex-diamond level mercenary 8 Energy Stones are like pocket change.
In previous life even though he could not become a Magic Knight, Hari was able to breakthrough into Star refining Realm and choose to become a mercenary after completing 10 years of compulsory military service, to find different ways to open one of his life star. but in his 100 years he became a diamond level mercenary but never found a way to open his life star.
After considering it, seemingly uninterested Hari suddenly eyed Daksh and nudged him with his elbow and signaled him to come aside for a chat.
"What … what is it ? couldn't you have used less strength back there it hurts" said Daksh Yer as he rubbed his upper arm.
" I did so to wake you up, Idiot. what are you thinking by promising to spar with a 10 star magic apprentice. fool, do you even know what a Real spar is.." chilled Hari
" what! I know what a real spar is I spent some time watching the seniors spar in the ring in sixth floor.. its no big deal I think I can last for a minute against him" retorted Daksh.
Although Daksh has a burly body he has always been out of trouble and Kilometers away from fights. so, basically he hadn't used his hands for anything other than eating and washing his behind. Hari was thinking were Daksh gets his confidence from, unless he was thinking of using his large body as meat shield for one hole minute.
" you…" Hari was about to warn Daksh again but was interrupted by Daksh saying that
" Hari, I know you are going to say, that in this world there is no free food and Bert is going to use me as a punching bag until I can no longer hold on. I am not that dumb, I have already thought of that but he is offering a Mana Stone with It I can open one of my stars in no time while providing me enough time to open 1 life star other 3 stars before college entrance exam. Hari sometimes Hard work is not enough you also require resources. Please say no more I have already decided."
Hard work, Resources and Talent all come hand in hand in one's achievement. Hard work alone cannot solve everything, a person has to be resourceful and Talented to walk further in life.
But right now Daksh agreeing to spar with Bert is akin to suicide in Hari's Eyes. some may ask why is he over-reacting it's just a spar how dangerous can it be. Being a re-birther Hari knew what others did not know,
In the year 249 A.M.A during the season of Federation college entrance exam in Kingdom of Mysore Wodeyar High School senior year students were terrorized for a hole 13 days by Rookie Crusher Bert.
Well Rookie Crusher Bert's legend was short lived but for years his victims struggled to pee and wash their behind.
Gowda Noble Family in Kingdom of Mysore is the branch family of the Gowda Royal family of Kingdom of Coorg (Kodagu).
Kingdom of Coorg and Kingdom of Mysore are neighboors within the distance of 300 km.
Both Wodeyar and Gowda Royal family's have a in-Law relation through generations of arranged marriages between the two family's.
Since the two family's are neighboring Kingdoms in a A.M.A era both Royal family's knows the importance of not pissing off their neighbors so, not only have they formed a in-Law relationship through generations of arranged marriages between the two family's but also have their own branch Noble family's in each others Kingdom.
Like the Gowda Royal Family's branch Gowda Noble Family present in Kingdom of Mysore, Kingdom of Coorg also has a Wodeyar Royal Family's branch Wodeyar Noble Family with in it. the bond between the two Kingdoms is as strong as the bond between two siblings in order to resist the Monster Apocalypse and also sometimes the Federation itself.
The Branch Noble family's of each royal family consist of the Prince , princess and dukes who couldn't take over the throne, this ensures that there is no rebellion within the royal family itself and also as collateral in their relationship.
Appaji Raja Gowda the current head of the Gowda Noble Family and the second younger brother of Vera Raja Gowda Current King of Kingdom of Coorg, has two wife's and three children's.
Linga Raja Gowda First son of Appaji Raja Gowda, born to his first Wife Princess Maya Rani Wodeyar.
Swapna Rani Gowda Second Daughter of Appaji Raja Gowda, born to his second wife Princess Lisa House of Hanover.
Robert(Bert) Raja Gowda, Third son of Appaji Raja Gowda, born to his second wife Princess Lisa of house of Hanover.
Princess Lisa being the second wife and with her backing being thousands of Kilometers away, had little power and status in Gowda Noble Family, which brought similar fate on both of her children.
Although Linga, Swapna and Robert all Three were children of the head of the clan but their status was still different in the family and received totally different treatment by the family members.
Both the brother and sister, Robert and Swapna along with there mother were just treated as the collateral from House of Hanover and nothing else. even though they were part of the Gowda Noble Family they were never considered as the part of the Gowda Noble Family. their circumstances in the family was similar to a prisoners with noble title.
But all this Changed 2 years ago when Swapna Rani Gowda got admitted in one of the top 10 Federation Magic Academy and Joined a Gurukul[1] officially becoming a Mukhya Shishya[2] student of a high ranking Magic Guru[3].
which caused the status of Robert to change from a collateral to one of the Heir of Gowda Noble Family in a night.
Although Roberts situation in the family changed, but it still left behind some deep scars in his mentality leading him to have Inferiority complex and grow a little sadism in him.
Everything was now going well for little Bert soon he would become a official Magic knight or Wizard with the Family's resources and with his hard work anything was possible but time went by and he didn't open even a single life star, finally the magic academy entrance exam neared almost a month away and he was not able to open a single life star causing him to panic and seek assistance of his sister.
Swapna took here brother to one of her trusted seniors who recommended her to one of renowned Vaidya Doctor of Federation. the Vaidya Doctor after a series of test came to the conclusion that Bert had no mana affinity and along with deficiency in his body he would remain mortal rest of his life.
Hearing that he would remain mortal for rest of his life all hell broke lose in Bert's mind all his previous insecurities surfaced completely unleashing his sadistic side.
Hari Shook his head thinking about Bert's circumstances, people outside all envied him but never knew about his sad story until he became the famous Rookie crusher.
Yes Rookie crusher that sadistic bastard since he could never step in to Magic realm, went on crushing others hope and dreams of becoming a Magic Knight or wizard.
If Hari's memories serves right a month before the Magic academy entrance exam, Bert started sparing with different Rookie's, luring them with energy stone. In the ring he would beat the crap out of them for a whole 50 secs and humiliate the half conscious rookie in different crazy way he could think off, while his lackey's record this and upload the video in the Federation feed for every one to watch. all his victim were really miserable as they lost their will.
Seeing Hari pace out, Daksh Didn't Disturb him and went towards Bert.
" So what did you guys decide? are you guys willing to spar with me" asked Bert seeing Daksh Return with firm look in his eyes. seeing the firm and hope filled look in Daksh's eyes Bert clenched his fist hard and didn't let it show on his face, he was angry with himself for being too naive to think that all is well as long as he worked hard. the firm and hope filled look in Daksh's eyes reminded him of his ignorance and naivety, the more he thought more he wanted to beat that hope out of Daksh's eyes and show him reality which is filled with hopelessness and misery.
Before Daksh could answer Hari butted in and said " I am also interested, can I join. "
Hearing Hari's answer Daksh was surprised and looked at Hari with a questioning gaze. Bert was not at all surprised as he knew after hearing mana stone Hari would come around, they always do.
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[1] Gurukul : The Family of the Teacher. meaning the students gain knowledge by residing with his/her Guru as part of a family. A teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime.
for example like in Desolate Era Ji Ning workships Patriarch Subhuti as his teacher and lives in his world for years together to gain knowledge and increase his strength.
[2]Mukhya Shishya student : main student.
[3] Magic Guru : Magic teacher it is title to the person who is at the peak of his/her magic arts and guides others in their magical path.
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