The next day, Lander has pondered for an entire evening and made a big decision. It was to practice his Soul Affinity using the natural element, thunder.
"Excuse me old man but do you know a place where thunder always occurs?" Lander asked.
"There used to be a place like that but a strong magic disrupted the natural flow of thunder in that place," The old man answered touching his beard.
"Do you mean Thunder Village?" Lander asked and the old man nodded.
"Then how about a grassy area with no trees around and always rain?" Lander inquired.
The old man pondered for a moment before answering, "I do know a place like that but it is very far away from here, on the eastern part of this forest. Anyway young man, why do you ask?"
"I'm going to summon the lightning!" Lander proudly stated.
"There is no way a human could summon lightning." The old man rejected the idea.
"How about a bet? If I could summon the lightning then you will teach me in using magic for two days and you will also accompany me out of this forest." Lander stated full of smiles.
"Then if you can't summon lightning? You'll be my cook!" The old man smiled back at him.
"It's a deal!" Then they sealed it with a handshake.
After that, they now started their journey to the eastern part of the Dark Forest. The old man rode his rabbit while Lander was following them running. He needed to train.
The old man was impressed by him especially when Lander only rode Robby after two hours of running. They soon reached the eastern part of the forest and arrived at a grassy area filled with sounds of frogs all over the place.
"So how will you summon lightning?" The old man asked.
"Through science, I'll use Benjamin Franklin's method." Lander answered full of smiles.
"Science? And whose Benjamin?" The old man asked.
Lander again faced palm but then he told the old man that Benjamin Franklin was the one who discovered that thunder can produce electricity. But the old man doesn't understand his words and Lander just told him to watch.
Using ragged silk cloth and sticks, Lander made a kite out of it tying a very long silk string on it. He also attached couple of copper coins into the string. Then after making it, he let it flew unto the sky as the strong winds carried it up freely.
The old man was amazed at this scenery. He also wanted to make one and let it fly up to the sky. So he asked Lander to make him one. Lander of course didn't hesitate as he believed that flying kite alone was boring but with a pair made it more exciting so made another, this time he didn't insert any copper coins. Then he gave it to the old man and instructed him how to do it.
Before the kite could get heavier due to the constant raining, the area that has never experienced thunder or lightning yet always rain now became very ominous. A very loud rumble was heard as if the heaven was provoked, then instantly a lightning was produced that hit Lander's kite.
Never did the old man imagine that using this method could actually create a scenario in which lightning could be summoned.
Of course, Lander was already prepared as he was holding a lightning stone that was given to him by the old man. This stone nullifies the electric current that could endanger Lander but he still felt a tingling sensation that made his hand numb from the lightning due to the copper as it was a very good conductor of electricity.
Since Lander's kite was already destroyed due to lightning, he dug a hole enough to burry a part of the 15 feet steel rod that he personally requested from the old man. This way, Lander believed that an open area with only one standing so tall will always be strike by lightning. This was his observation during typhoons or hurricanes back on Earth.
Soon enough, another rumble came but lightning wasn't sighted that moment. But, the heavens became more ominous as the rain became harder, the winds grew stronger and the rumbles became more deafening. Lander told the old man to put two dozens of lightning stone around the pole and the old man agreed, enthusiastically waiting what would happen. He even forgot that those stones were very expensive and two dozens of it already costed him half of his fortune.
Then after everything was put in place, the two of them waited. The old man, while waiting was still playing the kite that Lander made. After thirty minutes of waiting, the dark sky was illuminated as lightning scattered all over the sky till it hit the pole.
It was a moment of silence that made the old man amazed, "This is an interesting discovery."
"And I was the one who discovered it in this world, so that means I would be famous after a hundred years?" Lander joked while laughing.
It was now this time that Lander went beside the pole but he didn't went inside the lighting stones that were surrounding the pole. He seated near those stones and again, after thirty minutes, the same scenario happened. And Lander actually felt his blood oozed due to electrocution, he coughed a lot of blood. He was heavily injured; he felt his internal body unable to function.
Lander underestimated the power of nature; he thought that he would be safe because the lightning stones could protect him. It was a lesson for him.
Good thing, the old man went hurriedly towards Lander and fed him a medicinal pill. But due to the heavy injury Lander suffered, he passed out after taking in the pill.
When Lander woke up, he was already at the old man's house. Then he noticed that he was wrapped with bandages all over his body. He was like a mummy.
"Good thing you woke up, you should go now young man or you would be late during the centennial ceremony," The old man spoke giving him a cup of water.
"Wait? How long have I slept?" Lander asked shocked.
"Three days and tomorrow will be the centennial ceremony," The old man replied casually.
"What!!!" Lander was shocked. He intended to learn from this old man but never thought that he would pass out for three days.
"But old man, what if you train me personally? I don't have to enter the academy." Lander suggested.
"I don't have time for you. I only have time for my woman." The old man answered as he sighed and looked at the room where the beautiful woman was staying.
"But we had a bet?" Lander demanded.
"You can come back again. If you want to enter the Dark Forest, you should just shout Robby's name and he'll come get you." The old man told him.
Lander has no choice but to nod, "So old man, then you can help get out of this forest easily right and if you could also help me arrive at the Wyvern Capital with ease."
"That won't be a problem since you're quite an interesting fellow and a good cook but I have a request for you," The old man replied as he asked for a favor.
"Tell me," Lander agreed happily since the old man could help him arrive at the Capital faster.
"If there would be an elite who provoked you, tell that Druid to make a contract with him. After that, teach that bastard who provoked you how to cook and send that elite after teaching him. I will personally make that bastard my personal cook. Also, I need a maid." The old man requested.
Lander thought for a while, "Actually, I already have a requirement for you. The only problem was the maid you wanted is an outcast and if you could give her the revenge she wanted and help her then she can be your maid. As for the cook, that guard will do but he's more of a labor type of guy so I will find you another one."
The outcast he was referring was actually Elizabetha. Lander wanted her to have a good future not because of what happened between the two of them but because she lacks perseverance and courage. He wanted her to develop in this place where there were a lot of dangers lurking anywhere.
"Then I could expect to have a cook within a month." The old man replied.
"No! Two months, give me two months and I will train an outstanding cook." Lander claimed with confidence.
"Two months, I can endure." The old man replied as he gave a letter two Lander telling him to pass it to the Druid. He then removed the bandage of Lander and went outside as he whistled so loud.
After that, a humungous beast was heard flapping its wings heading towards them. It was actually a dragon; an 8 feet tall that resembles Charizard of the anime Pokemon. What was more amazing was that this beast was a Rank A beast.
"He'll accompany you to the Capital and make sure that Druid receives that letter as it includes our talk and some important matters," The old man replied.
The dragon lied down letting Lander go up on its back but before he climbed up, he faced the old man, "By the way old man, can you tell me your name?"
"Just call me the necromancer," The old man replied smiling.
Since the old man has no interest in telling his name, Lander wouldn't tell his name either. Then he climbed up on the back of the dragon and bade goodbye.
**
Charizard – the last evolution of Charmander in the anime Pokemon