I am absolutely astounded by this child…
In less than a week after her visit to the guild, I found out through the vines that she's been through more than a good share of trouble. From getting a run in with the new hero before her visit, turning down the most prestigious adventurers in all the region, and now I'm just getting word that she not only adopted a sibling dragonjaw, who are rare on their own, But she was just officially announced as legitimate family member of the Halliway house! Not just becoming a servant or lady of the house, but a full on house member with all the rights of the masters!
This child is an abomination!! "URhgggrrr…." calm down, Adler. Stay calm. You're getting a little too passionate about this. I've noticed that Raida has been absent from my being as of late since that last encounter with her, and I haven't seen her since then.
To be fair it's only been a few days but I'm already bored out of my mind waiting here listening to this pompous high ground sack of cotton go on about the boy next to him. This boy, Xyle Vaticus, is apparently the new hero. The first thing I notice is that he has no class, no sense of alertness, or no sense of clothing for an adventurer! The high grounds have done nothing but pamper the boy for however long he's been up there.
"... and so you see, this is why you must make his training your top priority! Being that he is the New founding hero of the gods, he must have the best training and I have been informed that you were the best trainer for the job. I'm sure you understand the importance of this mission."
And I hope you can get the hell out of my office soon. I've been sitting here listening to your bullshit waiting for you to get to the damn point. "I understand your earnestness, dear sir."
"Good! Then it is in agreement that you will-"
"However," I am NOT going to agree to this shit. The boy may have this title but the gods have clearly done something wrong here if his status looks like this.
XYLE VATICUS:
Class:: Hero
Title:: Hero of the Seven(5/7)/ Traveller
Race:: HUMAN(Golem)
EXP: 0
Atk 68
Def 98
MagAtk 120
MagDef 140
Agl 86
Luk 50/100
Blessings
Blessed by the seven(5/7):: Liluna(blue)/ Raida(red)/ Bateyalo(green)/ Julah(violet)/ Palitoh(yellow)
Skills:: self-defence/ karate( black belt)/ swordsmanship/ street fighting(freestyle)
For the heavens above, they haven't even tried to give him any training with the knights. There is no way that boy is going to get through anything at this point without some of Brights' guidance. "I'm afraid I cannot give the boy special treatment over my current adventurers and pupils. If he wishes for training in this guild he will have to go through the same regiment as the rest of them. It's not difficult and I'm sure your hero will have no trouble keeping up with them with the skills he currently has."
"What? You make it sound as though he is of low quality, but I can assure you that-"
"All of my adventurers are at least twice as powerful as he is in the d-ranks. If you wish for him to exceed that, then he should have been well prepared before his arrival. I see no weapon on the boy, his armor doesn't fit his build, and he seems to lack the common sense of this world. I suggest you start with the basics first before you send him off to a battle ground. If you do that now, he will be broken before he even gets the chance to his first dungeon."
"Uh…!! Well…"
"I understand. What do I need to do first?" well look at that. The boy can talk with some manners. His posture needs work though.
"I'm glad you are sensible, Master Vaticus. You will first need to go through the setting test and get your venturing license in the training hall, which I will be heading to now. If you follow me, we can get started on it now."
"Yes, sir." he seems pretty confident and eager to start. Well… at least he is now.
I've entered the main hall to find Lathara and Brights talking at the desk. They seem pretty excited about something.
"You may go in through that door and take a seat in the next room, we will be with you shortly." I told the boy. He walks off staring at brights as if taking careful note of his eyes. He was obviously nervous seeing him for the first time… come to think of it, the only other being that didn't really react to his features was me. Lathera got used to him, but aside from that many others would tuck their tails at the sight of him.
"Brights… how did the goblin react when she saw you?"
"Tessa??" He seems a bit happy already. "She didn't even blink when she saw me. I got a flinch from calling out to her the first time but that was it. She didn't seem at all intimidated by me."
"You can't be serious?"
"I was actually wondering that myself, now that you say that." Lathara didn't notice either? "When I first met her she only looked me in the eyes as we spoke, unlike most goblins that would have their eyes around the room or on my body."
"You should have seen the way she acted when she got comfy in the room with me. Sat front 'n center giggling with me as I joked around with her, she didn't even pay any mind at all to how I looked at her, but how I reacted to her."
"You make it sound as though she's blind."
"No! No! She can see as clear as new glass. I guess I should describe it as more… like she was trying to match me??"
"Matching you?"
"Yeah… it took me a moment to notice her watching me, but the moment I made proper eye contact with her, it was like she was trying to match my soul. It gave me chills for a second until she smiled at me like it was a natural thing to do for me."
"Huh???"
"Oh! I know what you mean!" And now Lathara is excited. "I did the same thing. I was so nervous at first when she looked me dead in the eyes to talk to me by then, it instantly became easy to talk to her like it was so natural. I almost thought I was talking to my sister in Vinctur."
"Yeah! You do get it." … so she can read people the second she makes eye contact with them. … Strange. I haven't had that experience with her yet… have I? Oh wait. It was the moment she got stabbed that she looked me in the eyes for the first time. I had chosen not to at first but…
"Anyway, let's go before she starts getting bored in there." Brights suddenly exclaims.
"Huh?"
"Yeah, she's in there already. Lathara sent her in not too long ago before you showed up with that kid."
"Is he another new talent by the way? You don't usually escort others aside from your pupils."
"Don't get it twisted, the boy is the chosen 'hero' from the high ground. I don't have a choice but to treat him with care. But that's all the care he's getting. Damned waste of space brat."
"Ooh. That's bad huh. Well, let's just hope he doesn't try anything with Tessa in there. That'll be one hell of a mess to clean up."
"For the heavens, don't remind me. Let's go."
I can't say I didn't enjoy Brights' bantering about the goblin. Being a devil halfling, he would have trouble dealing with others as he is with the scars and his eyes being as they are. Many people are frightened or intimidated by his appearance alone. He was a mercenary, a war king when we first met. Even I was intimidated and gave him a good few whacks for scaring me so often. I still do even to this day. Now this man, the most frightful man in Selest, is as cheery as a child at a festival planning his training regimen for the little youngling. The half devil is this eager to teach a youngling. Usually he would tease at making them a new receptionist or an assistant out of courtesy for their fears. He has a habit of feeling badly for the weaker ones. Whether they are goblins or their stronger variants, by nature he won't even bother dodging their attacks because they don't affect him at all. To be more precise, he can't feel pain. He never felt pain since he was born due to his demon origin. I can't even make him wince from any of my attacks.
He seems to be expecting something interesting from her if he trains her and him going on about how often a day he can switch training hours with me is funny on its own, since he's only ever convinced me to not even give him the chance.
Once we've entered the room, I instantly see the young hero staring holes into the youngling's skull. I get his curiosity but at least control your… Ah. I see what he's looking at now.
HALLIWAY:(self-named)
Class::
Title::
Race:: DRAGONJAW(Goblin[Golem])/ feral
EXP: 760/*
Atk 62
Def 105
MagAtk 130/*
MagDef 140/*
Agl 140/*
Chm 60/*
BLESSINGS::
Blessed by the seven:: Liluna(blue)/ Raida(red)/ Bateyalo(green)/ Julah(violet)/ Palitoh(yellow)/
Skills:: self-defence/ karate( black belt)/ howl/ street fighting(freestyle)/ resistance(*)/ charm/ imitation/ intimidation/ emerald shield(passive)/ moonstone mending(passive)/ healing/ calculation(passive)/ Seeker(passive)/ Scavenge[gather](passive)/ sun's eyes (passive)/
GIFT::
Hyulah's Voice(passive)
It doesn't show her name. And
I bettergreet them too. "Hello you two." I glanced at the youngling who still seemed giddy that she got a smile from Brights. "... Halliway."
She fidgets a bit before answering me with a bow. "Good moring, Mr. Maul." This coy raskal. Now I can't help smiling out of respect for her polite manners. I need a distraction before my deviousness gets the best of me too early. "Mr. Vaticus. It is an honor to finally meet your acquaintance." and thank you for being that distraction. "Have you decided to take the placement test then?"
"Yeah, sure. I figured I could give it a look even though I was sent here as a hero title. I might as well see what kind of hero. Pretty sure I'm a lightweight champion, but who knows." I take back my thanks to you, you damn ingrate.
… why does he keep looking at the youngling? You're not that special, so stop being weird. Whatever. "Alright then. Mr. Brights."
"Yup." And his giddy demeanor is gone. Well, I guess he was just as annoyed by the level of disrespect we just witnessed. He sends the compatibility orbs to Vaticus and only one of them doesn't react. Not surprising. It's true, he doesn't have a subclass for his hero title.
"huh? ...*sigh* Hang on." He digs around the desk for a while then pulls two other orbs out and switches it with the blank one.
"Whatcha do? Give me the wrong one?" arrogant little…
"Well you said you wanted to be a lightweight and that's what that orb is for. So it doesn't look like it fits you much. Let's try these two." Brights answered him so professionally that it made me bored. I was hoping he would throw one of those orbs at him like he did to the other disrespectful punks before. This is such a waste of time but it can't be helped.
It looks like he's an all rounder in the hero title. Well, he's not useless at least but with that table I saw before, compared to this youngling… I need to stop thinking about it. I'll only agitate myself at this rate.
"Alright that works."
"What?"
"Well your choice of title is closer to a mild frontline and shield. So you're able to do some heavy weight stuff with the light weight. So that makes you a front guard which is actually perfect for the title hero. So congrats on that."
"Oh cool!"
Well, time for the lesson. "Alright. Next for both of you. We're gonna need to analyze your physical prowess and endurance. But first we need to tell you why you don't have any elements. For starters do either of you know what your statuses actually say?"
"I don't have an element because I'm not really a living person, right?" Xyle answers. Oh look he learned something.
"Uh…" pffft. Brights didn't expect him to learn anything. "Yeah. Basically because you two are golems, you're unable to be given a base element."
"That's just because I'm a summoned spirit and had to be given a new body of earth and bone. That's nothing weird."
If you were a dragonjaw it wouldn't be weird at all, since Dragonjaws are mostly born feral and from earth and bone naturally. Like weeds. Speaking of… "Halliway?" she nearly jumped out of her seat just now. Was she not paying attention? "Can you verify this?"
"Eh?"
"Huh?" and the hero is confused. Right, the high ground doesn't acknowledge humanoid monsters as intellectuals. This ought to be interesting.
"Uh... I... Don't know if I can since I don't know much about reading my status." I admit.
"You don't know those little basics?" Xyle asks me.
"What can I know if no one tells me that's an actual thing to do?"
"Hah! Watch and learn, goblin." I swear to the heavens. The boy suddenly blinks and his status is revealed. This imbecile thinks it's a good idea to show that off but he just neglected the basics of basic knowledge. Never reveal yourself to anyone. Also not everyone has the ability to do that in the first place. Only those with Palitoh's
"I don't have the ability to summon one." the youngling's sudden announcement calls my mind back to me. Why am I so surprised by the fact that she can't do what he just did? She has the skill
"Seriously? Aren't most other beings able to see one?"
"There are cases where some don't need to see one, Mr. Vaticus. It's nothing new or uncommon." Yes, most are able to see them but not all really need to see it. There are also cases where one doesn't have one at all and they only appear as a life or existence. But he doesn't need to know that.
"Uh... Oh." oh look, he learned something again. Good for him.
"Now then. Since Halliway can't see hers, we shall move on since there is no other way to see it other than testing. First as golems, just because you can't have an associated element, it doesn't mean you can't have one to use. On the contrary, you are more compatible with all elements of your choosing than most. But it depends on your pain tolerance and how great your base life force is as a being. And that only depends on who made your base."
"What does that mean? It depends on who made your base?" Xyle asks.
"... Does that mean whoever made our bodies determines how much we can endure?" I ask.
"That's exactly what it means. But where your endurance is now doesn't mean you can't inhance it. Nor does it mean you can't grow. So my question to you two is how much are you two willing to go for an endurance test?" well, it's actually a question for the goblin since she has that skill from the blue god, Moonstone mending. That's a high grade healing ability those born under moonlight can get if the conditions are right. Where did you rise from to get a blessing like that?
"Let's do this!" Xyle cheers. "I know I'm ready." Again with the glances. Why is he so fixated on showing off to a youngling, seriously?
"... Nothing is achieved without perseverance." ooh. I like that determined answer. That's rare for a youngling. I'm intrigued.
Let's show them what they can do then. First the element orbs. "... Good. This is an element orb that allows you to choose an element as your base. Sometimes if you cannot choose, it chooses for you depending on your willpower and personality. The stronger you are in both, the greater the element with flash. What I just demonstrated was my choice of element in contrast to my given element."
I show them my element, water. Then hand it to Brights and he shows his being light. "This is my element, light." He explains. "But I can't use it well because of my blessing from Bateyalo. So I use these to enhance my element."
"I wanna try it!" Goodness, relax, boy. These orbs aren't going anywhere.
"Good. Let's head to the training field then and get you both started."
"Oh wait a minute! Before that, I wanted to know what the goblins' blessings are." why!?
Oh well. I haven't gotten to see it myself either so it's fine.
"... I don't see the harm in it. Do you, Brights?"
"Not really." He seems happy that I get to see this. Blue, green, and white. The three odd sets of colors I saw on her when she had her blessings atviated during the mishap at the front. They suddenly turn completely black right after that. The air in the room suddenly became so cold that I could feel the ice in my throat. The orbs, now completely void of color, hovered in front of her and I could see a dark, pale shadow grab hold of her with large, disembodied hands that covered her whole torso. "... What in all that's holy...?" The obs crack like glass and fall to the ground as if something just escaped from them. The youngling, Tessa, now uneasy and afraid, held her stomach in confusion.
WHAT IN THE HEAVENS ABOVE WAS THAT?! Did she awaken?? Was she summoning something?? Is something wrong?? Brights??? He doesn't seem to understand either. He's just as baffled as I am.
Her status…
HALLIWAY: Tessa Greenwood(self-named)
Class::
Title::
Race:: DRAGONJAW(Goblin[Golem])/ feral
EXP: 760/*
Atk 62
Def 105
MagAtk 130/*
MagDef 140/*
Agl 140/*
Chm 60/*
BLESSINGS::
Blessed by the seven:: Liluna(blue)/ Raida(red)/ Bateyalo(green)/ Julah(violet)/ Palitoh(yellow)/
Skills:: self-defence/ karate( black belt)/ howl/ street fighting(freestyle)/ resistance(*)/ charm/ imitation/ intimidation/ emerald shield(passive)/ moonstone mending(passive)/ healing/ calculation(passive)/ Seeker(passive)/ Scavenge[gather](passive)/ sun's eyes (passive)/
ELEMENT::
Friction (Black)
GIFT::
Hyulah's Voice(passive)/ Malcolm's void/ Neutelos Commandment
Another redacted?? What does that even mean!? Am I not allowed to see it or something!? Is it something I can't read? No, that's not right. What the hell is all of that!? And what is that element??? Heavenly com… Heavenly… Comune??? "Halliway."
"Y-yes, sir!"
Calm down. Don't frighten her more than what she already is. Take a breath and make a plan for this later. Though, this needs to be addressed sooner than later, but… urgh…
"We'll speak with you later for that."
"What?? What happened? Was that weird??" Will you shut up!
"Don't worry about it, Mr. Vaticus." gods, I swear to the heavens. "It's nothing for you to concern yourself with. Come, you two." Let's just see what her new abilities will let her accomplish. And also see if that is a real element.