Arthur groaned as he lay on his bed. He had used up a significant chunk of the magia in his Reserve and could not move about.
In addition to that, his whole body is in pain, especially the areas Vanessa struck him. That vampire sure packs quite a punch, despite him fortifying his body with magia.
"You look fine.", Vesta said as she emerged from the shadows.
"Care to tell me your definition of the word 'fine'?", he asked her.
"Not dead."
"You would make a terrible doctor."
Vesta sighed, "Why didn't you use your usual trickery?"
"Vanessa is an opponent who I cannot use tricks against.", Arthur replied, "I had a feeling that she would see through all of them."
She stared at him, "You only talk like that when your opponent is way out of your league. Is the vampire that strong?"
He nodded, "Yep. And she hadn't gone all out. I am kind of glad though, for if she did, I'd be seriously dead."
"I'm curious as to why our instructors put such a monster in Special Class A.", he painfully sat up on the bed.
"Speaking of fighting. When are you guys going to visit the Dungeon?", Vesta asked. Arthur had given the Dungeon Pass they received from Ajax to Minerva.
"We are saving that for the last phase of our training. Sir and Miss Ruth had agreed to accompany us.", he replied. Vesta noticed him looking concerned.
"Are you worried that the Dungeon might evolve?"
Dungeon evolution. A phenomenon where a Dungeon undergoes a transformation into a higher rank and becomes more dangerous.
Recently, there has been an increase in the cases of Dungeons evolving and endangering the warlocks inside. There was one case where a D-rank Dungeon suddenly evolved into an S-rank while a few mid-level CAT 4 warlocks were exploring it.
None survived that incident.
No official explanation for the phenomenon has been found yet.
"I want to avoid any trouble in the Dungeon. Miss Ruth is powerful enough to handle an A-rank one but sir can easily handle anything thrown at him.", Arthur said.
There was silence for a moment before Vesta spoke up, "Alice will be visiting today.", she reminded him. Arthur nodded, "I don't know when she will come."
"Well. The only way you will know her arrival is when you detect her presence the moment she enters your range.", Vesta replied. She took a small vial containing a green liquid from her pockets.
"Here. Drink this. You don't want your sister to see you like this.", she tossed the recovery potion to Arthur. He caught the vial and stared at it.
"That reminds me. We are running low on recovery potions. Remind me to get a few the next time I'm in Cardinal Town.", he said as he drank the green liquid. It tasted like green apples.
As their name suggests, recovery potions help to heal a warlock along with refilling their Reserves to an extent. They can be bought from apothecaries managed by doctors and alchemists.
Arthur immediately felt energized, his pain vanished as the potion healed his body.
"I have to face Vanessa in the next round.", he said. "I doubt that will happen. The sparring session concocted by Jason will most probably end now as the instructors have returned and due to the arrival of your sister.", Vesta said otherwise.
"Hm.", Arthur was slightly disappointed. He wanted to cross swords with Vanessa but looks like it has to be pushed to another day. He looked at Vesta and a sudden thought invaded his mind.
"Hey, Vesta. Is there additional information about the Vampire of the Purple Rose?", he asked. She frowned, "That's a fairy tale Arthur. Since when did you get interested in that?"
Arthur winked, "I will tell you later."
Vesta shrugged and then thought about his request, "I don't know much about the mythical being but I will be able to find something in the library. I've also heard that a Taler has arrived in Crystalis city."
Talers are wandering storytellers traveling worldwide, regaling people with enchanting stories, myths, and legends of heroes, monarchs, dragons, and even the Arken gods along with stories of ordinary folk, nobility, and princes.
They collect various stories as they wander the plains, climb mountains and traverse vast deserts. Some even collect snippets of vital information as they go and will provide them for the right price or a rather delicious meal.
But Talers are rare and one showing up in the biggest city in Middle Arken is an even rarer sight. They mostly avoid the cities and usually hang around the taverns in small towns and villages.
When was the last time he saw a Taler? Arthur shook his head, "How about I meet the Taler and you visit the library?"
"Sounds like a plan. I am going to need a letter of permission to enter the Restricted Section in case it contains any information.", Vesta said. He nodded, "You can get that from sir or Miss Ruth. You just need to ask them."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yep. Besides, sir is interested in helping you master your Time attribute."
She pondered it before nodding, "Alright then. I'll get going. Just inform me when you are going to see the Taler."
Arthur nodded. Vest smiled, "Well. See you later. Please don't make any trouble while I'm gone.", she sunk back into the shadows.
He smiled, "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
Suddenly, he winced as a headache came followed by a new vision. It had been some time since the last one and this one was perhaps the worst he had ever seen.
Arthur found himself in the middle of the woods, enveloped by the darkness of night. He looked down and his eyes widened in horror.
A hand protruded from his chest, right where his heart was supposed to be. It was covered with his blood which flowed and pooled on the ground. He felt someone behind him as they pulled out their hand from his body.
He gasped as he returned to reality, sweat beading his forehead. His hands shook as he covered his mouth.
"What in Arthemia's name have I seen?"
*******
Alice Night looked out the window of the carriage as it traveled the well-paved road of the main street in Crystalis city towards Cardinal Academy.
Her grey eyes reflected the twinkle of the glass charms that hung from the doorframe of a souvenir shop as they passed it. Despite the peaceful and bustling atmosphere of the city, she was tense.
It is not surprising. Any warlock would be like that after spending a week in Ethereos.
"You need to relax Alice. Your shift is over. Besides, you will be seeing your brother after a long time.", her fellow passenger said with a smile.
She turned to Jade Aria and smiled back, "Yeah. I should. Thanks for giving me a ride."
The head of the Aria Family was there to welcome Alice at the Warp Gate the moment she arrived from Night Manor.
"It's the least I could do for a friend. Besides, liquid magia is expensive and you know how thirsty these mechanical horses are.", Jade replied.
"I know what you're talking about.", Alice sighed, "We will have to wait until the Callens release a more efficient version. And I am not the only one looking very excited to reach the academy.", she said looking at Jade.
The Sword Princess smiled sheepishly, "Haha. You are not the only one with a younger sibling."
"I haven't seen Gray in a long time. I heard she's a real beauty and a skilled warlock.", Alice said. The head of the Aria Family looked proud, "Of course. I could say the same about Arthur although the word beautiful is more fitting than handsome."
The head of the Night Family laughed, "Oh yes. He told me that Minerva made him crossdress again. The girls even made him walk around Cardinal Town dressed like a girl."
"I bet every single guy they passed must've fallen for him.", Jade said as the two friends laughed.
"Man I miss the days in the academy.", she said as she relaxed on the cushioned seat of the carriage bearing the insignia of the Aria Family, a sword and polearm crossed before a rose.
Alice agreed with her. They had huge fun in Cardinal Academy, especially with Jack Raven and Ruth Aeva.
"It's been a year since we last met up with Ruth.", she recalled. Jade nodded, "Yeah. Back then she was a Lone Knight and was looking for a way to remove the curse of her family.
Cardinal Knights have two choices after graduating from the academy. They can either join one of the 25 squads or be a Lone Knight who is seen as the direct subordinates of the Cardinal they chose to follow.
The Lone Knights are considered to be the strongest among the Cardinal Knights, many of them being retired Squad Captains, Vice Captains, or top graduates from the academy.
Both of them know that if she joined a Squad, Ruth Aeva would be a Captain by now.
"Gray says that she is an amazing instructor.", Jade remarked. "You think she's still as scary as the time in the academy? Even, the Headmaster was afraid of her despite him being the Air Cardinal.", Alice asked with a chuckle.
"Maybe? Gray did mention that she has become 'less scary' nowadays."
"I've heard the same from Arthur. Looks like being a teacher has softened her a bit."
"Or.", Jade smiled wryly, "Maybe it's her partner Seventeen."
"Ooh. Looks we need to ask some questions to that ice queen.", Alice also gave a mischievous smile.
They looked out of the window as the carriage left the city and entered the Lost Woods.
"Do you have any info on him?", Jade asked, her bright red eyes taking in the majesty of the woods. Alice shook her head, "No. We have almost no clue about him."
"Not even you guys were able to get anything about him?"
The Night Family is well known for its intelligence gathering. For them to not get any information about Seventeen surprised Jade.
"Oh well.", Jade shook her head.
"I guess we'll have to find out the old-fashioned way by conversation."