Three weeks have gone by since the diplomatic meeting. Ben is in his courtyard training using an energy-absorbing manual to train his seed. During the last three weeks, Ben has done nothing but train even neglecting going to the academy. The air around Ben shifts and seems to be sucked into his body and he starts to sweat profusely. Ten minutes passed and Ben finally opened his eyes. "FINALLY!" He yells. 'After nearly two years with a stage two seed, I've finally reached the beginning of the third stage!' Ben thought to himself. a wide grin on his face. Just as Ben got up and headed toward the bath, his father emperor Michael appeared before him having sensed his son's breakthrough. Michael looks at him expanding his energy over Ben checking to make sure his seed was stable. 'This boy has worked quite hard these last weeks, skipping school even, little brat.' Michael thought, "Benjamin it seems you have broken through to the third realm congratulations son," Michael says congratulating his son. Ben looks at his father who suddenly appeared in front of him and bows, "thank you father I have a long way to go!" Ben says. "That is true haha, loosen up you've worked quite hard," Micheal replies then remembered. "So you wanna tell me why you think your training is so important? You skipped nearly three weeks of academy." Michael asked. Ben tenses up, 'shit he found out!'
After a hot shower washing away hours of sweat, Ben walks out of the shower. He has pitch black hair, dark green eyes, six foot one on the dot. A body that shows the long hours of training. He is considered a handsome young man according to a fan group of aristocratic teen girls. Ben looks in the mirror and notices the large goose egg on his head from his dad beating him for not going to school for three weeks. "Ow ow ow!" He says as he taps the goose egg with a towel, he remembered his father instructed him to be in the dining hall at the palace in two hours. He told Ben it was very urgent.
In the dining hall, Ben was sitting in his chair his father across from him, there the only two in the giant room. "So father why did you ask me to come here?" Ben asked, "It's about an arrangement I've set up for you." Michael replies. "What kind of arrangement?" Ben replied "An arranged marriage. I mean you are the first prince, after all, this will be good for you and the family." Michael replied sternly. Ben just closes his eyes a bit annoyed. ' Marriage I can't think about marriage when my little brother can nearly kick my ass!' They waited about two minutes in silence until the doors to the hall opened.
Jason Gray a five-star general the highest-ranking general in the empire's military, one of five. He's also a rank S in the adventurer guild and has saved thousands of lives. He has an 8th stage ice affinity seed. He's known mostly for killing over thirty stage 8 seed beasts during his time as an adventurer. General Jason walks to the table and stares at the Emperor who stands up to greet him both their powers serge for a millisecond and the emperor easily suppresses the generals. "Hahaha come here, you old bastard!" Micheal says. The two men then bear hug each other and have a sudden conversation about the past, recalling tough battles they've had together. "That was the good ole days," Jason said. Meanwhile Ben is in his chair looking at the two old farts 'these two are lions amongst men' Ben thought to himself.
Once Emperor Micheal and his old friend a five-star general were done catching up they both sat down and looked at Ben. He instantly noticed their gazes and tensely sat up straight; sweat dripping down his spine. "Ben, Jason's daughter is who I have arranged you to marry," Micheal said. "Your father the Emperor has told me you are a hard-working lad and we have discussed this. After I lost a bet with him, the bet was my daughter so I'm here to repay my debts to the emperor." Jason chuckled with a tear in one eye 'I've got to give my daughter to this little brat!'. Michael smirks at Ben and gives him a thumbs up. "Well, what can I say," Micheal says.
"The two of you will meet two months from now at the academy tournament that happens once a year. Her name is Anna Gray and she is a middle 4th stage seed with high-quality ice affinity she turned 15 three months ago so you too are quite close in age. Hopefully, you can get a good spot to impress her young man, I'll also be watching." Jason says directly to Ben. " There isn't a set date for the marriage specifically but think of this as an introduction to each other," Micheal said. After another 30 mins of chatting about this and that, Jason gets up says goodbye to his old friend Micheal, and leaves, 'If he's anything like his father he'll at least be worthy of her Huhhhh.' Jason internally sighed as he escorted himself out.
"Don't worry, if that girl looks anything like her mother you'll have quite the wife HAhaha!" Micheal says, "Yeah whatever you say, old man." Ben retorts "HA listen here Prince if the headmaster at the royal academy tells me your not in class again… let's just say your ass is grass." Michael said. Ben goes stiff at the thought of getting knocked on the head again and remembers the light pain still present on his head. "Yes, father!" Ben said like a frightened soldier.
After Ben had left the palace and returned to his
manor he continued his training late into the night he needed build a solid foundation for his seed to awaken his affinity. Also he had just broken through. Ben was using a high-stage three seed training manual. This manual is a guide explaining to the user the technique to draw energy around them into their seed. High-grade energy gathering manuals are extremely rare and there are only 7 high-grade stage three seed manuals in the entire empire. Energy gathering manuals range from different grades. A manual's grade determines how efficient and pure the energy is being absorbed into the seed. Some manuals are only efficient up to a certain stage, so in this regard, high-grade manuals are extremely important, expansive, and hard to find. The difference between high and low is like the difference between heaven and earth. Manuals are graded using a low to high system with there being specific manuals for each realm the seed has. For example, a low-grade third-stage seed manual. The higher the grade seed manual, the stronger the seed. If a person who used low-grade manuals up to the fifth stage fought a person who used middle-grade manuals up to the fifth stage, the person who used middle grade will most likely win.
…
Authors note-
Next, academy time! And affinity testing…