(3 years ago)
??? POV
" My Lord it's been four months since we lost our contact with the one we sent to find Sylvia. And when we send some of our soldiers to look for him."
Reported a man with one of his knee kneeling down.
"And then?" Ask the man lazily sitting on his throne. While looking at the man reporting in front of him.
"We found his dead body on a cave, that we suspect Sylvia's hiding place." Said the kneeling man.
"So his dead? But it's impossible for him to be killed by an injured Asura. Am I right?" Ask the man that was sitting on the throne.
"Yes my Lord! We suspect that it's one of those bastard from the other continents."answered the man.
"Then there's a chance that Sylvia I still alive?"
"Yes my lord! Since we didn't find her body. There's a possibility that she's still alive."
"Tell our citizens that we will make a move earlier to what we planned. We will begin our invasion to Dicathen in this coming years tell them to be ready." Said the man on throne.
"Yes my lord!"
Vincent Helstea POV
As both Arthur and Rey stand 5 meters apart. They the began to stretch Their bodies before taking a fighting stance.
Rey is the captain of my Helstea's auction guards, and at a high-silver core stage. And I'm thankful that even with his strength he still decided to stay as my guard rather than going to other noble's.
As the father and son clash Their fists collided with each other. Seeing this scene baffled me, since I'm not a mage I didn't believe Rey when he told me that his son was a mage, and dark yellow core at his age.
" Nice work art! But it's for your old man to be a little more serious." Said Rey as lightning crackle around his body. " I hope you didn't neglect your training."
"Don't worry dad! Of course I wouldn't." As lightning crackle around Arthur's body.
"Deviant!" I shouted standing up from my seat. Looking around I saw my family looking at Arthur, with an expression of shock being shown across their faces. While Alice had her normal smile on her face and Ellie was admiring her brother's display.
A few minutes later the spar ended with Rey winning the match still standing and a some sweats can be seen in his body. While Arthur was laying on the ground and panting.
"So you've unlock your lightning deviant. What about the others?" Ask Reynold's while looking at his exhausted son.
"What!!!" I shouted
"What do you mean Rey? Are you saying Arthur here isn't a single elemental mage?" I query.
"To be exact I'm a Quadra-elemental mage that can control all of their deviances." Answered the still panting Arthur on the ground.
Hearing his words, me and my family look at him with shocked expressions, while his family just compliment him for unlocking his deviants.
~~Time Skip~~
Arthur Leywin POV
3 months had passed since I came back home.
There's nothing much happen during this time, other than bonding with my family especially with my little sister.
And I also meet the director of the most prestigious Magic Academy in the Dicathen. She was brought by Vincent, after me and the other girls come back home after doing some shopping's.
She then tested me if I am qualified to attend her academy. Which I obviously passed. I also told her that I will not attend her academy until I'm at the normal age, which is 3 years from now.
I told my parents that I want to be an adventurer. Which they agreed as long as I have a guardian, and one from the Twin Horns.
Speaking of Twin Horns I meet them over a week ago. And they bombarded me with questions like how did I survived and what happen after I fall, Which I answered with a half truth.
During my reunion with the Twin Horns, Jasmine's action surprised me the most. Because I know her as an aloof type of person. So when, she suddenly come running at me and hug me while apologizing about how she couldn't protect me, over and over again, it shocked me.
It was also decided that. Jasmine will be the one to accompany me during my adventuring time. Since she was also the suited one Among them all.
I also asked Vincent for some tool I'm going to need for my adventuring days. I asked him to gather a mask capable of altering voice, a protective cloak, and a decent sword for my size.
Of course I told him he's not doing it for free. I told him I can make Lilia awaken as a mage. When I asked my parents on why they were shock when they found out I was a mage? Since Ellie was living with them and a mage isn't it given that I'm also a mage? Then my parents told me that since none of them is a mage, then there's no way they could know Ellie was a mage.
So I told him I can make her daughter awaken as a mage. I'm sure of it since I did it with Tess during my stay on Elenoir. It's only my theory at first but since I helped Tess awaken early with it, then I'm also sure I can make Lilia form her mana core with it.
Currently I was sitting on the carriage heading towards the Helstea auction house, For it's 10th year anniversary.
The first thought that had come to mind upon arrival was that Vincent really put in a lot of work into this. The Helstea Auction House was breathtaking. It was rather misleading to even call it a house as it towered high above any of the other buildings nearby. I've been to many national and historical monuments that were created by the most famous architects, but this was on a different level. I suspected that they had a lot of help from Conjurers from how large it was. The Auction House was a magnificent theatre with intricate designs all over. The main doors were over 4 meters in height and were made from petrified wood with carved designs on it. Compared to the naturalistic and elegant designs that I saw in the Elf Kingdom, this was more complicated and grand. It was in the shape of a half-cylinder with detailed stone sculptures of different weapons as supports.
We arrived early, so only the workers and guards were present, preparing for the event. The inside was equally, if not more stunning. The front door opened to a path that stretched out to a stage on the other end. To our left and right, there were rows of escalating seats made from a rather luxurious burgundy leather that could fit over ten thousand people comfortably. Upon looking up, I noticed that there were incased booths at the very top of the rows of seats and even higher, there was a single room attached to the ceiling and back wall with glass surrounding it, giving a clear view of the stage. It was easy to guess that those booths, as well as the single room, was for the VIP.
Turns out, that VIP room on the ceiling was the room we'd be seated in. Father and the Twin Horns, who had decided to help my father and the guards to prepare for any unwanted commotions or outbreaks, were the first to separate from us. Vincent separated from us after as he barked out orders at the workers and readied the hosts to greet the more important guests.
Tabitha led us to the room, making us comfortable inside the carefully- designed and furnished area that was meant for only the most distinguished and wealthy guests. There was a wine rack and a few reclining seats and tables with closer seats by the window. I made myself comfortable on a seat closest to the window.
The auction house was soon a panorama of cheerful and excited noise, as more and more people, who were no doubt people of some sort of influence, began filling the lower seats. There were some groups that seemed more distinguished than the rest who were personally escorted by the hosts to their booths. No doubt, they were some of the more affluent nobles in the Kingdom.
Growing bored of the hordes of overdressed nobles chatting eagerly amongst themselves, I shifted my attention to Lilia as she was teaching some sort of clapping game to Ellie. I couldn't help but smile myself as the both of them broke into a fit of giggles when either of them messed up and were flicked gently in the ear as punishment.
Time passed by rather slowly until Vincent came back, leading a group of unfamiliar people inside.
The first to come in behind Vincent was an elderly man with long, deep-red hair that was aged with streaks of grey. His back was ramrod straight with broad shoulders that took off years in his appearance. The man's eyes were stern with harsh, sword-shaped eyebrows, giving him an undeniably eye-catching presence. He was wearing a red robe lined with white fur around the collar and had a cane that shined brighter than any silver I had previously seen. Trailing closely behind him was a lady that looked a few years older than my mother. While my mother had a lovely, sweet, friendly ambience, this lady's facial features reminded me of an ice sculpture; refined, elegant, noble and of no flaws, but also cold and devoid of emotion. She was wearing a shimmering silvery-white dress that complimented her dark blue hair that draped over her shoulders like a well-kept tapestry.
Behind the lady of whom I assumed was the man's wife were two younger kids that could only be their kin. The older child, a boy that looked to be about the age of thirteen or so, took more after his father. With his serious brown eyes, straight brows, and his short mahogany hair that had a shiny luster just like his father's, it was apparent as to what he would look like a few decades down the road. Despite his fierce looks, however, there was a sort of unrefined charisma that was different from his father's. It was the sort of charisma that would make him the center of any group.
The younger one, a girl that looked to be about my age, surveyed the room carefully before locking eyes with me.
Peeling my eyes off of the girl in front of me, I focused on the three guards that followed after the picturesque family.
"I didn't know we would be in here with guests, Vincent," the man said, neither harshly nor kindly.
"I apologize, Your Majesty! I assumed you wouldn't mind having a few other people with you. You remember my wife, Tabitha, right? Well, these are our close family friends," he introduced, waving his arm in our direction.
After regarding us for a moment, his lips curled up into a smile. "If they are your friends, Vincent, then they are mine as well."
"It's a pleasure to meet you. At least we'll have some company besides these guards," the lady giggled.
I raised an eyebrow in surprise at the sharp contrast in the woman's personality to her appearance. She seemed much more welcoming, despite her intimidating looks, than her husband.
"Everyone, as you all may know, I'd like you all to meet the King and Queen of Sapin. Introduce yourselves to King Blaine Glayder and Queen Priscilla Glayder and their children, Curtis and Kathyln."
At this, my mother—who was holding my sister—Tabitha, and even Lilia, dropped down, genuflecting. I caught on and lowered myself a moment later as well.
Giving us a nod, the King gestured for us to stand. "No more of this, now. No need to be stiff, we're just here for the auction, after all."
As I got back up, Sylvie peeked her head out from the sofa where she was sleeping, and jumping toward the top of my head.
"Oh my! What a cute little mana beast!" Queen Priscilla's face brightened up at the sight as she made her way towards me.
"I assume this little mana beast is your bond, young man?" The King came closer to get a closer view of Sylvie.
I just gave a wordless nod. It should be fine with Sylv's appearance the way it is. "How fortunate you are to have a mana beast. Even infant ones are not easy to tame, yet she looks to be very obedient."
"Well we're able to communicate mentally, so it's more like a mutual agreement rather than obedience," I simply shrugged.
"What? You mean to say that you are under an Equals Contract?"
We all turned our heads to face the source of the voice. It was one of the hooded guards behind the children.
Damn, did I say something I wasn't supposed to?
"Umm, I'm not sure what that is, but she was the one that initiated the contract, so I think so?" I shrugged, hoping to switch topic.
Was it that big of a deal who formed the contract?
"Let me take a closer look at your bond!" the hooded guard exclaimed, creeping closer to us.
Before I could decline, the King stepped in.
"This isn't the time nor place to study someone else's pet. You're being rude, Sebastian." His gaze turned harsh as he rebuked him.
"My apologies..." he said, hoping I'd complete the sentence.
"Arthur. Arthur Leywin," I finished, giving a curt bow. As he and his wife gave me a small smile, we took our seats in time to hear the clear voice declaring that the auction would start soon.
I felt a glare from behind me, looking back, I see Sebastian who had taken off his hood, staring intently at Sylvie, who was nestled on my lap.
'Sylv. We're going out.' Sylvie climb to the top of my head, before she ask.
"Kyu 'Papa! Where are we going?'
' Where going to look for a sword I can use'
And since I want avoid some trouble as a respect for Vincent. I stand up from my seat, and walk where Vincent was, since Vincent was alone I ask him without worrying for the other's to hear.
"Unlce Vincent. Do you have the items asking you to gather for me?"
"Oh! Arthur it was you! Yes, I have the cloak and mask you ask for, and for your sword you can just take one from the auction or armory." Replied Vincent while looking at me. "Don't worry about the price, Perks as the owner of the auction house." He said with a wink.
"Thank you Uncle Vincent! And for the sword I will just get one from your armory. Can I go now?"
"Sure let me call someone to guide you where the armory is located." With that Vincent called someone to come inside the room. Then a man walk inside the room, and Vincent order him to take me where the armory is located.
I was then taken to the armory with Sylv on my head, we then began looking for a sword.
Most of the enchanted weapons were being auction today, so the only things left were regular weapons that would eventually be sold in stalls, which was fine for me; I wasn't looking for anything special, just dependable.
Peering through the endless rows of shelves and racks, I picked out a few to test. It didn't take long before I stuffed it back on the shelf it came from, malcontent by the crude workmanship of the swords. The balance between the blade and the grip had all been off and were shaped sloppily with no mind for executing all but simple swings or thrusts.
Sylvie, growing bored of the repeated actions of removing a sword, swinging it a few times, and unhappily putting it back in place, hopped off my head and began having her own little adventure.
I treaded deeper into the large storage hall, passing the shelves and racks of the more appealing blades on display and arriving at a section where sheathed swords were simply crammed in barrels.
One thing I noticed about the swords in this world was that they fell into a couple of categories:
There were the large swords, either the wide heavy swords, or the long claymores. Many warriors and offensive augmenters preferred these behemoths because of the raw power that could be generated through a single swing, but others considered the weapons savage and unrefined.
The more balanced swords, seen most commonly used by knights and adventurers alike, were the broadswords. These were generally wielded with one hand, coupled with a shield in the other, but there are two-handed varieties. These swords provided the most balanced and versatile performances and were the standard swords to begin learning swordsmanship.
The last category of swords were the lighter and thinner blades. Weapons like sabers, curved single-edged swords—which my world called katanas— and rapiers as well as daggers all fell into this category. Sabers, katanas, and rapiers were focused on speed and precision while daggers were often used as a concealed weapon or dual-wielded for more versatile and acrobatic styles of fighting.
Even if the weapons here were second rate, the inner swordsman in me couldn't help but bubble in excitement.
However, it didn't take long for that bubble to pop. Letting out a defeated sigh from my fruitless search for a sword, I mindlessly swung the plain short sword I had picked out earlier and barely deemed acceptable. I would have to settle for this sword if I couldn't find anything else.
Giving up on the search for a better sword, I made my way into the miscellaneous section where they held different types of weapons. I could see various unique, albeit inefficient, weapons that looked like they were designed by a child.
Navigating through the aisles, I couldn't help but laugh aloud as I came across something very similar to what my world called nunchucks. There was even a morning star that was so heavy that, even after augmenting myself with mana, I struggled to lift it off the ground.
"Whew! Looks like a dead end Sylv." I sat down on the ground, leaning against a gigantic shield as Sylvie continued to trot about.
Suddenly, Sylvie let out an eager chirp.
Making my way towards my bond, I spotted Sylv digging through a pile of weapons. A cloud of dust soon encompassed us as Sylvie continued searching for something.
Making another excited squeak, she used her front paw to point at an unremarkable black rod.
It was less than a meter in length and just looked like some sort of walking cane.
"This wasn't what I was looking for Sylv," I sighed, but she hopped to me, nudging me toward the black stick.
Relenting, I walked over and picked it up, surprised by the weight of the rod that looked much thinner now that it was in my hand.
While it seemed to be made of some kind of polished wood, it weighed a lot more than just a simple walking stick.
Holding it up, I took a closer look, inspecting the rod more carefully.
The stick had a matte coat to it, not reflecting any light at all, while the whole rod was smooth to the touch.
While unnoticeable at first, I could see intricate indentations that formed a design throughout the pole, but other than that, I couldn't' find anything special about it.
Sylvie continued gazing at the rod in my hands, her golden eyes twinkling as if she had found a national treasure.
Finding nothing remarkable about it, I tried swinging it.
It felt good.
The weight was distributed in a way where it was balanced like a sword, even more so than the short sword I picked out as a backup. Taking another swing made me confident that this rod's balance was too purposeful for it to be just used as a walking stick or a staff.
Excitement growing inside me once more, I willed mana into my eyes. I had hoped to notice something with enhanced vision and my hopes came to light. t was so faint that I only noticed it after reinforced mana into my eyes; even then, I was only able to spot it because I was looking for it.
Even more faint than the indentation markings over the pole, was a small line that seemed to separate two parts of the stick.
"..."
This was a sword!
I immediately tried to pry the sword out of its scabbard, but it wouldn't budge. Even with my body reinforced with mana, I wasn't able to muster the strength to pull it out.
Don't tell me this was some sort of Excalibur that I had to be worthy of...
Pushing away the silly though, I infused fire attribute mana into the sword, but still, no use.
After half an hour had passed, I realize that elemental attribute mana was not the answer.
...No way... what if...
I activated Dragon Will. I didn't use its power but simply infused the Will into the sword. And, despite all of the previous struggle to pry the sword out, a light tug was all it took for the sword to glide out of its sheath.
The sword slid soundlessly from its sheath to reveal the flat blade.
I couldn't help but swallow back a lump of air as I fell into a trance, staring at the weapon much too beautiful to be considered an ordinary weapon.
The narrow blade was straight and thin like a rapier's but had a double edge, making it fit for slashing as well as thrusting. As the keen edge of the blade curved smoothly into a sharp tip, I couldn't help but notice that there were no markings—that the blade had been sharpened. The weight and balance of the sword was a bit off in my opinion but it was still much better than the crude tools I had picked up before. However, even this flaw was overshadowed by the breathtaking quality and color of the blade.
The translucent teal hue of the blade seemed to almost generate a luster of its own, even inside the dim storage room. There was a stark contrast to the matte-black scabbard and handle, making the color of the blade all the more radiant. Despite the fact that the blade was so narrow and thin, a few tests on a nearby iron container confirmed its durability and strength.
I could say with confidence that, even in my old world, there wasn't a blade as well-forged as this. Was this sword truly meant for beast tamers or was its criteria even more particular? I thought as I looked down at Sylvie.
Titling her head, Sylvie let out a happy chirp in response.
Studying the blade more closely, I spotted a small engraving inscribed on the blade near the grip.
Dawn's Ballad W.K. IV
As soon as those words left my lips, a searing pain abruptly shot out from where I was gripping the sword, making me drop the weapon.
There was a gash that had already been cauterized across my palm. I was hesitant to pick the sword back up again, but when I did, I could see the faint remains of my blood getting absorbed into the handle of the blade.
"Kyu!" Are you okay, Papa? Sylvie trotted next to me, pawing my leg, concerned.
'I'm fine, Sylv.'After scratching the underside of my bond's chin, I gave the sword another swing. This time, the point of balance of the sword aligned perfectly to match with my undeveloped body. Even the handle of the blade seemed to have grown smaller to fit in my hand, as if it was made for me.
There were some extraordinarily valuable staffs and wands that had the ability to bond with a single user, allowing better manipulation of mana between the weapon and master, but I'd never heard of a sword doing something like this.
Picking up the sword, I pondered over the man, whose initial was "W.K. IV." Who was this person and how was he capable of forging such a sword?
Knowing that I waste a lot of time looking for a sword and the auction had ended.
Quickly sheathing my sword, I then pick up a back up sword and put them on my storage ring. I then run back to the room where the others are currently in.