Entering the training ground, I saw only four people are using this place.
[There are less people training here.] I commented.
The reception Tina who heard me explained.
[That's because most of the adventures don't use this place in this hour. So alot of them are still doing some quest by now.]
She is right. It's afternoon now, and most adventures are still outside doing some quest or hunting some beasts or monsters in the mystic forest.
I looked at the people who are present here. A young human guy practicing archery, an old demi-human teaching a young demi-human how to use a spear, and a female Elf with blond hair is practicing sword swinging.
[I don't like this.] I murmured in a low voice.
[What's that you don't like kid?]
The guild master Lex, who heard me asked.
Tch! that damn sensitive wolf's ears.
[I don't like having some people here when I am about to fight you, they will be watching our dual for sure.]
I'm very sure all of them will come to watch my fighting up close, because it will be an interesting fight to watch, and I will be going all out against this old man who is two rank higher than me.
I don't like standing out.
Right then, the guild master laughed.
[Hahaha! Is that what you're worried about? Don't worry, I will try to hold back a little so you don't embarrass yourself.]
That is Not what I am talking about, stupid old wolf.
My eye twitched from his annoying laugh.
'That's It. I will definitely beat his Face.'
We then arrived at the end of the training ground where there is a large rectangular field.
(Image)
Me and the guild master both entered the arena, while Tina stood on the side along with Rutelae.
There were some training weapons on the other side. Swords, spears, shields, axes, hammer, and some wooden swords. I went there and grabbed one of the wooden swords. Unsurprisingly for me, the guild master took one too.
[Why choose a wooden sword?] He asked me.
[Why choose a wooden sword too?] I asked him back, narrowing my eyes.
This man thought I would choose a real sword so he could go easy on me by using a wooden sword. So arrogant, but I can't blame him since he doesn't know me fully yet.
We kept staring at each other until he finally understood what I meant.
[Hahaha! Fair enough.]
...
We both stood facing each other in the middle of the arena, about 11 feets away from each other.
[Are you ready?] He asked me.
[What's the rules?] I asked him back.
Really, this old man only thinks about fighting.
Realizing his mistake, he scratch the back of his head with embarrassment.
[Oh right, there is that... In that case, how about this, if you can land one hit on me, you pass with a full mark.]
[.....]
I stared at him with blank expression. This man is really so bold. How did he become the guild master?
He didn't want to become a guild master but was forced to be a guild master, by the city lord and his friends.
[But sir, you can't do that!] Tina shouted at him.
I turn my head and looked at her, still with my blank expression.
[That's not how the test works. As the examiner your job is to measure the capability of the new comers, not by giving him a very hard task!]
Hearing Tina's explanation, the guild master began thinking on his role as the examiner.
[...You are right, I guess I went over board and forgot about that.]
He laughed again while scratching his cheek.
[It's okay, I'm fine with that.]
I said to them.
They were both surprised with my answer.
[Hm?!]
[Wha-!?]
Before Tina could argue, I cut her off while suggesting to the guild master.
[I will fight you and show you everything I got, and I will try to land one hit on you. But if I failed in hitting you, then you will decide whether I am good enough to be an adventure or not.]
I explained. Before the receptionist could complain, the guild master interrupted her.
[Wait! Mr. Levian-]
[Agree!]
[B-but sir!]
Rutelae, who was next to Tina looked at me and asked through telepathy.
"Xora, are you sure about that? That guy is more stronger than you."
He asked worriedly, but I reassured him that it will be fine.
[Mrs Tina, you will be the referee.]
The guild master told her. She wasn't able to argue any longer
[Huh... fine.]
The guild master looked at me again and spoke.
[You better show me what you got Kid.]
I smiled at his words.
[Then please, don't go easy on me.]
Holding the grip of the wooden sword with both hands, I took a very deep breath.
*Suuuuuu...huuuuuu~*
'Total concentration Breathing'
Not really, this technique only helps me calm my heartbeat.
[Are you both ready?] The receptionist asked.
We both nodded with our heads.
She raised her right arm to the sky, and then she swung it down while shouting with a loud voice, giving us the signal.
[Start!]
The moment I heard the last notification from Senoki, my expression became alot calmer.
*****
(3rd person POV)
The moment the receptionist gave the signal, the ground where Xora stand exploded and his figure disappeared from that spot and reappearing at in front of Lex.
*Boom!*
Xora has used Lightning, Wind, Gravity, and Boost magic to increase his agility, and then he enhance them all on his sword. Dashing toward the guild master, he raised the wooden sword into the air for a down slash.
The Guild master was able to see Xora's movement, and raised his wooden sword to block the attack with magic enchantment.
*CLUNK!*
The sound of the two wooden swords colliding created a small but strong shockwave of mana and wind that reached the area where Mrs Tina was watching from, along with Rutelae.
Lex was able to sense some magic on Xora's wooden sword. He was a little surprised with how Xora is able to use magic to increase his speed and attack in the same time. unfortunately, he doesn't know that Xora has switched all the magic that he used to increase his speed to his sword the moment he reappeared in front of him. By using that method Xora was able to use less mana.
[Hm?]
Lex, who was looking at Xora's calm eyes felt some magic activation near him. From the corner of his eyes he is able to see and sense three magic circle appeared from his right side and his left side, and one was above him.
'Activate Wind magic and Gravity magic.'
Xora activated two magic to increase the force on the sword to push the guild master back and in the same time pushing himself back away from Lex, so he doesn't get hit by his own magic.
[Ugh!]
Lex's back was pushed back a little, while Xora was pushed away from him, as if he was being pulled by a gravity force.
At the same time, the three magic circle shot two Ice Spears from the sides and one Fire ball from above.
*Soowf!*
But before the attacks could touch him, he released his Aura that destroyed both the attacks and the magic circles around him.
The Aura is more like a wave force of mana pressure that can be released from the body of the user. It can weaken the enemy or the attack, depends on the power level of magic.
[Not bad ki-]
Lex was impressed by Xora's way of fighting and wanted to complement him, but was stopped when he saw two more Xoras running towards him.
When Xora was pushed back he quickly created two clones of him-self from fire and water magic combination.
The first clone appeared in front of Lex, ready to strike with his sword, while the second clone moved behind him for a sneak attack. Lex create a small invisible magic barrier behind him and raised his wooden sword to block the attack from the first clone. But the moment the two clone's attack touch the barrier and his sword, the two clones exploded into a smokes.
*PUFF - PUFF!*
[Cough - cough...!]
Surrounded by smokes, Lex swung his sword to clear the smokes around him, but when the smoke was gone, he saw himself surrounded by multiples magic circles from every side.
On the grounds, from the sides, behind, and above. Ten different magic circles aiming at him in each sides making the total 60 magic circles. And in the middle of the arena was Xora, kneeling down with both of his hands on the ground.
The smoke bombs that was from the clones were enhanced by magic and air distortions, and because of that the guild master wasn't able to sense Xora's magic circles being created around him, making him late to create a strong magic barrier.
The guild master cursed as he realised that.
[Crap!]
[Discharge.] Xora murmured.
Multiple different magic elements were shotting at him rapidly. Earth, water, ice, wind, fire, light, and lightning.
*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! -*
Fortunately for him, the attack only lasted for ten seconds and he was able to protect his body by creating a Mana Shield that covers his entire body. The spell can be activated quickly in an instant by those who have mastered in doing that, and Lex was one of them.
The attack created alot of dust around him, but before he could react, an object was thrown through the dust in a very high speed at him. With a quick reflexes, he swung his sword at the object deflecting it into the air.
*Tauk!*
The object turns out to be a wooden sword that was enhanced by magic.
*Swoof!*
Through the dust, Xora appeared in the air raising his right fist, aiming to punch his face.
Lex, who was able to sense him after he deflected the sword smiled in his mind and released his full Aura.
He understood that Xora was planning to win by hitting him, that's why he kept throwing suprise attacks one after another. And by throwing his sword away, he plans to make him think that he is only going to use magic and sword.
Lex was able to tell that Xora has enhanced his right arm with more mana, so he used more of his Aura to weaken him, and then planning to stop it by grabbing his fist, since his right hand which was holding the sword is not in a good position to use to block after he used it to deflect the previous attack. He is going to weaken the attack by his Aura and then stopping it by his left hand.
*Fuuuuuh!*
A powerful pressure was released from his body that reached Xora in an instant, but then, another unexpected scene happened.
Xora, who was hit by the pressure in the mid air dissapeared like a mirage, revealing the real Xora who was behind the illusion with both of his hands raising, holding the same wooden sword that was deflected.
Seeing the upcoming attack, the guild master quickly enhanced his sword with more mana to block it quickly, because he was tricked three times in a row with false attacks, his mind quickly made him react without any farther thinking, making him think that this attack is the last and the strongest, because of the among of mana that he could feel from Xora's sword.
[HAAAAAAAAA!]
Swinging the sword with all his might, Xora screamed for the first time.
Mrs Tina, Rutelae, and the other four peoples who join to watch the dual from the start, held their breath with excitement and anticipation.
They come to watch the show when they heard the first explosion, and were Interested by the dual.
Back to the fight, in a slow motion. The guild master raised his sword that was enhanced with his right hand, ready to block the attack.
But when Xora's wooden sword touched his sword, another unbelievable scene happened. The sword went through Lex's sword, as if the sword itself was a fake or an illusion, like a ghost that can pass through a hard wall.
Lex was very shocked when he saw that, and didn't know how to react.
In the end, he was hit on the face in unexpected way.
Again.
*Splash!*
The sound of a water splashing was heard through the training ground, and the guild master's face was wet because of the water.
*Thub* landing.
[I won.] Xora announced his victory with a smile on his face.
It turns out that the sword Xora used was also a fake one, and was made using water manipulate and control magic, adding some mana manipulation and illusion to make the sword more real like the original. And the extra mana that he used on the sword is to make Lex think that it is the strongest attack.
The guild master and the others who are watching looked at Xora with a dumbfounded expression.
*****
Looking at the old man's face, which looks very funny, I announce my win again.
[You said I win if I land one hit on you, which I did, by hitting your Face with water magic. Right?]
[...]
He didn't respond, not even the spectators that are watching from the side said anything.
Not until something fell down from the sky.
*Tack! - tuck*
It was the wooden sword that I threw earlier.
Right then, the guild master started to laugh.
[...haha...haHa...HAHAHA!]
*Clap - clap*
The reception Tina started to clap her hand and the others began to follow her example.
*Clap - clap - clap - clap!*
The guild master then began walking towards me, placing his hand on my shoulder.
[Your right, you did land a hit on me, even if it wasn't a strong one, it still counts.] He said with a happy expression on his face.
The others who were watching began to cheer for me and throwing some praises.
.....
After receiving the approval from the examiner or the guild master, I finally got my adventure license.
The old man didn't say anything after that, except he said that he would like to have a another match with me again, in another day in the future.
Looks like he is a little embarrassed because he went easy on me. Well, I told him not to go easy on me but like always, strong people will always go easy on the weak one in any dual, no matter what.
Anyway, back to the adventure license. For some reason, it looks more like a credit card than a magic card, unlike the ID card that I have. No kidding, the card's color is brown, which means I can choose between D rank to F rank quests.
- White color for Rank F quest, for cleaning, collecting, delivery, etc. Anything that's in the city.
- Lime is for Rank E quest, for collecting herbs, plants, and hunting small beast or animals.
- Brown is for Rank D quest. Most of it about hunting in the Mystic forest in the outer area.
- Silver is for Rank C quest, for hunting in the middle area.
- Gold is for Rank B quest, for hunting in the deepest area.
- Black is for rank A quest, for hunting near the core area, and only acceptable for a group of party. You can't hunt in the core area alone, you need extra people with the same rank.
[Need any explanation?]
The receptionist Tina asked me as I stared at my license.
[No need, I already know how it works.]
[Oh. Okay.]
I looked at her as I wondered. By any chance...
Hm, that's good.
[If there is something you don't understand, feel free to ask me or any of the staff here, we will be glad to help you.]
[I appreciate it... By the way, where can I sell some beast parts and herbs?]
She then guided me to a exchanging room where I can exchange any beast drop, bodies, herbs, plants, etc, for money.
The person who is responsible on the exchange was an old man, about fifty years I guess.
Mr Hilbert, a researcher of rare items and monster in the Mystic Forest.
I took out some beast corpses from my ring, some herbs and flower.
The old man and the receptionist, and also some other researchers were shocked.
[W-Where did you get those?!] The old man asked me, as he was holding the Lict Flowers with a trembling hand. It was one of the things that I got from the forest during the night.
[In the Mystic Forest. In the middle layer. During night time. Near the hives.] I gave him the answer, in a full detail.
The old man than began asking me about each rare item and how I got them. I didn't mind sharing some information about there locations, so I told him where and how I found them, and he took some note, even his colleagues took notes too.
After the exchange, I left the guild and began walking towards a nice inn. The total money I got from selling those items and body parts was 19 golden and 37 larger silver coins. More than what I expected.
Not so far from the guild, in the west side of the city, we entered a small inn with two floors. Not actually small but more like between medium and small. And far away from the noises. by Noises I mean the people who can bring troubles around here. Bad, Annoying, Stupid, Headache, and crazy people.
[Welcome to the Twilight inn, how can I help you?] I young little girl asked me from the counter.
She has a red hair and black eyes. Between 8 and 9 years old I think. A human or half-blood I think.
A half Kegem.
[I would like one room with a single bed, for nine months.] I answered quickly.
The little girl was surprised with my answer. Her eyes was widen because she doesn't know how to answer.
[... A-excuse me mister, I will be right back!]
She then ran to another room. Poor girl.
[What was that?] Rutelae asked next to me.
[She doesn't know how much it cost for nine months, so she went to ask for help.]
There was no one around us, and very few people stay in this inn, so I am able to talk to Rutelae directly.
Not too long after, the little girl came back with a short woman behind her. She must be her mother giving she has the same hair and eyes.
[Forgive me young man for the late, my daughter had some difficulty in knowing how to tell you the cost.] The Kegem lady explained.
[Yeah, I saw her struggling on how to answer.] I smiled, while looking at the little girl who lowered her head with embarrassment.
[So I heard you want one room for nine months, Is that correct?]
[That's right. Adding some meals for breakfast and dinner only.]
[I see. One room for nine month is five large silver coins, adding two meals daily... two meals for one day is two small silver, so the total is...]
[441 large silver.] I gave her the answer.
[...yes, that is correct.]
I took three gold coins from my ring and gave it to her.
She was shocked because it was more than the total amount that she said.
[Keep the rest as a generosity from me.] I said with a polite smile.
[...T-thanks alot mister!]
Now she is calling me mister?
[Please, you don't need to use formality, I prefer you call me young man instead or something else. ]
[Then, may I know your name young man?]
[Xora Levian, a traveler and an adventure.]
[Nice to meet you mister Levian. My name is Mez and this is my daughter Leny.]
I looked at her daughter and nodded my head. The mother then turn her head toward her daughter.
[Leny, go and show our guest his room.]
[Yes mom. T-this way mister Levian.]
I then followed the little girl to the second floor.
There were total of ten rooms up here, three of them were already been used. And my room was on the end left corner.
A small room but enough for me and Rutelae, with one single bed next to the window, and a small table with a chair.
[Your dinner will be prepared in two hours. Would you like to eat in your room or down stairs?]
[I will eat down stairs.]
She nodded and then closed the door.
I went to the bed and laid down on it. Just then, Rutelae began to speak again.
[That little girl feels strange.]
[... That's because she is a half-Kegem.]
He looked surprised when I said that.
[Really? That's my first time seeing one. Her body kinda felt a little like that demi-human you fought.]
He must be referring to the guild master Lex.
[That because they are both half-blood. Demi-human are the product from a beastmen and a human, while the half-Kegem is a product of Kegem and human.]
[...Mm? Wait! Are you saying that the demi-human were originally a half-blood from humans and beastmen?]
[That right.]
Now he looked more shocked than before. He had the same dumbfounded expression like when I told him about my reincarnation.
[But I thought the demi-human where actually their own race.]
Yeah, that's what most of the people think since no one wrote that down in their history books.
[Not exactly, their origin were half-bloods. Three centuries ago there was no demi-human, but after one centurie, some human and beastmen became very close to each other, resulting the birth of a new species which are the demi-human. And so, more demi-humans began to appear and some other half-blood like half-elf, half-dwarf and half-kegem. But the numbers of the demi-human where alot more than the other half-bloods, and they become a new main race to this world because of their population.]
[I see.]
Looks like he understood my explanation very well. I was afraid that my companion would be someone with less IQ or an air-head.
[Anyway, I will be taking a nap. Wake me up when the dinner is ready.]
[What! But it's still the afternoon.]
[I need to recharge my mana and my body. That dual with the old wolf took alot of energy for me, and I need to gather more information about this city.]
[... Information?]
[I'm going to Talk with my Teacher inside my Skill to get some information.]
After a couple of seconds, he finally got what I meant.
[Oh, I see. It's a good thing that you have a skill that helps you understand about this world.]
[It sure is.] I murmured.
I wonder if I can share some information through the Partner Contract.
Oh, I can. In that case...
[!?... what is this?]
A small holographic screen appeared in front of him, with some text written on it.
[Just read it and you will know.] I explained and went to sleep.
I shared some history information that he doesn't know yet, and also how to use the holographic screen. It's more like me telling Senoki to teach some new knowledge to my friend.
I don't want my companion to be ignorant and I am the only knowledgeable one.
*****
(Information)
- Aura is the mana pressure that are released from the body of the user who has mana. Most of the people who can do that are those whose magic rank are above Yellow (3rd).
- Mana shield is created by gathering the mana around the body and transforming it into a mana layer over the body that works as a shield or a barrier. The user can strengthen the shield by pouring some of its mana into it. It's known to be the last resources for defense spell during combat.
- One other reason Xora chose the Twilight inn is because the mana in the air in that area is much thicker than any other places in the city. You can think of it like the inn is the best spot to get a strong signal for using the wifi (example).
- Lict Flower is a very rare flower that grows near the Hives of the Killer Bees. Used as an excellent ingredient for healing the body from any kind of inside disease.