-" The Qualificatory Tournament will be a survival test, with a duration of three days in the Magyar Desert." The Dean of the MAverick Academy shouted as he looked at his students. " I want you all to do your best! Bring us a good result!"
-" A survival test?" Makayla felt nervous as she learned what type of test the tournament would be. " Isn't this too dangerous?'
-" Well... We just have to survive right?" Isabella was almost regretting joining the tournament.
-" I don't think so." Makayla knew that just surviving would be too easy, there were only a few spots in the Royal Tournament and too many participants. " I bet that we will learn more after we reach there." Makayla sighed as she entered in one of the School's carriages.
Isabella's face was filled with fear, she didn't want to join the tournament and only did this because of Makayla. -" Are you confident? Ketlyn told me that some of the Whitelocks were coming to see your performance." She was astonished to learn that her friend had attracted the attention of such a large family.
-" Confident? Not much..." Makayla knew that her chances were slim. " But, I don't care much about the Whitelocks, I'm looking forward to another thing." She clutched the small note she had received from the boy on the day of Henry's funeral.
Four months had passed since, and she didn't hear anything new from Henry. She wondered where and what he was doing, they were always close and this was the first time that she had gone so long without seeing him.
-" Is this about that secret?" Isabella shook her head, she couldn't understand what Makayla was hiding from her. " Why can't you tell me?"
-" Don't worry, sooner than later you will understand." Makayla smiled, she hoped that Henry wouldn't take too long to resolve his situation.
While the students of the Maverick Academy were preparing to head to the Magyar Desert, a large group was gathering in front of the main building of the Whitelock family.
-" Why do we have to go see this tournament?" A young boy with blond hair complained. He wanted to spend his free time before the Royal Tournament relaxing.
-" We owe our support to someone there." Abel sighed, he wondered why his youngest son was so bad-mannered. " Arthur, you better behave there."
-" Tsk! What a waste of time!" Arthur had an annoyed expression, he saw the students of the others academy as nothing more than trash.
-" Is this the girl that Alden talked about?" Amelia, Arthur's older twin, asked with interest, she didn't understand why they owed the girl support and thought that Alden had taken a liking to her. " Alden, is she your fiance or something?"
Alden almost fainted as he heard the question. -" No... Her brother helped us, but, he was killed due to this." Alden still filled bitter when thinking of Henry, to this day they still hadn't found the culprit.
He was almost sure that the one who had killed Henry was the man known as Marcos, as he had completely vanished.
-" Something happened to him?" Amelia blinked rapidly as she pushed Alden's arms. " Don't stop talking now! What happened to him?"
-" He was killed..." Alden's face darkened, that night was one of the biggest regrets of his life, and he wondered if he could have stopped it if he had stayed a bit more.
-" Killed?!" Amelia was perplexed, she never thought that this story would take such a dark turn.
-" It best if we stop here." Alden still felt bitter, especially since he wasn't able to avenge Henry.
Amelia wanted to insist Alden keep telling the story, but, her father had returned with Silas, the oldest of Abel's children.
" We are ready! Let's go!" Abel was full of expectations, he wanted to see how Makayla would fare in this tournament.
Abel was happy that he could spend time with his children, after all, they were all busy with their responsibilities, and it wasn't any day that they were all reunited.
Henry paced around his courtyard, anyone could see the anxiety on his face. " Are you guys ready?" Henry hoped that everything would go smoothly in this tournament.,
-" The carriage is ready, we are just waiting for Mister Hugh." Peter smiled as he saw how nervous Henry was. " You don't have to be so on edge, the qualificatory tournament shouldn't be so dangerous."
-" I just can't help myself." Henry sighed, he missed Makayla and was looking forward to seeing her in action, he quickly put on his mask and opened his system.
His cultivation progress only grew faster after leveling the system to the third level, especially thanks to the Energy Value of the potions he now sacrificed to the furnace.
Henry Flint / Magic Circle: First Circle of the Mage Apprentice Realm / Body Cultivation Realm: First Level of the Body Tempering Realm / System Level: 3 / Stats Points: 3
Mana: 58 + 200 / Power: 6 + 50 / Perception: 2 + 8
Aura: 0 / Agility: 8 +50 / Luck: 1 + 9
Will: 9 + 2 / Endurance: 6 + 50 / Intelligence: 7 +3
Henry was happy with how much he had achieved in the last two months, but, the difficulty in raising the system level caused him quite a headache. He had saved every single coin he could, and he still didn't have enough to buy the three hundred potions he needed.
Henry observed his system with pride, the only feature he hadn't upgraded was the furnace, as it was the one that always took the most time. -" If I keep going like this I won't have to hide for long. " Henry almost couldn't believe that he was almost at the peak of the first circle, the speed wasn't anything too spectacular, but, for someone that couldn't even cultivate a few months ago, it was enough.
-" Master... Mister Hugh arrived." Thomas had a strange expression as he warned Henry.
-" Let's go then." Henry took a deep breath, he had waited anxiously for this day, as he would finally be able to see his sister again.
-" Master, I don't think that your carriage will be enough." Thomas grinned, he knew that Henry hated to be surrounded by too many people.
-" Our carriage won't be enough?" Henry was puzzled, he was only expecting Hugh, so he didn't understand what he was talking about.
Henry froze as he finally saw the enormous group in front of this villa. Henry felt dizzy as he recognized the uniform that the group used. -" Hugh? Are those students from the Royal Academy?"
-" Good Day, Venerable H!" Hugh smiled as he gestured for the students to introduce themselves.
-" We pay respects to Venerable H." The group of students bowed in unison and shouted.
Henry was startled, he didn't know what Hugh had on his head. " Are they going too?"
-" Of course! They are Dennis's students, and all from the first year, so watching the qualificatory tournament will be a good learning experience." Hugh had a big smile on his face.