"It's time"
Theo just woke up from his sleep
"To visit the Orphanage. There are some things I need to do there."
A year has passed since he left Neutrum and Theo finally reached the Mid Astute Tier, a staggering progress for his age.
He felt he could easily contend with people of the same tier even if they were at the peak of Astute.
With Sacrifice activated, Theo could easily contend with a normal beginner expert tier, making him a force to be reckoned with.
Theo at this was usually stuck in peak Adept and spent most of his time honing his techniques, but with the genius of Ray, copying and performing Astute tier sword techniques was as easy as taking a candy from a baby.
He focused more on creating certain spells than actual sword training.
Thanks to the shared growth he had with Selene, Theo was able to develop his magic capabilities, unlike in games where you're forced to just keep on training in close combat.
He knew that Selene was definitely developing her physical capabilities because of him so it was a win-win.
This again is a testament on how broken the shared growth passive skill was. Without it Theo wholeheartedly believed that he would still be in the beginning of Astute tier.
Dawn
The voice in his head echoed before leaving him alone in silence once more.
Dawn was the Sword of Chaos. A weapon that grows with its wielder was the only ability it had in the original game, but now there it had its own ego and extensive knowledge that helped Theo with his training, combat, cooking, noting stuff down, appraisal, alarm clock and more.
It was basically a personal AI that assisted him in every task needed.
Dawn also made his day more efficient than usual.
Theo treated Dawn's unexpected ego as the additional reward that he got after beating the overpowered clone from before.
"Alright let's go ask permission from father!"
*****
"I allow it"
Nice, I knew father would permit it!
Currently Lucian was on his desk stamping aways at piles and piles of national documents that stretched up like a tower, he was actually extremely busy, but he always permits his family to visit him whenever they request his time, even if it wasn't anything urgent.
Despite his being mostly expressionless, he was actually quite emphatic and kind than most people believe him to be.
"When do you plan on leaving?"
Lucian asked as he stamped another document that he carefully read.
"Tomorrow, Father" Theo replied with a gentle yet serious tone.
"Hm, bring Patrick with you, he'll need experiences, when he eventually . Bring a couple of Expert tier holy knights just in case, even though it's one of the safest place in the empire, you never know when things could go wrong"
.....Not Patrick.....
Theo thought of Patrick Heathcliff as a good dude. He was a person that dedicated their life to pushing the demons back in the future after his father died fighting against demons in a certain event, erasing all of his original personality, becoming a shell of his former self.
He became a tool that only had revenge in mind, but despite being consumed in hatred, he never put others in danger as one of the knights that actively saved people when tides of monsters and demons were overwhelming residents of Alethea.
But now.... He's just a brat that never stops talking and yapping.
He expected to be accompanied by a dozen of holy knights, but having Patrick over gave him a slight headache.
But Theo reevaluated it as something positive.
At the same time, him getting stronger with this experience is also a plus for me and Selene....
Theo sighed in recognition and bowed to his father after a brief contemplation.
"Thank you again Father, I shall leave tomorrow, I will come back safetly" said Theo in a respectful manner before leaving the room in a brisk manner.
"Master Lisa, I hope your words are right and they stay safe in their journey" Lucian muttered to himself, momentarily remembering what his master told him.
He sighed once more, tired of what he is required to do in the future.
"John, I have something that requires your assistance" Lucian said in a normal and still tired tone.
A man in his fifties entered through the entrance of his office. He was an old handsome man with slicked back gray hair, classy pair of glasses and a white and blue outfit that complemented his looks.
Duke John Windsor, The Prime minister of the empire of Virtus, as well as a good senior that Lucian trusts. He was also the person that took charge of the empire while Lucian was out becoming a Pinnacle tier individual.
"Yes, Your Majesty, how can I help you?" John knelt down onto the ground, giving respects to the emperor.
"Call me Lucian, John. We're not in public remember?" Lucian said as she stamped another document.
John stood up and chuckled.
"Hahaha, Of course, I was just teasing Lucian. So? What does the emperor of light want from me?"
"My son needs some escorts to the Verde Valley and Send a message to Duke Heathcliff, telling him his son's going to accompany Theo. Having them paired together as friends as early as possible will be beneficial to him in the future"
"Right away, Lucian and remember, you don't need to burden yourself with everything. I'm always here to help" John said with a genuine smile.
"Thanks John, I'll call on you later when I finish another set of documents"
"Alright, I'll go do what you've asked. I'll be right back"
John bowed once more before leaving the room.
"Sigh"
Lucian once again sighs in exhaustion.
The workload hasnt gone down one bit since I came back…
Lucian rubbed his temple, trying his best to hold on and keep his demeanor as the Emperor of his nation.
The next decade is going to be increasingly more stressful as time goes on....
Lucian stares out of his office window for a good minute before going back to reviewing and stamping documents.
*****
Theo and his escorts are treading between a crack of two mountains, their destination was the town inside the valley.
Thanks, Dawn. I can't wait to leave this carriage and get out of this hell hole.
"-AND my father also took me to this cool dungeon filled with formidable goblins! With one stroke of my sword, one by one, two goblins would fall in the midst of my presence-"
Tch, shame.... I'm just sick of listening to this b*stard yap for three days straight. Do kids normally really have this much energy at this age? Or is this guy just a straight up anomaly?
Theo was a patient guy if the person in front of him only had innocent intentions, but he also realized that he really needs to muster up and shut the person up in front of him.
It was just hard for him because of how much passion Patrick was conveying with each story he tells. Theo could tell that Patrick genuinely thinks of Theo as his best friend, especially when they first met, when Patrick lost to Theo at the age of ten.
Patrick would try and stick Theo whenever he had a chance, trying to outdo him in training and talking to him out of training to be friends with him. Theo disliked, but appreciated the respect Patrick was giving him. He also became motivated with someone trying to top him in terms of strength in their generation.
If only his mouth wasn't as wide.....
"Young master, We've arrived."
Thank the goddess!
The carriage slowly entered the wooden gates of a small town. Majority of the town's residents were children, only one out of five people looked to be adults.
"A place filled with orphans. Kinda feels nostalgic" Theo said with a wry smile
"Did you say something Theo?"
"Nothing"
"You definitely said something! Come on, did you sense some kind of enemy in the vicinity? Maybe bloodlust! Or maybe-"
There he goes. Into his own little world.
Looking at the view outside the window made him smile. The town was specifically made for orphans. Children who lost their parents for whatever reason, but generally because of war. There are multiple towns like this that exist in the current region they were in.
These orphanage towns were actually created by the current emperor and the prime minister, John Windsor.
These towns prepare children before they get released out of the world when they turn fifteen. There are multiple kinds of old experts that get paid to teach children their field of expertise.
Examples of jobs that the children get introduced and thought to are carpentry, farming, accounting and more. There are also children who try their talent in combat, wishing to become a part of the Empire's Holy knights, popular, but most children aren't talented enough or don't have the mental capacity to strive to be part of the Empire's army.
This region is also where the remaining people of the world gather after getting pushed back by the demons and the region my sister desperately defended to her death.
A tinge of sorrow flickered on Theo's eyes, remembering the cut scene of her sister getting cut down by a despicable demon. He was filled with anger that fueled his motivation to do what's right and change the world from what it's supposed to be.
"-o, Theo.... Theo!"
Theo jumped from his seat, hearing Patrick's voice call out to him.
Ah f*ck I was too absorbed with my thoughts again.
"Y-yeah?"
"We're here, but are you ok Theo?" Patrick said with a genuine concerned face.
Theo smiled in response.
"Yeah thanks, I'm good, I just miss my sister"
Patrick wore a horrified expression, hearing my reply.
"You... Are you a masochist?"
"NO!" He reflexively retorted.
The reason behind Patrick's reaction was because he knew what it was like when Theo's sister was around.
She would always drag Theo to the training ground and brutally train him till sun down and if she finds Patrick hanging around Theo, she'll also drag him in the spartan training.