"The guild leader is without equal; Who would ever dare to disagree?!" Minerva said backing down, knowing she can't win.
'This Jonathan Dayne was able to master the Mana Guardian to such an unprecedented level, how could he only be a trivial pawn? Matriarch, you duped me big time.' Minerva thought as she turned around and left.
Astrid watched Minerva leave with a stone cold expression without uttering a word.
.
Everyone present had a similar line of thought as that of the chief executive Minerva.
"Didn't that dickless scumbag Jonathan Dayne know nothing about magic before now? So how did he..." Voiced a person who was watching the match.
"Shh! Keep quiet! Now I get it! Jonathan Dayne must be a pawn that the guild leader prepared long ago."
'The matriarch's wisdom is as deep as the ocean, and this punk is terrifying!' everyone thought looking at Jon and Astrid who where standing on the center of the arena.
"My lady, lady Cersei..." Alice was looking at Cersei for clarifications about what was happening, but got no response.
Cersei was Astrid's direct disciple and Jon's lawful wife. Even she was having doubts about Jon being Astrid's secret pawn.
[ SOURCE POINTS OBTAINED (ASTONISHMENT): 0.01 (ROGER) ]
[ SOURCE POINTS OBTAINED (ASTONISHMENT): 0.01 (HUDSON) ]
[ SOURCE POINTS OBTAINED (ASTONISHMENT): 0.01 (PETER) ]
[ SOURCE POINTS OBTAINED (ASTONISHMENT): 0.01 (CERSEI) ]
...
...
...
[ SOURCE POINTS OBTAINED (ASTONISHMENT): 0.01 (ALICE) ]
[ SOURCE POINTS OBTAINED (FEAR): 0.01 (ALICE) ]
...
...
...
With the hatred of men, the adoration of the women, his chivalrous act and his astonishing performance Jon was getting more and more source points since the beginning of the fight.
'This time, because of Sigyn's trashing, not only did my foundation completely stabilize, but I also gained a heap of source points. It was really a good haul!' Jon was very happy looking at the system panel which was spaming with source point notification.
"Today's competition ends here, with Jonathan Dayne as the undisputed winner. Henceforth, none is to voice any complaints against him." Astrid declared for everyone to hear and left the arena with Jon following after her.
---------------break---------------
Astrid and Jon reached the guild leader's tower.
'What's up with the matriarch? She hasn't spoken a word since we left the arena.' Jon perceived something was wrong with Astrid.
"Matriarch, did I do good today?" Jon asked Astrid in a cheerful tone to break the silence.
"COUGH!" Astrid fell on her knees coughing blood.
"Miss matriarch! What's wrong?" Jon asked in concern.
"Cough, Cough! At first, 70% of the injuries had been healed, but today when I went all-out against Minerva my internal injuries acted up again." Astrid explained her condition to Jon.
"Don't worry Miss matriarch. I'll heal you right away." Jon said using the Healing Touch to heal Astrid.
Bright light covered Astrid as the Healing Touch takes effect and Astrid felt better immediately.
"Jonathan, your 'Healing Touch' has become much stronger, this time I recovered much faster than before." Astrid complimented Jon, in surprise at the recovery speed and efficiency.
'Oh, shit! I carelessly used the full power of the Healing Touch!' Jon panicked inside his mind, trying to come up with an explanation.
"It's probably because I have reached the 3 star initial stage, the power of the Healing Touch also got improved due to the increase in mana or something!".
Astrid seems to buy the explanation.
"You are too full of surprises! The Mana Guardian skill is famous for being easy to learn and difficult to master. You have not only mastered it, you have also reached the 3 star initial stage and that too in such a short time." Astrid praised Jon's achievements.
'I was grasping at straws there, with my explanation. Thank goodness she didn't dig deeper.' Jon was relieved that Astrid didn't doubt him.
"I was thinking about what I should do next. Currently, the guild is in a state of unrest!" Astrid asked Jon sitting herself down on the couch.
"Miss matriarch, your injuries are getting better, so what does a trifling chief executive matter? That old hag is must be cowering in fear and trying to keep afloat. You could destroy her in a heartbeat." Jon was unworried.
"You make it sound so simple. First off, Minerva was exercising forbearance because I was seriously injured and had not yet recovered. Now that she knows that I'm in better condition, judging by her personality, it's very likely that she'll join hands with the other 3 executive to take decisive action. Secondly, even though my power in my heyday where better than those of the 4 executive, they where only so by a small amount; I'd be no match for them if the 4 of them joined forces. Lastly... My injuries aren't as trivial as you think they are. There's no way for the Healing Touch to heal the root cause. Every time you use the Healing Touch on me, I can feel it's effect getting smaller and smaller this time, you managed to heal my internal injuries, however, I fear that it's crux is getting used to the power of the Healing Touch. For a long time, I've lived indoors in order to recover fro. my injuries. This has led to me drifting apart from the people of the guild. Up untill now, the severity of my injuries has gotten worse time and time again, making me unable to fight for a long period of time. At this time, if the chief executive wins over power, you and I will be in grave danger!" Astrid explained the entire situation to Jon in a grave tone.
"Don't worry, miss matriarch. I'll do everything in my power to heal you! And no matter what that old hag does, we'll face it together." Jon declared with puffed up chest. 'If the level 2 Healing Touch is not enough to completely cure Astrid, I will just have to upgrade it to level 3.'
"If you really mean it then I would be really pleased. This time, you went all-out to defeat the chief executive's lineal disciple, which gave me a lot of prominence within the guild. What would you like as your reward?" Astrid asked Jon well pleased with him.
"Master is indeed being very generous to me. If you want to reward me, you might as well grant me another set of magic arts skill. Then if the chief executive gets up to no good, I can be of help to you." Jon replied in hopes of learning new magic skill.
"So you've made up your mind. However, the magic arts I have are all for women, men won't be able to use them.The only one that I had men could learn was the Mana Guardian, which I handed over to you before." Astrid said dashing Jon's hope of learning new magic skill.
"Take it easy, I didn't say I wouldn't give you anything. Here, take this." Astrid added looking at a crestfallen Jon and gives him a green token with 'SCRIPTURE' written on it.
"That is the token for the pavilion of scriptures. If it's a skill from there, you can choose any one you like." Astrid clarifies to Jon.
"Thank you master!" Jon had stars in his eyes.
"You have to keep a low profile from now on. After all, you've offended Minerva. If she finds a reason to kill you, even if I go after her for revenge afterwards, you will still be dead." Astrid warned Jon.
"Don't worry master. I'll be careful not to provoke the chief executive any further." Jon still in high spirit after receiving the scripture pavilion token.
"I hope you really understand. I'm in a pretty dangerous situation right now. Even I'm worried about my life. It would be better if you left for a mission for a while. I'll update your status to an A-rank, so take a mission from the mission hall, which will take you away from the guild fortress and any of the guild branches for a few days. You must rack up more achievements if you are to solidify your position in the guild." Astrid instructed Jon.
"I understand master, then I'll be taking my leave heading back now." Jon excuses him self with a bow.
"You may leave!" Astrid dismissed Jon.
---------------break---------------
Minerva was back in her base, a branch of the Black Phoenix guild which is run by her. She was sitting on a throne fashioned in a snake theme, with a coiled up demon snake statue behind it. Before her stood her lineal disciple Sigyn Fel.
"I thought Astrid's injuries would never get better. I didn't expect her to somewhat recover her strength now. Is it possible that she ran across a fortuitous encounter?" Minerva asked looking at her bruised hand.
"Master, Jonathan Dayne has a healing technique which allows him to restore the vast majority of another person's innate energy and injuries. Is it possible that he..." Sigyn informed her suspicion to her master.
"Jonathan Dayne, that bastard... It seems I can't have him running around any longer!" Minerva declared clenching her fist.
---------------break---------------
'After I was done with Cersei, Minerva appeared, and she's even more ruthless than Cersei. What it all comes down to is, I'm Just not strong and powerful enough...' Jon thought walking towards the Scripture pavilion.
'Now that I've been marked by that old hag, I can't get anything done in the Black Phoenix guild. It's for the best, that I'm leave for a mission soon. I can't stack up any source points with everyone avoiding me. I should take a mission to some place where they would give me tons of source points.' Jon decided as he looked around and saw people keeping a distance from him.
--------- END OF CHAPTER ----------