–The Black Phoenix guild–
After returning to the guild Jon first went to the mission hall and turned in the mission report, he also got paid very handsomely. After turning in the report he got to know that Cersei hasn't returned from her mission yet. So went to his residence to take a bath and rest.
The next day he went to meet Astrid who came out of close door training.
In the room, Astrid is sitting on the bed in a lotus position with Jon behind her performing the Healing Touch.
"Your Healing Touch seems to be quite different from before; my injuries are healing at an astonishing rate…" Astrid said in surprise, as she releases a large amount of mana which completely destroys the bed she was sitting on.
"My Mana is full and overflowing. I even collapsed the bed by accident… how could my injuries have been completely healed? In only about a month your Healing Touch has progressed to the point of completely healing me." Astrid was amazed at Jon's growth rate.
"I was practicing every day whenever I got free time during the mission. It helped me advance to the six star initial stage and improved the healing touch greatly." Jon said in a proud tone.
'Fortunately, the Healing Touch at level 3 worked, otherwise it would've been troublesome…' Jon thought, as he was unable to further upgrade the Healing Touch until he fulfilled some unknown conditions.
"It really does seem that you went through a great deal of hardship, fortunately you were blessed by the guild founder. I'm in high spirits today. Speak what other rewards do you desire?" Astrid praised and asked Jon what he wants in gratitude.
"Master, I picked the Enchanting Glittering Mana from the scripture pavilion, but I don't have a clue as how to practice it. I would like your advice on the matter." Jon said taking a knee in a dramatic manner.
"Oh? The Enchanting Glittering Mana Art? Hmm! I guess it will suit you very well!" Astrid said taking a thinking pose.
" It's not very easy to get started on the Enchanting Glittering Mana Art… Actually there is a perfect place for you to practice this magic skill. One of the four guild executive named Elizabeth Zabini, runs an establishment called the Black Dahlia which is also a branch of the Black Phoenix guild in the near by Entertainment city. Elizabeth has always been neutral within the guild politics, therefore she won't make your life difficult because of the hostilities between you and the chief executive Minerva. And you're of great use to her, so if you practice there, she'll probably lend you a hand." Astrid said, instructing Jon to go there to cultivate his Enchanting Glittering Mana Art.
"I'm of great use to her? What kind of great use?" Jon asked with suspicion.
"I'm not in a position to reveal that. You'd better go see it for yourself." Astrid said turning away from Jon.
"Now I have a very bad feeling about this." Jon said getting very nervous.
"Now the only thing to worry about is the chief executive Minerva. If she disregards her status and lays her hands on you when you are there, I won't be able to come to your aid." Astrid warned Jon about the dangers of going to Entertainment city.
"Oh! I have a way around it. On my recent mission I came across a magic skill called the Demonic Curse Of Wrath, one of it's technique called the Idle Transfiguration allows a me to transfigure myself or others into whatever form I want. I could transfigure into the form of someone else while I go outside." Jon told Astrid, showing her the book of Demonic Curse Of Wrath.
"It's a very versatile magic skill the only problem with this magic skill is the attack power is comparatively less and is only a 9 star initial stage technique. It would be very compatible with the Demon Transformation Art that chief executive Minerva practice. You should delay turning in the book to the scripture pavilion, we could use this as a bargaining chip with Minerva later." Minerva said after skimming over the content of the book.
"Then there is also that after I wrote a new book, no, wait, I mean, I looked into a book that's being handed down on the market recently called 'The Illicit Relation of A Mistress And Her Disciple'. It tells the story about a heartless master, who has a taboo love for her female apprentice. In her heart, she regards her as a queen and hopes to be mercilessly stepped on by her… Tsk, tsk. It's an utterly vicious book. And people say that the story is about Minerva Nimue and Sigyn Fel." Jon told Astrid, showing her another book.
"You revealed your identity in the ending of the last volume of "the young married woman – Cersei". How dare you come up with a new book?!" Astrid turned towards Jon with burning eyes.
"Master, you finished reading it?" Jon asked in a surprised voice causing Astrid to come to her senses.
"Ahem!" Astrid was embarrassed at being caught reading 'The Young Married Women Cersei' and tried to compose herself after her outburst.
"Of course not! I don't read such decadent writing. I just so happened to overhear some friends mentioning it. Naturally, I'm convinced that some villain must've planted the so-called "BY Jonathan Dayne" in the book to set you up." Astrid said after recovering from her slip up.
"Exactly this time the author is called 'White Joker'. They even say that this "White Joker", may be Magnus Bright from the White Tower Holy guild." Jon told Astrid showing her a drawing of Magnus.
I've been hearing for a long time that he's a handsome and elegant man. I don't know how many girls have fallen for him, but I never thought he was such a pretentious hypocrite." Astrid said in childishly serous way, playing along with Jon.
"However, other people's rumors have said that it was Wendy Ravenclaw from the Phantom guild who took up such a name to conceal her identity." Jon told Astrid this time showing the drawing of a women.
"As expected, she's a vixen from a dark guild who lives by taking life-force! She has no sense of shame!" Astrid accused like a gossiping teenage girl.
'matriarch, aren't you a member of a dark guild too?' Jon thought in his mind.
"Yet it's also told that the booklets began circulating from the towns neighboring the holy guild Temple of Heaven." Jon informed Astrid taking away all the pictures.
"So those Priests were all a bunch of whores all along!" Astrid accused childishly.
"Anyway the point is that after hearing about the book chief executive Minerva in a fit of rage, drew her sword and left after threatening that she can only vent out her hatred after killing the author and left on a wild goose chase." Jon informed Astrid.
With Minerva preoccupied Jon had no other immediate threat to his life.
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Entertainment city is ten times bigger than Windgaze city. The city is situated on either sides of Jade river (Jade river is a beautiful narrow river with Cristal clear water). The Black Dahlia resort is like a beautiful small fortress sitting on the river bank.
Jon entered through the huge double doors and was amazed at the sight. The resort had the most beautiful interior he had seen in both his life and there where a lot of beautiful ladies dancing, playing music or simply just hanging around.
"This would indeed be the perfect place to practice Enchanting Glittering Mana Art." Jon had to agree with the guild leader on this.
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