"You are an academia?" the cold-looking young master asked.
He didn't respond when Inigo introduced Satoshi but his interest was piqued when Inigo told him how Satoshi helped them fix their broken vehicle.
"I used to, but not anymore," Satoshi answered shortly.
The young master's gaze changed drastically, now he looked at Satoshi with the opposite of interest.
"Well, it's not exactly for everyone," he said as he took a seat at the handkerchief Inigo had laid down.
"Brother Nuno, this is Young Master Juneau of the House of Ice of the Sulus Branch."
After thinking for a bit Inigo added, "Please be discreet with this information as we need to be careful. I'm sure you understand."
Satoshi gave Inigo a slight nod. He frankly didn't want to know and didn't care.
"Just for a bit, when I arrive in Asira then I no longer need to be so secretive. That's when I can begin walking like a dragon amongst men!"
Juneau said with not the slightest bit of decent humility. It seemed like he genuinely thought this period of covert operation was a slight to his ego.
"But…you are a grand mage, aren't you, cousin? I'm still thinking there is no need for you to do all this. Who would come and make trouble for you?" Trudeau's voice meekly sounded.
"That's where you are wrong.
Even though I am a capable mage, there are people out there with not a shred of conscience going after my acceptance token. And to these people, nothing is beneath them, they have no qualms about using the most despicable method to get what they want.
That's why I have to be prudent!"
"I-is that so…I guess now I understand a little bit."
Juneau shook his head and disappointingly looked at his younger cousin. "That's why we are so different. If you keep being like this, there is no hope of you ever catching up with me."
Trudeau looked dejected after Juneau's indifferent response. Even though he is indeed not much right now, Juneau didn't need to put it like that.
Satoshi and Inigo quietly watched the two cousins conversing. Inigo had more or less used to this dynamic, but Satoshi was more than irked with the way Juneau was acting. He was exactly the type of academia that he hated.
Satoshi looked around for an opportunity to take his leave. He would rather be somewhere else than here.
"The world is an uncaring place, that's why one always needs to be careful. Unless you are someone like Young Master Satoshi, that is." Juneau continued advising his cousin.
Satoshi was quite startled by what he heard and it made him stop looking around. He didn't expect his name would suddenly come out in a conversation like this.
"B-but-but that Young Master Satoshi is a Young Master from Dai..how can I compare.." Trudeau tried to retort.
"Well, while it is true that his background is extraordinary, you should not focus your attention on that. Instead, look at his achievement! And at such a young age!."
Satoshi was even more surprised as he looked at Juneau, he was now radiating a faint trace of admiration.
Inigo noticed Satoshi's weird expression and asked, "Brother Nuno? Are you alright? You looked kind of..strange."
"Ah, no, nothing…I'm just confused about this..Satoshi person." Satoshi answered, unsure how he should explain his surprise.
Juneau took Satoshi's response and made his own conclusion, "Well, I'm sure the news about Young Master Satoshi wouldn't even reach commoners' ears. But just so you know, he is someone among the very best of the younger generation."
Satoshi was rendered speechless at how the rumor he asked Sepphira to ask had turned out. But Juneau took his silence as confirmation to pile in more info.
"To have received the commendation of Grand Master Elodin at such a young age. And the recognition of the Imperial Descendant Hall of Research. Only that kind of person would dare to openly travel with their temporary token of acceptance."
At that point, Satoshi felt that it would be dangerous to let Juneau continue with his rant, so he tried to make him stop. "I-I see..so he is that kind of person."
Juneau looked like he still had something to add but he was stopped by Trudeau's interjection.
"I'll also be as amazing when I grow up!"
Trudeau looked like he needed to gather enough courage to say that, he looked like he almost cried. But what welcomed him was Juneau's cold and condescending eyes.
"Who, you? Just forget it. Your house doesn't have what it takes to nurture a genius, besides, your start is way too late."
Satoshi looked on as Trudeau dejectedly hung his head, and a single drop of tears trailed across his cheek. It reminded Satoshi of Ashya, which was more or less the same age.
Ashya indeed had an amazing talent, and an even more amazing upbringing and support from her parents and family. Mulah even said she will be ready for the Academia Scholastic Trials by next year, while she would just turn 15.
Trudeau looked to be around 14-15 years old himself. For Satoshi, this was not a bad age to just get started.
"Hey, come on now. I think there's no problem with just starting now…that Young Master Satoshi…or whatever… shouldn't have started that early, right? He could be starting even later than you did." Satoshi tried to console Trudeau.
"R-really? You think so?" Trudeau looked at Satoshi with a teary eye.
"HAH!"
Satoshi's response was rudely interrupted by Juneau's scoff.
"Young Master Satoshi is just 15 or 16 years old this year, how could he not have started early?"
Satoshi was annoyed by Juneau's rude interruption but it was replaced by confusion. "How did you know he is 15 or 16 years old?"
"How? Of course, because there are reports from people that have seen him! His entourage was very sublime and eye-catching, practically everyone with a certain pedigree had at least known about them. He was accompanied by Elder Mulah from the Hall of Research himself!"
Satoshi was both surprised and delighted by this info. This meant Mulah succeeded in bringing Nuno into the ruse!
The combination of surprised and delighted expressions weirdly contorted Satoshi's face, and it made Juneau even more disgusted.
"There are people out there that claimed that they had seen or met Young Master Satoshi and said that he was quite old for an Aspirant. But this has been entirely debunked.
Of course, only those that always got on top of these kinds of things would know."
Juneau's face of pure disgust really made Satoshi want to unleash one of the drops of elemental spells that the mysterious expert gave him.
Luckily, the chime of his communication terminal suddenly came and diverted his attention.
—
At this moment, on the Island Province of Xinjia-kor.
A small-statured young master swaggered with an entourage of servants. He was wearing very exquisite-looking Dai traditional clothing. His head was held high as he pranced around with a light step. On his side was a kind-looking, dark-skinned, middle age man.
These two were Nuno and Mulah.
They were walking through the shopping mall at Xinjia-kor's world-famous aerial transport station. Nuno's eyes would sometimes wander to take in the exquisite artificial landscape within the transport station, but mostly he would devour the exquisite goods that were on the endless window display.
Suddenly his beady eyes stopped one of the items on the window display. It was a bejeweled magic book. The entire front, spine, and back of this book were gilded with the intricate design of gold and silver linings. There were also chunks of valuable gems studded on the book, which depicted a beautiful phoenix and a fierce dragon.
It was more precious art than a magic book.
"Ahh, yes, this should be a perfect match for my study needs," Nuno said.
After several moments of no response, he sarcastically said again, "What, you suddenly do not understand me again?"
Mulah looked at Nuno indifferently and said, "I understand you alright, I just don't think you will need it for your study."
Nuno turned to Mulah and spiritedly argued, "What do you know about what I will need or not, didn't you say so yourself, that I should look around for what I need in this shopping incursion."
"I did indeed say that, but I also think you should be more modest about your choices.
The people of Asira are not exactly all kind-hearted, you know." Mulah persuaded.
Nuno frowned at Mulah's response and it made him think. There was actually merit in what Mulah said.
Nuno looked at the entourage of followers behind them and the various things that they were carrying on Nuno's behalf. He was very happy whenever he saw the sight.
Just some days ago, Nuno was very surprised to suddenly receive an invitation to a marvelous mansion. His surprise then turned to anger when he found out who had invited him. But then it turned to confusion when the person that invited him apologized for their past deed and offered him to go study in Asira.
The person that invited him was Mulah, and he said he was sorry for what he did to Nuno all those months ago and had since been thinking about his talent. Mulah believed that he had never found a youth as talented as Nuno and he would like to speculate and became his sponsor.
All Nuno would need to do was to follow Mulah, go shopping for his study needs, and then head for Asira. There he would learn at one of the prestigious institutions and become a grand mage!
While Nuno was not entirely sure about what was going on, he was thrilled to find out what the proposition would entail. Wealth and riches! And now he intended to collect it all!
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