As they got closer to the gates of the city, Asher quickly noticed the long queue of people trying to get into to the city. "From the looks of things, it might take close to an hour to get in." Asher thought to himself. He turned at stared at the two warriors behind and him. There was a big smile on his face. "Thank you for escorting me to Bavalri city. You have fulfilled your orders, you are no longer obliged to follow me." Asher bowed and said courteously. He currently had no use for the warriors, and would much rather they left and went back to the village.
"That is true, but I followed you for a different reason," Xafun said.
"Oh. And what reason might that be?" Asher asked with a puzzled look on his face.
Xafun walked closer towards Asher, he smiled and immediately bowed to one knee. "I would like to pledge my fealty to you. I only ask you provide me with the means to grow." Asher hearing this was completely taken by surprise. He was thoroughly shocked at Xafun's action. Of the group that followed him to Bavalri city, Xafun had been the most reserved and level headed. Bazuka was also shocked at Xafun's action, but he quickly caught himself and lightly laughed.
"Xafun, you never cease to amaze me," Bazuka said while staring at Xafun. He moved his gaze back to Asher and said, "as for me, my mission is done. I will be heading for the village now."
Bazuka immediately left as he said those words. Both Asher and Xafun stared at the gradually shrinking image of Bazuka leaving. Neither of them had a strong relationship with Bazuka, to begin with, so they did not really care much about his departure. Now Asher was faced with a decision to make, he had gotten his revenge, but unintentionally, he had picked up someone as a follower. This wasn't the first time someone had pledged their fealty to him. Zuvon, the lesser god of thunder, pledge his fealty to Brabus. Astro, the lesser god of battle at that time, also pledged his fealty to Brabus. Even after Astro became a chief god, he was still serving Brabus. Although he was no stranger to this act, this particular circumstance was truly strange.
"Why are you pledging your fealty to me?" Brabus asked with an indifferent tone.
"I have traveled the world and I have seen various things throughout my life. I know someone destined for great things when I see one." Xafun responded.
"You are not afraid I might kill you someday like I did Oliva?" Asher asked.
"If that is how it ends, so be it," Xafun responded wholeheartedly.
Asher clapped and laughed hearing Xafun's response. Asher stared at Xafun with an intrigued look. Xafun was fairly tall and athletic looking, he had long black hair, with a devilishly handsome face. "Alright, swear before me an eternal oath," Asher said after clapping. "I swear to the gods of the nine heavens, and to you Asher my master, I shall serve and obey for as long as I am needed," Xafun swore.
Asher nodded in acceptance of the oath. They both joined the queue and waited their turn to pay the city tow fee. Xafun a vague smile on his face, one that was hard to notice. His thoughts flew back to the first time he met Asher. He was randomly making his way to the town square when he saw a kid being bullied. Before making his way to them, the rest of the kids had left him laying on the floor. A month later, Xafun had witnessed the graduation ceremony of that bullied kid. To his surprise, that kid had shown power and technique beyond his years. Xafun was no fool, he knew something drastic had to have happened to Asher. There was no way for him to have learned a martial technique within a month or grow to such frightening level of power. Now on the way to Bavalri city, this same Asher had increased in power to rival even his own. Whatever was the case, this was his best shot at growing in power. He had been stuck at the peak of the 8th level of natural energy for almost five years. Xafun knew if things continued that way it was virtually impossible for him to breakthrough to the 10th level. He placed his hopes in the fact that Xafun could provide him with the means to grow.
As they paid the toll and made their way to the city, Asher instantly noticed how lively the city was. This was his first time visiting a big city, and he was quite pleased with the noticeable difference. He saw considerably larger buildings filled to the brim with a lot of people. He easily noticed a fight break out to his left, involving two drunk people, and while watching this spectacle he noticed everyone's indifference to it. Moments later, the Bavalri guard came out to break up the fight and arrest both parties. "Bavalri city sure lives up to its reputation," Asher said while walking.
Asher leading Xafun, went directly to find an inn to stay. They scoured through the city looking for the appropriate in that matches their budget. After an hour of tedious searches, they found a moderately priced one at the west of the city. "It will be best for us to rest a while before we go back," Asher said to Xafun, who nodded in agreement. They both made themselves comfortable in their living areas and rested for some time. While laying on the bed, Asher was making preparations for his next set of actions. "I should rest today and start making proper preparations for the blood trials from tomorrow." Asher softly said to himself.
The Blood trials was a premier competition within Bavalri city. It was a competition that drew all sorts of people from all corners of the kingdom. The trial required that one had to be at most 18 years of age and have at most attained the 10th level of natural energy. The trails started as a ritual where prospective soldiers who wanted to join the Royal Guard of Bavalri city, would partake in to prove their strength and competency. It later evolved to include various schools, who sort after talented participants who would be interested in joining a school. This was the very best outlet for one to display their quality. If one succeeded in passing the trial, they would be considered above average in strength, they will be virtually guaranteed to be invited to join at least one school. If they succeeded in passing the trail in less than twenty minutes, they will be considered geniuses. Almost all schools would send out an invitation to geniuses, and if one is lucky, they might be called up to join the Royal Guard of Bavalri city. If the participant passed in less than ten minutes, they would be considered a genius of geniuses. At that point, all entities within the kingdom would fight to get such a genius to join them. But passing under ten minutes is no small ordeal. In the history of the trials, only three people have ever succeeded in passing under ten minutes. And all three of them ended up ascending to the nine heavens.