Ch-13: Preparations
I saw Arthur looking surprised by my hurried decision but as soon as he detected me having issues with circulating mana, he hurriedly used our bloodline ability and helped me channel the mana.
It was a hasty decision, but I guess it was lucky of me that he was around, else I would have gone into mana rebound and ended up crippling myself, unable to use mana anymore before even starting my journey in this world.
(A/N: Mana rebound is like qi deviation from cultivation novels — when a person loses control over their mana/qi due to inner demons or injury or weak control. These are major reasons but there can be any number of reasons leading to it such as going berserk and losing emotions may also lead to a similar state)
With his help, the mana calmed down and started following the pathways and I could finally control it, feeling that Arthur just stopped and stood away guarding me in case it erupts again.
Due to his help, I would not only get Photographic Memory but also use this pure mana to cleanse my body and break through from G+ to F- which saved me lots of time.
After an entire hour, something cracked inside me and I felt my mana core density spike and to maintain that, I had to create a ring around it so that its size does not increase compromising my innards.
Somehow, I finished it in less than 5 minutes and stabilized my mana core. I clenched my fist and felt the changes inside my body. To ascertain the trait, I tried recalling memories and now I could vividly remember what was left of them.
My attention was diverted as Arthur whistled and giggled "Wheoo, congratulations Jenny on reaching the official hunter rank"
"I told you not to call me that" 'Jenny' struck a nerve with me as it was a nickname for Jarien used by his mother and his childhood friend to corner him and tease him. Honestly, I found it funny but due to his emotions, it irked me and Arthur was laughing at my face.
"Anyway, go and let me get ready to leave. Goodbye" I said to irritate him and send him off but his countenance turned grim.
"Hey, you know I can come with you in his stead, I am stronger you know" said Arthur with a gloomy expression.
"Hah, you know that is not possible and he is just fine. Also, you have to find your future wife so you should spend time on that rather than wasting it." I exclaimed it to tease him and it worked.
"You brat! Learning how to speak up to your polite and nice older brother. And what's everyone gotten to everyone these days, why should I marry? I am so damn young and don't want to get tied up anytime soon…" mumbled Arthur with an annoyed expression.
"Alright alright Stop please. I don't want to hear your ramblings, go find a wife who will listen." I said to stop his rambling as well as annoy him but I stopped my next words on seeing his expression.
"I already said goodbye to Lyn last night and now you too goodbye, Art. Now, off you go" I said and started pushing him out to prevent any reprimand or any other conversation.
"Tsk, how heartless" Arthur clicked his tongue but turned around, hugged me and ruffled my hair and said "Take care and be safe". After which he left without waiting or saying anything else.
I calmed myself down and stayed true to my goal. With the storage ring Art gave me, I packed all the necessary stuff, took a bath and got ready to depart after dinner.
Just when I was looking around to see if I forgot to pack anything, I saw the sword's box, it seemed to have a ring in it which looked old and rusty but I knew it must be an artifact since it was with this sword and Jarien's words echoed into my mind.
"If…If…haah…haah…I had…haah…my sword…you'd be dead…"
These words gave me a sense of pain and reminded me that these were his last words to his killer but the voice cut off and I could not hear or see his actual death which meant there may be last words other than these.
On channeling my mana into the ring its rust broke and it shone brightly and immediately sucked my mana dry causing me to grunt at the uncomfortable feeling, then it came and stuck itself onto my right hand's middle finger.
It did not stop at just sucking my mana, it pricked me and drank my blood. I could not stop anything and to my surprise the sword suddenly swung at the ring and got absorbed by it. Then the ring turned invisible and stopped absorbing my blood.
After drinking a potion and absorbing mana, I channelled my mana into the ring to find that it was a bound artifact which can erase its presence as well as help me conceal my mana to below my realm so I used it to conceal myself at G- and it worked implying that it could conceal it at least one major realm below but I used it to showcase G+ as that was my rank till a few hours ago.
According to my memories, that sword was an ancient relic that has been passed down since generations in our family but has chosen no owner and Jarien regretted not being able to use such a relic as he had been chosen by it but no one knew about it and he had been distanced from his family.
If I think about it this way, 'the ring binds the sword to the owner', then that means I got an OP relic!? Is this the feeling of the legendary 'plot armour'?
Ahem... anyway since it is such a good relic, I should be able to hide my rank with it better than other items. This made me happy and I left to eat dinner gleefully while thinking about what other features it would have.
In my happiness, I forgot that I was unable to take the sword out and could only use it as a rank concealer for now. I had not packed any swords as I had this but now it was locked and I did not pack any spare swords but only a few throwing daggers as spares.
...
...
...
Only mom, dad and I were at the dinner table as Grandpa was busy explaining something to Richard and preparations related to my secret departure. Lyn denied leaving her room and Art ran away to do a raid with the guild.
'Come to think of it, wasn't Art's lover in our guild too? I hope my existence does not mess up their relationship but seeing how he is raiding with the guild; he will surely meet her' I consoled myself to not feel burdened more than I already was.
The dinner was awkward as I could sense the overwhelming emotions from my parents who were just avoiding everything by focusing on food while stealing glances at my plate to make sure I was having my fill which put me in a difficult situation.
'Haah it needs to be done' with this thought, after dinner I approached them and hugged them while they were still sitting watching me.
"It's okay, it'll be fine and I'll be enrolling in the academy next year, so stop making this kind of face, mom. Dad, you too should focus on reaching SS rank, Lyn and Art will be improving too. But I guess it would be good in a different way if you're weaker than them" I gave a snarky remark with a smirk to lift the atmosphere and so that they'll allow me to leave with peace of mind.
My mother hugged me and patted my face and wished me good health and asked me to be careful. My dad just ruffled my hair like Art but did not say anything rather took me to meet grandpa and Richard.
***
A few hours earlier, during daily morning training of the knights which was overseen by Knight Commander Lebron, the Seat Holder of the Dawner family, Nathaniel Dawner arrived and took Lebron away.
Lebron was one of the few SS rank hunters who were tasked with security of the estate and the Dawner family.
"I greet the seat holder" bowed Lebron.
"Call your disciple, there's a mission for him" said Nathan after nodding in response to his greeting.
Lebron brought Richard personally as he realised it must be an important mission for Nathan to visit personally.
Richard was similar in age to Arthur, but he had auburn hair and light green eyes as he had earth and wind affinity. He was a great sword user like his master Lebron, so he had a muscular body with a height of 201 cm.
"I greet the seat holder" Richard hurriedly bowed and greeted upon noticing Nathan who looked him up and down, then he smiled.
"You'll do. Pack whatever you need and be ready to depart by night. It will be a long mission ranging from a few days to a few months. Stephan will tell you the details. Report to him after dinner" ordered Nathan.
"Yes, sir!" answered Richard. Nathan just nodded and went with Lebron to tell him some details while Richard was sent to prepare.
Amidst his preparations, Richard was approached by his team appearing haggard as they had just finished their training looking at him enviously as he was excused from his training partially for preparation time.
"Captain, this is not fair. Why were you allowed to escape that hell and we had to tread it? What happened to your life-and-death promise?" complained a tall man with blue hair and eyes.
"Alex, let it be. Can't you see he is busy running away alone as soon as he gains favour. He even ditched us so fast, the people who went through so much with him" pouted a blonde-haired frail girl who was their healer.
"Ria, you are right, he even forgot the ones who listened to his sob story when a girl dumped him. Hmph, don't you dare think any of us will help you next time" chided a redhead who had a similar stature to Alex as they were twins.
"Yeah, you should even stop having thoughts about Ria and Amy, else who knows what you would do to these poor girls" added Alex. His comments instantly angered the girls as they did not want to associate with Richard any longer and turned to leave.
"Alright, alright guys at least leave him a way out. Let's hear you out 'Captain'" said vice-captain Lee who had black hair and eyes and his presence shocked the three as he usually ignored their banter and was the most serious one among them.
*sigh* "You are the only one who trusts me, I see." Said Richard who then turned to the still shocked trio which was enough to give them chills as they feared he would say something to the commander so they hurriedly pleaded but he ignored it.
"Regarding the mission, I am clueless. I was just asked to prepare for a long mission and that I have to depart tonight itself" explained Richard with a grim countenance as he did not know anything.
Seeing him like this, the team knew better than to pry in things beyond them so they continued teasing him and helped him pack to escape training but Richard told his master which led the trio to be dragged away for extra training as Lee had left long ago.
***