Things had calmed down considerably.
Students weren't being attacked here and there. And school seemed like a genuinely decent place to be at.
"So," Mike said, throwing a ball at me. "I've been thinking."
I caught it. "Yeah?" I threw it back at him. He caught it. And threw again.
"I might quit school and become an adventurer for real."
"What?" I didn't catch the ball; it dropped next to me, rolling on the ground. "The hell are you talking about, dude?"
"Well," he came over and we sat down by the burned tree. It actually looked kind of cool. I felt bad about the tree though, and especially the literal crater just in front (apparently now referred to as the headmaster's bald hole and a popular dating spot for the older students late night). Just a week ago students were being murdered and now kids were having fun times. Sigh.
Rexen really scorched the earth good. I saw some patches of green here and there: Grass and Algae were having some fun. "I've been thinking about it for a while. My brothers are far more suited for the noble life. I couldn't really care less about it. I just want to have some fun and be on my own and-"
Oh yeah, I was there. Back when I was with my parents and they ruled my whole life, I wanted to be free too. But the idea of leaving them and being on my own hadn't occurred to me till the end of middle school. "I think you-" I stopped. He wasn't asking for advice. He wasn't asking for opinions. He was merely telling me because we were friends. "I see. I'll miss you."
"Thought you'd try to stop me," he said, a little shocked.
"I would, and want to. But in the end, it's your life. I can't comprehend what you're going through, and I can't really do much about it. But I can listen. So, if you have something to complain about, if you have something you want to tell me, tell me. I'm listening."
He snickered, slapping my back. "Yeah, that works. I really hate my old man."
"He seemed to care about you though."
"He does. Can't deny that."
The guy was about as old as me. But it felt like I was speaking to an equal. Not a child. It always did, whenever I spoke to him. He had this odd sense of maturity to him. He lived alone in the town, he did everything alone. And he lived like a boss, had hundreds of friends and wasn't a snobby ass despite being the son of a sovereign. If he wasn't mature, I wasn't sure who was.
"Then I don't understand why-"
"It's just that… he gives me everything I want. He never bothered to even try to give me challenges. Like he couldn't care less how I grew up. I know that's not entirely true but… it feels like that."
"I kind of understand how you feel. I had-" no, I didn't. Not in this life. "Sorry, go on."
"Right. So I'm going against his advice and I'll do things my way."
"Did you make a tally of what could go wrong if you left the academy or chose to not to be the 'son of a duke'?"
"I did. I've thought about this for years.
Bro you've barely been alive for half a decade. He chuckled. "I know it's a lot to take in," Mike said. "But I actually have some memories from my last life. Just some flashbacks but I don't think I'm only Six, Sol."
"Ah…" Huh. What? Really? I kind of had my doubts but- "Huh. Me too."
He really laughed, and quite loud too. "Yeah, right." He rolled his eyes; the hell was he looking at me with that creepy smile for? "I only have some vague memories but, in that life, I was an adventurer and it was fun going around slaying monsters, doing quests, helping people and all that. Of course, it wasn't easy and I ended up dying part way through a quest. I want to go back and finish that quest. That's the main reason why I want to be an adventurer."
"Well," I walked a couple of steps, looked back. "I understand and you have my support as a friend. But if you asked me for advice or let's say opinion, I'd say: At least wait till you're Ten."
He didn't ask for my advice or my opinion. He'd already made up his mind. And me trying to change it was stupid. No, it was against my own principles. I already vowed to try my best to not change this world. Or anyone for that matter. Particularly why I wanted to be not as involved as I was. The church thing couldn't be helped but the rest, I tried to stay out of.
"Why?"
"Life would be boring with you."
"Huh… well, I'll consider it."
"See you around Mike. And who knows, when I'm Ten, I might decide to become an adventurer along with you."
"No you wont," he snorted. "But thanks."
With a nod I went over to the dorm, straight into my room and dived face first into the bed. "Wish I had that kind of courage."
But I didn't.
***
Part of history searching was mostly trying to figure out what the books were saying. I'd tried learning the Sea tongue and although that was proceeding decently well, I couldn't really understand anything. I couldn't say even that for the demon tongue though. That was just beyond me; looked like Arabic and even Arabic wasn't that hard. I needed an actual demon to teach me and although there was supposed to be one or maybe two dozen demons attending school here, I hadn't seen any.
"This is the book you're looking for," the librarian helped me. "Formation of The Holy Church: A Recounting Tale."
Sea tongue.
I could probably read it if I tried my best. But I couldn't understand it even with a literal dictionary, assuming I had one in the first place.
"How will you read it though?" she said.
"That's the problem, I can't."
"That's why you should have taken studying languages seriously."
"I am taking it seriously. I've just been a little busy with everything else."
"Then get busy with this too."
Lately she'd been awfully strict with me. Understandable but it still kind of stung.
Anyway, despite what she said, she did help me by providing some common vocabularies and told me I could disturb her as long as she wasn't too busy.
I probably couldn't digest half of this book within the next three days but I at least wanted to give it a shot. Meanwhile, I had to figure out shit about the current Askvan lore as well and figure out what was true and what was not.
Seemed like a way more elaborate and difficult prospect than I had ever imagined. You brought this onto yourself. Sigh.
Well, nothing great in life came easily after all. So- Better get started.
***
I spent about three hours studying, the rest of the time mostly being lazy. The scales had somewhat adhered to my skin and the wound had mostly healed. Maybe they weren't meant to come off?
I didn't feel much different than usual other than the fact that my mana had increased a bit. Well, it wasn't that big of a difference though since I had little mana to begin with. Still, anything was better than nothing. And as long as I was moving forward, it was fine.
Argh… Why couldn't I just have my cheat memory in this world too?
Sighing, I closed the book and walked out of the dorm. I had to calm my head with some afternoon running. I hadn't run in a while though, so I took it rather slow.
If memory served me right, physical exercise aided in brain function, so I- But brains aren't fully formed till late teenage years, right? Argh… No wait this means I could get better if I tried!
"Why are you groaning like that? Wound reopened?" Apparently, I had a shadow trailing me. His name started with Alus, ended with Taire.
"Memory not very good."
"Mine either," he said. I couldn't see him but I knew he was around.
My guy was seriously invisible. Or was he just moving fast? "How do you move like that?"
"I was born this way." He stopped. Training garbs. Toned muscles and that clean face. Seriously, dude was handsome. I could see why the teachers were fawning over him. I just hoped Miss Chamille didn't fall for him.
Gotta grow up fast Sol!
"You were born invincible."
He smiled. looked weird on that gloomy face. "No. I was just born with talent."
Was he rubbing it on on me? Funny. This guy had killed me just a week prior and now we were talking like there was nothing between us.
He was scorched so badly he couldn't even breathe when I lost consciousness. And two weeks later even though I was barely able to run around, this guy had not only recovered but was looking better than ever. Perhaps he really was born like that.
"Oh?" Alus stared. "You're keeping the knife with you."
As a matter of fact, I was. I was also wearing the gloves he'd given me. I didn't like the guy anymore. But his gifts were practical.
"I am."
"The gloves can boost strength depending on the amount of mana you will into them. I forgot to tell you the first time."
"No, you didn't tell me because I didn't have much mana at all."
"Yes."
At least try to keep the lie up. Rolling my eyes, I resumed my run. He disappeared.
"What happened to my knight anyway?" I hadn't seen the dude in a week.
"Shia Barack has been attending to him."
"You mean she's training him like a dog?"
"Yes."
Huh. I'd expect nothing less from that sister of mine.
"Any particular reason why you're following me?"
"None. Just curious."
Of what?