With that explosion, Alec jolts woke up from the nightmare and felt a slight headache, heart pounding, and sweat beading on his forehead.
Gasping for breath, he sits up in bed and peers out the window. The city below lies silent and still, shrouded in darkness.
Streetlights cast long shadows across empty streets, adding an eerie ambiance to the scene.
Alec's breath fogs the cold glass as he tries to shake off the remnants of his nightmare, the echoes of which still linger in his mind.
He was trying to recall the dream with his eyes closed but couldn't remember what happened after the explosion.
Tier 8 shield magic is no joke. And so is their Tier 6, which is parent-used. It is a fact that normal shield magic can withstand one full power attack above its tier.
The explosion, which was Tier 6, shouldn't have killed his parents. And nevertheless, he shouldn't have fainted, as that explosion was close to a breeze for his shield artifact.
He didn't want to believe that the Tier 6 shield artifact couldn't withstand that explosion. He firmly believed that his parents survived the accident but got separated from him.
With a sigh, he ended his recall session and started looking at the scenery, which he couldn't praise more for its beauty.
The sun was about to rise from the back of Twin Hill in front of him. The view of the dawn was very mesmerizing. It was like a painting made with the soul of a great painter.
He opened the window to get a more clear view and got a cold breeze as a bonus. It was now more colorful than earlier.
Indeed, the air is filled with the sweet fragrance of dew-kissed grass and blooming flowers, carrying with it the promise of a fresh beginning and the tranquility of a new dawn.
He saw that many people were going for jobs. Some seem like gatherers, hunters, and fishermen.
Watching over the scenery, he glanced over the sleeping twins. They were sleeping on their bed in very stiff posture, but soundly.
'Always sleeping like dead, but this time they are more tired as they have been continuously traveling and not staying at one place in fear of Assassin's' Alec thought, 'It's a good thing'.
He got into bed to sleep a little more since it's early and it's time to get some good dreams.
Every time Alec wakes up early because of a nightmare, he gets a good dream in his next sleep. Without making any plans for the day, they slept until 8 o'clock in the morning.
The first one to wake up was Harry. After freshening up, he decided to wake Alec instead of his unruly sister, who demands food on her bed all the time.
It was Alec's duty to wake Sasha every time, because she seems to care about Alec more than her brother.
The trio became close in the days when they were working in the army. They joined due to family pressure.
The twins joined the Army on their father's recommendation, and they were placed in the same group as Alec.
Their father, Roan Grey, was a friend of Jay Vardhman, the foster father of Alec. Roan was the artillery master of the Eastern Army, and Jay was the general of the Eastern Army.
They were friends since the school days, and Roan's father was a viscount under Jay's father.
Alec was rescued and adopted by Jay after his family died in Narnak Forest. Jay was a very casual person, despite being the Army General. The reason he adopted Alec was because they had the same hair color.
After Alec's family tragically perished in a monster attack, initially cheerful, Alec's demeanor gradually shifted to introverted as he grappled with the weight of his loss and the challenges of adjusting to his new life.
He withdrew into himself, finding solace in solitude and struggling to connect with others.
He trained quadruples of what a child of his age could do most. His skills also leaped by bounds, but his mental health was deteriorating.
Jay was a good general despite his laid-back personality; above that, he was a peak martial grandmaster (Tier 8) in his early forties.
But that didn't help in calming the rage, sadness, fear, disdain, and other emotions that were building up in Alec's mind.
As Alec's was on the battle field, he always saw people dying from the assault of the monster. Like it was a normal thing.
It worsened his mental situation, as he couldn't actively participate in these hunts. He was on the support team, which was only ordered to assist the rearguard, which was not his goal.
The first time he got his chance with monsters, he let his inner demon control him. Alec, a mere ten years old, displayed uncommon courage and skill when he single-handedly slew a ferocious monster on the battlefield.
One could say that was not a fight but one side slaughtering. The monsters who flanked him were either slaughtered by him or fled into the forest.
The one who saw him fighting the monsters described him as an asura, killing with every step he took.
The blue energy around him at normal time was dark red. Fighting with a long sword and using some basic magic in times of need. His fight becomes more intense as he gets used to blood.
Nobody, literally nobody in his team, tried to approach him as they didn't want to get involved in crossfire.
Despite his young age, he was recognized for his bravery, and he became the talk of the town.
But he was not promoted, as Jay didn't want him to be more involved with his inner self crumbling and become just a maniac.
Though these encounters were infrequent, Alec's readiness and valor never wavered, earning him respect among his comrades and a reputation as a formidable defender against the forces of darkness.
Despite Jay's efforts to provide support and guidance, Alec remained guarded, haunted by the memories of his past and the uncertainty of his future.
After seeing Jay's concern about Alec, Roan advised him to let Alec stay with his kids, the twins Sasha and Harry.
Roan's arrival brought unexpected companionship to Alec's life. The two kids, full of energy and mischief, gradually drew Alec out of his shell.
Through their shared adventures and laughter, Alec rediscovered joy and camaraderie. Roan's patience and understanding, coupled with Alec's resilience, gradually helped him heal from his past traumas.
Together, they forged a bond stronger than any monster attack could break, proving that even in the darkest of times, friendship and love can illuminate the path forward.
They trained and stayed together in that eastern fort, which commands over six mini forts along the border of Atresia and KaalVan jungle, which is the forbidden place and largest piece of land on the continent of Astra.
Kaalvan is infested with many powerful monsters that have gained intelligence, and they often attack nearby countries.
As the saying goes, the more dangerous the place, the greater the opportunities.
KaalVan has many rare minerals and herbs that are exclusive to itself. There are many undiscovered ruins in it of great significance.
In short, it is a treasure trove, where the deeper you go, the higher the rewards you get.
Well, if you can make it back alive, go to the safe lands.
Just like humans invade the Dark Forest, the beings of the Dark Forest also invade human territories in the form of monster waves or some random attack.
But attacks were not that frequent; monster waves usually come every 2 or 3 years. The rest of the time, soldiers are sent on an expedition in the forest to mine minerals, harvest herbs, and collect monsters's carcasses.
The Eastern Fort was mainly used to train soldiers from a young age and assist other armies in difficult times.
Thirty percent of recruits were, on average, 10 to 16 years old. Every year, fifty thousand people are recruited, and only sixty percent of them survive.
Most soldiers are dispatched to work when they are 13 years old or older. Below, they are trained and used as handymen, except in some special cases. With an average age of 35 years.
There are three divisions of soldiers in the Eastern Army. The first was foot solider, or melee. The second division was of mages and archers, and the third was of mechanical support, which works on the artillery, monitoring, maintaining, and developing much equipment.
All three divisions worked under General Jay, and the head of the Mechanical Support Division, Roan Grey, was an old friend of Jay from Imperial Academy days.
The trio spent most of their time together. They trained together, studied together, slept together, laughed together, cried together, and fought together.
The people who don't know about them think of them as siblings at their first meeting.
Sasha is the eldest of the trio, followed by half-hour-old Harry, and Alec is a month shorter than the twins.
With the accurate planning of Roan, twins were born on the 1st day of the new year, the 1000th year of Astra Calender.
Despite being the first of the trio, she was the most impulsive and childish member. She was more into fighting physically than with elegant mages.
She had enough mass on her body that she could easily be recognized as a warrior—a sexy and fierce warrior. You can say that she uses her fist more than her brain. Also, she is a big eater.
If it comes to the nerdy and cautious one, then you are talking about Harry, who aspires to become a mage. He believes that he can achieve anything by going through the means he derives on his own.
When he gets serious about his studies, Sasha disturbs him in many ways, so all plans are destroyed by Sasha. He's the type who always goes by the book.
When it comes to decision-making and taking initiative on any mission, it was usually done by Alec, who became a cool-headed, smart, and neat guy.
But Harry was too strict with himself. He does everything according to his schedule. That is why he and Sasha are on each other's necks all the time.
So, Harry finds it a hassle to converse with his polar opposite sister, and he seeks Alec's assistance in waking her up.
Alec, Sasha, and Harry gathered their belongings in the cozy room they had shared at the Moonlight Inn. Sunlight streamed through the lace curtains, casting dappled patterns on the wooden floor.
Sasha adjusted the strap of her satchel, excitement gleaming in her eyes. "I can't wait to explore Reinhardt," she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.
Alec double-checked the straps on his backpack, his expression focused. "We need to make sure we're prepared for anything," he said, his tone serious.
With their bags packed and spirits high, the trio made their way downstairs to the bustling restaurant of the inn. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon greeted them as they entered, mingling with the chatter of other guests enjoying their breakfast.
As they settled at a table and began to eat, anticipation hummed in the air. Today marked the beginning of their journey to the Royal Academy of Verndor, and they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
They can take the Mana trains or airplanes (filled with light gases and controlled by magic) now that they are no longer in or near Artesia, but they wanted to travel by horse. There may not be anyone to look for them.
In this way, not only can they explore many places, but they can also collect herbs and other necessities for their level advancement and clear monsters along the way.
That was when they heard mercenaries talking about the artifact market and auctions. Which was held by underground forces.
The item that intrigued Alec's interest was the body-strengthening potion, which increased one's performance permanently.