Amarok was currently hung on the ceiling of the training ground with his hands trying to reach his toes. He was arched in a strenuous fashion. Each time he relaxed and let his hand feel a small brazier under him, he should snap off. His head was covered in sweat, and his entire body was screaming.
"Master, I'm sorry. I promise I didn't doze off consciously. I would have never forgotten about the banquet," he almost cried.
"So whose fault is it?" Neo asked, fuming with anger. "It's all that bastard from the Alden academy fault. If I didn't fight, I wouldn't..." Before he could finish, he was interrupted by an icy stare.
"Now you admit you fought?" Neo cracked his fingers. Amarok was speechless. He braced himself for another round of beating. Amarok's groan echoed throughout the place. After what felt like an eternity, Amarok was finally released. He threw hateful stares at his master.
"Those you offended will not let you off the hook this easily. From now on, be careful," Neo said seriously as he eyed his now cold dinner, thanks to someone.
"I don't know what happened. I simply could not let them go on with their insulting. I keep dreaming and having visions of him, master," Amarok said seriously, his playful attitude shifting. Neo's spoon stopped before his mouth as he sighed, putting the bowl down. He glanced at Amarok, unsure if he should tell him. He knew he could not hide it externally; the fact that the memories and flashbacks intensified was proof the Rune had weakened.
"Follow me," he said as he stood and entered the only visible room of the dilapidated school. "I am sorry for the banquet, master," Amarok said; he could see Neo was still angry.
"Forget about it, boy; we will pay our respects later. First, I need to tell you the truth," Neo said, inhaling deeply. The day has finally come. He took out an old-time distinguished book. Amarok coughed violently. Neo flipped through the pages until he fell on a particular diagram.
"The reason you're getting those fragmented memories is that your mind was sealed," he said. Amarok frowned; he had guessed something like that, but why?
"It is the Rune Frozen Throne. I had a Rune master impose it on you the day we fled. It has been weakening with time and would soon be completely useless. I will now unseal your memories. What you are about to learn might shake you; are you willing to? If not, I can find someone to reinforce the Rune, and then you wouldn't receive those memories anymore," Neo said seriously, his hand holding firmly the book.
Amarok flinched, hesitation flashed on his face. He knew the reason why his master wanted him to stay a farmer, not kill anyone, not become a Rune warrior, was directly related to these memories.
He knew it was a line that if he decided to cross, there was no turning back. Accept those memories that his master feared so much or return to a mundane life in the farms.
"Do it," he said, making his decision. No matter what it was, he would face it. Neo nodded; the book floated in the sky. Neo started drawing with both hands in the air. A series of complicated hexagons and circles formed. They were shining so vividly Amarok had to shield his face.
His aura shifted as he kept drawing even faster. His eyes turned golden; his body radiated with vivid energy. "Apart from being a Rune warrior, was his master also a Rune sorcerer?" It was impossible.
In this world, people could become Rune sorcerers, harnessing the power of Rune magic; others were Rune warriors, less gifted people who could use their engraved weapons. As a Rune sorcerer, it was very difficult to use weapons because they required a ton of time and practice to learn, and the power they unleashed was nothing compared to high-level runes.
Most Rune sorcerers would use that time to learn even more destructive runes. On the other hand, Rune warriors had very limited Rune magic and thus were unable to use runes without a Rune weapon. But the scene before him was defying his understanding of everything.
The energy kept rising with intensity. Boom. A violent eruption of golden energy swept through the room, throwing the books down, breaking the tables and chairs. Amarok fell on his knees, holding his head; he felt like he was going to explode.
Series of images flooded his mind. General Qing was his father's name; he came from the Amarok clan, a group of people who were said to have defied the flow of things and were cursed by blood. It granted them immense power but at the cost of their humanity. One fateful day, one of them lost control over his curse. That day marked the annihilation of the entire clan.
Amarok's eyes shot open. He stared at Neo with teary eyes. He finally understood everything. "Is there a cure to it, right?" he asked with a trembling voice. Neo held his head down without answering; what could he say? The best Rune master of the time had tried to cure the curse, but no one ever succeeded.
Amarok would have to live with this curse for his whole life, if he was lucky. He would die a peaceful death here in the golden garden; otherwise, a life of blood and hatred awaited him. Everything was now up to him to decide. No matter the choice, he would follow Amarok, be it in the farms or on the battlefield.
Time went by; Amarok stayed in the old school for a whole week without stepping out. During that time, Wandleaf was a small town; the news about his fight rapidly spread like wildfire. People mocked the Alden Academy in secret.
They, who ideally acted too arrogantly wherever they went, finally got the taste of their medicine. One of them defeated by a peasant with the basic sword dance and no Rune weapon. It rapidly became the hot topic in the bar. Some young boys who were reluctant to learn the sword dance because they thought it was useless in a real fight were excited.
Everyone was anticipating what would happen next; will the Alden Academy students retaliate or wait for the golden seasons exam? The anticipation for the event grew even more. The golden seasons exam would be held in three days.