"So here's my deal." Niles said as he continued walking in front of Arthur. "No one in the world has had as much experience in using aura as me. Even back when aura used to be more … public per say, I was a master amonsts masters. And you just recently passed, so I can train you in using this power, and you'll have direct access to knowledge that took centuries, even millennia to accumulate. You'd be far ahead of others in this new world. Or you can reject my deal, and you will never see me again. You'll probably have to learn how to use your powers by yourself and you'll always be behind the elite. So what do you say?"
The offer sounded sweet to Arthur, except that this wasn't a simple offer, it was a business deal.
"So what's the catch?"
"Nothing too much. I just need someone to help me in this strange world. I haven't fully learned your way of living and not everything can be learnt in books. Most the knowledge in them assumes you have already built up common sense as you grow up. As you can guess, that doesn't apply to me. So who better to help me in this world, if not for the one who woke me up?"
Not a bad deal. Arthur would gain so much, and in turn he would just need to teach the ancient man the modern way of living, and he's a fast leaner. He wasn't sure if he should accept. After all this man had incredible intelligence, he wouldn't propose such an unbalanced deal with not much to gain. There must be something he's keeping to himself, and he doesn't seem to be big on obeying the law. He already faked an identity and broke into government facilities , who knows what else he's going to do.
"Sure. But if you ask anything of me which I find immoral, the deal is voided."
Niles looked back at him and smiled. He held his hand out to Arthur and said; "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Arthur."
Arthur shook his hand; "Likewise. I hope I'm not disappointed." He agreed on whim. He wasn't sure if he picked the right choice. Usually on such a vague deal, he'd take time to process the benefits and negatives, but the benefits this time outnumbered the negatives by a lot.
"Ok good. Let's start now." Niles stopped at a straight road, and Arthur just now realised that they left the urban area they were in and were at the borders of the town instead.
"Run down this road as fast as you can. Don't worry about anyone seeing you. I've been surveillance this road for almost a week now."
Arthur blinked. 'Huh'
"Now!?"
"I'm not someone that speaks carelessly. If I say now, I mean now. Start running."
Arthur already began regretting his choice. Niles seemed to be one of those die hard instructors. But there was no way out, so Arthur started running.
It was amazing. He was fast. He jogged and ran everyday for practice, but he never enjoyed running this much. He was fast. Faster than a car. He could feel the wind on his face, on his body, trying to hold him back, and yet he was not hindered by it. The wind loud in his ears. It was amazing. He started to run faster, and faster, and faster. What was his limit? His vision started to become blurry, but he kept running straight with a big grin on his face.
"Amazing right!?" A deep voice shouted on his right. He turned his head, and saw Niles, jogging next to him. He was shouting because of the air disturbance, but that didn't bother Arthur. What bothered Arthur is that Niles was just, jogging. He was not even trying, whilst Arthur was starting to lose breath.
Arthur sped faster and faster, but Niles just kept on his right, constant with his own speed, and still jogging. Every single one of his strides spanned multiple miles. They were now nearing a fork, several miles away from civilisation.
"Take a right here and slow down!"
Arthur listened, and went down a path that had a beautiful stone design. He saw an abandoned mansion peeking over a three meter fence . He took many meters to come to a full stop and followed Niles after he opened the gates. The masterpiece in front of him left him speechless. The mansion seemed to be built on several acres of land, with a vast garden all around the mansion. The garden in front of the mansion was full of beautiful flowers, and the back portion of it seemed to be plain. From the gate there was a gravel path to the front doors of the mansion, going around a beautiful fountain. The fountain had intricate details he'd never seen before. The front doors of the mansion were made of a black wood. The abandoned place was four floors high, and despite looking abandoned, it did not look run-down. The windows resembled white glass with a blue hue from them reflecting the moonlight. The inside was hidden by curtains that were put up behind every last window. The mansion was made of a crimson brick and the roof was made of black stone tiles.
Arthur's mouth was wide open, mesmerised by the beauty in front of him. Niles walked up to the front doors, unlocked it with a key and opened them, announcing;
"Welcome home"