Emrys walked into the Guild Hall. He approached the gruff-looking hunter who looked up from his desk with annoyance.
"So, you're back," the man said, eyeing Emrys' empty hands. "Where are the beast crystals?"
Emrys hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "We didn't make it back with any crystals. We weren't able to defeat the intermediate beast, and I barely survived."
The man raised an eyebrow, a sneer spreading across his face. "Oh, really? You're the same boy who begged me to allow join the mission yesterday, claiming you could handle it? Now you're telling me you couldn't even defeat the intermediate beast?"
Emrys stood his ground and said with a straight face. "I did my best, sir. It was a tough fight."
The man snorted. "Tough fight? Ha! You're just a foolish boy who can't even deliver on his promises. As per Guild rules, failure to bring back beast crystals results in a penalty of ten golden coins."
Emrys winced, the system had kept the intermediate crystals in his inventory.
He couldn't tell the man in front of him that he had miraculously gotten a system that harvested crystals for him.
If other hunters were to discover that he had killed the two intermediate beasts, they would target him and his family for the crystals.
The government might split his body into two in order to find the so-called system.
For now, he decided to keep the information about the system a secret.
It was a good thing he had hidden the body of the beast in his inventory or else if the rest hunters were to find it then they would report him to the guild leader and he wasn't ready to answer a series of questions.
Emrys reluctantly reached into his pocket and pulled out ten golden coins, slamming them onto the desk.
The man nodded, counting the coins with a satisfied smirk. "Good. Maybe next time you'll think twice before taking on a mission you can't handle."
Emrys bit back a retort, knowing it wouldn't do him any good. He turned to leave, but the man's parting words stung.
"Remember, boy, you're not as special as you think you are." He said as Emrys walked away.
Emrys clenched his jaw, he had taken note of the man's face, vowing to teach him a lesson in the future.
With one last look at the guild hall, he turned to leave.
On his way back home, Emrys noticed the blacksmiths hammering away at glowing hot metal.
He considered approaching them, but the risk of drawing attention to himself was too great.
Emrys continued walking, lost in his own small world. He pondered the possibilities of selling the intermediate crystals on the black market, perhaps maybe selling it to a traveling merchant or a shady collector.
However, if the guild leader was to find out that a little teenage boy was seen selling two intermediate crystals, he would get into trouble for not giving the guild hall ten percent of his crystals worth.
Emrys thought of another way to sell the crystal.
He decided that it was best to keep the crystal in his inventory and only sell it when the time was right.
Perhaps, he could disguise as a foreigner and sell it when the market was less crowded.
As he approached his small hut, Emrys noticed Akira, sitting by the window, her eyes fixed on him with concern.
"Ah, Emrys, I'm glad you're back. Your father has some good news for you, but first, go and eat something. You must be starving."
Emrys nodded curtly, his stomach also growled in agreement. He headed to the small kitchen area and devoured a simple meal of bread and soup.
As he ate, Akira continued, "You know, the test for children is coming up soon. It's for those between the ages of ten and fifteen. Your father was able to purchase a ticket for you to participate."
Emrys' ears perked up, his interest piqued. "What's the test for?"
Akira's expression turned serious as she noticed that he was beginning to get interested in what she was about to say.
"It's the test to become a future knight. You know how prestigious it is to be a knight, Emrys. They're the most wealthy and respected people in the village. If you pass the test, you'll be able to become rich in the future."
Emrys' eyes widened as he listened intently. He had always heard stories about the knights, how they were chosen from a young age and trained to become protectors of the Royals. But he also knew that becoming a knight was no easy feat.
They were always made to go through rigorous training and Emrys used to see them whenever they visited the country.
He would see them standing under the scorching hot sun, attending to the needs of the royals.
But they were also rumored to be stinking rich and Emrys wondered what it was like to be a knight.
"Mother, what if I don't pass?" Emrys asked, a hint of worry creeping into his voice.
Akira said in a soft voice. "You will pass, Emrys. Your father and I have sacrificed so much for you to have this opportunity and we believe in you. If you become a knight, you'll elevate our family from poverty…We'll never have to worry about food or shelter again."
Blurry memories from twelve years ago resurfaced again and he vividly recalled the day his mother was brutally killed by the government and royal forces. They were wearing red sashes.
The pain and anger he felt back then as a one year old still lingered.
As he thought about the test to become a knight, Emrys saw an opportunity for revenge. He could use this chance to gain power, money and strength. He could also make those responsible for his biological mother's death pay for their cruelty.
"I'll do it," Emrys whispered to himself, his jaw clenched in determination. "I'll pass the test, to become a knight."
The color returned to Akira's face and she passed him the test paper.
"Here, take this my dear. This is where the test will take place. It will come up in a few months. Hurry up and fill the form before submitting."
Emrys collected the paper from her, he planted a warm kiss on her forehead before leaving for his room.
"If I pass the test," Emrys whispered to himself, "I'll get to attend the Knight's Academy and then study for five years. I will become stronger…After that, I'll make them regret what they did to my mother."
He sat in his small room, the test paper in front of him. He picked up the pen and began to fill out the form, his hand moving quickly as he wrote his name.
As he finished writing, he checked the box confirming his participation in the test.
With the form complete, Emrys tucked it into his pocket and rushed out of the house, eager to submit it to the village office. He ran through the familiar streets, his heart racing with excitement.
Arriving at the village office, Emrys was surprised to see a crowd of people gathered outside.
He hadn't expected so many others to be signing up for the test.
Turns out that most parents wanted their parents to become knights. It was the only good job in the village and most hunters had quitted their jobs recently, especially after hearing the news of the Shadow Blight.
Hunting wasn't safe again and they feared for their lives.
To Emrys' surprise, he saw that most of the applicants were around his age - eleven, twelve, thirteen, and fourteen.
He took a deep breath and pushed his way through the crowd gently to submit his form.
Inside, the room was filled with chatter and the sound of shuffling papers. Emrys waited in line, his eyes scanning the room as he took in the faces of his fellow applicants.
Some looked confident, others nervous, but they all shared a determined glint in their eyes.
Emrys' grip on his form tightened. He would pass this test, no matter what.
The village officer stepped forward to address the crowd. "Listen up, applicants! The test to join the Argentum Academy will take place in six months' time. The academy's selection team will arrive in our village to administer the test, and only the most skilled and worthy candidates will be chosen."
He paused, surveying the crowd. "If selected, you will embark on a five-year journey at Argentum Academy, perfecting your skills and knowledge to become the next generation of elite knights. The academy's rigorous program will push you to your limits, but the rewards are well worth it."
The crowd murmured, excitement and nervousness building among the applicants.
Argentum Academy - the name itself sounded noble and elite.
The officer continued, "The selection team will evaluate your combat skills, magical abilities, and strategic thinking. Only those who demonstrate exceptional talent and potential will be chosen to join the academy's ranks. You have six months to prepare ... make the most of it!"
As the village officer finished his announcement, whispers and murmurs began to circulate among the crowd.
Some applicants were discussing strategies and sharing tips, while others were forming alliances and making deals.
Others seemed nervous, glancing over their shoulders as if they feared being watched.
Soon, the applicants began to move forward, submitting their forms to the village office. Emrys also joined the line, his heart racing with anticipation.
Not all of the villagers could use magical abilities, only few were fortunate enough to purchase ability books.
Emrys wasn't one of the fortunate ability users and so he thought of relying on his combat skills.
Though the system had granted him some skills, he wasn't sure if he could use it in front of everyone.
He decided that he would study more about the system in the future.
As he waited, he listened to the conversations around him. The older applicants, those around fourteen and fifteen, spoke of the test with nervousness.
"I've heard it's a combat test," one applicant said. "You'll need to demonstrate your skills with a sword and shield."
"No, no, it's a magical test," another countered. "You'll need to show off your spellcasting abilities."
Emrys' anxiety grew. He had no idea what to expect, but he knew he needed to find a way to get stronger. He couldn't rely on luck alone to get him through the test.
As he submitted his form, Emrys made a silent vow to himself, he would find a way to improve his skills.