A good reputation was difficult to build and maintain, while a bad one was easy.
Those with good reputations, were constantly targetted by those wishing to besmirch their name, for their own gain or simply out of emotion.
Up until now, Alastor had a 'positive' reputation within the student body, despite Alicia's attempts.
Known as a genius in various fields, acknowledged as the strongest in his batch, not too bad of a personality.
While not absolutely sterling, Alastor was still considered a good person.
Of course, his name was given to the Grand Alliance as a notable talent after he joined the mercenary program, leading to them personally overseeing what missions were given to Alastor.
Alastor, though not confirming it, had predicted something of this sort would happen.
And now, he was experimenting with the Rune of Change while assessing his current situation.
As his face morphed into a puddle, churning into various features, he pondered,
'Amber Rose has begun to relax around me, no longer keeping her attention upon me. This is a negative development, since I require her attention to ward off the Weaver. Her passive aura may be enough, but I wish to leave no loose ends.'
'I should have Axel engage with her more frequently. She may even bring fortune by simply existing nearby.'
'During the upcoming midterms, I should prepare to master the Rune of Change enough to lock it to others.'
'What else am I missing?'
'During my time as a mercenary, I need to take more missions near the Kalwer area to acquire the Ebony Wood.'
'Then I simply need to train until the next year begins, with the 'protagonist' and his generation coming into the Academy. Until now, everything could be considered a prologue. Now, the real show begins.'
Countless mouths opened on his face as Alastor smiled maliciously.
'Ah, there's just too much fun waiting for me.'
.......................
Alastor saw the change in the students as the midterms approached.
He wasn't particularly bothered about it, but the others were scurrying about like headless chickens, either training madly or studying.
Alastor asked Karna during breakfast, "Are you perhaps worried about this examination?"
Karna shook his head.
'As expected.'
Alastor turned to Axel and said, "I have another mission for you, Axel."
Axel straightened his back, feeling like a proud officer as he responded, "Yes!"
Alastor told him directly, "I want you to get close to Amber Rose. Ensure her presence around us as naturally as possible."
Axel froze upon hearing that, his previous confidence deflating instantly.
"T-Talk to a girl?"
Axel instantly jumped to the wrong conclusion, 'Ah! Alastor must be secretly liking her, that's why he's using me as his wingman!'
'Truly, I shall not disappoint you, my lord!'
Axel made a determined face, before running off to find Amber immediately.
Alastor looked at Axel's distant back and had a vague feeling that a misunderstanding had occured.
'Well, I have to know what it is to exploit it.'
Alastor saw a familiar hulking figure appear in the cafeteria, looking even bigger than before.
As A sat next to him, Alastor felt a small vibration from the ground.
'Did he.....get stronger?'
A's smiling face answered him, "Hey Alastor! I did some training like my chief used to do! Now, we should spar again!"
To test a theory, Alastor removed his spear form his back and poked A lightly.
Clang!
'His defense improved. Greatly. He also must have practiced his mana manipulation to counter the little oscillation trick I came up with.'
"A. Did you get stronger?"
A nodded enthusiastically and replied, "Yes! It's thanks to our tribe's special Broth! All warriors of the tribe have to survive it at some time, and I went through it recently!"
Alastor thought to himself, 'Went through it? Survived? Just how bad is this thing?'
Alastor asked, "Just what is it?"
A said, "The broth is something that our tribe has passed down from ages, before mana was discovered and the gods and demons arrived, before magic and aura was founded. It is a Trial to our people, and an honour."
Alastor's curiosity was piqued.
A continued, "Whoever has this, must confront themselves within. The only way to win is to know yourself completely, and accept it all, as well as defeat your own self in the soulscape."
"In return, the Ancestral broth will strengthen your soul, and you will either leave with a profound understanding of yourself, or you won't leave at all, becoming a ghost that dwells within the broth to guide others to the Trial."
Alastor was getting quite interested in the broth, especially since this recipe existed since before the Era of mana, meaning it held a much more primal connection to the universe to work without any source of energy.
And since it also involved the soul, Alastor needed to get his hands on it, in order to better prepare for his plans next year.
Alastor was about to find a way to get A to tell him some more about this, when the musclebound giant said,
"If you wish, you can have it! After all, I still consider you the stronger one of us both, since we haven't sparred again."
Alastor was almost speechless at the simplicity being shown.
However, he decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and accepted the offer.
He did have to apply for a two week leave to go visit A's tribe, and he was cutting it close with the midterms approaching.
Alastor told Karna and Axel before he left, "Ensure nothing goes off track while I'm gone."
Karna nodded while Axel made a clumsy salute.
'When I return, I need to check Karna's attitutde towards the Gods. If he has a negative view of them, I might use him in some of the greater plans.'
And so, Alastor left for A's tribe, which was hidden away in the Kranak Snow Forests in the North.
.........................................
The journey was arduous, the final stretch requiring over a hundred miles of walking through Beast infested and cold, slippery terrain, but the two arrived on schedule.
A suddenly stopped and said, "Wait. Our tribe warriors must have seen us by now."
Just as he said that, five figures appeared from seemingly nowhere, having been perfectly disguised within the snowy forest.
The lead figure raised a spear towards us as the rest trained their arrows onto our heads.
The leader asked A in the language of the tribe, "Andhrimnir. Why have you returned so early, and with an unknown stranger no less?"
A replied in the same fashion, "He is af-brago, and he will be welcomed in my name."
Alastor, although having clue what they were saying, remained ready to attack the warriors.
The spear using warrior put his spear down, and the archers removed their arrows as well.
The spear user nodded at Alastor, and gestured to follow as he headed towards a specific direction.
Alastor and A followed them, and arrived at what seemed like a cliff.
Alastor watched in fascination as they jumped off, A included, and followed suit.
He felt as if he was on a slide, turning midair as he entered a cave on the cliff.
Within, they encountered an illusion barrier, and through that, a pair of gates so big, they seemed made for giants.
'An extremely well off tribe, it seems.'
They entered through a smaller side gate, and Alastor finally saw the inside of the place.
Unlike the darkness he had been expecting, it seemed like a whole new world.
A healthy hustle bustle was heard as the tribe did not seem to different from regular cities outside.
A roaring waterfall was being produced from the top of one side of the cavern, immediately being drained into a river.
A said proudly, "Welcome to my home!"