Elba and Ignis materialized within the teleportation chamber of Ironhold. As the magic settled, the enormous interior of the room came into view—a stunning sight that momentarily distracted Elba from his worries. Marble floors shone like polished glass beneath the gleaming chandeliers, while intricate carvings adorned the golden walls, depicting dragons, knights, and grand battles. The air was filled with a sense of wealth and power, fitting for the massive and prosperous Ironhold Empire.
Elba, supporting Ignis as she held her stomach in pain, looked around cautiously. "Are you alright?" he asked with concern.
Ignis grunted but nodded. "I'm fine for now... but we need to hurry. There's a hospital nearby. We need to treat these wounds before they worsen."
Elba could sense the tension in her voice but followed her lead, glancing at the lavish surroundings. People walked past them, adventurers and wealthy nobles alike, some giving him side glances—looks filled with envy, shock, and even suspicion. He felt uneasy.
Noticing his discomfort, Ignis muttered, "Ignore them. Those are adventurers—hunters of monsters and bounties. You'll need an adventurer's license if you want to enroll in the academy."
Elba nodded silently, but inside, his thoughts churned. As they hurried to the hospital, the realization dawned on him—the people were glancing at him because he was with Ignis, who was obviously someone important. The same respect she commanded at the teleportation chamber and now from these people... who exactly was she?
They entered the hospital, a tall, immaculate building with walls of white stone and large, open windows. They were quickly ushered to a private room, where Ignis's wounds were treated first. Elba couldn't help but pace nervously, his mind still spinning with unanswered questions. As his own minor injuries were tended to, the door suddenly burst open, and a man, dressed in an expensive-looking suit, came barging in.
"My lady!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with both anger and concern. "Are you okay?"
Ignis sighed, clearly annoyed. "Yes, Lark, I'm fine," she replied dismissively.
Lark, however, then turned his gaze on Elba, his expression shifting to one of disdain. "And who might this be?" he asked, his voice cold, as if sizing up someone beneath him.
Before Elba could respond, Ignis stepped in, her voice sharp. "Lark, watch your tone. This is Elba, my junior and an acquaintance. Show him the respect he deserves."
Lark bowed slightly in apology, but the look in his eyes didn't change. Elba, however, was piecing it all together—the respect she commanded, the way people looked at her. Ignis was no ordinary person. In a society ruled by a king, with no formal government, there had to be classes among people. And Ignis, judging by Lark's behavior and the reactions of others, belonged to the upper class, perhaps a noble family.
He sighed softly, realizing that all those glances back at the teleportation chamber, and even here, had been because he was holding her up. He'd been completely oblivious.
"Come, Elba," Ignis said, standing up after their wounds were treated. "We need to get your adventurer's license before heading to the academy."
Still processing his thoughts, Elba nodded and followed her out of the hospital and into the bustling streets of Ironhold. The city was vibrant, filled with towering buildings of iron and stone, reflecting the Empire's vast wealth and power. They soon reached the Adventurer's Guild—a large, imposing structure of steel and glass, filled with people.
Inside, adventurers bustled around, trading items they'd collected from hunts, discussing bounties they had completed, and haggling over rewards. The air was thick with the scent of leather and metal, and Elba was struck by the seriousness of the atmosphere.
At the reception counter, a girl with bright, eager eyes greeted them. "You're here for the adventurer's license test?" she asked.
Ignis nodded, her expression serious. "Yes, this is Elba Starhaven. He's here to take the exam."
The girl glanced at Elba, noticing his mana level. "Your mana power is still a little lacking," she said gently. "But I think you should try consuming this first." She handed Elba a small, shining crystal. "It's a concentrated silgis. It should help break the barrier between your soul and body, allowing your dragon core to awaken."
Elba hesitated but took the crystal, knowing this was crucial. With a deep breath, he swallowed the silgis. Immediately, he felt a surge of energy, like a storm swirling inside him. His dragon core had been unleashed.
He gasped as the mana flooded his body, filling every inch of him. He could feel the energy crackling beneath his skin, surging toward his core. He glanced at Ignis, who smiled proudly.
"Well done," she said. "You've awakened your core. Now you'll be able to use magic, but you'll need to train hard to master it. As for your dragon speech—your unique ability—you'll need a proper trigger to awaken it."
Elba nodded, still feeling the rush of power inside him. "I understand."
"Good," she replied. "Now for the final test—elemental sensitivity. Place your hand on the crystal. It will determine which elements you are most attuned to. You might have one, two, or even three. But only two people in the entire empire can wield all elements."
Elba placed his hand on the crystal, his heart pounding. The crystal began to glow... brighter... and brighter. Gasps erupted from those watching as the crystal turned every possible color.
Elba's jaw dropped as Ignis grinned from ear to ear. "Elba," she said, her voice filled with pride, "you are an all-elemental mage."
The crowd murmured in awe, shocked by the result. Ignis stepped closer, her eyes gleaming. "Well done, Elba. Here's your adventurer's card. You're an A-rank like me now. You'll progress your rank over time, but this... this is just the beginning of your journey."
Elba looked down at the card in his hand, feeling the weight of the responsibility now placed on his shoulders.
He stared at the horizon, knowing that his life had now changed forever.
"This," he thought, "is only the beginning. What lies ahead, I don't know. But whatever it is, I will face it."
The fire inside him had just been ignited.
End of Chapter 9.