As Huskar listed the teams that would test the new equipment, Betham turned to Abel to discuss his assignment.
"So, Guide Investigator Abel... I know it's your first day, but as you can see, my team and I will be busy with tasks soon. I suggest we skip the formal introductions and get straight to business," Betham said.
"Yes, sir—uh, I mean, Mentor," Abel replied with a straight face.
"Haha, knock it off! We're not a military organization or anything. Being able to fight and survive is just a bonus. Once you get the hang of identifying anomalies, you'll become a full investigator. So just call me Betham," he said in a relaxed tone.
"Uh, okay, Investigator Betham. So, where do I start?" Abel asked.
"All right, here, take this book. It's not much, but you should be able to learn it within a week. Meet me again next week, and I'll teach you the ropes and what you need to do as a guide for clients," Betham explained, handing Abel a manual guidebook and his personal record.
Dismissed for the day, Abel headed to his office to begin studying the basics of anomaly investigation.
The Five Categories of Anomalies
1. Nature Anomaly
These anomalies occur in nature and are caused by nature. They are relatively harmless and can be identified using the procedure called Demanafication. This process involves counting the mana contained within the anomaly and analyzing its type. Nature anomalies often result from misaligned energy in the environment and can include phenomena like:
Ball lightningStray balls of fireWater gushes forming pillar-like shapes from calm bodies of water
The Demanafication process naturalizes the energy currents or surges within the anomaly, gradually restoring balance and causing it to disappear.
2. Mana Anomaly
Rare but significant, mana anomalies occur when stray mana interacts with natural elements like wind or water. The Merk Continent is particularly prone to these anomalies due to its high mana saturation. For example:
In the Karvish'yal Plain, a freezing body of water was discovered in 40°C heat. This anomaly contained a massive mana surge, posing risks to plants, animals, and people.
Experiments suggest that it would take the mana of 4 million people to freeze just 1,000 ml of water in such conditions, meaning a source equal to the mana of 12 trillion people is needed for anomalies of continental scale. The origin of these surges remains unknown, but further research is ongoing.
3. Mutation Anomaly
One of the most harmful types, mutation anomalies affect living beings—plants, animals, humans, and even microorganisms. This anomaly leads to the development of unique physical traits or abilities, often linked to certain elements. Examples include:
An elf child in Sicilian City was born with scorching flames emanating from their arms. The flames didn't harm the child internally but killed the mother during childbirth. External flames, however, could harm the child as they would any other person.
This anomaly is believed to be used by cultists to create creatures such as False Evolved Ones and Evolved Ones. Research into cultist-induced mutations is limited, conducted only by the Forgiven Shield Paladin's Order.
4. Astrological Anomaly
Among the most dangerous anomalies, astrological anomalies are tied to celestial events and leave lingering side effects even after they disappear. These anomalies occur in two phases: Pre-Anomaly and Post-Anomaly.
A famous example is the Death Light of Anderson in 2730. For a week, the skies above Anderson Castle and City turned pitch black. Then, an intense light illuminated the area, growing increasingly concentrated until it began burning everything it touched, like a death ray from the sky. The event lasted two hours, killing over 20,000 people and destroying satellites caught in its path.
5. Magic Anomaly
Considered the least dangerous and most personal type of anomaly, magic anomalies occur when spells exhibit unintended properties. For example:
File Whiteford, a champion of Whiteford, could imbue metal with "frost flame" despite only using a flame enchantment.The mercenary Boggart Blackblade naturally imbued his wind magic with chilling properties.
The cause of these anomalies is unknown, though some researchers theorize they are a form of mutation anomaly. These effects can manifest in nature or individuals and are best dealt with by addressing their core properties. For instance, neutralizing File's flame enchantment would also eliminate its frost effect.
Magic anomalies often restrict users from casting "normal" versions of spells. For example, any fireball conjured by File Whiteford will always result in a frost-flame ball, regardless of the method used.
Abel studied the material carefully, eager to absorb the knowledge and prepare for his new role as a guide investigator. The complexity of anomalies intrigued him, but he also realized the significant challenges they posed.
After spending some time studying, Abel stumbled upon Betham's records regarding anomalies in the Fonta Aria territory. While none of the anomalies were particularly notable, Abel meticulously reviewed each entry, determined to absorb as much knowledge as possible.
A week passed, and Abel, now a fully-fledged Guide Investigator, made his way to the Investigator Guild building one early morning.
At the entrance, he noticed Betham engaged in a pleasant conversation with a man. Curious, Abel approached his mentor. Betham, spotting him from a distance, gestured towards him.
"Ah, there he is—the new kid I'm training," Betham said to the man.
When the man turned around to look at Abel, his expression shifted to one of mild surprise.
"Well, that's a familiar face, to be honest," said the man.
"Yeah, the world really is small, isn't it? Either way, the kid's young, energetic, and reckless enough to make a good investigator," Betham replied with a chuckle.
"Haha, I guess old habits never change. Anyway, I'll be on my way. See you later, Bethy," the man said, teasing Betham.
"Heh, same old jokes. Take care, and say hello to your family for me," Betham replied as they parted ways.
Abel, now within earshot, slowed his approach.
"Mr. Betham—I mean, Investigator Betham—am I late?" he asked nervously.
"I told you, just call me Betham. I'm not that old yet! I haven't even married—still looking for a cute lady to be my wife," Betham joked, grinning.
Abel giggled. "Uh, sorry, Betham. But really, am I late?"
Betham checked his watch. "Let's see... 7:10. Nope, technically not late. But investigators should wake up earlier, you know. We usually head out alongside the scouts to check the roads for our clients."
"Understood. I'll wake up earlier next time," Abel promised.
"Good. Office work officially starts at 7:30, but it doesn't hurt to wake up early and get some daily exercise to stay fit," Betham advised.
Not long after, a silver-haired man approached them.
"Ah, there he is—my client," Betham said.
"Your client? I thought I was here for training?" Abel looked confused.
"Well... technically, the best way to teach is through hands-on experience. So, Abel, you're coming with me on this quest. It's a three-day investigation, and the reward is decent since it's a request from Fonta Aria's Military Defense," Betham explained.
"Wait… isn't this too dangerous for someone as inexperienced as me?" Abel asked, concerned.
"Theoretically, yes. But relax—you have me. Besides, judging by your character, if you were given a dangerous task right now, would you actually turn it down?"
Abel hesitated before answering with a confident smile. "Well... safety-wise, I'd probably decline. But if there's adventure involved, I'd have a hard time saying no!"
Betham grinned. "There it is. See? Being an investigator comes naturally to you."
Just then, the silver-haired man greeted them. "Yo, Bethy!"
"For the thousandth time, can you all stop mocking me?" Betham groaned.
"Hahaha, old habits die hard," the man said with a laugh.
Turning to Abel, Betham introduced the newcomer. "Abel, this is Razeluxe, Vice-Captain of Fonta Aria's 4th Division Knights."
Razeluxe smirked. "So, you want to rival me and train your own protégés, huh?"
"Wouldn't dare. Anyway, this is Abel. He's our newest recruit and a guide investigator. During his training, I'll be taking him along on missions. Don't worry about charges—this one's fully handled by the guild," Betham replied.
Razeluxe turned to Abel, his expression sharp but friendly. "Well, Abel, you'll definitely learn a thing or two from this old man about survival and anomalies. But tell me—how do you handle yourself in the face of danger?"
Abel straightened up. "Uh... I'm confident enough in my skills and instincts."
"Good answer," Razeluxe said, tossing an apple towards Abel. With quick reflexes, Abel caught it with ease.
"Nice catch. Tell you what, Abel—have you ever considered joining Fonta Aria's military?" Razeluxe asked.
Betham groaned. "Dude… he just joined us. Are you seriously trying to poach him already?"
"Ah, come on! Talent like his shouldn't go unnoticed. After all, finding someone with the makings of a knight is rare in this country," Razeluxe replied with a grin.
"Well... I've thought about it, sir, but to be honest, I dream of being an explorer—traveling to new places and discovering the unknown," Abel admitted.
Razeluxe nodded in understanding. "I see. You know what, Abel? How about I test your ability for a moment?"
"Pardon, sir?" Abel asked, confused. Betham looked equally uncertain. "Raze, I don't think that's a good idea," he said, frowning.
Razeluxe shrugged it off casually. "Relax, Betham. Just one exchange. Abel attacks, and I dodge, then I'll attack, and he'll dodge. Simple as that." He then uncovered a pair of dull wooden swords and handed one to Abel.
Abel hesitated for a moment but saw no harm in a friendly test. He accepted the wooden sword and gave a small nod.
"Alright, here I go, sir," Abel said, gripping the sword firmly.
Razeluxe smirked. "Don't hold back."
Summoning his strength, Abel swung the wooden sword with all his might in a swift slash. However, Razeluxe effortlessly sidestepped the attack.
"Dodge this," Razeluxe murmured softly, almost as if issuing a challenge.
With blinding speed, he swung his wooden sword. Abel narrowly managed to evade, though the attack grazed some strands of his hair.
"Alright, that's enough. I admit, you've got talent. If you ever change your mind, come by Fonta Aria Knight Recruitment Division," Razeluxe said, giving a small nod of approval.
"Okay, sir. Wow, that was a thrilling experience. For a moment, I thought you were going to kill me," Abel said, laughing nervously.
"Haha! Old habits, I guess," Razeluxe replied with a chuckle.
As Abel returned the wooden sword, Betham instructed him to gather the necessary equipment from the guild while he stayed behind to chat with Razeluxe. Abel nodded and went inside, heading straight for the equipment officer.
Outside, Betham turned to Razeluxe, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I'm nervous about taking a junior on this mission, but I admit the kid's got potential," he said.
Razeluxe smirked. "Exactly why I gave him a quick test. Did you notice how he caught the apple earlier? His eyes never wavered. His instincts were sharp, and when I swung at him just now, he dodged it. That's raw talent. He'll be alright."
Betham sighed deeply. "Fuh... seriously, Raze, he's just a new recruit. I know you held back, but don't forget how strong you are. Even with a wooden sword, if that swing had connected, there's a good chance it could've killed him."
Razeluxe shrugged. "If he couldn't handle a simple exchange like that, I'd recommend you not bring him on this mission. But trust me—he's got what it takes."
Betham shook his head but couldn't suppress a small grin. "You always did have a dramatic way of making a point."
Moments later, Abel returned, his arms laden with the equipment he'd gathered from the guild. He looked around, noticing Razeluxe was gone.