《Clover: A Seeker's Story》


 [Seeker] Chapter 1

    -Departure-


    ¡°Quick now, Don...We don¡¯t have much time left...Vernon will soon be free... ¡° Bastille muttered in between pained gasps. Bruises and lacerations scoured his body with the most distressing wound being the large puncture in his chest. These grievous injuries oozed like broken faucets, spilling onto the floor, and forming a thick pool of blood.


    ¡°Hurry, leave Vanden with my son¡­Take Clover far away from here¡­¡± He gasped as he glanced at the collapsed boy at his feet.


    ¡°Bastille! I can kill him here! I can end this feud with a single strike!¡± Don screeched as he glared over at their enemy, Vernon Trax, who was paralyzed from the archaic glyphs that meandered and floated all over his body. Vernon, who was once an Adlan, had been deformed and twisted. Two demonic horns adorned his head while his body was covered in black scales. Even his rear sported a thin tail that was similar to a whip.


    ¡°Haha...Yes, Don...Come over to your disciple. End my life like you promised you would!¡± Vernon wildly laughed as he outstretched his neck. ¡°Here! I present my neck to you! It will only take a single slice from your spear to end the bad blood between us!¡±


    Don stood still. He knew he was being provoked. It was clear that Vernon hid some ulterior motive behind his words. But that did not stop Don from inching his way toward the man. Their decade-long feud had to end!


    ¡°No Don! Stop and honor my dying request! Please take Clover from this place and never return!¡± Bastille shouted in desperation.


    His words stopped Don in his tracks. His fist gripped his deadly spear, causing it to turn a ghostly white. His face was contorted with a myriad of emotions, but after what seemed like an hour of deliberation, he turned back and walked over to Bastille. He paused for a moment and looked into Bastille¡¯s eyes, before picking up the unconscious boy at his feet, and swinging him over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Bastille sighed in relief before frowning. ¡°Maria was right...Clover should never have become a Seeker. This lifestyle...is...not what he should have pursued¡­.We should have sent him to Saintos, along with Violet. At least then...this would never have happened¡­¡±


    Don stared at his disciple blankly. He was not one for honeyed words, nor was he one for sentiment. But as he looked over at the beaten and destroyed body of the man he considered his son, he couldn¡¯t help but become overtaken by a sudden wave of emotions. Anger, grief, dismay, love, and terror all filled his heart until it threatened to explode. But his face did not show any of this. It continued to carry the same blank expression he had worn since his youth.


    ¡°Here...Take these with you...Take it to Saintos...Make sure to deliver it to Sinclair¡­¡± Bastille moaned as he pulled out two objects from his pocket. The first was a small golden badge with the image of a book and a quill. The other was a small red stone that was hot to the touch.¡°Please, no matter what...Do not seek revenge...Make sure Clover is safe¡­¡±


    ¡°Argh!¡± Vernon bellowed in rage. Dozens of glyphs that bound his body shattered, making it that much easier for him to free himself! ¡°Damn you Bastille! I will allow you and your son to live as long as you give me Mordou¡¯s Blood! I will even bring Maria back to you!¡±


    ¡°Never...As long as I can still breathe...I will make sure that they will ever elude you¡­¡± Bastille wheezed before entering a coughing fit.¡°The glyphs will soon break! Go now, Don!¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Very well¡­¡± Don muttered as he looked at both of his disciples for the last time. With heavy feet and an even heavier heart, he departed from the basement of the evacuated Seeker¡¯s Guild, and onto the devastated streets of Vanden.


    Enormous fires leaped from building to building, erasing away the grandeur of centuries-long prosperity. Demons roamed the streets, killing and torturing any unfortunate souls that were unable to flee from the invasion. And although Don could help those who were in trouble, he chose not too. Instead, he continued forward with a blank expression. The cries of anguish and despair were not new to him. And they did not bother him whatsoever.


    But the words that Bastille had said to him did. They plagued his thoughts and disturbed his heart. He wanted to carry out his dying request. But at the same time, Don wanted vengeance!


    <hr>


    ¡°Where am I?¡± Clover muttered as he rose from his bed of hay. He felt as if he was moving and he could hear the sound of waves and the cries of seagulls along with the scent of the ocean. ¡°A ship?! Why am I on a ship?!¡± He gasped as he jumped, only to fall down to his feet as waves of pain resounded throughout his body.


    ¡°No! That does not matter! What happened to everyone?!¡± He shouted as memories raced through his mind at light-speed. Vanden, fire, demons, the portal, Karim, Don, the demonic man, and Bastille! All these thoughts entered his mind at once, nearly causing him to vomit!


    ¡°Dad!¡± Clover cried out. The last thing he had seen was the image of his invincible father, beaten and maimed to a degree that was unimaginable in his mind. With weak feet, he hobbled out of the small room he had slept in. He had difficulties at first due to the bobbing of the ship, but he soon found his stride and managed to shuffle out the door.


    He was right, he was onboard a ship. Various members of the crew strutted along the deck without a care in the world. One of them, in particular, walked over to Clover and spoke to him.


    ¡°Don is at the rear of the ship, he said to bring you to him as soon as you woke.¡±


    ¡°Okay, but where am I?! What happened to Vanden?!¡±


    ¡°That is something that Don must tell you¡­¡± He said with a pained expression. The sailor took Clover to the rear of the ship. It was nearly empty, with the only soul being a stern old man with a domineering aura.


    ¡°Don! What happened to Vanden?! What happened to Bastille and Maria?! Did any of the Seekers escape?! Where are we?!¡± A jumble of questions spilled from Clover¡¯s mouth like a waterfall, spilling onto the floor and threatening to flood the ship. ¡°Where is my mom?! The Trio?! Savon and Ciri?! Heather?! Kate?! Sven?! Edwar-?!¡±


    ¡°Dead!¡± Don bellowed, before calming down. ¡°They are all dead, Clover¡­I¡¯m sorry...But we could not save any of them¡­¡±


    ¡°What...Dead?¡± His eyes drooped to the ground and filled with tears as the devastating news spread throughout his body and into his heart. ¡°No...That can be possible¡­¡±


    ¡°It is. And I¡¯ll be damned if I¡¯ll let them get away with it! You hear me, Clover?! Are you going to sit there and cry? Or are you going to stand up and kill those who destroyed your everything?!¡±


    Clover could not hear a single word Don said as he was still wracked with the sudden devastating information. Large tears fell onto the wooden floor before it became a deluge that blanketed his face. His face reddened and a large lump that threatened to suffocate him entered his throat.


    ¡°Clover!¡± Don yelled as he picked up the boy and shook him from his stupor. ¡°My boy! Do not let this moment drive you to despair! Use it as a catalyst for revenge!¡±


    ¡°But...They are all gone...What can I do without them?¡± Clover said in between painful sobs. ¡°How can I continue knowing that everything is gone?¡±


    ¡°It is not all gone! Use the memories of the ones you loved as fuel for vengeance! You know who did this to you! You know who caused all of your pain and misery! You must repay them a hundred-fold!¡±


    ¡°How¡­?¡±


    ¡°Follow me to Ma¡¯ir, the capital of the Rylos Kingdom!I have someone who will help us! After that, we will begin our crusade against them! No matter what, do not forget that horrible feeling in your heart! As long as you carry that with you, nothing will impede your retribution!¡± Don declared before leaving the boy alone.


    ¡°He¡¯s right¡­¡± Clover mumbled with a tear-soaked face. ¡°It''s their fault...No...Not theirs...HIS!¡±

 [Seeker] Chapter 2

    -Two Years Ago-


    ¡°Clover, wake up!¡± A loud yell accompanied by the thumping of the bedroom door jolted the slumbering boy from his rest.


    ¡°Gah...It¡¯s too early...Just five more minutes, mom¡­¡±


    ¡°Get up! You have people waiting for you!¡± Maria yelled once more while banging on the door three more times before retreating.


    ¡°Fine¡­¡± Clover moaned before slowly rising from his warm and inviting bed. It took multiple attempts to escape its wondrous allure, but he eventually succeeded. With heavy feet, Clover entered his bathroom and began his daily ritual.


    ¡°Hehe...Not too bad!¡± Clover smiled as he looked into the mirror. A handsome tan half-elf grinned back. His dark gray hair was a bit long as it gently brushed against his forehead. His bright hazel eyes were a tad groggy but there were also flecks of excitement sprinkled throughout them. His body was not too muscular, but he did not look weak either as Clover would occasionally exercise in the Guild training grounds.


    After Clover finished brushing his teeth he detached himself from the mirror he walked over to a wall covered in many black lines. Ever since he was three years old, he had made it his mission to measure his height every day! After all, young boys like to compete with one another. And height was one way they displayed their superiority over one another!


    ¡°Damn, no change from yesterday¡­¡± Clover grumbled. ¡°Oh well, just because today is my birthday it doesn¡¯t mean I will all of a sudden hit a growth spurt!¡± His body had been changing rapidly, and although he was not tall, he was definitely not short!


    Clover shook his head and prepared the bath with warm water. After he tested it to his liking, he jumped in. ¡°I wonder what I¡¯ll get today!¡± His eyes sparkled with excitement as he looked forward to his gifts. ¡°Last year was a pretty good haul. But today is my fourteenth birthday! I¡¯m practically an adult now! Maybe I¡¯ll get something more mature!¡±


    After Clover finished daydreaming he jumped out of the bath and dried himself off before putting on clothes that his mother had purposefully bought for this day. They were new and stylish, which was granted since they were made in the Armelia Kingdom which was renowned for their textiles.


    He checked himself out in the mirror a couple more times and made sure he did not have his hair sticking up awkwardly or a booger hanging out. Once he made sure he looked presentable, Clover left his room and down the stairs that led to the Guildhall.


    ¡°Happy birthday!¡± A loud chorus erupted with jubilation the moment he showed himself. The crowd began to sing to him as well, which caused his face to become as bright as a cherry!


    Argh! Even though this happens every year why is still embarrassing?! Clover shouted in his mind as his face reddened and contorted into an awkward smile.


    ¡°Clover! Open my gift first!¡±


    ¡°No! Open mine!¡±


    The two individuals that spoke were Sven Gard and Kate Fay. Sven was a handsome elf as well as Clover¡¯s best friend. He was a playboy and musician that would travel the two continents with his band and play in cities around the world! Sven had long red hair and beautiful amethyst eyes that coerced women to his side. His ears and sunkissed skin were clear indicators of his Elven lineage.


    Kate Fay, on the other hand, was an Azir. This was quite evident from her cat-like ears and bushy brunette tail. Kate was like the big sister Clover never had. She was a receptionist of the guild that would help Seekers with their missions by giving them advice and what not. And although she was young, she had a vast knowledge of the wildlife and monsters that many Seekers would encounter on their excursions. Her guidance had saved the lives of hundreds of Seekers, causing many to feel indebted to her. Because of this, many had proposed to her, but she had refused all of them!


    ¡°Back off!¡± Sven grunted as he glared at the feisty Azir lass.


    ¡°No, you back off!¡± She shot back, her eyes filled with obvious malice.


    ¡°Bitch¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t quite hear you...Sven. Could you repeat yourself?¡± Kate snarled. Her eyes glared daggers into the Elf while an aura of violence surrounded her.


    ¡°Nothing¡­¡± He mumbled before looking away.


    ¡°Ha! That''s what I thought!¡± She snarled before turning back to Clover and pushing her gift into his hands. Her anger coated face quickly disappeared and was replaced with her usual kind and charming demeanor.


    ¡°Alright you two, you¡¯re going to smother him.¡± A deep voice boomed from behind as two large purple hands gripped their collars, and dragged them away. Their eyes were filled with surprise as they flail their arms, struggling to release themselves from the powerful grasp.


    That man was Edward Stone. He was tall and bald whose skin was a deep maroon. His sapphire eyes were wise and intelligent, devoid of any white. He had long ears, longer than an elf¡¯s, and their lobes stretched past his chest. Edward hailed from the Ga¡¯Jong Mountains, and he himself was a Ga¡¯jong. Edward was deeply respected and he held the prestigious office of Treasurer of the Guild.


    Since the Guild was a large organization it needed someone to properly oversee any financial aspects. Be it taxes, purchasing materials, selling goods brought in from missions, and various other transactions. Edward would see to it that everything would be recorded and handled properly.


    ¡°Haha! Thank you for that, Edward!¡± Said another deep voice. It belonged to Bastille Rumare, a large Adlan man with a powerful and domineering frame. Bastille had a certain aura that exuded leadership and power. This was all due to his countless years as a Seeker! He was tall, with dark brown skin. His eyes were a light hazel and they contained a vast knowledge of the world. This deeply respected man was the Guildmaster, as well as Clover¡¯s father.


    ¡°Clover, come here,¡± Bastille said as he beckoned his son.


    As he arrived in front of his father, a large bear-like hand clamped down on his shoulder.


    ¡°Clover, my boy, you¡¯re are at an important crossroad in your life. You are still young, but you are old enough to make your own decisions. I know that you will follow the footsteps of your old man and become a Seeker as well!¡± Hope and pride sparkled in Bastille¡¯s eyes as he said this.


    ¡°Dad...Seriously? Here and now of all places?¡± Clover groaned. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you that I wanted to become a musician and join Sven¡¯s band¡­¡±


    ¡°I-I know¡­¡± The large Adlan man sighed as a look of grief entered his eyes; only for it to disappear a moment later. ¡°Nevertheless! It''s only your fourteenth birthday! You have plenty of time to make your decision!¡±


    Sighing in relief, Clover opened the present in his hand. It was a small rectangular box and it was adorned with a small red bow and wrapping paper that had tiny cats dotted on it. He tore apart the carefully wrapped gift and opened it, exposing the treasure inside.


    It was a necklace, made from steel. It was quite unremarkable without any extravagant features. And he could easily see it being sold for a couple silver coins at the city market. However, it did have one noticeable feature. Adorned on the end of the necklace was a small violet crystal. The front of the crystal had a small silver inscription that read, ¡®CR¡¯ and on the back was another inscription, ¡®O¡¯. The ¡®CR¡¯ were his initials. But he did not know what the ¡®O¡¯ stood for.


    ¡°Thanks a lot, Kate!¡± Clover grinned as he put the necklace on.


    ¡°Hehe...No problem!¡± She beamed back.


    ¡°But what does the ¡®O¡¯ on the back stand for?¡± He asked.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°I can answer that,¡± Edward spoke up. ¡°That crystal is an Arcana Crystal mined from the Omalfi families mines. They are famous for the purity of their crystals, and they mark every individual crystal they mine with their seal.¡± Edward furrowed his brow as he glared at Kate. ¡°Due to the purity and pedigree of these crystals, they tend to be very expensive...I wonder, Kate. How could you afford such an extravagant gift when you owe the guild over one hundred gold?¡±


    ¡°Uhh¡­I¡¯m sorry!¡± Kate stammered. ¡°It was for Clover¡¯s birthday! I had to get him something nice!¡±


    ¡°Birthday or not...If your debt becomes any higher, I will have to start deducting it from your pay¡­¡±


    Kate became pale with fright as she stared at the ground. ¡°Okay¡­.¡±


    Because Kate tended to make many unwise purchases, she soon became up to her eyeballs in debt. Once Edward found out about this he paid off all her debts and made her swear that she could only borrow money from the guild. At least that way she would not become the target of any unsavory loan sharks.


    ¡°My turn! Here you go, Clover!¡± Sven said as he handed his friend a small envelope. It was plain and simple, the kind you would see in an office. Upon opening the envelope, Clover pulled out a certificate that had extravagant crimson writing scrawled on it.


    Your Instrument Is Ready!


    ¡°Sven!¡± Clover looked at his friend with excitement in his eyes. ¡°Is this what I think it is?!¡±


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Sven giggled as his lips curled in satisfaction. ¡°Yep! We just need to pick it up later today! Then I¡¯ll show you the ropes!¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Clover yelled as he ran up to Sven and gave him a hug, which he accepted without protest.


    ¡°No problem.¡± Sven grinned from ear to ear as he turned to face Kate. A smug look danced across his face as if to say, I won.


    ¡°Idiotic bastard¡­¡± She snarled. However, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that she had lost something, which made her feel even worse.


    After the two loudest celebrators had given their gifts, the rest showered Clover with theirs.


    Next up was Bastille. As if out of nowhere, Bastille appeared with a large box. Upon opening the box, Clover¡¯s eyes slammed open with shock. Inside was a two-foot-long replica of an airship. To be more precise, it was a replica of the famous Omalfi airship. ¡®The Serenissima¡¯.


    Clover ran over to the nearest window and peered outside. Around a mile away from the city walls, ¡®The Serenissima¡¯ could be seen!


    ¡®The Serenissima¡¯ was like a chunk of gold, silver, and steel that hovered effortlessly in the air. Its immense presence caused any who gazed upon it to feel smaller than an ant! One could only imagine the cost of creating and running a ship of that size. But one thing''s for sure, the Omalfi¡¯s wealth was vast. And operating ¡®The Serenissima¡¯ was merely a small pittance on their reserves.


    He did not know why the Omalfi flagship had come to Vanden, but it was also not his right to know. Clover shook his head and turned back to his father and thanked him for his gift.


    Edward was next. He handed him a simple yet practical gift of five gold coins. This was more than enough for any fourteen-year-old to live off of for an entire year. After his thanks, he proceeded to his last gift. It was from his mother, Maria.


    As Clover extended his hand to receive the gift, Maria launched herself into his arms and forced him into a powerful embrace!


    ¡°Ack! Mom, you''re crushing me!¡± Clover gasped and wheezed as he struggled to speak. But from his shoulder, he could hear quiet sniffles. Maria raised her head to reveal tears welling from her beautiful verdant eyes. A smile blossomed onto her cherry red lips. And as if a divine act occurred, a ray of light came through the window, illuminating her golden hair and porcelain skin, causing them to sparkle and dance!


    Everyone in the guild couldn¡¯t help but stare at this angle. Even Kate slightly blushed from amazement while Sven walked over to Bastille and placed a hand on his shoulder and whistled a note of amazement.


    ¡°Clover¡­¡± Maria whispered.


    ¡°Y-yes?!¡± He squawked as his lungs struggled to find air.


    ¡°Ever since Bastille found you all those years ago, and brought you to the Guild. I always thought of myself as your mother¡­¡± She whispered, her voice cracking slightly. ¡°I-I know...T-that I am not your real mother...But I still love you like one.¡±


    ¡°Mom...Of course, I think of you as my real mother...Now can you stop? You do this every year!¡± Clover grumbled as his face became ever more crimson.


    ¡°Clover!¡± Maria wailed as a torrent of tears poured down her face as she gripped him tighter. Although she was no longer a Seeker, she still possessed her unusually powerful strength.


    ¡°Mom...You...Are...Breaking me¡­¡±


    Once she realized that she was hurting her son, Maria released her embrace and handed him his gift.


    As he shook off the pain and embarrassment, Clover tore open his gift. A look of disappointment flashed on his face briefly as he looked inside.


    ¡°Wow, mom. Clothes...Just like I wanted¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t help but keep some of the disappointment out of his voice. But just like any good mother, Maria either ignored it or didn¡¯t notice as a flash of pride shone across her face.


    Standing up Clover faced all those present and thanked them one last time for their gifts. As he looked around, he couldn''t help but notice three people were missing.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the Trio?¡± He asked. The Trio he spoke of were Maya, Michael, and Zen. Those three had a reputation of being troublemakers. Whenever they were not on missions, they would be partying or goofing off. Of course, Maya was there to keep the other two in check. But she was just a mischievous after a drink or two!


    ¡°I told them they wouldn¡¯t be back on time!¡± She sighed. As the head secretary of the Guild. It was her duty to know who took which missions and where they went.


    ¡°Last night they took a mission, stating that they would be back before morning. Of course, I told them that they wouldn¡¯t be back in time. But did they listen? Of course not!¡± She sighed once more. Ever since the Trio had become Seekers, they have constantly become a source of grief in her life.


    ¡°Clover!¡± Sven called out to him. ¡°Let''s go pick up your instrument!¡±


    ¡°Hold on one second! There¡¯s one last gift!¡± A loud raspy voice resounded throughout the hall. The voice came from Don; an aging Seeker with a beard of white stubble and shoulder-length ashen hair as well as a pair of stern steel eyes that could pierce through someone like swords. His tall frame was still powerful despite his age. He was still handsome in his twilight years as his dignified wrinkles only added to his good looks.


    Clover was terrified by Don. In fact, everyone besides Bastille and Maria was. He stood as still as a statue as Don strutted over to him. Sven had long disappeared from his side, only to appear a couple of meters away.


    ¡°Y-yes, Don?¡± Clover whispered as Don¡¯s fierce eyes pierced his soul.


    ¡°I said I have a gift for you,¡± Don grunted and placed a simple metal wristguard in Clover¡¯s hands, which he inspected closely.


    ¡°Don...We already talked about this.¡± Bastille spoke up as he materialized beside Don. ¡°He doesn¡¯t need or want that.¡±


    ¡°Ah quit fussing. The boy needs to snap out of it. An embarrassing dream of becoming a fruity bard...It¡¯s disgraceful!¡± Don huffed before turning back to Clover. ¡°You know what this is! It''s a Devyse! Pour your Arcana into it!¡±


    Terrified, Clover did as he was told and poured a small amount of Arcana into his Devyse. The very instant it was injected with Arcana, a long spear materialized into his hands! The haft of the spear was made out of black wood. It was strong while also being flexible. The blade was made out of cold and sharp steel that exuded a violent and deadly aura. Below the blade was a long orange ribbon.


    ¡°Don...Clover said that he did not want to become a Seeker.¡± Maria growled as she glared at the aging man.


    ¡°Oh quit babying the boy! It''s that very attitude that has allowed him to follow that pathetic dream of becoming a musician in the first place! Like that pansy Elf over there!¡± Don sneered as he glared at Sven before continuing his curses. ¡°Musicians should stay in their colleges, while Seekers should stay in their Guilds! Just like those damn Elves should stay on their side of the mountains! And leave us Adlans alone!¡±


    ¡°Don!¡± Bastille exploded in fury! His loud roar frightening everyone in the guild. ¡°Apologize to Sven right now!¡±


    Sven became as pale as a ghost before running back to Clover¡¯s side. The scared Elf grabbed his sleeve and pulled him towards the Guild entrance.


    ¡°Let''s go!¡± He whispered into Clover¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Don yelled as an uncomfortable expression formed on his face. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to give him this spear to change his mind. No matter how stupid his dream is. I gave it so he could at least have some protection wherever he goes...You two can understand that, right?¡±


    Bastille sighed. He knew it was fruitless to make Don apologize. In fact, it may make matters worse! The old man was too stubborn and stuck in his ways.


    ¡°That''s fine...In fact, we had planned on doing the same. Except we were waiting for him to become older¡­¡± He muttered. ¡°Clover, come here. I¡¯ll teach you how to return the spear into the Devyse.¡±


    These Devyse (Pronounced: De-Veese) were a product of the Saintos Magocracy. Using some unknown method, powerful mages were able to bind weapons into the wristguards, or any object, and allow them to bring them out whenever they were injected with Arcana! Of course, these were mainly used with polearms and the like since it was much faster to draw a sword from ones sheathe.


    But just like anything that was useful. They came with a couple of drawbacks. The first was that they were expensive! The more expensive a Devyse was, the higher quality it was. The spatial dimension within a Devyse would degrade over time. Because of this, Seekers would pay thousands of gold coins for the best quality Devyse. After all, no one wanted their weapon to disappear in the midst of battle!


    Another drawback was that Devyse could only store a single object! Because of this, they were primarily used to contain weapons. But it was not unheard of for them to store other objects!


    Lastly, they could not store living beings!


    After Bastille taught Clover how to return his spear into the Devyse, Clover and Sven dashed out of the guild.


    Sighing, Bastille held the Devyse in his hands. ¡°Don, I¡¯ll hold onto this and give it to him when I think he needs it...Alright?¡±


    ¡°Fine¡­¡± Don coldly muttered.

 [Seeker] Chapter 3

    -Ian Ios-


    ¡°Don is an asshole...What he said doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Clover began. ¡°He just said all that to scare me into becoming a Seeker!¡± Unfortunately, everyone in the Guild knew the real reason why Don spat those words.


    ¡°Haha¡­¡± Sven weakly laughed with dimmed eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Clover. We all know how Don feels towards Elves...Besides! I¡¯m a tough guy! I can handle whatever that old fart throws at me!¡± He perked up as his words instilled confidence in himself. ¡°There is no way he¡¯s going to bring my spirit down! Especially not on your birthday!¡±


    Clover smiled at his enthusiastic friend. No matter how much one would attempt to put him down, Sven would always cheer back up!


    ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve always been meaning to ask. Why does Don not hate you? You are a half-elf after all!¡± Sven said as he pulled on Clover¡¯s pointed ears.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I have thought about it myself on multiple occasions as well! I just assumed that my father told Don to always be on his best behavior around me!¡±


    ¡°That sounds about right. After all, nobody, not even Don, can afford to be on Bastille¡¯s bad side!¡±


    Although it was still early in the morning many pedestrians and carriages crowded the streets as they headed to various destinations. The road that Clover and Sven were on was perhaps the most crowded in the city, as large numbers of wagons and carriages headed to the heart of the city, the marketplace!


    Vanden was the largest Adlan trading center this side of the Ga¡¯jong mountains. The cities strategic position on the Golden Sea allowed ships to unload their exotic cargo. Merchants would then sell these inaccessible products to the landlocked kingdoms to the north. Because the enormous Ga¡¯jong mountains blocked trade from the Aleesian continent, those kingdoms had no choice but to trade with the city. This obviously created large amounts of revenue to the city and the kingdom as a whole.


    Because Clover had lived in Vanden for his entire life he could easily pass through the cramped streets. He was like a fish in water as he meandered to and fro through the large crowds.


    ¡°Man, it''s as busy as ever...Isn¡¯t it¡­¡± Sven grumbled. However, he quickly perked up again as he saw a pair of cute Adlan women walk by. ¡°Hey, Clover! Do you want to learn the next part of my pick up tactics?¡± The Elf said with a devious smile.


    ¡°What? Now? No way!¡± Clover smirked. ¡°Besides, I doubt those moves work anyways!¡±


    ¡°Are you doubting my foolproof strategies?! You should know by now that I can pick up any women I meet! No matter who it is!¡± Sven smiled. ¡°I won¡¯t force you into it...But I can assure you that one day you will meet a girl who you want to pursue. But because you only have learned the first three tactics you will fail miserably, and she will escape your grasp!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it¡­.¡±


    ¡°Clover!¡± An enchantingly beautiful voice akin to silver bells fluttered towards the duo, attracting their attention.


    The owner of the voice was a cute young lady. She was dressed in the simple white robes of the Adlan Church. She had wavy brunette hair and her clear white face was accented with a light dusting of freckles and a pair of blue eyes. She was in a jovial mood which was clearly indicated by the wide smile that she sported.


    H-hello...Heather¡­¡± Clover stuttered. After all, this was Heather Lee, the woman he has loved for the past ten years! ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± He asked while avoiding eye contact all the while trying his hardest to remain as cool and nonchalant as possible.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you looking at me?¡± Heather smirked with a teasing voice. She was well aware of his childish crush. But alas! Due to the rules of the Church, she could never marry! Therefore, Clover¡¯s one-sided crush would always remain unfulfilled!


    ¡°Ah!¡± She gasped. ¡°Clover! Are you not looking at me...Because you think I¡¯m ugly?¡± She whispered while covering her face with both hands.


    ¡°I never said that!¡± Clover yelled. ¡°I would never say that! You are the most beautiful girl in all of the Kingdom!¡± As soon as he spit those words out, his face immediately reddened. ¡°Wait! I didn¡¯t mean it like that!¡±


    Heather burst out into laughter as she saw the young half-elf¡¯s face become contorted in dismay. Warm tears of joy fell from the corners of her eyes as she struggled to take control of herself. It was while she was struggling that she felt her hand become enveloped in another''s.


    ¡°Missus Lee...May I have the honor of taking you out tonight?¡± Sven purred as he took a knee. His fingers gently caressed Heather¡¯s hands before he attempted to place a kiss on it.


    Before his lips could make contact with her skin, a sturdy foot slammed into his face, kicking him back several feet! Sven landed gracelessly into a nearby fruit stand, causing the owner to explode in rage!


    ¡°Aye! What are you going to do about mah fruit?!¡± The owner yelled as he ran out from behind his stand and picked up the fallen fruit that was strewn on the sidewalk.


    ¡°We¡¯re sorry, Sir!¡± Heather apologized as she reached into her robes and pulled out a purse. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for the damages!¡±


    ¡°You bet your tuckus you will!¡± The stall owner said before he paused as he looked at the girl in front of him. ¡°Wait a moment! You are Misuses Lee! The famous healer!¡± He bellowed out in surprise. ¡°No! Forget about the money! I will not have you pay for any of the damages!¡±


    ¡°No! I must! It''s the least I could do! These two boys are fighting because of me!¡± Heather exclaimed.


    But the owner was not having any of it. ¡°Young miss! If I accept your money I will face the wrath of Saint Adlan and the Goddesses!¡± He said with a tint of fear in his voice. ¡°Besides! When my daughter was sick, your church provided the medicine free of charge! Consider this me paying back my debts!¡± He yelled out one last time, ignoring any more words of protest.


    ¡°V-very well¡­¡± She muttered before she bowed her head and thanked the man. Turning back to the duo, she began to rebuke them.


    ¡°Clover! You shouldn''t hurt anyone! No matter how big of an idiot they are!¡± Heather declared. ¡°And you of all people should know that I hate using my status in a way that causes others to treat me differently!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Clover mumbled as he gazed at the pretty woman. Heather grimly stared at him for a few seconds before curling her lips into a smile.


    ¡°Clover! Why would you do that?!¡± Sven shouted aloud as he held his nose. A faint trickle of blood dripped from each nostril.


    ¡°Tch¡­¡± Clover clicked his tongue as if to say, ¡°Yea, you deserved that.¡±


    ¡°Clover! What did I just say?!¡± Heather said as she pinched his cheeks. ¡°Ah! I can¡¯t stay angry at you!¡± His face blushed a deep scarlet as Heather¡¯s face was only a few inches away from his own..She ignored his embarrassment, however, and turned to face Sven.


    ¡°Come here, Sven.¡± She said as she beckoned him over with a finger.


    Haiphandos!


    A warm ray of light washed over Sven¡¯s body as he scrambled over to Heather. A look of relief entered his face as Heather¡¯s magic took effect. In less time then it took to take a single breath, the stream of blood that trickled from Sven¡¯s nose stopped flowing. Pulling out a handkerchief, Sven wiped away the rest.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°Thank you, my angel.¡± Sven hummed as he flashed a pair of provocative eyes her way.


    ¡°Of course! It''s my duty to heal and protect all of Lady Heaphin¡¯s creations.¡± Heather said while ignoring Sven¡¯s inappropriate actions.


    ¡°So you can woo any girl...Huh?¡± Clover shot a mischievous smirk towards his friend.


    ¡°Shut up!¡±


    ¡°Haha! You two are always goofing around, huh?¡± Heather smiled. ¡°Well, I¡¯m heading towards the Cathedral. And I am in need of two strapping bodyguards. Would you two care to escort me there?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± The duo replied simultaneously as they each took positions beside her.


    ¡°Heather, you have the rarest of all magic! The church really should protect you better!¡± Clover growled. ¡°They know what shady people do to light magic users in other parts of the world!¡±


    Heather merely smiled at this. ¡°I appreciate your concern, Clover. But I have never felt safer inside the city¡¯s walls! Besides, I can always rely on you to protect me. Right?¡±


    ¡°Of course you can!¡± Clover shouted.


    ¡°Good! It feels nice to know that I have such a dedicated bodyguard!¡± She replied before pulling a small packet from her pocket.


    ¡°By the way, Happy birthday!¡± Heather smiled while placing him in a warm embrace. ¡°This is for you. I made it myself this morning!¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Clover said as he took a large bite of the warm, icing covered bread. The flaky golden outer pastry tasted faintly of honey while the inside was filled with a rich and creamy center that coated his mouth.


    ¡°This is delicious!¡± He mumbled with a mouth filled with delicious sticky bread.


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m glad you like it!¡±


    The three of them walked and talked for a couple minutes before they reached their destination. The Cathedral was a masterpiece to behold. It was a monument in itself as it appeared to be completely carved from marble. Its large frame was adorned with dozens of sculptures of angels, Spirits, and the holy Seraphim! But the centerpiece of the structure was the large statue in the front that depicted the twin Goddesses, Heaphin and Herengle, as they stood over the kneeling Saint Adlan.


    The walls held large, glass stained-windows that depicted important events within the holy scriptures. And a single large spire jutted out from the top of the Cathedral which was topped with the insignia of the church, a sun with a hollowed out circle in the middle.


    Shortly after they arrived at the Cathedral, Clover and Sven bid their farewells and the two of them headed towards their destination.


    <hr>


    ¡°Here we are!¡± Sven exclaimed as they stood before an elaborately designed store called, ¡®Ian¡¯s Ingenious Instruments¡¯. The store itself was located on the outer rim of the bustling marketplace, proving its pedigree as only well-established stores had the right to own property this close to the city center.


    ¡°Let''s go inside already...:¡± Clover mumbled. ¡°You know how much I hate being near the Gateway¡­¡± He looked over to the city center where a large black Gateway stood. Ever since he had first stepped foot near it, Clover always felt a bad feeling in his stomach whenever he was close by.


    ¡°Jeez...I will never know why you are scared of the thing!¡± Sven muttered before they walked inside.


    After stepping into the store, Clover opened his mouth in amazement. The store floor, which was much bigger inside, was covered by a variety of different instruments. Elaborately decorated woodwinds, like flutes and clarinets, lined the shelves, while heavier and just as decorated brass instruments dotted the store floor. There were many exotic instruments that Clover had never seen or heard of. Such as a large glass tube that had many holes in it, yet no mouthpiece. He couldn''t even begin to comprehend what kind of noise would come from such a peculiar monstrosity. And to top off the aesthetics of the store was a grand piano made from a perfectly clear crystal in the center; allowing the strings and inner workings to be seen. On top of the piano was a sign that said.


    Do Not Touch...Or Else


    ¡°Ah! Sven!¡± Squeaked a voice from behind them, causing the two of them to jump in surprise while panic glittered in their eyes as they stared at the perpetrator.


    It was a very short man, around four and a half feet. His head was sparsely covered in bald spots, with the rest being covered in three different colors. Some of his hair was graying, while another side was completely white, and the rest was a youthful black that seemed to be fighting time itself. The dwarf was wearing a multicolored suit that was offensive to the eyes, and his long and pointy shoes were like swords that threatened to stab their shins. His face was adorned with large orange glasses.


    ¡°Hello, Ian¡­¡± Sven muttered. Before they walked into the store; Sven had informed Clover how quirky and strange Ian Ios was. And although the little man was an absolute genius in everything related to music, he lacked in memory and sanity. Sven had even attempted to study music under him for a week before deciding to abandon him. This was due to the fact that Ian would constantly forget that Sven was his pupil and that he would get furious whenever Sven tried to prove that he was his student. Not to mention that Ian would scream at random moments before running into the backroom, and lock himself inside for several hours at a time.


    However, Ian Ios had the best instruments around, so Sven could only grit his teeth and politely greet him.


    ¡°So how is my fantastic failure of a pupil doing? I have been quite well without you!¡± Ian huffed as he walked around them to get behind the counter and jumped onto a stool so he could view them at eye level.


    ¡°What!¡± Sven shouted. ¡°If you knew I was your pupil all that time, then why did you give me such a hard time!¡± Fury crisscrossed his handsome face, as a large vein wriggled across his forehead.


    ¡°Tut-Tut! I was merely testing your dedication! And you failed with flying colors!¡± Ian cackled.


    At this instant Clover believed in all of Sven¡¯s warnings, placing them into his heart.


    ¡°You bastard!¡± Screamed Sven as he turned beet red and nearly launched himself over the counter before Clover stopped him.


    ¡°Sven! My instrument¡­¡± Clover muttered nervously while glancing at Ian. This glance brought Ian¡¯s attention over to Clover for the first time, as his bizarre eyes scanned him from top to bottom.


    ¡°What is this?! What is this?!¡± Ian exclaimed as he peered over the counter, nearly bashing his forehead with Clovers. ¡°Hmmm...You couldn''t possibly be Clover, could you?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, I am Clover¡­¡± Clover stuttered, unable to keep some nervousness out of his voice. He also couldn¡¯t help but glance everywhere around the room, besides Ian.


    ¡°You are the Clover that wants an instrument?! Haha! How laughable! A casual glance at you is all I need to understand that you have no business putting my instruments anywhere near one of your putrid orifices!¡± Ian screeched like a monkey while pulling away from Clover''s face while swiveling around his stool to stare at the wall behind him.


    Clover continued to stare at the little man¡¯s arrogant back, his eyes and mouth wide in astonishment. How childish could a grown man be!


    ¡°You can¡¯t possibly tell that just by looking at me!¡± Clover fired angrily at Ian. His face starting to resemble like that of his companion¡¯s.


    ¡°Oh! But I can! For I! Am a master musician!¡± Ian bellowed, producing a loud noise that should not be possible from such a small body while he struck an odd pose.


    Clover gnashed his teeth in fury as he stared at the obtuse little man in front of him. Sven was faring no better, as his face was still beet red from Ian''s previous antagonisms.


    ¡°No, you will not be a musician,¡± Ian said, glancing back at Clover. ¡°I sense something else¡­¡± Ian quizzically said as he turned his head, pondering what he just said. ¡°Humph. No matter! Perhaps my instrument will help guide you to your true path!¡± He cackled once more, as excitement filled his beady little eyes


    Sven, now forcefully calming himself down, spoke up. ¡°Look, you said his instrument would be done today.¡± He ground his teeth as he forced the words out as a large blue worm-like vein continued to bulge out of his forehead.


    ¡°Yes.Yes.Yes.Yes.Yes.Yes...Of course, it''s done! How dare you question my schedules!¡± Ian roared before he strutted into the backroom. In less than a single breath, he reappeared, with a small package in his hand. Ian unraveled the protective cloth that covered it. Inside laid a pristine looking flute that looked as if it was made out of silver with light green decorations that spiraled all over it.


    ¡°Harrumph¡± Ian coughed before putting his hand over his heart. ¡°This is my newest instrument! It is made out Linzinian steel, and adorned with Gelic glass! As you can see, the quality of the Gelic glass is phenomenal! Of course, I would have used real silver instead of this ¡®fool¡¯s silver¡¯...But someone was a cheapskate!¡± Ian emphasized the word cheapskate as he looked at Sven before handing the flute to Clover.


    ¡°Here, why don¡¯t you try it out?¡± Ian suggested while carefully passing it over to Clover.


    ¡°Alright,¡± He said while pressing the flute to his mouth. Covering one of the holes with a finger, he let out a strong breath.


    Pweeh!


    A sharp piercing noise echoed throughout the store, forcing Sven and Ian to cover their ears at the offending noise.


    ¡°Haha¡­Well, you learn how to play eventually¡± Sven laughed. ¡°It took me a couple of months before I could confidently play a tune at the Guild!¡±


    ¡°Ugh,¡± Ian groaned. ¡°Just as I thought! No talent whatsoever! Now then, I have important customers waiting in line, so you two must leave¡­Now!¡±


    The duo looked around the empty store in confusion before Ian began to push them out the store, not giving them any time to protest!

 [Seeker] Chapter 4

    -The Trio-


    ¡°Well, he¡¯s something else!¡± Clover exclaimed as the two of them left the store. After being pushed out, the pair walked back along the street towards the Guild, often stopping to look at the merchandise displayed by the myriad of stores.


    As Clover and Sven walked along the crowded streets, they arrived in front of a three-story high tavern known as, Premier Parlor.


    This tavern was an incredibly popular location as it would be full at all times of the day. And rightly so! This location was one of the few businesses that stocked and sold the immensely popular alcoholic drink, Azure Wine! Azure Wine was the most demanded export that came out of the Azir homeland of Azura.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go have some drinks, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re craving some more Azure Wine!¡± Sven slyly said as he glanced at Clover.


    ¡°Okay, but not too much this time! Last time we drank together I ended up throwing up in the Guildhall!¡± Clover mumbled as he recalled his hangover from the next morning. But the worst came after his sickness where his mother, Maria, smacked him into oblivion!


    ¡°Haha! That''s not my fault! I told you to drink only a little bit! You were the one who chugged five mugs of the stuff! You¡¯re still a kid, you can¡¯t become an alcoholic this early in life!¡±


    Clover only shot him a glare before the duo proceeded to enter the tavern; only to be stopped by a burly Azir man.


    ¡°Premier Parlor is filled to capacity.¡± The brawny Azir huffed.


    ¡°What are you talking about? I see empty seats from here!¡± Sven complained as looked inside. What he said was true. There were a few empty seats scattered here and there. Even from where Sven and Clover stood, they could see that the balcony of the second floor was relatively empty. It was hardly noon; not many people would have begun drinking!


    ¡°No. It''s packed¡­Unless¡­¡±


    ¡°Unless what?¡±


    ¡°Unless you hand me a couple of silver coins my way¡­¡± The Azir swiftly glanced around as he said this.


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Sven yelled. His face began to adopt a slight shade of red.


    ¡°Sven lets just go back to the Guild, they sell Azure Wine there as well.¡± Clover calmly stated as he turned away and began to walk in another direction.


    ¡°No way! I want some Azure Wine now!¡± Sven grumbled. After a second, a light of deviousness entered his eyes. ¡°Clover, I know you don¡¯t like it when I do this, but I really want some Azure Wine¡­¡±


    ¡°Sven, don¡¯t do what I think you are about to do...¡± Clover warned his Elven friend but was unable to stop his capricious friend


    ¡°Mr. Azir, do you have any idea who this young lad¡¯s father is?¡± Sven started, as a cold gleam entered his eye.


    ¡°No, and I wouldn¡¯t give a horse¡¯s shit if I did know. Now move your scrawny asses out of here before I throw you two into the harbor!¡± The Azir snapped as he flexed his enormous muscles.


    ¡°Oh! But you will give a damn! This young lad¡¯s father is Bastille Rumare!¡± Sven bellowed, loud enough for other pedestrians to turn their heads in their direction.


    ¡°Sven¡­¡± Clover whispered as he began to blush a bright crimson. ¡°I told you not to¡­¡±


    ¡°Bastille...Rumare?¡± The Azir slowly whispered, his face becoming as white as a sheet of paper before he turned towards Clover. ¡°Young sir! I must apologize, if I had known that you were related to the highly esteemed Guildmaster I would have never of wronged you!¡± The Azir squealed while falling to his knees and prostrating before Clover.


    ¡°Please! I¡¯ll do anything for you! As long as you do not report me to your father!¡± Now, a large crowd had surrounded them. Many of which had their mouths agape as they saw the embarrassing sight of a grown man groveling before the young teen.


    ¡°Umm...You can start by getting up. Please.¡± Clover squeaked while glancing around at the enlarging crowd.


    ¡°Of course! I''m sorry! It is my fault that the young master had to witness such an embarrassing scene!¡± The large Azir man stood back up and profusely apologized. ¡°That''s right! You wanted to enter the tavern! I¡¯ll take you to the best seats in the house! Free of charge of course!¡±


    ¡°Perfect!¡± Sven cooly smiled.


    ¡°No, you don''t have to take us there¡­¡± Clover said as he glared at this friend.


    ¡°No, no, no! I insist! As a matter of fact, I¡¯ll gladly pay for your drinks and food! I wouldn¡¯t want the young master to have an unpleasant stay at this fine establishment!¡±


    Realizing that nothing Clover would say would stop the apologetic Azir, he reluctantly agreed to be treated with the V.I.P treatment, and followed the Azir into the tavern and upstairs towards the best seats in the tavern


    <hr>


    ¡°Clover...I''m sorry.¡± Sven apologized as he glanced at his friend. ¡°You know I had to do that in order to get inside!¡±


    ¡°No, you didn¡¯t have to. We could have gone somewhere else!¡± Clover snapped. ¡°I told you that I would never forgive you the next time you used my dad¡¯s name to enter a bar!¡± His eyes were filled with a rare hint of anger as he glared at his weasel-like friend.


    The two of them had been taken up to the nearly empty third-floor balcony of the tavern. The others that occupied this prestigious spot were rich merchants and nobles. As the two teens bickered, these figures would sneak cold glances in their direction as they wondered how and why the managers of this establishment would let such ruffians in.


    ¡°Clover, don¡¯t be like this!¡± Sven said. ¡°At least look at me!¡±


    ¡°Here are your drinks!¡± A beautiful Azir girl beamed as she dropped off their drinks. She was dressed in a cerulean dress that was symbolic to Premier Parlor. The outfit was very suggestive; as it accentuated her many curves.


    ¡°Clover, how many times do I have to say I¡¯m sorr-. Oh, hello beautiful¡­¡± Sven grinned as he noticed the young barmaid. ¡°I almost didn¡¯t notice you there. My name is Sven Gard, a famous minstrel that is renowned in both the Centaius and Aleesian continents!¡±


    The Azir girl slightly blushed as Sven fluttered his long eyelashes at her while caressing her hand.


    ¡°You know, I¡¯m staying at the Seekers Guild for the rest of the week. Why don¡¯t you stop by at the end of your shift? We can have a romantic date at the Rosa Amore which overlooks the bay. You know the second most beautiful sight in the world is watching the waves of the bay turn gold while we eat the freshest lobster and listen to the most romantic sonnets and ballads played by the most famous violinists and cellists around...¡±


    ¡°Of course, the first most beautiful sight in the world is you¡­¡± Sven gallantly finished as he provocatively flashed his eyes towards the lovely Azir girl.


    She could only blush a deep red as she heard this, but before she could open her mouth, Clover stood up.


    ¡°See! You didn¡¯t mean a single word of your apology! If you actually cared you wouldn¡¯t have begun flirting with this random bimbo!¡± Clover yelled out before running down the stairs and out the tavern.


    ¡°Clover!¡± Sven yelled, before turning back towards the Azir girl. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you at the Seekers Guild tonight!¡± He said before chasing after his friend. Sven ran down a few steps before he glanced back at the girl.


    ¡°By the way, he didn¡¯t mean it! You¡¯re not actually a bimbo!¡± He yelled once more before his head disappeared.


    The young Azir girl could only stare at the stairs, her mouth agape, as the rich merchants and nobles that were interrupted by the loud commotion angrily glared at her, placing her at fault.


    ¡°Clover¡­¡± Sven started as he caught up with his friend.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even start¡­¡± Clover snarled before his friend had a chance to explain himself. ¡°You know I don¡¯t throw Bastille¡¯s name around like some spoiled noble for a good reason!¡±


    Bastille Rumare was a highly esteemed individual, not only in the Seekers Guild. But in the entirety of the Kingdom of Vanden. After he ascended to the mantle of Guildmaster, Bastille had begun a relentless campaign of purging corrupt officials within the Guild and throughout the city.


    His authority did not solely come from his position within the Guild but from the King of Vanden! Before Bastille became the Guildmaster, he had helped the young prince, Emeric Kasper Vanden, to overthrow his father from the throne. The then King, King Kasper, was a cruel and hated individual that received the ire from his subjects. Under his rule, many nobles and officials were left free to do whatever they pleased. This included high taxes, murder, rape, and slavery!


    As the crown prince, Emeric could not stand idly by and watch the Kingdom fall into ruin! Therefore he had enlisted the help of Bastille, who was already known as a powerful Seeker, and together they cleansed the nation and returned it to its former glory!


    Of course, they did have some outside help. And Clover did not know the full story of what happened. All he really knew is that his father is highly revered within the Kingdom and because of that, Clover was practically a prince that was free to do as he liked!


    ¡°You know that I don¡¯t mean to tarnish Bastille¡¯s name...And I know that you don¡¯t like hanging onto his coattails.But I really wanted some Azure Wine¡­¡± Although he sounded sarcastic, Clover could tell that his friend was being sincere.


    ¡°Fine! But the next time you do it I¡¯ll make sure you get kicked out of Vanden! Forever!¡±


    ¡°Of course! I would only expect that!¡± Sven exclaimed in joy as his friend forgave him.


    The duo arrived back at the Guild a little after noon. The ever-increasing crowds warmed the surroundings; while the sun¡¯s powerful rays beat down on them. By the time they entered the Guild, many beads of sweat covered their faces and drenched their shirts.


    ¡°Ugh, summer is too hot!¡± Sven complained as the two of them sat down at one of the large tables within the Guildhall. Now that it was noon; the Guild Hall would become crowded, with many people entering and exiting the Guild. The Majority were Seekers that were either returning from missions or accepting new ones and preparing to head out once again.


    As Clover sat down, he looked around at the many faces that were inside the grand hall. The vast majority of them were Adlans, while the second most populous being Azir with Elves followed closely behind. There was also a rare Kortanji who was going over some paperwork as he dug into a meal.


    The Kortanji was a strange looking race. Their skin tone only ranged from the whitest of whites to the blackest of blacks, with shades of gray in between. Their ears were longer than that of an elf, and they were just as tall. But the most striking features of this race was the additional eye that laid on their forehead as well as the two horns that jutted from their scalps.


    The Kortanji Seeker in front of Clover would look bizarre to anyone who has never laid eyes on one, but to Clover, this was a common sight. The Seeker in front of him was fairly tall and powerfully built like most Seekers. His dark gray skin resembled more like a tough hide than the soft flesh of an Adlan. His head was adorned with two horns that resembled that of a ram¡¯s, his hair looking more like fur rather than hair. He wore a simple blue gambeson, with a silver compass medal pinned on the front.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Sven continued to groan beside him. He was still sweating from the afternoon heat. His face was red, almost sunburnt.


    ¡°If you¡¯re so hot, then have some of this!¡± A new voice appeared while a large cold mug of ale was placed in front of Sven, while a glass of juice appeared in front of Clover. The owner of the voice was Carla Colina. As a barmaid, she would assist Seekers as well as serve food and drinks. Many Seekers would look for any chance to talk to her, as she was a real beauty.


    Carla was a caramel skinned girl with a sun-kissed face. Her long black hair reached past her pierced ears and gently draped her neck and shoulders. Her dark brown eyes were like warm pools of chocolate, capable of enticing any man or women. She wore the unique dark-blue and white barmaid attire of the Guild which accentuated her curvy body perfectly. However, what attracted most men and women was her well-developed chest.


    Sven could only watch in envy, his mouth agape, as Carla hugged Clover very tightly, her large chest pressing up against his body, as she whispered. "Happy Birthday." In his ears.


    Clover¡¯s face looked as if it would blow up. Like a tomato being hit by a fireball.


    Sven¡¯s eyes were crimson as if they would start to cry blood at any moment. If this was not bad enough, she then proceeded to press her exquisite lips against Clover¡¯s blushing cheeks, giving him a harmless and quick peck!


    Sven nearly fainted at the sight of this. Now he could only view Clover as a traitor in his eyes, and he was already forming a suitable punishment in his mind.


    Clover could only slowly sit down and take a sip of his cold juice before he could speak. ¡°T-thank you...Carla¡± He squeaked, barely audible. His embarrassment was as clear as day, which Carla found very cute.


    ¡°That¡¯s your birthday gift.¡± She said as she charmingly stuck out her red tongue. ¡°Oh and this is from Morty.¡± She said while placing two plates on the table.


    One plate was filled with an abundance of food. Golden scrambled eggs, crisp and succulent bacon and three large pancakes with maple syrup covered it. While the other plate had a large brioche pastry, covered in glazed strawberries and a large dollop of clotted cream. This delectable pastry made Clover¡¯s mouth water with excitement. Remembering that he only had the pastry Heather gave him this morning, he began to dig in with fervor as he silently thanked Morty.


    Morty was the head chef of the Guild. He was a large black man with short cropped black hair and dark brown eyes. His muscled arms were covered in scars, and they always seemed to be holding a large cleaver. While Morty may look like a scary ex-Seeker, he was actually quite nice. He was very quiet and would never speak unless spoken to.


    Clover held a favorable impression of him, as he could remember one night of restlessness and hunger. He had entered the kitchen alone to search for a quick bite. While he had been scrounging around in the dark, a large hand had lifted him from the ground and Morty''s face peered into his eyes. After noticing the food Clover was holding, he had then proceeded to make him a delicious sandwich, all of this without a single word being spoken.


    As Clover ate, he couldn''t help but notice that his companion was silently sipping his ale beside him, simultaneously shooting him a glare that could kill. However, Clover proceeded to ignore his friend''s jealousy and kept on eating the immense meal in front of him. He was a growing boy after all; he needed all the nutrients he could get to grow up big and strong!


    Halfway through his meal, Bastille walked past him in very extravagant clothing. He wore a dark blue robe trimmed with intricate white designs. The colors were the very same as that of the Seekers Guild¡¯s flag. Over it, he wore a large black cloak with a white compass embroidered. Pinned to his chest was a blue medal in the shape of the compass.


    ¡°Where¡¯re you going, Dad?¡± Clover asked as Bastille passed him, curious as to why he was wearing such formal attire.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°Ah, Clover you¡¯re back. As you should know, today is Princess Violet''s birthday. Although I''d rather not go, I cannot refuse the King''s invitation...¡± Bastille smiled as he rubbed Clovers head, and walked towards the entrance.


    "Okay, have a good time!" Clover had only met Princess Violet and the King once before. Bastille had taken him to a small event when he was eight years old, and although he was young he could vividly recall the splendor of the White Palace.


    Before Bastille could leave, a Trio in their early twenties arrived and opened the doors wide. Bastille casually greeted them as he left.


    After seeing Bastille off, the Trio turned their heads to survey the room. Eventually, the blonde youth in the middle noticed Clover, and the three of them made their way over.


    ¡°Clover, my man, what''s going on?¡± The youth casually said with a confident and cheerful smile covering his handsome face.


    ¡°Jeez, did you already forget that it was his birthday today? We reminded you so many times¡­¡± This time it was the dark-skinned girl on his left that sighed as she said this, a look of annoyance shrouding her charming face.


    ¡°Maria told you that we would miss the surprise.¡± Turning to face Clover, she slightly bowed her head. ¡°Sorry Clover, this bird-brain here made us come along with him.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sorry about that¡­¡± The blonde youth looked crestfallen as he looked down at his shoes, as a tinge of red sneaked on to his cheeks.


    ¡°Oh well, that doesn¡¯t matter! We''re here now!¡± Proclaimed the third and last youth, a nonchalant expression lingering on his face.


    As Clover received their apologies, he couldn''t help but look at these three figures in an excited manner. He had always looked up to these three as future heroes that would be regaled across the lands, very much like the ones told in his stories and sung about in various inns and bars throughout the lands!


    Of course, this was nothing but a childish expectation on the Trio. If anything, they were merely upstarts, only a couple of years into their adventuring, they were like swords that have yet to be sharpened! But it was simple to see why Clover thought this. The young Trio were all Gold ranked Seekers, an amazing feat considering they were only in their early twenties!


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it!¡± He said, and with a hopeful glimmer in his eyes, he continued. ¡°Did you get me anything?¡± The birdbrained blonde, flashed a look of pain as Clover muttered these words, reluctant to start.


    The blonde youth was Michael, and he was the leader of the Trio. He was a fairly tall blonde man, only twenty years old. His hair was short on the sides and fashionably long on the top. This helped to accentuate his chiseled face that attracted the many young female Seekers that would follow him around the guild. His sky blue eyes were like pools of water that contained a look of fierce confidence; his shoulders were broad and muscled, as too were his arms. He wore what appeared to be a simple blue jacket that was commonly used by Seekers that emphasised agility over defense. Underneath it was a metal chestguard.


    On Michael¡¯s waist was a deadly looking sword, with a dignified red pommel stone. Clover could only imagine the number of enemies that had been cut down by it.


    And although Michael appeared to be the ideal Seeker, his lack of common sense completely destroyed this would be masterpiece.


    ¡°Idiot, we told you multiple times that we should have got him a gift before we came back! But no! You wanted a quick bite to eat and said ¡®He won''t be there!¡¯ But of course, you happened to forget that Clover lives in the Guild!¡± The dark skinned girl retorted, a look of displeasure adorning her pretty face.


    This was Maya. She was a very charming black woman. Just like Michael, she was in her early twenties. She had dark eyes that were adorned with cool and stylish glasses, which only helped enhance the intelligence that radiated from them while also exhuming an air of righteousness that put many to ease when peered into. Her long, sleek, and luxurious black hair decorated her head magnificently as they were tied up in a ponytail. She wore a comfortable looking white robe that had a tasteful purple trim. And she wore metal bracelets on her wrist that held clear orbs filled with a purple gas.


    Although she appeared dignified and professional, Clover could remember a particular night a couple of years ago where she drank a small amount of alcohol. Once the drink reached her stomach, all of her professionalism went out the window. Maya had become loud and abrasive. And according to Carla, very ¡®hands-on¡¯. Of course, everyone who was there that night had made a pact to keep it a secret as to not destroy her image. Even the usually brash, Michael didn¡¯t dare bring it up.


    ¡°Haha! It doesn¡¯t matter! We can always buy him something the next time we go out!¡± The last member of the Trio started, his goofy expression still remaining on his face. This was the last member of the Trio, as well as the youngest.


    Zen was twenty years old, his birthday only a month before Clover''s birthday. As far as he could remember, Zen always carried that same carefree expression everywhere he went. In fact, he had hardly ever seen Zen angry or sad!


    Zen was wearing an identical jacket that Michael wore, except that it was a dark shade of green. His skin had been kissed tan by the sun¡¯s rays. In his arms was a well-used bow, and the quiver on his back completed his look. Each deadly arrow inside was complemented with a black feather. His hair was jet black and kept long enough to pass his ears. His dark eyes complimented his hair and they carried the same reckless freedom as his smile. Although Zen was not a pretty boy like Michael, he was certainly not ugly.


    ¡°You should be ashamed of forgetting Clover¡¯s birthday, Michael.¡± Sven snarled from beside him. ¡°Honestly, you should just leave the guild. If you can¡¯t even remember something as simple as a birthday how could you ever become a true Seeker?¡±


    If it wasn¡¯t obvious, Sven clearly hated Michael. While he doesn¡¯t like to admit it, Michael is damn good with a blade and his bravery in battle was envied by many. But that¡¯s where his admiration ends!


    Sven hated the fact that all the young and beautiful Seekers would flock to Michael as soon as he entered the Guildhall. As an Elf, he prided himself on his natural beauty. But when compared to Michael, even he was lacking!


    ¡°Oh quit joking around Sven!¡± Michael laughed as he walked over to him and swung an arm over Sven¡¯s shoulders and around his neck. ¡°You¡¯re always teasing me!¡± Either Michael was ignoring his taunts, or he simply couldn¡¯t distinguish them as such.


    Maya could only place her hand on her face, gazing at the pair as they continued their one-sided battle.


    ¡°Oh! I know what we can do for Clover!¡± Zen exclaimed. ¡°How about we take him on a mission? There is nothing more exciting than your first adventure!¡±


    Clovers pointed ears pricked at the mention of adventure.


    ¡°I can think of one thing¡­¡± Sven muttered as he peered at a passing female Seeker with his dirty eyes, only to look away as Maya glared at him with a glare full of disgust and malice.


    ¡°That¡¯s a great idea!¡± Michael chimed in. ¡°My first adventure was simple, but the most freeing feeling in the world!¡±


    Hearing this only made Clover even more excited! Although he didn¡¯t care about becoming a Seeker, this could still provide him with experience into the world heroes! Perhaps he may find some musical inspiration while he was out in the wilds? Either way, he was dead set on going.


    ¡°That is a terrible idea¡­¡± Maya began while looking at the three of them as if they were as dumb as rocks. ¡°First of all, it is way too dangerous for a fourteen-year-old to go out on an adventure! Secondly, Maria will never let him go!¡± She sighed. ¡°Besides even if Clover gets hurt, Bastille and Maria will kill us!¡±


    ¡°Quit being such a downer Maya!¡± Michael popped up, ¡°With the three of us, Clover would be the most well-protected boy in the entire Kingdom!¡± ¡°Besides we can always grab a White ranked mission that will only last until the night!¡±


    ¡°Come on Maya! Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to be the one who is going to ruin Clover¡¯s birthday?!¡± Zen mischievously said while putting on a teasing face.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Maya mumbled still not convinced that this was a good idea. Although she prided herself on being the smart and responsible one among the Trio, she couldn¡¯t help but feel excited at the prospect of taking Clover on his first ever expedition.


    ¡°Please, Maya! This would be the best gift ever!¡± Clover¡¯s eyes shined like twin moons, which pierced into Maya¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Well, maybe a quick one¡­¡± She whispered, still unsure if this was the right thing to do.


    ¡°Great!¡± And with a smile, Zen left the group and walked over to the large display on the wall. After studying the display, he seemed to find what he was looking for. He pulled out a small rectangular device from his pocket. With the push of a button, a faint blue light trickled from it. Pressing this device onto the display on the wall, a subtle boop could be heard and a slip of paper was ejected from the machine. He then walked up to the help desk and spoke with the female receptionist before she stamped the slip of paper with the Guild¡¯s insignia.


    All of this only took less than two minutes to do. From what Clover had heard from his father¡¯s old Seeker stories, it used to take much longer to apply for a mission and that there was much more paperwork involved. But now, it was simple and easy. Silently thanking the heavens that he lived in a more advanced time, Clover greeted Zen back.


    ¡°What did you get!¡± He yelped with excitement, not able to contain it in any longer.


    ¡°Shush, not here¡­¡± Let¡¯s all meet outside in fifteen minutes so no one catches on.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not going¡­ especially not with him!¡± Sven glanced at Michael as he bitterly enunciated the last part. Michael smiled towards Sven after he said this, seemingly not noticing the glare.


    Still glowering, he continued, ¡°I won''t tell anyone since I don¡¯t want to ruin your gift, so I¡¯ll see you later.¡± And with that, he left.


    ¡°Well, that''s one less mess to deal with.¡± Whispered Maya before looking at Clover. ¡°Remember! Fifteen minutes! If you¡¯re not outside by then, we¡¯ll leave without you.¡± Zen proclaimed.


    ¡°I wouldn''t miss this for the world!¡±


    <hr>


    After fifteen minutes had passed, Clover snuck out of the Guild through the back entrance and met up with the Trio. The sun was still high in the sky as they proceeded their way to the main gate, stopping from time to time as other Seekers would strike up a conversation with the well-known Trio.


    Clover was wearing a cloak with a hood in order to conceal his face. Although this would probably be unnecessary, he still didn''t want to take the chance of a neighbor or a passing Seeker to offhandedly remark seeing him leave the city to his parents.


    The streets were just as busy as ever. If anything, even more carriages have arrived from foreign lands to drop off their goods, hoping to make a tidy profit. One after another passed by, filled with furs, minerals, spices, and weapons. The most impressive carriage was made out of an ebony wood, trimmed with gold and it had what appeared to be several arcane markings written all over it. The writings would ever so often pulse with energy, giving it the illusion of being alive. Clover could only imagine what sort of resource was being stored inside and being guarded so heavily.


    ¡°Come on Clover! You¡¯re going to have to keep up!¡± Maya had noticed that he had stopped and was silently staring at the strange carriage. Shaking his head clear of these thoughts, he silently kept pace with the Trio.


    Eventually, the band of misfits arrived at the grand gates of Vanden. As he gazed at the immense granite walls that were covered in similar arcane letterings that were on the carriage he had seen, he could only imagine what types of powerful magic and weaponry had to be used in order to siege this city.


    The gate was surrounded by many elite guards, checking in visitors and giving out directions. Before one could enter the city, they had to walk across the drawbridge that covered the deep moat below.


    As Clover walked closer to the gate, his heart beat faster and harder. His forehead began to sweat with nervousness, drenching the rest of him as it started to trickle down his face and into his clothes. He knew that he shouldn¡¯t be doing this, but his heart was full of wanderlust! He wanted to delve deep into the wilds and receive inspiration! Truly this must be the addicting Seeker¡¯s high that is spoken of so much!


    Clover stuck close to the Trio hoping they wouldn¡¯t be stopped. While he had left the city multiple times, it had been with Bastille, and it was never anywhere dangerous. They merely visited nearby villages and towns. If anything, Clover was bored with those excursions and would always complain and ask when they would be returning.


    Now, before him was a line of people. From nobles to commoners and everything in between, they all had to be checked out and inspected if you were transporting goods before one could leave. The guards worked efficiently and effectively.


    ¡°How much gold did you say you were going to give me!¡± One guard bellowed all of a sudden. Loud enough that anyone in a quarter mile radius stopped what they were doing and stared in his direction.


    ¡°What are you doing!¡± Yelled the merchant as he began to look around at the hundreds of eyes that bore into his flesh.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I suppose I wasn¡¯t loud enough. I said, how much gold were you going to bribe me with!¡± He yelled once more, louder this time so that even more stares would drill into the merchant.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± The fat merchant wheezed, his face turning crimson from shame and embarrassment. ¡°Fine, search my things, but be quick will you!¡± He said once more, only to drape his head with a cloth, trying to block out the countless glares heading his way.


    It appeared that the guards did not search fast enough, according to some nobles and fat merchants, as they would try to bribe the guards so they could skip the tedious and thorough inspections. Nobles and merchants who frequently dealt in Vanden knew not to bribe these guards, but the foreign ones were not so knowledgeable. If this was fourteen years ago, then the fat merchants and nobles would have easily succeeded in their bribes, but this was no longer possible.


    After the merchant received a dose of public humiliation, the line continued without any more commotions. As it was clear that any other would-be bribers had changed their minds.


    Now as Clover¡¯s group drew ever closer to the guards he couldn¡¯t help but sweat even faster. His heart was beating so loudly that he wouldn''t be surprised if someone was to nod their head along the beat of its rhythm.


    After another ten minutes had passed, Clover and the Trio were in front of the guard. The guard was wearing the standard armor of the Vanden retinue, a set of full plate armor. On his side was a long and deadly looking longsword.


    ¡°Hey you three, already heading back out for more?¡± Said the guard, with a tired looking face, yet still filled with a certain drive and confidence.


    ¡°Of course, the grind never stops!¡± Zen proclaimed.


    ¡°Man, I¡¯m jealous. I''m thinking of becoming a Seeker myself once my service is over. Every day of guard duty slowly breaks a man down, ya know?¡± He muttered as a look of sadness passed through his gaze. ¡°Ah, well, I shouldn''t depress y''all.¡±


    As the guard began to pass the Trio through, he finally noticed the small cloaked figure.


    ¡°Wait a second.¡± He began, as he walked up to him and reached his hand over to Clover. Immediately Michael, Maya, and Zen stopped to face the guard, their eyes flashing with fear. Clover¡¯s heart felt like it was about to burst as he was about to be exposed. Inside he was cursing himself for coming out on some foolhardy adventure with the Trio, now he would be recognized and taken back to the guild, where he would face Maria¡¯s full wrath!


    ¡°You dropped this.¡± The guard said as he bent down to pick up the gold coin from the ground. Placing the coin back into Clover¡¯s hand, the guard walked back to his post. Clover and the Trio were frozen like statues as they could only stare back in relief. Clover gripped the coin, and securely put it into his pocket. Without wasting any time the four of them quickly walked out of the Gate.


    <hr>


    As the group exited the gate, they let out a sigh of relief at their lucky escape.


    ¡°We are never doing this ever again.¡± Sighed Maya.


    ¡°Haha! I don¡¯t know why you three were worried in the first place!¡± Bellowed their loud, blonde friend. Obviously, Michael had already steeled his nerves once more from the sudden fright. ¡°Now we¡¯re home free!¡± He yelled, not caring who could hear, as a large grin stretched across his face.


    ¡°Hold it!¡± A sudden yell caused the group to turn towards the city walls. A large heavily armored man seemed to be the owner of the loud voice. His armor was a bright and shiny white, and he wore a scarlet cloak that blazed like fire when it was hit by the sun¡¯s rays.


    ¡°Crap, It''s Captain Strauss¡­¡± Michael as he recognized the large figure casting down at them. ¡°Let¡¯s run for it!¡±


    And without another word, Michael bolted from the looming figure. Clover, Maya, and Zen followed suit, merely steps away from Michael.


    ¡°I said hold it!¡± Captain Strauss bellowed one last time before launching himself from the wall. Fire ejected out of his body like a phoenix, boosting his momentum and throwing him high into the air! Although the band of misfits had gained a considerable lead, Captain Strauss had already passed them in a single bound! He slammed into the ground, a large pillar of flame erupting in front of them, scorching the earth, and leaving black marks and ash where foliage used to be. Captain Strauss exited this pillar of fire without a single mark on him.


    ¡°I said halt!¡± Anger billowed across the Captain¡¯s face as the last remnants of flame disappeared. ¡°Michael, why did you run from me!¡±


    Captain Gregory Strauss was famed for his diligence, strength, and courage. At a young age, he had caught the eyes of Bastille Rumare. With his help, Gregory Strauss was quickly raised to the rank of Captain of the Walls. A very prestigious title that had once belonged to one of the most corrupt officials in Vanden history. But now that official was chained deep in the dungeons below the city.


    ¡°Instinct, Sir!¡± Saluted Michael. His face appeared calm. Only for a single bead of sweat to trickle down his face, showing his true emotions.


    ¡°Instinct?! Why you smart-mouthed brat!¡± The Captain started to berate Michael only to notice the small cloaked figure hiding behind Maya.


    ¡°Now who is this?¡± He said, before suddenly appearing behind Maya, shocking everyone present. His speed would almost seem alien to them if they had not already seen other Seekers with similar capabilities.


    The Captain removed Clover¡¯s hood only to be stunned at the sight.


    ¡°Clover, what are you doing out here with these imbeciles!¡± He murmured. ¡°Does Maria or Bastille know about this?¡±


    ¡°Uh, no..."


    Captain Strauss looked at the sorry sight in front of him and couldn¡¯t help but sigh.¡°Look, I don¡¯t want to be the bad guy here, but you know I can¡¯t just have a child running around the wilds with this group of idiots.¡± He said as he glanced at the Trio.


    While Captain Strauss knew the three were actually reliable, he still couldn¡¯t bear the thought of his close friend and mentor¡¯s son getting hurt.


    ¡°We''re not idiots¡­¡± Zen said his usual cheerful expression gone from his face, only to be replaced with one of stoic determination. ¡°We were only trying to give Clover an amazing birthday! Besides, a Seeker¡¯s first outing is a momentous occasion! Can¡¯t you just let him come with us? Besides, we''re not going on a difficult mission.¡± Zen had approached the Captain and placed the mission form into his hand.


    On the paper was the details relating to the mission. It was a very simple White ranked mission. The only requirements for completion were to patrol the outer edge of the Dark Forest. The mission only had the reward of three silver Wyrms and fifty bronze Imps. The area in question was very safe, and Zen had planned to take a scenic route so Clover could explore it to his heart¡¯s content.


    Captain Strauss could see the intention behind this simple mission. As he gazed back at the usually jovial youth in front of him, his heart began to waver.


    He sighed one last time before gazing back at Clover. Clover had been standing silently in a single spot the entire time, staring at his feet. Looking at this, how could the Captain''s heart not stir with reluctance? In fact, he himself had once yearned to be a Seeker.


    As a wall guard, he had watched many Seekers leave and return form their missions, their faces covered with joy and excitement. Of course, he had seen Bastille Rumare off on many of his missions multiple times. After seeing such a great man return on countless missions, only racking up his fame and renown across the lands, how could one not envy the freedom and limitless path that lay ahead of a Seeker? Finally, he could no longer contain the emotions in his heart as he looked down at the young boy.


    ¡°Fine!¡± He said after what felt like hours. ¡°Just remember that this is my gift to you!¡±


    Clover¡¯s face beamed like a lighthouse as he heard this. ¡°Thank you!¡± He shouted as he ran off to stand beside the Trio.


    ¡°And you three!¡± The Trio gazed back at the Captain fearfully as he drilled into them one last time. ¡°If anything happens to him, I''ll make sure that heads will adorn my walls!¡± And with that, he strutted off back toward Vanden.


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± the three yelled back fearfully, engraving his warning into their hearts.

 [Seeker] Chapter 5

    -Where It All Began-


    Although the seasons were in the process of changing from summer to autumn, the wilds of Vanden still held its lush and abundant landscape that it was known for. Bright yellow primroses were in full bloom, taking full advantage of the slowly cooling temperature, while the cerulean bluebells drooped their beautiful bulbs as if they were old men looking for their lost spectacles. A multitude of verdant ferns and grasses spotted the environment, concealing the various fauna that lay within. Large bold oak trees stood tall as if proclaiming that they feared nothing; be it a storm or hurricane. Their proud and fierce bodies scarred by relentless winds and from the meddlesome wildlife.


    Normally, the forests of Vanden would be populated by noisy bugs and creatures, their chirps and buzzes would fill the surroundings, creating a noisy yet somewhat relaxing ambiance that many travelers have fallen in love with.


    However, the forest no longer echoed out with its familiar ambiance that the Trio was used to. Only an odd and peculiar silence resonated, causing the Trio to have a sense of caution as they entered the forest. The sun was no longer high in the sky, now it was threatening the land with sunset. Large shafts of orange light bathed the forest, causing shadows to jump out of the dense foliage near the path the party was walking on.


    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Michael hummed, his face filled with curiosity. Although Michael would sometimes act or do something foolish whenever he was taking a break or resting, he would always be serious and vigilant whenever he was taking on a mission.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Clover spoke up, his face still beaming with excitement. Although he had inquired Michael, he was actually not paying attention. His focus was entirely occupied at gazing at the surrounding trees and foliage. Currently, he had his eyes trained on a red and orange beetle who¡¯s mandibles were nearly as large as the rest of its body.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch that. Its bite is venomous.¡± Zen muttered, only to smile when he watched Clover quickly back away from the dangerous insect and nearly tripping.


    ¡°Clover! Rule number one of a Seeker is to never touch or eat anything you have no knowledge of!¡± Maya blurted out. ¡°You never know if a bug that has bit you or a plant that you ate will give you a bad stomach ache or worse, kill you!¡±


    Putting on a face of pride, she continued to divulge tips and tricks that every novice Seeker should know before partaking on a mission. Unfortunately, while the Seeker lifestyle had many benefits, it also had a high rate of mortality and injury. This was to be expected of course as no one believed that the Seeker life was full of ease and pure wanderlust. Instead, it was one of diligence and hard work, receiving what you put into it.


    ¡°Seeker rule number two: Always keep your weapon on you or within arm''s reach at all times! You never know when the enemy will strike!¡± As Maya was an experienced Seeker that was full of knowledge, Clover willing absorbed all the information that she divulged. Although Clover doesn¡¯t plan on becoming a Seeker, it would still be beneficial for him to know this when he embarks on his travels.


    ¡°Seeker rule number three: Always travel in a group or a pair! A party is better prepared to handle any mission that is thrown off kilter when it becomes apparent that its true difficulty is much higher than it was originally posted as!¡±


    ¡°Besides, traveling with friends is much better than being alone¡­¡± Maya quietly added as she gazed at her two friends.


    Now that Clover thought of it, almost every Seeker that entered the guild looking for work either had a partner or two with them. Of course, there would always be the occasional Seeker that would insist on traveling on their own. Most of the time they seemed as if they had something to prove. Sometimes they would be muttering about some sort of private vendetta that only they could take care of. Unfortunately, Clover had heard of these types being found dead in the wilderness or along the roads coming to Vanden. Clearly, if they had some backup than they might have been able to live through whatever tribulation that had come to them.


    ¡°Seeker rule number four....¡± Maya continued as Zen walked over to Michael''s side.


    ¡°Hey, you feel it too, right?¡± Zen whispered, his eyes filled with a cautious gleam as he glanced around.


    ¡°Yeah. Ever since we entered the forest. What do you think it is?¡± Although he didn¡¯t want to believe it, Michael was starting to think that something suspicious was happening within the forest.


    ¡°Maybe some spirits are doing some strange ritual. Or perhaps a demon has broken through into our realm. Either way, we should finish this mission as fast as possible without alerting Clover.¡± Glancing back towards Clover who was diligently consuming all the information that Maya was spouting. His eyes briefly met with Maya¡¯s as he nodded his head.


    Seemingly being able to telepathically understand Zen, Maya nodded in return while simultaneously entertaining Clover as well as surveying the environment.


    ¡°Hmm¡­We promised Clover that we would take the scenic route¡­I didn¡¯t think that the mission would have to be cut short like this.¡± Michael looked at his feet while sighing, his eyes filled with melancholy. ¡°I guess I am a bad guy... Forgetting his birthday and all¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha! Don¡¯t say that! Besides, Maya and I are also to blame! After all, we could have stopped you if we wanted to!¡± His nonchalant appearance returning to his face, Zen chuckled as he cheered up his somber friend. ¡°Anyways, if this trip gets cut short, we can always take another one!¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I guess so¡­¡±Michael grumbled. ¡°You know¡­ If he does get hurt we will get in a lot of trouble.¡±


    A stoic expression quickly formed on Zen¡¯s face. ¡°You better not jinx us, you know what happened the last time you said something like tha-¡±


    Boom!


    Before Zen could finish his sentence, a loud, ear-shattering noise crescendoed throughout the forest. Causing some of the large oak trees to rip out from their foundations, and fall over. The quiet forest ambiance was destroyed in an instant as birds and animals fled from the forest. Crows, robins, sparrows, cardinals, and blue jays filled the sky as their homes were destroyed. Rabbits, squirrels, mice, and shrews appeared from the undergrowth as they scurried to safety.


    Zen sprinted toward Clover¡¯s side, protecting him from any threat that may come to them while simultaneously shooting a quick glare at Michael.


    ¡°What the hell was that!¡± Maya yelled as she covered Clover¡¯s pointed ears.


    ¡°Who knows! Let¡¯s just get Clover out of here!¡± Michael yelled back as he took the lead, taking them back the way they came.


    <hr>


    ¡°Are these all the beasts you¡¯ve rounded up?¡± A deep and raspy voice growled. The figure who spoke was shrouded in a violet and cyan cloak made from the plumage of elegant birds.


    Although his face was covered, the rest of his body was not. From his torso down one could clearly see the body of a horse. Anyone who took a glance at the man would be able to tell that he was a Centaur.


    However, this Centaur was clearly different. Its usual black fur was instead replaced by tough reptilian scales. Its tail was also reptilian in nature, more akin to a crocodile¡¯s than a horse. And underneath the Centaurs shroud were two wicked horns.


    In front of the Centaur were dozens of bears, wolves, gnolls, deer, and other beasts that huddled pitifully in cages. The beasts were all in a sedative state and their eyes were a sickly shade of purple as they drooped down, unable to fight the venom that coursed through their veins.


    ¡°Yes, Chief! We had the Braves hunt down every beast they could until your arrival.¡± Another shrouded Centaur spoke up while saluting. ¡°We have been distributing the serum as per the orders of the young master.¡±


    The cloaked man merely nodded in satisfaction before approaching a nearby cage. The myriad of beasts that resided within the cages were unable to notice the man from their drug-induced stupor. The man approached the cages and wrapped his tail around the neck of one of the wolves, lifting it up to eye-level.


    ¡°Good, we are ready. The young master¡¯s arrival is imminent.¡± Still smiling, the mysterious Centaur gazed into the eyes of his subordinate. ¡°Have the Braves retreat from the forest at once! And sound the horn!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir!¡±


    One of the Centaurs reached into a bag and pulled out a horn. The horn appeared as any other horn that would be used in an orchestra or symphony.


    Boom!


    The horn sounded out, releasing a deep and loud roar! The shockwave ripped apart nearby trees from their foundations, causing them to crash onto the ground with loud booms!


    Loud roars pierced the forest as every beast locked within their cages shrieked in agony! Their bodies became roiling masses of muscle and sinew as they began to tear apart their prisons!


    One by one the strong cages broke apart from their sheer strength! The Centaurs had already found refuge on top of a particularly sturdy oak that managed to resist the horn''s devastating blast.


    ¡°Notify the young master that the plan has commenced¡­¡±


    <hr>


    The previously silent forest had turned into a madhouse. The birds were now squealing in terror as their homes were uprooted and slammed onto the ground. Insects chirped madly as they attempted to flee from the shockwave that emanated from the offending sound. But the loudest noise came from the shrieks and roars of the drug-induced beasts that were attacking and killing anything with a heartbeat.


    Their previously lazy and violet eyes had become a furious red! Their bodies were covered in thick, wriggling, and blue worm-like veins as their muscles expanded to double or triple the size! Their relentless charge echoed throughout the forest as thousands of paws and hooves pounded the ground, causing the land to shake as if an earthquake had erupted! And this devastating stampede was now heading towards Clover¡¯s party!


    ¡°Bwarh!¡±


    Roared a large beast, bursting from the bushes behind the fleeing party. The fur from its body bristled furiously making it appear as if it was double its size. And its jaws were leaking a disgusting foam as if it had rabies.


    Originally, the beast was a bear. But now it was mutating in front of the bewildered party''s eyes!


    In the blink of an eye, the bear¡¯s forehead sprouted two hideous horns while simultaneously growing a thick reptilian tail! Its claws grew to twice their original size as its fangs sprouted past its jaws!


    ¡°Bragh!¡±


    With one last roar, the mighty beast charged towards the mystified party! Without a moment''s notice, Maya and Zen leaped into a formation, both of them arriving in front of Clover in order to protect him from the incoming beast.


    As the two guarded Clover, Michael leaped from his position, landing directly into the path of the rampaging mutant!


    In a flash, his sword was released from its sheath as Michael struck towards the mad beast. The sword gleamed with an orange light as the setting sun¡¯s rays struck it and created a brilliant flash!


    The mutated bear seemed to hesitate for a second as it was blinded by the orange glow. Only for it to stir from its stupor and reinvigorate its charge as it slashed its deadly claws towards Michael!


    Michael merely smiled and swung his sword. The deadly slash ejected a plume of fire that scorched the landscape as it flew towards the maddened beast.


    The beast, blinded by rage, did not attempt to dodge this attack at all. It instead opted to meet the plume of fire head on!


    The beast raised its hideous claws towards the oncoming flames, but this would prove to be a costly mistake as the scorching slash tore through the beast!The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    A large fountain of blood splashed from the maddened bear. The smell of burning fur and flesh filled the air as the bear was cleaved in half. Some parts of the bear oozed sticky blood, while other parts were partly cauterized. The scent of burning flesh and fur was foul enough to induce vomiting.


    ¡°Whew¡­¡± Michael sighed, letting out a single breath. Turning back to the party he flashed a quick smile.


    ¡°Easy peas-¡±


    Before he could let out his words, another loud explosion resonated near them, followed by the sound of hundreds of footsteps!


    Turning his back towards the sound of the incoming stampede, Michael took a single glance towards the party and yelled. ¡°Run!¡±


    Sparing no time, the group sprinted towards the way they came! Zen grabbed a hold of Clover, carrying him like a sack of potatoes!


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to carry me!¡± Clover grumbled as he struggled to release himself.


    ¡°Sorry, Clover. But this is faster¡­¡±


    After running for less than a minute the stampeding beasts caught up to the group as they exploded from the dense woodland! Dozens of mutated beasts sprinted towards them, their eyes red with fury and bloodlust. Bears, wolves, deer, gnolls, and even squirrels charged towards the party with an insatiable urge to kill!


    ¡°Damn it! Both of you take Clover to safety! I¡¯ll hold them off!¡± Michael yelled before charging towards the army of mutants.


    Silently acknowledging him, both Maya and Zen picked up the pace, leaving their comrade behind!


    Fear filled Clovers eyes as he stared at the young hero¡¯s back as Michael charged towards the horde of monsters!


    <hr>


    ¡°Sir, it seems we may have met with a slight problem¡­¡± One of the shrouded men muttered as he gazed at Michael from afar. Michael was surrounded by hundreds of mutated beasts, as he swung his blade and carved a path through the onslaught of monsters. His breath was becoming increasingly rapid, as he could not take on such a large force of deranged beasts!


    ¡°No matter, sound the horn once more!¡± The plumage cloaked Centaur rasped. ¡°We must make sure the beasts reach their target before the young master arrives!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Said the subordinates, before sounding the horn once more.


    Boom!


    The horn¡¯s shockwave tore apart the sky! Its sonic blast ripped apart the clouds and knocked down flocks of birds, their eardrums having exploded from the loud blast!


    ¡°Shit!¡± Michael cursed, his figure appearing more like that of a demon rather than a hero. His previously unscathed azure jacket was now stained with the foul blood of countless enemies. Countless holes and tears oozed blood from the myriad of minor scratches and punctures. His metal chest guard was heavily dented; with the most significant damage coming from a large puncture caused by a horn that had nearly pierced his heart! His entire body was racked with pain and fatigue and one could tell that his right arm was under significant amounts of stress.


    Switching his blade from his right to left arm, Michael continued his onslaught! It was only after he cut down a couple more beasts that he noticed that they were no longer preoccupied with him.


    With the horn being the signal, the beasts took one last glance at Michael and proceeded to run away!


    Michael opened his eyes in panic as he noticed that the rampaging horde was on a direct path with his friends!


    ¡°You can¡¯t escape!¡± Fury filled Michaels¡¯ cold blue eyes as he sprinted towards the fleeing beasts!


    Bam!


    ¡°Argh!¡± He yelled out as his entire body was slammed by a massive Centaur! His body flung towards a large tree and landed with a loud smack! He had fallen head first, and now a stream of blood ran down his face. Fighting to stay conscious, Michael used his sword to prop himself up, before lunging away from the tree.


    His previous location turned into a large crater as a large warhammer slammed into the ground, causing a piercing noise to ring out as chunks of rock and earth flung all over!


    Michael gazed at his new foe, his usually calm white face had long since been stained with dirt and blood.


    ¡°I¡¯ve fought stronger creatures than you, Centaur!


    Falravosu!


    Michael yelled out one last time as he slammed his fists to the ground! Large fiery cracks sprawled from his blows which headed towards the wild Centaur!


    The Centaur sprung away from the cracks as its previous position erupted into an explosion of molten lava! Immediately the Centaur sprang into action. Its shrouded torso became uncovered by the force of the blast which knocked its cloak off.


    Its upper torso had transformed into a fiery red color as if to imitate the rage and fury it held within. Its lower half was covered in dark-green scales, while its tail looked more reptilian. This Centaur had a pair demonic horns, but one had been broken, leaving only a pitiful stump in its place.


    Raising its warhammer, the Centaur bellowed out with a fierce war cry as it charged straight towards Michael!


    Anticipating this, Michael also slashed once more with his sword while letting out another plume of scorching flame.


    The Centaur met the fiery strike head on! Bursting it apart as its large hammer stuck towards Michael!


    Crash!


    The Centaur¡¯s hammer slammed into Michael¡¯s metal chest guard, causing it to shatter into small fragments! Michael''s body shot back tens of feet, only stopping when his body slammed into the ground with a loud, thud!


    ¡°Pwah!¡± A large breath of air was ejected from Michael¡¯s body as crashed into the ground. With much effort, he scrambled back into a standing position. Straightening his tottering body, he vomited a mouthful of blood. His face had now grown pale from the lack of blood, but his eyes still had a resolute shine as he glared down the mutant in front of him!


    ¡°Die!¡±


    The Centaur nonchalantly watched Michael as he charged towards it once more, raising its wicked warhammer once again to meet his blow!


    <hr>


    ¡°Is Michael going to be alright?!¡± Clover yelled, his voice shook with fear as he continued to look back towards Michael''s direction.


    ¡°Haha! Of course, he is! Michael isn¡¯t some weakling who would lose to some weird beasts! He¡¯s not a Gold ranked Seeker just for show!¡± Zen bellowed, his face covered in a wide grin as he laughed.


    Of course, he only said this in order to calm Clover down. In actuality, Zen was concerned for his friend. Even though he had not seen Michael¡¯s full combat potential in a long time, he did not think that Michael could have become strong enough to take on hundreds of those mutated beasts!


    ¡°Michael is incredibly tough! Don¡¯t you worry Clover, let''s just stay focused as we get you to safety!¡± Maya yelled out from in front, before turning her head to flash him a quick smile of reassurance. In her head, she was already contemplating on how she would be able to deliver Clover to safety as well as having enough time to save her friend.


    ¡°As soon as we get out of this forest Maya will lead you back to Vanden, alright? And then I will go back and help out Michael, so just sit tight!¡± Zen said while continuing his cheerful charade. ¡°But I¡¯m sure that won¡¯t be necessary! Michael will probably have cleaned them up by now!¡±


    ¡°Rarwargh!¡±


    Zen looked back in surprise as he heard the close roars of the horde once again! His eyes widened in shock as a single terrifying thought entered his mind.


    Did Michael die?


    Forcefully shaking his head free from such a terrible thought, he threw the startled Clover towards Maya, her nimble yet strong arms easily grabbing a hold of him!


    ¡°Get Clover the hell out of here!¡± Zen yelled with all his might as turned around and confronted the swarming horde of mutants. Grabbing a hold of his powerful bow, he jumped three meters into the air and launched three arrows! The arrows met their marks as a mutated wolf and two gnolls were shot through their heads!


    ¡°Zen!¡± Maya looked back in fear, the scared boy on her back felt like he weighed a thousand pounds as she looked back at her longtime companion! Her legs were like blocks of stone as she stood petrified. Maya wanted to help her friend, but Clover was the obvious priority!


    Biting her lip, Maya sprinted away with Clover, leaving Zen to face the horde alone.


    ¡°Whew¡­¡± Zen let out a long breath, as he stared at the demonic beasts in front of him. Their bodies were no longer covered in hair and fur, but with scales and horns. Their eyes glowed bright red with hate. Zen had dozens of terrifying thoughts racing through his head.


    Will Clover and Maya get out safe?


    Violently shaking his mind clear from that terrible thought, Zen pulled out three more arrows from his quiver and strung them to his bow.


    The beasts took this movement as their opportunity to strike. The large mutated bears and wolves led the charge! Their large paws shook the ground with tremendous strength with cracks sprawling under their feet as they grew ever closer towards Zen!


    Merely looking upon these poor creatures in disdain, Zen released the arrows from his mighty bow! Three arrows split the air as they flew at near impossible speeds! They soon met the heads of the nearest beasts as their heads exploded like watermelons! Brain matter splattered onto the other beasts. The sight of blood and gore caused their bloodlust and their desire to kill to increase!


    ¡°Raarrggh!¡±


    The beasts roared with renewed vigor, their unrelenting charge drawing closer to Zen every second! Their snarling jaws spewed saliva in every direction as their restless teeth hoped to chomp down onto Zen¡¯s delectable flesh.


    ¡°Go to hell!¡± Zen roared one last time as he jumped into the air once more! In the blink of an eye, Zen loosed three more arrows which met their targets at an unfathomable speed! However, his current trajectory was landing him directly in the middle of the beast pack!


    The jaws of the beasts snapped at Zen¡¯s heels as he landed on top of the beasts, his feet dancing on their backs as he jumped from beast to beast! In a flash, Zen had arrived behind the majority of the horde. Their eyes shone with fury as they saw their prey escape their jaws! Zen continued shooting a relentless barrage of missiles; every well-placed strike finished off a mutated beast.


    ¡°Whew¡­¡± Zen let out another breath of air as he contemplated his next move. His hand reached for another arrow only to notice that he had only three left.


    ¡°It''s been awhile since I¡¯ve been pushed this hard¡­¡± A slight smile formed on Zen¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I had to use Arcana in a fight!¡± His eyes gleamed with increased vigor as he gazed at his enemies. ¡°It¡¯s not as flashy as Michael¡¯s fire and not as cool as Maya¡¯s ice. But my magic is the strongest!¡±


    Reaching into his quiver, Zen pulled out a single arrow. Stringing it onto his bow, he stretched the string out to its full extent. The bow struggled as it was bent to the extreme! Zen¡¯s arms were as hard as stones as his muscles bulged and flexed as he pulled on the tough cord! The nocked arrow began to shine with an emerald sheen as it filled with Zen¡¯s Arcana!


    The Arcana built up around Zen as he burned his inner reserves, causing a dim green glyph to form underneath him as fast winds protected his body. One of the less cautious mutants entered the gale and were shredded into pieces as a result!


    No longer able to contain the pressure of the taut string and billowing power of Arcana, Zen released the arrow from the bow!


    Areowbsot!


    Zen yelled out the ancient command!


    The arrow tore apart the air! Causing a large shockwave to explode outwards caused by a sonic boom! The air seemed to shatter apart from the ear-splitting noise, as the ground crumbled underneath the immense pressure that the arrow emitted! Nearby trees were shredded apart as a powerful gale through them!


    The arrow obliterated dozens of beasts as its sharp gale like winds easily tore apart bone and flesh! Gore, bone, and chunks of meat scattered throughout the battleground as the arrow continued through the horde, eventually piercing through them and continuing along its path into the forest behind! The wind infused arrow continued its devastating trajectory for another mile, shredding apart everything in its way!


    Falling to his knees, Zen let out a large breath. His face had become incredibly pale and soaked with sweat. Zen could feel his blood boil from a large amount of Arcana that he burnt. Zen started to feel the effects of burning too much Arcana. He was becoming light-headed and nauseous, while his legs struggled to correct themselves.


    ¡°Even though my wind magic is incredibly powerful...It takes way too much out of me.¡± Zen could only smile bitterly and stand back up, as the surviving members of the pack shook themselves from the hurricane that tore through them. Their eyes immediately latched back onto Zen, his pitiful form encouraging them to attack.


    But before they could strike, the horn sounded once more! Tearing apart the sky with its earth-shattering noise! The beasts looked around in fear before fleeing from Zen and headed directly towards Maya and Clover!


    ¡°Damn it! You will not get away!¡± Zen bellowed out, strength exploding back into his body as he charged towards the fleeing pack. Although Zen was tired, he still felt confident that he could eliminate the rest of the mutants; his previous attack having decimated their numbers.


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t!¡± A raspy voice sounded out from behind, surprising Zen!


    Immediately, a large earthen wall obstructed Zen from the fleeing beasts. Instantly turning his head toward the intruding newcomers, he readied himself for another battle!


    ¡°Bastard!¡± He yelled out, unable to contain his fury, as he gazed at the new figures.


    ¡°You meddlesome Seekers have caused our plans to go awry¡­¡± Rasped another shrouded man, his figured covered by an extravagant plumage.


    ¡°Plans? I don¡¯t know anything about your plans!¡± His head was buzzing with many emotions. Rage, fear, concern, and hate. After staring at the arrivals for another second, he noticed the horn in the black cloaked man hands.


    ¡°You are responsible for this?!¡± His eyes began to gleam with fury as he yelled. ¡°Where is Michael?! If he died¡­Then I will personally kill you both!¡±


    ¡°Hmmm? I know not of this Michael, but if you''re talking about that pitiful blonde boy then I''m afraid that I can¡¯t say for certain that he is alive¡­¡± The plumaged covered Centaur muttered, his voice containing a noticeable air of mockery.


    Zen¡¯s jaw clenched with fury as he strung another arrow. Pulling the bow to the extreme, he launched another devastating hurricane! Its gale-like winds shredded the environment, flying directly towards the two figures!


    ¡°Gareck¡­ Take care of this nuisance, I will proceed onwards.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Gareck yelled out, handing his master the horn.


    ¡°Hah!¡± Gareck bellowed as he slammed his spear into the ground, causing a large earthen wall to rise up to meet Zen¡¯s hurricane!


    The arrow blasted the wall, causing shrapnel to launch everywhere! The previously unstoppable hurricane was quickly suppressed to nothing but a light breeze, unable to penetrate through this unbreakable wall!


    Falling to his knees once again, Zen could only gaze at Gareck¡¯s master as he quickly ran into the direction of Maya and Clover. Grinding his teeth, he painfully stood up and glared at the foe in front of him.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to make you pay!¡± Zen yelled once more, his voice seething with anger!


    ¡°Haha! How about you try to stay alive before you make promises you can¡¯t keep!¡± Gareck jeered at Zen¡¯s pitiful body as he pointed his spear at him.


    In the blink of an eye, the two figures dashed at each other! Bow met spear as they both clashed in a battle to the death!

 [Seeker] Chapter 6

    -And So Their Story Begins-


    The long unkempt grass rustled as Maya ran through the long dry fronds. Having abandoned the main path, Maya had kept running for a couple of minutes, hoping to distance themselves from the mutants that Zen was holding at bay. Concern for her friends had been running through her head ever since she was ordered to take Clover to safety.


    How did this happen? Why has it happened?


    Although she asked herself this, she already knew. She couldn¡¯t help but blame herself. Although it was Michael and Zen who pushed the idea of taking Clover out for a quick mission as a gift, she knew that if she had really wanted to reject taking Clover with them as a gift, she would have. But she had also wanted to see Clover have a great birthday, and this kind of present would have made his day!


    But what was going to happen to them now? Will they be able to get out the forest themselves? And even if they do, will Zen and Michael be capable of holding the beasts off until they reach the city and find help?


    No¡­ The beasts had already gotten past Michael¡­ Does this mean that he has already died? Maya bit her lower lip until it began to bleed as tears began to well up from the side of her eyes threatening to fall. Her chest hurt, and a lump had arisen in her throat.


    Will I lose my beloved friends today?


    As much as she hoped this wouldn¡¯t be the case, she just couldn''t shake the thought. Being a Seeker was not all fun and games, she knew that many Seekers had low life expectancies. But she had always hoped that their group would be different. They would travel the world together and eventually retire in Vanden or perhaps in Saintos and live out the rest of their days there peacefully.


    But in just a single afternoon, this rainbow-colored future of hers had been violently torn to shreds.


    No! I can¡¯t think like this! Maya thought. Once I begin to believe that we failed, then we will truly fail! Besides, Zen and Michael are very strong! They will not die to something like this! Forcing a smile on her face, she began to feel strength return to her long slender legs, allowing her to glide through the forest.


    ¡°This is my fault...¡±


    ¡°What was that, Clover?¡± Maya looked back at Clover who was being carried on her back. Her eyes snapped open as she looked at the young boy. His eyes were bloodshot and filled with tears as they dripped down his face, soaking into his clothes. His face was red and his lips were a pale white.


    ¡°This is all my fault...¡± Clover mumbled, his voice cracking, as another flood of tears tumbled down his face. ¡°I should¡¯ve refused your gift! If I hadn¡¯t agreed...Michael and Zen would still be alive¡­¡± He slowly whispered, his voice struggling to force the words out.


    ¡°Clover¡­¡± Maya stopped running and put Clover down. Her hands were shaking, and the lump in her throat grew larger. Her dark eyes had become increasingly red, as the tears that previously threatened to come out began to trickle onto her face.


    ¡°Clover, Michael and Zen will not die!¡± Maya declared.¡°This not your fault! This was never your fault! We forced you to come out here with us. If it wasn¡¯t for me¡­ if it wasn''t for us¡­ This would never have happened¡­¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Clover started, still believing that he was just as guilty. As he looked at the beautiful tear-stained face in front of him, Clover tried to suppress the overwhelming feeling of dread and grief that was ravaging his heart.


    ¡°Will they be okay¡­?"


    ¡°Of course! They wouldn¡¯t lose to something like this!¡± Maya playfully giggled, hoping to calm Clover and herself.


    Boom!


    The horn sounded off once more! The loud sonic boom resounded throughout the forest, causing the nearby trees to shake and fall!


    ¡°Let''s go!¡± Maya yelled, as she picked Clover''s body up and threw him over her shoulders like a sack of potatoes. Fear shone in her eyes as terrible thoughts began to swirl in her mind once again.


    Did Zen also fail?


    Shaking her head once more, Maya sprinted through the forest. The long grasses and dense foliage rustled as she forced her way through!


    I will keep Clover safe!


    This single thought flashed through Maya, even if the Trio were to fall here, she would make certain that Clover survived! As she ran, Maya took a glance at Clover.


    His face had grown pale, and his eyes appeared unfocused. A mixture of sweat and tears covered his face. This appearance and state of mind were to be expected, after all. Any inexperienced child would be frightened if they had been chased by a horde of mutated beasts!


    Crash!


    Looking back, Maya¡¯s eyes widened, her legs became weak, and her heart stopped beating. Time seemed to have stopped as she gazed at the horror that was behind them.


    The horde of mutants had caught up! Their eyes were as red as fire and their disgusting tongues rolled out of their teeth-filled jaws. Their scaled and horned bodies were covered in wounds as blood seeped out of them.


    This scene was like something out of a scary bedtime story, made to scare unruly children. Truly, these creatures were no longer common beasts and monsters, but demons that have escaped into the realm of the living!


    Maya could only gaze in horror as she saw their quick approach. However, there were clearly much less of them than before. Zen must¡¯ve killed many of them before he was defeated.


    No, Zen would not have been defeated by them, neither would have Michael. They must be preoccupied with something else!


    Her mind was in a whirl as she tried to find any explanation as to why the beasts had managed to get past her comrades. No matter what, she would not believe that they could have fallen here!


    Maya ran for a while longer until she found a wide and open clearing, and stopped while placing Clover on the ground.


    ¡°Clover, you need to go without me!¡± Maya ordered as she grabbed Clover¡¯s shoulder while gently caressing the top of his head. His soft gray hair brushed against her slender and reliable hand.


    ¡°But...What''s going to happen to you! What has happened to Zen and Michael!¡± He shouted back, unwilling to accept this sudden order.


    ¡°Please, just go!¡±


    ¡°But¡­You guys...¡± Clover could only mutter out a few intangible words, as an unexplainable emotion flowed throughout his body, paralyzing him!


    ¡°Clover,¡± Maya muttered, as she gave Clover a firm and loving hug.


    ¡°Please...Run! Don¡¯t stop running until you reach Vanden!¡± Maya gave him one last command before she let go of him. After letting go, Maya turned around and sprint towards the incoming mutants!


    In shock, Clover could only look back at Maya, her proud and valiant back disappearing behind the dense foliage.


    <hr>


    Maya could only worry about the child she had to abandon, although leaving Clover by himself was the last thing Maya wanted to do, it was necessary. If anything, it was safer for him this way. If the beasts attacked while they were together, Maya would have to fight for her life while also having to protect Clover. Besides, Maya had already planned to end this battle in one blow, Clover would only be in danger if he stayed by her side. The sun had only just set, and now the moon poked over the canopy of the forest.


    Rargh! Gah! Roar!


    The ugly shrieks and screams of the beasts bellowed louder as they came closer towards Maya.


    Rawr!


    One final bellow echoed throughout the forest, as the mutated beast¡¯s bulging red eyes caught sight of Maya¡¯s slender frame. Her white robe was similar to a beacon that attracted their bloodthirst. Their powerful legs pounded the ground with a terrifying strength that caused the earth to crack and shake. The beasts ran with all their might towards the seemingly weak girl in front of them hoping to chew her bones and drink her marrow. The beasts pushed their bodies to the limit in order satisfy their hunger!


    Maya¡¯s eyes flashed with anger as she gazed at the disgusting and malevolent beasts in front of her. These beasts had ruined Clover¡¯s day and may have killed her friends! They would not be left off so easily!


    Maya took a single reassuring breath. The bracelets on wrists pulsed with a magical aura which made appear as if it were alive! The violet orbs swirled with Arcana, threatening to escape and obliterate the demons in front of them!


    Maya lifted her arm towards the rampaging mongrels, their disgusting snarling snouts were drenched in saliva as they became more excited at the prospect of feasting on fresh meat.


    As she aimed at the beasts, the orbs began to pulse faster and faster as the surrounding clearing became cold. The mutated beast¡¯s saliva and foam froze within a second, forcing their maws shut! The dew that lingered on top of the grasses and trees began to crystallize, causing the land to appear to be covered in tiny stars as the moon shined upon them!


    Iecreal!


    As Maya shouted the ancient command, her right side became encased in a layer of freezing ice that crept along her neck and onto her face. Both of her arms were covered in a layer of frost as a gigantic blizzard sprang out of her hands! The bone-piercing storm froze the nearby grasses and trees in a crystal-clear layer of ice! The blizzard continued onwards in a circular pattern towards the remnants the mutated beasts, they were unable to shriek or bark as their mouths had long frozen shut and they could only flee from the incoming blizzard that threatened to envelop their altered bodies!


    Their bodies nearly snapped in half as they tried to turn tail and run. But it was too late! As they tried to run, the chilling gale froze their heels, freezing them into place. The worst was yet to come, however, as the cold sank into their bodies, freezing their veins, and causing their blood vessels to burst! Their hearts exploded from the sudden shock which killed them in an instant!


    If an outsider were to approach this clearing they would surely be confused. As they would see an out of place winter wonderland that was filled with detailed sculptures of demons! The trees and surrounding foliage were also completely frozen, which further created an amazing spectacle to appear. The moon above caused the ice to sparkle, making it appear as if a solid layer of diamonds covered the land!


    This looked more like some sort of frozen holy land, not a field of death!


    ¡°Phew¡­¡± Maya let out a single bone chilling breath, mist tumbled out of her mouth. Although Maya was the creator of the blizzard, she had yet to master this skill, therefore she was also affected. The layer of ice and frost that covered her body soaked into her clothes, chilling her straight to the bone.


    Clover!


    Her mind snapped back to a more pressing issue, however. She forgot about her exhaustion and ran back towards Clover, hoping he had been able to leave the forest and return to safety. She would never forgive herself if a mutant had somehow avoided her spell and had reached Clover first!


    ¡°Stop!¡± A loud yell caused Maya to stop dead in her tracks. As she turned around, she saw a Centaur draped in a brilliant plumaged cloak.


    ¡°You three have ruined everything!¡± One glance at the man was all it would take to sense his fury. His emotion was almost visible, as it rolled off of him in waves.


    Maya raised her arms at the man. He was obviously an enemy! Who else would claim ownership to those mutated beasts? Besides, Maya could see a horn in his hand. That must be the horn that could control the demonic horde!


    ¡°Who are you! And why did you make those demons attack us!¡± Maya had numerous questions she wanted to ask the man in front of her, as she gripped her staff in anger.


    ¡°Ha! As if I would have the need to attack such pitiful Seekers like you three!¡± He mocked before continuing.


    ¡°These beasts were meant for another purpose. And that purpose does not concern you!¡± The Centaur spat out these words before attacking Maya, pulling out a large claymore from the sheath on his waist.


    Maya was prepared for this, as she pointed her staff at the man and focused the tip of her staff, the pulsing orb released some of its retained Arcana, and cast another spell!


    Iecpirkie!


    As she finished shouting those ancient words of power a lance of ice itself towards the demonic Centaur!


    The sharp lance of ice whistled through the air as it homed in at the man.But before it could reach its target, the Centaur swung its giant sword at the lance!


    Smash!


    The sound of ice smashing into fragments resounded throughout the frozen clearing. The only remaining evidence of it was a light dusting of ice that covered the ground.


    ¡°Pitiful!¡± The Centaur yelled, before arriving in front of Maya. His speed frightened her, as he prepared to slice at her neck with a deadly slash from his sword!


    This is bad! Maya yelled in her mind. As a mage, Maya was not good at close combat engagements! Typically, she would stay behind Michael and Zen as they took care of monsters in the front, while she provided support from behind. This was the worst possible matchup for her!


    ¡°Die!¡± It shouted once more as its titanic sword struck down at her!


    Before the fatal strike could connect, Maya burned her Arcana and formed a protective layer of ice to shield her from the blow!


    Bam!


    Maya slammed onto the ground, her breath forcefully ejected from her lungs. While the shield helped hamper the blow, it was not able to entirely diffuse the strength of the impact.Still gasping, Maya stumbled to get up and face her opponent.


    As she raised her arms once more, she noticed that the orbs on her bracelets had shattered. And the Arcana held within dissipated into the air.


    Although she had lost her beloved weapon, she did not require it to fight! Anyone can use magic without equipment, they would just have to rely on the Arcana that was stored within themselves.


    ¡°Just stay down and die!¡± A bulging vein appeared on the Centaur¡¯s forehead as his eyes glowered in fury. ¡°Because of you...Because of you... The young master will become angry! A flash of fear and loathing covered his face as he said these words.


    Young master? Maya silently thought. Someone else is behind this then! What do they want? And why did they need all these mutated beasts?!


    ¡°Die!¡± The Centaur yelled once more as he sprinted towards Maya, his sword raised once more as he prepared to slash at her!


    Maya lifted both of her arms as another lance of ice formed in front of her. She knew that this would be her last chance at taking down her enemy, she had to make this last blow count!


    Bash!


    The Centaur¡¯s head exploded as a large stalagmite of rock hit the side of his face, ejecting blood and brain matter as it splattered all over the clearing!


    Maya could only gaze in surprise as she saw this cruel scene. Her eyes darted around as she looked for the intruder.


    ¡°Whos there?!¡± She shouted, looking for the one responsible for the surprise attack. The icicle in front of her only continuing to grow in strength.


    ¡°How meddlesome¡­¡± A quiet voice appeared from above Maya. A small body dropped from the overhead canopy and landed in front of her!


    It was a boy, no older than sixteen or seventeen. His eyes were black and so was his hair. His skin was a sickly pale white that eerily glowed in the bright moonlight. The boy was an Azir, which his fluffy black ears and tail attested to.


    ¡°You four ruined everything¡­ And you must pay for it¡­¡± The mysterious Azir nonchalantly said, before raising one hand.


    Erepirbol!


    A large boulder coalesced in front of the young Azir, before being launched away from him as if it were shot from a cannon!


    ¡°Wait!¡± Maya yelled out as the boulder flung towards her. She could only release her spear of ice towards it, in an attempt to block it.


    Crash!


    The boulder did not slow down at all as it struck the icicle. The lance disintegrated into a fine powder as it was struck. The pale Azir slightly smiled at this, as he gazed at Maya.


    Maya could only let out a sickening sound as the boulder crashed into her body, flinging her back dozens of feet, only stopping when she collided with a tree!


    Thud!


    Maya only saw darkness as her head smacked into the tree, her dark eyes became blurry and rolled into the back of her head as blood oozed from her forehead.


    ¡°I guess there is only one left.¡± The pale boy said, gazing into the direction that Clover was running.


    <hr>


    Michael yelled with all his might as his regal sword delivered the final blow to the Centaur. The deadly blade met its mark as it sliced at its front legs and chopped them off, causing the beast to fall with a loud smack!


    The mutated Centaur let out one last unintelligible roar before Michael stabbed his sword into its forehead and pierced its brain. The Centaur¡¯s eyes rolled back into its head and died instantly. It¡¯s scaly body gave off a few spasms as it died, refusing to give up its attachment to life.


    Looking at the pitiful display, Michael could only look down in pity. Centaurs mostly lived in barbarian tribal lands north of Kaldia and east of the Iceheart kingdom. Their most common trait was pillaging, therefore they deserved no pity. But there were a few who left their empty homeland to live in civilized society. And although they were ostracized and belittled everywhere they went, it was clear that they were highly intelligent creatures. Even when they did not have any sort of formal education. This was in direct contrast to the widely spread ¡®fact¡¯ that Centaurs were mindless beasts who only sought to eat, fight, and have sex.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Could this Centaur also have been forced to go under some form of mutation? Did it have a master controlling it from the shadows?


    Shaking his head clear from these thoughts, he dashed down the path towards the rest of the group.


    As Michael ran, many worrisome thoughts ran through his head. The most distressing of which was how he was going to explain all this to Captain Strauss. And more frighteningly, Bastille!


    He shivered at the thought of what would happen if Clover was hurt. If he did get hurt, how would they be able to explain this? Although the Trio had good intentions, they had poorly executed this gift. They should have asked for permission and made several other preparations beforehand!


    Sighing, he could only hope that everything would turn out alright and that Zen and Maya have taken care of the mutant horde. Besides, Zen was almost as strong as he was! And Maya is an extremely capable mage!


    Running along the path with all these thoughts swirling through his head, Michael had forgotten about the pain and exhaustion that he was feeling. All of a sudden, sharp pains echoed throughout his body as the adrenaline of battle wore off.


    Thud.


    Falling to the ground in a spectacularly lame fashion, Michael let out a long breath of air. His body had many cuts and bruises and his armor was completely destroyed. His protective jacket was covered in slashes and cuts while his metal chest guard was completely destroyed!


    His pale face sweated profusely as he ground his teeth in pain. His usually clear blue eyes were now clouded with exhaustion. From an outsider''s view, this young man would look like they were at death¡¯s door!


    ¡°I won¡¯t die from this!¡± Michael ground his teeth harder as an intense confidence poured into his eyes, clearing the clouds that covered his brilliant blue pupils!


    While any other Seeker would have succumbed to their wounds long ago, Michael would not! He was a true hero, how could he die from something like this? After all, he still had a damsel to save!


    As an image of the gray-haired boy entered his mind, strength filled his muscles, as he launched himself back onto his feet and ran down the path with all his might!


    <hr>


    ¡°Why! Won''t! You! Die!¡±


    Michael stopped dead in his tracks as he heard a loud yell in front of him. Without a noise, he hid in nearby bushes and gazed at the owner of the voice. His eyes snapped open in surprise as he gazed at the sight in front of him.


    Another Centaur currently had Zen preoccupied in a battle. However, it appeared that the Centaur had the upper hand. Zen was currently kneeling down and gasping for air, as blood oozed from the many wounds that covered his body. His dark-green jacket had many tears and holes as streams of blood trickled out of them. Zen¡¯s prized bow laid shattered in front of him while the Centaur slowly approached him.


    ¡°Now you will die, just like your friends.¡± The Centaur raised its spear once more, preparing to slash it down and end Zen¡¯s life!


    ¡°Die!¡± Falhosbal!


    Michael loudly roared as lifted up an arm towards the man and burnt the remaining amount of Arcana in his body. As he shouted the ancient command, a large ball of fire shot forth from his hand!


    The Centaur turned in surprise, his eyes were filled with unmasked hate and fear. Rotating his body, it attempted to jump out of the way of the seething fireball!


    Swish!


    Before the Centaur could leap out of the way and into safety, a well-placed dagger stabbed into his back, piercing his spine!


    ¡°Damn¡­.you...¡± The Centaur groaned as the intruding object pierced through his soft flesh and tore into his back! The Centaur found that he could not move as the previous attack had paralyzed him from the torso down. His eyes were full of despair and hate as he glared at Zen before he fell to the ground.


    His useless legs no longer capable of supporting him, as the large ball of fire bore down on him!


    ¡°The young master will avenge me!¡± The Centaur let out one last curse as it became enveloped by Michael¡¯s flames.


    ¡°Zen!¡±


    ¡°I thought you had died, you bastard¡­¡± Zen let out a half-smile, before contorting his face with pain. Clearly, both of the young men were in dire straits. Their bodies were littered with wounds, as exhaustion seeped into their bones. Michael felt as if his blood was boiling due to the effects of burning too much of his Arcana, making him feel as if he had a high fever. Zen, on the other hand, was nauseous and light-headed, almost as if he was drunk.


    ¡°Are Maya and Clover safe? Did you manage to kill the rest of the mutants?¡±


    Zen¡¯s face flashed with multiple emotions as he heard this. Looking at his face, Michael could already guess the answer.


    ¡°No...They ran past me after the Centaur attacked me. His master took a horn that controlled the beasts and ran off towards Maya and Clover.


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Michael muttered. ¡°Well nevertheless, we have to go and catch up with them! Clover must not be harmed!¡±


    ¡°Let''s go!¡± Zen said before falling back onto his feet¡­


    ¡°Uh, can you carry me for a bit?¡± Zen¡¯s eyes pleadingly gazed at Michael, while his face was contorted with an awkward smile.


    Michael could only gaze at his friend with slight annoyance before picking him up and slinging him over his back like a sack of potatoes


    After running for a couple of miles, Michael and Zen were hit with a sudden chill. The hairs on the backs of their necks bristled from the sudden drop in temperature.


    ¡°This is definitely Maya¡¯s magic!¡± Zen shouted. It had to be, how else would the warm summer air drastically decrease in temperature so suddenly?


    As they continued running, the pair began to see ice and frost cover the landscape. Trees and bushes were encased in pure ice, the moonlight shone upon them, blinding the duo with a dazzling light show.


    ¡°What the¡­¡± The duo said simultaneously.


    As they ran deeper into the winter landscape, the duo saw the demonic beasts encased in ice. Their snarling faces were captured in time, allowing the two to more closely inspect their features. Their eyes no longer glowed their furious red. Now they were dull and dead. Their bodies were covered in layers of muscle with veins similar to worms. One glance at these hellish sculptures would be all that was need to tell that these beasts could not have been created through natural means.


    The world Michael and Zen inhabited was vast, with strange mysteries inhabiting all types of ancient ruins and mystical zones. Seekers would often seek out the mysteries contained within these zones in hopes of finding treasure. But what they desired most of all was power.


    Power like what these beasts may have found. Power that granted strength. A power that was so enticing, that they would not mind if they¡¯re bodies became twisted and mutated. Many believed that The Dark Forest of Vanden held a mysterious power, one that had yet to be found. After all, The Dark Forest was vast, and only Blue ranked Seekers would be capable of surviving within the deeper portions of the forest. But even then, stories of famous and overconfident Blue ranked Seekers that perished in this forest was common!


    And Vanden¡¯s Dark Forest was not the only place that had such treacherous mystical zones! Bleakbog, The Hassan Desert, Mount Everburn, and The Primal Isle also held such mystical zones. But the most dangerous and mysterious of all mystical zones were The Deadlands of the Aleesian continent! It was there where the vast majority of Gold and Blue ranked Seekers would travel to, and where they would die. The danger found in this land was unparalleled. It was for a good reason why it was called The Deadlands.


    Michael and Zen assumed that these rogue beasts had come into contact with some sort of strange power that originated from within The Dark Forest. And that the Centaurs were the ones who found it.


    Unfortunately for the two of them, they did not know that these beasts were injected with a man-made serum that allowed them to push their bodies to the limit and become controlled with the horn. Although they had their suspicions that the Centaur¡¯s were behind this, they did remember that they mentioned something about a young master. From the tone of their voice when they spoke of him, it was clear that he was above them in some way. It was most likely the young master who was behind this.


    ¡°Maya! Clover!¡± The two shouted, hoping that their friends would hear their voices and run towards them, safe and sound.


    ¡°Damn it! Where are they?¡± Michael let out a curse as he gazed out onto the frozen landscape.


    ¡°Over here!¡±


    Michael sprinted towards the sound of Zen¡¯s voice, only to gasp in horror. In front of the two, them was their companion. Her body was bruised and battered. Her skin was frostbitten in multiple places. But the blood running from her head was the most pressing matter. If there was any significant damage to the brain, then there would be no hope for their friend.


    ¡°Hurry! Take out the elixir!¡± Zen yelled at Michael.


    ¡°I know! I know!¡± Michael pulled out an elixir as he retorted back. The elixir was a dull rusty brown, with only the slightest tinge of red. The liquid was suspended in a simple glass container, with any details other than a simple brown label that said, Imp Mud.


    Michael uncorked the elixir and poured two-thirds of the liquid down Maya¡¯s throat while pouring the remaining third directly onto her wounds. Immediately after touching Maya¡¯s skin, the liquid began to violently sizzle and bubble. The wounds began to heal at an astonishing rate, after less than ten seconds, the smallest of cuts had closed up. Her veins glowed a bright red color as the elixir flowed throughout her body, healing her from within. Thankfully she was unconscious for this, or else she would be screaming in pain! The cheaper the elixir, the worse the pain would be. With the most expensive of elixirs only causing a sensation some would call pleasant.


    After a minute of silence, Maya¡¯s eyes fluttered open. A cloud of confusion and pain appeared within them, as she gazed at her two companions.


    ¡°Maya¡­¡± The two young men let out breaths of relief as they saw their friend awake from her slumber.


    ¡°...ver¡­¡± Maya let out a soft whisper, her eyes welling up with large tears as she gazed at her two friends.


    ¡°What''s that Maya?¡± Zen came closer, trying to hear her traumatized friend.


    Finding strength, she spoke up again.


    ¡°Save Clover!¡±


    <hr>


    Clover panted heavily as he ran through the dense foliage that littered the forest.


    The forest was eerily silent now, a huge difference from the chaos from minutes ago. After he had been ordered to run away from Maya. He had heard a large explosion, and the warm summer air turned chilly in an instant. He had felt as if he was going to freeze to death as frost began to creep onto his clothing, only for it to melt away a minute later as he ran away from the epicenter of the explosion.


    In direct contrast to the freezing ice from before, he was now covered in sweat as his body became increasingly warm as he ran this marathon. His brow was covered in sweat that dripped down his pale face which ran down his neck and soaked into his clothes. His legs were riddled with tiny cuts from thorns and branches that whipped past his skin as he ran through the undergrowth.


    As Clover never had the aspiration to become a Seeker, he had never made it his goal to become physically fit. Although he would train in the Guild training grounds on occasion, he was definitely not fit! His chest heaved up and down as hot breath tumbled out of his dry throat and his slender legs threatened to buckle from exhaustion as they struggled to keep him up.


    Clover ran for what seemed like hours before he began to see a slight glow from behind the large trees in front of him! This glow was from the distant lights of Vanden! A burst of strength and energy filled Clover¡¯s frame as he sprinted towards the light.


    Bam!


    Clover burst past the dense foliage and into the open fields outside of the forest. About a mile away from him was the large city of Vanden. It¡¯s tall and mighty walls never looked more inviting in his life! The night sky accentuated the thousands of lights from within, making it appear as if miniature stars had fallen to earth, creating a brilliant light show!


    Stopping to catch his breath, Clover looked back at the forest behind him. His eyes filled with a sense of duty and confidence as he prepared himself to explain the party¡¯s situation to Captain Strauss and the rest of the wall guards. Letting out a final breath, Clover turned back towards the city and prepared for the last portion of his marathon.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Clover¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as he saw a small figure in front of him. It was another boy. The boy looked sick. His ashen white face appeared terribly pale. Its sickly whiteness was only accentuated by his jet-black hair and eyes and his two wolf-like ears adorned his head while an equally black tail bristled behind him.


    ¡°Hey! It¡¯s not safe here! There are demons rampaging in the forest, you have to run!¡± Clover warned the strange boy. However, it did not appear as if the boy heard, as he stood silent and stared at Clover.


    ¡°Are you okay? If you¡¯ve been hurt you can follow me back to Vanden!¡±


    ¡°Fool¡­¡± The Azir boy whispered as he stared at Clover.


    ¡°What?¡± Confusion filled Clover¡¯s eyes as well as a hint of fear, for some reason he did not feel safe when the mysterious boy stared at him, his black eyes were like black holes that threatened to swallow up his existence.


    ¡°We need to get out of here!¡± Clover yelled once more as he tried to run past the strange boy. His face was covered in fear, he merely wanted to get out of this situation as fast as possible!


    ¡°You''re not going anywhere!¡± The boy yelled as he grabbed onto Clover¡¯s shirt collar as he ran past, throwing him back dozens of feet with ease!


    ¡°Geh!¡± Clover choked, as he was suddenly jerked back before he was launched into the air. His body flew dozens of feet before landing with a painful thud!


    Struggling to get up, Clover pushed himself up the ground, only to be forcefully pushed back down as the mysterious boy slammed his foot into Clover¡¯s back.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Clover yelped in pain as his head slammed into the ground, his back and stomach ached with pain as he threw up a mouthful of blood.


    ¡°Why are you doing this?!¡± Clover¡¯s eyes were filled with tears of pain as he gazed upon his aggressor. ¡°What have I ever done to you?! I don¡¯t know who you are!¡±


    ¡°You ruined my plans!¡± The boy yelled back. His face was contorted in fury as he gazed down at Clover¡¯s pitiful body.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about your plans! Even if I did, why would I ruin it?!¡± Clover tried to throw common sense at the boy. After all, how and why would Clover be able to ruin this boy¡¯s plans?


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter! You were in the forest when I tried to enact my plans! You and your friends will die for killing my precious beasts!¡± A wriggling vein had appeared on his forehead, as spittle flew from his mouth with each word.


    Clearly, there was no getting through to this deranged child. As Clover gazed at this boy he could only think of one thing.


    Am I going to die?


    He was still young and he hadn¡¯t been able to complete any of his dreams, how could he possibly die here?


    Forcefully pushing himself off from the ground, Clover attempted to sprint away! His attempted escape was only met with extreme prejudice as the boy effortlessly caught up and grabbed Clover by the back of his neck!


    With a single movement, Clover was flung into the air back into the forest and away from the safety of Vanden!


    ¡°Ah!¡± Clover let out a yell as he fell into the dense canopy of the trees. His body was mercilessly whipped by branches as he tumbled down. Cuts and bruises appeared throughout his body as the branches cut his delicate skin. He fell for what felt like minutes until he finally met the forest floor with a sickening crash!


    Clover nearly lost consciousness as he violently hit the forest floor. Blood flowed from a wound from his head as he struggled to get back up. Mentally, he had already given up on escaping his death, but his body automatically forced himself to survive.


    Stumbling, he tried to hide in nearby bushes before the boy could arrive. However, Clover was too slow as the boy emerged from the thick foliage in front of him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t blame me for killing you...After all, you were the ones who came into this forest and killed my precious pets. I am only providing justice for them!¡±


    As the boy said this, he began to form a small rock in front of his outstretched arm. It started off as a clump of uneven dirt and rock. But it soon began to spin around faster and faster until it fashioned itself into a deadly looking lance which was aimed at Clover!


    ¡°Guh¡­¡± Clover could only moan out pitifully as he stared at his impending death. He had completely resigned himself to his fate as he gazed at the rotating spike.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± The boy¡¯s eyes snapped open in shock as he looked at his chest. Where a small light was glowing a bright blue.


    ¡°What!¡± The boy yelled as he stopped his magic and fell to his knees. Reaching into his shirt, he pulled out a small orb that was connected by a thin string. After it was released from its confinement, the orb slowly hovered over the Azir boy¡¯s face, as if it was communicating with him.


    ¡°No! This is not possible!¡± The boy shrieked out as he gazed at Clover. Grabbing the orb, the boy crushed it in hands, the glowing light faded away as the orb shattered into a powder.


    ¡°Who are you! Why do you exist!¡± The boy yelled as he began to have a childish tantrum.


    Clover could only look on in astonishment as the previously serious and terrifying boy in front of him had collapsed into nothing but a writhing mass of childishness. The boy was screaming out unintelligible words as he pulled at his hair, ripping out handfuls. This would have been comical if Clover¡¯s life was not at stake.


    After a minute of this, the boy went silent and stood back up. His eyes were dull with a gleam of confusion as he stared at Clover.


    ¡°You...¡± The Azir boy lightly whispered. ¡°You must not leave here alive. I don¡¯t care what he said...¡± Barely audible the boy looked at Clover with a look that he could not describe. Pity? Hate? Sympathy? None of this mattered as Clover knew that his fate was still the same.


    The boy looked on at Clover, however, he did not attempt to cast any magic. Instead, he fell to the ground and began to violently spasm back and forth. His face looked like it was in intense pain as black fur violently appeared out of his skin. His previous small frame grew to a staggering seven feet tall and his entire body became more wolf-like. His mouth was now full of dagger-like teeth and his nails had turned into claws.


    Clover¡¯s eyes widened in horror as he gazed at the boy''s transformation. What was he! He had never heard of an Azir being able to transform into a beast!


    Before Clover could wrap his head around what had just happened, the boy turned wolf attacked! It crossed several meters in less than a second!


    Bam!


    The boy¡¯s large body violently slammed into Clover¡¯s much smaller frame, causing him to fly back dozens of meters!


    Thud!


    With a bone-shattering smack, Clover landed heavily on the ground.


    Clover screeched in agony as he hit the ground. He could feel several ribs shatter as he hit the ground. Struggling to get up, Clover vomited several mouthfuls of blood. His mind was in a panic.


    Why is this happening! Who is he! Why is he doing this to me! I don¡¯t want to die! Someone! Save me!


    His mind was screaming in fear as it could only think about staying alive. Adrenaline pumped through his body, hoping to somehow make use of it to escape.


    Coughing more sticky blood, Clover looked for the Azir turned werewolf, only to be unable to locate it.


    Had he assumed he had died and left?


    No, that was impossible, the boy would never leave Clover the faintest chance of survival after he reacted to whatever the orb had said


    Incredible amounts of pain consumed Clover¡¯s body, his shattered ribs making it nearly impossible for him to breathe. He could feel that his left arm was broken as well, only adding to his list of injuries. Clover struggled to get up once more, only to fall back onto his knees. As he looked up, he saw that the boy-wolf had appeared in front of him again.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t kill me!¡± Clover screamed in agony as he gazed at the beast. Its eyes were empty as if it had no intelligence left.


    ¡°Coward¡­ A Seeker must always be prepared for death.¡±


    The boy-wolf rammed into Clover once more, slashing at his body with an outstretched paw!


    ¡°Agh!¡± Letting out a pitiful wail, Clover was flung back dozens of feet. Clover struggled for a few moments before he reached out with his right arm and attempted to get up once more. It was only until another few moments of confusion that he noticed that his arm wouldn¡¯t obey him. As he looked down, Clover noticed a large pool of blood.


    ¡°All of this is mine?¡± Clover faintly whispered as looked down. The dark shadows of the forest shrouded the landscape in darkness. It was not until the moon flashed through the thick overhead canopy that he noticed his dismembered arm laying in the middle of the pool of blood.


    Screeching like a dying bat, Clover stared at his stump of an arm as a large river of blood flowed from it. His head became faint from the loss of blood as he fell to his side, his eyes turning toward his assailant as the Azir boy drew closer towards him.


    This was it. This is the end. I am going to die.


    ¡°Bastille, Maria, Sven, Kate, Edward, Heather, Carla, Morty¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Clover couldn''t help but let out a stream of tears as he thought of everyone.


    Why did I leave? Why didn¡¯t I just refuse this gift?


    His questions wildly cluttered his mind as he watched death approach. Clover closed his eyes as he wished that he would wake up in his bed as if this was just a terrible nightmare.


    But after a couple of short breaths, death hadn¡¯t appeared.


    Huh? Shouldn¡¯t I be dead? Clover wondered as he opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings.


    ¡°Damion! I have hunted you for months! Now I will finally kill you!¡±


    In front of him was a slender girl, about the same age as him. From his position, he could only see her sleek and fiery red hair. She was covered from head to toe in an extravagant suit of armor that was trimmed with gold and ruby designs. On her back was a red cape with an insignia that resembled a pair of phoenixes. In her hand was a comically large claymore that was much larger than her. But even Clover could tell that it was incredibly well made.


    Who was this girl? Was she from a noble family? How else could she afford that armor and bear an insignia?


    Either way, she seemed confident in her abilities at defeating the boy-wolf.


    ¡°You never know when to stop do you!¡± Damion yelled, his voice sounded more like a bark then a yell.


    Slamming his hands onto the ground, an enormous wall of earth appeared. Blocking the mystery girl and Clover from seeing him.


    ¡°No! Not again!¡± The redheaded girl yelled once more before she rushed at the wall with her large claymore!


    Boom!


    The wall shattered to bits as the girl¡¯s blade slammed into it. An avalanche of rock and dirt fell, causing a large amount of dust to exploded and cover the surrounding area. Damion used this smoke-screen to escape.


    ¡°Damn you, Damion!¡± The girl yelled in anger, her scarlet hair bristled like that of a cat.


    ¡°Ugh...¡± Clover let out a single moan of pain as he gazed at the hot-headed girl in front of him. His eyes met briefly met hers as she nonchalantly gazed at his soon to be corpse.


    ¡°Who are you? Obviously not someone important since I don''t see any important noble insignia on your clothes!¡± The girl shouted in a clear and confident voice.


    ¡°Are you some unfortunate peasant who happened to meet Damion¡¯s wrath? Pfft, no wonder your body is all torn up!¡± The redheaded girl laughed to herself as she said this, before continuing.


    ¡°Or are you a stupid Seeker who had taken a mission by himself, thinking that you could make more money by yourself? Too bad¡­Like most commoners, you overestimated your strength! Honestly, how pitiful¡­¡±


    Clover¡¯s unfocused eyes could hardly see the girl¡¯s face. Due to a large amount of blood loss, his vision had become blurry. He could only let out a weak gurgle.


    ¡°Geh¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh? What was that noise?¡± The girl asked. ¡°Oh, you are dying aren''t you? Well...You did manage to stop Damion in time for me to catch up to him¡­ Although he did escape¡­¡± Letting out a sigh of annoyance, the fiery girl continued.


    ¡°Oh well, I guess I can leave you with this elixir, as a token of gratitude of course!¡± The girl reached into a small satchel on her waist and pulled out a small tube and pipette. Inside the small tube was a small amount of a bright pink fluid, without a single trace of impurities. The girl opened the small tube and took out a single drop of pink fluid with the pipette.


    ¡°Just to let you know¡­ This single drop is worth more than your life will ever be worth.¡± The girl nonchalantly said as she opened Clover¡¯s mouth and squeezed out the drop of fluid into his mouth.


    Clover felt a warm sensation flow into his body. His bloody stump of an arm had begun to cauterize itself, and many of his larger cuts began to seal their wounds within seconds.


    ¡°Now then, forget that I was here and go to sleep¡­¡± As the fiery girl said these words, Clover felt an immense sense of exhaustion fill his body. His vision turned black as he gazed into the blurry face in front of him. His head gently hit the ground as he fell unconscious.

 [Seeker] Chapter 7

    -Approaching Threat-


    ¡°Revered Guildmaster!¡± Shouted the multitude of guards that were guarding the bridge that led to the royal palace. The guards that were stationed here were the elites of the elite. They swore to defend the palace with their lives. Their faces were stiff and focused, as they were currently on high alert due to the many important guests that would be arriving. Dukes, Counts, Barons, Bishops, and a myriad of important officials would all be gathered here tonight. And of course, Bastille Rumare was invited, as he is the Guildmaster as well as one of the King¡¯s closest friends.


    "His royal highness has ordered us to escort you directly to him.¡± One of the royal guards said.


    ¡°Very well, we wouldn¡¯t want the King to wait,¡± Bastille replied before the royal guard escorted his carriage across the long bridge that connected the city with the royal palace.


    The city of Vanden was separated into two distinct parts. The northern and southern halves were divided by a narrow river that connected the bay with an inner lake. The palace resided on an island in the middle of this lake. This gave the royal family an advantageous location to rule from, as the island would be safe in the event of invasion or rebellion. Of course, this meant that a long bridge had to be constructed in order to reach the palace on foot.


    ¡°I just want this to be over¡­¡± Bastille grumbled. ¡°Emeric knows that I hate these kinds of events, he should know not to invite me¡­¡± Of course, Bastille could not refuse the King¡¯s invitation. Even though he was his friend, it wouldn¡¯t be wise to cross him. And that was especially true for tonight. After all, it was the princess¡¯s sixteenth birthday! Bastille had to attend as he was essentially her uncle!


    Bastille looked out the carriage to the spectacular sight ahead of him. The royal palace, also known as the White Palace, was an impressive sight to behold. The name of the palace derived from the marble that was used to construct it. From the many columns, arches, and balconies, everywhere one looked they would see of white marble. Black silver was also used in the palace¡¯s construction, albeit sparingly. This precious metal was used to guild the frames of windows, doors, lights, and the flower-like designs that covered the walls and columns of the palace.


    The location of the palace further accentuated its majestic appearance. The thousands of lights that glowed from the palace reflected off the water that surrounded it, causing the surrounding area to glow like a radiant beacon that proclaimed the wealth and power of the Vanden royalty!


    Even though Bastille has been in the palace numerous times, he couldn¡¯t help but be astonished by the amount of wealth the royal family wastes on their home. This was in direct contrast to his humble life as a Seeker. And although he had long since been promoted to a position of power, he did not use this power to generate wealth. Instead, he preferred to live modestly, partly because he preferred the simplistic life of a Seeker as well as to prevent younger Seekers from rushing to their deaths in search of wealth.


    As Bastille was well-renowned, many of the younger Seekers looked up to him as a role model. Bastille wished to prevent these younger Seekers from solely focusing on the wealth aspect of Seeking and to instead use their strength and courage to support their community. Bastille had seen many young Seekers die horrible deaths in search of riches during his lifetime. This was partly due to the fact that many self-confident Seekers would take on missions that offered high rewards but were too difficult for them.


    After two minutes of riding, Bastille arrived in the courtyard where he saw a myriad of palace servants attending the arriving lords and ladies. The servants were dressed in black and white attire. The men wore simple white jackets and white pants with black buttons and accents. While the woman wore black dresses with white buttons and accents.


    As his carriage stopped, Bastille disembarked and followed the royal guards into the palace without stopping to chat with any other guest. The guard escorted him through large mahogany doors and into a large foyer where a long red carpet led to another pair of equally majestic doors. The guard pushed open these two large doors for Bastille, and as they entered, hundreds of eyes burned into Bastille¡¯s large frame.


    ¡°The Revered Guildmaster of Vanden, Bastille Rumare!¡± Announced the master of ceremonies, his deep baritone voice echoing throughout the impressive hall. Just like the rest of the mansion, marble and black silver was the theme as every inch of the room was covered in a sea of white and black. Even the flowers that accented the ivory tables were black orchids, and the sleek marble flooring of the dance floor was detailed with the design of an eagle. The only contrasting colors were the variously colored attire that the nobility wore.


    As the last echoes reverberated off the walls, only silence remained as no one dared to say a word. A few nobles shifted their eyes away from Bastille while two of them excused themselves from the room.


    I¡¯ll make sure to keep an eye on those two¡­


    Although Bastille had dug up a large amount of corruption in the city, he could not cleanse it all! Many nobles had various sources of illegal revenue, and it would be impossible to imprison them all, as that would create large amounts of resentment towards the King who endorsed Bastille. If enough powerful lords were displeased with Bastille¡¯s actions, they might even threaten the kingdom with rebellion! Of course, this has created many enemies for Bastille, even the nobility that were not involved in any illegal operations would avoid him!


    ¡°Bastille!¡± One loud voice interrupted the deafening silence that resounded throughout the ballroom.


    ¡°Greetings, your majesty.¡± Bastille respectfully bowed his head slightly as he said this, as the man who shouted his name was no other than King Emeric Kasper Vanden.


    ¡°Haha! No need for the formalities old friend! Tell me, how are Maria and young Clover?¡± Emeric casually bellowed, disregarding any sort of formal procedure.


    Emeric was a tall handsome man in his early forties, with dark brown hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. He was wearing an extravagant silver and black robe with an elegant cloak made from the plumage of eagles. Only those of the royal family were allowed to wear such a magnificent bird¡¯s plumage as clothing.


    ¡°They are doing well. As you know, today is Clover¡¯s fourteenth birthday.¡± Bastille simply replied.


    ¡°Of course, how could I ever forget that our children share the same birthday? Tell me, did Clover like his present?¡±


    ¡°Oh...Yes, your gift...Clover wanted me to thank you for your highness''s most magnanimous gift...¡± Bastille muttered as he recalled an earlier scene from this morning.


    Before the sun had peaked over the Atlan mountains, a small chest had arrived at the Seekers guild. Bastille, Maria, and Edward were well aware of what was contained inside when they opened it, as King Emeric sent Clover one of these chests on his birthday ever since Bastille found him. Within the chest were hundreds of gold coins that filled the volume of the chest. The nearly solid cube of gold was blanketed by a multitude of gemstones such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds. Although it was a small chest, this was still more than enough wealth for a family to live off of for many generations! Of course, every year Bastille would order Edward to deposit this in the Dravine Bank, where other similarly sized chests resided. To this day, Bastille and Maria had no idea on when and how to explain to Clover that he was wealthier than most nobles.


    ¡°Fantastic! I do worry about that child...After all, he is being raised around a bunch of ruffians!¡± Emeric snorted.


    ¡°I''m one of those ruffians, your grace,¡± Bastille smiled


    ¡°Of course, of course. You never let me forget! No matter how many times I offer you a title of nobility, you always decline!¡±


    ¡°I have never wanted a rank of nobility. I am much more comfortable as the Guildmaster. It better suits my lifestyle.¡±


    ¡°Really? Not even if I were to offer you...Oh, let''s say¡­ The Dukedom of Cyrelle? It''s the second wealthiest province in all of Vanden!¡± Emeric slyly smiled as he gauged Bastille¡¯s reaction, only to be disappointed as he didn''t make a single response.


    ¡°No. Although it is tempting, I must still refuse.¡±


    ¡°Oh well¡­I had hoped you would agree. That way it would be much more proper for my daughter to marry Clover once he became of age¡­¡±


    ¡°While that is tempting, Maria and I believe that Clover should find his own path in life. That includes his future spouse.¡± Bastille replied simply. This was not the first time King Emeric had voiced his intention of having Clover marry into the royal family.


    ¡°Must you always deny my requests, old friend?¡± Emeric sighed. ¡°Very well, I will respect your decision. This time.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, your highness.¡± Bastille knew that the next time he met with the King that he would once again bombard him with titles of nobility and marriage, so he didn''t keep his lord¡¯s promise at heart.


    ¡°Anyways. Let us leave the ballroom and discuss an important matter.¡± Emeric said before leading Bastille another exquisite hallway, and into a large meeting room. Inside the room were three other men.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°Bastille, it is no doubt you know the Lord Commander of Vanden, Maximillion Adair.¡± King Emeric casually said as he pointed out a tall tan man.


    This man bowed his head in respect as he greeted Bastille. The two of them had worked with each other on various occasions. Maximillion was a tall battle-scarred man with brown hair and blue eyes. As the Lord Commander, he was in charge of all military activities in the city and the surrounding region.


    ¡°And of course, this is my right-hand man, Minister Andries Oddo Urbano,¡± Emeric said once more.


    ¡°Bastille. It has been far too long since we last met. It has been more than ten years, has it not?¡± Andries inquired. He was a scrawny pale figure. His greasy black hair and dull black eyes suit his dubious form.


    ¡°Yes, around ten years, on the night we last deposed King Kasper.¡± Bastille awkwardly replied.


    ¡°But you have visited the palace on numerous occasions before...You wouldn¡¯t have been avoiding me? Would you?¡± Andries inquired once again as his sunken eyes squinted questionably at Bastille.


    ¡°Of course not. It is just that I have limited time whenever I visit, and I must give my full attention to the King¡­¡± Bastille huffed. It''s not that I have been avoiding you because I don''t like you...It''s just that you are so...Strange... He thought to himself.


    ¡°Harumph.¡± King Emeric coughed as he interrupted the two. ¡°Bastille, I must present to you my guest of honor...His Most Serene Doge of Omalfia, Emilio Edmondo Mariano Teo Omalfi.¡±


    ¡°I have heard many good things about you, Bastille Rumare.¡± Doge Emilio replied. The Doge was a tall and fair skinned man. His blonde hair resembled golden strings and his deep blue eyes were like pools of water. The Doge wore majestic blue and orange attire laden with gold. In fact, his outfit was even more illustrious than that of the King¡¯s!


    ¡°My Doge. It is an honor to finally meet you.¡± Bastille bowed his head as he said this. After all, this was the Serene Doge of Omalfia! Even the King had to show him respect!


    ¡°It is my pleasure.¡± Doge Emilio replied before continuing. ¡°Now then, since we have all arrived we should commence.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I was informed by Andries that there is a special matter that must be discussed.¡± King Emeric said as they all took their seats. King Emeric took the seat at the end of the table, while Doge Emilio took the other end. Bastille, Andries, and Maxillion took their seats on the sides of the table.


    ¡°Yes. It is unfortunate for me to say, but we have reason to believe that a significant threat has appeared in the Aleesian continent, specifically in the Deadlands. In Bastille¡¯s Seeker terms, it would be a Black rank threat.¡± Doge Emilio replied, his eyes squinted with caution as he said this.


    ¡°Black rank?!¡± Everyone in the room was stunned as they heard this. Black ranked threats were such a rarity that there had only been a few handfuls of such threats occurring. In fact, the rank of Black has not been used since its conception! Since the ranking systems conception one hundred years ago, not a single Black rank threat had appeared. In fact, only a couple dozen people knew that a Black rank existed! The last similar threat that had occurred was over two hundred years ago when a Phoenix of the Suren Dominion had escaped and razed multiple cities to the ground!


    This event was known as the Crimson Year. For an entire year, the escaped Phoenix roamed the world and burned entire villages, towns, and major cities to the ground. It was not until members of the Suren Family were able to catch up to it with another Phoenix that they were able to pacify it. But by the time it was defeated, hundreds of thousands of lives had been lost during this cataclysmic event.


    And now the Doge is saying that they may face another one of these destructive events!


    ¡°How do you know of this?¡± Bastille asked.


    ¡°We have our ways.¡± Doge Emilio simply replied.


    ¡°Nevertheless, I do have some information regarding the speculative nature of this Black-Compass threat.¡± Andries piped up. ¡°My spies have recorded numerous reports of individuals leaving the Deadlands and into the surrounding Kingdoms. Around a month ago, one individual had crossed over the Ga¡¯jong mountains and into the Cenatius continent. Of course, it is unknown if these individuals are part of the threat. But it is wise to remain cautious.¡±


    ¡°I agree. We should inform the Seeker Guilds and the Kingdoms around the Deadlands to be on full alert for any suspicious activities that may have a connection with this Black ranked threat.¡± Bastille said.


    ¡°We must also keep a close eye on the borders, as well as denying access to any dubious persons. After all, these individuals left from the Deadlands. Anyone of them could be a Gold or Blue ranked threat on their own¡­¡± Maximillion solemnly said before continuing. ¡°And depending on how many escaped and if they are working together. Those individuals may be a Black  threat themselves.¡±


    ¡°From our knowledge, we know of three so-called threats in the Adlan Kingdoms. We believe that one is currently operating in the Domantius Empire. While another arrived in the Rylos Kingdom last month, but we have not heard another word about him since then. The third one we believe is in your kingdom, King Emeric¡­¡± Doge Emilio warned.


    ¡°My kingdom?!¡± Emeric shouted in shock. ¡°How can this be? Maximillion and Andries! Do you know anything about this!¡±


    ¡°No my lord!¡± The two retainers shouted in unison. Both of their brows became moist with sweat due to their embarrassment. After all, how could someone outside of one''s kingdom have more knowledge about the situation within their lands?!


    ¡°Do not be concerned, King Emeric. From what we have last heard of that individual, they were being chased by a member of the Suren Family.¡± Doge Emilio nonchalantly replied.


    ¡°Suren? Perfect! That so-called threat will be eliminated soon enough.¡± Emeric exhaled a breath of relief.


    ¡°In any case. Suren member or not. I¡¯ll notify all Seekers to be on full alert whenever they leave the city. We will also post a Blue ranked mission for any information regarding suspicious activity in the kingdom.¡± Bastille said.


    ¡°And I will inform the city guard to remain vigilant against any threats that may befall your kingdom, your majesty,¡± Maximillion said.


    ¡°My spies will keep a closer eye on the situation as it develops, your highness.¡± Andries bowed his head to the King.


    ¡°In any case, my agents and I have decided on calling this Black threat by the name of Autarch. It is important that we keep this knowledge a secret as any leaks may cause the threat to become aware of our interference. ¡± Doge Emilio muttered.


    ¡°That would be for the best. We wouldn¡¯t anyone to know about this, as it may incite a panic.¡± King Emeric confidently said. ¡°Well, let us change topics, we have many matters to discuss and little time left. Besides, it would be callous of me if I did not attend my own daughters coming of age ceremony!¡±


    <hr>


    By the time Bastille and the group finished discussing the affairs of the Kingdom, the sun had long set. It had become dark and the moon illuminated the black sky along with countless stars.


    ¡°If that is all, let us return to the festivities.¡± King Emeric said as he stood up and began to leave the room.


    ¡°Yes, let us.¡± Doge Emilio agreed and followed King Emeric out of the room with Bastille, Andries and Maximillion following.


    They soon entered the noisy din of the ballroom which had become much more lively from the arrival of more nobles. After talking with King Emeric for a while, Doge Emilio departed to a separate corner of the room filled with other individuals who all wore similar blue and orange attire. Andries and Maximillion said their farewells and departed as well. Leaving Bastille and King Emeric alone.


    ¡°Uncle!¡± A loud yell nearly burst Bastille¡¯s eardrum, as a young girl ran up to him and hugged him tightly.


    ¡°Your royal highness, it is good to see you again.¡± Bastille warmly replied as he looked at the young girl in front of him. This was Princess Violet Rosalie Vanden.


    ¡°Uncle! I¡¯ve told you countless times that you don¡¯t have to be so formal with me! Just call me Violet!¡± Violet pouted as she said this.


    Bastille could only smile at this sight. He had known this young lady since she was an infant. And now she had become a beautiful woman. Violet was a gorgeous brunette with brown eyes and white skin that seemed to be crafted from the clearest ivory. Her silver dress was the most splendid in the hall, as it was lavishly detailed with designs of black flowers while a long black ribbon accentuated the piece around her waist.


    ¡°As her highness wishes.¡± Bastille mocked as he bowed his head, which only made her pout even more. Before she could unleash a fierce rebuttal, Bastille spoke up.


    ¡°Did you like my gift?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do! They¡¯re beautiful! Black orchids are my favorite!¡± Violet exclaimed in joy as she looked around at the elegant black flowers that dotted the ballroom.


    Black orchids were only found in the Veneshite archipelago. It was only after many deals with various merchants that he was able to have some imported for Violet''s coming of age ceremony.


    ¡°Nevermind that. Bastille and I were talking about Clover and your marriage arrangements."King Emeric interrupted. "After all, you will be leaving for the Aredos Academy next year. It is necessary that you be betrothed in order to deter any would be nobles looking to take advantage of a beautiful single lady..."


    ¡°What!¡± Violet yelled as a noticeable red blush appeared on her face. ¡°Marriage! I...I¡¯ve only met Clover once before! And we were only children...¡± Becoming increasingly flustered, Violet looked at the ground as she played with her fingers.


    ¡°Violet, your father is only joking around. I told him that it was up to debate¡­¡± Bastille groaned while glaring at his King.


    ¡°Oh...Okay¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, you ruin all the fun¡­¡± King Emeric snapped. ¡°Anyways, Violet made a good point. Why have you made it a point to never have Clover visit his uncle?! For Adlan''s sake! I''ve only seen the boy twice!¡±


    ¡°I do not want Clover to want or expect this type of lifestyle.¡± Bastille simply replied as he looked around at the ludicrous display of wealth that surrounded him.


    ¡°Bastille, why must you disrespect me so? I only want Clover to leave a happy and carefree life!¡± King Emeric snorted, obviously not accepting Bastille¡¯s reasoning.


    ¡°My lord I am not disrespecting you. I am only saying tha-¡± But before he could finish his sentence, Bastille was interrupted by a palace guard.


    ¡°My lord, I have an important message for you.¡±


    ¡°How dare you interrupt my guest!¡± King Emeric snapped as the frightened guard could only bow his head in shame as he bit his lip and continued.


    ¡°My lord, Captain Strauss has an urgent message for you. He said that it is an emergency¡­¡±


    ¡°Well spit it out then!¡±


    ¡°He said that he must tell my lord in person¡­¡± The guard mumbled awkwardly.


    ¡°Very well. Take me to him.¡± Bastille said as worry began to fill his face.


    Gregory has never come to me before because of an emergency...


    The royal guard escorted Bastille out of the palace and into the courtyard. There, Captain Strauss awaited him.


    ¡°Gregory, what is the matter?¡± Bastille inquired. He had long noticed the solemn look on the Captain¡¯s face.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Bastille. This is all of my fault¡­¡± Captain Strauss began. ¡°If I had not let them leave, this would never have happened¡­¡±


    ¡°Calm down. Tell me what happened, Captain.¡± Bastille felt a pit enter his stomach as he asked this.


    ¡°It¡¯s Clover¡­¡± Captain Strauss whispered as he informed Bastille of the events that transpired.

 [Seeker] Chapter 8

    <h2 style="text-align: center">-Haru-</h2>


    The gentle singing of robins stirred Clover from his deep slumber. Their tranquil melodies crawled through an open window as the plain curtains swayed from the cool morning breeze.


    Am I alive?


    Clover asked himself as he slowly blinked his eyes, and attempted to lift himself out of bed. Through great effort and pain, Clover was able to sit up, only to remember the events that had recently transpired. In a flash, Clover lifted his right arm and sighed in relief. His arm was still there, albeit with a hideous jagged scar from where it was dismembered.


    I suppose that¡¯s better than dying¡­


    Clover¡¯s entire body ached as he recalled the horrifying events that had happened the night before. Or at least Clover assumed it was the night before, as he took a glance at his surroundings.


    The room Clover had awoken in was made out of a white stone, with many wood furnishings. Paintings of religious figures and various landscapes dotted the walls. Beside him was a nightstand filled with letters, gifts, chocolates, and a vase of flowers. As he picked up one of the letters, Clover noticed that it was dated the Fourth of Exodus. Unless the person who delivered this letter dropped it off before he awoke than that must mean that today is the fifth of Exodus. Considering that he had blacked out on his birthday, which was on the twenty-ninth of Heaphin¡¯s Bounty. Then that would mean that he had been asleep for an entire week!


    One whole week!


    Clover gasped as he realized this before trying to jump out of bed. He stumbled as his legs were weak from lack of exercise. Through great effort, Clover eventually shuffled towards the open window and sighed in relief as he saw the familiar landscape of the Vanden. From his vantage point, Clover could see over the many tall buildings of the city and gaze at the beautiful sight of Vanden bay. The water was glowing a deep gold color from the rising sun. Clover could taste the sea-salt as a gentle breeze stroked his face


    I¡¯m home¡­


    Clover teared up a little as he greedily drank in the familiar scent and observed the streets of Vanden as they became crowded as thousands of denizens plodded their way to work. He could see the Marketplace beginning to fill as the many merchants and storekeepers barked their wares. The large archway also filled his sight, it¡¯s domineering size enveloping many buildings with its mysterious shadow.


    Judging from his high vantage point and his position relative to the Marketplace and the gate, Clover assumed that he was in the Cathedral. Of course, another obvious clue was the fact that his right arm had been reattached. The only way that would¡¯ve been possible was if Heather had used her light magic to fix it.


    Silently thanking his angel, Clover stumbled his way out of the room. Outside was a long hallway, filled with more paintings and ornate wooden furnishings. Forcing strength to his bedridden legs, Clover stumbled down the hall. After a few seconds of walking, he came upon small alcove with a coffee table and a pair of couches. Large bookcases filled with thick books lined the walls. While most were written in the common Adlan language, Clover could see that a few were covered in the weird symbols of another. As Clover walked into the alcove, he noticed that it was currently occupied by a girl who was nodding off in between cycles of wakefulness and slumber.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Clover whispered as he took another look at the drowsy girl. She was around the same age as Clover. She had blonde hair that reached her shoulders, the tips of which ended in slight curls. Her eyes that were trying to fight drowsiness were a deep blue. She would have been quite cute if her skin was not currently a sickly pale. Clover assumed that she must have some ailment, considering that she was wrapped up in a warm blanket and was in the Cathedral. She was reading a thick book that threatened to fall out of her hands as her entire body twitched and shook. And a long strand of drool connected the side of her mouth to a page of the book, creating a humorous yet embarrassing scene.


    I should probably leave¡­


    Clover thought to himself as he saw the embarrassing sight. However, as he was backing out of the room, his weakened legs buckled from under him, causing him to bump into one of the large bookcases, causing the heavy books to fall onto the floor with a loud noise!


    Crash!


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Clover yelled as one of the heavier books hit his unprotected toes. He stumbled around the room in pain, only to fall onto the floor behind one of the couches!


    ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± The drool covered girl shouted as she looked around, trying to find the source of the noise. Her eyes were open in fright as she looked around the empty room. She wrapped herself tighter in the blanket as she saw the pile of thick books on the floor, and wiped the drool from her mouth.


    ¡°I¡¯m not scared of gho¡­ghosts!¡± She yelled, her words tumbled out of her mouth as she tried to convince herself. Covering her face with her hands she shouted once more. ¡°Nutmeg! Help me!¡±


    As soon as the girl yelled, a bright orange light appeared on her chest and shot towards the pile of books! The lights that ejected from her soon began to coalesce and form into a small fox-like spirit!


    ¡°Hiya!¡± Nutmeg yelled as he flew towards the pile of fallen books! ¡°Young Miss! I¡¯ll protect you!¡±


    Nutmeg suddenly stopped before he reached the fallen books, and instead began to sniff the air. ¡°Young Miss, we are not alone in here!¡±


    ¡°Is it a ghost!¡± She exclaimed, her blue eyes opening wider in fright.


    ¡°No!¡± Nutmeg yelled as he sniffed deeper. ¡°It¡¯s a young boy!¡± Nutmeg said as he lunged towards the couch that Clover was hiding behind and effortlessly picked it up, exposing the young boy behind it!


    ¡°How dare you peep on the young Miss!¡± Nutmeg shouted. ¡°I will have your little gentleman taken away from you!¡± Lightning began to form in Nutmeg¡¯s small paws as he hissed at Clover.


    ¡°Wait! I wasn¡¯t peeping!¡± Clover shouted true fright covered his face when he heard Nutmeg swore to take his little gentleman.


    ¡°Oh, yea? Then why were you hiding!¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t hiding purposefully! I accidentally hit the bookcase and fell behind the couch!¡±


    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you show yourself when the young Miss asked!¡± Nutmeg continued his onslaught of questions, not accepting or believing Clover¡¯s answers.


    ¡°Because one of the books hit my feet and I wasn¡¯t able to stand up!¡±Clover rebuked and pointed at his swollen foot.


    ¡°Hmmm¡­I don¡¯t know¡­You could be an assassin! I should take you down anyways!¡±


    ¡°Wait! Nutmeg! I¡­I believe him.¡± The young girl whispered. ¡°Leave him be¡­¡±


    ¡°Very well. If the young Miss wishes it¡­¡± Nutmeg let go of the couch and reluctantly flew back to her, and sat on her shoulder.


    ¡°So¡­What are you doing in the Cathedral? You don¡¯t look like you¡¯re part of the church¡­¡± The young girl asked as an air of curiosity surrounded her words.


    ¡°I¡¯m not part of the church. I was injured in the Dark Forest. I just woke up a few minutes ago.¡± Clover replied.


    ¡°Dark Forest? Are you a Seeker!¡± The young girl gasped, as her big azure eyes bore into him and began to dazzle with excitement.


    Clover slightly blushed when he saw the young girl stare at him intently. ¡°Y-yea¡­You could say that I am¡­¡± He lied. Nutmeg slyly smiled as he saw the child in front of him blush and fib.


    ¡°Oh really? I thought that you couldn¡¯t become a Seeker until you were sixteen years old? You look at least thirteen or fourteen¡­¡± Nutmeg deviously said.


    ¡°Uh¡­Um¡­I¡¯m a special case¡­¡± Clover trailed off before changing the subject. ¡°Do you like Seekers? Miss¡­Sorry, what was your name?¡±


    ¡°Yes! I¡¯m intrigued by them! See!¡± The girl said, ignoring Clover¡¯s second question as she raised the book in her hands which was titled Chibb¡¯s tale of Seekers and Heros.


    ¡°Oh! I used to read that all the time!¡± Clover said as he sat down on the couch that Nutmeg had previously picked up. Clover could fondly remember the book of the great Draveir Chronicler, Chibb. The book contained the stories of many great Seekers and Heros that accomplished great feats! ¡°Why does a girl like you admire Seekers so much?¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­¡± The girl nervously giggled ¡° Because Seekers are free to do whatever they want. They are like eagles that can do whatever they want. Wherever, whenever¡­¡± She said before whispering ¡°Un-l-ke m-sl-f..¡±


    Clover stared at her curiously as he barely managed to hear that last part. However, he could definitely hear the solemness in her voice. Clover was about to speak up before Nutmeg interrupted him.


    ¡°Young Miss¡­¡± Nutmeg mumbled as he stroked the side of her head.


    ¡°Nevermind that!¡± She blushed as she realized she said something inappropriate. ¡°Let¡¯s change subjects! Tell me¡­How is your life as a Seeker? Do you know any famous Seekers?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, being a Seeker is great! I¡¯ve been on many missions!¡± Clover continued his lie. ¡°And I know a lot of famous Seekers!¡±


    ¡°Like who?¡± She asked, her already big eyes grew even larger and sparkled brighter as a shaft of light caressed the side of her face.


    ¡°Haha! Turn your book to page 328!¡± An air of pride entered Clover¡¯s face as he uttered those words. As Clover has read that book numerous times throughout his childhood, he could recall most of the pages and their contents by heart.


    ¡°Page 328. Page 328¡­Here it is!¡± She said before reading the title aloud. ¡°Bastille Rumare? He¡¯s a legendary hero! I heard that he was the one who slew the Hydra that sunk countless ships in the Golden Bay and the Western Expanse! Not only that, but he also defeated the Colossus that escaped from the Deadlands!¡± She exclaimed loudly. ¡°Wait, a second¡­He¡¯s the Guildmaster of Vanden! Of course, you would know him! That¡¯s cheating!¡± She fluttered her long eyelashes at him, not willing to accept such an obvious answer.


    ¡°Oh no! I don¡¯t just know Bastille Rumare¡­¡± Clover said, allowing the suspense to build up as the girl stared at him with a quizzical expression. ¡°Bastille Rumare is my father!¡± The scene that he imagined didn¡¯t happen. Instead, the alcove filled with silence.


    ¡°Huh?¡± The girl muttered an expression of disappointment filled her face.


    ¡°You know¡­ It is not very nice to lie¡­¡± Nutmeg muttered as he looked over at Clover.


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying! My name is Clover Rumare! I am his son!¡± Clover gazed at the two exasperated faces as they gawked at him.


    ¡°Ok¡­Clover¡­I believe that you have some sort of powerful background, considering that you were allowed to be healed by Missus Lee.¡± The girl said. Although her face still contained a trace of doubt.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying!¡± Clover said before deciding that he would be unable to convince the duo. ¡°Fine. You don¡¯t have to believe me¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t believe you! It¡¯s just that¡­It¡¯s a little hard to believe¡­¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Clover muttered. ¡°Well forget about me¡­You must be pretty important too, right? What¡¯s your name and why are you in the Cathedral? Do you have a terrible illness?¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± The girl exclaimed as she snuggled deeper into her protective blanket, covering her reddening face with it.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Nutmeg yelled. ¡°Hasn¡¯t anyone told you it¡¯s impolite to ask a lady what¡¯s wrong with them! That is a personal matter! And no boy has the right to hear!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t mean it like that!¡± Clover apologized as he bowed his head and nervously looked at the ground.


    ¡°Hmph¡­¡± Nutmeg snorted.


    ¡°I really did not mean it that way, Miss¡­But I have already told you my name¡­Can you at least tell me yours?¡± Clover said.


    ¡°My name?¡± The young girl whispered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­I can¡¯t tell you¡­¡± She said with a solemn look in her watery eyes.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Clover inquired as he gazed at her curiously.


    ¡°My father said that I¡¯m not allowed to tell anyone¡­¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s your father? Clover raised an eyebrow as he continued to prod her with questions,


    ¡°Hey! Stop it! You are making the young Miss uncomfortable!¡± Nutmeg burst out. ¡°She said she cannot tell you. So just leave it be!¡±


    ¡°Fine. Fine¡­I¡¯ll add that to the pile of questions I can¡¯t ask you¡­¡± Clover rebuked, as he turned his head away in annoyance.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­I do want to tell you¡­ It¡¯s just that, it will be safer for you if you don¡¯t know who my family is¡­¡± The girl muttered, as her blue eyes gazed at him apologetically. The sun¡¯s rays gracefully blanketed her body, causing each strand of blonde hair to turn golden.


    Thump.


    Clover could feel his heart beat louder as he gazed at the angelic figure in front of him, causing him to blush and look away.


    ¡°No. It¡¯s fine. Everyone has their secrets¡­¡± Clover mumbled.


    ¡°Thank you for understanding.¡± She said as she smiled. ¡°So, Clover. You mentioned that you were injured in the Dark Forest? Why were you there?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right, I nearly forgot!¡± Clover exclaimed. ¡°My friends took me on my first adventure into the forest as my birthday gift!¡± Clover huffed proudly.


    ¡°First adventure? I thought you said that you had been on previous missions?¡± The girl said as a trace of confusion filled her face.


    ¡°Did I say first? I meant fifth!¡± Clover blurted out awkwardly as his face began to turn red with embarrassment.


    ¡°Oh! That¡¯s awesome!¡± The girl happily said, completely believing Clover¡¯s lie. However, Nutmeg only glared at him in disbelief. Thankfully he didn¡¯t speak up,


    I¡¯m lucky that this girl will believe anything¡­


    Clover thought before continuing. ¡°Yep! It was inside the forest that we saw these huge mutated beasts who my friends fought an-¡± Clover¡¯s mouth slammed shut as he remembered his friends. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! But I have to excuse myself! I need to go see if my friends are okay!¡± Clover jumped up and attempted to scramble out of the room.


    Thud!


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Clover yelped in pain as he jumped around holding his injured foot and fell back onto the couch. ¡°I forgot about my foot!¡±


    ¡°Are you okay!¡± The girl exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°Yes! I¡¯m sorry! I Didn¡¯t mean to scare you!¡± Clover said, still holding onto his foot.


    ¡°By the way. Were your friends two men and a young lady?¡± Nutmeg inquired.


    ¡°Yes! Did you see them! Are they okay?¡± Clover asked nervously.


    ¡°They looked like hell when they came in. But they were healed by Missus Lee and left the next day.¡± Nutmeg replied casually, and snuggled deeper into his master¡¯s hair. ¡°They visited you twice. You must¡¯ve been injured quite badly if you don¡¯t remember their visits¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank Adlan they¡¯re alright¡­¡± Clover whispered as he sank deeper into the couch with ease.


    ¡°What happened to you, Clover?¡± The girl asked.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it was impolite for someone of the opposite sex to inquire about their ailments?¡± Clover replied, his usual humor returning to him as he relaxed.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± She blushed when she realized she was being hypocritical. ¡°Forget that I even mentioned it!¡± The girl covered her face with the blanket again, as her face became a deep crimson color.


    ¡°I¡¯m only joking! I don¡¯t mind!¡± Clover laughed as the corners of his eyes filled with tears as he saw the cute girl become increasingly embarrassed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tease me¡­¡± She said as she poked her head out of the covers, her watery eyes sparkled with tears as she glared at Clover.


    Thump. Thump.


    Clover felt his heart beat harder as he saw her cute expression. ¡°Wow¡­¡± He breathlessly exclaimed, only to grow embarrassed as he realized he said that out loud.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± She said, confused.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Nutmeg hummed as he stared at Clover with an amused expression.


    ¡°Nothing!¡± Clover coughed. ¡°Anyways¡­As I was saying. We were in the Dark Forest when we were attacked by a hundre-, no, a thousand mutated beasts!¡±


    ¡°Wow! What did they look like!¡± The girl said, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.


    ¡°They were all spiky and scaly! I saw bears bigger than houses! Wolves larger than carriages! And even a Centaur!¡± Clover continued exaggerating.


    ¡°Centaur? I thought most of them lived in the Centaur tribe lands to the north! Why was it in Vanden?¡±


    ¡°I have no clue. But this Centaur was no regular Centaur! It was at least twice the size, and its horns were more like a demon¡¯s than a moose¡¯s! Instead of a horse¡¯s body, it had the body of a crocodile and its upper torso was red like a devil¡¯s!¡± Clover exclaimed.


    ¡°Wow! Did you fight it?¡± Her eyes were full of delight as she continued to attentively listen to Clover¡¯s story.


    ¡°No, my friends all had to fight it together to beat it!¡± Clover remarked. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help them because I had to fight the toughest beast by myself!¡±


    ¡°Really? What was it!¡± She exclaimed in glee, completely entranced to Clover¡¯s lie.


    ¡°Yes, what was it¡­Clover?¡± Nutmeg amusingly remarked. It was obvious to him that Clover was spouting nonsense. But this was the most excited he had seen his young mistress in a long time, there was no way he would ruin this moment for her.


    ¡°It was an enormous Werewolf!¡± He shouted. ¡°It was at least three¡­No four times larger than the Centaur!¡± Clover enunciated this by raising his hand and lifted four of his fingers.


    ¡°Four times!¡± She gasped. ¡°Did you manage to defeat it!¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Clover proudly exclaimed. ¡°I first used my earth magic to create stalagmites and shot them in his foot! After being hit multiple times, he eventually fell over! Then I pulled out my spear from my Devyse and stabbed it in its ugly forehead!¡± Clover proclaimed as he made exaggerated movements in the air as if he was fighting the beast.


    ¡°Did you get hurt!¡± She asked nervously, looking over Clover¡¯s body for any scars and significant injuries.


    ¡°Yep! When I thought he was dead, he jumped up and tore my arm off! But Heather healed it!¡±


    ¡°Your arm?¡± She said doubtfully as she stared at his attached limb while Nutmeg snorted at the sound of this.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s true! I¡¯ll show you!¡± Clover exclaimed before rolling up his sleeves and revealing a jagged scar that twisted around his right arm.


    ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± She gasped, her eyes widening further as she looked at the grotesque wound.


    ¡°Not really¡­But it does ache a bit.¡± Clover said. When he thought of the true events that happened three days ago, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a discomfort radiate from his arm. He remembered just how powerless he had been when the Azir boy named Damion was attacking him. Clover clenched his fist as Maya¡¯s distressed face entered his mind. He didn¡¯t want anything like that to ever happen again.


    ¡°You¡¯re so cool!¡± The blonde girl exclaimed, a wide smile forming on her face.


    Thump.


    Clover¡¯s heart began to beat loudly again as he saw her perfect smile. ¡°Yea, I am aren¡¯t I!¡± He smiled in return.


    I want to know her name¡­


    Clover thought. He didn¡¯t know why he wanted to know her name. He just did. ¡°Well¡­We have been getting along pretty well right?¡± He said anxiously.


    ¡°Yea, I guess so!¡± She said. Beside her, Nutmeg lifted a single eyebrow quizzically.


    ¡°We could even say that we are friends¡­Right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never had a friend before¡­¡± She replied, her white face becoming rosy with embarrassment. ¡°But, if friends make each other happy and laugh¡­Then I guess we are!¡± She exclaimed while smiling once again.


    Thump.


    Clover felt another pain in his chest as he saw her cute smile. ¡°Well¡­Friends tell each other their names¡­And I¡¯ve already told you mine. It¡¯s only fair if you tell me yours¡­¡±


    ¡°Kid, don¡¯t overstep your boundaries¡­¡±Nutmeg grumbled.


    ¡°No, Nutmeg. He¡¯s right¡­I¡¯ve been too afraid of my father all this time. Just once is alright!¡± An air of confidence surrounded her body as she proclaimed this.


    ¡°Young Miss¡­I really don¡¯t think this is a good idea¡­¡± Nutmeg started, as he glanced around the room.


    ¡°Just this once, okay Clover?¡± She said as she smiled and winked at Clover.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Clover exclaimed as his heat missed a beat at her wink. Wait, why am I getting so excited over this? He asked himself.


    ¡°Ahem.¡± She coughed as if to physically prepare herself. ¡°My name is, Haru O-¡±


    ¡°Clover!¡± A loud scream interrupted Haru before she could finish. As Clover whipped his head around at the familiar voice. It was his mother, Maria!


    ¡°Mom!¡± Clover yelled out as he saw his mother. Her eyes were red and full of moist tears as she ran up to him and pulled him into a powerful embrace!


    ¡°You idiot! Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!¡± Maria shouted in between sobs. Her warm breath burned Clover¡¯s pointed ears, as she roughly caressed his gray hair.


    ¡°Mom¡­¡± Clover mumbled as he felt hot tears begin to flow from his face. When he was being attacked in the Dark Forest, Clover thought that he would never see his mother ever again.


    ¡°Why did you agree to such a foolish thing! You are too young to be out in the Dark Forest!¡±


    ¡°I¡­I was with Michael, Zen, and Maya¡­I thought that they would keep me safe¡­¡± He mumbled. Clover knew that no matter what he said, he would still be in the wrong.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care how safe you think you would be! I wouldn¡¯t care even if Bastille was with you!¡±


    Clover could only grind his teeth and bite his lip as he could only agree with her. ¡°How are they¡­ Did they come out safe?¡±


    ¡°No thanks to you.¡± She snorted before continuing. ¡°Yes, they are alive, but they are going to regret it after the hell I¡¯m going to put them through. Of course, you¡¯re going to feel the same¡­¡±


    ¡°Maria. Don¡¯t be so hard on the kid. He only wanted a taste of the Seeker life.¡± Bastille said as entered the alcove. His large body making the small room even smaller.


    ¡°Huh?! It is because of the stupid stories you tell him of your good old days that he has gotten into this mess!¡± She yelled as she glared at her husband. ¡°In fact! I should punish you too!¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡± Bastille could only happily laugh out loud as he saw the sight of his wife gaze angrily at him; until she threatened to punish him as well. ¡°Ahem.¡± Bastille coughed awkwardly as he looked around the room, only to notice Haru sitting on the nearby couch. Her face was full of fear as she stared at the loud trio in front of her.


    ¡°Oh. I¡¯m sorry young Miss, we were bothering you, right?¡± Bastille said as he looked down at the small girl.


    ¡°N¡­No! Its okay I was just talking with Clover!¡± She said as she covered her face with the blanket before continuing. ¡°Umm¡­Are you really Bastille Rumare? The legendary Seeker?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am. Did Clover mention me?¡± Bastille replied.


    ¡°Yes! He did!¡± She looked over at Clover again, as her face became rosy again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not believing you!¡±


    ¡°Hehe¡­It¡¯s alright!¡± Clover beamed.


    ¡°Oh¡­No¡­It¡¯s not alright¡­¡± Maria growled beside him, causing his tan face to become whiter than a cloud. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Miss. But we¡¯re going to be having a private chat with our son¡­¡±


    ¡°Help me¡­¡± Clover trailed off as he was pulled away by his mother.


    ¡°Um¡­Shouldn¡¯t you go save him?¡± Haru squeaked.


    ¡°He¡¯ll be fine!¡± Bastille laughed. ¡°His mother only sounds mean! She¡¯s actually harmless!¡± He smiled at her before a look of confusion entered his face.


    ¡°Is someone else here?¡± Bastille muttered as he glanced around the room. His eyes searched the room before they lingered beside Haru for a few moments. After a few seconds of staring at the spot, he snorted and continued. ¡°Must be my imagination¡­Anyways. Thank you for keeping my son entertained. Have a good day¡­And get better.¡± Bastille said.


    ¡°Thank you. And it was actually Clover who kept me entertained! Please tell him to visit me again!¡± She said, her cheeks becoming slightly pink as she did.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Bastille smiled at the embarrassed girl..


    Haru sat in the nearly empty room in silence for a minute before she spoke up. ¡°Brother¡­Are you there?¡± She quietly mumbled.


    A few seconds of silence filled the room before a dark mist began to shimmer beside her. The black fog continued to roil about until it coalesced into a handsome Adlan man.


    ¡°Haru¡­you know that you are not allowed to let people know who you are¡­¡± The handsome youth said. This young man was remarkably similar to Haru. He too was blonde, albeit with short-cropped hair. His eyes were like twin sapphires and he had fair skin.


    ¡°Enzo¡­I don¡¯t like it when you stalk me¡­¡± She mumbled.


    ¡°I only do it in order to protect you,¡± Enzo said.


    ¡°No, you do it because father tells you too¡­And to kill anyone who knows about me¡­¡± She mumbled before continuing. ¡°Nutmeg¡­Why didn¡¯t you tell me he was there?¡±


    ¡°Young Miss¡­You know that I¡¯m forbidden to say anything¡­¡± Nutmeg muttered apologetically.


    ¡°Yes. And I was quite lucky that Clover¡¯s parents interrupted you¡­After all, it would have been quite difficult for me to escape once Bastille found out had I had killed his son¡­¡± Enzo muttered.


    ¡°And? Are you still going to kill him?¡± Haru mumbled.


    ¡°No. I¡¯ll respect my dear sister¡¯s wishes and not harm your friend, after all, he only knows half your name¡­However, I will have to lie to father and tell him that your location has been compromised¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait! I still wanted to talk to Clover some more!¡± She shouted, a pleadingly look entered her gaze.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Haru. I really am¡­¡± Enzo slowly said as he stroked his sister¡¯s hair, a look of sadness and regret crossing his face. ¡°But you know just how important you are to us. And your safety is our number one priority¡­¡±


    ¡°Please, Enzo! Don¡¯t tell father! Let¡¯s keep this a secret! Just this once!¡± Haru begged as she gripped onto her brother¡¯s arm.


    Enzo¡¯s face contorted in pain as he gazed down at his sister¡¯s somber face. He could only gaze away as thousands of thoughts crossed his mind, allowing Haru to press forward with her request.


    ¡°Enzo! If you let me stay¡­I¡¯ll use it for you!¡±


    ¡°Absolutely not! That¡¯s the reason why you¡¯re here in the first place!¡± Enzo said as he glared at her with exasperation.


    ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll use it anyways! That way I¡¯ll have to stay!¡± Haru shouted while looking away. Her eyes shut and her lips pouted in rebellion.


    ¡°You brat¡­Fine. Have it your way.¡± Enzo sighed, deciding that it would be safer for her if she did stay. After all, he had never seen his sister this determined before.


    ¡°Really? Do you mean it!¡± Haru said excitedly.


    ¡°Yes¡­But, only for three years! That was the original plan after all!¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Haru yelled as she hugged her brother with a wide smile plastered on her face.


    Enzo weakly smiled as he looked down at his younger sister.


    I hope this doesn¡¯t cause any problems in the future¡­

 [Seeker] Chapter 9

    -Seeker-


    ¡°Clover, why would you ever think it would be a good idea to go on a mission without any proper supervision?¡± Bastille asked. His face was calm as if he wasn¡¯t worried about his son¡¯s near-death experience.


    ¡°It better be a good answer¡­¡± Maria snorted as she glared at the young teen in front of her.


    ¡°Mom...Dad...I know what I did was wrong. And that no matter what I say can justify my actions. But please, don¡¯t punish Maya, Zen, and Michael! They only wanted me to have the best birthday possible!¡± Clover begged as he shot his mother and father a pleading look.


    ¡°You do not need to worry about them. They will get what''s coming to them! Right now you need to focus on yourself!¡± Maria growled as she continued to stare him down.


    ¡°Haha! Come on Maria! The boy just wanted to have some fun!¡± Bastille laughed. ¡°When I was his age I was doing plenty of worse things! This will just toughen the kid up!¡±


    ¡°You shut up right now!¡± Maria rebuked. ¡°It is this exact attitude that put him in danger in the first place! You always say that we should let Clover decide what he wants to do, but it¡¯s obvious that you want him to be a Seeker!¡±


    ¡°What?! When have I ever said that I wanted my son to become a Seeker?! I have always stood by your side when it came to matters concerning Clover¡¯s future!¡± Bastille retorted as he faced his wife and crossed his thick dark arms.


    ¡°That¡¯s crap and you know it!¡± She fired back, jabbing Bastille¡¯s large chest with her forefinger. ¡°If that was the case, then you wouldn¡¯t constantly be telling him stories of your past glories!¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? That¡¯s neither here nor there! I tell him those stories because they¡¯re entertaining; not because I hope to project myself onto him!¡±


    ¡°No! You are constantly projecting yourself onto him! Ever since he was a baby you would regale him with stories! For Adlan¡¯s sake! This was the first year that you gave him a normal birthday gift! One that wasn¡¯t Seeker related! In fact, I¡¯m surprised that Don beat you to it and gave Clover an actual weapon!¡± Maria continued her barrage of accusations as Clover sat on the bed in silence, watching his parents dig into each other with wide eyes.


    ¡°That has nothing to do with it! That was all before he decided he wanted to be a minstrel, like Sven!¡± Bastille shot back. ¡°Of course, as his father, I would¡¯ve preferred it if he had wanted to become a Seeker...But I never held him to a higher standard because of it! I respected his decision to become a musician! In fact, I don¡¯t even think this has anything to do with Clover in the first place!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Oh please. Don¡¯t pretend to act as if you don¡¯t know¡­You¡¯ve been like this for the past few days. Glaring at me whenever you think I''m not looking or purposefully ignoring me. In fact, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask what has been wrong with you for the past few days!¡± Bastille exclaimed before childishly turning his back to his wife.


    ¡°Huh?!¡± Maria fumed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?! I should be asking what¡¯s wrong with you!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Bastille queried as he cooly raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Oh please! Don''t pretend to act like you don''t know!" Maria snarled as she turned away. "Tell me...What is her name?¡± Her long blonde hair shook with anger as she prepared to hear her husband¡¯s response.


    ¡°Her what now?¡± Bastille flatly asked, his previous nonchalant expression fading away in an instant as he gazed at his wife in trepidation.


    ¡°Tell. Me. Her. Name.¡± Maria turned back around to face Bastille, punctuating each word with another jab to his muscle-bound chest.


    ¡°What,¡± Bastille repeated. His eyes becoming even more unfocused and confused, as he raised one hand to scratch the side of his head.


    ¡°Is that the only word you know!¡± Maria burst out in anger. ¡°I know that you have been leaving the Guild every night for the past week!¡± Moist tears began to form on the corners of her eyes as she continued. ¡°For fourteen years we have been happily married! And now all of a sudden you start coming home later and later! For Adlan''s sake, you even smell different whenever you come back!¡±


    ¡°Oh...Is that all you mean?¡± Bastille sighed in relief.


    ¡°Is that all?!¡± Maria exploded as she started banging Bastiles body with a flurry of punches.¡°Is that all our marriage meant to you?! Am I just one of many cheap sluts that you have been parading around with all these years?! If you think I will just stand here and do nothing as you go around whoring every night, then your dead wrong!¡±


    ¡°Darling! Calm down!¡± Bastille blurted out in pain. Although Maria¡¯s punches looked weak, they actually hurt a lot. After all, she was an ex-Seeker after all! Bastille tried his best to conceal his discomfort as he tried to calm his wife.


    ¡°I! Will! Not! Stay! Calm!¡± Each word was punctuated with a jab and an angry sob as Maria continued to pound Bastille¡¯s large frame.


    ¡°Maria! Stop!¡± Bastille yelled as he grabbed his wife''s porcelain-like wrists.


    ¡°Let go of me! Let go of me!¡± Maria yelled as she tried to bite her husband''s thick arms.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Bastille yelped as one of her bites managed to pierce through his armor like skin. ¡°Maria! I can explain everything! There are no other women involved! I am simply doing an errand for Emeric!¡±


    ¡°Wha-What?¡± Maria stuttered in between sniffs. Her verdant green eyes glistened with tears as she looked up at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I really am. But it is a secret mission that I was entrusted with...If word of it leaked out, it may have put you and everyone else that I love in danger. Please, Maria, I hope you can understand that I did not have any ill intent when I snuck out of the Guild all these nights¡­¡± Bastille softly pleaded, his bright hazel eyes stared into her cool green pools.


    ¡°You¡¯re not lying right?¡± Maria whispered as she stared up at her husband. Her soft white hands gently ran down Bastille¡¯s thick forearms, as she rested her forehead on his large chest.


    ¡°It¡¯s the truth. I would never cheat or lie to you. You¡¯re the only woman I¡¯ll ever love¡­¡± Bastille whispered as he gently held Maria around her curvy waist.


    ¡°Oh...Bastille...¡± Maria huffed as she embraced him, puckering her enticing lips as she lifted her head to kiss him. Bastille followed suite, awaiting the kiss in anticipation.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°Ahem!¡± Clover coughed. ¡°You guys do know that I¡¯m still here, right?¡± He muttered awkwardly as his parents flirted with one another. His face was a deep maroon as he looked away in embarrassment.


    ¡°Oh...That''s right...You¡¯re still there¡­¡± Bastille muttered regretfully, as the two of them parted.


    ¡°Anyways...You are the one who is in trouble here¡­¡± Maria blurted out in embarrassment. ¡°Due to your selfish and dangerous actions, I have decided on your punishment long before I arrived!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t my near death punishment enough?¡± Clover squeaked.


    ¡°Haha¡­¡± Maria dryly laughed. ¡°You¡¯re going to wish you died after the hell I''m going to put you through¡­¡± She said, punctuating the word hell, by punching her hand, causing Clover to wince in fear.


    ¡°For an entire year, you will not leave the Guild grounds¡­¡± Maria started.


    ¡°What! But what am I supposed to do with all my free time!¡± Clover stammered as he interrupted his mother before she could finish.


    ¡°Haha! You will have plenty of work to preoccupy yourself with!¡± Maria sneered. ¡°Bastille! Didn¡¯t one of the Guild waitresses quit last week?¡±


    ¡°Yep! She was a hard worker too...It¡¯s unfortunate that she got pregnant¡± Bastille nodded in agreement. ¡°Damn kids! I always tell the younger Seekers to eat Silphium roots before they have sex! If they just did that, then they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about any unwanted pregnancies!¡±


    ¡°Perfect!¡± Maria shouted before continuing. ¡°The only problem is that the Guild is running low on funds...If only we could find somebody who would work for free¡­¡±


    ¡°Mother...I would just like to remind you that slavery is illegal in Vanden¡­¡± Clover whispered.


    ¡°Ah well¡­ I guess we¡¯ll just have to settle for the next best thing than¡­But what could that be?¡± She wondered out loud in an exaggerated tone, before locking her eyes with Clovers. ¡°Oh! I just had a wonderful idea!¡±


    ¡°Mother...You know I don¡¯t appreciate your sarcasm¡­¡± Clover mumbled as he could guess what his life was going to be like for the next year.


    ¡°Clover...Since you¡¯re going to have plenty of free time these next nine months...I would like to hire you as one of our waitresses! And remember! You can¡¯t say no!¡± Maria smiled sweetly.


    ¡°Dad!¡± Clover yelled, his eyes contained a trace of hopelessness as he stared at his father. Unfortunately for him, Bastille could only smile weakly and look away, leaving Clover to his fate.


    ¡°Not only will you be working for the next nine months, but we will also be increasing your tutoring! Edward has brought it to my attention that you have been slacking for a while now!¡± Maria slanted her eyes and curled her lips into a sadistic smile before continuing. ¡°But don¡¯t worry...You won¡¯t be alone! Maya, Zen, and Michael have all graciously ¡®volunteered¡¯ to donate their time and help around the Guild!¡±


    Clover shuddered as he heard the last remark. He could only imagine what punishment his mother had forced upon the unfortunate trio.


    Wait a second¡­


    Clover¡¯s body stiffened as he realized something. ¡°Mom...You mentioned that I¡¯m not allowed to leave the Guild¡¯s grounds, right?¡± He said as he nervously twiddled his thumbs.


    ¡°Yes, that''s right.¡±


    ¡°Does that include visiting the Cathedral¡­¡± Clover whispered as he looked away. Although he asked this question, he obviously knew what the answer would be.


    Maria stared at her son for a few seconds before finally coming to understand the meaning behind Clover¡¯s words. ¡°Sorry, Clover...But you won''t be able to visit your girlfriend for a while¡­¡±


    ¡°I-it''s not like that!!¡± Clover stammered, as his face blushed a bright scarlet. ¡° She is just a friend¡­¡±


    ¡°What a shame...Since she is a cutie¡­¡± Bastille playfully smiled as he rubbed Clover''s head, causing the scarlet color on his face to turn into a dark maroon.


    ¡°Sorry, but you¡¯re going to have to apologize to her for your foolish actions,¡± Maria said. ¡°Well, If it''s any consideration, you can always write to her.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Clover mumbled without protest. It was obvious to him that writing letters were the furthest extent of freedom his parents would allow him. Arguing with them further would only make them revoke that privilege.


    ¡°Well, now that that''s over with, we should go back to the Guild,¡± Bastille said as he yawned. It seemed that his nightly outings have started to take a toll on the aging Seeker.


    ¡°Very well.¡± Maria stood up before she continued. ¡°Clover, we''ll let you apologize to our future daughter-in-law before we leave...¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not your...Nevermind¡­¡± Clover mumbled as he followed his parents out of the room. But before they stepped out of the room, he spoke up.


    ¡°Dad...Mom...Ever since I¡¯ve woken up, I¡¯ve been having doubts about becoming a musician¡­¡± He began as he furrowed his brow in determination.


    ¡°Oh? Why¡¯s that?¡± Bastille asked one of his eyebrows raised in curiosity.


    ¡°It''s because of what happened in the Dark Forest! When I saw Maya, Zen, and Michael fight the mutated beasts. They looked so cool and confident as if they could do anything! But I could only run away...I felt so incredibly useless...¡± Clover mumbled as he thought of the events of a week ago. ¡°If only I had been stronger, then maybe none of this would ever have happened.¡±


    ¡°Clover,¡± Maria whispered as her maternal instincts kicked in. Walking over to him, she gave him a gentle hug. ¡°None of that matters anymore. We¡¯re just glad that you''re safe!¡±


    ¡°But what if it happens again? What if something happens where I don¡¯t have Maya, Zen, or Michael around? What if I¡¯m by myself?¡± Clover murmured. ¡°The only way I can prevent the chance of a similar event is by becoming stronger!¡±


    ¡°Clover, it is true that if you were stronger than you might¡¯ve been able to prevent it. But there is also the possibility that nothing would have changed!¡± Bastille bent down and reassuringly grabbed both of his shoulders.


    ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is that strength does not always assure victory. Believe me, I¡¯ve had to learn that the hard way.¡± Bastille muttered.


    ¡°But if you want to get stronger. Then you are lucky that your father is the greatest Seeker in the world! All you need to do is give me the word and I can guide you into becoming the next greatest Seeker of all time!¡± Bastille boasted with a prideful smile.


    ¡°Yes! I want to become a Seeker!¡± Clover yelled out in glee, fist-bumping his father!


    ¡°That¡¯s my boy! I always knew you would come to your senses and become a Seeker someday! Haha!¡± Bastille laughed and roared as if this was the happiest day of his life. The two of them grabbed each other''s hands and started to dance in a circle, their boisterous laughs reverberating off the walls.


    ¡°Hell no!¡± Maria snarled. ¡° What the hell, Bastille! You just said that you never wanted Clover to become a Seeker!¡±


    ¡°No! I said I would have preferred if he did, and that I would never try to change his mind! But I never said anything about him changing his mind on his own!¡± Bastille jovially replied as he continued to dance with his son.


    ¡°Clover! You almost died! Why would you willingly put yourself in harm''s way again!¡± Maria shouted again, this time at her son.


    ¡°Mom, If I become a Seeker that that situation will never happen again! You should be proud of me!¡± Clover shot back as he continued to dance with his father.


    ¡°You two!¡± Maria growled as she stared at the pair of imbeciles in front of her.


    ¡°Come on, Maria! This is for the best! Besides, since I am the one who will be training him then he will no doubt become a great Seeker! There would be no need to protect him!¡± What Bastille said made sense. In the same line of thought, a lion cub would be weak and harmless at a young age, but it would eventually become the king of the jungle!


    Maria could only gaze at the idiotic duo in exasperation. Eventually, she came to the conclusion that what Bastille said was right.


    ¡°Fine...At the very least you will be able to get some exercise¡­¡±


    ¡°Perfect! Let''s go back to the Guild and tell everyone the good news!¡± Bastille declared with a wide smile plastered on his face as he ran out the door.


    ¡°Yea!¡± Clover yelled out as well as followed his father.


    I am surrounded by idiots¡­


    Maria thought as she stood in the empty room.

 [Seeker] Chapter 10

    -The Basics-


    ¡°Sorry, Haru...Because of my foolish actions, I won''t be able to visit you for a while¡­¡± Clover mumbled as he looked at his feet in embarrassment.


    ¡°Oh, that''s fine¡­¡± Haru mumbled as she turned to face the window, but not before everyone in the room noticed the solemn look in her azure eyes. Nutmeg, who was sitting on her shoulder, took one look at her sullen master and glared at Clover.


    Ah! I''m sorry Haru! I didn¡¯t mean to upset you!


    Clover shouted in his head as he saw the cute girl in front of him become morose. Just as he was about to comfort her, Maria spoke up.


    ¡°Haru, is it?¡± Her calm and comforting voice smoothed the air like honey, bringing Haru¡¯s attention to her.


    ¡°Yes...¡±


    ¡°I''m thrilled that you have become friends with my son. But because of his behavior, I had no choice to punish him. You understand that, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course¡­¡± Haru whispered as the tall blonde beauty comforted her.


    ¡°Good. In any case, don¡¯t blame Clover for not being able to visit you. Okay?¡± Maria shot her a gentle smile as the young girl lifted her eyes off the floor and shot Clover a quick glance, her cheeks containing a slight red tinge.


    ¡°Well, in any case. You two can still write each other letters in the meantime¡­¡±


    Haru¡¯s previously clouded eyes became brighter as she heard this, and she proceeded to walk over to Clover. Her small feet tapped on the stone floor until she stood a few feet away from him. She nervously twiddled her thumbs as she tried to find the right words. But before she could say anything, Nutmeg flew off her shoulder and faced Clover. His snout only an inch or two from Clover''s nose as he spoke up.


    ¡°Alright kid, you know where to send the letters too. Just don¡¯t tell anyone who you''re writing too since it will make things unnecessarily complicated for all of us if someone finds out. Okay?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Clover asserted. Other than his parents, no one else could be allowed to find out Haru¡¯s identity. Even he did not know why there was so much secrecy behind her name. He just assumed that she was from some noble background.


    ¡°Good!¡± Nutmeg snorted. ¡°Now then...Haru, do you have anything you want to say to him?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes!¡± She stammered. ¡°Umm...Make sure to write to me every day!¡± Haru began, before becoming even more jittery. ¡°I-I mean! Only if you feel like it! I wouldn¡¯t want to force you into it...Umm...But at least once a week would be nice¡­¡±


    ¡°Once a day is fine!¡± Clover blurted out in order to calm the adorable stuttering girl in front of him. In fact, he was grateful that she had brought it up first, as he was already planning on writing to her every day.


    ¡°Okay! Nutmeg can pick up and deliver the letters, that way we won¡¯t have to bother anyone!¡± Haru smiled as she proclaimed this.


    ¡°Great, more work for me¡­¡± Nutmeg mumbled as he floated back to his master¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Perfect! Not that that''s settled, we have to return back to the Guild. It was nice to meet you, Miss Haru.¡± Bastille¡¯s resounded before he left the comfy alcove with Maria in tow.


    ¡°I¡¯ll write to you soon!¡± Clover grinned as he waved Haru goodbye.


    ¡°Bye!¡± Haru beamed back at him while Nutmeg, who was laying on Haru¡¯s shoulder with his eyes close, blas¨¦ly waved one of his small orange paws at him.


    <hr>


    ¡°Clover! You little player, you!¡± Bastille¡¯s loud jovial voice boomed, frightening those that were nearby as they walked along the street towards the guild. ¡°While the two of us were frightened out of our minds and worried that our little boy may never wake up, you were busy putting the moves on a cute girl!¡± Bastille guffawed aloud as even more pedestrians looked in their direction and stared at the large boisterous man.


    ¡°Honestly, Clover...If you did all this just to impress your girlfriend, you could¡¯ve told us! We would have understood¡­¡± Maria grinned.


    ¡°She''s not my girlfriend!¡± Clover blushed a bright scarlet. ¡°Today is the first day I¡¯ve ever met her!¡±


    ¡°Clover, you don¡¯t need to lie to us!¡± Bastille continued. ¡°We understand how it feels to be your age. You¡¯re a growing boy, and your body is changing in different ways as well as experiencing emotions you¡¯ve never felt before!¡±


    ¡°Your father is right, Clover. Puberty is rough for a young boy! I can understand why you would do dumb things for such a charming girl!¡± Maria chimed in, hardly able to contain her giggles as she smiled at him.


    ¡°Dad! Mom! I¡¯m fourteen, I¡¯ve been going through puberty for a couple of years now!¡± Clover bellowed. But as he yelled out loud, Clover noticed a group of girls around his age who were walking past, giggling and glancing at him as they heard his previous declaration. This caused him to blush brighter and glare at the ground in embarrassment.


    ¡°Haha!¡± Bastille laughed as he wrapped his arm around Clover and messed up his hair, causing it to stick out unevenly in places. ¡°Expect more of this, son! This is the least you deserve after what you put your mother and I through!¡±


    Maria beamed a pleasant smile as she gazed at the two men who occupy her life. Their jovial antics were like honey, smothering any traces of fear and concern she had let plague her heart in the past week.


    The three of them continued joking around like this as they meandered their way through the crowded streets of Vanden, eventually reaching the large gates of the Seeker¡¯s Guild.


    Upon reaching the entrance, the three of them were stopped multiple times by the greetings of young Seeker¡¯s who were either leaving or arriving from their missions. Their jubilant faces glowed with excitement as they talked with their friends and partners, enjoying their youth to the fullest.


    ¡°Clover!¡± A loud shout rang from the guild doors, causing Clover and his parents to turn away from their conversation with a group of Seekers.


    ¡°Sven!¡± Clover shouted as he ran toward his Elf-friend, the two of them colliding with one another in a large embrace.


    ¡°Are you okay?!¡± Sven shouted. ¡°You gave everyone in the guild a fright when we heard about what happened! Are you still in pain? Does your arm still hurt?¡± Sven blurted out as he examined every inch of his friend''s body.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± Clover replied. Although some parts of his body were a bit sore, it was nothing that bothered him too badly.


    ¡°Damn that pretty boy! As soon as I heard what happened, I made sure to reprimand Michael for his idiotic idea!¡± Sven snarled. ¡°I knew I should have stopped you from going out with them! They are far too young and inexperienced to be entrusted as bodyguards!¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­¡± Clover chucked awkwardly as his friend continued to rant.


    I should probably mention that it was Zen¡¯s idea in the first place. But I doubt he would care anyway¡­


    ¡°In any case, we should head inside to talk,¡± Bastille suggested. Heeding his words, the four of them headed into the Guildhall, where they saw the busy lobby full of the various races. Adlan, Azir, Elves, and even the odd Kortanji and Ga¡¯jong filled the room to capacity as the many Seekers were eating, chatting, arriving from missions, or preparing for new ones. The strained waitresses were running back and forth from the guild kitchen, as they tried their best to satiate the hundreds of Seeker¡¯s need for alcohol and food. As Clover looked at the overworked waitresses, a certain dark-skinned girl caught his eye.


    ¡°Maya?!¡± Clover exclaimed. If it was not for his friend¡¯s signature glasses, he would never have noticed her. She was dressed in the signature Guild waitress attire, a dark blue outfit with a skirt that revealed plenty of skin. It was well known that many patrons who were not Seekers would come to the Guild to eat and drink solely to appreciate the sight of the waitresses running around in their evocative dress.


    ¡°Clover!¡± Maya yelled as she dropped what she was doing and ran over to him and put him in a powerful embrace. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Maya wept as moist tears began to fall onto her cheeks.


    ¡°It''s okay!¡± Clover said as forgave his friend while patting her on the back.


    Even though I appreciate the apologies...I¡¯m getting a little tired of the tears¡­


    Clover thought to himself as Maya¡¯s hot tears fell rolled onto his face. ¡°I don¡¯t blame you three at all!¡±


    ¡°No! It¡¯s because of us that you almost died!¡± Maya sobbed as she said this. ¡°We said we would protect you and make sure that you would be safe! But in the end...We couldn¡¯t even keep one simple promise¡­¡±


    Boo!


    A couple dozen Seekers yelled in disapproval as they glared at Clover.


    ¡°How dare you make a beautiful girl cry like that! You scum! You are the worst!¡±


    Their fiery gazes accosted him with malice as they shook their fists at the young boy.


    ¡°Shut up! This doesn¡¯t concern any of you!¡± Clover snarled at the Seekers who were glaring and shouting obscenities at him. Coughing before he spoke, Clover returned his gaze to Maya. ¡°Well, If you three are hell-bent on taking the blame, then I won¡¯t stop you. After all, we¡¯re friends! I have no choice but to forgive you!¡±


    ¡°Clover¡­¡± Maya whispered as she saw the cheery half-elf boy innocently grin at her. ¡°Next time we will definitely protect you!¡± She yelled as she gave Clover an even more powerful embrace that threatened to rupture his lungs.


    ¡°No way in hell will I let you three ever take my boy out ever again!¡± Maria interrupted, her usual cool green eyes became hot pools of lava as she stared at the dark beauty in front of her.


    ¡°Haha¡­¡± Maya uneasily laughed as she looked at her feet, trying to avoid Maria¡¯s harsh gaze. ¡°Of course not¡­¡±The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°By the way, Maya¡­¡± Clover spoke up as he attempted to change the subject, in order to eliminate the awkward atmosphere. ¡°Where are Zen and Michael? Are they maids too?¡±


    ¡°No, but I certainly do not envy them.¡± She mumbled as she recalled the day they received their punishments. The three of them were terrified out of their minds. Mostly because they were unsure if their dear friend would live through the night. But also because they were fearing for their own lives as they awaited their punishment from Maria and Bastille.


    The Trio would never forget the sight of Maria¡¯s pale white face and reddened eyes as she glared at them, before returning to her room without saying a single word. Bastille had stared at them for a couple of breaths as well, before shaking his head in disappointment and following his wife.


    The three of them stayed in the empty guildhall that night, contemplating on what they should do. They had even thought about running away, but only for a second, before coming to terms that they would have to accept all responsibility for what had happened. After three days of silence, Maria yelled at them for an hour without stopping before giving them their punishment. The three of them thought that they would be expelled from the Vanden Seekers Guild, but to their good fortune, Maria decided to be lighter on their punishments. Per Maria¡¯s demands, Michael and Zen were forced to work in the warehouse, where they dissected the important alchemical ingredients from the various creatures that Seekers had brought in.


    Every night, the two of them would return to their rooms, covered in goo, slime, blood, and a variety of other putrid liquids. After their first day, Maya had attempted to speak to them. But to her dismay she found that their eyes were clouded in a haze as they unresponsively fled to the baths, leaving behind a noxious stench.


    Fortunately for Maya, Maria had decided to go easier on her. Perhaps it was because she was a young lady and assumed that working in the warehouse would be too emotionally distressing for her. Either way, she had lucked out and would only have to be a barmaid from dawn to dusk. Although, Maya did feel distressed whenever she had to speak with Morty. The giant dark-skinned man would silently glare at her every time she had to pick up food for a table. Because she had never seen Morty behave this way, she assumed that there was some weird connection between the gentle giant and Clover. And the Trio''s actions that put Clover in harm''s way caused Morty to feel resentment towards them.


    As Maya told their story to Clover, Maria and Bastille said their farewells and left. Before he did though, Bastille told Clover to meet him in the Guild training grounds in thirty minutes. Clover nodded at him in acknowledgment and returned to his conversation. Shortly after, Maya bid her farewell as well, as she still had plenty of work to do.


    ¡°Well, we might as well find a seat and catch up before you go meet your father on the training grounds,¡± Sven suggested, before sauntering his way to a fairly empty table. Clover followed his Elf friend and sat down in front of him.


    The two of them chatted for a while. On occasion, they would be interrupted by other Seekers who were aware of what had happened. They would say a few words of kindness before breaking away and returning to their groups. Carla and Kate also had fervently rushed over, examining his body and making sure that he was alright. The two of them were hysterical, and would only be calmed down after Sven bought them some drinks, the alcohol calmed their nerves.


    Clover had also seen Morty stare at him from the corner of his eyes. The large black man nodded at him, which Clover took as a sign of his relief before he returned to the kitchen. This went on for a while longer before Clover took a glance at the clock, bidding his farewells and headed to the Guild training grounds.


    It has been awhile since I¡¯ve been out here¡­


    Clover thought as he opened the door that leads to the training ground. As Clover walked outside, he noticed the scent of rain in the air as gray clouds blanketed the sky.


    Looking around, Clover couldn¡¯t help but be impressed with the sight. The Vanden Seekers Guild was one of the largest in the Centaius continent, and their training grounds reflected that. While most Seekers Guilds had training areas, they were usually around the size of a courtyard, capable of holding a dozen or two Seekers. It would only be enough to practice the basics of combat and practicing their magic.


    But the Vanden training grounds was the size of a stadium, capable of holding mass scale mock battles if one wished. The main field of the grounds was covered with a layer of grass and was filled Seekers sparring with one another. Swords, spears, axes, and maces clashed in fiery sparks as they tried to outwit their opponents. Around the green turf was a paved track where Seekers were running along as they trained their endurance and stamina. After all, it was important for a Seeker to be fast and agile. One would never know when they would have to run away from a beast that was far above their skill!


    On the side of the track were numerous dummies that Seekers were practicing their archery and magic on. Arrows whistled in the air as they struck at the targets like angry bees. Fire, wind, water, earth, lightning, and ice blew apart the Adlan shaped dummies in a fashion that resembled fireworks


    ¡°Clover! Over here!¡± Bastille shouted as he waved at his son. He had partitioned off an area of the grounds for the sole purpose of teaching his son without any distractions. ¡°Are you ready to start your exciting life as a Seeker, my boy?¡± Bastille beamed at his son, a twinkle of pride sparkling in his eyes.


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Clover shouted aloud in excitement while pumping his fist into the air.


    ¡°That''s the spirit!¡± Bastille exclaimed as he shot him a thumbs up. ¡°First, we must go over the basics! After all, a strong and solid foundation is needed in order to become a successful Seeker!¡± As he said this, Bastille pulled out a scroll from a pocket in his jacket. The thick scroll of paper unwound itself as he held it. The paper slowly unrolled for a few seconds until it reached the ground and rolled itself towards Clover.


    ¡°On this scroll, I have written the most optimal training regimen for you. As long as you follow this for the entire year of your punishment then I will have no doubt that you will reach the rank of a low-tier Bronze rank Seeker!¡± Bastille proudly huffed before continuing. ¡°At your age, I was already at the Bronze rank! But I didn¡¯t have the fortune of having a master to guide and teach me¡­¡±


    The ranking system used in the Seekers Guild was well known. The rank a Seeker was at dictated their Arcana Capacity, not their actual combat potential or prowess. This made the ranking system fallible, and not a true depiction of one''s skill.


    ¡°Nevertheless...This strict regimen and diet will only succeed if you put your whole heart into this. Now, I must ask again, Clover. Are you ready for this?¡± Bastille asked once more, with a steely look in his eye.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Clover asserted.


    ¡°Good!¡± Bastille said before pulling out a metal bracelet from a bag by his feet. ¡°It looks like you will be needing this from now on!¡± Bastille handed Clover the Devyse that he had received from Don on his birthday from a week ago. ¡°Now then, pull out your spear!¡±


    Clover did as he was told and poured his Arcana into the bracelet, just as his father had told him. The metal construct greedily drank every last drop of his Arcana. Only when it drank its fill did it release his spear, causing a bright white light to fill his hand as a black spear materialized from out of nowhere!


    Clover ran his eyes over his weapon. The spear was fairly light at around six-feet long and was made out of a strong and durable wood that was also flexible. The wood itself was either black or at the very least, coated in a black lacquer. The deadly metal tip appeared to be made from a strong steel, although it did look whiter than normal steel. And as if to add a stylish aesthetic, below the spear blade was a long orange ribbon that gracefully swayed in the wind.


    Bastille whistled as he grabbed the spear from Clover¡¯s hands and held it. ¡°This takes me back...I used to own a spear just like this¡­¡± Bastille continued to stare forlornly at the weapon. Clover noticed his father¡¯s eyes become clouded as he began to recall his past.


    Father has never really told me of his past...Whenever I asked him about it he would always say that he had been a Seeker since he was a twenty, and that he was born near Eretrena, the capital of the Domantius Empire¡­¡¯


    Clover thought to himself as he shook his secretive father from his haze. ¡°Dad! Snap out of it!¡±


    ¡°What! Oh...Of course!¡± Bastille coughed in embarrassment as his son shook him from his daydream. ¡°A-anyways...Don is well-versed in a variety of armaments. It''s obvious that he would be able to choose a perfect weapon for you. I probably wouldn¡¯t have done a better job myself!¡± Bastille complimented the harsh older man. ¡°The wood is made from a branch of an Ebonsteel tree! If I know Don, then he most likely found the oldest one in Bleakbog, and took it down after a fierce battle!¡±


    ¡°Don had to fight it?¡± Clover wondered out loud.


    ¡°Of course! As Ebonsteel trees age, their wood becomes exponentially stronger. Making it the perfect wood for polearms!¡± Bastille expunged his deep knowledge of the world at Clover, allowing him to absorb it. ¡°When they reach a certain age, Ebonsteel trees become sentient, and are more than capable of protecting themselves from a party of Gold Seekers!¡±


    ¡°Gold rank!¡± Clover¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Gold rank was the level that Maya, Zen, and Michael were at! To think that a single tree could take them down without a fight!


    Bastille chuckled as he saw his son listen in wonderment. ¡°Clover, you are soon going to realize that the world of a Seeker is several magnitudes grander and stranger than that of a regular persons. Something as simple as a sentient tree is nothing when compared to the truly bizarre creatures and places you will experience.¡±


    ¡°Tell me about them!¡± Clover exclaimed as he bubbled in excitement. Since he has lived in the Seekers Guild his entire life, Clover has definitely heard and read stories all about the strange encounters that a Seeker would face. But that was only a fraction of what was truly out there!


    ¡°And ruin your chance to experience them first-hand? No way!¡± Bastille laughed. After all, Bastille knew that there was nothing more exhilarating than first encounters within the strange and wonderful world that existed outside the walls of Vanden.


    ¡°Fine¡­¡± Clover pouted as he stared at his father before changing topics. ¡°Well, what about the metal blade? It seems whiter than regular steel.¡±


    ¡°Ah, good eye.¡± Bastille complimented before continuing. ¡°This is Alabaster Steel, which is forged in the Evar kingdom. The half-elves of the Evar kingdom are some of the finest smiths in the world, and this blade is a testament to that. Alabaster Steel derives its white color and strength from the Alus resin that is mixed in during the forging process. Alus resin is found around the edges of the Deadlands."


    ¡°What is the orange ribbon for?¡± Clover curiously asked.


    ¡°Tying a ribbon below the spear blade is a tradition for Elite Domantius spearmen. They believe that the bright cloth on the spear will distract opponents, especially monsters, allowing them to strike a deadly blow where they least expect it. Of course, some pundits believe that it does the exact opposite and the bright color allows the attacker to keep their eye on the spear more easily.¡± Bastille finished.


    ¡°Well...I think it looks cool. And Don must¡¯ve tied it there himself, so I may as well keep it on.¡± Clover declared. The ribbon didn¡¯t seem very special and was made out of simple cloth.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see any harm in that.¡± Bastille started before switching topics. ¡°Well, now that we have your weapon, I will teach you the most basic and important lesson when it comes to fighting in close combat! And that is Arcana Discipline!¡± Bastille smiled as he saw Clover¡¯s limited reaction. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure you already know all about Arcana Discipline, so I don¡¯t have to go over it with you¡­¡±


    ¡°No! I¡¯ve read about it and talked about with other Seekers, but I¡¯m certain that hearing about it from a master like yourself will be much better for my foundation!¡± Clover stated.


    ¡°Right answer!¡± Bastille approvingly shouted before starting again. ¡°Arcana Discipline is a close combat technique in which one conserves Arcana within themselves until the very moment that they attack! The Arcana that is discharged will cause the attack to amplify, creating a much more powerful strike!¡± Bastille turned away from Clover and poured Arcana into the bracelet on his arm. Bastille¡¯s bracelet was much gaudier than his, made from gold and decorated with gems. Just as before with Clover¡¯s spear, Bastille¡¯s nine-foot halberd materialized from the bracelet and into his hand.


    ¡°Now then, this is an attack without any Arcana,¡± Bastille said as he thrust out with his weapon, aiming directly at the sky.


    Clover¡¯s eyes opened in anticipation, only to close them in disappointment. Besides a few nearby birds that were startled and flew away and some rustling leaves, nothing had happened.


    ¡°I did say that was without any Arcana, so don¡¯t act so disappointed¡­¡± Bastille mumbled as he looked at his son. ¡°Now this time, let''s try with Arcana!¡±


    Clover opened his eyes again as his father gripped his halberd even tighter. As Bastille lifted his halberd and prepared to strike towards the sky, Clover began to feet a strange emptiness around him, as if someone had sucked all the air from his surroundings. But how was that possible if he was still able to breathe? Before Clover could ask his father what was happening, Bastille struck out with his halberd!


    The first thing Clover noticed was a complete silence that surrounded him as if he had suddenly become deaf. But after a second, that silence was utterly shattered. The air and ground shook as if a volcano had suddenly erupted beside him! The loud roiling burst of noise was so incredibly powerful that it caused every Seeker on the training grounds to cover their ears! Nearby windows shattered and birds dropped from the sky!


    The second thing he noticed, or in this case, felt. Was the heavy pressure that threatened to pulverize him! Clover felt as if someone had tackled him, lifting him off the ground and slamming him into a nearby wall! The blow knocked the wind out of him, and caused his blood to tumble inside him!


    As Clover tried to recover his breath that was forcefully evicted from his body, he noticed one last thing. The patch of sky that Bastille had thrust his halberd at was cleanly cut. As if someone had flown up to the sky and cut the gray stratus clouds in half with a knife. Long shafts of light pierced through the clean opening, as the sun peered into the lands below.


    ¡°By the way...I''m about fourteen years out of practice. So you can consider that being one of my weaker strikes.¡± Bastille grinned at his son and gave him a sly wink.


    What kind of creature is my dad¡­


    Clover thought as he stared at the monster in front of him.

 [Seeker] Chapter 11

    -Arcana Discipline-


    ¡°Well...Now that you have experienced Arcana Discipline for yourself, it¡¯s time that you try it out,¡± Bastille awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck as he gazed at his son who was sitting on a nearby crate.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Clover mumbled, as he grabbed his spear and walked over to his father.


    How embarrassing! First Maria had come outside and yelled at him for being a loud fool for scaring the hell out of everyone in the city, while Edward had to inform him of the total costs of replacing the windows, repairing nearby buildings, and for medical treatment for Seekers who were affected by the blast! Even Captain Strauss had rushed over with the city guard in case it was some sort of attack. But when he found out that it was Bastille, he was forced to impose a huge fine on the Guild for disturbing the peace!


    ¡°Ahem!¡± Bastille coughed awkwardly. ¡°Too start off with, funnel your Arcana into your spear arm.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Clover complied and began to feel the Arcana within him. Although he has played around with the Arcana within him multiple times, Clover had never really put it into action. The Arcana felt like a warm stream of water that circulated throughout his veins. He guided the warm current into his spear arm as he prepared to strike. Out of the corner of his eye, Clover noticed Bastille grinning as he stared at him.


    ¡°What? Am I doing something wrong?¡± Clover asked.


    ¡°No! In fact, your doing very well. Most people aren¡¯t able to guide their Arcana to a specific body part on their first try!¡± Bastille complimented. ¡°However, your innate skill most likely comes from your Elven lineage.¡±


    ¡°What do I do now?¡±


    ¡°Once you thrust your spear, release the Arcana that you had stored within your arm. Focus on the tip of the blade to more accurately guide the Arcana within the strike. Now, strike!¡± Bastille shouted as he commanded Clover.


    ¡°Hah!¡± Clover instinctively yelled out as he thrust his spear! His strike was true, as he aimed at the same spot in the sky his father had attacked. However, unlike his father, no supreme spectacle had occurred. There was no ear-sundering impact. No windows shattering. No sky-splitting blow. No Seekers dropping to their knees in pain. Besides the rustling of leaves from a nearby tree and the shouts of other Seekers, there was nothing but silence.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Clover yelped in pain, as he dropped his spear. ¡°Did I do something wrong? My arm is throbbing!¡±


    ¡°No, you did everything correctly. In fact, you did a bit better than most!¡± Bastille exclaimed.


    Hmm...He did a more than a bit better. Most Seekers who are starting out would have fallen to the ground and cried in pain after their first try¡­ Bastille thought as he gazed at his son in curiosity. If only I was able to investigate his past thoroughly¡­


    ¡°Then why does my arm hurt?¡± Clover mumbled as his eyes became misty.


    ¡°That is because your veins are not used to suddenly expelling large amounts of Arcana. Only through constant training and repetition will your veins become stronger and sturdier, allowing them to withstand sudden discharges of Arcana.¡± Bastille explained.


    ¡°Arcana Discipline is also a barrier that filters out regular Seekers from the truly talented. This is because one must be capable of the skill if they wish to rise into the Gold-rank.¡±


    ¡°Why is that?¡± Clover inquired as he massaged his arm.


    ¡°Well, as you should know. The Guild ranking system solely measures one¡¯s Arcana capacity, not their combat skill or experience. The system itself is broken into the White, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Blue-ranks. As well as three smaller tiers within each rank that consist of the lower, middle, and upper tiers! In fact, the vast majority of Elves in the Aleesian Dynasty can be ranked around the middle Silver range! But unless they have any formal combat experience, they would still end up as food for a goblin or gnoll!¡± Bastille grinned. ¡°However, the ranking system changes at the Gold-rank. Due to the severity and difficulty of the missions in this rank, the Guild will only allow those who have sufficient Arcana capacity and skill to take them. And the prerequisite skill to receiving a Gold compass medal is Arcana Discipline!¡±


    ¡°So that means Maya, Zen, and Michael can use it?¡±


    ¡°Of course! Those three are quite skilled for their age! The last time I checked, they were somewhere near the mid-Gold rank! I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they were to break into the Blue rank by their mid-twenties!¡± Bastille proudly said. ¡°In fact, I would be incredibly disappointed if they didn''t! After all, I was the one who trained them when they were young initiates! Haha, my Guild sure has raised many fine young men and women!"


    ¡°Yep!¡± Clover nodded in agreement. ¡°So are you at the Blue-rank, dad?¡±


    ¡°Haha...Not quite.¡± Bastille smiled.


    ¡°Not quite? Are you only a Gold-rank than?¡± Clover questioned.


    ¡°Of course not!¡± Bastille snapped. ¡°I am a Black-rank Seeker!¡± Although, I may have dropped down to the Blue-rank ever since I became Guildmaster¡­ He thought to himself.


    ¡°But you just told me that the system only went to Blue-rank¡­¡± Clover mumbled as he peered at his father, an accusatory look in his eye. ¡°You know, lying to your son to look cool is kind of lame¡­¡±


    ¡°The reason why I didn¡¯t mention Black-rank is that there has been no need for any Black-rank missions. Since the system¡¯s inception one hundred years ago, there have been no threats dangerous enough that it became necessary to impose the Black-rank label on. However, that does not mean that there are not any Black-rank Seekers and other individuals roaming the world!¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­¡± Clover marveled, as he gazed at his father. I always knew that my father was pretty awesome...But I didn¡¯t expect him to be such a powerful and unique figure in the world!


    Bastille grinned as he saw his son¡¯s eyes widen to the size of saucers. ¡°Now then, you probably noticed the obvious difference between my attack and your¡¯s! Do you know why?¡±


    ¡°Is it because you can discharge more Arcana?¡± Clover guessed.


    ¡°Yes and no!¡± Bastille nodded approvingly before continuing. ¡°While you are correct that my strike was significantly more powerful than yours due to the amount of Arcana I expelled, it is not the only factor! One must also consider the purity of Arcana as well!¡±


    ¡°Purity? How would you go about making purer Arcana?¡±


    ¡°With Arcana Discipline of course!¡± Bastille shouted. ¡°When you train with Arcana Discipline, your body will undergo many transformations. I mentioned before that training with Arcana Discipline would make the veins in your body much more durable, but that also applies to other parts of your body as well. For example, your skin becomes tougher and more elastic, scratches that would have normally caused you to bleed will only leave slight marks. Your bones will have become stronger, to the point that some Seekers even use their fists and feet as their weapons!¡± Bastille grimly smiled before adding. ¡°And some even kill other Seekers in order to harvest their bones into weapons. Fashioning them into swords, spears, axes, and even arrowheads¡­¡±


    ¡°R-really?¡± Clover stuttered as his face became pale.


    ¡°Of course! But that mostly happens in distant lands, as most Guilds have made it illegal to have bone weapons for that very reason.¡± Bastille chuckled as he saw Clover¡¯s frightened face. ¡°As for increasing the purity of your Arcana, that comes down to the quality of your bone marrow. Marrow creates blood, and blood is what stores and purifies your Arcana! Higher quality marrow means better blood which creates purer Arcana!¡± Bastille smiled and crossed his arms before continuing. ¡°Arcana has many auxiliary benefits as well. Which includes superior eyesight, better hearing, a stronger sense of smell, and more stamina! At the Gold-rank, an individual can project Arcana outside their bodies. Allowing them to create a barrier around them that can protect them from magic and fire. The barrier can also act as a bubble of air, allowing them to breathe underwater! This barrier would be like your own personal domain. Allowing you to have complete awareness within it. The size of this domain increases according to the amount of Arcana you can store within your body.¡± Bastille took a deep breath before he continued. ¡°Being able to create your domain is the first thing one must learn to do before they can begin training in alchemy. But since you are going to become a Seeker there is no need to learn about that. At least, not for now.¡±


    ¡°There is a lot more in becoming a Seeker than I first thought¡­¡± Clover mumbled. His eyes narrowed as he began to put the sheer amount of information into perspective. To think that something as simple Arcana Discipline is not something most Seekers would have the chance or skill to train.


    ¡°Huh? Did you really think that being a Seeker would be so easy!¡± Bastille chastised. ¡°Being a Seeker requires years, if not decades, of training! What we have gone over is only the tip of the iceberg! In this short year, we are going to go over a proper martial art for your spear, Arcana Discipline, Spirit items, your workout routine, your diet, as well as Edward and Maria¡¯s increased lessons! And that¡¯s not even including your punishment!¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah, I forgot about my punishment¡­¡± Clover smiled weakly as he recalled his mother¡¯s words from before.


    ¡°Haha! You have a full plate this year...I do not envy you!¡± Bastille laughed, before pulling out a small ring from the bag near his feet. ¡°Now then, do you know what this is?¡±


    ¡°Its a ring¡­¡± Clover said as he looked at the small piece of jewelry.


    ¡°Of course it''s a ring. I meant the inscriptions around the ring¡­¡± Bastille huffed


    ¡°Ah, of course,¡± Clover replied as he inspected the ring closer. It was made out of metal, with spots of rust covering it. There were also two sets of nearly illegible letters on it. One in strange unrecognizable letters. And the other in the Adlan tongue. ¡°Endoss? What does that mean?¡± He asked as he read the familiar Adlan characters.


    ¡°No idea. No one does. Most scholars say that it is from the same ancient race that left behind the ancient ruins within the various danger zones. Only a couple hundred people know the language, and even then it''s only a rough interpretation. These interpreters are the ones who translated the strange characters into the Adlan ones so that I could use it.¡± Bastille explained.


    Arcana Discipline, Black-rank, and now an ancient race...What am I getting myself into¡­ Clover thought to himself before speaking up. ¡°So what does it do?¡±


    ¡°Try it and find out,¡± Bastille replied and handed him the ring. ¡°Aim it at the nearby dummy. Then inject it with some of your Arcana, and then shout the inscribed word on the ring!¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Clover said as he walked over to the nearby dummy. Doing just as Bastille said, he aimed the ring and poured his Arcana into it.


    Endoss!


    The small steel ring glowed with a bright green light the moment he uttered those words. A moment later, a wild pressure was ejected from the ring, causing Clover¡¯s hair to wildly billow from the powerful wind that was sent flying towards the dummy, shredding it into small pieces. The wind did not stop at the dummy, however. Instead, it traveled past its remains, where it slammed into a wall and lacerated it with deep cuts.


    ¡°Woah! That''s amazing!¡± Clover shouted as he saw the blades of wind decimate the dummy and its surroundings. Not wasting another second, Clover shouted once more! The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Endoss!


    However, this time, nothing had happened.


    ¡°Sorry to ruin your excitement, son. But this ring has to restore itself with Arcana before it can be used again.¡± Bastille said as he took the ring from Clover.


    "Why would it need to restore itself? I thought that I was the one supplied it with Arcana?" Clover asked with a puzzled look covering his face.


    "Yes, you would think that would be the case. But this ring is a Spirit item. Unlike your Deyvse that requires Arcana to be supplied to it in order to withdraw your spear. Spirit items use Arcana as a catalyst, alerting the Spirit within it to use its power." Bastille explained. "Another way to think of it is that your Arcana is an alarm clock and that it is waking the sleeping Spirit inside! Unfortunately, the Spirit in this ring and most other Spirit items are minor Spirits that have minimal energy. Otherwise, the owner of the Spirit item could use them indefinitely!"


    ¡°That makes sense...¡±Clover muttered as he reluctantly handed over the ring back to his father.


    ¡°Well in any case. You must¡¯ve noticed that you used wind magic, and not your earth element, right?¡± Bastille said.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Clover began. Everyone knows that a person could only use their single element that their body was attuned to, such as Clover and his earth element. ¡°So these Spirit items are used to work around the issue of having a single element?¡± He queried.


    ¡°Bingo. These items are extremely rare and highly sought after. But, some Spirit items have different abilities, like increasing one''s strength or ability to sense Arcana! There are even some that allow the owner to understand foreign languages and complex mathematics! This makes them invaluable, and a simple ring like this would easily be sold for around ten thousand gold coins in an auction!¡± Bastille declared.


    Ten thousand! Clover sucked in a cold gasp of air as he attempted to picture such a large sum of gold.


    Bastille smiled as he saw the amazed look on his son¡¯s face. ¡°That is only the tip of the iceberg, son. In my younger days, I was at an election were an item reached the price of five hundred thousand Drakes!¡±


    Five hundred thousand! Clover began to become light-headed as he tried to imagine the size of the pile those coins would make ¡°Who were the bidders?¡± He breathlessly whispered.


    ¡°I believe it was between Omalfi and Constantius family members. But I¡¯m sure that the price was only raised that high due to their rivalry, and not because of the value of the item.¡± Bastille recalled.


    Omalfi? Constantius? Those family names belonged to the elite of the elite! The Omalfis¡¯ ruled the richest trading republic in the world! And the Constanius family was the current dynasty of the Domantius Empire! Clover nearly fell to his knees as he thought of this. Wait a moment...Why was my dad at a such an amazing auction?! But before Clover could question his father, Bastille cut him off.


    ¡°Since Spirit items are easy to understand, there is no reason to go over them in detail. Or, at least not right now.¡± Bastille remarked. As he said this, he noticed Clover shift his feet awkwardly as he looked at the small ring in his hand. The image of a small dog entered his mind as he saw his son¡¯s movements. ¡°Do you want this ring?¡± Bastille asked.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Clover exclaimed in delight, his eyes lighting up like two full moons.


    ¡°Well too bad!¡± Bastille huffed and put the ring back into the bag by his feet.


    ¡°Why not!¡± Clover said as he crossed his arms in annoyance.


    ¡°If I give you this ring than I will deprive you of your single opportunity to experience the life of a Seeker.¡± Bastille started. ¡°I will not hand you every single one of your heart''s desires! It is up to you to acquire your ambitions with your own efforts! To hand this ring over to you will squander your abilities and make you reliant on tools that will not facilitate your true strength and potential!¡± Bastille paused and looked at his son and grinned, before continuing. ¡°Although everyone in the Guild treats you as such, you are not a prince! Life is not that easy! Only once you are strong enough should you use any Spirit items!¡±


    ¡°Fine¡­¡± Clover mumbled.


    ¡°Now that that¡¯s settled, let''s carry on with actual magic!¡± Bastille declared.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Clover shouted in delight. Although everyone was capable of using Arcana and magic, finding a qualified tutor was difficult and expensive! But Clover was fortunate enough to have Bastille teach him!


    ¡°Haha!¡± Bastille chuckled as his son became elated, already forgetting about his previous denial. ¡°Luckily for you, I am also attuned to the earth element! That way we will not have to worry about looking for a decent tutor! Now then, let''s get started!¡± He said as he reached into the bag once more, this time pulling out a small ball one would play catch with. ¡°Here, catch!¡±


    Clover caught the ball and examined it closely. Unlike the ring from before, there were no ancient characters. In fact, it appeared to be a completely normal ball. ¡°What is this for?¡± He asked.


    ¡°It is to help you with Arcana control,¡± Bastille stated. However, Clover only looked at him with a confused expression as he held the small ball. ¡°Well let me first demonstrate,¡± Bastille said as he lifted his large arm, and pointed it at another dummy.


    Erepirkie!


    Bastille shouted as the ground around him shook. Dirt, pebbles, and rocks lifted from the ground and clumped together in the form of a long lance. A moment later, the lance of rock flew towards the dummy and pierced a hole through its torso. The lance only stopped flying after a couple dozen meters before slamming into the wall behind it!


    ¡°Now it''s your turn,¡± Bastille said as he motioned Clover to do the same. ¡°Pour Arcana into the palm of your hand and repeat the command as I had!¡±


    ¡°Alright, seems simple enough.¡± Clover declared as he lifted his arm up just as his father had.


    Erepirkie!


    Clover yelled out with all his might! He stood there in anticipation, only for a few seconds to pass with nothing but a couple of nearby pebbles and a patch of dirt shifting ever so slightly.


    ¡°Yep...Simple enough!¡± Bastille laughed as his son failed in his attempt. ¡°Those earthworms are sure impressed with your skill!¡±


    ¡°Shut up! It was my first time!¡± Clover yelled, his face flushed red with anger as his father continued to laugh at him.


    ¡°Anyways,¡± Bastille said as he wiped away a tear of joy. ¡°This ball will become your best friend for the next few days!¡±


    ¡°Best friend, how so?¡± Clover asked as he studied the ball even more closely, in case he missed something.


    ¡°By using this ball you can get used to casting spells. When you attempted to cast your spell, I told you to concentrate Arcana in the palm of your hand, correct?¡± Bastille said.


    ¡°Yes, but nothing happened¡­¡± Clover mumbled.


    ¡°That is because I may have slightly lied to you.¡± Bastille noticed Clover contort his face in annoyance and was about to speak up before he cut him off and continued. ¡°It is not the palm that you should focus your Arcana on, but the space in front of your hand!¡±


    ¡°But didn¡¯t you say earlier that only those at the Gold-rank could project Arcana outside their bodies? How is this any different?¡± Clover inquired.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you asked,¡± Bastille smirked in approval before he continued. ¡°While I did say that Arcana projection is only feasible once one had sufficient Arcana capacity, this is not the case with the palm of your hand! Even those at the White-rank are capable of expelling Arcana from their palms and casting spells! However, it is still difficult to effectively concentrate enough Arcana into the space in front of your palm to do so! But by pouring Arcana into a ball while you holding it and using it as a focal point, you can learn to focus on the space in front of the palm. And by constantly pouring Arcana through your palm, it will become used to allowing greater amounts of Arcana to pass through it faster and more effectively!¡±


    Clover gripped the ball in his hand as he heard this. Lifting his arm again, this time with the ball in hand, Clover injected more Arcana into his palm and into the center of the hollow ball. As the Arcana flowed from his veins, he felt a numb pressure begin to form in the center of his palm. After a couple more moments, it began to feel as if someone was poking it with a nail. The veins around his arm also began to prickle uncomfortably the longer he poured Arcana into the ball. Eventually, the pain increased to the point that he could no longer withstand it, and dropped the ball.


    Gasping for air, Clover began to feel light-headed and nauseous, the world around him seemed to tumble, until it flipped over, as he fell to the ground.


    ¡°That was a good start!¡± Bastille exclaimed as he lifted his son from the ground. ¡°The first time you experience Arcana drain will always be the worst!¡± Bastille chuckled as his son turned green from nausea. ¡°Now you see why increasing the capacity of Arcana is important. Blacking out due to Arcana drain in a battle is a real and dangerous situation! The number of careless Seekers I¡¯ve seen die due to it is disastrous!¡±


    ¡°Okay, so Arcana Discipline is the most important skill I have to learn if I want to be a Seeker, and the sooner I train with it the stronger my foundation will be.¡± Clover acknowledged. ¡°And the use of Spirit items should only be used as auxiliary tools in order to prevent becoming dependent on them. What else is there?¡±


    "Although this doesn''t apply to us, I must mention Bloodline magic!" Bastille exclaimed. "Since I''m sure that you already know about them, I will instead quiz you about them! Okay?"


    "Okay!" Clover agreed. Ah! I''m jealous! I wish I had a Bloodline magic!


    "First question. What is Bloodline magic?" Bastille asked.


    "Bloodline magic are unique powers that can only be inherited by family members of powerful dynasties! Only those of the same blood can be born with the ability to use them!"


    "Correct! For the second question, do you know of any families that have Bloodline magics?"


    "Of course! Pretty much all royal families of the world have their own Bloodline magic. The most notable examples are the Omalfi, Constantius, Rylos, Suren, Kaldia, Aleesia, and the Vanden families!"


    "Correct again! Now then, why is it that royal families have Bloodlines?"


    "Uh...Because Bloodline magics are the perfect way to establish legitimacy to the throne. It also signifies that the royal families have been blessed by the Saints, Herengle, and Heaphin! It also proved that they have the divine right to rule."


    "Good! Now then, do you know what some of the Bloodline magics are?"


    "Uh...Um...No? Aren''t they extremely secret?"


    "Yes, they are! And their Bloodline magic tend to be the most well-guarded secret of the kingdom! After all, it was that power that allowed their ancestors to have the ability to take the throne! If their enemies obtained the knowledge of the power, it would be one less weapon in their arsenal!" Bastille exclaimed. "But, that doesn''t matter to us! After all, we don''t have any royal blood in our veins! Haha!"


    "Yea, haha..." Clover weakly laughed as he envied those who were lucky enough to be born with royal blood. "Well, what else is there for me to do?"


    ¡°Well, that should be obvious. Physical fitness.¡± Bastille flatly said. ¡°Keeping your body in pristine condition will allow the transformation abilities of Arcana Discipline to occur faster and more efficiently.¡±


    ¡°Ah...Of course, I forgot about having to exercise...¡± Clover lamented. Throughout his life, Clover could count the number of times he ran for fun on a single hand. The most recent of which being when he ran from the mutated beasts in the Dark Forest.


    Bastille chuckled as he saw Clover¡¯s gloomy expression. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll let you off for today as you are most likely still sore from your injuries. But starting tomorrow, you will begin your strict regimen of Arcana Discipline and fitness!¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Clover shouted.


    ¡°After your daily workout, I will also teach you how to properly use your spear in battle. After all, Arcana is not the only necessity in battle. There are plenty of Silver-ranked Seekers who solely rely on their combat abilities in order to defeat opponents that are Gold ranked!¡± Bastille said. ¡°But those who can balance the two are the only ones capable of breaking into the Blue- rank!¡±


    ¡°So what does it take to become Black-rank?¡± Clover asked.


    ¡°Oh? Getting ahead of yourself I see! Who says that you will have a chance to even reach that boundary!¡± Bastille chuckled.


    ¡°What! Of course, I¡¯ll become a Black-rank Seeker one day! You just wait! I will make it seem easy!¡± Clover gnashed his teeth in anger as he snapped at his father.


    ¡°Haha! That''s the spirit!¡± Bastille guffawed. ¡°That attitude is exactly what you will need to become a Black-Compass! But nevertheless, there is no reason to talk about the Black rank for now, you only need to focus on becoming Bronze-rank by this time next year.¡±


    ¡°Fine¡­¡± Clover trailed off as he lifted the ball once more, and began to pour Arcana into it. This time, however, a noticeable amount of dirt and rock began to rise from the ground and coalesce in front of Clover¡¯s outstretched palm. As a small spear of stone began to form, Clover became excited and increased the amount of Arcana pouring from his palm. But as soon as he did so, the small spear began to rumble as it was unable to contain the fluctuating Arcana within it.


    Bam!


    The spear exploded into a shower of dust and pebbles, covering Clover in a thin layer of dirt. ¡°Ah! This is hard!¡± Clover exclaimed, in surprise as he shook his gray hair free of particulates.


    ¡°Did you think this would be that easy!¡± Bastille laughed, but inside he was reeling in surprise. What the hell? Clover is making too much progress in just one day! It usually takes someone a month or two of diligent practice to get this far, half-elf or not! As Bastille thought this, he couldn¡¯t help but think back to the day he found him, and the situation with the shrouded man. Even though it¡¯s a pain, I should tell him about that day¡­


    Shaking his head, Bastille spoke up. ¡°In any case, we should call it quits for today. We wouldn¡¯t want you to harm yourself from practicing too hard while you are still injured!¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Clover responded and picked the ball up. He poured Arcana into his Devyse once more and deposited his spear into it as he followed his father inside.


    This is going to be a rough year...But as long as I follow father¡¯s training regimen, I should become as strong as him! Right? Clover thought to himself, when all of a sudden, the figure of a cute and shy blonde girl appeared in his mind. Ah! I want to see her again! I hope this year goes by quick!

 [Spirit Realm] Chapter 12

    -Olemane''s Elixer-


    The bright morning rays assailed Clover¡¯s eyes, forcing him to roll over to his side and grumble at the discomfort. After a few seconds of tossing and turning, Clover¡¯s eyes shot open in excitement as he remembered what today was. Leaping out of bed and landing on two sturdy feet, he ran into his bathroom and looked into the mirror. The same familiar sight that has greeted him every morning had changed. His face was still childish, but one could tell that he would grow into a handsome young man in the future.


    He had become taller, and his muscles had become more defined. His tan skin was bright and elastic. His hazel eyes had become sharp and contained a sanguine gleam. And although his hair was dark gray like that of an old man''s, it was youthful and strong. His body¡¯s transformation was all due to his strict training with Bastille that had taken place over the course of a year. Clover had gone through hell during the past year. His father¡¯s strict regimen had preoccupied his every thought for the past year, each day bringing a new change to his routine.


    Shaking his head free from those unpleasant thoughts, Clover prepared a bath and jumped in. The warm water washed away the last remnants of yesterday¡¯s fatigue, reinvigorating him and leaving him refreshed. After his long soak was over, Clover put on his best attire. A white dress shirt that he left open at the collar, which showed off the necklace Kate had given him on his fourteenth birthday, and a pair of clean black slacks with complimenting shoes. On his right arm was the Devyse Don had given him for his birthday last year. Ever since he had begun training to become a Seeker Clover had made it a habit to wear it at all times.


    Clover looked in the mirror one last time before running out the door and towards the Guildhall. Although it was still relatively early in the morning the hall begun to fill up with around a hundred Seekers, waitresses, and other employees that were starting their day. Just as Clover was stepping out of the building, he heard someone call his name.


    ¡°Clover! Are you going to meet your girlfriend?!¡± Kate yelled from a nearby table, which caused many of the Seekers and employees to look at his direction and grin.


    ¡°Yes! I mean no! S-she is not my girlfriend!¡± Clover stammered as his face became as bright as a strawberry.


    ¡°Oh come on, Clover! We know your excited that you can finally leave the Guild and talk with your ''lady friend'', but you should at least eat some breakfast before you meet her!¡±


    ¡°Fine...But, just a quick bite.¡± Clover conceded as he walked over to her and sat down. ¡°By the way, how do you know about Har-...I mean, my friend?¡±


    ¡°Please, Clover...Everyone in the guild knows about her!¡± Kate giggled. ¡°Well, we only know that she is a girl. We don¡¯t know her name¡­But...¡± Kate trailed off, as she shot him a curious glance.


    ¡°But, what?¡± Clover retorted.


    ¡°But, I would love to know who she is! No more secrecy! We want to kno-¡± Kate coughed as she tried to cover up her previous remark. ¡°I mean, I want to know more about her!¡±


    ¡°No!¡± He snapped. ¡°How did you even find out about her anyways?!¡±


    ¡°I''m not telling unless you tell me about her¡­¡± Kate grumbled as she crossed her arms in defiance.


    ¡°Ignore her Clover, you just go and enjoy your date.¡± A voice from behind caused the two of them turn around. It was Maria, and even though it was still early in the morning, she looked as dazzling and beautiful as ever. In her hands was a plate of food, which she placed in front of Clover. ¡°But she is right. You are a growing boy and you need to eat!¡±


    ¡°Okay, mom,¡± Clover mumbled as he began to eat his meal. It was quite simple. Two slices of toast smeared with honey, fried tomatoes, and a few strips of bacon. As he ate, he couldn¡¯t help but notice his mother who had sat down beside him was staring at his face with a wide smile.


    ¡°What is it?¡± He mumbled.


    ¡°Nothing...¡±


    ¡°It isn''t nothing, you clearly have something on your mind!¡± Clover grumbled.


    Still smiling, Maria swept Clover¡¯s gray hair from his forehead. ¡°My baby boy is growing up so fast! I still remember the night Bastille brought you from the forest. At first, I thought that he had cheated on me and that you were the result of his late-night activities¡­¡± She trailed off as her intelligent emerald eyes had begun to redden.


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t start crying...You¡¯ll embarrass me¡­¡± Clover mumbled as he munched on a piece of bacon.


    ¡°I know, I know¡­You are at the age when kids are rebellious and they become embarrassed by their mothers. Hell, you¡¯re even running off to meet with your girlfriend this early in the morning. Who knows what you''re going to do to that defenseless girl¡­¡± Maria whimpered as she gently pinched his face.


    ¡°Quit it, mom¡­¡± Clover¡¯s said, his face becoming as red as the tomatoes on his plate as he brushed his mother¡¯s hands from his face. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m too young to be doing that sort of stuff yet. And we shouldn¡¯t talk about that in front of other people...¡± He trailed off as he glanced at Kate. But to his relief, Kate was ignoring them and staring at the strips of bacon on his plate.


    ¡°Stop growing so fast!¡± Maria wailed as she placed him in a powerful embrace while placing gentle kisses on his forehead and cheeks. Taking advantage of the situation, Kate smiled at the two of them and stole a strip of bacon from Clover¡¯s plate as he tried to escape from Maria¡¯s grasp. After a few moments of struggle, Maria relented and let go.


    Coughing awkwardly, Clover spoke up. ¡°By the way, mom¡­How does Kate know about my friend¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you''re talking about¡­¡± Maria blatantly said as she twiddled her fingers.


    ¡°Considering that the only other two people who know about her are you and dad. And also considering that dad doesn¡¯t reveal anyone''s secrets. That makes you the only one could have told her about it!¡±


    Maria smiled unconvincingly as her lie was exposed, only speaking up after a breath of silence. ¡°Fine, I let her read some of your letters¡­¡±


    ¡°You read my letters!¡± Clover roared ¡°You let her read my letters!¡± His face became even redder from before, but this time there were flecks of anger amongst the red sea of embarrassment.


    ¡°Only the good ones!¡± Maria shouted out. ¡°But you should be happy!¡±


    ¡°Why would I be happy that you snuck into my room read my letters and let other people read them as well?!¡±


    ¡°Because that way you can let everyone know just how sweet and romantic you are!¡± Maria laughed as tears of joy began to fall onto her white cheeks. Kate joined in the mirth and began to laugh as well with her mouth full of bacon.


    ¡°Stop laughing!¡± Clover shouted. ¡°And stop eating my bacon!¡± He said one last time as he grabbed the few remaining strips in his hands, and ran out the door. Leaving behind the two irritating women.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡± Clover grumbled as he walked towards the Cathedral. The streets of Vanden had already become crowded this early in the morning. But like a fish in water, Clover maneuvered around the crowd and towards his destination. ¡°I hope Sven didn¡¯t have time to read my letters before he left¡­¡± Clover grumbled as he thought of his Elven friend.


    Sven had left a month after his training had begun. It was around this time of year that he would join a band of troubadours, as they would travel from the Kingdom of Vanden to the Kingdoms of Armelia and Kaldia. They would usually travel for around six months before returning. But Sven did mention that this year would be different, as they would be boarding the Saintos Railway to travel through the Ga¡¯jong mountains so that they could perform in the halls and courts of the Suren Dominion!


    While his head were full of thoughts, his feet brought him to his destination automatically. However, in his daze, Clover tripped on one the stairs leading up to the entrance of the Cathedral. But before he could bash his face onto the marble stairs, Clover was able to bring up his arms and catch himself from face-planting.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± A worried voice said from above.


    ¡°Heather!¡± Clover shouted as he corrected himself. He walked up the steps and faced her. To both of their surprise, Clover looked into her eyes, not up at them.


    ¡°You¡¯ve gotten taller!¡± Heather smiled as she spoke to him. ¡°I''m assuming that you are here to speak with Haru?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Clover beamed. ¡°She is still here right?¡±


    ¡°Of course, she is in her alcove as always,¡± Heather stated. ¡°But you know, I can¡¯t help but feel heartbroken over the fact that you have forgotten about me so easily¡­¡± Heather trailed off as she looked away. However, out of Clover¡¯s view, she smiled with a teasing gleam in her eye.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten about you!¡± Clover shouted. ¡°Besides, you were the one who always said that nothing could happen between us. And that the laws of the church were more important than any romance!¡±


    ¡°I was only testing you!¡± She continued. ¡°I¡¯m glad I did since now I know that you are an unfaithful man!¡± Heather pretended to sob as she turned her back to him.


    ¡°Wait, Heather!¡± Clover started as he tried to console her, only to contort his face with an ugly smile. ¡°Hold on, you¡¯re only teasing me, right?¡±


    Heather stopped sobbing for a moment, before turning around to face him. ¡°That''s right!¡± She chortled. ¡°After all, how could I get in the way between you two¡­¡±


    ¡°It''s not like that¡­¡± Clover mumbled, as his face reddened for the hundredth time this morning.


    ¡°Oh, please¡­I may be a nun, but I''m not oblivious to a maiden¡¯s heart!¡± Heather beamed. ¡°Every time Haru received one of your letters, she would run up to me with a wide smile and read it to me!¡±


    ¡°Wait! She read them to you?!¡± Clover shouted, his face no longer red but a dark maroon.


    ¡°Of course! And they were very sweet!¡±


    Clover could only stand still, as he used every fiber in his body to prevent himself from passing out from to embarrassment.


    ¡°I do have to thank you, Clover¡­¡± Heather spoke up, grasping the sleeve of his shirt in order to grab his attention as well as to prevent him from being carried off by the slightest breeze.


    ¡°Why is that?¡± He asked, as his eyes restored their focus.


    ¡°Because of you, Haru has become much healthier!¡± Heather grinned.


    ¡°But you¡¯re the one who has been using your magic on her. Why would you thank me?¡±


    ¡°My magic can only do so much! I can¡¯t heal all scars...Especially when it comes to Haru¡­¡± She mumbled, before perking up. ¡°Ever since you met her and started writing to her, she has started to smile and talk more! Unlike the depressed, sick, and shy girl I met a year ago; Haru is now bright and full of joy! And it¡¯s all thanks to you!¡±


    ¡°I''m glad to hear that! But why haven¡¯t you talked to her as well? Aren¡¯t you her friend too?¡± Clover started.


    ¡°I tried! For an entire year, I tried!¡± Heather exclaimed. ¡°But it wasn¡¯t until after she met you that she asked me if I knew you. When I said I did, she would bombard me with questions every day!¡± Heather smiled before continuing. ¡°After all, the only thing she ever talks about is you¡­¡±


    ¡°R-really?¡± Clover stammered.


    ¡°Really!¡± Heather grinned as she walked into the Cathedral doors with Clover following her in a stunned silence.


    The Cathedral hall was fairly empty, with only a dozen or so people. Their heads were bowed in prayer, hoping their voices would reach Saint Adlan, Goddess Herengle, and Goddess Heaphin.


    Heather silently guided Clover to a corned off section of the building and pointed him to a set of inconspicuous stairs.


    ¡°Take a left once you reach the top. The alcove will be down the hall¡± Heather said. ¡°By the way, I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t need me to say this. But if you touch Haru, Nutmeg will kill you.¡± She slyly grinned before departing.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that¡­¡± He mumbled before walking up the steps. But if she''s okay with it¡­ He thought, before shaking his head from a lewd thought. Taking a left as he reached the top of the stairs, Clover walked down the hall and reached the alcove.


    The small room was empty, save for a small orange fox that was sunbathing on top one of the couches that inhabited the room. Clover tiptoed over to the sleeping spirit and picked him up by his armpits.


    Nutmeg stirred from his sleep, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he blinked them open. ¡°Hasn¡¯t anyone told you that it''s rude to wake others up?¡± He grumbled as he recognized the half-elf in front of him.


    ¡°Haha! Come on Nutmeg, you looked so cute that I had to pick you up!¡± Clover smiled as he began to pet him.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Nutmeg grumbled in protest as Clover rubbed his fur, only to stop as he found it quite comfortable.


    ¡°By the way. Why did you never stop by to chat?¡± Clover asked. Every morning, Clover would find one of Haru¡¯s letters on his nightstand beside his bed. But the orange fox-spirit was nowhere to be found.


    ¡°I only agreed to deliver the letters. Chatting would have cost you extra.¡± Nutmeg yawned as he licked his paw with an aloof look on his face.


    ¡°Extra? How many pets is that!¡± Clover exclaimed as he violently rubbed Nutmeg¡¯s soft pelt.


    ¡°You brat!¡± Nutmeg yowled in discomfort as Clover¡¯s hands disheveled his well-groomed coat. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you a lesson!¡± He yelled as he flew away from Clover¡¯s probing hands. ¡°Take this! Repeating Punches!¡±


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Clover yelped as Nutmeg¡¯s small yet powerful paws jabbed his stomach repeatedly. Each swing was like a rock slamming into his abdomen. However, Nutmeg soon stopped and inspected Clover¡¯s body.


    ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± Nutmeg hummed.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Clover squeaked in pain, as he rubbed his sore belly.


    ¡°You¡¯ve become a bit stronger since the last time we met! You¡¯re Arcana has also become deeper and purer!¡± Nutmeg inspected. ¡°Have you started training with Arcana Discipline?¡±


    ¡°Yep!¡± Clover proudly stated. Although his face appeared calm and steady, his mind was not, as it began to tumble as he recalled his dreadful year.


    From dawn to dusk, his life was one of pain and misery. Every day, before the sun had arisen, Bastille would wake him, and force him to run ten kilometers. After his short marathon, he was expected to complete one hundred pushups, one hundred situps, and five laps around the Guild pool. Afterwards, he would spar with Bastille for an hour. By the end of all that, Clover would be drenched in sweat, tears, and blood. But that was when his real training would begin. Only once he was completely exhausted and close to blacking out would Bastille pull out the small ball used for Arcana Discipline. Only once Clover was on the ground throwing up blood and squirming in pain, would Bastille let him call it quits for the day and allow him to take a bath.


    But that was only his morning routine. After he arrived at the Guildhall, Clover would begin his afternoon punishment. This included anything from serving food to Seekers while enduring their jeers, cleaning any and all messes, and cooking with Morty. Although many people, like Maya, would prefer to serve food than to be forced to cook with Morty, Clover would enjoy spending time with the gentle giant as he was relatively friendly to him. Or at least, he took Morty¡¯s silence and nods of approval to be friendly.


    As soon as the sun set, Maria would take him and force him to start his studies. Maria would teach him history and literature. Unfortunately for him, his mother is incredibly strict and austere and she would reprimand him whenever he made the smallest of mistakes. Edward, on the other hand, was kind and patient. As the treasurer of the Guild, Edward was the perfect man to teach him mathematics. By the time his studies were over, the moon would be high in the sky, and the Guild would be silent as everyone took to their rooms. By this point, Clover would be exhausted, and the second his head hit his pillow, he would be out like a light. Unfortunately for him, his slumber would only last a second, as he would awake to the sound of his father forcing him to start his morning regimen once again.


    Nutmeg began to laugh as he saw Clover¡¯s face becoming increasingly grim as he thought about his dark year.


    ¡°Quit laughing! It was a hard year for me!¡± Clover yelled as he grabbed the fox¡¯s floating body, and roughly rubbed his coat.


    ¡°You jerk!¡± Nutmeg yowled in annoyance as his pelt became messy. ¡°Take this!¡± He yelled as he slammed a small paw at Clover¡¯s face.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Clover wailed, as he let go of the spirit''s soft body. Although Nutmeg¡¯s punch seemed small and weak, they were filled with Arcana. This made the small weightless slap feel like a punch from a tough boxer! ¡°You little...I¡¯m going to pet you whether you like it or not!¡± Clover yelled as he ran towards the small spirit.


    ¡°Bring it on half-elf!¡± Nutmeg laughed as he flew toward Clover, raising another paw as he attempted to land another slap! The two of them were inches from colliding with one another before they were stopped by a soft voice.


    ¡°Nutmeg? Why are you being so loud?¡± Haru mumbled as she walked out of a room near the alcove. She was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes with a small white hand while lifting her other hand to cover her mouth as she failed to stifle her yawn.


    So Cute!


    Clover thought to himself as he saw the picturesque scene in front of him. Heather was right, Haru had become healthier, and more beautiful. Her skin was no longer a sick pale color, but a healthy fair complexion. Her long blonde hair reached past her shoulders ended in slight waves and they dazzled like goldenrods of wheat by the morning¡¯s rays. Her bright blue eyes were like dual sapphires that shimmered with life. Her simple black nightgown exemplified her porcelain skin further as the thin straps that held it up exposed her delicate shoulders and her charming clavicle.


    ¡°An opening!¡± Nutmeg yelled as he uppercutted the preoccupied Clover with his tail, forcing him to fly back a meter and slam into a wall.


    ¡°Clover!¡± Haru blurted out, as her face blushed a deep red that flowed down her neck. She looked down and realized that she was still wearing her revealing nightwear, and slammed the door behind her.


    Clover and Nutmeg stared at the door in silence, the figure of the retreating girl fresh in their minds. Eventually, Clover raised himself from the ground and sat on the couch opposite of Nutmeg. The duo sat in an awkward silence as they waited for Haru to leave her room. The silence would break on occasion by the slamming and shutting of drawers. Haru¡¯s footsteps were quite audible as she nervously paced around in her room, looking for something to wear. Seconds turned into minutes as Haru continued her search.


    Nutmeg had long fallen asleep and Clover had pulled out his spear and was twirling it around like a baton to pass the time. After thirty minutes, the door to the young girl¡¯s room squeaked open as she walked out.


    ¡°Hello, Clover¡­¡± Haru stammered as she met his gaze, a subtle red tinge appearing on her cheeks. She had found her attire in an elegant black and orange outfit. It appeared as if it was only something a noble could afford, further convincing Clover that Haru was from noble birth.


    ¡°I-it¡¯s been awhile¡­¡± He stuttered as his cheeks became scarlet.


    ¡°Yes, it has¡­¡± She whispered. Haru shuffled towards the couch Nutmeg was on, picking him up and laying him on her lap as she took a seat. ¡°Nutmeg. You shouldn¡¯t fight with friends¡­¡±


    ¡°He started it.¡± Nutmeg yawned as he wagged one of his paws.


    The three of them stayed in silence for a couple more seconds, before Clover and Haru broke into laughs.


    ¡°Sorry! I don¡¯t know why I''m being so awkward!¡± Clover jested.


    ¡°No! I apologize for making it awkward! I was the one who interrupted the two of you from playing!¡± Haru giggled, as she stroked Nutmeg¡¯s fur.


    ¡°Yeah! It¡¯s not like the two of you are dating or anything! Then it would be awkward!¡± Nutmeg chuckled as he curled his lips into a mischievous sneer.


    The second Nutmeg mentioned dating, the silence returned as the two of them looked at their laps with red faces. After another minute of silence, Clover spoke up.


    ¡°So, how are you?¡± Clover asked. Really?! That''s what you ask her after all this time?! You are so lame, Clover!


    ¡°G-g-good!¡± Haru squeaked without saying anything else. The silence only deepened further and became unbearable as the uncomfortable atmosphere threatened to pulverize their bodies. It was only once Nutmeg spoke up that the pressure was dispersed.


    ¡°Haru, why don¡¯t you show Clover what you have been doing this past year.¡± The young girl¡¯s blue eyes to widen with excitement as she stood up and dashed into her room. After a few seconds of audible bangs and slams, Haru reemerged with a small metal box in her hands as well as a large bag.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Clover asked as he ran his hazel eyes over the strange box. The box was a dull gray color with bright purple characters written all over it.


    ¡°It''s an alchemical forge!¡± Haru replied, puffing her chest out in pride. ¡°I¡¯m going to become an alchemist!¡±


    ¡°Wow! I heard that you have to be very skilled and rich to be an alchemist!¡± Clover gasped, as he stared at Haru. ¡°Haru, can you use Arcana?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Haru trailed off before looking at Nutmeg. ¡°Not to the point that I can project Arcana out of my body¡­Which is the first prerequisite¡­¡± Her eyes drooped in embarrassment.


    ¡°In the meantime, I do all the hard work while she watches.¡± Nutmeg chimed in, placing his orange paw over his chest in pride.


    ¡°Bastille told me it''s only at the Gold-rank that Seekers can project Arcana!¡± Clover said as he widened his eyes. Will this frail girl ever be capable of becoming an alchemist? He wondered to himself.


    ¡°Gold?!¡± Haru¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Is that hard to reach?"


    ¡°Well, yeah. Most Seekers will only stay in the Silver rank for the entirety of their lives!¡± Clover callously remarked.


    ¡°Wh-what!¡± Haru gasped, as she clenched her dress with her hands. ¡°So...It is impossible for me to become an Alchemist¡­¡± She hopelessly said, sinking deeper into the couch.


    ¡°Of course not young Miss!¡± Nutmeg said. ¡°Clover is only joking around! He did say most! There is still a good chance you will become an Alchemist!¡± Glaring at Clover and unsheathing his claws, Nutmeg continued. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, boy?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes! Most people who become Seekers are poor, without a notable family. But you are obviously different! I can tell with a single glance that you are special! And with your powerful background being able to project Arcana will be simple for you!¡± Clover blurted out.


    ¡°Really? You mean it?¡± Haru whispered.


    ¡°Yep!¡± Clover shot her a thumbs up and smiled. ¡°Its clear to anyone that you are exceptional!¡±


    Her previous bright and excited expression returning to her. Clover sat up straight and shot Clover a stunningly beautiful smile. ¡°Thank you, Clover!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it!¡± Clover smiled back. Although he was cool on the outside, he was melting on the inside, like ice cream in the middle of summer.


    ¡°So, can you show me what you have learned so far?¡± Clover asked once he regained his composure.


    ¡°Okay! But I can only tell Nutmeg which ingredients to use, he will do all the heavy work!¡± Haru excitedly said.


    ¡°Very well, young Miss. Do you want to start off with Olemane¡¯s Elixir?¡± Nutmeg asked.


    ¡°Okay!¡± Haru confidently said as she pulled out a pair of gloves from one of the pockets on the bag.


    ¡°Alright, what do I do first?¡± Nutmeg quizzed Haru.


    ¡°First we must use two tablespoons of Emberglow to provide fuel to the forge!¡± Haru confidently replied and pulled out a bottle filled with a bright red dust.


    ¡°Correct!¡± Nutmeg said, as he outstretched a paw, and made a grasping motion towards the bottle of Emberglow. The bottle floated from Haru¡¯s grasp and hovered over the box. Nutmeg raised his other paw and projected more Arcana towards the metal box. As the metal box reacted with the Arcana, the characters around them began to move and squirm, before they converged into a single spot atop the box, causing the box to pop open, exposing it to the outside air.


    ¡°Wow¡­¡±Clover breathlessly said as he looked into the box. The box was as simple on the inside as it appeared on the outside. The only notable feature was the cylindrical hole that was in the middle.


    ¡°That¡¯s a forge! The most important equipment an Alchemist will ever own!¡± Haru burst out with pride.


    As Clover continued to examine the box, Nutmeg measured exactly two tablespoons of Emberglow with Arcana and poured it into the forge. A reaction occurred immediately, as the forge began to glow orange from the heat! Clover¡¯s eyes widened as he watched the spectacle.


    ¡°What¡¯s next Haru?¡± Nutmeg asked.


    ¡°One ounce of Bunglefruit!¡± Haru said as she pulled out a small red fruit, the size of a tangerine. The Bunglefruit was stored in a glass bottle as well, which Clover was thankful for, as the small fruit looked toxic. Its small body was covered in hideous lesions that leaked a blood-red juice. Clover felt that if he were to eat even a nibble of the fruit he would die a painful death.


    ¡°Bingo!¡± Nutmeg congratulated Haru before levitating the glass bottle towards him. Measuring a single ounce, Nutmeg carefully dumped the fruit into the forge. The orange glow turned a dangerous red, as the Bunglefruit mixed with the Emberglow.


    ¡°Next!¡± Nutmeg shouted as his face became contorted with concentration.


    ¡°Five ounces of Blackeye!¡± Haru exclaimed as she pulled out another glass bottle filled with many evil looking black barnacles.


    Once again, Nutmeg carried the bottle over to the forge and measure five ounces with his Arcana. Dumping it into the forge. Upon contact, the red glow became a malicious black hole that threatened to devour all of existence!


    ¡°Next!¡± Nutmeg shouted without respite, his eyes strained as he concentrated deeply on the alchemical concoction.


    ¡°Three ounces of Roden¡¯s Feast!¡± Haru said, pulling out a bottle filled with purple mushrooms. Each mushroom was the size of a baby¡¯s fist with black veins running along its poisonous body.


    ¡°Good!¡± Nutmeg yelled out with effort before retrieving the ingredient and measuring out three ounces. As he dumped the final ingredient into the mix, the glow stabilized from a dark black into a muddy brown. ¡°Perfect!¡± Nutmeg yelled out once more as Haru pulled out a small empty bottle. Nutmeg injected the forge with more Arcana, forcing the alchemical mixture to float out of the forge and into the glass bottle and closed it with a wooden cork.


    ¡°Good job, Nutmeg!¡± Haru merrily said as she grabbed the small glass bottle from the air, and wrote a label on it that said, ¡®Olemane¡¯s Elixir.¡¯


    ¡°I need to rest, Haru¡­¡± Nutmeg grumbled as he floated towards his mistress. ¡°If you touch Haru, I will end your life¡­¡± He said as he shook a paw at Clover.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that!¡± Haru squealed. ¡°Clover wouldn¡¯t do that...Right?¡± She said, shooting a nervous glance towards him.


    ¡°Of course not! Nutmeg is only teasing us!¡± Clover rebuked.


    ¡°Whatever, I¡¯m tired. Goodnight young Miss¡­¡± Nutmeg yawned before turning into a myriad of orange orbs, flying towards Haru¡¯s chest where they were absorbed.


    ¡°Goodnight, Nutmeg.¡± She smiled as the small fox spirit disappeared. That joyful smile became replace by an awkward one, as she looked at Clover.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Clover asked.


    ¡°No! Everything is fine!¡± Haru giggled and shook her hands. ¡°It''s just that, I wanted to give you this¡­¡± Haru embarrassingly mumbled as she handed the elixir over to Clover.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Clover exclaimed. ¡°What does, Olemane¡¯s Elixir do?¡± Clover asked as he inspected the muddy liquid.


    ¡°It¡¯s meant to heal you from minor scratches and injuries! I thought since you¡¯re a Seeker, that you might get hurt...And I wanted to make sure you were prepared in case you do¡­¡± She mumbled. ¡°But, Nutmeg isn¡¯t an expert at Alchemy. So his potion''s are simple! Because of that, I can only give you Olemane¡¯s Elixir. It will probably hurt more putting that on your wounds then the wounds themselves will¡­¡± Haru trailed off as she looked away.


    ¡°I love it!¡± Clover exclaimed.


    ¡°Really?¡± She asked, unsure.


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Hehe...That makes me really happy!¡± Haru giggled and gave Clover another dazzling smile.


    Cute! Charming! Beautiful! No! There are no words that can properly describe how adorable this creature in front of me is! Clover shouted in his mind as he continued to enjoy the sight.


    ¡°By the way, Haru. Why did you want to become an Alchemist?¡± Clover asked.


    ¡°Haha, it¡¯s a dumb reason¡­¡± Haru bitterly smiled.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be that dumb! Tell me!¡± Clover pressed.


    ¡°Okay, but only if you don¡¯t laugh!¡± Haru commanded as she furrowed her brow.


    ¡°I promise!¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Haru said as she prepared to gather the courage to explain. ¡°It''s because I want to be like Heather¡­¡±


    ¡°You want to be a nun?¡± Clover said in dismay. No! Nuns can¡¯t marry!


    ¡°No! Not a nun, but a healer, like Heather. But unlike her, I can¡¯t use light magic to help people¡­¡± Haru bitterly smiled. ¡°But If I learn Alchemy, I can at least give my healing elixirs for those who need them!¡± She confidently said as she tightened her small fists. She became embarrassed as she noticed Clover staring at her intensely. ¡°You see...It is stupid¡­¡±


    ¡°No! It¡¯s not! In fact, I think it''s incredibly admirable!¡± Clover remarked. ¡°I think its an awesome idea!¡±


    ¡°Really?!¡± Haru piped up.


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Hehe...Thank you, Clover. Haru giggled and shot him another radiant smile.


    Yep...No words¡­ Clover thought.


    The two of them talked for a couple more hours and it was only until the sun had begun to set did Clover bid his farewell. Haru walked with him to the stairs that led to the bottom floor before speaking up.


    ¡°Are you going to come by tomorrow?¡± Haru whispered.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Clover replied before walking downstairs. As he reached the bottom, he looked back at the blonde girl and waved, which Haru returned. Clover left the Cathedral with a wide smile and a pep in his step as he traveled back to the Guild.

 [Spirit Realm] Chapter 13

    -Karim-


    ¡°Michael! Zen!¡± Clover greeted the duo who were relaxing and drinking at a nearby table. The sun had long set by the time he arrived at the Guild and the familiar sight of a crowded Guildhall filled his vision as he entered


    ¡°Clover!¡± The duo shouted in unison as he walked over. Michael poured him a cup of Azure wine as he sat down, which Clover gratefully accepted.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you had an ''eventful'' day today.¡± Zen chirped up with a mischievous grin as he scooted over.


    ¡°Yea, it was a good time.¡± Clover flatly said. Adlan damn it! How the hell does everyone know about this?! I¡¯m sick and tired of getting teased! This is the last straw! From now on, I will just play along!


    ¡°Oh, was it?¡± Michael grinned from ear to ear. ¡°Two young lovers alone...Who knows what sort of things you two could have gotten away with...¡±


    ¡°I agree, Michael. When two young teens are at such a curious and ardent stage in life, they may lose control and do some stupid things!¡± Zen curled his lips deviously before adding. ¡°I just hope you two ate some Silphium roots before doing the deed¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course we did! I¡¯m not the type of guy that is stupid enough to get a girl pregnant.¡± Clover replied calmly as he took a sip of his drink.


    ¡°Good! That''s admirable! We wouldn''t wa-. Wait, what.¡± Zen''s mouth was left unhinged as he stared at the youth beside him.


    ¡°I was an orphan myself who was most likely the result of a dumb young couple who were not ready to raise a child. If it was not for Bastille, I would have died as an infant. How could I ever subject a child to the same fate?¡± Clover reasoned. ¡°Therefore, the two of us decided to make the wise decision of making proper preparations beforehand!¡±


    ¡°What,¡± Zen repeated again as his eyes became unfocused.


    ¡°No! You are too young to be doing that stuff!¡± Michael yelled. ¡°We were just playing around! We didn¡¯t really think you had taken that step in your life! Clover, tell us that you were only joking around!¡± He pleaded. But as he saw his young friend drink his Azure Wine with a stoic expression, he couldn''t help but become worried.


    ¡°Whats going on?¡± A voice asked from the side.


    ¡°Maya!¡± The duo cried out as they noticed their beautiful dark-skinned friend.


    ¡°What? You two look weird, what''s wrong?¡± Maya queried as the duo looked at her with concerned eyes.


    ¡°It''s Clover!¡± Zen swiftly replied. ¡°We think that he has done...Done...That!¡±


    ¡°Haha! What are you two talking about!¡± Maya laughed as she walked over and took a seat beside Clover, and wrapped her arm around his neck. ¡°This little kid?! He¡¯s way too shy to do that! Hell, he would most likely pass out if he saw a naked woman!¡± Maya continued to giggle as she rubbed his head, messing up his hair.


    However, Clover only continued to sit there calmly and sip his drink. With Maya¡¯s previous statement presumably falling on deaf ears.


    ¡°You see! The old naive Clover would have started blushing and became a stuttering mess!¡± Zen blurted out. ¡°He must¡¯ve crossed the final boundary into manhood!¡± Michael remained silent as he continued to bob his head in agreement.


    ¡°No way! It''s simply not possible¡­¡±Maya cooley said. But as she continued to stare at the tan half-elf beside her, she couldn¡¯t help but become worried. ¡°Clover, tell me the truth. Did you really have sex?¡±


    Clover avoided the question and continued to sip on his drink. His eyes remained clear and confident as he was interrogated. After a breath, he spoke up. ¡°What if I have?¡±


    Maya dropped her jaw at Clover¡¯s question. ¡°No¡­¡± She whispered, before standing up. ¡°Sven has corrupted you!¡± She wailed. ¡°I will not have been beaten by a little brat! I¡¯m telling Maria!¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Clover yelled out in surprise as Maya began to run away. Luckily, he managed to stop her by grabbing onto one of her sleeves. ¡°Of course I¡¯m lying! I would never do that! Argh...I can¡¯t believe you would snitch on me like that!¡± He snarled as he crossed his arms.


    ¡°Oh please, you know I¡¯m not a dumb idiot like the two of these imbeciles that I travel around with. I was only playing along with your unconvincing rouse.¡± Maya stated. ¡°I knew that the most effective way to force you into telling the truth was by bringing your mother into this!¡±


    ¡°Yeah! We didn¡¯t believe a word of it either! We were only playing around with you, right Michael?¡± Zen said as he turned to his friend.


    ¡°Exactly! Who would ever believe a brat like you!¡±


    ¡°That''s unfair!¡± Clover wailed.


    ¡°A Seeker must use all sorts of tricks and tactics to get ahead! Unfair or otherwise!¡± Maya stated as fixed her glasses with one hand. As she sat back down, Michael piped up.


    ¡°By the way, Maya. I didn¡¯t know you were still a virgin!¡± He said with a devious smile.


    ¡°What! Of course not! I was just joking around! O-o-of course I¡¯ve had sex! Plenty of times!¡± Maya stammered as her face became red. ¡°With different guys too!¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re a slut?¡± Clover said, his eyes filled with a curious and innocent gaze.


    ¡°No!¡± Maya shouted.


    ¡°But you just said that you¡¯ve been with countless guys!¡± Zen slyly curled his lips. ¡°To me, that is something only a whore would say!¡±


    ¡°Yep! Only a massive slut would say that!¡± Michael added.


    ¡°No! That was...I¡­Wait...¡± Maya could only hopelessly stutter as she was stuck in between her lie and a hard place. ¡°Ah! You idiots!¡± She wailed before burying her face in her arms.


    ¡°Haha!¡± The three of them laughed as Maya buried her head deeper into the table.


    ¡°You three shouldn¡¯t be picking on a young lady¡­¡± A deep voice rumbled from behind.


    ¡°Bastille!¡± They shouted as Maya lifted her head. Her eyes had become slightly moist with tears.


    ¡°Dad!¡± Clover shouted. ¡°We just found out that Maya is a slut!¡±


    ¡°Eep!¡± Maya squeaked from beside him, her face beginning to resemble that of a cherry.


    ¡°Clover! You cannot say that about a young lady!¡± Bastille boomed in anger as he picked his son up by the back of his shirt.


    ¡°But she admitted it herself!¡± Clover wailed in surprise, as he flailed around helplessly.


    ¡°Did she really?¡± Bastille asked as he turned to look at the young girl with a confused expression on his face.


    ¡°No!¡± She yelled out again. ¡°They took my words out of context! I am not a slut!¡± She boomed as her words echoing throughout the Guildhall. The guild became silent, as hundreds of eyes looked over at her. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Maya whispered as she became overloaded from the humiliation and buried herself in her arms again.


    ¡°Haha!¡± The four of them laughed out loud as the usually collected girl turned into a nervous wreck.


    ¡°This place seems like fun!¡± A soft voice said from beside Bastille. It was a young boy, who they had only just now noticed.


    ¡°Ah, where are my manners? This is Karim. He is a half-elf. Just like you, Clover.¡± Bastille remarked as he introduced the young boy to them. ¡°He¡¯s also a Seeker.¡±


    ¡°Hello!¡± Karim piped up. Just like Bastille said, this boy was a half-elf as his pointed ears suggested. Karim was a fair-skinned lad with a pair of warm brown eyes. His long black hair was kept tidy in a ponytail. On his right arm, he wore a Devyse as well. ¡°Bastille told me about you. He said that you are a Seeker too and that we should be friends!¡± He said and gave Clover a wide smile, revealing a pair of sharp canines.


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Clover said as he took a glance at the boy. He noticed that they were around the same height. And that his eyes were relaxed as if they had never been serious his entire life.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°Clover, Karim is sixteen, just a year older than you. Due to an...Unfortunate incident...The Guildmaster of Deiran has sought asylum for Karim.¡± Bastille said as Karim smiled at him.


    Deiran? That''s on the other side of the Ga¡¯jong mountains! The capital of the Evar Kingdom! Clover thought to himself.


    ¡°Oh? What happened?¡± Michael piped up.


    ¡°That¡¯s not your concern. But if Karim wants to tell you, then he can.¡± Bastille stated as he took a glance at the boy.


    ¡°Nope! Not saying!¡± Karim chuckled as he covered his mouth.


    ¡°In any case. From what I¡¯ve heard. It is a life and death matter. So make sure not to mention to anyone where Karim is from.¡± Bastille said.


    ¡°Okay!¡± Clover, Michael, and Zen shouted while Maya raised a hand in acknowledgment, her head still buried in the table.


    ¡°Clover!¡± Karim chimed. ¡°I was wondering, since we are around the same age, what rank you are!¡±


    ¡°We are curious about that as well!¡± Michael said as Zen nodded his head while Maya poked her curious eyes out from under her arms.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t measure it yet.¡± Clover replied. Looking at his father, he added. ¡°Bastille said that I was not allowed to find out until my year of training was finished. So that means it''s okay to measure it now, right?¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡± Bastille agreed. ¡°Since we''re all here, let''s do it right now! I want everyone to know just how amazing my son is!¡± Bastille shouted out in pride as he sauntered over to a raised stage in the center of the Guildhall. His large frame caught the eyes of many Seekers as he made his way toward the podium, causing them to fall silent. The room had fallen to a quiet din before he had even reached it. Bastille tapped on the microphone that was on the podium, creating an ear-piercing shriek


    Skree!


    The hundreds of people in the hall covered their ears in pain as they looked over at the domineering man. ¡°We were already quiet you oaf!¡± A brave soul yelled out as he massaged his ears.


    ¡°Haha! I was just making sure!¡± Bastille laughed before starting. ¡°Today is a great day! For it is the day that my son, Clover, will become a Seeker!¡± His amplified voice boomed around the room, as hundreds of voices cheered out in glee. They raised their mugs of booze as they chanted, ¡°Clover! Clover! Clover!¡±


    ¡°Come on up here, son!¡± Bastille cried out, motioning Clover to come over with a large hand. His hazel eyes gleamed with pride as he looked at his son.


    Adlan damn it! Why does my old man always have to make a spectacle of everything! Clover shouted in his mind as he cursed his father and walked over to the raised stage. The roaring Seekers became increasingly rambunctious as they began to shout louder once Clover came to the stage.


    ¡°Whats going on?¡± Maria asked as she poked her head from behind an office door. Maria¡¯s office was located behind the Secretaries desk, which handled Seeker admissions, mission consultations, and the process of handing out and accepting missions.


    ¡°Bastille is making Clover a Seeker today!¡± Kate exclaimed with glee.


    ¡°What?! He is not sixteen yet! That¡¯s against the Guild rules!¡± Maria seethed as she began to charge over to the podium.


    ¡°Maria, let¡¯s not ruin everyone''s fun.¡± Edward¡¯s deep voice rumbled from the side. ¡°At least, not for now.¡±


    ¡°What?! This has nothing to do with ruining everyone''s fun!¡± Maria shouted as she looked up at the tall Ga¡¯jong. ¡°This has to do with enforcing Guild legislation!¡±


    ¡°Does it?¡± Bastille pondered. ¡°Is it not because you don¡¯t want Clover to become a Seeker? That you don¡¯t want him to grow up? It is understandable, after all, all mothers will have to eventually experience their sons leaving them. But you should be happy that Clover is becoming a man worth speaking of!¡±


    Maria¡¯s face began to scrunch up as Edward spoke. The corners of her eyes began to fill with hot tears before speaking up. "No...Its...Just...That...I don¡¯t want my baby to grow up so fast!¡± She wailed while latching onto Kate.


    ¡°Mrs.Rumare¡­¡± Kate chuckled as she caressed Maria¡¯s soft blonde hair. Edward smiled before looking back over at the ceremony.


    Bastille wrapped his arm around his son as he shouted into the microphone once more. ¡°Carla, tell Morty to prepare a mixture of Denari¡¯s Bath! Edward, bring me a box of medals!


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The two yelled out. In less than a minute, Morty came out with a bowl filled with a white mixture and Edward dropped off a small box.


    ¡°Clover! Are you ready to become a Seeker?¡± Bastille shouted out, as he held the bowl.


    ¡°Yes, father!¡± Clover shouted out.


    ¡°Good! Then by the will of our patron spirit, Denari, and the powers vested by me, I hereby name you a Seeker!¡± Bastille proclaimed as the loud voices of the numerous Seekers shouted out in approval! The walls of the Guild quaked with excitement as the noise carried outside, spooking the pedestrians that were walking by.


    ¡°Clover, you know the drill! To measure your Arcana capacity you must mix a single drop of blood into Denari¡¯s Bath. Depending on the color, we will be able to assess your rank!¡± Bastille shouted.


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Clover yelled, before biting the underside of his index finger. The tiny wound welled up with blood before a single drop fell into Denari¡¯s Bath. The crimson liquid plopped into the mix. At first, nothing happened. But within a single breath, the center of the mixture began to turn into a dark brown color.


    ¡°Bronze rank!¡± Bastille shouted causing the Seekers to cheer out even louder. Bastille waited for them to calm down before speaking up again. ¡°Of course, this was an obvious result! We must now wait to see what tier of the Bronze rank he is at!¡±


    The hall became silent as Bastille looked into the brown mixture. The brown liquid began to lighten with time, as it slowly turned from a dark bronze to a light tan color. Within the mix, Bastille saw a few streaks of silver mixed in.


    ¡°Peak of the Bronze rank!¡± Bastille yelled in glee, as the crowd of Seekers shouted in delight.


    ¡°Well, that was obvious!¡± Shouted a nearby Seeker.


    ¡°Of course! He is a half-elf, after all!¡± Another Seeker said in agreement.


    ¡°And he was trained by the Guildmaster himself!¡± Said another. ¡°If he hadn¡¯t been at least a middle tier Bronze-rank than he would have been a failure!¡±


    This conversation was being held at every table of Seekers. What they said was true. If Clover wasn¡¯t at least at this level, then wouldn¡¯t he be a failure? After all, he had more advantages than any Seeker around!


    As the grand hall started to quiet down, Bastille pulled out a Bronze medal in the shape of a compass from the small box Edward had given him. ¡°Clover, as your father and the Guildmaster of Vanden. I am proud to present you this Bronze medal. May you find adventure and treasure on every mission¡­¡± Bastille said as he pinned the medal onto his son¡¯s shirt.


    ¡°Thank you, father!¡± Clover yelled out, as he gave his dad a hug. Bastille smiled and hugged him back, before shouting.


    ¡°Now, it is every Seeker¡¯s job to get drunk tonight!¡± He yelled out, as hundreds of mugs were raised into the air with agreement!


    ¡°Yes, Guildmaster!¡± They all shouted in unison before chugging their drinks. In less than a second, gallons of alcohol vanished from existence as it traveled into their stomachs!


    As the guild continued becoming increasingly boisterous, Edward strutted over to the podium.


    ¡°What is it, Edward?¡± Bastille asked.


    ¡°Well, Guildmaster. I have an important matter to inform the guild. And since everyone is enjoying themselves right now, I believe that now is the perfect time to tell them.¡± Edward calmly said.


    ¡°Very well. I assume it is good news? After all, it can¡¯t get any more lively in here than it is now! Haha!¡± Bastille guffawed, as he looked around the room of merry faces. Some Seekers had already become drunk and began to pick fights, while others attempted to pick up female Seekers and waitresses.


    ¡°Oh, I am quite sure that this announcement will cause some fervor¡­¡±Edward smiled as he walked over to the microphone. He gave it a few taps to gain the attention of the Seekers. ¡°Everyone...I have a special announcement to make.¡±


    ¡°What is it you gangly bastard? Can¡¯t you see that were trying to get drunk!¡± Yelled out a Kortanji that was a drink away from blacking out.


    Edward merely smiled at the curse and continued. ¡°Yes, yes. I am well aware that you all are enjoying yourselves. However, I¡¯m sure that you all will be interested to know that a Spirit Realm has opened up near Cyrelle!¡±


    Edward¡¯s words were met with silence. But after a moment, the Guild erupted into chaos once more!


    Spirit Realm! Clover shouted in his mind as he heard the announcement. Even Bastille opened his eyes in amazement as heard the news.


    The windows of the Guild threatened to shatter into pieces as the chorus of Seekers yelled in excitement.


    ¡°Before you all become excited...It is imperative that I mention that the Arcana capacity of the realm is limited to those at the Silver rank!¡± Edward shouted over the bellows of countless Seekers. Unfortunately, over half of the Seekers present quieted down as this limit meant that they would be unable to enter the Spirit Realm. But the other half cheered louder as this meant that they would have a greater chance of seeking glory and treasure!


    ¡°For those who wish to enter the Spirit Realm, you must fill out a form at the admissions desk and travel to Cyrelle within two days! It is there that we will meet before we will enter!¡± Edward proclaimed before walking off the stage.


    As Edward said this, countless Seekers ran over to the admissions desk in order to sign up. Those that were over the Silver-rank, continued to drink, albeit not as enthusiastically as before.


    ¡°Clover!¡± Karim yelled out as he made his way to him. ¡°Peak Bronze-rank?! That''s not bad! After all, you¡¯re a year younger than I am and were at the same rank!¡± He smiled with a devilish grin as he pointed at the compass on his chest.


    ¡°Ah...I can¡¯t believe we lost to this kid!¡± Zen grumbled as the trio walked over. ¡°To think that when we were your age, we were only in the low tier of the Bronze rank!¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Michael weakly smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, Clover. I am proud of you...But I can¡¯t help but feel defeated¡­Right, Maya?¡±


    However, Maya did not respond as her eyes were still unfocused as they stared at her feet. It was obvious that she was still reeling back from their previous conversation.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure she is happy for you!¡± Zen chuckled as he stared at his defeated friend.


    ¡°Thanks, guys! Maybe one day we can go on a mission together!¡± Clover beamed before adding. ¡°Just don''t get me killed this time!¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Michael and Zen chuckled.


    ¡°As Karim mentioned, both of you are Bronze Seekers.¡± Bastille chimed in. ¡°I think it will be a good idea for the two of you to partner up together for the Spirit Realm mission! After all, I was planning on having you show Karim around, Clover. And I¡¯m sure you have felt a bit lonely now that Sven is gone!¡±


    ¡°Okay, if that''s what you want, dad.¡± Clover agreed.


    ¡°Perfect! I¡¯ll make sure your names are written down, so spend some time with one another!¡± Bastille said before he made his way to the admissions office.


    ¡°Haha! I¡¯ll be in your care, Clover!¡± Karim smiled as he crossed his arms behind his head. ¡°Let''s make sure we get along, okay?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Clover smiled back, as the five of them sat back down. Together, the five of them partied and drank as the moon rose higher into the sky.

 [Spirit Realm] Chapter 14

    -Spirit Realm-


    ¡°What took you so long!¡± Karim yelled as Clover ran towards him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Clover exclaimed in between breaths. ¡°I had to tell Har-...I mean, my friend that I was going to be gone for a couple of days!¡± Although he was sad that he would miss out on his daily get-togethers with Haru, Clover was thrilled to finally embark on his first mission!


    ¡°Hmmm¡­.Fine! Just don¡¯t keep me waiting for so long next time! Our carriage is going to be leaving in a few minutes!¡± Karim snapped before walking towards the city gates, leaving Clover behind as he continued to struggle for air.


    Clover caught up to Karim after a few breaths, and the two of them headed to the large city gates that were already becoming crowded as merchants and citizens entered and left the city. Within the throng of the crowd, Clover could see other Seekers as they headed out to Cyrelle so that they too could enter the Spirit Realm.


    ¡°You two! Stop!¡± Yelled a familiar voice. As the duo turned to the direction of the shout, Clover noticed that it belonged to Captain Strauss. And although his austere shout could be confused as harsh and foreboding, it was, in fact, his usual tone.


    ¡°Hello, Captain!¡± Clover greeted the large fully plated man as he sauntered over to them. ¡°We haven¡¯t done anything wrong, have we?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, I only wanted to speak with the boy I had nearly killed! And to make sure that he is not up to anything!¡± Captain Strauss exclaimed.


    ¡°Killed?¡± Karim piped up from beside Clover.


    ¡°Haha...I¡¯ll tell you about it another time¡­¡±Clover weakly chuckled at his side. ¡°Besides! We have gone over this many times! I don¡¯t blame you for what happened whatsoever!¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes¡­ But I could have prevented it! So at the very least, some of the blame should be mine!¡± Captain Strauss declared, not willing to hear any more words of protest as he changed topics. ¡°So! Judging by the bronze medal on your chest I am assuming that you are heading to the Spirit Realm by Cyrelle for your first mission!¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± The half-elven duo shouted in sync.


    ¡°Haha! Good! I''m sure that Bastille has placed his confidence in you two since he let the pair of you to travel there alone!¡± Captain Strauss beamed. ¡°Well, I shouldn¡¯t take any more of your time. Follow me to the gate so you can skip all the waiting!¡±


    The two of them did as they were told, and skipped the long line of people. This caused some people to glare at them with ire, but they did not protest and kept their mouths shut.


    ¡°Hehe¡­Clover, you certainly know a lot of people who are high up!¡± Karim chuckled from his side.


    ¡°I guess...But Captain Strauss is more like an uncle. Even my mom says Gregory is like her little brother! So I don¡¯t consider this taking advantage of my position!¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Karim smiled, exposing his sharp canines, as he took a glance at his new friend. ¡°If I were you, I would take advantage of it! After all, not everyone has the chance to live like a prince without the restraints of being one!¡±


    ¡°You and everyone else¡­¡± Clover smiled at Karim. This was not the first time he has heard this, and it would not be the last.


    Eventually, Captain Strauss led them out of the busy street, past the city gate, and into the wilderness outside.


    ¡°Make sure you two are careful inside the Spirit Realm! Each one is different! So it is difficult to prepare for them!¡± Captain Strauss cautioned the two before he left.


    ¡°Look, the caravans are over there. They said that they would leave at noon, so let''s hurry!¡± Karim shouted as he pointed towards a fleet of carts and carriages. Each one was filled with intrepid Seekers who were heading to the Spirit Realm! At first glance, one could see that there were over one hundred Seekers!


    Although Clover expected this amount of people, he couldn¡¯t help but whistle in surprise at the small army. And this was only the Seekers who came from Vanden! Those that came from the Cyrelle, Beren, and the Amberwall branches were expected to converge on the Spirit Realm as well! It would not be unexpected for a couple hundred Seekers to try their luck and enter the realm in search of treasure and wealth!


    ¡°Hehe¡± Karim giggled by his side. ¡°Looks like we''re going to have plenty of competition! Good thing the Spirit Realm is limited to those at the Silver rank and below!¡±


    Clover silently agreed as the two of them walked over to the caravan of carriages. The two of them entered an empty one or, at least, one that they thought was empty. As they sat down, the two of them saw a pair of Seekers who were embracing one another and fiercely locking their lips in passion.


    ¡°Woah! Okay then! Let¡¯s find a different cart, Clover!¡± Karim exclaimed as the two of them noticed the affectionate couple.


    ¡°Okay!¡± Clover replied, his face quickly becoming covered with a bright blush.


    ¡°Wait! We thought that we would be alone!¡± The young girl yelled out, a fierce blush coating her pretty face. ¡°We¡¯re sorry! You don¡¯t have to leave!¡±


    ¡°No! If they want to go, let them¡­¡± Her partner protested as he glared at the two for interrupting his fun.


    ¡°The rest of carts will probably be filled by now! It would be better if you two stayed, I¡¯m sure that we will be leaving any second!¡± She exclaimed. True enough, as soon as she said that, the caravan master yelled out that they would be leaving. The vast fleet of carriages rolled into action as they left to their destination. As their cart jolted awake, Clover and Karim could only sit back down in their seats; much to the displeasure of the male Seeker.


    ¡°My name is Daphne! And this is Francis!¡± Daphne cheerfully said while Francis nodded his head before staring out the carriage.


    Clover noticed that the two of them were exceptionally good-looking, and by the silver medals on their chests, that they were Silver-ranked Seekers as well!


    ¡°Are you two from Kaldia?¡± Clover asked. Of course, he already knew the answer, as he saw that the emblem of the Kaldare Seekers Guild on their black cloaks. It was a red lion, similar to that of the Kaldian Royal Family¡¯s heraldry.


    ¡°Yes! We are! You must be pretty informed about the Guilds if you were able to tell that!¡± Daphne remarked.


    ¡°Of course! Clover here is the son of Bastille Rumare! Guildmaster of Vanden!¡± Karim shouted with pride as he wrapped his arm around Clover.


    ¡°Really?! That''s amazing!¡± Daphne exclaimed. Even Francis turned his head towards the tan half-elf.


    ¡°Oh? Are you really?¡± Francis queried. ¡°So you must be at least somewhat capable, right?¡±


    ¡°Well...This is my first mission as a Seeker. But I¡¯m sure that I am more than able to protect myself!¡± Clover said.


    ¡°Your first mission?¡± Francis sneered. ¡°Do you really think that you will be able to handle yourself in a Spirit Realm on your first mission?! Spirit Realms are completely unpredictable! There is a good chance that you can die in one!¡±


    ¡°Francis, don¡¯t bother him! I¡¯m sure that the son of a Guildmaster will be more than capable of attempting a Spirit Realm on his first mission! Especially if his father is the famous Seeker, Bastille Rumare!¡± Daphne exclaimed with stars in her eyes.


    Francis only snorted before looking outside again. After a second, he turned his head back towards the duo. ¡°Is it true that Bastille is a Blue-rank Seeker?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Clover boasted.


    ¡°You know, they say that the Kaldos would be a Blue-rank as well. Of course, that is if he was a Seeker¡­¡± Francis huffed with pride.


    ¡°Kaldos? What¡¯s that?¡± Karim asked with a puzzled look on his face.


    ¡°You don¡¯t even know what the Kaldos is?!¡± Francis said with a taunting gleam in his eye. ¡°So much for being so knowledgeable¡­¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. Is a Kaldos supposed to be some super strong guy?¡± Karim continued, ignoring Francis previous taunt. But before Francis could answer him, Daphne spoke up.


    ¡°The Kaldos is the preeminent Knight of all of Kaldia! The current Kaldos is Duke Elouan Luc Kaldia! Brother of King Valerian Ignace Kaldia!¡±


    ¡°Oh...So he is just some noble...Who cares?¡± Karim sighed with a disinterested look in his eyes.


    ¡°Just some noble?! You impudent little!¡± Francis stood up and attempted to unsheathed his sword.


    Karim smiled at the provoked lad and injected Arcana into his Devyse. But before he could release his weapon, Daphne pulled Francis back into his seat and slapped him on the back of his head.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    ¡°Idiot! That is not a reason to get in a fight!¡± She said, before apologizing to the duo. ¡°We¡¯re sorry! It''s just that Francis is a squire underneath the Kaldos! So he gets a bit heated up whenever someone mocks the nobility!¡±


    ¡°It''s okay!¡± Clover piped up. ¡°That¡¯s understandable! But why are two nobles Seekers?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I am not a noble. Only Francis is!¡± Daphne said. ¡°Francis is one of the many squires under Duke Elouan. I am just some Seeker that he has been traveling with!¡±


    ¡°You are more than just ''some'' Seeker, Daphne¡­¡± Francis remarked as he gazed at her with passionate eyes, causing her to blush.


    ¡°Anyways!¡± Karim interrupted. ¡°Why is a squire like yourself pretending to be a Seeker? I would have thought that you would rather stay in your fancy castles and mansions! Not living the tough life of a Seeker!¡±


    ¡°Tough life? Hardly!¡± Francis snorted. ¡°Being a Seeker is simple compared to training with the Kaldos! Since the Kaldos¡¯s city of Nordare is situated on the border of the Centaur Plains I have been fighting beasts much more dangerous than whatever you would encounter in Vanden! Ever since I was twelve years old I have been risking my life in battle!¡±


    ¡°Than why did you come here?¡± Clover asked.


    ¡°That''s because every squire under the Kaldos has to leave the kingdom at least once before they become a knight. And they can only return once they have proven themselves worthy of a title. I decided that I would become a Gold-rank Seeker before I turn twenty! That way, no one can question my fighting and Arcana prowess!¡± Francis declared. ¡°And I heard that the Dark Forest of Vanden was the closest mystical zone, so it was obvious that I would come here!¡±


    ¡°So how old are you now?¡± Karim asked.


    ¡°Seventeen! I am confident that I will become a Gold-ranked Seeker by the time I am twenty!¡± Francis confidently replied.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you will!¡± Daphne giggled in response.


    ¡°That''s pretty good. But Clover and I are younger than you, and we¡¯re both peak Bronze-rank Seekers! Hell, we''re only a step away from being Silver rank! Becoming Gold rank in less than three years will be a piece of cake! But you only became Silver rank at the age of seventeen...Obviously, your skill is only so-so!¡± Karim boasted as he shot him a provoking glance.


    ¡°Huh?! You want to fight?! Half-elf?!¡± Francis stood back up. But before he could pull out his sword, Clover spoke up.


    ¡°Guys, calm down! I¡¯m sure you two will be able to settle who¡¯s stronger in the Spirit Realm!¡±


    ¡°Exactly! So sit down!¡± Daphne added as she pulled Francis down beside her.


    Karim and Francis glared at each other in silence as Clover and Daphne happily chatted with one another. The sun had started to set, as the caravan reached their location. They had ridden for a couple of hours, and the Seekers all let a breath of relief at the prospect of being able to move around again.


    From their location, Clover could see the walls of Cyrelle miles away. Cyrelle was smaller than Vanden, but only just. Although Cyrelle was not as important of a trading hub as Vanden, it was situated on Whale Lagoon; a large lake that ships could enter after traveling up a wide river. This allowed Cyrelle to thrive just as Vanden.


    ¡°That''s a lot of Seekers¡­¡± Daphne muttered nervously. Clover couldn¡¯t help but agree as he stared at the large crowd. His previous estimation was correct, there was at most around five hundred Seekers that had arrived.


    But it was not only Seekers who were here. There were also hundreds of merchants and peddlers who were selling a variety of goods. Stalls filled with food and drink have also been set up. Clearly, it was not only Seekers that wished to strike it big from the Spirit Realm! There were also citizens of the nearby city who have congregated here to enjoy in the festivities.


    ¡°It''s like one big festival!¡± Karim shouted in excitement before running off into the crowd.


    ¡°Karim! Come back!¡± Clover yelled out as he ran after him. ¡°It was nice meeting you two! I¡¯ll see you inside the Spirit Realm!¡± He yelled back before being swallowed up by the crowd.


    ¡°Bye!¡± Daphne happily shouted while Francis merely nodded in his direction.


    <hr>


    ¡°Karim! Where did you go!¡± Clover shouted as he looked for his friend. All around him was the smell of delicious foods. Pastries, meat, chocolate, candy, stews, and various other delectables entered his nose, causing him drool uncontrollably. As Clover walked along the crowded field, he stopped in front of a stand. The stand emitted a savory scent that beckoned Clover over to it.


    ¡°Do you want a taco, kiddo?!¡± Shouted the obese man who ran the stall.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Clover shouted, unable to control his voracious appetite. The scent of beef, cilantro, and lime filled his nostrils, causing him to drool even more.


    ¡°Than that will be five silver!¡± The fat man said.


    ¡°Five silver?! Tacos only cost one silver in the city!¡± Clover exclaimed.


    ¡°In the city, it would be one silver! But this here ain¡¯t no city, boy!¡± The tubby owner declared. ¡°Do you know how hard it is to get fresh lime and cilantro out here?! Five silver is the minimum I can sell them if I want to make a profit!¡±


    Clover could only grumble as he heard this. Of course, he had more than enough money to buy these tacos. But his frugal side couldn¡¯t help but feel scammed.


    ¡°Of course, you are just some little boy...Your daddy probably hasn''t given you enough allowance to buy something as simple as a taco¡­¡± The big man remarked, before turning away from Clover.


    ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll buy your stupid tacos!¡± Clover yelled back.


    ¡°Good! Here you are!¡± He smiled while handing him a plate of three beef tacos along with a wedge of lime.


    ¡°Thanks¡­¡± Clover muttered before walking away. ¡°Mmhf! This is amazing!¡± His eyes opened up in amazement as he took a bite. The savory beef and caramelized onions perfectly complemented one another while the fresh taste of cilantro and lime upped the flavor to the next level!


    Tacos are amazing!


    Clover continued to scarf down his meal, enjoying every second of it until a familiar voice called out to him.


    ¡°Crover! Dere ju ar!¡± Karim mumbled as he talked around a meat skewer. Besides the meat skewer in his mouth, he also had three more in his right hand with a funnel cake in his left. ¡°Ju know...Ju ant jusht run awry rike dat!¡± He mumbled as he munched on large chunks of meat.


    ¡°What?! You are the one who ran away!¡± Clover rebuked. ¡°I was looking for you!¡±


    ¡°Wot?¡± Karim said before swallowing. ¡°I assumed that you would stay with the Daphne and the other guy. And wait until I came back¡­¡±


    ¡°No, why would I do that?¡± Clover said before sighing. ¡°Anyways...We should look for Edward and my father. They should already be by the Spirit Realm.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Karim agreed before shoveling down more meat and cake down his throat.


    The two of them walked towards the largest group of people, where they assumed the Spirit Realm entrance would be. From time to time, Karim would stop and order more food, his appetite not knowing any bounds. At one point, Karim''s hands were filled with so much food that Clover had to stuff some meat skewers into his pack just to hold them all!


    The duo was right with their assessment, after finding the largest crowd, they saw Edward and Bastille standing alongside what seemed to be a tear in space. From his position, Clover could see floating islands and an orange sky within the tear.


    ¡°Clover! Karim!¡± Bastille yelled out.


    ¡°Sup Bastille,¡± Karim nonchalantly replied, crossing his arms behind his back.


    ¡°Hello, dad.¡± Clover politely said.


    ¡°Good! You two made it! I was starting to worry that you two chickened out! Haha!¡± Bastille guffawed while Edward sighed before speaking up.


    ¡°The Vanden caravan was the last one to arrive. So we can now start.¡± Edward calmly stated before walking to a nearby podium and spoke into a microphone. ¡°Attention! For those Seekers who wish to enter the Spirit Realm, please line up in an organized manner! Those who wish to cause trouble will be prevented from entering!¡±


    As soon as Edward shouted those words of warning, everyone ran in a frantic manner. Pushing and shoving one another as they attempted to be the first ones in line.


    ¡°Every time¡­¡± Edward sighed as his words were completely disregarded.


    ¡°Hehe...I¡¯ll take care of it!¡± Bastille chuckled, before slamming his hands together.


    Boom!


    The air exploded with a thunderous roar as Bastille hands slammed into one another, creating an ear-shattering loud clap! Both Clover and Karim covered the ears in pain as the deafening impact battered their eardrums. Every Seeker turned to the man in fright and filed themselves into organized rows.


    ¡°That is better¡­¡± Edward muttered before speaking into the microphone again. ¡°Now then, it is crucial that I remind everyone that only those at the Silver-rank can enter the Spirit Realm! If you are unsure whether you qualify or not, we will allow you to check for only a single gold coin. After all, you should all know what happens when you enter a Spirit Realm with too high of Arcana capacity.¡± Edward let out one last warning before handing the microphone to Bastille.


    ¡°Hey, Clover. What happens when you enter a spirit realm with too much Arcana?¡± Karim asked.


    ¡°You blow up.¡± Clover simply stated.


    ¡°Oh. Okay.¡± Karim smiled before turning back to Bastille.


    ¡°Haha! I¡¯m sure you all are more than eager to enter the Spirit Realm! Am I right?!¡± Bastille yelled, pumping up the crowd. The crowd yelled back, their excited voices caused the earth to quake and the air to tremble! A few overly excited Seekers even shot magic into the air! Fire and lightning broke apart in the sky like fireworks!


    This is awesome! Clover shouted in his mind.


    ¡°Haha! That is the spirit! Now then, it is time for you all to venture forth, and compete for the riches that lay within this Spirit Realm!¡± Bastille shouted once more, before giving them the go ahead. As soon as he gave them a thumbs up, hundreds of Seekers ran towards the portal. Their excited shouts and yells cut off as they were swallowed by the peculiar rift in space.


    ¡°Clover, Karim. I have one bit of advice for you all before you enter the Spirit Realm.¡± Bastille muttered.


    ¡°What is it?¡± The duo asked in unison.


    ¡°Enter the Spirit Realm last!¡± Bastille grinned. ¡°You¡¯ll see what I mean when you enter! Haha!¡± Bastille laughed before walking away.


    The two of them stood there in puzzlement, wondering what he meant by his words. Nevertheless, they did as Bastille said. After the last Seeker entered the portal, Clover and Karim cautiously sauntered into the portal.


    Clover felt a weird feeling in his stomach the second he entered. He became dizzy and nauseous, similar to when he used too much Arcana. His feet seemed to move on their own, as he passed through the bizarre boundary that separated his world from the Spirit one.


    Upon entering, Clover and Karim couldn¡¯t help but gasp in amazement. Hundreds of islands floated in the sky. Each one experiencing its own climate and season. One was wet and tropical. While another was warm, temperate, and filled with forests. Another was cold and filled with ice and snow. Weirder yet, Clover saw an island that was filled with black sand and rivers of lava.


    The land that the two half-elves stood upon was covered in a peculiar blue grass and the trees were covered in orange leaves. The sky was in perpetual sunset, but there was no sun. The light seemed to come from some unknown source.


    But the most peculiar sight was the large pileup of hundreds of Seekers that had rushed into the Spirit Realm. Their bodies were strewn upon one another, and groans of pain and discomfort echoed around them.


    "Thank you, Bastille¡­¡± Karim murmured as he gazed at the large pileup. Clover nodded his head in agreement and promised to make sure to thank his father after the mission.


    ¡°Are all new Seekers this dumb?!¡± Yelled out a high pitched voice. ¡°Seriously?! Shouldn¡¯t you all be more careful when entering an unknown realm?!¡± The voice belonged to a purple cat spirit. It held its furry face in its cute paws as it stared at the large pileup. ¡°Hmm? Looks like there are two of you who are not idiots!¡± The purple cat exclaimed before floating towards Clover and Karim.


    ¡°My name is Chowder! Welcome to Denari¡¯s Realm!¡± Chowder grinned as he grasped their hands with his paws.

 [Spirit Realm] Chapter 15

    -Black Palace-


    ¡°Argh...I¡¯m bored...¡± Bastille moaned while chugging an entire mug of beer, which was promptly refilled by a maid.


    ¡°It has only been a few minutes since they entered¡­¡± Edward sighed as he eloquently sipped his tea.


    ¡°What do you think they are doing right now? Not something dangerous I hope! Maria will kill me if Clover is injured! Haha!¡±


    ¡°I doubt it, it''s only a low ranked realm. There is a zero chance of dying in one.¡±


    ¡°Ah! I¡¯m jealous! It has been too long since I¡¯ve entered a Spirit Realm! Damn being a Guildmaster! I just want to go out and adventure again!¡± Bastille moaned as he buried his face into his mug and continued to drink.


    ¡°Bastille, I don¡¯t think you should let any of the other Seekers hear you damning your position¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m only joking of course! Besides, I¡¯m getting too old to be a Seeker! Haha!


    ¡°Old? Hardly. You are only forty-six years old and in the prime of your life. You still have a good eighty years left. By the elemental lords, Don is around seventy years old and he is still taking missions! If your old master can handle it, so can you.¡± Edward snorted as he thought of the stern aging man.


    ¡°I know, I know...But you have to admit that thirteen years of paperwork has gotten to me! I mean, just look at me! I¡¯m nowhere near as buff as I used to be! I¡¯ve been practically wasting away! Haha!¡±


    ¡°Buff?¡± Edward nearly choked on his tea as he stared at his Guildmaster. A single glance at his domineering form is all one needed to know that what Bastille had just said was an understatement. ¡°If you don¡¯t call yourself buff, then I hav-¡±


    ¡°Umm, hello? I¡¯m not interrupting anything, am I?¡± The voice came from an Azir boy. He was still in his teens and had black hair and a black tail. Although his appearance was friendly and vibrant, his skin was a sickly white which gave him a frail appearance. ¡°I¡¯m not late for the Spirit Realm, am I?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Bastille hummed as he stared at the Azir boy. ¡°No, they just went in a couple of minutes ago. As long as you are at the Silver rank or below you are free to go in.¡± By the silver medal that was on the Azir boy¡¯s robes, he could tell that he was at least somewhat capable.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± The boy shouted as he walked over to the portal. But before he could step inside Edward spoke up.


    ¡°Wait one second!¡±


    ¡°...¡± The Azir boy stopped in his tracks before slowly turning to face Edward. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°What is your name?¡±


    ¡°Is there a reason why you would need to know?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Every Seeker that enters the Spirit Realm is supposed to fill out paperwork. In the unfortunate event that someone was to die in the Spirit Realm, I would need to record it so that there wouldn¡¯t be any inconsistencies in our files.¡± Edward lifted an eyebrow and glared at the sickly Azir. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have some reason as to why you won¡¯t tell us your name? Would you?¡±


    The Azir boy stood in silence for a few seconds before shooting Edward a wide smile. ¡°Hehe...Of course not!¡± He chuckled. ¡°My name is Damion!¡±


    Damion? Where have I heard that before? Bastille wondered but did not inquire further.


    ¡°Thank you. You may proceed.¡± Edward said as he wrote down Damion¡¯s name on a piece of paper.


    ¡°Thank you again!¡± Damion exclaimed before shooting Bastille a smile.


    <hr>


    ¡°Alright everyone, get up!¡± Chowder shouted as he gazed at the Seekers that were sprawled in numerous piles. The Seekers moans and groans of pain echoed throughout the air causing Clover and Karim to silently thank Bastille for his previous warning.


    The Seekers slowly and painfully picked themselves up from the ground. After a minute, the few hundred people coalesced around Chowder, with Clover and Karim at the front.


    ¡°Hmmm¡­.¡± Chowder hummed. ¡°There are a lot more of you all then I had previously thought! I need to get the number down to three hundred...¡± The purple cat spirit scratched its head with a small paw as it scrunched its face in thought. ¡°Ooh! I know! Elimination round!¡±


    ¡°Elimination round?¡± A Ga¡¯jong Seeker spoke up. ¡°Why do we need an elimination round just because there are too many of us? The more competition, the better!¡±


    ¡°Exactly! Since I already know that I¡¯m going to win this, I don¡¯t care how many opponents there are!¡± An eager and confident Kortanji exclaimed.


    ¡°Hehe...You two are already complaining?! Don''t tell me you are scared that you will be kicked out this early on!¡± Karim shouted at the two of them with his mouth curled up into a mocking sneer.


    ¡°I agree. A simple thing like an elimination round is no reason for complaining! Only those who are not confident in their abilities would object to such a thing!¡± Francis chimed in.


    ¡°Hehe...For once, I agree with, milord, over there!¡± Karim sneered at the Kaldian squire. Thankfully, Francis was not stirred by his provocation and ignored the half-elf.


    ¡°Confident?! Of course, I am! In fact, I wouldn''t even need three seconds to take down the two of you!¡± The Ga¡¯jong snarled as he placed his hand on his sword.


    ¡°You bastards need to train for ten more years before you can think about mocking me!¡± The Kortanji bellowed as it lifted its spear and aimed it at the duo.


    ¡°Stop!¡± Chowder exploded. ¡°Fighting is strictly prohibited! If any of you attack one another than you will be instantly eliminated and banished from this realm! Do you understa-¡± But before Chowder could finish, he was interrupted by the portal that had started to hum and fluctuate. Everyone, including the Kortanji and Ga¡¯jong, stopped what they were doing and stared at the portal. After a few seconds, a person stepped out. ¡°Ah, it looks like we have one more competitor.¡±


    Clover looked over at the wildly fluctuating portal, only to widen his eyes in fear and malice. In an instant, Clover poured Arcana into his Devyse and pulled out his spear while entering a fighting stance! At the same time, he burned Arcana throughout his body and shouted out an ancient command!


    Erepirkie!


    As the Arcana in his veins reacted to the ancient language, the earth around him shook and trembled as dirt and rock clumped together to form a deadly lance!


    ¡°Damion!¡± Clover snarled as he glared at the Azir boy that had nearly killed him and his friends.


    ¡°Ooh it¡¯s you! I¡¯m surprised that you became a Seeker! I would¡¯ve thought that you would never leave the safety of Vanden¡¯s walls after what I did to you!¡± Damion sneered as he looked at the half-elf in front of him. ¡°No, really! It¡¯s commendable that you even have the balls to enter a Spirit Realm!¡±


    ¡°After what you did to me and my friends, I will never forgive you!¡± Clover shouted as he flung the earthen lance towards the pale boy. But to Clover¡¯s surprise, Damion did nothing to stop it. He did not attack nor did he dodge, he merely continued to smile at Clover with the same mocking sneer.


    ¡°Stop!¡± Chowder bellowed as he raised a single paw. With a single flick of his wrist, Clover¡¯s lance exploded into dust. ¡°You impertinent half-elves! Did I not just say that fighting was prohibited! I will have the three of you banished if you attack each other again! Do you understand?!¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir¡­¡± Clover mumbled as he continued to glare at Damion. Wait...three of us? Clover thought as he looked around. To his surprise, he realized that Karim was a few meters away and that he had also pulled out his own weapon. With a halberd in one hand and lightning arcing over his body, Karim''s usual goofy appearance had become fierce and ominous!


    At Chowder''s command, the three of them withdrew. ¡°Do you know who that is?¡± Clover whispered to Karim as they fell back into the group.


    ¡°Nope! As a good partner, I decided to back you up. After all, that is what friends do!¡± Karim whispered back while shooting him a wide smile. For some reason, Clover did not believe him, but he decided not to keep pressing the issue.


    Hmmm? I know that we recently met, but I don¡¯t think he would lie to me...Maybe he really is just a good friend¡­


    ¡°Now then, if anyone interrupts me again, then I will promptly banish them from Denari¡¯s Realm¡­¡± Chowder grumbled as he looked around at the many faces of the crowd. ¡°Now then, I shall begin the explanation of the elimination round!¡±


    Damn it...Why is he here? And how? There is no way that Damion is only at the Silver rank! Maya told me that he was able to kill a Centaur with a single blow! Clover thought as he turned his head to glare at the pale Azir boy. He must be using some sort of spell that lets him enter Spirit Realms! Maybe he has a Spirit item that lowers his Arcana capacity! Clover shook his head as he thought that. After all, Spirit items are insanely expensive. And an item that could allow Gold or even Blue ranked Seekers into low ranked Spirit Realms unimpeded would definitely be impossibly expensive! There is no way that someone his age could afford something like that! The only way that would be possible would be if Damion was a prince of some kingdom or at least part of a wealthy family! But that was doubtful as he did not look wealthy in the slightest. In fact, he looked poor and ragged. His clothing was weathered and damaged and he wore no expensive jewelry! No! It has to be something else!If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Now then! First things first!¡± Chowder exclaimed, stirring Clover from his thoughts. ¡°Everyone is too be separated!¡± And with a single clap, Clover and everyone else vanished. In less time it took to sneeze, Clover was teleported to a new land.


    ¡°What the hell!¡± Clover exclaimed as he fell head first to the ground. ¡°Where am I?¡± He mumbled while spitting out a mouthful of dirt. As he looked around, he noticed that the land around him was covered in black ash and dirt with the only foliage being sparse patches of brown grass. The few trees that covered the landscape were lifeless and their exposed carcasses were heavily scarred by the claw marks of unknown beasts. And It was dark, with the only light coming from the orange haze of a perpetual sunset. The orange light caused darks shadows to jump and meander about.


    Clover extracted his spear as he surveyed the dark landscape. It would be a lie to say he wasn''t a bit anxious. The jumping shadows and the chirps of ominous insects made him feel as if he was surrounded by some unknown entity.


    ¡°Boo!¡± An ear-shattering shriek exploded beside Clover¡¯s ear, causing him to sprint away in terror!


    ¡°Gah!¡± He yelped in fear as he ran! Each step was a long stride that carried his body forward for nearly a mile before he stopped and looked back. To his surprise and anger, the perpetrator of the offending noise was Chowder.


    The purple cat floated in the air as he laughed his head off at the Seeker¡¯s graceless escape. ¡°Haha! I thought all Seekers were brave and courageous! Not fearful and cowardly!¡±


    ¡°Shut up! Everybody would flee if they someone shouted in their ear!¡± Clover proclaimed as he glared at the spirit. ¡°Besides, I didn¡¯t run in fear! I ran because I thought I was being attacked! It was just a survival reflex!¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay¡­.Mister Seeker...I¡¯m sure that¡¯s the reason why you nearly wet yourself¡­¡± Chowder said as he tried to stifle his giggles. Once he composed himself, Chowder teleported to Clover, his furry face only a few inches away from his own. ¡°Anyways! It looks like your out of luck!¡±


    ¡°Why do you say that?¡±


    ¡°Hehe...Because you have been sent to a particularly unpleasant realm! But don¡¯t blame me! The teleportation is random!¡±


    Clover furrowed his brow at this. ¡°Really? You had no say in the matter?¡±


    ¡°Of course I don¡¯t! I have no ill will towards any of the contestants! Why would I purposefully make your life slightly more troublesome?¡± Chowder defended himself as he crossed his arms.


    ¡°Fine, fine. I believe you¡­.So what now?¡± Clover asked.


    ¡°Nothing too difficult! Your only goal for this elimination round is to survive longer than four-hundred and eighty-four Seekers!¡±


    ¡°Survive?!¡±


    ¡°Haha! Of course, I only meant survive in the figurative sense!¡± Chowder laughed. ¡°Lord Denari has instructed me to let everyone know that they have no need to fear death in his realm! Anyone who does die will be immediately banished from his world!¡±


    ¡°That''s a relief¡­¡± Clover sighed. At least that''s one less thing I have to worry about¡­


    ¡°However! That does not mean that you should be careless in his realm! After all, the pain you feel here is the same as that of your mortal world! If you are to die, make sure that it is quick and painless!¡±


    Clover turned a shade whiter as heard this. As a Seeker, one must always be ready for pain and death. Even for veteran Seekers, it was impossible to fully remove the fear from one''s heart. This was even more so for younger Seekers who were in the prime of their lives.


    ¡°Why four-hundred and eighty-four Seekers?¡± Clover asked once he recovered.


    ¡°That is because Lord Denari instructed me to provide him with one hundred Seekers for the next phase! And the way I have come about to accomplish this task is by pitting each Seeker against an unending assault of enemies that only become stronger as time goes on!¡± Chowder grinned. ¡°Only the strongest, quick-witted, and most resilient Seekers will remain!¡±


    ¡°That sounds fair enough,¡± Clover muttered. ¡°How will I know if I made it to the next stage?¡±


    ¡°Once one hundred Seekers remain, I will teleport you out! But before I start, I must ask you one last time. Are you sure that you want to compete?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Clover exclaimed without a single shred of hesitation. How could I back out now?! If I left, I would become the biggest laughing stock in the Guild!


    ¡°Good! Good! But I wonder how brave you will be an hour from now!¡± Chowder sneered before clapping his paws together and instantly teleported away.


    Clover was left alone in the dead landscape. Still holding his spear he began to explore the land.


    Bastille told me that it is important to familiarise myself with my surroundings in case I am attacked. That way, I can use the landscape to my advantage, and use it against my foes! Clover thought as he recalled one of Bastille''s first lessons.


    However, as Clover looked around, he could not see any advantage he could exploit in this inhospitable terrain. The land was covered in black ash and dirt. The trees were short and spread apart. There were no rocks that he could use for cover. It also appeared that he was in a valley, as he was surrounded by steep hills.


    Kith¡­Siss...Kah¡­.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± Clover exclaimed as he looked around. But to his surprise, he saw nothing.


    Kith¡­.Sasss¡­.Kuth¡­


    Clover gulped as he continued to twist and turn as he looked for the strange noise. At first, he thought that it was the wind. But that was ruled out as there was no wind in this dead land! He decided to leave this area and to traverse the steep hills that surrounded him. But as he walked forward, he noticed that his movement was restricted. Looking down, he noticed that there was a pale white arm sticking out of the ground which was now latched onto his foot!


    ¡°What the hell!¡± Clover screamed as he jumped away from the hand. In instant, the dead land turned into a hellish landscape as hundreds of arms poked out of the dark soil.


    Scree!


    Ear piercing shrieks shattered the silent air as hundreds of ghoulish heads popped out of the earth! Their bodies soon followed as the reanimated bodies woke themselves from their eternal rest! In less time it took to take a single breath, Clover became surrounded by the restless undead!


    Ghouls?! But they look different then the ghouls I¡¯ve read about! Clover yelled in his mind as he looked at the horde. While they were all partially decayed and missing limbs like ¡®normal¡¯ ghouls, these ones also had small horns on their foreheads and thin tails. Every ghoul also had a small gem in between their foreheads. No! I can¡¯t stay hung up on that! I¡¯m already surrounded! I have to fight my way out this ditch!


    ¡°Hah!¡± Clover exclaimed as he chose a direction and ran towards the ghouls that occupied it.


    Erepirkie!


    By burning Arcana and shouting the ancient command, Clover forced the black earth to bend to his will, causing the dark dirt to coalesce into five lances. It is risky to burn too much Arcana this early on, but I need to punch my way through as quickly as possible!


    Clover launched each one of his lances, their dark forms resembled falcons as they dive-bombed their prey. Each earthen spear met its target by either piercing their chests and stapling them to the ground or by puncturing their heads with enough force that they exploded!


    ¡°Although I have killed beasts before with Bastille, it feels weird killing undead. Weren¡¯t they people at some point?¡± Clover whispered to himself before shaking his head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t even know what they are! They don¡¯t look like any race I know of!¡±


    Clover decided not to worry about this right now. After all, he was currently surrounded by bloodthirsty enemies that only wanted to kill him! There was no time to feel sorry for them! In fact, as he thought to himself more and more ghouls rose from the ground and replaced the ones he killed!


    ¡°Shit¡± Clover cursed he ran into the mod of enemies. Everytime he attacked, he would fill his arm with Arcana and release at the moment of impact, exponentially increasing the power of each blow! His spear was like a harbinger of death! Each time he stabbed and pierced a ghoul would fall over and die, again and again! Soon his spear was covered in a dense black blood that stank more than manure.The ground too was soaked with the stuff as well, but it was indistinguishable from the dirt and ash.


    ¡°Crap! Every time I kill one, two more take their place! Not only that, but they are getting stronger and are starting to fight back!¡± Clover yelped. ¡°I can¡¯t fight forever! I have to preserve Arcana by running away!¡±


    The ash and dirt provided little traction for Clover as he crawled up the steep incline. To make matters worse, the ghouls also climbed up albeit a tad slower.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Clover cried out in alarm as a hand shot out from the dirt, nearly grabbing his throat! All around him, more and more ghouls rose from the ground as they smelled the presence of the living! His feet were continually grabbed, as too were his hands. But Clover would fill them with Arcana, and kick and punch back! However, his bones and skin were not strong enough to handle continuous Arcana filled strikes. His hands soon became covered in cuts and lacerations. His feet were only slightly better as his boots provided some protection from the blows.


    After what felt like hours of continuous attacking and dodging ghoulish hands. Clover made it the top of the ditch. And what he saw caused him to exclaim in wonderment.


    It was a palace, in the middle of nowhere. Although he was a couple of miles away, Clover could tell that it was massive. It was made entirely out of black stone with multiple spires towering over it. Its large walls were hundreds of feet tall with hundreds of splendiferous glass-stained windows covering them. Even the doors were gigantic! Even if ten Bastilles were standing on each other''s shoulders they would be able to walk through them unimpeded!


    However, Clover could not admire it from afar. As he stood there, more and more hands popped out of the ground while the ghouls that followed him up were close behind!


    It looks suspicious as all hell, but that palace may be my only hope to survive this as long as possible! Clover decided as he ran towards the ominous building. As he sprinted towards it, more and more ghouls would rise up. Clover would only cut them down if they impeded his path. Otherwise, it was pointless to worry about them as their numbers were endless. After twenty minutes, Clover arrived in front of the large palace.


    ¡°It''s much bigger up close¡­¡± He breathlessly muttered. The palace was surrounded by a deep moat. Looking down, Clover could not see the bottom, only a dark abyss. The only way into the palace was by walking onto a bridge of black stone.


    Scaa!


    Looking back, Clover saw that the undead horde had caught up! His only choice now was to cross the bridge!


    ¡°Damn it!¡± He exclaimed as he sprinted over the peculiar bridge.


    ¡°Please hold up! Please hold up! Please hold up!¡± He pleaded as he heard the bridge creaking and cracking. It was clear that it had not been used for millennia.


    As he crossed the bridge, Clover noticed that the army of ghouls had stopped just before the bridge, not daring to step a single foot closer. Instead, they looked at the palace in fright before they turned away and ran.


    ¡°That''s not a good sign¡­¡± Clover mumbled. After reaching the other side, he collapsed. ¡°I might as well rest up! If they won''t attack me, then this round will be a breeze!¡± After a couple minutes of resting, Clover stood back up and inspected the massive entrance.


    Creek¡­


    The impossibly large doors slowly opened as Clover neared. Their age-old frames squeaked and squealed in protest as some unknown force controlled them.


    ¡°Well...I couldn¡¯t be called a Seeker if I don¡¯t explore this place¡­¡± Clover mumbled as he looked into the dark palace. Although every sense in his body was telling him not to enter. He felt as if he was being forcefully pulled inside.

 [Spirit Realm] Chapter 16

    -Big Gray-


    ¡°Ah!¡± An Adlan boy screamed as he was launched gracelessly from the portal before slamming into the ground beside the table that Edward and Bastille were relaxing at.


    ¡°Are you okay, Joseph?¡± Bastille asked as he drank from his mug. The maid had long decided to stop refilling his mug and instead placed a keg on the table so that he could drink his fill without bothering her.


    ¡°Y-yes, sir!¡± Joseph yelled out as his face turned red with embarrassment. Joseph was a plain looking boy with fair-skin with brown hair and brown eyes.


    ¡°So how¡¯s it like in there?¡± Bastille asked as he filled his mug with beer. Oh, Joseph...How did I know that you would be the first one to fail¡­ Although the boy in front of him was the same age as the Trio. He did not share their innate skill or ability! While Maya, Michael, and Zen were all Gold rank Seekers, Joseph was still at the Bronze rank! While I do believe that he should stop being a Seeker, I do find it commendable that he keeps on seeking adventure! How could I ever discourage him from his ambitions? That would make me a bad Guildmaster, and an even worse person!


    ¡°It''s dangerous!¡± Joseph yelled while flailing his arms around. ¡°I didn¡¯t even make it past the elimination rounds!¡±


    ¡°Elimination rounds?¡±


    ¡°Yep! Chowder said that there were too many Seekers and that he had to reduce the number to three hundred!¡±


    Chowder? I think I recall a Spirit with that name¡­ Bastille thought before speaking up. ¡°So what did you have to do?¡±


    ¡°We were all teleported to individual islands! And we were told to survive until only one hundred of us remained!¡± Joseph exclaimed as he sat down and filled a mug with beer took a long swig in order to calm his nerves. ¡°Damn that purple cat! He sent me to an island filled with lava! I didn¡¯t even have time to fight anything! Before I could begin exploring I fell into a deep pit that was filled with lava!¡± Joseph shuddered as he recalled his death. ¡°Bastille, falling into lava is not quick¡­¡± His hands trembled and his mug spilled some beer onto the table while the corners of his eyes moistened with tears.


    Bastille sighed as he gazed at the traumatized Seeker. ¡°Here have some of this.¡± He said as he pulled a flask from his bag.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Joseph whispered as he held the small metal flask.


    ¡°Just drink it!¡±


    ¡°O-okay¡­¡± Joseph complied and took a swig of the drink. ¡°It¡¯s tasteless!¡± He exclaimed, but in less than a second, his eyes drooped and his shoulders relaxed. ¡°Woah...I feel...Good¡­¡±


    ¡°Bastille, did you drug the poor boy?¡± Edward sighed.


    ¡°No, of course not! That was Primal liquor...It''s incredibly strong. And just as hard to get¡­¡± Bastille muttered as he reluctantly put it in his bag. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to use it, but Joseph needed ii. After all, alcohol is the best tool to forget about your worries¡­¡±


    ¡°For the short term, perhaps¡­¡±


    Bastille smiled and looked away. ¡°Yeah...For the short term¡­¡± The three of them sat in silence for a couple of seconds before Joseph spoke up.


    ¡°By ThE wEy...dO yOu KnoW sHome KiD nAmEd DamIoN?¡± Joseph words were incredibly slurred due to the powerful alcohol that was swimming through his veins.


    ¡°Yes, he said he was late and entered the portal last. Why do you ask?¡± Bastille asked.


    ¡°WeLL, It sheEmed ThaT CloVer...KnOwhS thE guy!¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°YeP! But I Don¡¯T tHink ThaT th¡¯ey ARe FriEndSh!¡±


    ¡°Why do you say that?¡±


    ¡°WeLL! As ShoON as He EntereD, CloVer Tried to AttACK Him!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Bastille shouted. ¡°Why would Clover do that?!¡±


    ¡°I DUNNo! BuT, he Did MenTion shomeThing aBout geTTing AttaCked bY Him!¡±


    ¡°Attacked?¡± Bastille thought for a second. His brow was furrowed as he searched his mind. Damion? Damion? Where have I heard that name before? He continued to think for a couple of seconds, but then, it hit him. Bastille¡¯s eyes darkened as he sat in silence.


    ¡°BAshTiLLe?¡± Joseph mumbled. ¡°Whatsh WroNg?¡±


    ¡°Joseph...I think that it would be for the best if you were to leave...Now¡­¡± Edward warned as Bastille sat in silence.


    ¡°HuH? OkaY...I don¡¯T UndershtanD, but ALRIghT!¡± Joseph exclaimed before running away, stumbling all the while.


    ¡°Bastille, it seems that the two of us did not realize who that boy was¡­¡± Edward muttered as he stared at the man in front of him.


    ¡°Remember, you cannot enter the Spirit Realm.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Bastille whispered. As soon as he opened his mouth, the world became silent. Birds stopped chattering and bugs stopped chirping. The air became claustrophobic as if all the Arcana in a mile radius had seemingly disappeared. Bronze and Silver ranked Seekers that did not enter the portal all felt an immense pressure cover their bodies as if they were suddenly forced to carry a three-hundred pound weight. Gold and Blue ranked Seekers had long since fled, as they knew that an absence of Arcana meant danger! Even the hundreds of civilians who were attending the festivities felt a premonition of danger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do anything reckless¡­¡± Edward warned as he continued to sip his tea. However, Edward was trying his best to stay cool, as the teacup in his hand trembled in anger.


    ¡°I know¡­¡± Bastille muttered again as he clenched his fists, an almost malevolent aura surrounded him. How could I be so foolish! The one that nearly killed my son was right next to me! How could I make such a simple mistake! Bastille thought as he contorted his face in anger. No...Damion was the one who made a mistake...As soon as he leaves the Spirit Realm, I will capture him¡­


    A murderous gleam entered Bastille¡¯s eye as walked over to the portal. He injected Arcana into his Devyse and released his black halberd.


    <hr>


    ¡°This place is huge!¡± Clover couldn¡¯t help but exclaim as he walked into the enormous black palace. The first room he entered was a large hallway. Black pillars hundreds of feet tall towered over him with each pillar requiring dozens of people linking their arms together in order to wrap around a single one! The floor was covered by a long and wide rug that was extravagantly designed with gold and silver. On the ceiling were many chandeliers that would light up on their own as Clover walked through the empty corridor.


    What kind of people would live in this place?! Did it belong to those ghouls? No way! They are way too small to construct something of this size! Maybe there is some race of giants that live here? Clover shuddered as he imagined the danger of encountering the denizens of the palace.


    Another set of massive doors slowly opened as he continued forward. Although it took him several minutes, Clover eventually entered the next room. It was shocking, to say the least. Similar pillars and chandeliers filled the room. But unlike the hallway, this was clearly an important room. Hundreds of extravagant banners lined the ceiling, the symbol¡¯s that were inscribed on them had been washed away by time. Large stained glass windows allowed the perpetual sunset¡¯s orange rays to enter the immense room, filling it with a hazy glow. In the middle of the room was a white floor, similar to ones that nobles would dance on. Surrounding the floor were hundreds of chairs and tables filled with plates and silverware. At the very end of the room, Clover could just make out a set of stairs that led to a throne.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Wait a second...These are all my size! Clover gasped as he realized what this meant. Did that weird race of ghouls really make this?! No matter how much he tried, Clover could not believe this. Even the Elven Aleesian Dynasty which has been around for longer than twenty thousand years would be incapable of constructing such as massive building!


    No...This is Denari¡¯s Realm after all! Only a divine being like himself can create such an impressive place!


    Shrugging off his initial surprise, Clover continued to explore the vast chamber. He inspected the tables, but to his disappointment, they were all empty besides the silverware. He passed dozens of tables filled with silverware and other mundane objects. Eventually, his persistence was rewarded.


    ¡°A book!¡± He exclaimed as he picked up the object. As he flipped through the thin pages his face became increasingly morose. All the characters were illegible. Because too much time had passed the ink that had covered the pages had long since faded away. Even the few characters that remained were heavily faded. Clover could only sigh and continue exploring his fruitless surroundings.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t Spirit Realms supposed to be filled with treasure?!¡± Clover bellowed and fumed. As soon as he finished ranting, his eye caught the sight of a small box on top of the throne at the top of the stairs. ¡°Treasure!¡± He yelped in glee while running towards his prize.


    Awoo! Awoo! Awoo!


    Three howls shattered the silence, causing Clover to stop in his tracks. Those howls were much louder than any sort of dog I know of! The loud howls vibrated throughout the room, causing the tables, chairs, and silverware to shake and trembled. Even the floor beneath his feet shook as the intense vibrations stirred up the ancient room.


    Clover changed targets. Instead of running towards the throne. He instead hid behind one of the large pillars. The moment he hid, a pair of massive doors on the other side of the hall slowly opened. As soon as they did, Clover saw the owner of the howls.


    It was a dog. But not just any dog. This one was larger than a house! And it had three heads, each uglier than the last.


    ¡°Cerberus?¡± He whispered. How is this possible? Isn¡¯t Cerberus the guard dog of the underworld? Why is it here? And why does it look so...Old?


    Clover was right, from his vantage point he could tell that the supposed dog of hell was aging. Although Cerberus was thought to be as black as death, one could easily see that it was covered with vast swathes of white hair. All six of the dog''s eyes were red and droopy as if they were infected. The three gaping maws were filled with black broken teeth. And it trembled and shivered as its four legs struggled to keep itself upright.


    Time is a terrible thing. Even a creature like Cerberus is unable to defeat it.


    Maybe I can defeat it! Time must¡¯ve weakened it! Clover grinned to himself as he gained the courage to step out from the safety of the pillar. The moment he revealed himself Cerberus locked all six of its eyes on him. The moment they noticed Clover¡¯s small frame they lit up with excitement.


    Awoo! Awoo! Awoo!


    Each head let out a cry of joy as they signaled the hunt! Its previously weak legs filled with strength as it launched itself towards the young Seeker with each of its strides covering tens of meters!


    Erepirbol!


    Clover shouted the ancient command and launched a cannonball sized boulder at the legs of the beast! Clover¡¯s previous grin melted away once the stone boulder met its mark and exploded into thousands of pieces, not affecting the three-headed dog whatsoever.


    ¡°What?!¡± Clover exclaimed before shooting five more boulders at the beast. But the beast either didn¡¯t notice or did not care as each strike was merely shrugged off. ¡°Damn it!¡± He shouted before running away from the beast.


    ¡°I should have just hidden! I was safe!¡± Clover exclaimed as he sprinted away at top speed. Although he was filling his legs with Arcana, it was no use, his capacity and purity were too low! No matter how much he filled his legs with Arcana it would only allow him to run a tiny bit faster!


    ¡°Dad was right! Seekers who become greedy meet unpleasant ends!¡± Clover gasped for air as he ran. ¡°Why the hell can you keep up! Shouldn¡¯t you have arthritis or something!¡±


    Woof!


    To his surprise, the dog barked back! Its tongue lolled about with drool while its eyes beamed with excitement!


    ¡°You stupid thing! You¡¯re just playing with me! Right?!¡±


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± The dog yelled out in joy as it inched ever closer! No matter how fast Clover ran, he would never be able to outrun the aging beast!


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Clover yelled out one last time and braced himself as the dog caught up with him! With a single clean motion, the dog lashed out with an enormous paw, and launched Clover dozens of feet into the air!


    ¡°Shit!¡± Clover screamed as he flew through the air! He hovered in the air for a second, before continuing his ungraceful and terrifying descent!


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± The white and black dog howled with joy as its six eyes followed Clover''s frame as he fell down. The dog raised another white paw and swatted Clover again before he hit the ground.


    ¡°Gah!¡± Clover threw up a mouthful of blood as the powerful blow shocked his entire body before landing with a loud, ¡®smack¡¯!


    ¡°Geh¡­¡± Clover moaned as he attempted to protect the rest of his body which was covered with bruises and lacerations.


    His moans of pain attracted the beast even more, as it howled in delight. ¡°I can¡¯t move...One of my legs is broken¡­¡± Clover gasped in pain. If it was not for the constant sparring and beatings he had received in the past year and the Arcana running throughout his body, Clover would have passed out long ago.


    ¡°Damn it¡­¡± He groaned. Although Clover knew that he couldn¡¯t die in Denari¡¯s realm. He couldn¡¯t help but become a bit emotional as his mind screamed to escape from the beast no matter the cost.


    Bloody handprints covered the black stone floor as he crawled away. The scent of blood excited the three-headed beast as its aroma was the most enticing thing it had smelled for millennia. Clover¡¯s slow crawl eventually led him to the foot of the stairs that led to the throne. The small box that had filled his heart with greed was only a few meters away.


    Before he could begin his ascent, large jaws grabbed at his legs, pulling him away.


    ¡°Yea...You got me you big dumb beast¡­¡± Clover groaned. ¡°Come on then! Finish me!¡± But to his displeasure, the three-headed dog did not finish him. Instead, it stood over him. Its large jaws dripped large droplets of dank drool while its foul breath suffocated him.


    ¡°Tch...Don¡¯t tell me you still want to play around with me¡­¡± Clover clucked. Being tortured was a much worse alternative to death.


    Sniff...Sniff...Sniff¡­


    ¡°Huh?¡± Clover exclaimed as three pairs of nostrils began to smell him. ¡°What do you want?¡± The dog ignored his question and continued to sniff around his body.


    ¡°Wait! I know!¡± He said while opening his pack. Inside were the meat skewers that Karim gave him! ¡°Here! You can have them! Only if you don¡¯t eat me! Okay?¡±


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± Each head barked as they eagerly agreed to the proposal.


    ¡°Good! Although I wouldn''t be able to stop you if you were to change your mind. I would still be very disappointed if you break your promise!¡± He shouted while throwing the meat skewers into the air.


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± The dog chomped at the small snack, each head receiving their own. Each skewer was like the size of a toothpick compared to the large beast. But it seemed to be satisfied either way!


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± It barked in joy as it swallowed the meat. Clover noticed tears of joy stream from its droopy eyes. Obviously, this was the first taste of food it has had for thousands of years!


    The dog assaulted Clover again. However, this time it was with his tongue! ¡°Ah! Stop it! Your breath stinks!¡± Clover bellowed as the beast licked his body and covered him with its thick and foul drool. His clothes, which had become torn from its attacks, were now soaked in a disgusting liquid! But no matter how much he protested, the dog would not stop its attack!


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± After some time, Cerberus eventually stopped its assault and gave Clover some respite.


    ¡°Poor doggy...You must have been stuck here for years! Your masters must have disappeared, right?¡±


    The dog whined as if to tell him that they had. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sorry that you have been alone all this time! But as long as you don¡¯t eat me I will make sure to play with you as much as you want!¡±


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± The dog barked as if it agreed!


    ¡°Good! But can you do me a quick favor?¡± Clover asked.


    ¡°Woof? Woof? Woof?¡±


    ¡°Can you take me to that box up there?¡± He said while pointing at the throne.


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± It agreed. With a single motion, the dog lifted Clover with its jaws and place him onto its back.


    ¡°You sure are fluffier than I first thought! But you do need a bath¡­¡± Clover pinched his nose as the offending odor hit his nostrils. ¡°Since we are going to be friends, I should give you a name! How does Big Gray sound?¡±


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±


    ¡°Good! From now on! You will be known as Big Gray!¡±


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± The dog barked as it reached the top of the throne. Using its claws with surgical precision, it was able to lift the small box on the throne and hand it to Clover.


    ¡°Thanks!¡± Clover exclaimed as he received the box. Now for the grand opening! He thought in excitement. However, a frown covered his face as soon as he opened it.


    ¡°This is it¡­?¡±

 [Spirit Realm] Chapter 17

    <h2 style="text-align: center">-Braye Des Pri¡¯mordi-</h2>


    ¡°This is...Disappointing¡­¡± Clover mumbled as he peered into the small box. ¡°It''s just some rusty amulet¡­¡± He lifted the simple amulet with two fingers and inspected it closely. It was made of gold and heavily tarnished. It had no gems or any other intricate designs. It was entirely bare, save for the same faded letters and an empty socket.


    ¡°What is this boy?¡± Clover asked as he held the amulet to the Big Gray¡¯s face.


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±Each head exclaimed in an unintelligible language. However, its eyes sparkled with delight as if it knew exactly what it was.


    ¡°So you do know what this is?!¡±


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±


    ¡°Can you show me who owned it?!¡±


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±Each head barked in unison before launching itself towards an exit, catching Clover off-guard. He had to tightly grip Big Gray¡¯s pelt so he would not be flung off!


    Does it really understand me? Or is it just playing around?Clover wondered.No matter. As long as this doggy doesn¡¯t turn on me I should be safe from elimination!


    Big Gray carried Clover towards down a long corridor, from time to time he would be able to peak into various other rooms that were just as or more magnificent than the last.


    ¡°What is this place?!¡± Clover exclaimed with his mouth agape. The three-headed dog had led them into a large outdoor plaza. And judging by the vast amount and variety of flora within it one could only guess that this was previously a garden. The only difference was that this ¡®garden¡¯ was more like a secret forest that was hidden from the desolate world outside. Exotic trees of all shapes and colors freely extended their canopies into the sky while beautiful and unique flowers dotted the ground. Deer, birds, and various critters scurried all around them without a single care or worry.


    All of this life is in the middle of a barren wasteland?


    Clover noticed that it was clear that these creatures have never experienced fear in their lives as they did not flee from the sight of Big Gray. Instead, they walked up to him and greeted him as if they were all long-time pals.


    ¡°Are these your friends?¡±


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±


    ¡°That''s strange. I would have thought that you would¡¯ve eaten them! I mean, you were so hungry when I gave you those meat skewers!¡±


    ¡°Woof!!! Woof!!! Woof!!!¡±Each head barked in anger as Clover mentioned eating his friends.


    ¡°Jeez, okay. Don¡¯t bring up eating your friends again, gotcha¡­¡± Clover mumbled. After an awkward silence, he spoke up again. ¡°Ahem...This is amazing! Did your owners plant all of this?¡±


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±


    ¡°Are they still alive?¡±


    Big Gray¡¯s eyes filled with pain as he looked at the ground before he shook his head and whined. It was clear that whoever created this vast palace had been long gone and Big Gray and the palace were remnants of an age long forgotten. After Big Gray finished grieving, he wandered deeper into the forest. After a couple minutes of trekking through the verdant landscape, they reached a flat clearing that revealed the truly immense size of the garden.


    To Clover¡¯s surprise, there was even a large lake in the middle of the garden. From his high vantage point atop Big Gray, he could see many large fish residing deep within its ominous waters. But what interested him the most was the long bridge that led to an island in the center of the lake.


    ¡°Whine...Whine¡­Whine¡­¡±Big Gray cried as he peered into the island and walked onto the bridge. Although it seemed old and decrepit the bridge did not strain or wail from the dog¡¯s weight. Upon reaching land, Clover¡¯s eyes widened in surprise for the umpteenth time that day.


    ¡°Are they your masters?¡±


    ¡°Whine...Whine...Whine¡­¡±


    In the middle of the island was a grand pavilion, unaltered from time. It was breathtakingly beautiful with large fountains, statues, pillars, and a myriad of the most illustrious plantlife Clover had ever seen!


    However, the most peculiar sights were the two graves that laid in its center and the two people who were standing beside them!


    ¡°Hello?! Are you two the masters of this place?!¡± Clover called out. However, the two individuals did not speak back. Instead, they continued to gaze forward.


    ¡°Whine...Whine...Whine¡­¡±The dogs continued to cry as they gazed at the pair. It was only after a closer look that Clover realized that the duo was not alive, but were instead incredibly life-like statues!


    ¡°I guess that answers my question¡­¡± Clover muttered as he urged Big Gray forward. Unfortunately for them, it appeared that there was as an invisible and impenetrable barrier that prevented anyone from approaching the graves. Instead, the three-headed dog could only place a single paw on the barrier as it was unable to reach its master.


    There were three things Clover could observe from his location. The first is that the statues were of the same race as the undead horde outside the palace. The second observation is that the statues were of a man and a woman. And lastly is that they both had a tattoo of a strange symbol on their foreheads, with a jewel in the center of it.


    ¡°Bastille told me that the most famous and successful Seekers have always chosen to be buried in obscure locations so that they could rest in peace without having anyone steal their treasures. Or worse, use their body parts as alchemical ingredients!¡± Clover shuddered. ¡°Perhaps these two had the same idea! Maybe they had powerful treasures buried with them! But why and how did they end up in Denari¡¯s Realm?¡±


    ¡°Come on, boy. Let''s go somewhere else¡­¡± Clover ordered as it was clear that this area only brought pain to the aging dog and that he wouldn¡¯t find an answer to his questions.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±


    But to his surprise, the dog carried him forward and around the barrier. The two of them went deeper into the island, eventually arriving in front of a small and quaint house. Since the dog was too big to enter, Clover decided to disembark and venture inside by himself.


    Clover was able to hobble inside as he supported himself with his spear, while his other leg dangled uselessly to the side. One of Big Gray''s heads managed to fit its snout in the door but was unable to go any further.


    The insides were simple and rustic. There was a single bed fit for a couple. A few bookcases filled with faded books and scrolls. As well as a table with two chairs and a small kitchen. On the side of the wall was a single banner with the same symbol that was on the statue¡¯s foreheads.


    ¡°This must be their home! I wonder if there is any treasure in here!¡± Clover wondered aloud as his treasure loving Seeker side showed itself.


    ¡°Grr...Grr...Grr¡­¡± Each head growled at Clover as soon as he mentioned the word treasure. Clearly, they would not allow some boy to ransack their owners home!


    ¡°I''m just kidding!¡± Clover chuckled awkwardly.But if there is anything worthwhile¡­It wouldn¡¯t be of any harm to sneak it out with me!


    ¡°Oh? What''s this?¡± He said as he found another metal box, similar to the one that contained the rusty amulet. Inside was a round stone of jade. Its green color was pretty, but it did not seem valuable. However, what attracted Clover to it was the symbol that was carved into it.


    Why does it have the same symbol as the banner and the statues?Clover wondered. ¡°Do you know what this is?¡±


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±


    ¡°You do?! Well, spit it out then!¡±


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±Each head howled as it licked Clover¡¯s outstretched hand which was holding the jade. In a quick single motion, Big Gray swallowed the jade stone!


    ¡°Big Gray! Why did you do that?!¡± Clover exploded in anger. ¡°I said spit it out! Not lick it up!¡±


    ¡°Warf! Warf! Warf!¡±


    ¡°Warf? What the hell does that mean?!¡±


    ¡°Geh! Geh! Geh!¡±Each dog gasped for air as if it was choking, before becoming surrounded by a bright green light!


    ¡°Big Gray?! What''s going on?!¡±Clover¡¯s eyes widened in fear. Although he had only known Big Gray for around an hour, he didn¡¯t want him to die! ¡°How can I help you?!¡±


    In just a few seconds, the green light covered Big Gray completely as Clover helplessly watched! Eventually, Big Gray''s entire body dispersed into many orbs of green light, leaving only the jade stone behind. To Clover¡¯s surprise, the green orbs did not disintegrate into nothingness, but instead flew into the jade!


    ¡°Big Gray! What¡¯s going on!¡± He exclaimed as he ran over to the jade and picked it up. As he held the small stone, Clover could feel a warmth to it that was not there before. All of a sudden, the jade flew out of his hand, and gently socketed itself into the rusty amulet!


    ¡°Big Gray? Are you inside the amulet?¡± Clover whispered, but the jade amulet did not respond


    ¡°Fine, I may as well relax inside the cabin until the round is over¡­¡± Sighing, he inspected the amulet one last time before putting it on, accompanying the silver necklace Kate had given him a year ago. ¡°Maybe Chowder will know how to take you out¡­¡±


    Clover continued to search the cabin for loot, but to his displeasure, it seemed that the jade was the only item of worth. He tried to pass the time by studying the foreign language, but similar to the books in the grand hall, they too had faded away due to time.


    ¡°Chowder! I¡¯m ready to leave at any second!¡± He yelled. But to his disappointment, the purple cat spirit did not answer back. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t explore the rest of the palace because of my bum leg. But I think I can manage exploring the rest of the island.¡± He said before leaving the rustic cabin. Albeit at a slow pace, he managed to hobble around while using his spear as a walking stick. Fortunately, the island was rather small, after a few minutes of wandering around Clover found himself back at the graves. However, this time, there was something peculiar about the statues. The jewels on their foreheads were glowing, and it appeared as if the eyes of the statues were following Clover¡¯s every step.


    ¡°What the hell?! That''s creepy!¡± He yelped. But after a few seconds, he calmed himself down and rose up the courage to approach the graves stopping only once he reached the barrier. ¡°Umm...Hello? Can you hear me?¡± To no one¡¯s surprise, the statues did not answer back. They simply gazed at him with the same forlorn stare.


    ¡°Of course you can¡¯t¡­.¡±


    All of a sudden, the jewels on their foreheads sent out a bright pulse of Arcana! The barrier started to ripple and fluctuate as the pulse of energy spread throughout it, eventually, the barrier that was originally separating Clover and the graves gradually disappeared. After a few seconds, the jewels dimmed as they stopped pulsing.


    ¡°Well, this is suspicious...But I can¡¯t be called a Seeker if I don¡¯t take risks!¡± Clover grinned as he hobbled toward the two graves. The graves were simple and low key and made from common stone. Of course, like everything else in the palace, the graves were inscribed with the same faded and unknown characters.


    ¡°That''s the same symbol on the jade and banner!¡± Clover exclaimed as he looked at the graves. Each one was inscribed with the peculiar mark. At this point, there was no doubt in his mind that the symbol had something to do with the owners of the palace!


    Creek...


    The stone tiles that covered the ground creaked as they opened, revealing a long set of stairs that led to a dark passage. Clover, nearly jumping out of his skin from the sudden scare, forcefully calmed himself down and entered the passage.


    Creepy statues, creepy symbols, creepy graves, and now a creepy passage...Yep, I¡¯m definitely walking into a trap!He thought but did not stop. Thankfully the passage was a straight line without deviations as it would¡¯ve become impossible for Clover to find his way back without light.


    After nearly five minutes of hobbling along, a bright blue light became visible. The sight of a blue flame came into view, which only piqued Clover¡¯s curiosity even more.


    ¡°What is this?¡± He wondered aloud as he entered the small room. It was cramped, incredibly so, and the only defining feature was a brazier that held a blue flame.


    ¡°Bre¡¯ach¡¯ Unt via bein des? Yoy endesde acha benderi Pri¡¯mordi!¡±


    ¡°What?! Who is there?!¡± Clover shouted as he searched for the owner of the deep voice.


    ¡°Set¡¯l eown topi ari Pri¡¯mordi. Yoy fet jandi! Jave ento obien.¡± The deep voice spoke once more. Upon closer inspection, Clover realized that it was the blue fire that ¡®spoke¡¯


    ¡°How is a flame able to talk? No, this must be some weird magic! Where are you?!¡±


    ¡°Set¡¯l eown stipey! Braye des Pri¡¯mordi! Yoy unt ande ba? Bi un...Est zen diva asta oron.¡± The flame spoke once more, before sizzling away without a trace.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Clover whispered. All of a sudden, another blue flame alighted in front of him!


    It continued to grow and grow, before sizzling away as well, but not before leaving behind a blank stone tablet. As he continued to inspect it, Clover saw a blue fire burn inscriptions onto the tablet, leaving behind the same characters and symbols he had seen on the graves, books, and scrolls around the palace.


    ¡°DEIOS DURAYNE! RE¡¯NIGIT DES PRI¡¯MORDI!¡± One last bellow echoed through the cramped room before it became silent once more, leaving Clover alone with the tablet.


    ¡°I was hoping for some real treasure. But this must be of some value. Bastille might know what it is!¡±


    Just as he was examining the tablet, Clover¡¯s body began to fade away and turn translucent. Fearing that he might lose the tablet, he made sure to store it in his pack. Within a few seconds, Clover¡¯s body faded away without a trace, leaving behind the strange black palace.


    <hr>


    ¡°Ah! Oh! Yikes! Wah! No! Why! Please!¡± One after another, dozens of Seekers were shot out of the portal, screaming all the while! Due to the high rate of ejection, the Seekers all ended up piling up on top of one another, creating a bizarre yet hilarious sight. Luckily for them, as soon they left Denari¡¯s Realm their wounds were instantly healed.


    ¡°Bastille! Spirit Realms are dangerous!¡± Many younger Seekers declared as they ran over to their Guildmaster. But they immediately stopped in their tracks as they felt the murderous aura that revolved around the dark man. Every sense of his was trained onto the portal. And his body was like a coiled spring that was ready to leap out and strike at a moments notice.


    ¡°Ahem...You all may want to leave the Guildmaster alone for now.¡± Edward chimed in from his seat. He was still calmly sipping on tea as he observed the situation.


    ¡°O-okay¡­¡± They mumbled as they left the area.


    ¡°Bastille, what do you plan on doing to the boy once you catch him?¡± Edward asked while furrowing his brow. ¡°You won¡¯t kill him, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Bastille snapped. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to properly interrogate him.¡± His eyes narrowed into a fierce glare. ¡°But if he were to find himself in an accident afterward...Then that would be too bad..."

 [Spirit Realm] Chapter 18

    -A Demon¡¯s Hoard-


    ¡°Did you find anything good, Clover?¡± Karim asked as Clover materialized into the realm.


    ¡°Uhh...Not really? I mean...I may have¡­¡± Clover said as he looked around curiously. He wasn¡¯t the last person to teleport to this new realm. Other Seekers materialized and popped into view within seconds of one another. Soon, the entire area was filled with hundreds of Seekers.


    To his surprise, Clover noticed that all of his wounds had been healed. Even his broken leg that should have taken a month to fix was fine! The only telling signs that he had been involved in a battle was the damage inflicted to his jacket.


    ¡°Me neither!¡± Karim sighed. ¡°The damn Chowder! He sent me to a lava island that was filled with crabs made of fire and brimstone! I was so preoccupied staying alive that I didn¡¯t have any time to explore!¡± Although there wasn¡¯t a wound on him. Karim¡¯s clothing was filled with tears and burns as well as being covered in black ash. He also smelled slightly sulfurous. ¡°So, where did you go?¡±


    ¡°It''s hard to say! It was like something I¡¯ve never seen before!¡± Clover filled in Karim with the details of his escapade. From the horde of ghouls to the gigantic black palace. He told him about the giant forest that was once a garden and the jade pendant he found that now contained Big Gray.


    The only thing he refrained to mention was the graves and the stone tablet as Clover decided that it was probably something that he should keep to himself. Although he considered Karim a friend. He had only known him for a day! After all, even Karim had secrets of his own! It would only make sense that Clover would have his own. Besides, Clover felt a strange feeling in his stomach when he gazed upon the strange tablet. It would most likely be for the best if he turned it into the Guild without anyone else finding out about it.


    ¡°Wow! That''s amazing!¡± Karim exclaimed. ¡°Agh! That makes me hate that purple-cat spirit even more! Why couldn¡¯t he give me a cool place to explore!¡± Karim continued to berate Chowder until he looked over Clover¡¯s shoulder with a glare.


    ¡°Ho? You two look worse for wear!¡± Damion chortled. ¡°Were you two badly hurt? You both look ragged!¡± He said while looking at Clover¡¯s torn clothing and Karim¡¯s burnt jacket. ¡°You didn¡¯t cry in there, right Clover? After all, a ¡®brave¡¯ Seeker like yourself would never do something as disgraceful as that!¡±


    Clover only grit his teeth and curled his fist into a ball, but did not speak. He would not fall for Damion¡¯s taunts. Karim, on the other hand, was not so calm.


    ¡°Ha?! You sure talk a lot for a little doggy!¡± Karim sneered. ¡°Does your mother know where you are? If not, I¡¯ll make sure to tell her tonight when I fill her dish!¡±


    ¡°You little bastard¡­¡± Damion snarled with a red face and a twitch of his wolf-like ears. ¡°You better hope that we don¡¯t have to fight one another¡­¡±


    ¡°Haha! You are just afraid that you will lose again!¡± Karim devilishly smiled.


    Damion¡¯s eyes filled with malice as he glared at the half-elf. His fists curled into balls and one could tell that he was considering attacking. He opened his mouth a couple of times as if to rebuke him. But after a few moments of silence, he quietly shuffled away.


    ¡°Again? Have you fought him before?¡± Clover curiously asked.


    ¡°Yep! And he lost!¡± Karim chuckled. ¡°But that was around a year ago! Wait, I¡¯m not supposed to mention that! Hehe...Oops!¡± Karim rubbed the back of his neck but was otherwise unbothered by his revelation.


    ¡°When was this?! And how did you do it?! My friend who is a Gold-rank Seeker said that he was strong! How could you have beaten him?!¡±


    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t tell you too much...Since it is part of the reason why I had to flee Deiran.¡± Karim muttered. ¡°But I trust you, Clover!¡±


    Clover felt a warm feeling rise up his chest as Karim told him this. And it sort of made him feel bad that he kept the stone table a secret.


    ¡°Although Damion seems strong, it''s only because he takes powerful drugs before battle! These drugs increase his strength, agility, and Arcana capacity!¡± Karim chuckled before adding. ¡°In fact, he is more like a puppy that a wolf!¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Clover gasped. Drugs? What kinds of drugs would make someone so powerful? There is no way something like that would not have any negative side effects!


    ¡°Yep! And since Spirit Realms tend to eliminate outside sources of strength like Arcana crystals and elixirs I¡¯m sure that he will be unable to use his drugs here! He is practically neutered in this place!¡±


    ¡°Hello and congratulations!¡± Chowder exclaimed as he poofed into existence. ¡°Now that there are three hundred of you we can now begin the trials!¡±


    Every Seeker became silent at the mention of trials. Their past enthusiasm and joy of being in a Spirit Realm had long since evaporated after their experience within the elimination round.


    ¡°Come on everyone! You are supposed to be having a fun time!¡± Chowder giggled. ¡°Fine! Fine! For this next round, you all can team up with three other people! Aren¡¯t I such a kind Spirit?!¡±


    ¡°Where are we going to find two other people? I don¡¯t know anyone else here!¡± Karim grumbled. Others had the same idea as they looked around for teammates.


    Seekers tended to be secretive in nature and would only team up with people they knew. Because of this, joining a team of Seekers was difficult and involved going through a long and arduous process of building trust.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    For those who did not already come with a group of Seekers they trusted or were left without their partners due to them failing the elimination round, this posed a serious problem! After all, every Seeker here was competing with one another! Who¡¯s to say that the strangers you partnered up with are planning your downfall with every step!


    ¡°Clover! Karim!¡± A girl¡¯s voice echoed through the air, bringing the two half-elves attention to her. The voice belonged to Daphne and Francis, the two Adlan Seekers they rode with on the carriage ride over to Cyrelle.


    ¡°Since we have met before I was hoping we could join up!¡± She said with a wide grin.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Clover grinned. Yes! At the very least I¡¯m sure that they will not stab us in the back!


    ¡°No way! Especially not within ¡®m''lord¡¯ over there!¡± Karim snorted as he glared at Francis.


    ¡°Ha! I agree! I would never team up with someone as barbaric as him!¡± Francis snapped. ¡°See Daphne? We shouldn¡¯t have asked them in the first place! This was a bad idea!¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Clover and Daphne exclaimed at the same time. After a breath of silence, Clover invited Daphne to speak first.


    ¡°Come on, darling...We need to have two other people on our team to proceed! Besides, I¡¯m sure that the son of the honorable Guildmaster of Vanden is honest and would not betray or backstab us! Right?¡± She said with a glance to Clover.


    ¡°Of course! I would never deceive another Seeker!¡± Clover assured before turning to Karim. ¡°And you. Don¡¯t you also agree that we can trust these two? I know that you have some disagreements with Francis. But at the very least you can trust Daphne!¡±


    ¡°Hmmmm¡­.¡± Karim and Francis hummed as they glared at one another. Although they didn¡¯t like it. The two of them knew that their partners were right. And that teaming up with one another was much safer than with strangers.


    ¡°Fine¡­¡± The two of them reluctantly agreed.


    ¡°Just make sure he stays away from me!¡± Karim snorted.


    ¡°Likewise!¡± Francis scoffed.


    Clover and Daphne smiled at one another. ¡°We look forward to working with the two of you,¡± Clover said.


    ¡°As do we!¡± Daphne beamed.


    ¡°Alright! Since it looks like everyone is teamed up and good to go I will commence the first stage of the trial!¡± Chowder declared as he swept his small amethyst eyes across the field. ¡°From time to time, Seekers must work together to complete a mission that would otherwise be impossible to finish by oneself!¡± With a clap of his paws, Chowder summoned dozens of scrolls. Each one of them hovered in the air for a moment before flying towards the competitors.


    ¡°A Demon¡¯s Hoard¡­¡± Clover muttered as he read the scroll that flew into his hands. The scroll itself did not look special. It was fairly simple and similar to the ones Clover had seen in the Guild¡¯s offices. The only notable feature on the scrolls was a purple stamp in the shape of a cat¡¯s head.


    The contents of the scrolls were simple enough. The party must defeat a demon that had stolen a vast sum of gold from Denari and retrieve the demon¡¯s heart!


    ¡°Ooh! An elimination contract! That sounds easy enough!¡± Karim grinned as Francis and Daphne nodded in agreement.


    ¡°There are seventy-five parties from a total of three-hundred! But by the end of this trial, only forty competitors will remain!¡± Chowder boomed.


    A stunned silence filled the air as every Seeker in the realm stared at the purple Spirit in shock!


    Forty?! That¡¯s over seventy-five percent of the competitors! Clover gasped in shock.


    ¡°Hehe...This will make things interesting!¡± Karim chuckled.


    ¡°Hmph. No matter, this will only prove which parties are the strongest.¡± Francis muttered.


    ¡°Once the first ten parties complete their missions, I will teleport you all to the next phase of the tournament! But those that failed will be kicked out of the Spirit Realm!¡± Chowder loudly declared. ¡°Now then...Let¡¯s begin!¡± And with another clap of his purple paws, each party was teleported to separate realms.


    In the blink of an eye, Clover¡¯s party poofed into a peaceful forest. The only word that came to mind as he looked around was, ¡®tranquil¡¯.


    Compared to the dead and desolate landscape he had previously been teleported to, this one was a breath of fresh air. Birds sang their various melodies while the chirping of cicadas provided a placid ambiance. Unlike the perpetual sunset that filled every other realm he had visited, this one was luminous as the sun shined high in the sky.


    ¡°This place is beautiful...Right, Francis?¡± Daphne cooed. But to her annoyance, Francis was not paying attention to her. Instead, his eyes were trained on a bundle of fur a few meters away.


    ¡°A puppy!¡± She shouted while running over to the cute furball.


    ¡°Wait! Daphne!¡± Francis shouted as he chased after her with Clover and Karim in pursuit.


    ¡°What are you guys so worried about? It''s just a puppy!¡± She said as she picked it up in her arms. She was right. It was just a cute little puppy. It was small with black and tan fur. Its face was scrunched up from its loose skin and it had long ears that were longer than the rest of its body. ¡°Geez...You all were worried about nothing!¡± She said as she cuddled with the pup.


    ¡°I like dogs...But recently they have become a bit of a nuisance¡­¡± Karim grumbled before petting the cute creature.


    ¡°Woof!¡± The pup squeaked as soon as Karim touched its head. ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±


    ¡°Eh? I guess it doesn¡¯t like me¡­¡± Karim mumbled as the pup rebelled against his touch.


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!¡±


    ¡°Uhmm? Doesn¡¯t he seem a little mad?¡± Clover whispered.


    ¡°Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!¡± The pup continued to squeak. Soon, its squeaks became barks. And its barks became howls! In an instant, the small pup enlarged, forcing Daphne to drop it! Its black-and-tan coat tuned red with its eyes following suit! In a matter of seconds, the pup towered over the party and cast a dark shadow over them!


    Its loud howls shook the earth and threatened to tear apart trees from their foundations! Its jaws drooled a putrid liquid that made one''s stomach turn over in disgust!


    ¡°I agree with Clover...It does seem a little mad!¡± Karim chuckled. ¡°Hey, puppy! Do you want a treat? I have one here!¡± As he said this, Karim pulled a meat skewer from his pack.


    The beast lowered its large head and sniffed the skewer. Its eyes opened with delight while its mouth continued to produce copious amounts of vile foam!


    ¡°Bark!¡± With a single bite, the beast consume the meat skewer!


    ¡°Haha! You are a good doggy!¡± Karim grinned.


    Chomp!


    With another bite, Karim disappeared into the beast''s mouth! His entire torso had entered its maw while his legs flailed around helplessly!


    ¡°Karim!¡± Clover shouted in surprise! ¡°Let go of him you stupid mutt!¡±


    The beast did not pay attention to him, but instead fled into the forest! Its long strides easily distancing itself from the party!

 [Spirit Realm] Chapter 19

    -Blood and Bile-


    Clover¡¯s party sprinted through the dense forest as they tried to catch up with the hound. Birds and small creatures scattered in every direction as they stomped and disturbed the undergrowth. Although the hound was fast its large body tore apart all foliage in its direction while its large paws created craters that allowed the party to effortlessly keep up with it.


    ¡°I guess your friend''s boasts were in vain, huh Clover?¡± Francis snickered as he ran alongside him. ¡°He was all bark and no bite! That dog has probably eaten him whole by now!¡±


    Clover smiled grimly. ¡°I¡¯m sure that he will be fine! Karim is a joker! He does this stuff all the time!¡± Damn it, Karim! I thought you wouldn¡¯t fall to something like this! Of course, Clover didn¡¯t have any room to talk. As he tried the same tactic with Big Gray not too long ago.


    ¡°I agree with Clover! Karim seems capable enough!¡± Daphne shouted.


    ¡°We will see¡­¡± Francis snorted.


    After another minute of running along a path filled with broken branches and destroyed foliage, the party reached a clearing that faced a cliff wall. The hound itself was standing in the middle of the clearing with Karim still lodged in his mouth. The large dog turned to face the party and growled. Behind it was a dark and ominous cave, no doubt it was the beast''s home which it would defend with its life.


    ¡°Spit Karim out you mutt!¡± Clover bellowed. But the dog did not reply back. Instead, it continued to glare at them.


    ¡°Mflmm! Mflmm!¡± Karim¡¯s shouts were muffled and distorted as he screamed within the beast''s maw. His legs kicked to and fro as he flailed around helplessly.


    ¡°Just eat him and get it over with!¡± Francis laughed while he sported a wide, jovial grin. However, this caused Daphne to glare at him and slap him across the back, much to his chagrin.


    ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll just have to force him out of your mouth then!¡± Clover bellowed before charging the beast! He pulled out his spear from his Devyse as he burnt Arcana throughout his body!


    Erepirkie!


    He shouted out an ancient command which caused the earth around him to tremble as rock and earth clumped together to form three lances. Each one fired at Clover¡¯s command, speeding towards the beast! Unfortunately, the beast was at a safe distance as it had plenty of time to dodge the attack! It effortlessly jumped to side while the lances flew past him and crashed into the cliff behind.


    Clover continued his long-range assault as he ran closer to the hound while Francis and Daphne flanked it. Francis had long since unsheathed his sword while Daphne had released a bow from her Devyse.


    Wonexobol!


    Francis yelled as he fired multiple balls of water at the beast. But again, each strike missed as the hound jumped to the side with ease.


    Shink! Shink! Shink!


    The hound bellowed in pain as three arrows struck its side! Its eyes reddened as it glared at its aggressor while its hideous jaws filled with a white foam.


    ¡°Good job, Daphne!¡± Francis cheered as he looked over at his lover.


    ¡°Thank you for distracting it!¡±


    ¡°Get me out of here!¡± Karim shouted as he was momentarily released from the dog''s mouth. Unfortunately, the hound quickly scooped him back up, and in a single motion, swallowed him whole!


    ¡°Karim!¡± Clover and Daphne yelled. Francis on the other continued to sport a devilish grin towards Karim¡¯s unfortunate demise.


    ¡°Haha! Good Doggy!¡± Francis cheered.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Francis! This is a serious matter! Karim is part of our party! We have to work together!¡± Daphne snarled.


    ¡°Why? This is still the Spirit Realm! He can¡¯t die here. And as long as we win, he will win as well!¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter! We have to work as a team!¡±


    Clover did not say anything as the duo bickered. Instead, he continued to look at the hound. It had an uncomfortable expression on its face. Its red eyes had begun to water and bulge out of its head while its jaws drooled a flood of putrid salvia!


    ¡°Urf¡­.¡± The hound groaned in pain as it rolled onto its back. Its soft and vulnerable stomach was moving. It was uncanny and it appeared as if there was a snake or a worm wriggling around inside of the beast.


    ¡°Karim?¡± Clover muttered as he continued to gaze at the peculiar sight. The wriggling continued to increase, each movement causing the hound to groan in pain!


    ¡°Grah!¡± The hound roared one last time before it exploded in a mass of blood, guts, and bile! Large arcs of lighting violently whipped back and forth as Karim flew away from the explosion, landing beside Clover with a loud smack!


    ¡°Agh! This is gross!¡± Karim howled as he flailed around while spreading blood and bile all around him.


    ¡°Hey, watch where you¡¯re flinging that stuff around!¡± Clover yelled as he backed away from his friend. ¡°And you stink! So keep your distance!¡±


    ¡°No, Clover! I can¡¯t be the only one who smells! We need to suffer in pain together! That''s what friends are for!¡± Karim chuckled as he chased Clover around the clearing. In order to keep himself safe from the noxious bile Clover erected four walls of earth around himself, blocking Karim out!


    ¡°Francis, why don¡¯t you spray him down with water?¡± Daphne suggested. ¡°Although we can¡¯t drink it, it should be safe to clean with!¡±


    ¡°Eh...Why should I?¡± Francis grumbled as he glared at Karim. ¡°You should have just stayed in the dog''s stomach¡­¡±


    With a mischievous gleam in his eye, Karim sprinted towards the aloof noble! ¡°You bastard! Suffer with me!¡± Unlike Clover, Francis could not summon walls of earth to protect himself with! In a flash, Karim had jumped onto him and covered him with the stinking liquid!


    ¡°You complete fool! How dare a peasant like yourself attack me!¡± Francis bellowed as he struggled to push the half-elf off!


    ¡°I will not let go until you wash me!¡± Karim bellowed as he covered every square inch of Francis¡¯s body with blood and bile!¡±


    ¡°Fine! Fine! You impudent commoner! Just get off me!¡± Francis shrieked as he pulled Karim off. ¡°Adlan damn it! Now my clothes are all ruined!¡±


    This did not bother Karim at all as he grinned cheerfully at Francis. His pointy fangs were fully exposed as he chuckled at Francis¡¯s misfortune.


    Francis first washed himself off with water conjured from his magic. The stream was gentle and clear similar to that of a spring. But when it came to Karim¡¯s turn the water had intensified! The rough and harsh water flayed Karim¡¯s soft skin, causing it to redden and blister.


    ¡°Thanks¡­I appreciate you...¡± Karim mumbled as he gently caressed his new wounds before glancing over at Clover who was inspecting the hound''s corpse. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡­¡± Clover muttered as he walked back to the group. ¡°But shouldn''t we have been sent back to Denari¡¯s Realm by now? Or was this hound not the demon the contract spoke of?¡±


    ¡°I guess not. If it was we would have been teleported away by now. Besides, this puppy seemed a bit too weak¡­¡± Daphne mumbled.


    ¡°I could have taken it down by myself!¡± Francis declared while punching his fists together. ¡°If we weren''t trying to save that fool over there we could have easily crushed it!¡± He said while pointing at Karim who was sniffing his jacket.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t need your help, ¡®milord¡¯. In case you already forgot. I was the one would killed it with a single strike!¡± Karim huffed while shaking his hand at Francis as if he was dismissing him. ¡°You might have been able to beat it. But you probably would have succumbed to your wounds afterward!¡±


    ¡°Listen here you little shit¡­¡± Before Francis could finish his sentence a loud rumbling noise began to echo throughout the clearing and large stomps hitting stone could be heard from the cave that was situated within the cliff face.


    ¡°Umm...What is that?¡± Daphne whispered as she stared at the cave entrance.


    A second later, her question was answered as two large heads and an enormous body protruded from the dark opening. This was no doubt another hound. Except this one was at least twice as large as the previous one!


    As it stepped out from the darkness of the cave one could see that this beast was going to be much more of a problem than the previous one. And to make matters worse, three puppies around half the size of the first hound also exited the cave.


    Their eyes trembled with anger and hate as they stared at the disemboweled corpse of their father. Their jaws opened up wide which revealed their sword-like teeth.


    ¡°Alright, Francis. Since you are so confident, you should take on the big one!¡± Karim chuckled as he pulled out his halberd from his Devyse.


    ¡°Of course. Maybe now you will shut up and give me the respect I deserve¡­.¡± Francis sneered as he walked towards the two-headed hound.


    The hounds took this as a sign to attack and launched themselves towards the party!