《Shadow Ascendant (Progression Fantasy)》


 Chapter 1 Social Disparity

    The front entry to the prestigious Celera Magic Institute was filled with eager applicants, waiting in line to enter the grounds. Celera Institute ranked just below the unmatched Arens Institute which was closed to all but the most gifted or well-connected in the realm. For anyone who aspired to be successful, obtaining entry was the gateway to not just a good life but a great life.


    Arnos got to the front of the line, presented his paperwork, and was ushered past. He was given scornful glances, and even heard the muttering of "commoner" said just loud enough to be heard. And he was one. A commoner amongst the noble, the rich. Out of place. However, he had fulfilled his ambition.. Through his sweat, blood, tireless nights of study, Arnos had made it.


    He let out a quiet sigh of satisfaction, taking his first steps on the sprawling campus. Everything around him seemed designed to show off the academy''s wealth and status. Celera Magic Institute stretched across over one thousand acres of well-kept grounds, featuring vast training fields, clear fountains, and herb gardens filled with rare magical plants, each carefully maintained. Ahead stood the main building, a symbol of the kingdom''s history and power. Made of dark volcanic stone, it had a wide terrace and two tall spiral pillars which pointed skyward, as if intending to invade the heavens. It was rumored, and substantiated by ancient historical texts, that these ancient, enchanted pillars were said to repel intruders with powerful protective magic.


    The school grounds were enclosed by a towering four-meter-high wall constructed from black-grey stone. This formidable structure had only one opening in the east, marked by a tall, imposing iron gate painted pitch black.


    Moving inside the gate, Arnos came across the massive building of Celera Magic Institute. The main building had two points of entrance or exit, used by students and staff to commute between the building and the ground. These were situated in the east and west, though neither point was fitted with a gate.


    As one of the kingdom''s most respected magic schools, Celera enjoyed the favor of the royal family and noble houses. These wealthy patrons heavily funded the academy, ensuring their children had access to the best education, resources, and security. They spared no expense to create an environment that gave their heirs every possible advantage.


    Looking around, Arnos saw groups of students heading toward the main building, chatting and laughing with ease. It was clear that many of these nobles had known each other long before arriving, attending banquets and private events together. Even on the first day, they naturally grouped with others of similar status.


    Scanning the crowd, Arnos saw that most of his peers came from powerful families, their outfit tailored perfectly and decorated with subtle signs of their wealth. For commoners like him, getting accepted into Celera was a rare feat - only one or two non-nobles were admitted each year. They not only had to compete with other commoners, but also with nobles trying to claim the same spots. Those few who managed to enter were often treated with disdain or at best ignored.


    But Arnos wasn''t bothered. He already knew about the academy''s social hierarchy. The elite rarely associated with those they deemed beneath them, and he planned to focus on his studies and avoid drawing attention. If they ignored him, that was fine by him.


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    Entering the main building Arnos stepped into a grand hall. The polished white marble floors and ornate chandeliers gave the space a warm glow. He looked up to see intricate carvings on the walls, each telling a story from the academy''s past. He paused for a moment, appreciating the beauty around him.


    His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp voice filled with arrogance. "Oh, really? Another commoner amazed by the decor? Step aside if all you''re going to do is gawk."


    Arnos turned to see a young woman approaching. Her finely embroidered outfit spoke of wealth and sophistication. Her long, perfectly styled blonde hair flowed over her shoulders, and just behind her stood a butler, his every movement showing the precision of someone trained to serve nobility.


    Realizing he was in her way, Arnos moved aside, wondering, Are butlers even allowed here? But his curiosity was cut short when another voice called out, "Princess Emily!"


    A young man with jet-black hair and sharp eyes approached, his confident stride drawing attention. His charming smile was aimed at the blonde-haired girl Princess Emily.


    "We''ve been waiting for you, Princess Emily," he said warmly. "I trust your journey was pleasant?"


    Emily''s eyes flicked to Arnos with clear disdain. "It was," she replied with a dismissive smile, "though I did have to deal with a small insect." Her gaze lingered on Arnos, making it clear she was referring to him.


    Arnos met her gaze without flinching, keeping his face neutral while thinking, if she''s going to rule the kingdom someday, commoners sure are in trouble. But that''s not my concern. Better to stay away from her.


    He started to slip away quietly, hoping to avoid further attention, but a voice stopped him.


    "And where do you think you''re going?"


    Turning, he found Emily''s cyan eyes locked on him, her expression mocking.


    "I was just excusing myself, Your Highness," Arnos said evenly, keeping his tone polite. "I wouldn''t dream of imposing on someone of your status."


    He thought to himself, nobles love their egos, a little flattery might keep her satisfied.


    A smirk appeared on her face. "At least you know your place," she said. "Maybe you should drop out now and apply for a more suitable job like tending my dogs.That seems fitting for someone like you."


    Arnos felt a twinge of irritation but kept his face calm. Is she serious? he wondered. Then, with a polite bow, he replied, "I''m not skilled in animal husbandry, Your Highness. I''d hate to cause trouble for your pets. Perhaps fighting goblins as a lowly adventurer would suit me better."


    A small crowd had gathered by now, whispering and chuckling at the exchange.


    One girl muttered, "He does look like someone suitable to take care of animals."


    Another chimed in, "Perhaps he should be my butler instead. He seems to know how to behave, wouldn''t you agree? Maybe, if he grovels, I might even consider letting him." They laughed mockingly.


    A boy in the crowd commented, "Though his appearance doesn''t quite suit a butler, perhaps a maid instead."


    The comments only seemed to amuse Emily more. She laughed softly, fanning herself. "A lowly adventurer? How fitting! Even goblins might not like your company.


    Arnos forced a polite smile, though his patience was wearing thin. Oh, I''d prefer their company over hers any day, he thought.


    Out loud, he said calmly, "That may be true, your Highness. Still, I plan to make the most of my time here, even if I''m at the bottom of the class. Being last at Celera is better than leading anywhere else."


    Emily looked down at Arnos for one last time and with that, she turned away, clearly bored with the conversation. The crowd began to disperse, some laughing, others giving Arnos pitying glances.


    As the hall emptied, Arnos exhaled, his expression steady. He thought to himself, if she ever becomes queen, this kingdom is doomed.

 Chapter 2 The Inauguration Ceremony

    Arnos stumbled slightly, his curiosity piqued. he thoughts to himself, wait, If she really is the princess, like everyone says, why isn''t she attending Arens Institute instead of Celera? Before he could dwell too much on the question, a girl with shoulder-length blue hair and matching blue eyes approached him. She was about his height, though that put her slightly on the shorter side, considering Arnos''s lack of height.


    Arnos instinctively glanced at her attire, quickly noting the absence of any noble insignia. A commoner, like me, he thought.


    "You alright there? That was some commotion back there," the girl said, her gaze settling on Arnos. She took in his appearance, his short stature, slender build, and wavy hair that gave him a distinct look, complemented by his deep black eyes and matching hair.


    Arnos flashed her a grin. "You bet it was. Turns out, avoiding problems is way harder than it looks."


    The girl smirked slightly, a flicker of amusement crossing her face. "Yeah, but from where I was standing, that whole entrance was pretty entertaining."


    Arnos chuckled, shaking his head. "Honestly? If I''d been watching instead of starring in it, I''d probably have laughed too." After a moment, he tilted his head, his curiosity getting the better of him. "So, uh¡­ if you don''t mind me asking, are you well, you know a commoner too?"


    "Yep," she replied with a playful whisper, shielding her mouth with her hand as if it were some big secret. "It''s kind of awkward being here, don''t you think? Some of these students are really¡­ weird."


    Arnos nodded in agreement. "You can say that again." His thoughts wandered back to his earlier encounter with the so-called princess.


    The girl offered a warm smile. "I''m Mabel Webbles, by the way."


    "You can call me Arnos," he replied with a slight shrug. "No family name or anything, just Arnos."


    Her playful demeanor softened as she gave him a thoughtful look. "Are you¡­?"


    Arnos gave a small nod, acknowledging the universal truth of those without a surname. "Yeah, I''m an orphan. Lost my parents in a fire. I don''t really remember much about them I was still a baby. Never even had a name until the orphanage head decided to give me one."


    Mabel''s smile faded, replaced by quiet sympathy and a dour look. "That must''ve been hard."


    Arnos shrugged, his expression distant. "It was, but honestly, I think it was tougher on the kids who had memories of their families. I never had any memories to miss?"


    Before the conversation could go any deeper, Arnos noticed the flow of students heading toward the auditorium. His eyes widened in sudden realization. "Wait a second¡­ has the inauguration ceremony already started?"


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    Mabel''s face paled, and she practically jumped in place. "What? We''re going to miss it!" Mabel said as she grabbed his arm, and started dragging him down the hallway. "Come on, we''re late!"


    Before Arnos could even protest, Mabel pulled him along like a sack of potatoes. They reached the auditorium doors in record time, only to find the headmaster''s speech already in progress.


    Arnos glanced at Mabel with a calm expression. "Miss Webbles, I believe in being a gentleman, you could go in first if you want."


    Mabel rolled her eyes, giving him a deadpan look. "This isn''t the era for gentlemen anymore. Girls are just as capable as guys so you''re coming in with me."


    Before Arnos could argue, a hand landed firmly on both their shoulders. The unexpected force made them stumble forward, and with a loud bang, they burst through the doors, drawing the attention of everyone inside. The room fell silent, save for a few stifled laughs and whispered comments.


    At the podium, the headmaster stood erect. A stern man with sharp eyes, gray hair, and a white coat draped over a black outfit. He paused his speech. His piercing gaze settled on the two of them, and it was clear a scolding was coming.


    Before he could say a word, a calm voice cut through the tension. "Apologies, Headmaster. I borrowed these two to assist with some last-minute preparations," said a female instructor, stepping forward with an air of quiet authority.


    "They were hesitant to enter and got startled when I patted them on the shoulder. Please allow me to take responsibility for the delay."


    The headmaster gave her a long, scrutinizing look before nodding. "Very well, Miss Margrave. As for you two, find your seats quickly and quietly."


    Not needing to be told twice, Arnos and Mabel scrambled toward the back of the room, ignoring the snickers and whispers that followed their less-than-graceful entrance.


    Once seated, Mabel shot Arnos a glare. "If you''d just gone in earlier, we wouldn''t have been in this mess,." she whispered.


    Arnos grinned back. "I could say the same to you. But hey, Miss Margrave did save us in the end."


    Mabel huffed. "Yeah, but she kind of got us into this situation in the first place."


    "Fair trade," Arnos said with a shrug look.


    They turned their attention back to the stage as the headmaster wrapped up his speech. "Here at Celera, we value potential above all else," he declared. "Your lineage, your background none of it matters. Whether you are royalty¡­" He glanced briefly toward Princess Emily, seated among the nobles. "or a commoner, what counts is your ability and your determination to grow."


    With a final nod, he concluded, "Make the most of your time here. You are dismissed."


    As the students began to rise from their seats, a male teacher with short blonde hair, square glass, and a tailored coat took the stage. "Students, please proceed to Training Field 3," he announced. "We''ll begin with the mana output assessment."


    As they filed out, Arnos turned to Mabel. "Have you ever had your mana levels tested?"


    Mabel tilted her head thoughtfully. "Once, but it was a few years ago. Mana grows with practice, so it''s probably different now."


    Arnos nodded. "Yeah, I read that exhausting your mana repeatedly pushes your body to adapt and expand its capacity. It makes sense, but the whole process still feels kind of complicated."


    Mabel smirked, giving him a teasing look. "It''s not that complicated. Train hard, drain your mana, recover, and boom your capacity grows."


    Arnos gave her a deadpan look. "Yeah, yeah¡­ I knew that already. Let''s just get to the training field before the teachers start labeling us as troublemakers."


    Mabel looked away, guilt flickering on her face. "Honestly, I think they''ve already done that."

 Chapter 3 Mana Level Test

    Arnos sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, let''s just hope for the best." He said as he started walking toward the group of students heading to the training ground, with Mabel walking beside him.


    After a moment of silence, Arnos glanced over her. "By the way, why are we even checking our mana capacity? Does it actually matter?"


    Mabel gave him a tired look. "What kind of school do you think this is?"


    "A school for mages?" Arnos replied, raising an eyebrow, knowing the answer but wanting to see if she knew.


    "Exactly."


    "I get that mana levels are important," Arnos continued, "but are they seriously going to split us into ranks or give special treatment based on the results? Like, Class A, Class B, and so on?"


    Mabel blinked, looking like she hadn''t thought about it that way. Before she could answer, a tall boy with brown hair and green eyes casually joined their conversation. He also had a green gemstone as an insignia in his uniform.


    "They do it to separate talents," the boy said with a friendly tone. "Prodigies, the average ones, and... well, the less gifted. Each group gets treated differently. The top students in Class A and B get better teachers, equipment, and dorms."


    Mabel tilted her head, curious. "Makes sense, I guess. But who might you be, sir?"


    Arnos eyed the boy''s insignia, quickly pegging him as a noble. Definitely a noble, But why is he acting so polite? Aren''t nobles supposed to be all stuck-up, like the princess? At least, that had been Arnos''s recollections from his scattered experiences with them.


    The boy smiled warmly. "I''m Marcus Leville, from House Leville. But just Marcus is fine."


    Arnos nodded. "Marcus, huh? Well, I''m Arnos. No family name, so it''s just Arnos for you."


    Mabel leaned closer to Arnos and whispered, "He''s from a Duke''s family."


    Arnos blinked, his stomach sinking. "Wait... what?" His voice was louder than he intended. "Oh no! I''m so sorry... I didn''t mean to address you so casually by your name." He quickly bowed his head in apology. "Please forgive me, sir Leville."


    Marcus chuckled. "Relax most Nobles don''t go around executing people for stuff like that."


    Arnos reflected on the weight of the word ''most'' in that sentence and mentally vowed never to address a noble by their first name.


    Mabel raised an eyebrow. "So, Sir Leville, what are you doing hanging out with commoners like us? Don''t you have fancy noble friends to talk to?"


    Marcus smirked. "Your entrance earlier caught my attention. It was... hard to miss."


    Arnos and Mabel exchanged awkward looks, clearly embarrassed.


    "Yeah, great entrance..." Arnos muttered under his breath.


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    Marcus''s tone shifted, becoming more serious. "Not everyone here is a bully or stuck-up. Give it some time, and people will start to figure out who you really are. But," he said with a casual shrug, "from what I''ve seen, maybe 20%... no, actually closer to 40% will hate you no matter what you do."


    Arnos let out a small chuckle, thinking to himself, that Marcus''s uncertainty somehow makes this whole ordeal even more unsettling. "I guess that''s not too bad," he said aloud.


    Mabel sighed. "I was already preparing to be a loner." She spoke in a low, depressed tone, her mind seemingly elsewhere. After a brief pause, she added quietly, "being a loner sounds so depressing..."


    Arnos glanced at Mabel, and his thoughts unexpectedly shifted to Marcus. How does he know so much about Celera? he wondered, curiosity flickering in his mind.


    "Can I ask something" Arnos asked looking at Marcus to which Marcus simply nodded.


    "How do you know about all this stuff?" Arnos asked, looking at Marcus.


    "I have a family member who studied here at Celera," Marcus said with a casual look on his lips.


    Their conversation trailed off as they arrived at the entrance to Celera Magic Institute''s training ground. The place was massive, a large circular field surrounded by rows of seats that rose up like an arena. It felt like the kind of place meant for epic magical battles.


    Arnos glanced around, then turned to Marcus. "Wait¡­ this is the training arena?" He exclaimed.


    Marcus nodded "it sure is" he said.


    "It''s not exactly how I expected it to be," Arnos said, his expression tinged with confusion as he studied the arena. His gaze shifted to the curved ceiling over the arena, and he wondered to himself, Wouldn''t that cause problems for high-level magic spells?


    Marcus laughed. "It is the indoor training arena, I get why you''re confused, though." He gestured at the arena. "This is the training grounds school uses for student''s battles, group contests, mage duels, and stuff like that. There are also three outdoor training areas for bigger spells. Make sense?"


    Arnos nodded. "Actually, yeah, it does." He said as he looked over at Mabel and noticed students were being split by gender for testing. "Looks like they''re testing boys and girls separately. I''ll catch up with you later?"


    Mabel waved. "Sure. Bye"


    As Marcus and Arnos moved closer to the testing area, they saw a few students left in line. One of the instructors was explaining how the crystal worked. "You don''t need to channel mana into it. The crystal automatically draws it out and changes color based on your strength."


    A board next to the crystal displayed the rankings:


    - White - E rank


    - Blue - D rank


    - Green - C rank


    - Yellow - B rank


    - Orange - A rank


    - Red - S rank


    - Black - SS rank


    Marcus turned to Arnos with a confident smile. "Looks like it''s our turn now. I''ll go first."


    "Be my guest," Arnos replied, stepping aside.


    Marcus approached the crystal and placed his hand on it. Almost instantly, it glowed a vibrant orange. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd as students stopped to watch.


    "I knew Sir Leville would get something high!" a girl exclaimed.


    "A rank! That''s no surprise for someone like him," another added, sounding impressed.


    Arnos couldn''t help but admire the result. A rank mana level... That''s insane. Even among adventurers, that''s rare. But considering his noble background, it makes sense, Arnos thought to himself.


    Marcus looked satisfied from the result, Stepping away from the crystal, he turned his gaze to Arnos with a small smile. "Your turn now," he said.


    Arnos nodded and prepared to take a step forward to the crystal. There were still a few students lingering nearby, so he paused, waiting to see if anyone else would go ahead. However, no one stepped forward.


    "Hey, you! You''re next!" the instructors standing next to the crystal called out to Arnos. He was a tall man in plain black clothes; his sharp black eyes gave him a rather commanding presence.


    Arnos took note of the instructor''s plain attire and quickly concluded that there wasn''t a strict uniform code for them unless, of course, they suddenly decided to implement one tomorrow.


    "Yes, sir!" Arnos said, stepping forward.


    Taking a deep breath, he placed his hand on the crystal. It felt oddly sticky against his palm, and he closed his eyes, letting his mana flow naturally. He felt the crystal pulling it in, an unfamiliar sensation that made his heart race.

 Chapter 4 Anomaly In The Magic School

    "That''s¡­ unusual," the instructor murmured, narrowing his eyes.


    "Isn''t he that commoner kid?" A boy with semi-long black hair and brown eyes whispered, staring at him with a skeptical expression.


    Another girl, dressed in an elaborate purple gown with long black hair, added, "The one who bumped into the princess earlier? Maybe he''s cheating."


    As Arnos opened his eyes, he noticed the crystal glowing bright orange A rank. He stepped back, almost in disbelief.


    "Wait¡­ that''s not possible?" he murmured. "Is the crystal broken?"


    "The crystal can''t be broken, it''s not possible. The headmaster inspected it just today." The instructor, looking at him with a serious expression, asked, "What''s your name, boy?"


    "Arnos, sir," he replied, keeping his voice steady.


    The instructor nodded, jotting something down before speaking quietly to a female teacher recording the results. Meanwhile, Marcus approached Arnos, placing a hand on his shoulder with a wide grin.


    "That was incredible," Marcus said as he reached Arnos.


    Seems like he is going to be an anomaly in the institute. Things are getting interesting, Marcus thought in his mind as a small smile crept on his face.


    Arnos gave a slight, uncertain smile. "Thanks, but honestly, I wasn''t expecting it. I thought I''d be more like a C or D rank at most."


    Marcus nudged him playfully. "Hey, what you expected doesn''t change the fact you''ve got A rank in mana level. Just be proud of it!"


    A spark of curiosity lit up Marcus''s eyes. "By the way, did you train in magic as a kid?"


    Arnos shook his head. "No, I didn''t. I focused on my special ability, but I never practiced magic."


    Marcus''s eyes widened in surprise, and he let out an exaggerated sigh. "Wait a second¡­ you have a special ability?"


    Hearing this, several nearby students began murmuring among themselves.


    "He''s definitely lying," said the boy with black hair. "Or maybe he''s some noble''s secret love child."


    "Yeah, right," another voice replied jokingly.


    Realizing he''d raised his voice, Marcus shot a stern look toward the murmuring students, silencing them. He then looked back turning to Arnos.


    Arnos gave a sheepish chuckle. "Maybe we should find somewhere quieter and wait for Mabel to finish. You''re welcome to join me."


    Marcus nodded, and the two walked to a secluded seating area in the training grounds. After finding an empty row, they settled down.


    Arnos took a deep breath, still processing everything. "You know, I thought my ability was normal. I got it when I was ten, and I read that special abilities usually appear between ages ten and eighteen, so I didn''t think much of it."


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    Marcus shook his head, giving Arnos a serious look. "Special abilities are actually incredibly rare."


    Arnos nodded slowly. "Yeah, I know."


    "Do you?" Marcus smirked, crossing his arms. "Then you must know just how rare."


    Arnos glanced away, looking sheepish. "I read the odds were, what, 3%?"


    Marcus nodded. "Exactly. An A-rank mana level is rare, and having a special ability is rare. Having both? That''s almost unheard of." He sighed, a bit exasperated. "I''m terrible at explaining, aren''t I?"


    Arnos chuckled. "If we''re going by textbook standards, yeah, you are."


    Marcus sighed again but then laughed. "You''re not even trying to hide it, huh?"


    They shared a laugh, but their conversation was interrupted as the girl in the purple dress approached.


    "Well, if it isn''t Marcus," she said with a smile. "I saw your test from afar, and I was genuinely impressed. I''m here to congratulate you." Her expression grew serious as her eyes fell on Arnos.


    "Thanks Seraphina," Marcus said, scratching the back of his head reflexively.


    Arnos realized she was the same girl who had mocked him earlier in the crowd with Emily.


    "And you''re Arnos, the commoner boy who surprised everyone, aren''t you?" she asked, her smile not faltering.


    "Yes, I suppose I am it was just luck Miss," Arnos replied, avoiding her gaze, feeling slightly uncomfortable in her presence.


    "Aren''t you remarkable," she said with a light chuckle. "You''d make an excellent servant."


    Arnos thought, Here comes the mocking part. He sighed inwardly before replying with a forced smile, "I''d rather avoid that, Miss. I aim to live as a true mage or more specifically, an adventurer."


    Seraphina''s eyes widened, her expression a mix of disbelief. She thought to herself, How could he say that to me? He should feel flattered by my proposal.


    "What are you saying? Won''t you be wasting your talent that way, Arnos?"


    Marcus, maintaining a casual tone, interjected, "Oh no, I don''t think he''ll be wasting anything. An A ranker like him serving an incompetent master would be a real shame, wouldn''t it?" He smiled, directing the comment at Seraphina.


    Seraphina glared at him, her anger visible. "And who exactly are you calling an incompetent master, Marcus?"


    Marcus shrugged with a smirk. "I didn''t name anyone, Seraphina. I just think the adventurer''s path suits Arnos better."


    Before Seraphina could respond, a familiar voice called out to them.


    "What were you guys thinking, coming all the way out here?" Mabel said, panting. "You know I can''t run for long."


    Catching her breath, she looked at Arnos and smiled. "B rank phew, pretty good, isn''t it? What''s yours?"


    Arnos, with a smug look, replied, "I think you could say I outrank you."


    Mabel raised her eyebrows in shock. "Hey, don''t tell me you got A rank!"


    Arnos nodded. "I did. Ask Marcus if you need confirmation," he said, pointing to him.


    Marcus nodded. "He''s telling the truth. I got an A rank too, surprisingly enough. But B rank is still pretty good, Mabel."


    Mabel was stunned by the news. Marcus earning a rank made sense given his lineage, but Arnos? That was completely unexpected.


    "You did, huh?" she murmured, though a smile quickly spread across her face. "That''s nice. Good for you, Arnos. I''ll catch up soon enough with my training routine."


    Arnos was now entirely distracted from Seraphina because of Mabel chuckled at her comment.


    "Eat, train, sleep, repeat, and boom mana increase. That routine?" he replied with a grin.


    Mabel gave him a neutral look. "That''s the plan, alright" she replied simply.


    Her attention shifted as she noticed an unfamiliar face among their group.


    She''s definitely a noble, Mabel thought, her gaze landing on the insignia the girl wore.


    "And who might you be, miss?" Mabel asked politely, carefully maintaining her composure.


    Seraphina smiled warmly. "Oh, I haven''t properly introduced myself, have I? I''m Seraphina Victoria, of the Victoria household. It''s a pleasure to meet you both."


    Mabel bowed politely. "The pleasure is mine, Miss Seraphina." However, her mind was busy noting details. A noble? She seems to be hiding something.


    Seraphina gave them a parting smile. "I think it''s time for me to take my leave. I wouldn''t want to intrude any longer. Arnos, I hope we meet again soon."


    Arnos gave a forced smile and nodded. "Yes, I hope so too." He mentally noted that she was just as intimidating as Emily.

 Chapter 5 Cousins

    Seraphina walked away from the seating area, her expression blank and neutral as she made her way toward the main building.


    A cheerful voice interrupted her thoughts. A slim-built female student with black hair that fell just below her neck and black eyes, radiating a comforting demeanor, approached her with a warm and polite smile.


    "Ah, Miss Seraphina, it''s such a pleasure to see you," the girl said warmly.


    Seraphina turned her head toward the speaker, her gaze assessing the young woman. She seemed familiar, though Seraphina couldn''t recall her name immediately.


    The girl noticed Seraphina''s hesitation and quickly added, "Ah, I''m Noelle. Don''t you remember? We met at the last royal banquet hosted by His Majesty, King Alexander Leville."


    Recognition flickered in Seraphina''s eyes. Ah, that''s right. She''s the daughter of that royal knight, the one who slayed the Red Dragon. The memory brought a flicker of irritation. Father made me sit with her back then for the sake of appearances. Surely she doesn''t think we''re friends now.


    Masking her thoughts with a polite smile, Seraphina replied, "Oh, of course! I didn''t forget you, Noelle. I''m just terrible with names, my apologies."


    Noelle''s smile widened as she clasped Seraphina''s hands in her own. "Oh, no need to apologize, Miss Seraphina. It''s an honor just to see you again. By the way, congratulations on achieving a B-rank mana level. That''s an incredible accomplishment!"


    Seraphina maintained her polite demeanor. "Thank you, Noelle. That''s very kind of you to say." She gently withdrew her hands from Noelle''s grasp. "I''d love to chat more, but I have some urgent matters to attend to."


    Noelle nodded gracefully, her smile unwavering. "Of course, I wouldn''t want to keep you. I hope we meet again soon. Goodbye, Miss Seraphina." With that, Noelle turned and walked away, leaving Seraphina to continue her path.


    As Seraphina entered an empty classroom, her carefully maintained smile dissolved into a scowl. She clenched her fists tightly, brimming with frustration.


    How dare that nobody reject my proposal as if it were nothing? she fumed silently. It was practically the best thing that could happen in their insignificant little life.


    Her thoughts drifted to a conversation from earlier. Marcus dared to call me an incompetent master, didn''t he? Her hands tightened further. If only he weren''t the son of a duke, I''d show him what incompetence really means.


    Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Seraphina pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and began wiping her hands, as if cleansing herself of the encounter with Noelle.


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    Meanwhile, Mabel took a seat beside Arnos and Marcus in the seating area. She turned to Arnos with a curious expression.


    "Wasn''t that one of the girl from this morning?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.


    Arnos nodded in confirmation. "Yeah, she was. This morning, she said something ridiculous about making me her servant if I '' groveled nicely'' in front of her."


    He let out a tired sigh. "Honestly, I''m not a fan of most people here."


    Marcus, seated on the other side, looked intrigued. "What happened this morning?" he asked. "I wasn''t in the main hall at that time, so I probably missed it."


    Arnos sighed again before responding. "It wasn''t a big deal, really, but I''ll give you the gist of it."


    Marcus leaned in attentively.


    "Well," Arnos began, "I''d just arrived at the school and was admiring the architecture. It''s all so new to me, you know? Anyway, I was standing near the doorway not blocking it entirely, but probably in the way a bit. Princess Emily came by and asked me to move, which I did. But then, she decided to call me an ''insect.'' I tried to move away to avoid more attention, but Emily stopped me. She said I didn''t belong here and went on about how I wasn''t worthy. Seraphina was part of the crowd that joined in, badmouthing me. Well that was it."


    As Arnos finished recounting the day''s events, he let out a weary sigh, finding the mere act of remembering them exhausting.


    Marcus''s expression darkened. "Emily said all that?" he asked, his voice louder than usual.


    Arnos nodded. "She was the instigator, and the worst one out of everyone for sure."


    Without hesitation, Marcus stood up and gave a small bow toward Arnos. "I sincerely apologize for my cousin''s behavior," he said earnestly.


    Startled, Arnos quickly stood as well. "Hey, Marcus, cut it out," he said, waving his hands. "You don''t need to apologize. It''s not your fault, and I don''t want you to feel responsible."


    Reluctantly, Marcus straightened up and returned to his seat. "She''s my cousin, though," he said. "It must''ve been tough for you to deal with her."


    Arnos gave a small, humorless laugh. "It must be tough for you, having her as a relative."


    Marcus shook his head. "Not really, She wasn''t always like this. She used to be kind to everyone, even commoners. She''s changed a lot recently. I hope you won''t hold her words against her forever."


    Mabel, who had been listening quietly, smiled slightly. Marcus really is a good cousin, she thought.


    She glanced at Arnos, expecting him to say he''d forgive Emily.


    Instead, he crossed his arms and said firmly, "Honestly, I don''t think it''s that big of a deal. And you don''t need to apologize on her behalf. As for forgiving her if she apologizes, i would forgive her for sure. But if she doesn''t, or if she doesn''t care, I''ll just avoid her. No point forcing something that isn''t there."


    Before he could continue, Mabel gave him a playful knock on the head. "Don''t you think you should just say you forgive her, you dummy?" she scolds him.


    Arnos gave her a skeptical look. "That''d be a lie, wouldn''t it? I''m not about to forgive someone who doesn''t even want it. Don''t think of me as some kind of saint, okay?


    Mabel shook her head with a small sigh and stood up. "Anyway, let''s drop the subject. It looks like everyone''s heading out now. Maybe some announcement will start soon." She gestured toward the crowd moving toward the exit of the arena.


    Arnos and Marcus exchanged glances before following her into the flow of students. The three of them walked together, their conversation shifting to lighter topics as they headed toward the building.

 Chapter 6 Ranked By Mana

    Eventually, Marcus, Arnos, and Mabel caught up with the crowd, which was heading back into the main building toward the auditorium they had come from earlier.


    "What do you think they¡¯re going to announce or do next?" Mabel asked curiously.


    "They¡¯ll probably divide us into different classes I think," Arnos replied.


    Marcus nodded. "That sounds like the most logical explanation."


    The crowd of students finally arrived at the auditorium where the inauguration ceremony had been held earlier. They began moving inside and taking their seats.


    A few instructors were already on the stage, including Miss Margrave from earlier. However, the headmaster was not among them.


    Marcus spoke up. "Should we sit there?" he asked, pointing to the middle rows of chairs.


    "I think I¡¯ll prefer being a backbencher this time," Arnos sighed.


    Mabel looked at him curiously. "Why¡¯s that?" she asked.


    Arnos, imitating a girl¡¯s voice, said, "Oh, look at that blue-haired girl. Isn¡¯t she the one who got a B rank? Look, she¡¯s sitting with the Duke¡¯s son. So full of herself! Shameless, isn¡¯t she?"


    Switching back to his normal voice, he added, "These are the kinds of comments you''ll probably get. You know what, I might get something similar myself, and you know what, back seats are much more peaceful."


    Mabel looked disappointed. "You know what? I love sitting in the back!"


    "Back seats are great, no one even notices if you¡¯re there or not," she added with a rather depressed enthusiasm.


    Arnos frowned slightly, confused. From what I remember, they weren¡¯t that bad, he thought.


    Noticing Mabel¡¯s expression, Marcus grew a little concerned. "Do you think she¡¯s going to be okay?" he asked Arnos in a low voice.


    "I think she¡¯ll be fine. Well then, see you later, Marcus," Arnos said as he and Mabel began walking toward the back.


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    Marcus moved forward and stopped them. "Hey, what¡¯s with the goodbye? I¡¯ll sit with you both too," he said loudly.


    Arnos and Mabel exchanged glances for five seconds before looking back at Marcus.


    Mabel gave him a concerned look. "Don¡¯t you think it might cause problems?" she asked.


    "It will, for sure," Arnos added, nodding.


    "What problems?" Marcus asked, looking slightly annoyed.


    "Imagine this," Arnos said in a low voice.


    He began imitating an instructor. "Why is the Duke¡¯s son sitting so far from the front? This must be reported to the headmaster immediately!"


    Mabel joined in with an old man¡¯s voice. "Huh? What did you say? The Duke¡¯s son acting like a rebel in our school? That won¡¯t work! Inform the Duke right away!"


    Arnos, imitating an adult man¡¯s voice, said, "I didn¡¯t expect this from you, son. You¡¯ve really ruined our family¡¯s reputation at the school."


    Switching to his normal tone, Arnos looked at Marcus with curiousity. "Do you have any siblings?"


    Marcus nodded. "I have an older brother."


    Arnos cleared his throat. "Now that I know you don¡¯t care about the family¡¯s image, I¡¯ve decided your brother will inherit everything."


    Mabel, using a high-pitched voice, added, "Daddddd, nooo! You can¡¯t do this!"


    Arnos, raising his hand dramatically as if giving an order, said, "It¡¯s too late. Guards, take him away!"


    "That¡¯s what¡¯s going to happen." Both Arnos and Mabel added in a unison.


    Marcus looked at them, with a dumbfounded look. "Has all the teasing finally messed with their heads? They¡¯ve completely lost their common sense!¡± He added.


    Mabel, looking annoyed, said, Hey! What do you mean by ¡®lost our common sense,¡¯ huh?"


    Arnos, in a calm tone, said, "Let¡¯s just go. It¡¯s for the best."


    Mabel glared at him. "What do you mean by that? This kid needs some sense knocked into him!"


    Before she could continue, Arnos gently turned her head toward Miss Margrave, who was watching them with a serious expression.


    Mabel quickly quieted down and began walking. Arnos and Marcus followed her to the back seats, where they sat down.


    Marcus sighed. "You weren¡¯t serious just now, were you? If you didn¡¯t want me to sit with you, you could¡¯ve just said so."


    Arnos looked at him with a neutral expression. "I was serious, though." I am quite sure it''s an possibility.


    Mabel nodded. "Same here."


    Hearing this, Marcus couldn¡¯t hold back his laughter. He turned his head away, trying to suppress it.


    Mabel, annoyed, said, "Hey! What¡¯s so funny, huh?"


    Before she could say more, Miss Margrave¡¯s voice came from the stage. "Students, please be quiet," she said in a stern, irritated tone.


    The three of them didn¡¯t say another word. They quietly kept sitting on their respective seats with their focus on the stage.


    Taking the stage, Miss Margrave began to speak.


    "We, the instructors of Celera, are pleased to announce that we have an exceptional group of promising students this year."


    As her words echoed through the hall, her gaze briefly rested on Emily, Marcus, and Arnos.


    "This year''s mana test has also yielded some unexpected results," she continued, her eyes shifting toward Mabel, Arnos at the back, and Emily in the front.


    "Now that we¡¯ve assessed your mana levels, it¡¯s time to classify you accordingly."


    She gestured toward a large screen behind her, and as her hand moved, the screen came to life, displaying a glowing chart.

 Chapter 7 Ares Dorm

    "There will be four classes," she said, holding up four fingers.


    - Class A will be designated for S-Rankers and A-Rankers, under the supervision of Margrave Eldridge. "That''s me, by the way," she added with a slight smirk.


    - Class B will cater to B-Rankers, supervised by Miss Chloe Valmont.


    Miss Margrave gestured toward a shorter woman standing beside her. Miss Chloe, though smaller in stature, had a lean figure similar to Margrave¡¯s. She wore a bright yellow dress that fell just below her knees, perfectly complementing her long yellow hair and striking yellow eyes. Her hairstyle featured a neat left-side part with a delicate braid running down her left side.


    - Class C will accommodate C-Rankers and be overseen by Sir Matsumoto Akihiro.


    She motioned to a tall male instructor nearby. Sir Akihiro wore a crisp white shirt paired with brown trousers, exuding simplicity and professionalism. His well-built physique hinted at years of rigorous training. He had jet-black hair and matching eyes, with a noticeable scar running across his right eye, adding to his aura of experience.


    - Class D will include D-Rankers and E-Rankers, under the care of Miss Serena Blackwell.


    Finally, she pointed to a woman dressed in an elegant black gown, her demeanor starkly contrasting with the others. Miss Blackwell¡¯s blank expression revealed little interest, and her deep black eyes carried a heavy, drowsy quality. Her short black hair was styled in a striking wolf cut, further enhancing her appearance.


    "This will be a temporary arrangement, as mana level isn''t always equal to potential. There are several other factors, such as efficiency, knowledge, and even physical prowess. We will hold a battle tournament to decide who stays in which class by the middle of the first term, or in three months. Until then, you will report to your assigned classes."


    "I will be in Class B. Tsk, I wanted Class A," a male student in the front muttered.


    "Class C it is for me. Not bad, I would say," a girl added.


    "Class D, huh? I need to work hard now," another boy sighed.


    Miss Margrave cleared her throat, regaining the crowd¡¯s attention. "As for the dormitories, S-Rankers and A-Rankers will stay in the Ares dorm. B and C-Rankers are assigned to the Cryz dorm, while D and E-Rankers will stay in the Wiz dorm and you will be informed of the room allocated to you by the dorm''s attendant."


    Her voice shifted to a stern tone as she continued, "Remember, you are all forbidden to use magic inside the campus unless explicitly instructed to do so or with a reasonable explanation."


    Finally, Miss Margrave''s tone lightened. "Now that this is over, you are all dismissed. You can explore the campus buildings to familiarize yourselves with the training grounds and other facilities. If that doesn¡¯t interest you, feel free to head to your respective dorms to relax."


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    She descended from the stage, and the students began filing out of the hall.


    ¨C ¨C ¨C


    Just a row ahead of Arnos and his group, another group of boys were engaged in a discussion.


    "Hey, I actually want to check out the dorms," said a boy with light brown hair.


    "Hmm, maybe we could check out the Cryz dorm for today. Need to find some motivation for exams, don¡¯t we?" the blonde-haired boy next to him added.


    "I want to check the training arena," the third one chimed in.


    "Hey Mabel, what was Emily''s rank? Do you have any idea about it?" Marcus asked, turning to Mabel.


    "S rank. Pretty neat, isn''t it?" Mabel spoke in a shocked voice.


    "Really? Guess I expected that. She was always better than me in the stamina department," Marcus chuckled.


    "Did you guys train in magic from childhood?" Arnos asked curiously.


    "We did, actually. It''s kind of a normal practice in noble households, and I was actually trained with her."


    "You did, huh?" Arnos added. "Well, so she would be in Ares dorm too. Sighs."


    Mabel, speaking in a mock-sad voice, said, "So, I think I¡¯ll be all alone, huh?"


    Arnos smiled. "Yeah, but it¡¯s not like you can¡¯t climb up or more likely, there¡¯s a chance I might fall from the Ares dorm."


    Marcus gave Arnos a skeptical look. "Why do I feel like you want to fall a rank?"


    Arnos stuttered, "N-No, obviously not! That¡¯s not my plan."


    Mabel smirked and lightly punched his shoulder. "It sure seems that way."


    Arnos sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Fine, that might be true. I don¡¯t actually want to stay in the Ares dorm. If I¡¯m not wrong..." His expression turned slightly scared. "Look, princess is in the same dorm. That would be tough for me. And considering most of the nobles will be pissed at me..." He smiled faintly. "I think it would be better for me to stay in the background. Understand?"


    Marcus stood up from his seat, irritated. "You¡¯re saying you¡¯d like to stay in the background? How could anyone want that? You are.."


    Before Marcus could continue, Arnos interjected. "What¡¯s your dream, Marcus?"


    Marcus hesitated. "Wait, that¡¯s irrelevant here, and I am not too sure about what I want."


    Arnos continued in a neutral voice as he stood up. "Do you think dreams are important?"


    Marcus looked serious. "I think they¡¯re important for everyone. A person without a dream... I can¡¯t even imagine it."


    Arnos walked toward Marcus. "And what if your dream is, let¡¯s say, weird compared to what others want? Maybe what you want isn¡¯t conventional. Should you live by others¡¯ opinions?"


    Marcus responded, "I don¡¯t think so."


    Arnos smiled. "Well, living a normal life has always been kind of my dream. And hey, getting to live a normal life in a nice house after living in an orphanage is a huge jump, you know."


    Marcus raised his eyebrows, his expression shifting to surprise. ¡°Wait, you grew up in an orphanage?¡±


    Arnos nodded calmly. ¡°I did. I never knew my parents, so it wasn¡¯t as hard as it might have been otherwise. Sure, seeing happy families could be tough at times, but overall, it wasn¡¯t so bad.¡±


    Marcus met Arnos¡¯s gaze, his tone sincere. ¡°You know, Arnos, for someone who grew up in an orphanage with limited opportunities, you¡¯ve done incredibly well. I¡¯m sure your parents would have been proud of you.¡±


    Mabel chimed in with a warm smile. ¡°I second that. But hey, don¡¯t start slacking off just because we¡¯re praising you, alright?¡±


    Arnos returned their smiles, his eyes shimmering slightly. ¡°I suppose I won¡¯t, not yet, at least.¡±


    As he spoke these words, Arnos couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Would they have been proud? He didn¡¯t know who his parents were, but Marcus words struck a chord deep within him.

 Chapter 8 Sightseeing

    As Arnos, Mabel, and Marcus quietly walked down the hallway, Marcus noticed a familiar figure standing alone Emily was standing alone, accompanied by her butler.


    Marcus thought to himself, Did she not find any friends?


    ¡°Huh, Emily, what can I do for you?¡± he thought to himself with a tinge of frustration.


    Turning to Arnos and Mabel, Marcus spoke again, ¡°Do you two mind if I bring an extra person along for sightseeing?¡±


    Arnos said nothing but quickened his pace. Mabel, however, grabbed him by the collar and asked, ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going, mister?¡±


    The three stopped walking and moved to the side of the hallway, about fifty steps away from Emily.


    Looking awkward, Arnos said, ¡°I think I would mind. Hey, Marcus, you can hang out with her. That¡¯s fine by me, Just don¡¯t drag me into it if possible.¡±


    Marcus, confused, asked, ¡°Wait, you can read minds? Is that the special ability you were talking about?¡±


    Arnos shrugged. ¡°I can¡¯t read minds, no. I just knew that¡¯s what you wanted to do. You were all, ¡®She isn¡¯t bad¡¯ or ¡®Wasn¡¯t bad previously¡¯ to others. You obviously care about her. But I, man, I want to stay away atleast for now. Bye bye, see you soon he added.¡±


    With that, Arnos waved and started walking towards the opposite direction.


    Mabel watched him leave and then looked at Marcus with a disappointed expression. Sighing, she said, ¡°Guess I¡¯ll look after him. Sorry, Marcus, I really didn¡¯t want to leave you alone, you know, but...¡±


    Marcus smiled and waved his right hand dismissively. ¡°Ah, don¡¯t sweat it. It¡¯s not a big deal. Emily was kind of bad with him, it''s obvious. Well then, let¡¯s be on our way Bye.¡±


    Marcus moved toward Emily, while Mabel quickened her pace to catch up to Arnos.


    When Mabel reached Arnos, she slowed down. Arnos turned to her and asked curiously, ¡°You didn¡¯t go with Marcus?¡±


    Mabel gave him a scared look and said, ¡°You know, Princess Emily might have gone all out on me like she did to you in the morning. It was scary and all.¡±


    Arnos smiled knowingly. ¡°You¡¯re lying, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Mabel¡¯s expression shifted to mild shock. ¡°Wait a second, how do you know I was lying?¡±


    ¡°From experience, I think,¡± Arnos replied simply.


    "Wait a second, is reading minds really your secret ability, Arnos?"


    "It¡¯s not," Arnos replied in a slightly louder tone.


    The two left the Celera Institute¡¯s main building through the western exit.


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    "Where do you want to go for sightseeing?" Arnos asked, looking at Mabel.


    "Hmm, how about we go check out the Ares dorm? You know, to get some motivation," she replied, chuckling slightly.


    "You totally stole that idea from those students sitting in front of us, didn¡¯t you?"


    "I did not! I don¡¯t know why you¡¯d even think I¡¯d steal something," Mabel said with a sheepish look, turning her gaze aside.


    "Whatever, Let me get the directions then. But we¡¯re not going inside, okay?" Arnos said firmly.


    "Huh? Why not?" Mabel asked, looking disappointed.


    "Because we shouldn¡¯t intrude on our senior¡¯s day off, that¡¯s why. Understood?"


    "Whatever," Mabel muttered.


    It¡¯s not like I need his permission to decide whether or not we go in, she thought, laughing maniacally in her head.


    Arnos approached a male instructor, who was standing there likely to help students with directions, and asked where the Ares dorm was. After receiving the directions, Arnos and Mabel walked with a few small talks along a pathway lined with expansive gardens of magical herbs on either side. After about ten minutes, they arrived in front of the Ares dorm.


    The building was an immense two-story C-shaped structure with a curved exterior. It was made up of white marble, making it appear more costly than the Celera Institute¡¯s main building.


    Mabel stared at it in awe. ¡°That¡¯s freaking awesome. You guys are lucky.¡±


    Arnos nodded. ¡°It is awesome, I¡¯ll agree with that. But I bet it¡¯ll go against my whole idea of living a simple life.¡± He chuckled softly. ¡°Gotta rank down, you know.¡±


    Hearing this, Mabel lightly hit the back of his head. ¡°If you¡¯ve got an opportunity, it would be idiotic to waste it. Don¡¯t you dare try to lose on purpose.¡±


    Arnos glanced at her, noticing the serious look on her face. He nodded. ¡°Sorry. I won¡¯t lose on purpose. I think it¡¯d be worse if you end up ranking up and I rank down. Then I¡¯ll be the target of all the nobles.¡± He sighed. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll try my best.¡±


    "Yeah, that you should," Mabel added, still slightly pissed.


    "Scary," Arnos muttered under his breath.


    "What did you say?" Mabel asked, narrowing her eyes.


    "Nothing," Arnos quickly replied.


    Mabel pointed to the gate of the Ares dorm, which was made of black metal. ¡°Do you really think we shouldn''t go inside?¡±


    Arnos crossed his arms and tilted his head in thought. ¡°I am not too sure, But I¡¯d say we probably shouldn¡¯t intrude. I mean, our seniors might be pissed at us for disturbing them.¡± Turning to look at Mabel, he realized she was nowhere to be found.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go in. We¡¯ll see what happens,¡± Mabel called out. She had already walked through the gate.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we should do that!¡± Arnos shouted, hurrying after her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Nothing will happen. I mean, our teachers did say we can check out institute buildings and areas, didn¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°I guess they did,¡± Arnos mumbled quietly. ¡°Well, whatever. It is the dorm assigned to me. We can always make something up.¡±


    "Now you¡¯re talking like a perfect rebellious kid," Mabel chuckled.


    "Hey, what are you, my mom? Enough with the weird dialogues," Arnos shot back.


    As they talked, they walked further inside, taking in the building¡¯s close-up details. A garden stretched from the main entrance of the dorm to the gate, filling the area between the C-shaped dorm and the outer boundary. A giant fountain, created using water magic, stood in the center, radiating a surprisingly bright glow.


    Mabel approached the fountain, examining the light¡¯s source. ¡°This fountain is made with the help of light and water magic,¡± she said, looking at Arnos with excitement.


    ¡°Too bright,¡± Arnos muttered to himself, glancing at her.


    He then moved toward the main building¡¯s entrance at the center of the structure. Inside, he found the Ares dorm¡¯s main hall, which was spacious and lavishly decorated. A red carpet covered the floor, while golden-white paint adorned the walls. Numerous golden chandeliers lit up the hall with their glow.


    ¡°That¡¯s really nice,¡± Arnos remarked, staring at the chandeliers on the ceiling.


    ¡°Taken aback by the decor, huh? Step aside if all you¡¯re gonna do is gawk,¡± Mabel teased, mimicking Emily¡¯s tone from earlier.


    ¡°Wow, that was a surprisingly good impression," Arnos said, his voice laced with sarcasm.


    ¡°Shut up, idiot,¡± Mabel retorted.


    Just as they were doing this a voice called out, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±

 Chapter 9 Upperclassmen

    ¡°That¡¯s really nice,¡± Arnos remarked, staring at the chandeliers on the ceiling.


    ¡°Taken aback by the decor, huh? Step aside if all you¡¯re gonna do is gawk,¡± Mabel teased, mimicking Emily¡¯s tone from earlier.


    ¡°Wow, that was a surprisingly good impression," Arnos said, his voice laced with sarcasm.


    ¡°Shut up, idiot,¡± Mabel retorted.


    Just as they were doing this a voice called out, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±


    The voice came from the stairway, a young girl, presumably their senior, with really long waist length pink hair, walked down with a neutral look. She had yellow eyes and was slightly taller than Mabel and Arnos. She wore a yellow coloured hair band and it was in a ponytail. She had a lean hourglass figure and was wearing a long, yellow, half-sleeve, knee length dress.


    ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t tell me you guys are newbies who came to see our dorm.¡±


    ¡°No, miss, we forgot our way and ended up here,¡± Mabel said without missing a beat.


    ¡°We did!¡± Arnos responded unconsciously to Mabel¡¯s lie. ¡°Ah, yes, we did, ma¡¯am. Can you please tell us where the main building is, miss?¡±


    There was a disappointed look on the girl¡¯s face.


    ¡°You lost your way, huh? That¡¯s sad. I thought we were finally getting some newbies who came to visit us.¡± Sighs. ¡°Well, whatever. Lemme show you the exit,¡± she said as she walked towards Mabel and Arnos.


    Mabel glanced at Arnos, and they both nodded, looking at each other.


    ¡°Actually, we wanted to see Ares dorm,¡± Mabel said, looking slightly scared since she had revealed that she had just lied to her senior.


    ¡°Wait, you do?¡± the girl replied with a loud voice.


    ¡°Why did you hide it then?¡± she added with a curious look.


    ¡°We thought we might be intruding, and you would be angry,¡± Arnos added.


    She rested her hand on her chin, adopting a thoughtful posture. ¡°Hmm, I see. That makes sense. I mean, I know where your doubts arise from.¡± she said as she gave a disgusted look.


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure other dorms do not allow students to check out their premises until their so-called introduction ceremony or teasing, to be precise.¡±


    ¡°Wait, I didn¡¯t know about that!¡± Arnos added with a shocked expression.


    ¡°Teachers don¡¯t usually tell about this stuff,¡± she added with a serious expression.


    ¡°They ignore it?¡± Mabel asked curiously.


    Seras nodded and continued ¡°Since most of the time, kids here have a lot of influence, most of the time surpassing the teachers they are rather reluctant. Not all teachers, of course. Like, the headmaster would probably burn any student who tells him what to do. And senior teachers, too, have such influence since they can¡¯t be removed without any serious reason. But the rest? Well, they are kinda, you know... scared.¡±


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    But we don''t get many visitors, and as you all might have heard in your life, "choosers can''t be beggars," she said, chuckling and elegantly hiding her laughter with her hand.


    "Ah, I¡¯m pretty sure it¡¯s begg¡ª" Arnos tried to speak but was cut off by the senior.


    "So hey, I am Seras Victoria from the Victoria household. I am actually from a branch of the main family, and I surely am not a big shot, so yeah, that¡¯s that." She smiled. "What about you two?" she asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.


    "I am Mabel Webbles. I am from a commoner lineage, and my father works as a farmer. We have our own small farmland, so that¡¯s a plus." Reflexively, her hand went to the back of her head as she gave a chuckle.


    "I see, that¡¯s cool. What about you?" Seras asked, still in a good mood.


    "I am Arnos. I am not from any noble lineage as well. I was raised as an orphan in the Alcia City orphanage, which was run adjacent to a church."


    "An orphan, huh?" Her expression shifted to a sorry one. "Well, it¡¯s a nice achievement that you¡¯ve made it this far, you know."


    "Thanks, I guess," Arnos added in response, offering a small smile.


    "So what do you guys think?" she asked excitedly. "Should we go and check out Ares dorm? I could give you all a trip if you don¡¯t mind."


    "Yes!" they both practically shouted at Seras in unison.


    Seras was startled but laughed at their enthusiasm.


    "Sorry," they both added for shouting.


    Seras then gestured for them to follow her, and they did. She led them outside from the opposite side of where they had first entered. There were two entrances to the Ares dorm, just like Celera Institute, an east entrance and a west entrance. Previously, Arnos and Mabel had walked in through the east doorway, but this time Seras took them out through the west doorway.


    Seras, Mabel, and Arnos were now standing in front of the building, the ground in front was divided into two equal parts. With the help of a pavement that ran throughout the ground to the boundary of the premise.


    Seras gestured to the expanse of land. "As you can see, we have our own personal herb garden for potions and research, and we have our own training arena. It¡¯s training arena number two of Celera Institute, if you¡¯re interested in that name, by the way."


    "So you guys have your own training arena?" Arnos spoke in a really excited tone.


    "We do, sure," Seras replied with a proud grin.


    "You could make your own magic potions?" Mabel asked in an equally excited tone.


    "We sure can." Another proud grin appeared on Seras¡¯s face.


    "You could train anytime on the training ground, and there aren¡¯t any restrictions," Arnos said, shooting another question with a curious look.


    "We could. Isn¡¯t that cool?" Seras replied with her third proud grin.


    "That¡¯s awesome!" they both said in unison. Arnos looked at Mabel.


    "You know what, Mabel? I don¡¯t think I want to rank down anymore," Arnos added with a smile.


    "Wait, what do you mean by you don¡¯t want to rank down anymore?" Seras asked with a puzzled look.


    Arnos looked at her. "Ah¡­ you see, I was kinda reluctant about being in Ares dorm since it¡¯s at the top and all. It¡¯ll give me a lot of unwanted attention. So, I was thinking about not trying my absolute hardest in the tournament."


    "Wait a second, have you been allotted Ares dorm?" Seras asked, her tone filled with a mixture of curiosity and excitement.


    "Yes, I got Are¡ª"


    Before he could complete his words, Seras stepped forward and hugged him.


    "That¡¯s really good! I was thinking we weren¡¯t going to get any juniors this year." She turned to look at Mabel, still hugging Arnos. "Are you allotted Ares too?"


    "No, ma¡¯am, I¡¯m not, but don¡¯t you think you¡¯re choking him to death?"


    Seras looked down at the boy she was hugging. Realizing her grip, she broke the hug, and Arnos fell to the ground on his back.


    Coughing, he said, "I saw heaven¡¯s door just now."


    Mabel kicked him in the back with her leg. His balance shifted, and he fell forward onto his face.


    Quickly, Arnos jumped up and moved five steps away from both Mabel and Seras.


    "And what was that for, Mabel?" he asked, shooting her a pissed glance.

 Chapter 10 Misunderstanding

    "You shouldn''t say stuff like ''heaven''s door'' to a lady, you know," she said in a stern voice, shooting Arnos an angry look.


    "What do you mean?" Arnos replied with a frustrated expression. He paused, suddenly embarrassed. "Wait a second! I wasn''t referring to her c¨C" He stopped mid-sentence, flustered. "You idiot! I mean, obviously not. I was literally seeing the heavens in the clouds!" Arnos raised his voice slightly in exasperation.


    Seras glanced at their ongoing argument, mildly amused. They sure do get along, she thought to herself, though the scene in front of her was anything but harmonious.


    "You weren¡¯t? Oh¡­," she muttered. Mabel, remembering the way Seras was choking Arnos earlier, thought to herself, It¡¯s totally possible he saw heaven.


    "Miss Seras, that garden looks really nice. Should we go check it out?" Mabel said with a smile, attempting to divert attention from Arnos.


    "Oh, we definitely could! Let¡¯s go," Seras replied with a giggle.


    "You¡¯re trying to change the topic!" Arnos shouted after them. But Seras and Mabel continued walking away, cheerfully chatting and completely ignoring him.


    "Huh, Trying to avoid me after falsely accusing me of making a weird comment," Arnos grumbled to himself. Wait a second! That wasn¡¯t even a weird comment, he spoke to himself in a louder voice.


    Still, debating the matter wasn¡¯t worth the trouble for Arnos. His attention quickly shifted as he took in the appearance of Training Ground 2.


    It¡¯s definitely bigger than the inner training ground of Celera, probably twice the size. His right hand rested on his chin as he considered, Could I ever perform that inferno spell here...?


    He shook his head. "No, that probably wouldn¡¯t work, it might affect the building too. I mean, if I can even pull it off perfectly, that is."


    His thoughts quickly wandered elsewhere. I could train here when it¡¯s raining, couldn¡¯t I? That would be awesome. A wide grin spread across his face, unable to contain his excitement.


    ¨C ¨C ¨C ¨C


    As Mabel and Seras strolled through the magical herb garden, Mabel broke the silence.


    ¡°So, Miss Seras, I have a question. May I ask?¡±


    ¡°Go on,¡± Seras replied casually, showing no concern for what the question might be.


    ¡°Why were you so excited when you found out you were getting a junior?¡± Mabel asked curiously, glancing over at her.


    ¡°I was? Oh, I obviously wasn¡¯t,¡± Seras said with a playful smile, waving her hand dismissively. ¡°What might you be talking about, Mabel?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me if you don¡¯t want to. I don¡¯t mind,¡± Mabel added neutrally, her gaze shifting toward the vibrant flowers and herbs around them.


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    ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­¡± Seras sighed. ¡°Hah. See, it¡¯s simple getting juniors in Ares is kind of rare for us. Only a select few are allowed to attend this dorm due to the criteria set by the man who built it.¡±


    Built this dorm? Mabel thought to herself.


    Isn¡¯t this dorm under the Celera Institute? She asked


    ¡°It is under Celera,¡± Seras said, ¡°But one of our seniors actually spent a fortune to have this building and a new Ares dorm constructed.¡± She paused and looked at Mabel. ¡°So, in short, this dorm was entirely funded by his money, which is why it¡¯s so extravagant.¡±


    Seras spoke again as she walked slowly alongside Mabel.


    ¡°For simplicity¡¯s sake, let¡¯s just say the man who built this dorm was one of the first exceptionally gifted individuals, someone who stood above his peers. He had a peculiar philosophy, providing greater opportunities and benefits to those at the top to inspire them to strive even harder while also motivating those at the bottom to push themselves to improve.¡±


    She came to a stop and looked at Mabel. ¡°Do you know about the tournament you¡¯ll all be participating in?¡±


    Mabel nodded quickly. ¡°I do Miss. It''s supposed to happen in three months and will determine which dorm everyone will be assigned to.¡±


    ¡°Good, that makes this easier,¡± Seras said with a small nod. ¡°The tournament will either involve tag-team matches or solo matches.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s tag-team, the semi-final victory must be one-sided, or the duo won¡¯t be accepted into Ares dorm. If it¡¯s a solo match, only those who secure an overwhelming victory in the quarter-finals are accepted.¡±


    ¡°For example, let¡¯s say there¡¯s a match between Team 1 and Team 2. If Team 1 overwhelmingly defeats Team 2, Team 1 will be welcomed into Ares dorm.


    But if the match is close Team 1 wins, but it¡¯s evenly matched there are two possibilities. Either both teams will be accepted into Ares, or neither will. That decision is left to Miss Margrave, who was also Ryuk¡¯s instructor when he was a student. He trusts her judgment, so he entrusted her with this responsibility.¡±


    ¡°But why is there such a focus on overwhelming victories? I mean, if someone reaches the quarter-finals or semi-finals, aren¡¯t they already capable?¡± Mabel asked, her confusion evident.


    ¡°That¡¯s the rule set by Ryuk Kozuki. It¡¯s part of his philosophy that mages should be proficient enough to deal with their enemies effortlessly,¡± Seras explained.


    Waving her hand with a smile, she added, ¡°Now, that¡¯s definitely a strange philosophy, but there¡¯s nothing we can do about it.¡±


    ¡°Why not? Couldn¡¯t Celera have a say in this?¡± Mabel asked curiously.


    ¡°They could, but¨C¡± Seras sighed in mild disappointment¡° his philosophy benefited Celera, so they didn''t mind.¡±


    ¡°It did?¡± Mabel exclaimed, her voice tinged with surprise.


    ¡°Yup,¡± Seras nodded. ¡°A decade ago, students from Celera performed quite poorly in comparison to those from Arens Institute. But with each passing year, we¡¯ve been improving. The headmaster believes this is due to the increased competition brought about by the presence of Ares dorm in our school, so he approved of Ryuk¡¯s rules.¡±


    ¡°So, in short, the headmaster is working with him on this?¡± Mabel asked, tilting her head in curiosity.


    ¡°Precisely,¡± Seras replied, smiling as she acknowledged Mabel¡¯s deduction.


    ¡°I see,¡± Mabel murmured, processing the information.


    Seras gestured for Mabel to follow and led the way to a wooden bench in the garden. She took a seat and motioned for Mabel to sit beside her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s put it this way,¡± Seras continued. ¡°In the last ten years, Ares dorm has only had students six times. The rest of the time, it was empty.¡± Her tone grew enthusiastic. ¡°Now you understand why I was so excited, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Mabel nodded. ¡°I do.¡± Then, with a curious look, she asked, ¡°Do you have any fellow dorm mates?¡±


    Seras nodded. ¡°Yes, there are four second-years in Ares dorm,¡± she replied in a neutral tone. ¡°But we don¡¯t have any third-years.¡± Her expression grew slightly somber.


    ¡°I see. Are they¡­ the scary type of seniors uh, no, what I meant was¡­¡± Mabel looked away awkwardly.


    Seras chuckled. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about them. They¡¯re pretty norm¨C¡± she stopped mid-sentence, her expression shifting. ¡°Actually, come to think of it, they are weird. Heck, even I might fall into that category sometimes,¡± she added with a soft laugh. ¡°But no, they¡¯re not the scary type.¡±

 Chapter 11

    Mabel nodded and stood up from the desk.


    "Well, that''s good for Arnos and Marcus, I think. Let''s go to Arnos, I bet he is pissed at me for kicking him."


    "Wait! we are getting getting more newbies?" Seras spoke, her face practically glowing with excitement as she stood up.


    "You are, I guess. One of them is the princess, and the other is the Duke''s son," Mabel added as she started to slowly walk towards the exit.


    "Ah, I see. Then Arnos is more remarkable than them, considering he came from nowhere," Seras added while smiling.


    Mabel''s facial expression changed to a rather serious one as she heard Seras. "You shouldn''t say that. They are¡ª" Mabel tried to speak but was interrupted.


    Seras looked at her, gesturing for her to be quiet by putting a finger on her lips.


    She spoke in a stern voice, "Here they are my juniors. I think I reserve the right to tease or comment on them a bit." She gave a smug look and continued. "Wouldn''t you agree?"


    "I think I would," Mabel added in a low voice.


    She can be really scary when she wants to be, Mabel thought to herself.


    They continued to move towards the exit. As they were about to leave the garden, Seras came near Mabel and looked towards her.


    "Come to think of it, why did you do that to Arnos?" Seras asked as she gave a puzzled look to Mabel.


    Looking away, slightly flustered,


    "Ah, umm, forget about it. It''s nothing big, I think. It was, you know, fun or something. Ha ha ha." Mabel said giving a fake laugh.


    "I mean, I gotta knock some sense into him. That''s obviously the correct thing to do," she thought to herself. "But I guess I was wrong. Gotta apologize," she mentally noted.


    They continued their walk, finally leaving the premises of the garden. Mabel looked at Seras as they walked out of the garden.


    "By the way, Miss Seras, how should I address you? Miss, ma''am, or something else?"


    "You can call me Seras," she then rests her hand on her chin thoughtfully, giving it a thought.


    "I think that should be fine. Yeah, but make sure to address the other dorm seniors with ma''am or sir. They suck." Seras added with a slightly angry expression.


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    Mabel nodded. "Roger that," she said with a mock salute, causing Seras to chuckle.


    As they reached the training ground, they saw Arnos walking aimlessly. Noticing Mabel and Seras approaching, he started walking towards them.


    Arnos looked towards Mabel. "Well, is your sightseeing done?" he asked in his usual tone.


    Mabel nodded. "I think it is. So, what were you doing here alone?" she asked curiously.


    "Ah, walking aimlessly or, ya know, bird stalking," he chuckled slightly.


    "Ah, bird stalking, you say," Seras spoke with a friendly grin. "Pervert," Seras added, still having the same expression.


    "It''s not! See, you just watch the sky while walking, that''s it. And, you know, when a bird comes into your view, you keep watching it without blinking," he added with excitement.


    "And what happens if you blink? You die?" Mabel asked sarcastically, looking at Arnos.


    "That''s not it! I mean, I used to think that when I was younger, but that was just, you know, childish superstition."


    Mabel laughed at this maniacally.


    "You seriously used to think that? Man, what an idiot."


    "I was a kid!" He shouted, slightly pissed. "You know what? Get lost," Arnos added before walking away.


    "Where might you be going now?" Mabel asked.


    "I don''t want to tell," Arnos spoke in a pissed tone as he continued to walk away.


    "Guess I''ll be taking my leave now, mi¡ª no, Seras. Bye-bye," Mabel spoke as she started jogging towards Arnos.


    As Mabel caught up to Arnos, they were already outside the dorm¡¯s campus area. Arnos and Mabel were now walking in the direction of Celera Institute main building.


    Mabel was somewhat reluctant to talk right now since she thought Arnos was angry at her.


    "So... ahm, where are we going?" she spoke in a rather reluctant voice.


    "Main campus, I think. If I¡¯m not wrong, there will be a banquet for first-year students there." He turns to Mabel and looks at her with a neutral expression. "And I think I heard it from some kids while we were walking in the hallway. Since it¡¯s already nearing evening, I thought we should head out."


    "Oh, you thought so? Well, that was the perfect thing to do, you know." Mabel spoke, walking rather strangely in a march-like manner.


    She¡¯s talking strangely¡­ Arnos made an obvious deduction.


    "Hey, Arnos," Mabel spoke in a slow voice with a tinge of guilt in her tone.


    "Yes, Arnos here. What¡¯s on your mind?" Arnos asked as he raised his eyebrows with curiosity.


    "I can tell something¡¯s bothering you," Arnos added.


    "Ah, it¡¯s just, you know, sorry for kicking you then." She spoke in a low voice, her gaze fixed on ground.


    She¡¯s really going to apologize for that, I thought we were going to act like it never happened or something. But¡­ Arnos thought to himself.


    "I appreciate the gesture, but hey, seriously, Heaven¡¯s Gate, man, your deduction sucks." Arnos stopped, trying to control his laughter but ended up laughing loudly.


    "Hey i apologised now just forget it Mabel shouted at Arnos, or I¡¯m kicking you again," Mabel spoke with a pissed look and a stern voice.


    "Hey, I believe in gender equality. Don¡¯t try my patience, okay?" Arnos added with a sheepish laugh.


    "Ah, you do? Then why did you say you want to be a gentleman and said ¡®ladies first¡¯ when we were late to the headmaster''s speech?"


    "I, uh, you know, it''s chivalry or something." Arnos added as he whistles, looking away from Mabel.


    Mabel looked at Arnos, smiling, and thought to herself, He¡¯s completely trying to change the topic.


    "Dummy," she spoke.


    Arnos didn¡¯t respond.


    "Oi, idiot, dummy, can you not hear me?" Mabel spoke.


    I¡¯m not replying, nope, not happening. Arnos added in a low voice. As he quickened his pace.

 Chapter 12 Customs

    Ah, I think I forgot to tell Arnos about Ares dorm¡¯s customs. Seras thought to herself as she let out a sigh.


    Man, I¡¯m such a klutz. Well, it¡¯s not that big of a deal, is it? Seras thought to herself as she walked toward the dorm.


    Seras nodded to herself and mumbled, "Yeah, it''s not a big deal. I''m sure of it."


    "What was all that fuss about, Seras?" a voice called out.


    Seras turned toward the direction of the voice. A half-opened door revealed a girl peeking outside, with half her body covered by the door. She looked at Seras with tired deep black eyes. Her neck-length black hair, held neatly in place by a simple black hairband, framed her face. She was noticeably shorter than Seras, her height barely reaching Seras¡¯s shoulders.


    "Oh, nothing much," Seras said, radiating excitement. "We¡¯ve got some newbies this year," she added with a smile. "So, did I break your sweet dream? Sorry about that, Alisa."


    "You sure did! But never mind. Waking up early is always a good thing, ya know," Alisa replied, running a hand through her hair.


    "Ahh¡­ it¡¯s evening," Seras said, smiling.


    Stare.


    Stare..


    Stare¡­


    "Kill yourself, dumb, idiot, stupid Seras," Alisa said as she walked out of her room, closing the door behind her.


    "Heyyy, what was that for?" Seras shouted. Her voice made it clear she wasn¡¯t angry.


    "I told you to wake me up in the morning, and this is the time you wake me up?" Alisa said as she headed toward the dorm''s kitchen.


    The kitchen was located just to the right of the east entrance of the dorm.


    "You did?" Seras leaned on the kitchen counter, thoughtfully piecing together the events of the previous night.


    Alisa creeping into my room, late-night chatter with her¡­


    "Wake me up by 8 o¡¯clock, okay, Seras? Goodnight," Alisa had said in her usual depressed tone before leaving the room.


    "Shit! Sorry about that. I think I messed up," Seras admitted in a guilty tone, looking down at the floor and still trying to avoid Alisa¡¯s gaze.


    Alisa, who was filling her plate with food that was supposed to be her evening breakfast, turned to look at Seras.


    "Never mind that. It¡¯s not that big of a deal," she said with a small smile as she walked toward Seras. "I mean, at least I got 8 hours of sleep."


    "It¡¯s 18 hours, to be precise," Seras replied with a teasing smile.


    "You know what?" Alisa said, still smiling.


    "What?" Seras asked curiously, radiating innocence.


    "You should do the thing I first told you," Alisa said, giving a dark, scary smile.


    Seras stood in her place for a few seconds. The thing she first told me to do, huh¡­


    "Oi! That¡¯s rude, Alisa," Seras called out as she walked after her, following her back into her room.


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    ¨C ¨C ¨C ¨C


    Inside the room, Alisa and Seras walked toward Alisa''s bed.


    "So, who''s this newbie then?" Alisa asked with a curious look as she took her place on the bed.


    "You shouldn''t eat on your bed," Seras said with a slightly frustrated look as she sat in front of Alisa on the bed.


    "Ah, I shouldn''t?" Alisa replied with a smirk. "Well, I don''t care about it."


    She took the first bite of the sandwich, which was supposed to be her morning breakfast.


    "Oh my, it''s so yummy¡ªthe cold cheese, the cold, dry bread crumbs, oh my¡­" Alisa said, her voice dripping with sarcasm directed at Seras.


    "You know, Alisa, you¡¯re just like a child," Seras added, narrowing her eyes.


    Alisa gave Seras a pissed-off look.


    "What did you say?"


    "Oh, I meant you behave like a child, not literally. You have such a lustrous¡ª" No, no, that''s not something to say, idiot Seras, she thought to herself. Clearing her throat, she added, "A beautiful adult body."


    "Whatever you say. Alisa said as she gave Seras a sideways glance. Now tell me what happened with the newbie," Alisa said, a little excitement creeping into her voice.


    "Oh, we got two visitors to check out Ares dorm. One was a girl, Mabel, and the other was Arnos. Mabel wanted to jump to join Ares dorm after the tournament, and Arnos was allotted to Ares dorm from the start."


    "Ah, that''s nice," Alisa said while taking another bite of the sandwich.


    "We also have two more newbies¡ªa princess and the Duke''s second son, if I¡¯m not wrong," Seras added.


    "I should¡¯ve heated it," Alisa mumbled. "By the way, Seras, you, as a kingdom¡¯s subject, should at least know the princess¡¯s name, don¡¯t you think?" Alisa said with a smirk, clearly picking on Seras.


    "I, uh¡­" Seras turned her head to look at the door, avoiding Alisa''s gaze yet again.


    Alisa stood up, grabbed a glass of water from the table, and returned to the bed.


    "I bet you were excited when you found out the news, weren¡¯t you?" Alisa asked Seras, smiling pleasantly.


    "I was. I hu¡ª" Seras stopped mid-sentence, her thoughts drifting to what Mabel had said to her.


    "I choked him out of happiness," she added with a smile.


    Alisa, who was drinking water, spat it out uncontrollably to the side and began coughing.


    "You did what!?" she shouted at Seras, her face a mix of shock and disbelief.


    Seras moved closer and gently patted Alisa¡¯s back to help her recover.


    "Oh, it was a misunderstanding. I stopped as soon as I realized I was hurting him. Are you okay, Alisa?" Seras asked in a caring tone.


    "Was he tapping out?" Alisa asked with a small laugh.


    Seras remembered the situation again.


    "By the time I noticed, he was unable to move his hand."


    "You traumatized him, I¡¯m pretty sure of it now," Alisa said, her tone stern and her expression angry.


    "I don¡¯t know. I think I apologized, and they left in a good mood," Seras mumbled in a whisper, her guilt clearly showing.


    More like they were scared of what you would do if they objected, Alisa said, finishing her sandwich. She stood up from her bed yet again with the plate.


    "I didn¡¯t mean to do that," Seras said, exuding a literal dark, depressed energy.


    Alisa moved toward her study table and placed the plate on it.


    "Well, whatever. So, how were they? Tell me a thing or two about them, keep it short."


    Seras looked at Alisa with a curious expression as she asked,


    "Both Mabel and Arnos, or just Arnos?"


    Alisa, who had now set her plate aside, jumped back on her bed and tucked herself in to relax.


    "You¡¯re not using me as a lullaby now, are you?" Seras asked with a doubtful expression on her face.


    "I could never do that," Alisa said, hiding her grin with her right hand, her long black nails glinting.


    "Let¡¯s go with both."


    "So, firstly, they¡¯re both commoners, so there¡¯s that," Seras said.


    "Man, that¡¯s good. They might be able to match their frequency with Erik then, you know, due to common struggles and stuff," Alisa replied.


    "Arnos is also an orphan from the city of Alcia, and Mabel¡¯s family has a small farmland."


    "An orphan¡­" Alisa said thoughtfully.


    How did he manage to buy the books? she wondered to herself. Maybe he got them second-hand or something.


    "Mabel seems to be the more outspoken type between the two of them. She was still respectful, though, so that¡¯s a plus. About Arnos¡­" Seras gave a thoughtful look for a few moments before continuing.


    "He¡¯s probably more of, you know, the calm type, I think. I mean, he didn¡¯t speak much in front of me. And when I choked him and Mabel kicked him, he didn¡¯t argue much."


    Alisa¡¯s eyes widened as she tried to process everything Seras had said.


    She choked him, Mabel kicked him, and he didn¡¯t say anything? she thought, giving Seras a serious, pissed-off look.


    "Wait, wait, time out a second. You bullied a junior with another junior and also assaulted him? And you think it¡¯s his calm nature that kept him from arguing? Man, you scared the poor kid," Alisa said, giving Seras a disgusted look. "Tsk, I didn¡¯t expect this from you, Seras."


    "That¡¯s not it, Alisa! We didn¡¯t do anything like that," Seras tried to defend herself.


    "Nope, not interested anymore. Get out!" Alisa added in a scary tone.


    Seras stood up and moved out of Alisa¡¯s room, sulking.


    "I didn¡¯t do anything bad," she mumbled under her breath as she walked out.


    Alisa lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.


    "I need to get Seras to apologize to that Arnos," she thought to herself.


    Her thoughts drifted. What could his affinity be? If he has dark affinity, I could teach him a thing or two.


    "I could be a proud, responsible senior for him," she thought with a proud grin on her face.

 Chapter 13 Dual Affinity

    Arnos and Mabel continued their walk to Celera Institute''s main building. The sun had now already started to set and the atmosphere made it clear night was approaching.


    "Hey, do you think one of our seniors built that light fountain?" Arnos asked curiously as he walked beside Mabel. "I mean, it had a light magic spell, and someone has to manage it, I think."


    "Hmm, I think it''s very likely," Mabel nodded thoughtfully.


    "I mean, light affinity is one of the stronger affinities. It''s very likely that one in the group of the strongest students in Celera possesses light affinity," she thought to herself.


    "And what makes you so sure about it?" Arnos asked, looking at Mabel with a curious expression.


    "Hmm, light affinity strong - seniors strong, so highly likely. Understood," Mabel replied.


    "I do understand what you''re trying to say, but what''s with that lousy explanation?" Arnos said.


    Mabel raised her eyebrows at Arnos. "It''s not lousy. I just thought of the explanation in my mind, and it was," she gave a tired look, "tiring to repeat it, so I decided to ditch the explanation and give you the main keywords. Understood, Mister?"


    "She really does give a lot of expressions while speaking," Arnos mentally noted, looking at Mabel.


    "Understood, Mabel. Hey, can I ask something else?" Arnos said in a curious tone yet again.


    "Hmm, go on. You have my attention," Mabel spoke as she continued to match his pace while walking.


    "What''s your affinity?"


    "Guess!" Mabel replied with excitement and a smile.


    "Ice or water?" Arnos shot his answer.


    "How did you guess that?" Mabel asked with a shocked expression.


    Arnos smiled. "Should I tell her that I just guessed it from her hair color? Wait, no, she would be pissed¡ªor will she? Well, whatever," he thought to himself.


    "Your hair color''s blue, so I just thought it might be water or ice since they''re associated with blue."


    "Hmm, that''s weird but accurate. I actually have a dual affinity for water and ice."


    "That''s rare. Dual affinity, huh? I''m impressed. How about now you guess the affinity I have¡± Arnos said.


    "I don''t think there is any connection between hair color and magic affinity. Like, wouldn''t that mean you have dark affinity?" Mabel gave a small chuckle at her own comment.


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    "I do. That''s one down, one more to go." He gave Mabel a thumbs-up and a smile.


    "Wait, you have dual affinity too?" Mabel gave a surprised expression.


    "I do," Arnos chuckled, his voice tinged with excitement. "And you know what? If I didn''t have the combo I have, I would have never tried this mage route in my life," Arnos spoke.


    Mabel thought for a few seconds and said, "Is it Earth?" She had a dumbfounded look.


    "It''s not. It''s actually fire, one of the most common ones."


    "You have dark affinity! It surely isn''t common. Be happy with what you have," Mabel spoke, giving a sideways glance to Arnos.


    "Oh, I am very happy," Arnos replied with a smile. ¡°It''s the best possible combination to have for me, at least,¡± he said in a warm tone.


    "And why''s that?" Mabel asked curiously.


    "Hmm, that''s something we could talk about in the near future¡± Arnos said to Mabel with a small smile.


    And honestly It''s a long childish story, and we have already talked about a lot of stuff today, so we should probably save something for the future too," Arnos said as he looked at the bunch of students standing in front of Celera¡¯s main building.


    "Okay, should we find Marcus?" Mabel asked, looking at Arnos.


    Arnos thought for a few moments before answering. "I''m not too sure. I think he would find us instead if he needed to, and he is spending time with his sister, isn''t he? We can''t disturb him now, can we?" Arnos spoke in a neutral tone.


    "Wait a second, right here," Mabel said to Arnos as she walked forward. She cut through the crowd of students and went inside. Arnos was curious about what she was doing. She came back in a minute and walked towards Arnos, who was standing far from the crowd.


    "We still have 10 minutes!" Mabel said to Arnos.


    "For what?" Arnos asked with curiosity.


    "Ah, the banquet will start after 10 minutes, so we could go stand somewhere else or do something else for the time being." She rubbed the back of her head with a sheepish laugh.


    "You went in to check this?" Arnos asked with a smile. He turned back and started walking.


    "Well, standing in a crowd is the last thing I like," she nodded as she went a step ahead of him.


    "We are surely going to lose a lot of weight today," Arnos added with a warm tone.


    "Yeah, hourglass figure it is for us. No, me¡ªoh, shit." Mabel couldn''t control her laugh at her own comment, imagining Arnos in that way. Arnos couldn''t help but chuckle at her too.


    "Hey, I am already on the skinny end of the spectrum, just so you know," Arnos added as he chuckled.


    "Sure. Hey, Arnos?"


    "Hmm? Yes, Arnos here." He said as he glanced at Mabel.


    "Did you ever practice magic spells?" she asked with a curious expression.


    "Like stealing a spellbook from an elder sibling and then practicing it?" Arnos asked with a little bit of sarcasm.


    Looking away from Arnos, "Ah, something like that, yes."


    "I haven''t done it yet, I do know basic spells though" Arnos said.


    "I see."


    "What about you?" Arnos asked, looking at Mabel as he matched her pace.


    Mabel turned to him to give a grin. She gave a victory sign. "I sure did," she added in a warm tone.


    "You stole your older sibling''s book?" Arnos asked in a puzzled tone.


    (Waves her finger, gesturing no) "No, not that! I trained a bit in basic spells. My older brother taught me a few spells when I was younger."


    "I see. So you are kind of like an experienced mage, aren''t you?" Arnos said in a teasing tone.


    "Yeah, yeah, experienced mage, sure," Mabel said in an exaggerated tone. "I think we should go now. The banquet''s probably about to start."


    "Sure.¡±


    Their walk back to the Celera Institute was quick. By the time Mabel and Arnos reached the main building, students had already started moving inside, but there was still a crowd outside, meaning they were on time.


    Mabel began walking ahead of Arnos, gesturing for him to follow, and that''s exactly what he did. They entered the main campus and headed to a different area this time¡ªnot the main hall where the previous ceremony had taken place, but the cafeteria instead.

 Chapter 14 Celeras Banquet

    Mabel and Arnos entered the cafeteria. Plenty of tables were already set with chairs. Names were written on the tables, indicating the seats were pre-assigned by teachers or staff.


    Arnos, noticing that most of the seats near the cafeteria counter were already occupied, began searching for his assigned seat.


    He found his name on a table in the corner near the entrance. Two other names were written there, but no chairs were present¡ªonly the names.


    "They left, huh," Arnos thought. His eyes landed on another name on the table: Mabel Webbles.


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯ve been assigned the same seat,¡± Mabel said warmly.


    ¡°It seems that way,¡± Arnos replied neutrally.


    Both Arnos and Mabel made their way to the table and took their seats. Food was already laid out.


    "At least they didn¡¯t give us bad stuff," Arnos thought, glancing at his plate and quickly comparing it to the others.


    Mabel, looking around, spotted Marcus sitting at a table with Emily.


    Emily and Marcus had a table to themselves, much like Mabel and Arnos. The difference was that, while no one was assigned to sit with Marcus and Emily, the students who were assigned to Mabel and Arnos¡¯s table decided to sit elsewhere.


    Marcus and Emily had arrived early, and the assistant teacher at the entrance had directed them to sit at the front table.


    ¡°They went with a modest arrangement for the banquet,¡± Emily remarked, scanning the cafeteria. ¡°I expected something better than this,¡± she sighed in disappointment.


    As Marcus entered with her, he immediately noticed the tables were marked with the names of students. The arrangement seemed deliberate, starting with the royal knight¡¯s daughter, followed by names from the Baron¡¯s family, the Viscount¡¯s family, and the Victoria household, in a clear hierarchical order. Although he didn¡¯t say anything, Marcus quickly realized that the seating reflected the social rankings, even among the elite families present.


    ¡°Marcus, what are you thinking about?¡± Emily asked as she took her seat on the assigned table.


    ¡°Nothing in particular,¡± Marcus replied, taking his seat. ¡°I just noticed the pre-assigned seating at this so-called banquet. It¡¯s odd, don¡¯t you think?¡± he said seriously.


    ¡°Maybe, but I think it¡¯s better this way,¡± Emily replied.


    ¡°You do? And why is that?¡± Marcus asked, glancing at her.


    ¡°No particular reason. I¡¯ve got you at my table, so it works for me. Besides, you know I don¡¯t like talking to strangers. Now, about something more important¡­¡±


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    ¡°We should probably leave early to check out Ares dorm,¡± Emily suggested, looking at Marcus.


    ¡°I see. That¡¯s necessary. We need to find our dorm room number too,¡± Marcus agreed. He wondered aloud, ¡°Does she know who else has been assigned to Ares?¡±


    ¡°Hey, Emily¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Do you know who the other first-year assigned to Ares dorm is?¡± Marcus asked neutrally.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I heard it¡¯s some commoner. Probably a mistake,¡± Emily replied.


    ¡°Is that so? I think you¡¯ve met him before.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve met him?¡± Emily frowned, thoughtful. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡ªit¡¯s that guy.¡± She recalled the boy she had bumped into earlier that morning.


    ¡°Yup, it¡¯s Arnos, our dormmate.¡± Marcus considered confronting her and continued in a stern voice, ¡°Speaking of which, why did you cause that incident this morning?¡±


    ¡°He was being disruptive. I simply reminded him how lucky he is to be here. Nothing more,¡± Emily said curtly, her tone irritated.


    Marcus raised an eyebrow. ¡°That was your way of reminding him? From what I heard, it seemed more like you were putting him in his place and pointing out his social standing.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t wrong, though,¡± Emily responded without hesitation.


    ¡°And you decide people¡¯s worth now? Are you God, Emily?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that,¡± she replied, her voice faltering.


    ¡°You should apologize to him when you get the chance. He¡¯d forgive you¡ªhe told me that himself.¡±


    ¡°Did he ask you to make me apologize? He¡¯s just leaching off you. That¡¯s what people like him do,¡± Emily shot back loudly.


    ¡°That¡¯s not language befitting someone of your rank, Emily. You¡¯re a contender to inherit the kingdom. Need I remind you this kingdom is made up of commoners? These people are your subjects. Isn¡¯t it your duty as a noble to care for them, as your father taught us when we were kids?¡±


    Emily had no retort. She stared at her plate and mumbled, ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll apologize to him. I won¡¯t say anything unnecessary again.¡±


    ¡°That would be the right thing to do,¡± Marcus said.


    ¡°I guess so,¡± Emily sighed. ¡°But I¡¯m not going to be friendly with him, and you can¡¯t force me to be.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dream of forcing you,¡± Marcus said, raising his hands in mock surrender.


    He glanced at the food before him¡ªpasta and steak. It wasn¡¯t extravagant, but it wasn¡¯t bad.


    Certainly, it wasn¡¯t to Emily¡¯s liking. Marcus could guess it from her facial expressions.


    Taking a bite of the steak, Marcus thought, "Not bad, but I¡¯ve had better at home."


    ¡°It¡¯s terrible,¡± Emily muttered, her voice low enough for only Marcus to hear.


    ¡°Is it? You¡¯d better get used to it. Dorm food won¡¯t be any better,¡± Marcus replied.


    ¡°I guess I will get used to it eventually.¡± Emily sighed, taking another bite. ¡°It¡¯s not that bad. I guess I can manage if this is the daily fare.¡±


    ¡°This is probably special banquet food. Everyday meals will be simpler,¡± Marcus said matter-of-factly.


    ¡°We could always ask one of our chefs to make food for us, couldn¡¯t we?" Emily asked with a curious look.


    ¡°We can¡¯t do that,¡± Marcus replied.


    ¡°We can¡¯t bring our cook?¡± Emily asked dramatically.


    ¡°That¡¯s because¡ª¡± Marcus began, but Emily interrupted.


    ¡°I know the reasons, you don¡¯t have to tell me. It¡¯s probably because not everyone can have a personal cook, and if one person does, others might get jealous. That wouldn¡¯t be good for an educational institute,¡± Emily said, offering a proud grin at her explanation.


    Marcus slowly clapped his hands.


    ¡°That was impressive, even I didn¡¯t know all that. Nice one, Emily. Well, Oliver will have to leave tomorrow too, because butlers aren¡¯t allowed. He¡¯s only allowed on the premises today.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± Emily said loudly.


    ¡°Quiet down, others might hear you,¡± Marcus said, glancing around at the curious looks they were getting from the people in the cafeteria.


    ¡°Huh, whatever,¡± Emily sighed. ¡°I¡¯m making some changes if I ascend to the throne, for sure.¡±


    ¡°To this school?¡± Marcus asked, smiling.


    ¡°Yeah, to this school,¡± Emily replied firmly.

 Chapter 15 Celeras Banquet 2

    Marcus chuckled at Emily¡¯s determined look and her bold comment.


    "Well, I look forward to it, especially the reforms you plan to implement with Celera," he said in a playful tone.


    "You better look forward to them," she declared, her voice brimming with determination. "I mean, I have a lot of ideas that could benefit the kingdom," she added more neutrally.


    "You do?" Marcus asked with a smile before continuing, "That¡¯s good, but there¡¯s something you¡¯re lacking. Do you know what it is?"


    "I do," Emily replied after a moment of thought.


    "I knew you would," Marcus said with a teasing grin. "You¡¯re kind of smart when you need to be. But don¡¯t you think it¡¯s about time you let go of whatever prejudices you¡¯ve built up in your mind?"


    "I¡¯m not sure if my prejudices are wrong yet," Emily admitted. "I¡¯ve yet to meet people who are good to me for reasons other than my position and the benefits they can gain from me."


    "Then you should start meeting more people," Marcus suggested. "Because I know plenty of people who like me¡ªnot because I¡¯m Marcus Levile but because of the person I am." He softened his tone and added, "Just try. That would be enough, I think."


    Emily nodded slowly. "I would... but it¡¯s tough for me after¡ª"


    "I understand," Marcus interrupted gently. "You don¡¯t need to tell me. What happened to you was wrong, I completely agree." He sighed.


    "But we can¡¯t stop trying just because something bad happened to us. Aren''t Oliver and the maids in the royal castle commoners too? I don¡¯t think you hate them. But think about how your words affect them. When you say commoners are just leeches living off nobles, isn¡¯t that generalizing them?"


    Emily didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, she became lost in her thoughts, reflecting on his words.


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    "I understand," she said at last, meeting his gaze. "I¡¯ll try."


    <hr>


    After this conversation, the rest of the dinner went rather uneventfully. Marcus and Emily had their dinner and left rather early for Ares dorm. Arnos and Mabel, who really loved the food and described it to be something god would eat, also had to leave the banquet early because Mabel had to find her dorm number in Cryz dorm.


    "The food was tasty," Arnos said, looking at Mabel as they both walked towards Cryz dorm¡¯s location.


    They got the direction from the assistant teacher standing outside the gate.


    Mabel looked towards him and added,


    "We could have enjoyed it while taking more time if only we had come to Cryz instead of Ares."


    "You regret it?" Arnos asked Mabel.


    "No," Mabel replied with a stern voice.


    "Motivation boost," he added with a teasing tone and chuckled.


    Mabel slowed down her walking pace. Cryz dorm''s campus was just a few steps away now.


    "Yeah, and you know if I had to choose between going to the banquet or seeing Ares dorm, my choice is obvious," Mabel added with a serious tone.


    "It is, huh?" Arnos added with a smile.


    Mabel and Arnos were now standing in front of Cryz dorm campus. It wasn¡¯t something as amazing as Ares, not in the slightest, but it was still good.


    The main building was somewhat larger than Ares¡¯ main building, though they were still considerable in size. The outer wall of the building was colored with a black/red gradient. The building was simple and large, box-like, with no curves or designs, just the main building spread in a rectangular area. The grounds of Cryz were also considerably shorter.


    "Well then, Mabel, try not to cause any trouble or stand for injustice and cause trouble or anything like that. Remember, it¡¯s your first day."


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not an idiot," Mabel said with a smirk. "Well then, bye," she added as she moved inside the campus through the dorm''s door.


    As Mabel made her way inside, Arnos began walking towards the Ares dorm, his mind replaying the events of the day. He had bumped into the princess and been called an insect, then there was the unexpected encounter with Mabel, Miss Margrave, and the Headmaster. He met Marcus, he got A Rank Mana level, and then Seraphina had asked him to become her servant. There was also Seras, and the moment he saw the Ares dorm with Mabel¡ªit was all so surreal.


    This day has truly been remarkable, he muttered under his breath as his pace quickened.


    But, despite the excitement, he couldn¡¯t shake the fatigue creeping up on him. I¡¯m really tired, he thought, feeling the weight of the day press down on him.


    Around five more minutes of brisk walking later, Arnos finally arrived at the Ares dorm. As he approached, he noticed Emily and Marcus were already inside the premises.


    They arrived earlier than me, he thought, a hint of surprise in his mind. With that, Arnos pushed open the door and entered the dorm''s premise.

 Chapter 16 First years

    Arnos walked into the campus and moved toward the main gate of the dorm. It was a simple, large, and sleek black-colored gate. Pushing it open, Arnos walked inside.


    There was a black marble rectangular table, two large white sofas, and two small white sofas arranged to make a seating area in the hall. And Arnos noticed Seras sitting beside another girl, presumably a senior. The next thing he noticed was Marcus and Emily standing in front of them rather than taking a seat on the empty sofa.


    Emily shows respect to people?, he wondered, observing the scene. Not paying much mind to it, Arnos walked toward Marcus and stood beside him.


    Marcus noticed Arnos and looked at him before turning his attention back to the seniors.


    Seras was the first to speak.


    "Y''all can take your seat," she said, looking at all the first-years standing in front of her. "And hey, you don''t have to show this level of respect anymore, ''kay?" she added with a smile.


    Emily, Marcus, and Arnos nodded and took their seats on the sofa in front of them and looked at the second-years.


    "How about you start by introducing yourselves," Alisa, one of their dorm''s second-year student, said, looking at the group.


    Alisa glanced at Emily, signaling her to begin her introduction.


    "I am Emily Leville from the royal family," Emily said casually.


    "That''s not the type of introduction mages should give to their seniors. You should also describe your affinity and perhaps your mana level too."


    "Yes, Miss," Emily said with a nod. "I am Emily Leville from the royal family. I have an affinity for light magic, and my mana level is S rank.¡±


    "You have an S-rank mana level? Considering your background, I take it you might have started low-magnitude training from childhood?" Alisa asked looking at Emily with slight curiosity.


    "Yes, Miss, I did train as a kid."


    "That''s really impressive. S rank as a starting point," Seras said, looking at Emily. She then turned to Alisa and added, "I might say it''s the first in Ares.¡±


    "It is," Alisa confirmed.


    Emily had a small smile as she heard all of this.


    Obviously, I would be special. I am the princess, after all, she thought with a sense of pride and confidence.


    Alisa turned to look at Marcus next.


    "And what about you?" she asked in a neutral tone.


    "I am Marcus Leville from the Leville household. I have an affinity for fire, my mana level is A rank, and I also possess a special ability, which I call Life-steal."


    Alisa and Seras were both intrigued by the mention of a special ability. Seras, asked a question almost immediately.


    "What does it do?"


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    Arnos was also curious about it and looked at Marcus attentively.


    "I am able to absorb half of any monster''s mana if they are incapacitated or killed by me while my special ability is active," Marcud responded.


    "I see. So, is there any time limit for the ability?" Alisa asked, processing the information she received.


    "Yes, I can only activate it for 10 minutes right now. Sometimes the time varies a bit depending on my mental condition, so I think I could still try and increase it a bit."


    Alisa nodded in agreement.


    "That should be possible. Special abilities can always be developed and strengthened over time. The condition is that you must train hard with it."


    Alisa turned her attention to Arnos.


    "And you, Arnos, aren''t you? Give us your introduction," she said.


    "I am Arnos from the city of Alcia. I have dual affinity for fire and dark magic. My mana level is A rank. I also have a special ability. I haven''t named it anything yet, though, Ma''am," Arnos said, looking at Alisa.


    "Dark affinity, huh," Alisa spoke with a bit of excitement in her voice.


    "Well, that''s good, Arnos. And your special ability¡ªwhat does it do?"


    "My special ability, It basically enhances my physical prowess with fire. I can potentially cover my body or part of it with fire, and it drastically boosts my physical capabilities," Arnos explained.


    "Does that fire hurt you?" Seras asked, looking at Arnos with a serious expression.


    Emily, Marcus, and Alisa''s looked at Arnos.


    "It does. The pain decreases after the first few minutes, though, and it heals automatically when the ability is off," Arnos replied.


    "So it''s like real fire¡ªthe pain is worse when you start to burn, but after some time, it''s less because your pain receptors are destroyed?" Seras asked.


    "Yes, Miss. That¡¯s supposed to be the case. I still try to limit it to short bursts instead of continuous use, though," Arnos responded.


    "And you possess both dark and fire affinities. Have you trained in either of them?" Alisa asked, her expression curious and slightly excited.


    "No, Ma¡¯am. I¡¯ve just learned a few basic textbook spells from some adventurers in my town," Arnos admitted.


    Seras looked at Alisa''s excited expression.


    She wants to teach him, doesn''t she? she thought, as a small smile crept onto her face.


    Marcus whispered softly to Arnos.


    "Well, that dual affinity makes you rarer, you know. He teased him and especially the dark affinity¡ªit''s as rare as light."


    "Your special ability is definitely cooler than anything I have," Arnos said with a serious look.


    "Is that so, highly doubt it." Marcus replied with a small chuckle.


    It is trust me, Arnos responded with a serious tone.


    How does this commoner possess such qualities? It''s strange. Were his parents adventurers? Emily thought to herself. No, if he were the son of high-ranking adventurers, they would probably have been given a barony. And he can¡¯t be the son of ordinary adventurers¡ªhe¡¯s far too gifted for that.


    Is it not inherited? Unlikely. Just what¡¯s with him? she wondered, narrowing her eyes and assessing Arnos.


    A-rank mana was already surprising enough for her to process. There was another thing, though, that stirred Emily''s curiosity.


    Why isn¡¯t he telling his full name? Emily slowly whispered in Marcus''s ear.


    "He is an orphan," Marcus responded in a low whisper.


    Emily was shocked by this revelation. She had an idea that Arnos was a commoner, yes, but an orphan? She had no idea. Marcus¡¯s earlier words about how she shouldn¡¯t be the one teaching others etiquette stung her.


    I was extremely rude to him, she thought, for the first time that day finally accepting her mistake.


    Seras cleared her throat.


    "Well, now that you all have introduced yourselves, it''s my turn to give you some basic info about myself and others."


    "Wait, who appoint¡ª" Alisa was about to interrupt but stopped, knowing her comment might be harmful to Seras in front of the first-years.


    "Go on, then; I don¡¯t like intros anyway," she said, waving her hand dismissively.


    Seras turned to look at the first-years.


    "I am Seras Victoria," she said. "I am proficient with dark affinity spells, though I possess the ability to use light affinity too. My hobbies are basically eating¡ª"


    Alisa leaned toward Seras and whispered in her ear,


    "That¡¯s not necessary for them to know," she said in a low voice.


    Seras, slightly embarrassed, cleared her throat again and looked at Arnos and the others.


    "This is Alisa Valteri, and hey! A friendly warning, don¡¯t disturb her sleep."


    Alisa gave Seras a sideways glance, narrowing her black eyes like a hunter eyeing its prey.


    She''s so dead, she thought to herself, glaring at Seras.


    Emily sighed. "Well, disturbing someone¡¯s sleep is always a bad thing to do, I would say," she commented in a low voice.

 Chapter 17 Dorm Room

    Alisa slammed her hand on the table, the sound echoing.


    "Exactly! That¡¯s the most horrendous crime humanity could ever commit." She said with utter seriousness.


    "Obviously, it is," Seras replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she shot Alisa a sideways glance.


    Marcus glanced at Emily and mumbled with a smug look, "I¡¯m still waking up, give me some time to wake up completely."


    "Hey! I was a kid!" Emily retorted with a pissed tone almost instantly.


    "Well let¡¯s continue the intro," Seras said. "Alisa is proficient with dark affinity, and she also likes to learn a lot of spells. She''s quite the opposite of me when it comes to learning," Seras explained with a neutral tone.


    "And about your other idiot seniors, since they decided that exploring dungeons and forging weapons is cooler, let''s just skip them," Alisa said with a pissed look.


    "Oh, I love it when you''re like this," Seras said playfully, punching Alisa.


    "Nah, they deserve it. Maybe not Erik, since exploring dungeons is a necessity for him, but Braun definitely does. I bet he''s thinking he''ll just meet the first years tomorrow like it''s nothing..." Alisa paused, then turned to Seras with a raised eyebrow. "Wait, have you even told him?"


    "The night is rather nice tonight, isn¡¯t it?" Seras added, running a hand through her pink hair, trying to calm herself as a look of anxiety crossed her face.


    "Idiot Seras. Well, whatever, you¡¯re not responsible for them, so it''s not entirely your fault I guess," Alisa said with an exaggerated tone.


    Seras nodded, "Yes exactly, I knew you would understand." She then turned her attention to the first years and noticed Emily trying to stifle a yawn.


    "Are you all tired?" Seras asked, looking at Arnos, Emily, and Marcus. "Today must have been a long day. You could all move into your rooms and rest," she suggested, looking at them.


    "That would be nice," Emily said. "It was really tiring, the whole first-day thing."


    "Agreed. It was like that for me too," Alisa added with a tired look. "It¡¯s bad, like really bad, well about the rooms though, you all could take any of the 3 rooms from the four rooms on the right side of the stairs," Alisa said.


    "But wouldn¡¯t we have to ask the dorm instructor about room allotment?" Marcus asked, looking slightly confused.


    "Hmm, that would be the right way, but Miss Margrave, who is our dorm instructor by the way, is kind of lenient about these things," Alisa said, giving a nonchalant look.


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    Seras nodded at Alisa''s comment.


    "And, see, we have sixteen rooms for seven students right now. In other dorms, it¡¯s essential for the dorm instructor to allot rooms to keep, you know, people with similar background together and all," Seras added.


    "She sure is lenient," Arnos mumbled, thinking about the events from the headmaster¡¯s speech.


    "What was that?" Seras asked, looking at Arnos.


    "Oh, it was nothing, Miss¡­"


    "First of all," Seras interrupted, pointing at Arnos and the others, "just drop the ''Miss'' part already. I prefer just Seras. ''Miss Seras'' makes me sound like an old hag or something, you know," she said with a stern voice.


    "And what were you saying? Now I¡¯m curious¡ªtell me," Seras persuaded Arnos.


    "I second that. It seems like something interesting," Alisa said as she leaned back on the sofa.


    Marcus and Emily looked at Arnos as well, both curious about what he meant.


    "You won¡¯t tell anyone else about this, right?" Arnos asked, slightly cautious.


    "No, I obviously won¡¯t, idiot," Seras replied.


    Arnos nodded and began to speak.


    "So basically, Mabel and I were late for the inauguration ceremony and were waiting outside the door because, well... we were terrified and all. And Miss Margrave kind of startled us by putting her hand on our shoulders, possibly to ask or scold us."


    But she didn¡¯t expose us. Instead, she told a small lie that we were helping her to save us from the headmaster¡¯s scolding.


    "You should have enough civic sense to not be late for the inauguration ceremony at the very least," Emily said in a slightly irritated tone.


    "Yeah, that¡¯s completely on me," Arnos admitted in an apologetic tone.


    "Well, I told you all she¡¯s good, didn¡¯t I? So, Emily, Arnos, and Marcus, you can just take any of those four rooms¡ªthey¡¯re practically identical. I think I¡¯ll be awake late tonight, so I¡¯ll make sure to inform Miss Margrave about the rooms you¡¯re staying in for today, okay?


    As for me and Alisa, we¡¯ll be in the rooms on the left side¡ªthe first two rooms on the left as you turn. So, if you have any problems, you can come and ask us," Seras explained.


    Alisa looked at Arnos and the others.


    "About your outfits and other essentials, I take it you¡¯ll all bring them tomorrow?" Alisa questioned.


    Emily and Marcus nodded.


    "I¡¯ve already told my butler to bring my stuff and Marcus¡¯s by tomorrow, so that¡¯ll probably be the case," Emily replied.


    "I¡¯ll have to buy some nice clothes for myself," Arnos thought to himself. He hadn¡¯t brought any of his older clothes with him and had no intention of doing so. He had saved up some money from odd jobs to buy a few pairs of modest outfits.


    "You¡¯ll all probably get your uniforms fitted by tomorrow," Seras added. She glanced at Emily and noticed her sleepy eyes yet again.


    "And I think we could give you all a basic tour of the dorm tomorrow. Get some rest, kay?" she said with a smile.


    With a small nod, Emily, Marcus, and Arnos stood from their seats. Emily and Marcus moved towards the right side of the hall, heading to the rooms assigned to them. Arnos was the last to move. As he stood, he glanced at Seras and Alisa.


    "Good night," he said with a small bow before moving away. Emily and Marcus were standing outside the rooms, talking.


    "I should let them choose which room they want to take," Arnos thought and stopped a few steps away from them.


    "Emily," Marcus whispered in her ear, glancing at Arnos.


    "If you want to apologize to him, you¡¯d better do it now. He¡¯s quite awkward around us, unable to talk, thinking you hate him or something."


    Emily looked at the ground, not saying anything.


    "Understood," she finally said as she moved towards Arnos.


    Arnos noticed Emily approaching him and became slightly alert.


    "Did I do something new to piss her off?" he thought to himself.

 Chapter 18 Apology

    ¡°Arnos¡± Emily said in a calm, low voice as she looked at Arnos.


    Arnos stumbled over his words. ¡°Y-Yes, princess. Do you need something from me?¡± he asked, he made sure to keep his tone polite.


    ¡°I just wanted to¡­ ahem, say that I¡¯m sorry for this morning. I overreacted¡ªno, I think I was outright rude. I¡¯m sorry for that.¡±


    Arnos looked surprised at the sudden apology. She is sorry for the morning? Is she the same girl who said I¡¯m an insect, that I should take care of dogs, and that I should drop out from Celera this morning? he thought to himself. Arnos glanced at Marcus. Just what kind of talk did you give her? he wondered silently.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Princess Emily,¡± Arnos said.


    Just don¡¯t do it again¡ªshould I say that? No, it would be too familiar. Think Arnos, think, he muttered internally.


    Noticing the awkwardness, Marcus jumped into the conversation.


    ¡°So, as I was saying, I¡¯ll take the furthest room to the right,¡± Marcus said in a loud voice. ¡°What about you, Emily?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m doing something right now?¡± Emily shot a pissed glance at Marcus. ¡°Go sleep in whatever room you want if that¡¯s what you want,¡± she said sternly, redirecting her attention to Arnos.


    Marcus sighed. ¡°I was just trying to help, huh, well Arnos and Emily you are on your own" he mumbled to himself as he walked into his room.


    ¡°Arnos, you can tell me if you¡¯re still angry with me or anything. I¡¯m just bad at dealing with people due to¡­ some stuffs and i surely don''t think just an apology is enough. Emily added in an apologetic tone.


    Arnos looked at Emily. ¡°I think it is. Like if you don¡¯t say the stuff you did in the morning again, it would be fine with me. And I met a nice person because of all that, so it wasn¡¯t all that bad,¡± Arnos said with a small smile.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Emily said with a small nod. She looked back at Arnos.


    ¡°By the way, who is this nice person? Is it that girl you were with when you were late in front of the whole school on the first day during the inauguration ceremony and the headmaster¡¯s speech?¡± Emily asked quickly, with a slight sarcasm in her voice.


    Arnos was slightly taken aback by the question.


    ¡°Yes, I think¡­ Well, I didn¡¯t mean to be late. I¡¯ll try to be a responsible student of Celera next time,¡± Arnos said, his tone apologetic as he looked at the floor.


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    Emily gave a small, quiet chuckle at Arnos¡¯s response. That¡¯s when she noticed something¡ªArnos¡¯s wrists were rather thin, almost as if they were just bone and skin. Her curiosity was piqued.


    Are all orphans like this, or does he have some medical condition? she wondered.


    ¡°Can I ask you something else, Arnos?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yes, you can,¡± Arnos replied nonchalantly, looking at her.


    ¡°I noticed you¡¯re rather thin and¡­ hmm, you know¡­¡± Emily hesitated to complete her sentence.


    ¡°Short for my age?¡± Arnos said with a chuckle. ¡°Well, let¡¯s just say it¡¯s due to a bit of malnutrition, or it could be my unknown heritage. But hey! I¡¯m just a bit smaller in height. I¡¯ll grow too, you know. I¡¯m still in that stage of life,¡± Arnos added, his tone slightly defensive yet joking.


    ¡°I mean, we¡¯re still young, so probably you will,¡± Emily said, turning towards the four rooms. ¡°Which one do you want?¡± she asked Arnos.


    ¡°You can choose. I¡¯ll take any of the other two.¡± Arnos replied nonchalantly.


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t. Just choose.¡± Emily added in a pissed tone.


    ¡°Okay, ma¡¯am. The one on the left, if I could.¡± Arnos added in a terrified tone.


    ¡°Fine by me,¡± Emily said as she walked towards the room to the right, closer to the hallway.


    Arnos sighed. Well, the day ended on a good note, She''s still scary though I think, he thought to himself as he walked to his room.


    Entering the room, Arnos was quite shocked by its size. The room was huge by his standards.


    He looked around, noticing a wooden table with a well-cushioned chair placed in the corner diagonally opposite the door. A wooden cupboard stood opposite the door, and a large single bed with a white blanket was neatly arranged in the other corner.


    Is this heaven? he thought to himself with a small smile as he jumped onto the bed, lying over the blanket.


    Arnos turned to look at the ceiling, where a chandelier acted as the light source. Isn¡¯t that too fancy? Aren¡¯t those things costly? he wondered, though he admitted, They look nice.


    The blanket was soft and smooth. Arnos raised it as he shifted to the left to pull it out from under him. He draped the blanket over himself, deciding to sleep. Wait a second¡ªhow do I turn these off? he thought, glaring at the light.


    Arnos looked around and quickly noticed switches next to the door. Good thing it¡¯s not done with light magic, or I wouldn¡¯t know how to turn it off. I wouldn¡¯t have been able to sleep, he thought as he closed his eyes.


    <hr>


    ¡°Ah, this room doesn¡¯t look that good,¡± Emily spoke with slight disappointment as she entered her room. The room was identical to Arnos¡¯s, with the same arrangement.


    Emily moved towards her bed and plopped down on it.


    The bed¡¯s good, you¡¯d have to be an idiot craftsman to mess a bed up, she thought to herself.


    She looked around, taking in everything in the room¡ªthe switch, lights, curtains, window¡ªuntil her attention fell on the cupboard. Emily walked towards the wooden cupboard and opened it. It was empty inside, with three minor compartments.


    Would they allow me to get one more cupboard? I don¡¯t think my stuff would fit in a single one, she thought to herself. I¡¯ll ask Seras or Alisa about it. They might know, she decided.


    With that, Emily turned off the lights before heading to the bed.


    With a yawn, she stretched her hands and moved the blanket aside, sitting on the bed for a moment.


    This dress will get spoiled if I sleep wearing it, she thought to herself.


    I should¡¯ve brought a spare, she mumbled, slightly irritated. With that, Emily lay down over the blanket, trying to sleep.

 Chapter 19 Dungeon of Death

    Warning - (this chapter might seem a bit confusing but I beleive it would be linked to the story by the next chapter)


    [17th Floor of the Dungeon of Death]


    In a dark, expansive cave, there was an unexpected encounter between a monster and a group of adventurers. The dungeon they were in was also called the Dungeon of Death for a reason. Monster spawns could occasionally be erratic. A minotaur could be summoned on the first level.


    Or a five-headed serpent, a massive, 15-meter-long snake with five heads, vibrant red eyes, and black, glowing scales, could be summoned.


    It was known for its poisonous central head that could melt a person¡¯s body and its other four heads that could turn a person to stone. This serpent might appear on the 17th level, despite being a monster that typically dwelled on level 25 or lower floor of the dungeon.


    The monster''s large figure caused all the adventurers in the group to be scared and cautious. However, one thing was clear none of them had lost hope yet.


    The male adventurer Aron standing in front wore a white shirt and brown pants. His thighs, chest, and torso were covered with silver-colored metal armor, but his hands and legs were vulnerable to attack. His build supported both agility and protection of vital organs.


    Aron looked at the monster. His hand was shaking, but he took hold of his sword, which was in a sheath, steadying his hand in a moment. He spoke up.


    "It''s a five-headed snake. Be cautious!" He raised his sword and shouted, "Amelie!"


    "On it," the girl with short blonde hair replied. She wore a white long dress and carried a wooden, tree-branch-like wand.


    Raising her wand, she created an enormous spherical region surrounding a large portion of the cave, covering all of them and the monster.


    "If you stay in this region, you won¡¯t become stone. I can¡¯t keep it up for long¡ªfive minutes is the best I can manage," she said loudly as she walked back.


    "Rick, try to keep Amelie saf¡ª" Aron the leader of the group began to say but was interrupted.


    "I¡¯m capable of doing that myself! Now go, and all of you focus on the fight ahead!" Amelie shouted with a serious look.


    There wasn¡¯t a second thought among the adventurers. Rick, a tall man with black hair and sparse facial hair, wearing a simple gray shirt and black pants, began sprinting towards the serpent in haste. Covering the distance in a mere moment.


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    He raised his axe and jumped high, aiming his attack at the serpent''s centermost head.


    As he did this, all of the snake¡¯s other heads, turned to look at Rick and their eyes began to glow a dark shade of red.


    Rick was momentarily scared. Had he been alone, this would have been his end.


    Rick smirked. "That¡¯s not gonna work!"


    A slash from Rick''s axe split the serpent¡¯s center head in half. He instantly moved back, using the serpent''s torso as a stepping stone to jump away.


    The blood from the serpent caused the ground just below to melt. Had it been any adventurer or human, only bones would have remained.


    "That¡¯s some nasty blood," the female adventurer Noelle, who wore red knight¡¯s armor, said as she looked at Aron, their leader.


    Aron looked at her with a serious expression. "Can you one-shot this snake with your sword?" he asked, looking at Noelle raising his brown eyes in curiousity.


    Noelle narrowed her red eyes, looking at the serpent thoughtfully. "I can¡¯t," she replied quickly, fully aware of her strength.


    As she spoke these words, the snake¡¯s attention focused on Aron and her.


    It looked at them with its four remaining heads in anger and quickly dashed toward the two of them, attempting to crush them to death. Its body caused rocks and rubble to fly in all directions.


    Aron and Noelle quickly jumped to opposite sides, avoiding the snake¡¯s attack.


    Aron looked toward Noelle and nodded. This was enough for Noelle to know what the plan was. With that, Aron spoke the words, "Fire Elemental Veil."


    A thin layer of heat spread across the area surrounding the entire cave. The temperature increased, and a popping sound echoed in everyone¡¯s ears.


    The increase in temperature was considerable. Aron glanced at the serpent, noticing the change in its demeanor.


    The superiority it felt was gone, something else had taken its place. Perhaps it was survival instinct, Aron thought to himself.


    "It''s going to run!" Aron shouted. "It''s a reptile¡ªthey can''t handle extreme temperatures," he quickly added, looking at Noelle.


    With that, Noelle was on guard yet again. She stood straight, her eyes closing as a layer of fire started to cover her blade. It was erratic at first but steadied into a thin, compressed layer. As she opened her eyes, she was ready to strike.


    The serpent had already started to move away from the adventurers. It was losing its ground due to the extreme heat, crawling towards the exit to the lower floor.


    "Dragon''s Breath!" Noelle shouted as a huge fire attack, something like a slash¡ªleft her sword. This attack was larger than the serpent itself, causing massive destruction to the dungeon as it moved towards the creature.


    The attack incinerated the serpent, its body shattering into pieces. Its dead body was unrecognizable, leaving behind only its bones, a puddle of blood and flesh, and a huge purple crystal¡ªits core.


    The serpent''s remains would eventually give rise to different monsters once the dungeon absorbed them. However, the crystal was an invaluable treasure for adventurers due to its high market value.


    A smile ran across all the adventurers¡¯ faces as the monster was defeated, each of them looking excited and pleased. The Fire Elemental Veil dissipated into thin air, and the bright region Amelie¡¯s spell created also disappeared.


    Visible exhaustion was evident on Amelie''s face.


    "That was..." she started, but was unable to complete her words and began to fall on the floor.


    Aron was the first to react, reaching her in a moment. "Are you fine?" he mumbled, looking at her face.


    "Can we go back to the surface?" she mumbled.


    "Yes, sure, that works with me. We got a good reward too today," Aron said. Turning to Rick and Noelle, he added, "Let''s get going," with a smile.

 Chapter 20

    Erik, a second-year student from Ares dorm, walked in the hallway of dorm with his disheveled brown hair. He made his way toward Seras¡¯s room, located on the ground floor directly across from Alisa''s room.


    Reaching the door, Erik knocked twice. "It''s me," he called out to announce his presence.


    "Come in," came the immediate response from inside.


    Erik stepped into the room, taking in the sight of Seras lounging on her bed. The bed was adorned with a light pink bed sheet and a white comfy puffy-looking blanket draped over her.


    Seras¡¯s room had a large table filled with books, many of which looked as new as if they had just been purchased. The walls were painted in two tones, the one with the door and the wall opposite to it, featuring a window and curtain, were light pink, while the other two walls and the ceiling were painted white.


    The large window across the table allowed sunlight to come inside the room. A white curtain hung over it, softening the light. Above, a large chandelier made of white crystal illuminated the room, adding a touch of elegance.


    Erik walked toward Seras¡¯s bed.


    "Do you want to go to the dungeon?" he asked eagerly, his eyes fixed on Seras as she lay sprawled on the bed.


    Seras sat up on the bed, placing a pillow on her lap for support. She rested her left elbow on the pillow and placed her palm on her chin, adopting a thoughtful expression before responding.


    "No, no, no," she said hurriedly. "We¡¯re getting newbies this time. I mean, maybe¡ªit¡¯s a maybe-maybe situation, but hey, no way am I missing it." She crossed her arms firmly as she spoke.


    "We could come back early! I mean, we could make it in time to meet any first-year if they¡¯re assigned to Ares dorm," Erik exclaimed, his voice filled with determination and a hint of pleading.


    "No." Seras shook her head and waved her hands dramatically to emphasize her refusal.


    "What¡¯s with that weird thing you just did?" Erik asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow.


    Seras smirked at his question.


    "Oh, it¡¯s for extra emphasis Erik. Now go away, hush-hush. I¡¯m going to sleep until lunch. You could go ask Braun to go with you or something," she suggested with a dismissive tone.


    Erik looked slightly disappointed as he stepped out of Seras''s room, closing the door behind him. He paused, glancing at the stairs, deep in thoughts.


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    "Braun, huh? The moment we hit the 15th floor, he''d be off mining for ore. There''s no way I''m bringing him along," he thought.


    "Could I go and ask Alisa?" he wondered, but quickly dismissed the idea, knowing exactly what her response would be.


    "Why don¡¯t you go and sink in a drop of water? Or better yet, get lost in the woods or something before waking me up,¡± that¡¯s the most likely thing she¡¯d say if I woke her up, he thought bitterly.


    "That depressed-tone idiot," he mumbled, slightly annoyed.


    Erik headed toward the stairs. The staircase matched the main hall¡¯s color scheme, with steps made up of white marble and golden railings. He grasped the railing and slowly began climbing, hearing the echo of his footsteps with each step.


    As he reached the upper floor and turned right, he saw four rooms. On his right were two adjacent ones, Braun''s room at the corner and his own, situated closer to the stairs. On the left side were two identical rooms, the corner one, directly opposite Braun''s main room, was used by him as a smithy, while the other remained unused.


    Erik glanced at his room. The door was made with wood, the wall on the left was adorned with a golden nameplate engraved with his name, "Erik Walker."


    Erik began walking toward it, stopping briefly to take out the key. Unlocking the door, Erik stepped inside his room. It was nearly identical to Seras''s room, except for the placement of the furniture and the color scheme. Erik''s room followed a similar pattern to Seras''s, but instead of pink and white, the colors were light yellow on the door and window wall, with white on the other two walls and ceiling.


    His bed was situated near the window, while the cupboard and table occupied diagonally opposite corners. A similar chandelier illuminated the room, and the white curtain on the window didn¡¯t fully cover it, allowing sunlight to stream through.


    Walking to his cupboard adjacent to the window, Erik opened it. The upper right segment neatly held a few pairs of t-shirts, pants, and shirts. The upper left segment housed his magic wand, while the lower segment contained his armor¡ªhand guards, knee guards, and other protective gear.


    Erik stood thoughtfully in front of the cupboard. "Let¡¯s go with a speed build today," he mumbled.


    He pulled out his armor, a set crafted from mithril, the finest material available to adventurers. It was expertly forged by Braun, his dormmate, a skilled yet eccentric craftsman who sometimes ventured deep into the dungeon to mine materials without fear.


    Erik took off his blue-green t-shirt, revealing a lean, muscular frame. He slipped on a white sleeveless t-shirt before donning the black mithril armor, which was accented with gold trim outlining the arm openings.


    Next, he grabbed a simple pair of brown pants and secured black metal knee protectors to shield his knee joints.


    Standing in front of a mirror, Erik began checking himself over.


    "Armor, check. Knee protection, check. Wand¡ªah," Erik muttered, realizing he¡¯d forgotten it.


    He went to his cupboard, opened it, and retrieved a silver wand with a gold loop. The wand was a bit longer than a metre, it was narrower at the base and thicker at the top ending in a simple golden loop.


    With the wand in hand, Erik closed the cupboard, locked his room, and walked out.


    Erik headed toward the stairs and was about to begin his descent when a loud metallic clicking sound caught his attention. He turned to glance at Braun''s smithy, the source of the noise.


    "Is Braun making something?" He didn¡¯t dwell on it for long and continued downstairs, focused on the dungeon ahead.

 Chapter 21 Adventurers Guild

    Erik covered the distance of 5 miles between Celera and the city of Duxelle in roughly 50 minutes. He could have used his light affinity or light magic spells to boost his speed but choosed not to, as walking was a hobby he always enjoyed.


    The boundary of the city of Duxelle was covered with tall 10-meter-high walls for protection. It was a two-layered wall, the outer layer was 10 meters tall and made of heavy, thick black rocks, while the inner layer, standing 8.5 meters tall, was constructed from simple yellowish stone bricks. Between these two layers, at a height of approximately 8 meters, there was a patrol area for soldiers and city knights as part of the city¡¯s defense. Every 4 meters, there was an arrow slit in the outer wall, and at all times, knights guarded the city, ready to alert everyone in case of an attack.


    Erik¡¯s walk came to a halt as he saw a long line of people standing in front of the city¡¯s main entrance. Two guards stood by the entrance in knight armor, each armed with a sword, ensuring no one entered the city without permission.


    Though long, the line proceeded smoothly. Merchants and common folk simply had to show their identification provided by the Kingdom to gain entry, while adventurers only needed to present their Adventurer Guild cards.


    After a few minutes, it was Erik¡¯s turn to provide his details.


    ¡°Can I get your identification?¡± a knight in silver armor with 2 blue feather like stripes on his left shoulder, denoting his position, spoke in a stern voice. He did not look at Erik, remaining focused on writing something in a register.


    ¡°Here, sir,¡± Erik replied in a low voice.


    The knight looked up, and upon seeing Erik¡¯s face, he returned the card without inspecting it.


    ¡°Erik, huh? Well, you are free to go,¡± the knight stated, looking at Erik.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Erik replied briefly, glancing at the knight. I¡¯ve seen him a lot of times, I should maybe try to find out his name, Erik thought as he walked into the city.


    The city of Duxelle housed about 50,000 people and had roughly 9,000 houses, making it one of the larger cities in the Kingdom of Levilenia.


    Erik began walking toward the Adventurer¡¯s Guild as he entered the city, occasionally glancing around at the shops, houses, people, and everything else in between.


    After about 10 minutes of walking, Erik reached the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. He noticed it was as lively as ever, with several adventurers entering and exiting in groups. Some were alone, some were with their party, and laughter and chatter filled the air¡ªit was the usual scene, one he loved about this place.


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    The Adventurer¡¯s Guild was a large building with a medieval-style appearance and a grand, symmetrical design. Its steep, red-tiled roof complemented its stone walls, painted a soft shade of brownish-yellow.


    A simple yet sturdy wooden double door served as the main entrance, welcoming adventurers. Above the entrance, the wall was adorned with the official grey-colored guild emblem over a blue cloth, proudly displayed as a symbol of its authority. The emblem depicted a man holding a majestic-looking trident atop a broken castle.


    Erik walked toward the entrance and stepped inside. A large cafeteria greeted him immediately. Alcohol, food, sweets¡ªyou name it, and it could be found here. The guild had its own cook, and the food was budget-friendly and tasty, catering to adventurer''s preferences.


    You could also order an extravagant meal if you were willing to pay the price. The cook, Sir Cyrus, as everyone called him, was an old man with white hair and a white mustache. His height barely reached 5 feet, but his well-toned body showed his obvious dedication to regular training despite his age. Above all, he was an expert chef.


    He was always approached by restaurants and eateries in the city to work for them, but he would always refuse. His past was something secret from the adventurers, but rumors had it he was once a strong adventurer.


    ¡°Sir Cyrus sure does make good stuff,¡± Erik mumbled as the smell of food wafted into his nose, his mouth watering slightly at the sight of the delicious meat on an adventurer''s plate.


    Erik refocused himself. That¡¯s not what I came for, he thought to himself as he glanced at the receptionist counter.


    Most of the guild consisted of a seating area. Several square tables with four wooden chairs were arranged for adventurers and their parties to sit and enjoy their time in the guild.


    There was also a large quest board at the center of the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. Beside it, on the left side, was the receptionist counters, and on the right side, there was another wooden door. This door led to the storage area, which was used by the Adventurer¡¯s Guild to store monster bodies. Monsters such as one-horned boars, minotaurs, orcs and others since they fetched a relatively good price in the market.


    If an adventurer managed to obtain a wyvern or a dragon, they could probably earn enough money to live comfortably for two to three years without working.


    Erik walked toward the receptionist counter. There were four different counters with separate female receptionist.


    He approached the rightmost counter and looked at the lady, who was busy with a bundle of paperwork.


    ¡°Hey Alya, how¡¯s your day been treating you?¡± he asked with a small smile, looking at the girl.


    Alya was wearing the guild¡¯s signature outfit. She wore a white shirt under an orange, V-neck designed top. She wore a long orange skirt that extended below her knees, complemented by blue stockings and black low-heeled sandals.


    Her white hair was tied up in a bun, adorned with a large green clover-leaf-shaped hairpin.


    Alya, who had been focused on the paperwork, turned her attention toward Erik. She glanced at Erik with her light blue eyes as she ran her hand through her long white hair and gave him a tired smile.


    ¡°Just like the usual, I would say, Erik,¡± she said in a low voice.


    ¡°Already tired, now are we?¡± Erik chuckled, looking at Alya. ¡°Do you have any escort quests?¡± he asked with a curious expression.

 Chapter 22 Receptionist

    ¡°Already tired, now are we?¡± Erik chuckled, looking at Alya. ¡°Do you have any escort quests?¡± he asked with a curious expression.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we have any of those. The only escort quest we have right now is to the forest, and earlier level of the dungeon, you won''t take them now, would you?¡± she asked, her tone neutral as she returned her focus to the paperwork.


    ¡°You sure do know me,¡± Erik said as he rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish smile. ¡°I¡¯ll probably not. Guess I¡¯ll go down and find some monsters to slay,¡± he said, clenching his fist and bringing it in front of him.


    ¡°You are just like a kid sometimes, Erik¡± Alya said, looking at him with a smile.


    ¡°Is that a good thing?¡± Erik replied with a smile. His expression changed to mock anger as he continued, ¡°Hey, hey, wait, no! I don¡¯t want to hear such a bad remark again from someone who is just four years older than me.¡±


    ¡°As you say, mister,¡± Alya said in a teasing tone. She quickly glanced around the guild and noticed the absence of Seras.


    "Your friend isn''t with you today?" Alya asked in a serious tone, giving a slightly concerned look.


    "Actually, she didn¡¯t come with me today. We¡¯re getting new first-years at my school, and she didn¡¯t want to miss the chance to meet the newbies on their first day¡ªor so she said to me," Erik added with a neutral look.


    "You should have stayed at the institute too," Alya said, raising her eyebrows. "Don¡¯t you like those kinds of things?" she asked in a curious tone.


    "Hmm, I could like them. But hey, who¡¯s going to send money to my family?" Erik replied with a smile.


    "Didn¡¯t you already earn well from your last trip to the dungeon last week?" Alya asked with, a noticeably confused look on her face.


    "Hmm, my sister will be joining a school soon, and I¡¯ve decided she should have the best. I mean, I know I shouldn¡¯t try to spoon-feed her everything, but you know what?"


    "What?" Alya questioned.


    "I think working hard for my sister and mom kind of helps me with my life as an adventurer too. I mean, I get stronger from exploring dungeons, you know. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m doing them a favor," Erik said in a serious tone.


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    He quickly changed his tone to a happy one.


    "And you know what? Once she¡¯s an adult, she¡¯s on her own. I¡¯ll just send some money to Mom and spend my earnings like a maniac!" Erik laughed maniacally.


    "You would, huh? Highly doubt it. You know what? You should still try to enjoy those kinds of things at your school. Those days never return," Alya said.


    Erik waved his hand, dismissing her comment.


    "Well, don¡¯t you know? School is just a side gig for me. My main life¡¯s going to be as an adventurer," Erik added with a determined look.


    Alya stood up from the counter, grabbed the collar of Erik¡¯s armor, and pulled him toward her.


    "You shouldn¡¯t say stuff like that. It could get you in trouble," she whispered with a serious, pissed tone.


    Erik looked at Alya with a small smile.


    "Oh, but it depends on who I¡¯m talking to. And you? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve got to keep a lid on myself if it¡¯s just you."


    Alya blushed slightly at the unexpected comment. "Is that so?" she murmured softly before quickly regaining her composure. "But there are also plenty of adventurers around," she pointed out.


    "Don''t worry even if the headmaster finds out about this. They won¡¯t kick me out of Celera. I¡¯m one of the best they¡¯ve got, and the headmaster doesn¡¯t care about comments. He cares more about strength¡ªwhich I have plenty of," Erik added with a confident look.


    "Is that so? Well, whatever happens, don¡¯t go into the deep dungeon without Seras, at the very least. Am I clear, Erik?" Alya said sternly, with a serious expression.


    "I could probably survive in the deep dungeon even on my own," Erik replied casually.


    "Don¡¯t make me repeat myself!" Alya shouted, her voice louder and more forceful.


    Erik stumbled slightly at her reaction, but as he looked at Alya, he realized this was her way of showing she cared for him. "Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to make you worry. I was just teasing you a bit," Erik said in an apologetic tone.


    "I¡¯ll only go as far as the 16th floor since I¡¯m alone. I think I can handle the 16th floor as long as I¡¯m not careless," Erik added with a small smile, as he turned back to move away from the counter toward the exit.


    Alya sighed, placing her right hand on her forehead. "You¡¯re talking as if 16th floor is child¡¯s play," she muttered.


    "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll run away if things get too scary," Erik replied, turning back to look at her.


    "Be safe!" Alya shouted after him. As she said this, she refocused on her work, her concern still evident.


    With that, Erik set off toward the dungeon. According to legend, the dungeon had 100 floors in total, with the difficulty increasing drastically every five floors. The change was so significant that a team capable of exploring the 10th to 15th floors might barely survive between the 16th and 20th floors. The floors beyond the 20th were referred to as the deeper dungeon, inhabited by far stronger monsters. Only high-ranking adventurer¡¯s parties dared to explore that part of the dungeon.


    The dungeon also had powerful creatures known as dungeon bosses every ten floors. These monsters were formed from the accumulation of mana particles from creatures killed inside the dungeon. Their creation was entirely random and depended on the dungeon''s current ecosystem and environmental factors.


    These dungeon bosses were far beyond what normal adventurers could handle. Fighting one was essentially a death sentence for most low-ranking adventurers. To defeat these creatures, top guilds like Wolf Fang and White Tiger Guild were offered substantial rewards. These guilds would send their best adventurer¡¯s party to take on the dungeon boss.

 Chapter 23 Exploration

    The dungeon was located two miles away from the city of Duxelle and was surrounded by dense forest. Occasionally, weaker monsters from the upper floors would escape into the forest and pose a threat.


    Since Duxelle was a city of adventurers, such monsters were dealt with quickly. Due to these monsters that could escape in the forest, residents of the city were not allowed to leave without an escort, but retired adventurers, knights, or those skilled in combat were exempt from this rule.


    As a result of these restrictions, there were frequent minor escort quests for adventurers. Residents who needed to gather supplies from the forest often relied on these services. Since such quests were not as dangerous as dungeon exploration, the payment was low. Erik rarely accepted these jobs, as him only being able to work once a week made him choose higher-paying tasks.


    Erik left the town, passing the knight he had seen earlier that day. After walking towards the east direction for a few minutes, he reached the main path to the dungeon, which had been carefully constructed. The path was made of yellowish heavy rocks, likely created by skilled mages using earth magic. This road was crucial for transporting goods between the dungeon and the city.


    Walking slowly, Erik reached the dungeon''s entrance in about 15 minutes. He stopped to observe the structure.


    The dungeon''s entrance was a massive cave with a striking design. Its upper section formed a perfect circular arch, curving smoothly, while the sides were straight and vertical, giving it a commanding look. Large rocks surrounded the entrance, and the stairs inside sloped downward into the darkness, hinting at the seemingly endless depths below.


    No party has managed to explore beyond the 34th floor of the dungeon so far. To reach this floor, both the White Tiger Guild and the Wolf Fang Guild had to collaborate, even hiring additional high-ranking adventurers to aid in the expedition.


    The 34th floor, currently referred to as the ¡®Abyssal Threshold¡¯ signifies the deepest level adventurers have explored to date.


    However, legends claim that this dungeon has 100 floors, and something is sealed within the 100th floor, something that should never be unleashed. Yet, these claims are unreliable since there are no reliable records, only rumors.


    Erik approached the dungeon¡¯s entrance and stepped inside. As he entered, the light around him dimmed noticeably. This wasn¡¯t just due to the absence of natural light but was also caused by the dense miasma that filled the dungeon. Beyond the entrance, a series of stairs spiraled downward, leading adventurers to the first floor.


    Just like the connection between the mainland and the first floor of the dungeon, other floors also feature similar stairways or, at times, perilous routes for traversal between two floors. These paths could include steep slopes, cascading waterfalls, treacherous cliffs, and other hazardous terrains.


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    ¡°Well, the 17th floor it is then,¡± Erik muttered to himself as he briskly descended the stairs to reach the first floor.


    Erik had reached the first floor, where small monsters like slimes and a few medium-sized creatures such as goblins were easily found. These were the monsters most likely to escape into the forest, given the proximity to the mainland.


    ¡°Take a clean hit, idiot!¡± a young girl in a blue dress, holding a small knife, shouted at the boy. Her black eyes were fixed on him with a glare that could pierce through steel.


    ¡°I tried, but that slime is slippery,¡± the boy mumbled in a apologetic tone, his brown eyes cast downwards. His brown, curly hair framed his face, and he wore a simple white shirt paired with brown knee-length shorts. He held a knife similar to the girl¡¯s, but his hands trembled, possibly from the nerves of his first time in the dungeon.


    Erik observed the interaction between the children, who barely looked 7 or 8 years old. He noticed that the slime the boy had tried to hit had already moved ten steps away from them.


    ¡°Never mind, I''ll handle those for you. Just push them toward me,¡± the girl said confidently.


    Their instructor, standing beside them with a smile, seemed amused by the children¡¯s interaction.


    Erik smiled at the scenario himself but quickly snapped out of it. Wait, why am I wasting time smiling? he thought, mentally scolding himself.


    ¡°Light Affinity, Quick Steps,¡± he mumbled almost immediately.


    The children, who had been bantering, noticed Erik chanting and turned their attention toward him.


    Erik stepped forward with his left foot in a walking motion, and when his right foot was about to lend, he vanished from their sight.


    ¡°What was that?¡± the boy exclaimed excitedly, looking at their instructor.


    The girl also looked at their teacher, her eyes brimming with excitement.


    ¡°That adventurer probably has Light Affinity. He used an intermediate spell called Quick Steps. It provides bursts of extreme speed, allowing for something akin to a vanishing walk. While he can¡¯t run with it, he can move incredibly fast in short bursts,¡± the instructor explained, using simple terms to make it easier for the children to understand.


    ¡°That¡¯s so cool!¡± both children shouted enthusiastically.


    Erik had already reached the sixth floor with his Quick Steps. The atmosphere here was notably more oppressive compared to the first five floors. He noticed groups of novice adventurers scattered throughout the floor.


    One particular party of four was struggling to fight an orc and a group of goblins.


    Should I help them? Erik questioned himself, but after analyzing their fight and team synergy, he decided otherwise. He activated another Quick Step and vanished from the scene.


    Reaching the stairs to the sixth floor, Erik chose to walk instead of using Quick Steps due to the algae-covered, slippery steps. Descending carefully, he reached a transition pathway between the sixth and seventh floors.


    Erik stepped away from the stairs, glancing around at his new surroundings on the seventh floor. The atmosphere was frigid¡ªtoo cold, in fact. The walls were entirely covered in ice, reflecting light like crystals and illuminating the dungeon.


    After traversing the narrow pathway of the seventh floor, Erik emerged into an awe-inspiring area. The space opened into a circular cliff-like zone that descended steeply downward. Moving down the pathway would lead to the stairway to the eighth floor. However, if you mistakenly fall from the cliff it would likely result in death.

 Chapter 24 Waterfall

    "Should I use the cheat route?" Erik questioned himself as he began walking upward on the steep path leading to the origin of the waterfall.


    Jumping directly into the waterfall with some type of barrier magic or physical enhancement magic was a method a few high-ranking adventurers used to commute between the 7th and 15th floors.


    Though rumors had it that the same method had been used by many adventurers to end their lives. The cold water was said to numb the body instantly, while the waterfall''s rapid pace did the rest of the work.


    On the way to the waterfall, a fishman emerged from the water. These fishmen lived in the waterfall and in the huge water pockets in other floors as well.


    "A fishman," Erik mumbled as he observed the creature carrying a trident with a brown stick and a green, emerald-like blade. It had a fish-like face but the body of a man. Its light blue skin was covered in dark blue, pointy scales on the lower abdomen and back. Its green eyes looked far from human, appearing as simple green balls or marbles.


    Erik spoke the words "Lance" softly, not wanting to attract more fishmen.


    A sword made of light projected in the air. Erik raised his right hand and pointed it at the fishman.


    The fishman, blinded by the bright light, tried to cover its eyes. With a flick of Erik''s wrist, the blade followed its path and pierced the fishman''s abdomen completely, leaving it crying in pain.


    Erik walked past the fishman, not even bothering to take the crystal from its body.


    "Some other adventurers might see it as a treat," he thought to himself.


    "I mean, I sure would have liked that when I was a lower-ranking adventurer," he added with a smile.


    Erik continued toward the waterfall, where he spotted a group of adventurers sitting on the ground and eating food. They had set up a barrier made of light magic to keep the fishmen, who were highly sensitive to light, at bay.


    "Wherever I go, I see food," Erik thought, eyeing the delicious meals they were enjoying with excitement.


    Erik walked and stopped in front of the waterfall, admiring its beauty and depth all at once.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like this is the first time I¡¯m taking this route,¡± Erik reassured himself.


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    Previously, he and Seras had used this method to travel. The spell Seras had used was called Death Tomb, which essentially separated the inner region from the outer region, creating a perfect cushion. However, she had used an incomplete version of the spell, as the complete one would have killed them.


    In Erik¡¯s background, one of the adventurers from the party wore a purple dress paired with a witch-like purple hat over her black hair. She glanced at Erik, noticing how he had been staring at the waterfall for quite some time.


    She narrowed her black eyes and turned toward the man sitting beside her.


    ¡°Hey, Karus,¡± she said, grabbing and shaking the hand of the adventurer clad in silver knight-like armor.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, Vanessa?¡± the male adventurer asked, his curiosity piqued as he glanced at her.


    Vanessa raised a trembling hand, pointing toward Erik, who stood motionless near the cascading waterfall.


    ¡°He¡¯s been staring at the waterfall for the past two minutes,¡± she said in a voice laced with fear.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we do something?¡± she added hesitantly, only to be cut off by the party''s dwarf, Thrag.


    ¡°That¡¯s nothing but a legend,¡± Thrag scoffed, chuckling at vanessa.¡°In all my years, I¡¯ve never seen anyone actually use the waterfall the way those old tales say,¡± he added with a hearty laugh, thumping his chest.


    ¡°Probably just lost in thought,¡± Karus chimed in. ¡°He¡¯s within our barrier, so there¡¯s no danger from monsters. Maybe he¡¯s just taking a break¡ª¡±


    Karus¡¯s words faltered, his eyes widening in shock as Erik¡¯s body began to radiate a bright, otherworldly light.


    Erik focused his mana, forming a protective layer of light magic around himself. The translucent membrane shimmered, casting a faint glow and giving him an unobstructed view of his surroundings.


    ¡°This should keep me safe during the fall,¡± he thought, steeling himself. He peered over the edge of the waterfall, his throat dry, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make it. I can slow myself if needed. The water¡¯s deep, and the 15th floor is supposed to be a safe floor¡ªno monsters inside its barrier,¡± he reassured himself silently.


    With a final breath, Erik stepped forward, leaned into the void, and jumped.


    The other adventurers, startled, abandoned their meal and rushed to the edge, desperate to see what the adventurer standing in front of them had just done.


    Vanessa began to cry in shock. Thrag looked visibly shocked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before,¡± he admitted, his voice trembling.


    The male adventurer, Karus, appeared confused. ¡°I don¡¯t think he used it as, you know¡­ a suicide spot,¡± he said with a sense of certainty.


    ¡°Just stop it, idiot! We could have saved him!¡± Vanessa shouted at Karus, sorrow evident on her face.


    ¡°His body was engulfed in light,¡± Karus explained in a serious tone. ¡°It was probably a light spell he used to protect himself from the fall, or maybe for something else.¡±


    He gave a neutral look, staring down the waterfall. ¡°And I don¡¯t think he would¡¯ve used a spell if what he wanted was to, you know¡­¡± He left the sentence unfinished, but it was enough for everyone to understand his point.


    Vanessa looked down at the waterfall. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right,¡± she admitted. ¡°The water might act as a cushion. If someone could slow their pace with air magic or use another spell to take the damage, they could survive.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s an idiot,¡± she added, annoyed. ¡°Scaring us like this! That adventurer should¡¯ve said something if he was going to pull a stunt like that,¡± she said, her voice bewildered and angry.

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    Hey everyone,


    Kps or Pissed Author, here. I''ve decided to focus on building a backlog for my series Shadow Ascendant.


    After reviewing my writing pace over the last five days, I think I can manage two chapters a day. So, here''s the plan.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    I''ll upload two chapters daily on Patreon and one chapter on Royal Road until the Rising Star Hunt¡ªor until I reach a backlog of 25-30 chapters.


    I''ve already posted three chapters on Patreon, so if you''d like to support me, you know where to go.


    Lastly, the most important thing: I love you all! I never expected such an amazing response to my story. ?? Thank you!

 Chapter 25 Village in Dungeon

    Erik looked at the surroundings as he continued to free-fall, a nonchalant expression was present on his face. "Eh, the speed isn¡¯t so bad," he mumbled in a casual tone when he passed the 10th floor.


    The speed of his fall kept increasing, and his initial nonchalance quickly turned into fear, escalating to the extreme spectrum.


    ¡°Shit, shit, shit, shit! I¡¯m not doing this again¡­¡± Erik screamed, his voice laced with panic as the high speed and acceleration overwhelmed him.


    ¡°Intermediate Heal,¡± Erik mumbled, noticing the landscape change as he approached the 15th floor. His whole body was enveloped in a radiant white coloured healing aura, designed to treat any injuries he might sustain.


    After activating the healing spell, Erik crossed the barrier at the 15th floor. The barrier was impenetrable at all points except for the waterfall. Covering the waterfall with the barrier could disrupt the ecosystem of the 15th floor and potentially cause a disastrous overflow of water outside the protected zone, endangering everyone.


    Erik gripped his wand tightly as he collided with the river formed by the waterfall at high speed. The impact caused a massive splash, accompanied by a loud sound that immediately captured the attention of every nearby adventurer.


    ¡°Are we under attack?¡± a female adventurer with dark green hair shouted, her hand instinctively reaching for the small sword she carried in its sheath as she stared at the river.


    ¡°It looked like a light spell attack, I think,¡± a male adventurer with black hair commented, his gaze fixed on the disturbed river.


    ¡°Look at the bubbles¡ªsome monster is coming out of the river,¡± another female adventurer with black hair and a wand added with a terrified look.


    At her words, all the adventurers drew their weapons, ready to strike down the presumed monster as soon as it emerged.


    Erik, who was inside the river, slowly walked out in a hesitant motion. His gaze remained fixed on the ground, avoiding the adventurers out of sheer embarrassment.


    ¡°I, uh¡­ I¡¯m human,¡± he mumbled awkwardly, standing on the riverbank.


    The adventurers began chattering among themselves.


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a disguise or some kind of illusion magic?¡± the female adventurer with dark green hair asked, pointing at Erik.


    An older male adventurer observed the scene and chimed in, ¡°You newbies might not know it yet, but this method is used by experts to move between the 7th and 15th floors of the dungeon. It¡¯s something of a shortcut,¡± he added with a smirk, pride evident in his tone.


    ¡°So, do you know how to do it, sir?¡± the male adventurer with black hair asked, turning to the older man.


    ¡°That''s not of concern here¡± the old adventurer added with a defensive tone.


    While this conversation was happening, Erik mumbled, ¡°Quick Step,¡± and vanished from the riverbank, moving a long distance away in the blink of an eye.


    ¡°That was embarrassing,¡± Erik mumbled, placing his right hand over his face in shame. ¡°I even forgot to use air affinity to slow my pace. I¡¯m an idiot¡ªa big idiot at that,¡± he thought to himself.


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    Erik then took in the surroundings of the 15th floor, the only floor within the dungeon under human control. It resembled a small village, or rather, a flourishing one.


    The floor was secured with a high-level barrier to prevent any monsters from entering, an extra layer of security implemented by humans. The 15th floor was unique, when the first group of humans reached it, they discovered there was no dungeon boss or monster spawn in the region. This led humans to establish it as a safe floor within the dungeon.


    The barrier was further enhanced with high-level illusion magic, making the dungeon ceiling appear as a blue sky with clouds. A massive sphere of light magic acted as the sun. Trees and grass grew abundantly, creating a fertile environment. Some theorized that the river might play a significant role in maintaining the floor¡¯s fertility.


    The problem of the scarcity of water was also resolved since the water from the waterfall was drinkable and clean.


    Erik walked towards the human settlement, where vendors and merchants lived to earn extra profits while simultaneously putting their lives in danger.


    As Erik looked around, he saw a few familiar faces¡ªseveral merchants and adventurers he had seen many times on the 15th floor.


    "Do I need to stock up?" Erik questioned himself, glancing at a store that sold mana and healing potions.


    In the end, he decided against it, considering he could already perform healing far superior to that offered by the potions. As for mana potions, though useful, they had their own side effects¡ªthey caused mana sickness in mages.


    Using mana potions or overusing one¡¯s mana often led adventurers to suffer from a condition known as mana sickness. Its symptoms resembled those of a severe flu, something Erik had no interest in experiencing.


    Erik finally reached the exit of the 15th floor¡¯s barrier. He looked at the small translucent door within the barrier, guarded by two adventurers standing watch to prevent low-ranking adventurers from passing through.


    One of the guards was a tall, muscular man over 6 feet in height, with black hair, black eyes, and a mustache. He wore blue-colored armor with gold accents. The other guard, a younger adventurer who barely reached the shoulder of the first, had yellow hair and blue eyes. He held a long wooden wand with a yellow crystal embedded at the top in his right hand.


    As Erik approached, the younger adventurer with the wand stopped him.


    ¡°Hey boy, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± the adventurer asked in an irritated voice.


    ¡°To the 16th floor,¡± Erik replied nonchalantly.


    ¡°That¡¯s not¡­¡± the adventurer began, but Erik handed him his adventurer card.


    ¡°A-rank adventurer! Wait, uh¡­ sorry for interrupting,¡± the adventurer said, his voice now tinged with hesitation and guilt.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind him, Erik. He just joined two days ago,¡± the taller man said, stepping forward and placing a hand on the younger adventurer¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Ah, there¡¯s no problem, Sir Doron,¡± Erik replied with a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t mind using this card,¡± he added, showing it. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s got to have some use, you know,¡± he finished with mild irritation.


    ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯re a funny one, you know that?¡± Doron said, looking at Erik with mild amusement.


    Doron then pointed at the newbie standing next to him. ¡°This here is Arin, just so you know,¡± he said, introducing the younger adventurer to Erik.


    Erik extended his right hand toward Arin, who accepted it for a handshake.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Erik Walhmer,¡± he said with a small smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s just Arin for me,¡± the male adventurer replied.


    After retracting his hand from the handshake, Erik looked at Doron. ¡°Can you open the gate, sir?¡± he asked with a neutral expression.


    Doron nodded, taking out a small gold pentagonal emblem with a green crystal in its center. He raised it toward the translucent door, opening it in the process.


    Erik slightly bowed to Doron in respect as he walked through the gate and entered the non-barrier region of the 15th floor.


    The non-barrier region, though dark like the other dungeon floors, didn¡¯t have a high miasma density for a dungeon floor. No monsters were visible either. The landscape was spherical in shape, with a single exit leading to the 16th floor.


    Erik walked toward the staircase leading to the 16th floor and began descending carefully, taking slow steps. The steps, like those between the 6th and 7th floors, were covered in algae and quite slippery. Restricting the use of Eriks quick step spell.

 Chapter 26 Creature of Shadow

    Erik entered the 16th floor. Beyond the 15th floor, the lower floors lacked unique designs and instead formed an ever-changing labyrinth. Maps were nearly useless, and an adventurer¡¯s party required a mage capable of casting a basic spatial awareness spell, or escaping would depend entirely on chance factor.


    Erik navigated the maze of the 16th floor, where the pathways were narrow rocky terrain. The howls of monsters caught his attention.


    ¡°A pack of Night Wolves,¡± Erik thought to himself after hearing the howl. Night Wolves, also known as creatures of shadow, were capable of moving as shadows on the ground. Not only that they had the ability to hide in another person''s or monster''s shadow, while in shadow form, they could not be harmed.


    This ability gave them both an ultimate defense and a surprise element. Night Wolves were large, roughly 2 meters in length, with red eyeballs and black spindle-shaped pupils. Their black fur surrounded their bodies, and their large fangs and teeth were used to tear apart anything who crossed their path.


    "Quick step," Erik mumbled, vanishing from his position and darting around three corners of the floor in the blink of an eye.


    A party of three adventurers had been surrounded by twelve Night Wolves. All the adventurers seemed exhausted.


    Erik noticed three dead Night Wolves lying on the side, and he deduced they had been struck by fire magic, judging by the wounds on their corpses.


    The male adventurer of the group was a middle-aged man, clad in silver armor and holding a sword with a blue hilt. His head was also covered by a helmet hiding his black hairs.


    Next to him stood a female adventurer, an elf with blue eyes and long braided blonde hair. She carried a tree branch-like wand and appeared the least fatigued.


    Another member of the party was a young human mage, wearing gold-silver armor and holding a short sword wreathed in fire. Her armor covered most of her body, except for her legs and arms, likely designed for mobility.


    "Do they need my assistance?" Erik wondered as he observed the party, knowing that adventurers typically followed a rule of not stealing another''s prey.


    One of the wolves took the offensive approach and charged towards the elf at a rapid pace.


    The female elf, who had been standing with her wand, cast a fireball spell at the wolf attacking her. The wolf dodged the spell be stepping towards left and dashed towards her, aiming to attack her.


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    Erik mumbled, "Lance," and a light magic spear materialized, which almost instantly pierced the wolf attacking the elf.


    "Good grief," Erik muttered. "Do you need help?" he shouted, drawing the attention of the adventurers.


    The female elf he had just saved shouted back, "It would be highly appreciated."


    Erik noticed three of the Night Wolves sinking into their shadows, likely preparing to attack him.


    Erik mumbled, "Miniature Sun," and a small orb of light magic emerged from his wand. It hovered above them, illuminating the surroundings and dispersing the shadows of the Night Wolves.


    The male adventurer seized the opportunity and attacked one of the wolves that had been about to slip into its shadow.


    Four of the Night Wolves shifted their attention to Erik and charged at him in a quick motion.


    Erik retreated slightly and mumbled, "Multiple Lance." Instantly, four lances formed, resembling swords,


    Erik flicked his wrist forward, and swords of light flew toward the Night Wolves, impaling their chests. Two wolves collapsed instantly, while the other two pressed on with their advance.


    The wolves were about to reach Erik and seeing the wolves closing in, Erik murmured, "Excellus." It was an intermediate spell that created a sword of light for a mage to wield.


    Both wolves leaped¡ªone from the right, aiming for Erik''s right hand, and the other from the left, targeting his torso.


    Erik¡¯s wand glowed, transforming into a sword made of light, which he used to decapitate the wolf that was attacking him from the left. Before he could strike the second, its fang scratched his right hand, leaving a deep wound.


    "Ah, that''s bad," he said, looking at the wound. "Light Heal," he mumbled, a bright light enveloped his right hand, healing the injury.


    While Erik was fighting the four Night Wolves, the adventurer party managed to defeat the rest of the pack.


    "You guys alright?" Erik asked as he walked toward the adventurer party. He glanced at the bodies of the Night Wolves scattered around, confirming the pack has been defeated.


    "Seems that way," the elf replied in a calm voice as she cast a healing spell on the other female adventurer in the party.


    "It would have been a lot worse if you hadn''t come to our aid," the middle-aged adventurer said as he looked at Erik with his black eyes. He stepped forward and extended his hand to Erik for a handshake.


    "It''s Aldraz," the adventurer said with a smile as he shook Erik''s hand. He seems really young, perhaps as old as Naomi, Aldraz thought as he looked at Erik.


    "It''s Erik sir," Erik replied with a small smile. He glanced at the bodies of the Night Wolves where he had been fighting, then turned his attention to Aldraz, who had crouched down and begun dismembering the wolves¡¯ bodies.


    "Can I share the loot?" Erik asked, watching Aldraz.


    "You sure could. You can take the five Night Wolves you killed, if that works for you. Aldraz added in a casual tone. Technically, you assisted with one of the wolves I killed, so¡­" Aldraz began, but before he could finish, Erik waved both his hands dismissively.


    "I don''t think that would be necessary. I already got five¡ªthat''s enough," Erik said in a pleased tone. With a small chuckle, he added, "I thought you might not let me take any, considering I¡¯m not part of your party and with the adventurers'' guild rules and all."


    "That sure is the rule. But you know what, kiddo? Adventurers gotta stick together. Not sharing loot with someone who helped you? That''s bad and unprofessional in my book," the female elf interjected in a serious tone.


    Erik unconsciously smiled at her comment. They are good people, Erik thought to himself.

 Chapter 27 New Party?

    "By the way, I¡¯m Elyza, a mage with fire affinity," she added, tapping her chest. Then gesturing toward the female adventurer who had been fighting with the short sword and standing next to her, she continued, "And this here is Naomi, our youngest party member.¡±


    Erik nodded. "Appreciate your hospitality for letting me share the loot," Erik said with a warm tone. He then walked toward the corpses of the wolves he had killed, and removed a small brown pouch from his pocket.


    The pouch, connected with advanced spatial magic, could store a large number of items. Erik had purchased this expensive item because most of the monsters he hunted were edible, allowing him to earn money not only from their crystals but also from their meat.


    "Is that a Luminarian pouch?" Naomi asked, her green eyes lighting up as she saw Erik holding the small bag.


    "It sure is. I had to buy it for a few reasons," Erik replied as he dragged one of the wolf corpses toward the pouch. The pouch absorbed the wolf¡¯s body seamlessly.


    Naomi, clearly impressed, watched with sparkling eyes. "Can I try it once too?" she asked eagerly.


    She¡¯s like my little sister when she''s all excited, Erik thought to himself with a smile.


    "A Luminarian pouch, huh? Are you some kind of rich kid, kiddo?" Elyza asked in a teasing tone.


    ¡°He sure is¡± Aldraz added in a teasing tone.


    "Sure, you can try," Erik said, walking toward Naomi and handing her the bag. "You just have to bring the corpse of any monster you killed near the opening of the bag, and it¡¯ll do the trick."


    He then turned to Elyza and began walking towards her. "I¡¯m anything but a rich kid, ma¡¯am," he said with a chuckle and stood next to her, leaning on the dungeon''s wall.


    Naomi walked over to one of the bodies of the Night Wolves Erik had killed. A grin spread across her face, her excitement evident as she prepared to use a Luminarian pouch for the first time.


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    She grabbed the Night Wolf¡¯s paws and brought the corpse near the Luminarian bag¡¯s mouth. As she did, the monster vanished into thin air.


    ¡°This is really awesome,¡± Naomi said, her green eyes sparkling with excitement. She repeated the process with the rest of the wolf corpses Erik had defeated, handling each one expertly.


    Erik and Elyza watched her otherworldly enthusiasm with smiles, while Aldraz gathered the useful parts of the dismembered wolves and packed them into a large piece of cloth to carry.


    Naomi approached Erik and handed him the bag with a satisfied smile.


    ¡°Thanks for letting me use it, Erik,¡± she said, clearly pleased.


    ¡°My pleasure,¡± Erik replied with a small smile. ¡°I''ll be taking my leave now,¡± he said with a casual tone.


    As he turned away and was about to walk off, Elyza called out, ¡°Wait!¡±


    Erik stopped and turned to look at her. ¡°Yes?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Do you have a party?¡± she asked curiously. ¡°You could always join ours if you want. What do you guys think?¡± Elyza looked at Naomi and Aldraz, who both nodded in agreement.


    ¡°I don''t see any problem with it,¡± Naomi said nonchalantly.


    ¡°He¡¯s strong,¡± Aldraz added, giving the cloth filled with dismembered wolf parts a final tug.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a party, but I do have a teammate,¡± Erik replied with a neutral expression. ¡°I really appreciate the offer, though. It makes me happy.¡± He smiled. ¡°I might take you up on that offer in the future if you all don¡¯t mind,¡± Erik added.


    ¡°Ah, I was hoping you¡¯d join us,¡± Elyza said with a hint of disappointment. ¡°Well, nevertheless, have a good hunt, Erik.¡± She gave him a thumbs up.


    Erik turned again and waved his hand. ¡°Quick Step,¡± he mumbled, vanishing from the spot in an instant.


    ¡°Too bad,¡± Elyza said, her words tinged with slight disappointment. ¡°He would have made a great addition to our party,¡± she added, looking at Aldraz and Naomi.


    ¡°Well, he¡¯s a young man right now. Young kids don¡¯t understand the importance of a party that much. We were all like that once,¡± Aldraz said.


    Naomi pointed a finger at herself. ¡°Hey! I want to remind you of something, old man, I¡¯m young too, you know!¡± she exclaimed, narrowing her eyes slightly and giving him a skeptical look.


    ¡°You need to have the strength to back it up too, ya know,¡± Aldraz mumbled. Hearing this, Naomi mock-punched him in the torso.


    ¡°Ah, that hurts!¡± Aldraz shouted.


    Elyza crouched and used a basic wind spell to reduce the weight of their loot.


    ¡°Should we get going now?¡± Elyza asked narrowing her blue eyes, scanning their surroundings. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t want to be attacked by another set of monsters, now would we?¡± she added, her expression turning serious.

 Chapter 28 Possessed Adventurer

    Erik had moved further into the dungeon however, he noticed something strange as he observed the surroundings. His eyebrow furrowed as a hint of confusion spread across his face.


    Erik encountered no more monsters after the night wolves. This fact alone might not be considered strange, but the lack of any signs of monster corpses or fights made him slightly cautious and put him on guard.


    Why have I not seen any monsters till now? he thought to himself as he walked at a moderate pace.


    "Isn''t the 16th floor meant to have a high monster spawn rate?" Erik mumbled.


    Did their party kill everyone? Erik wondered, quickly disregarding the thought. They didn''t seem strong enough to conquer a floor, he thought as he walked, his footsteps ringing in his ears.


    Erik''s eyes flickered between the labyrinth''s path, walls, and surroundings. He took a turn to the right at the corner in front of him. His eyes glanced at the gate ahead, the gate to the 17th floor.


    Should I go? he questioned himself. I mean, I did say to Alya I wouldn''t go below the 16th floor, Erik considered as he put his right hand on his chin, taking a thoughtful look.


    Seeing as he had no luck on the 16th floor, Erik walked toward the stairs and started descending to the 17th floor.


    "I¡¯ll apologize later," he mumbled.


    It was when he was about halfway down the stairs that he heard a loud shout from the 17th floor. Erik quickened his pace.


    "Someone¡¯s in trouble," he thought to himself as he mumbled, "Quick Step," and vanished from the stairs, appearing on the 17th floor.


    Using Quick Step on dungeon stairs was something Erik always avoided, but seeing someone might be in trouble, he decided to ignore his own rule.


    Erik descended the stairs in an instant and now stood on the dungeon¡¯s 17th floor, which was a large open space with several paths. However, a very thick miasma cloud surrounded him, restricting his vision.


    "Miniature Sun," Erik murmured softly, as a small orb of light flickered to life at his fingertips. It drifted upward, settling into a gentle hover above his head, casting a glow that illuminated the surrounding area more clearly.


    The first thing Erik noticed was the corpse and blood of a huge five-headed serpent directly in front of him. One of the several paths leading deeper into the 17th floor was destroyed and blocked by debris, while black tar-like substances stained the walls near the serpent''s corpse.


    "A fire spell attack annihilated the serpent," Erik mumbled to himself.


    "It shouldn¡¯t have spawned here, though," Erik added, his expression changing to a serious one. He turned his head to the right, and his eyes widened.


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    Three adventurers lying on the ground, covered in blood and motionless. Erik hurried toward them.


    He looked at their faces, trying to recognize them, but he didn¡¯t. There was a tall man with black hair colour, a girl with red hair in red armor, and a blonde girl whose face wasn¡¯t visible to Erik. He crouched down and turned the last body, which was lying face down, and looked at the face.


    "Amelie," he mumbled in shock as his hands started to illuminate, and he began to heal the stab wound on her torso.


    Erik looked at the surroundings of the 17th floor. His visibility was still somewhat hindered despite the Miniature Sun spell he had casted. The dense miasma cloud was responsible for this atmosphere.


    It could be dangerous, any monster could attack my blind spot, Erik thought to himself as he continued to heal Amelie.


    Erik stopped healing Amelie, took hold of his wand, and closed his eyes, concentrating deeply.


    "Light Elemental Veil," he said in a low, steady voice.


    A massive spherical membrane of light expanded from his body, stretching outward until it enveloped the entire cave. Its glow illuminated every corner of the vast space, dispelling the oppressive miasma that clung to the air.


    With his visibility restored, Erik glanced at Amelie. Her external wounds were now patched up, but he knew there was more to be done.


    I need to heal the others too, Erik thought as he raised his wand and spoke firmly, "Areal Intermediate Healing.¡±


    As he spoke these words, Amelie, Noelle, and Rick were all engulfed in another bright sphere that cast an aerial intermediate healing spell over them.


    Erik walked out from where he was standing and moved out of the healing sphere. He wiped off a drop of sweat from his head and mumbled, "It was a job well done, I''ll say."


    That''s when Erik noticed something strange. He suddenly got goosebumps, and his body shook unconsciously. For a moment, he felt as if someone or something was watching him.


    Erik turned his head to the right, looking at one of the entrances to the 17th floors interior labryinth. That¡¯s where he saw a humanoid figure standing in the shadows.


    "Multiple Lance," Erik mumbled, instantly as three glowing projectiles, a pair of swords and a spear, materialized in the air. With a swift flick of his right wrist, the projectiles shot forward, targeting the figure in the distance.


    The impact landed with a thunderous crash, kicking up a dense cloud of dust in the area. Erik waited, his eyes fixed on the spot. As the dust settled, his heart sank. The figure remained, completely unfazed, staring back at him.


    Erik was quick to act. He clenched his wand in his left hand and almost instantly closed the gap between himself and the figure with Quick Step.


    Erik¡¯s wand clashed with the figure''s weapon, which was none other than a blood stained sword. The speed of the clash caused sparks to fly.


    Both Erik''s and the figure''s weapons were in a stalemate, with the figure overpowering and pushing Erik back in a moment.


    Erik stepped back maintaining his distance, taking note of the monster¡¯s strength. That¡¯s when the figure came out into the light.


    The monster didn¡¯t have two horns. It wasn¡¯t an orc or a minotaur, it was just a human. Amelie¡¯s party leader, Aron, holding a sword in his right arm with a blank expression. Erik didn¡¯t recognize anyone other than Amelie, and for him, Aron was just an adventurer who had just gravely injured someone Erik knew.


    "Why did you do that?" Erik shouted with anger. He was now sure the wounds on Amelie and the others had been caused by the adventurer standing in front of him.


    Is he human, or is this some kind of mimicry ability of a monster? Erik questioned himself unsure of what he is dealing with.


    Aron darted toward Erik to close the gap, his legs enhanced by fire magic and exuding fire like aura. In a moment, his sword struck Erik¡¯s wand, causing him to stumble. Aron used his left elbow to land a blow on Erik''s face sending him flying.

 Chapter 29 Funeral of the living

    ¡°Argh,¡± Erik grunted in pain as he was pushed 10 steps back due to the attack. "Is it some kind of possession?" Erik questioned himself as he looked at the adventurer''s emotionless face, regaining his composure.


    "Quick step," Erik mumbled and instantly moved back, maintaining some distance from Aron.


    "Excellus," Erik chanted, as he said excellus his wand began illuminating brightly, remoulding into a bright sword made of light.


    With that, Erik clenched the sword in his left hand and raised it to challenge the possessed adventurer.


    Erik and Aron dashed towards each other. Erik''s sword, made with light, managed to take the first blow of Aron''s blade. However, using only his left hand to hold the sword instead of both hands, caused some problems for Erik, forcing him to use all his strength to fend off the attack.


    Erik looked at Aron, and an idea flickered in his mind.


    "Quick step," Erik mumbled, vanishing from Aron''s sight. Aron moved his eyes, trying to spot Erik. However, Erik was nowhere to be seen in front of him and reappeared behind Aron.


    "Multiple lance," Erik mumbled, raising his free right hand and flicking it forward toward Aron. Two spear projectiles pierced Aron''s right leg, his shin and lower thigh now impaled by the glowing weapons.


    "Quick step," Erik mumbled again and moved back, maintaining his distance from Aron.


    Aron, despite his leg being pierced, stood straight up without any expression on his face. It was as if he wasn¡¯t feeling anything, confirming Erik''s doubts.


    No expression of pain, huh? It''s not usual possession then is it, but it doesn''t seem like he is in his senses either. Gravely injuring him is out of the question, Erik thought to himself.


    He raised his wand and was about to cast a binding spell on the possessed adventurer in front of him. However Aron closed the distance. His legs exuded a flaming aura, similar to the previous time¡ªa variation of the quick step that fire mages used.


    Aron¡¯s blade became enveloped in fire as he slashed it, targeting Erik¡¯s left hand.


    Erik dissolved his Excellus spell, which had formed the sword, and used his wand to block the attack. This time, he used both hands to block Aron''s attack.


    "Bind!" Erik shouted loudly as he struggled against Aron¡¯s overwhelming strength.


    Possessed Aron''s eyes widened as if realizing he had walked into a trap. He tried to fall back, breaking the stalemate and jumping behind, his eyes still fixed on Erik.


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    ¡°No, you don''t,¡± Erik shouted as he mumbled, ¡°Lance.¡± The projectile this time was a spear that appeared behind Aron, targeting his left foot.


    Aron turned his attention behind him, slashing his flaming sword at the spear, breaking it into two in an instant. But this was no victory for him since he was now standing within the range of Erik''s binding spell.


    Thick vines made up of light emerged from the ground. each adorned with wrinkled green leaves. The vines lashed out, stopping Aron¡¯s movements by binding his hands and legs. He was now completely immobilized.


    A flaming aura began to emerge from Aron as he struggled against the binding spell. He grunted, his voice filled with something resembling anger.


    Erik smiled at the sight and moved a few steps away from Aron.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know? The vines are meant to suck your mana, idiot monster,¡± Erik said with a smirk.


    That¡¯s when Aron¡¯s body went limp. Completely drained of mana, he lay motionless within the vines, his head hanging down and his gaze fixed on the floor.


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you¡­ I¡¯ll kill all your teammates¡­ Amelie, Rick, Noelle,¡± and¡­ Aron murmured in an inaudible tone. ¡°I¡¯ll find you. I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    Erik¡¯s smile faltered, his eyes widening in horror. Monsters shouldn¡¯t be able to understand or speak human language, he thought, staring at Aron in disbelief.


    Snapping back to his senses, Erik glared at Aron. ¡°Who gave you the permission to speak¡±, Erik said in a stern voice.


    The idea of monsters using human speech was nothing more than a rumor among adventurers in the guild. But now, Erik was witnessing it firsthand.


    He¡¯s not just controlling that adventurer¡¯s body¡­ he¡¯s pulling information out of him too, Erik thought. Narrowing his eyes, he raised his right hand and clenched his fist, causing the vines to wrap around Aron¡¯s mouth, silencing him.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your body, bastard,¡± Erik shouted, his voice filled with anger.


    ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to use someone¡¯s body to kill their friends,¡± Erik said, raising his wand. ¡°And if you think you can speak using someone¡¯s body in front of me, think again,¡± he said, glaring at the possessed Aron.


    Erik raised his wand and closed his eyes. The healing sphere which was healing Amelie and others disappeared and the light elemental veil¡¯s range began to condense around Aron. The possessed adventurer glanced at his surroundings and then at Erik. A drop of sweat ran down his previously expressionless face. He struggled against the vines, but every movement only made them tighten further.


    Erik¡¯s wand now glowed with the aura of light magic as he began chanting.


    ¡°The spirit has been suppressed, the body stolen. Purify the body, return the vessel, for the thing within it is nothing but a thief.¡±


    As Erik completed the chant, five blobs of light appeared within the condensed veil, flying to specific points to form a pentagonal structure with Aron at the center.


    Erik approached the structure at a slow, deliberate pace, stopping just in front of it. His gaze dropped to the monster ensnared within his spell.


    Blobs of light shot beams downward, forming glowing pillars. Each pillar then fired beams toward the other four, connecting to create a star-shaped cage. The entire structure glowed brilliantly, bathing the area in an intense light.


    As Erik studied the structure, the cage of light grew even brighter. The condensed veil began to dissipate, its mana flowing into the cage and amplifying its radiance further.


    Meanwhile, Erik¡¯s healing sphere had already worked its magic on Amelie and her party members. The bright light caused Amelie and others to wake up, shielding her eyes with her hand. Amelie tried to make sense of the scene in front of her.


    ¡°Just¡­ what is that?¡± Amelie asked, her voice filled with awe. She glanced at the figure standing unflinchingly before the radiant structure, it was none other than Erik, the adventurer she had helped a few times back when he was just a newbie.

 Chapter 30 Accusations

    "Erik," Amelie said in a whisper, as she looked at Erik.


    The structure of light Erik had casted unleashed a light beam attack from all sides, filling the entire cage with radiant light. The brightness was too intense for the other adventurers to see, but Erik continued to watch it unwaveringly.


    He observed as his binding spell dissolved in the cage. He watched as the possessed adventurer was brought to his knees, hearing the loud scream of the adventurer or more precisely, the scream that monster let out.


    "Finally feeling pain, eh," Erik said with a small smirk looking at the possessed adventurer.


    As the light disappeared, Aron was lying motionlessly on the floor. Erik moved quickly, crouching to place his hand on the adventurer''s neck.


    He''s alive, Erik assessed as he felt the pulse.


    Amelie, Noelle, and Rick ran toward Erik and Aron, their wands and swords in hand.


    Noelle grabbed Erik''s collar and pulled him up. "Explain yourself," she shouted, her anger fuming as she glared at him.


    Amelie focused on Aron instead. "You¡¯ll be fine," she said as she tended to the wound on his right leg.


    Rick stood next to Noelle, glaring at Erik with one hand on the handle of his axe, ready to act if Erik tried anything.


    "First of all, relax and hear me out," Erik said cautiously. "He was possessed, and he likely attacked you all under that possession."


    Noelle loosened her grip on Erik''s collar. "Wait, it wasn¡¯t some kind of illusion?" she asked, glancing down to see her armor broken near the right side of her torso.


    Rick and Amelie, reminded of their injuries, noticed their torn clothes, which made Erik¡¯s claim even more believable.


    "I fought him when he attacked me. My main motive was to immobilize him. I tried to hit him with my light spell on his right leg to do just that," Erik explained.


    "I remember getting hurt by someone," Amelie added, her attention still fixed on healing Aron.


    Amelie¡¯s healing spell flickered as she ran out of mana, leaving Aron¡¯s injury still not fully healed. Erik noticed it immediately.


    Not now, the healing isn''t over yet, she thought to herself, feeling her hand begin to shake due to exhaustion.


    Grabbing Noelle''s hand, Erik freed his collar from her grip and moved toward Aron. He glanced at Amelie. "Let me handle this," he said firmly.


    Amelie gave a small nod, her expression tinged with disappointment on herself. She stepped aside, coming to stand beside Erik.


    Erik clenched his wand in his left hand, and murmured, "Intermediate healing," causing the wand to glow. He hovered it over Aron, and as he did, light magic surrounded Aron¡¯s right foot, gradually healing the wound and sealing it from the outside.


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    "He can still use mana after that spell?" Noelle exclaimed, a shocked expression evident on her face.


    As Erik completed healing Aron he turned his head to look at Amelie


    "Now Amelie," Erik said.


    Amelie, looked at Erik as he continued.


    "I think we should move. If monsters attack us here, we¡¯ll be in huge trouble and I am nearly drained of mana," Erik added.


    He turned to Rick, "Sir, if you don¡¯t mind, please carry your teammate." Erik said as he pointed at Aron.


    Rick nodded, crouching to pick up Aron and placing him over his shoulder.


    Noelle walked toward Amelie, who was standing beside Rick and looking at Aron. Leaning closer, Noelle whispered, "Can we trust him?" Noelle asked in a doubtful tone.


    Amelie nodded. "There¡¯s no way he¡¯s lying. No one would use such a high-level purification spell without a reason," she whispered back. "And I believe in him too. He¡¯s a good kid," she added quietly.


    Noelle nodded at Amelie¡¯s words. She believed Erik¡¯s story as well, but after being stabbed by someone she looked up to as a teacher, her doubts were natural. And being cautious wasn''t a bad thing according to her.


    "Can you pick up my bag? Since I¡¯m carrying Aron, it might be hard for me to carry it," Rick said, looking at Noelle, who simply nodded and ran towards the position where they were stabbed.


    Rick carried a simple brown-colored bag with food essentials and mana potions. Noelle carried the bag on her back and walked towards the group.


    "I think I have mana potions in the bag," Rick said. "You guys can use them, they help with mana overuse," he added.


    Noelle took out three bottles of mana potions, giving one to Amelie, one for herself, and offered one to Erik.


    "Here," Noelle said as she stretched out a hand with one mana potion glass bottle to Erik.


    "I don¡¯t use these," Erik said, refusing the offer.


    "Hey, I haven¡¯t poisoned it! Are you doubting my intentions?" Noelle shouted, slightly pissed.


    "Nope, I¡¯m not doing any such thing. I¡¯m a student, and using the potion might cause me mana sickness and force me to skip school,"


    Erik said as he looked towards the 17th floor¡¯s exit. He began to walk towards the exit. Amelie and Noelle chugged down the potion and followed Erik and Rick, who were walking in front to the exit of the 17th floor.


    "I didn¡¯t know he was that young," Noelle said, looking at Amelie in surprise.


    "He is. He¡¯s from Celera, isn¡¯t that right, Erik?"


    "Yup, that¡¯s true." Erik admitted.


    "Celera¡­" Noelle added with a dumbfounded look. "Wait, he¡¯s from Celera Magic Institute!" she exclaimed.


    Amelie nodded at this.


    "He¡¯s from Celera. He works part-time as an adventurer to support his family. Kind of responsible, isn¡¯t he?" she added with a smile.


    "That explains why he is so extraordinary."


    Hearing these words, Erik¡¯s expression changed to a slightly irritated one. No that''s not true, It doesn¡¯t explain why I am strong, he thought to himself.


    "That¡¯s not true," Amelie scolded Noelle. "He works hard. Just being in Celera doesn¡¯t make you an A-rank adventurer," she added in a angry tone.


    "Ah, I didn¡¯t mean to¡­ Sorry, Erik, I¡ª"


    "That¡¯s fine," Erik mumbled in his usual tone. At least she can apologize, that¡¯s more than enough, he thought to himself as they reached the 16th floor. He and Rick moved out of the way as they reached the top, Amelie and Noelle joining a moment later.


    Erik looked around, observing the area where there were no monsters in sight.


    Is it somehow related to the monster who possessed him? Erik thought as he glanced at Aron.


    Disregarding his thoughts, he looked at Amelie. "Do you know any basic spatial spells?" Erik asked.


    "I could do spatial magic," Amelie replied. She placed her hand on her chest. "Leave it to me," she added with a confident tone.


    With that, Amelie closed her eyes and took hold of her wand. Her wand was similar to what Erik had seen earlier in Elyza¡¯s possession¡ªa large tree-branch-like wand with leaves emerging at even distances and wrapped in a special vine across the wand.


    "Illuminate the surroundings, make it my domain, show the path to the wandering traveler, light elemental spatial magic," Amelie chanted.


    As she spoke these words, a single spherical wave of light emerged from her body and spread in all directions.


    Advanced spatial awareness spell, Erik thought to himself, thoroughly impressed with it. "I should ask her to teach it to me," he added aloud.

 Chapter 31 Abnormal Dungeon

    Amelie''s eyes were still closed, her mind focused on finding the path to the 15th floor. She was able to see everywhere the wave of light went.


    She scanned the various paths of the 16th-floor labyrinth, glanced at the stairs they had just come from, and noticed another group of adventurers. Her slightly strained facial expression relaxed as she finally saw the stairs to the 15th floor. She opened her eyes.


    "You found it?" Noelle questioned, looking at Amelie.


    "I did," Amelie nodded.


    "We should get going then. You can take the lead," Erik said, looking at Amelie. Erik then glanced back to look at Rick, who was carrying Aron. "Do you need any help to carry him?"


    Rick simply shook his head. "No, it''s fine," he added in a stern voice.


    Amelie tapped Erik''s back. "Don''t worry, he is rather physically strong," she added with a small smile as she started to walk forward.


    Erik nodded and started walking behind Amelie. Noelle was walking side by side with Erik, while Amelie had taken the lead, with Rick trailing behind with Aron.


    Amelie slowed her pace to catch up with Erik. She turned her head to look at him.


    "Thanks for helping us, Erik," she said in a thankful tone, her yellow eyes downcast and looking slightly disappointed.


    "It wasn''t a big deal," Erik said nonchalantly.


    His eyes then fell on Amelie''s face, observing her expression. "Hmm, are you by any chance angry with yourself?" he asked, looking at Amelie.


    Amelie was slightly taken aback by Erik''s comment. She didn''t outright say anything but nodded.


    "I think I am, to a certain extent," she added with mild frustration.


    "You shouldn''t worry about it," Erik said, looking forward.


    "I mean, you guys fought a five-headed serpent. They are tough to kill. You were taken by surprise¡­ wait, what happened exactly? I''m curious now." Erik added with mild curiosity.


    "I was the first to fall, so I''m not completely sure about what happened myself," Amelie said, she looked back and glanced at Noelle.


    Noelle quickened her pace, now walking side by side with Erik and Amelie.


    Erik looked at Noelle. She was about the same height as Amelie and came roughly to his shoulder. She wore red knight''s armor, which looked costly, and her sword''s sheath was a dark bluish color, with the sword''s hilt a striking dark red. Her armor''s color matched her eyes and hair as well.


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    "After we defeated the five-headed serpent, Amelie was tired since she was maintaining the barrier during the whole fight," Noelle said in a serious tone.


    "After defeating it, we decided to go back to the mainland. Aron walked towards the serpent''s core, which was just beside one of the paths of the 17th floor interior that I destroyed."


    "That''s when strange things started happening. Aron stopped near the corner. I called out to him to ask what''s up. But when he looked back, he had a weird look."


    "Did his face not show any emotions at that time?" Erik questioned, guessing from his experience when he fought the possessed Aron.


    "Yes," Noelle added as she nodded. "That''s when Aron vanished from his position and stabbed Amelie, who was resting against the dungeon''s wall, piercing her torso in the process. The next person he attacked was Rick, who was off guard, giving him a deep wound on his back."


    "That must have been tough for you to see," Amelie added in a sorry, regretful voice.


    Erik glanced at Amelie''s face, noticing her eyes get slightly watery. She is getting emotional, he thought to himself as he looked back at Noelle.


    "What happened next?" Erik asked, looking at Noelle with a serious tone.


    "I was on guard. I knew what possession was," Noelle added.


    "I could never win against a fully-powered Aron since he is faster and more skilled, but a possessed Aron¡­ I could win from him, was what I thought."


    "It wasn''t usual possession, now was it?" Erik spoke aloud, catching Rick''s and Amelie''s attention.


    "What do you mean?" Amelie asked.


    "Aron was able to use his fire affinity while possessed. He was probably just as strong as he normally is," Noelle added.


    "Wait, that means..." Amelie said, widening her eyes in fear.


    "We met something else," Erik added. "A new type of monster, to be precise," he said in a serious tone.


    The group continued to walk after that, with everyone having a serious look on their face. Finding new monsters was a huge deal.


    In the Kingdom of Levilenia, the Dungeon of Death, located in the city of Duxelle, was the most recently discovered among all the dungeons. Until now, the dungeons shared a commonality in their monstrous inhabitants.


    Creatures such as Minotaurs, drakes, goblins, slimes, dragons, nightwolves, griffins, and others had been encountered across all dungeons, albeit at varying depths.


    Given that the older dungeons had been extensively explored, it was assumed that the creatures found in the Dungeon of Death would align with the known catalog of monsters.


    However, the discovery of a unique monster capable of possessing individuals and utilizing their abilities has changed everything.


    Erik, along with Amelie and her party, reached the gate of the 15th floor by following the path Amelie had seen. Upon reaching the gate, Erik began to think about the entire ordeal that had occurred that day and the problems it could cause.


    Erik suddenly stopped in the non-barrier zone of the 15th floor.


    Amelie and the others stopped, looking at him. "Did something happen?" Noelle asked curiously, looking at Erik.


    "Could you all keep whatever happened today a secret and not spread the news of fighting some new kind of monster?" Erik asked, his facial expression and tone serious.


    "Can it cause any issues?" Amelie asked curiously as she looked at him.


    "It can certainly cause some serious problems for sure. I would like to handle this monster job by myself. And you all keeping this a secret is essential for it," Erik added.


    Amelie glanced at Noelle, who simply nodded. She then looked at Rick, who did the same.


    "No worries. We will not reveal any information about it," Amelie assured Erik as she tapped her chest.


    "I''ll be going then. I need to reach the surface," Erik said in a hurry. He looked at Noelle. "Can I have the mana potion you were previously offering? I might need it since I have to hurry," Erik added in a calm tone.

 Chapter 32 Dungeons Exit

    Noelle took out the bag from her shoulder and opened it, taking out a mana potion from it.


    She walked towards Erik, passing him the mana potion. "Have a safe journey," she added in a calm tone.


    Erik stretched his arm, taking the mana potion in his hand. He removed the luminarian pouch from his pants pocket and brought the mana potion near its mouth. The mana potions bottle seemingly vanished and was placed inside the pouch''s space.


    "I will be cautious, thanks for the potion though," Erik added with a smile, looking at Noelle. He then simply turned his head to look at Amelie and simply nodded, which she returned as well.


    "Quick step," Erik spoke, vanishing from their position and moving to the stairs of the 15th floor in an instant.


    "It''s sure going to be tiring to use quick steps repeatedly to reach the mainland," Erik mumbled as he let out a small sigh.


    Erik''s journey back took something about 2 hours due to all of the small and mid-sized monsters coming in his way. He avoided most of the battles, only taking the fights he couldn''t avoid. Using quick steps to enhance his speed for prolonged time after fighting aron, nightwolves, healing Amelie and her teammate, and fighting other monsters on the way up had caused Erik to have a burnout.


    Erik was finally standing outside of the dungeon, panting repeatedly, trying to catch his breath. A tired look was evident on his face.


    "I would have to use the potion, huh? I thought I might manage without it," he mumbled with an irritated look on his face.


    Erik moved aside from the dungeon''s entrance, taking support on the wall of the dungeon''s rocky exterior. He placed his wand against the wall as well.


    He placed his hand in his pocket, taking out the luminarian pouch from his pocket. Holding it in his left hand, he opened the rope that covered its mouth, throwing that thin rope on the floor as he opened it.


    "Why do I have to close this dumb pouch," he shouted mentally, getting angrier every moment. Erik put his hand inside the pouch, imagining the mana potion bottle in his mind. With that, he pulled his hand outside with the bottle.


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    Erik removed the cork cap from the bottle and quickly chugged down the mana potion almost instantly.


    As he did that, he tightly closed his eyes shut, they were burning from tiredness. Erik kept his eyes shut, only tightening the force further. He then bent slightly forward, standing without the support of the wall, and stretched his arm as he opened his eyes.


    Erik stumbled a bit and regained his composure in the next moment itself.


    "It was tiring, i am not gonna help anyone again," Erik added in a low voice with a frustrated look.


    Erik picked up the rope he had thrown down and placed the empty bottle inside the luminarian pouch, tying it afterward. He then placed the pouch in his pocket and took his wand that was supported by the wall.


    Erik began his walk towards the main city of Duxelle. He kept his pace moderate, taking sufficient time to think about what his next actions should be.


    "Telling the guildmaster about this monster sighting would surely pay good," Erik thought to himself with a serious expression, which quickly changed to a huge grin.


    "How much will he pay, though?" Erik wondered. "Killing or defeating a monster is one thing, but information? That''s priceless, isn''t it?" he thought as he walked on the forest''s pathway.


    Erik looked up at the sky, noticing the full moon covered with clouds.


    "It''s getting cold," Erik said as he noticed his right hand twitching with coldness.


    Erik used a burst of two quick steps in succession, stopping in front of the city''s entrance.


    Erik let out a sigh. "Mana potions aren''t that good. Feeling tired after two quick steps? That''s practically water," he added with a disappointed look on his face.


    Erik walked towards the city entrance gate. The knight from the morning was sitting inside a small, room-like post, which had a large window as an opening and a stone platform attached to the lower side of the post''s opening. Another knight stood in front of the large gate of Duxelle, holding a sword in his hand. His job was simple, to stop anyone from entering without permission.


    Erik looked at the knight sitting in the post. He was the same man from the morning, the one whose name Erik was curious to find out.


    Erik moved towards the post, stretching his arm with his adventurer card.


    "Oh, it''s you, Erik. You can go in, It''s not needed," the knight said as he pushed Erik''s hand back.


    Erik looked at the knight and began to speak.


    "Sir, have I ever properly introduced myself?" Erik questioned the knight with a curious expression and a polite tone. He placed his adventurer card on the platform and stretched his hand for a handshake.


    The knight''s facial expression changed from confused to a small smile. He took Erik''s hand in his.


    "It''s Albert Williams," the knight said in his deep voice.


    "It''s Erik Walker for me, sir. I study in Celera and work as an adventurer part-time," Erik said with a tiny smile as he shook Albert''s hand.


    "I knew you were young and don''t work daily, but you''re a student at Celera too?" he added with a surprised tone.

 Chapter 33 Guildmaster

    "I knew you were young and didn''t work daily, but you''re a student at Celera too?" Albert added in a surprised tone. He pulled his hand back, folding his arms as he took a moment to gather his thoughts.


    Albert looked curiously at Erik and asked, "You know what, Erik? I am certainly impressed by your ability to manage studying and adventuring together, but doesn''t adventuring affect your academics?"


    Erik nodded at this. "I''d be lying if I said it doesn''t. It sure does affect my academics, but increasing my proficiency in battle makes up for it, I would say," Erik added with a small smile and a calm expression.


    "Ah, I see. Wait, do you guys get marks for battle proficiency too in Celera?"


    "It''s a school for mages," Erik added with a sarcastic tone.


    "Guess that was a silly question," Albert added with a chuckle. Knowing full well how battle prowess is one of the most important characteristic of any mage.


    "It was surely a silly question but I don''t mind, though I think I should better be going, or I''ll probably be slain by a receptionist," Erik added jokingly as he looked at the city''s entrance.


    "Wait, slain? Am I missing something?"


    "Nah, I was just exaggerating," Erik added with a small chuckle. "I should still get going, though. Have a nice da¡­ night sir," Erik said, quickly correcting himself.


    "Yeah sure go ahead," Albert added as he re-immersed himself in his work of maintaining the city''s register for the day.


    And my joke didn''t land, huh? That sure was embarrassing, Erik mentally scolded himself as he moved towards the city''s entrance and walked inside. He took a quick glance around, noticing that the crowd was the same if not more than in the morning.


    What else can you expect in a city of adventurers? Erik added mentally, smiling outwardly at his own thoughts.


    Erik walked towards the adventurers'' guild, passing by several shops along the way, especially the ones selling delicious food.


    I need to eat, don''t I? Erik thought as he looked at the delicious-looking kebabs at a street shop.


    Erik turned his head back towards the road and started looking down at the road as he walked.


    I have a job that''s more important, idiot Erik, he mumbled to himself. As he did so, a small smile crept onto his face. Did Seras rub off on me? he wondered, remembering the way Seras often addressed herself as an idiot.


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    Erik reached the adventurer''s guild quicker than he had in the morning, perhaps due to the extra motivation.


    He moved inside the guild, noticing it was as bustling as ever, perhaps even more due to the time overlap between adventurers heading to the dungeon at night and those returning from morning expeditions, collecting their payments, and having dinner.


    Erik moved towards Alya''s counter, his concentration briefly interrupted as one adventurer slammed a wooden mug of alcohol on the table.


    Erik glanced at the table. They were having a lot of meat with rice and bread for dinner. Erik turned his head and continued toward Alya.


    Focus on your work, he scolded himself mentally as he reached Alya''s counter.


    Alya was as busy as ever with the paperwork. She stretched her neck by bending it backward to relieve her of strain. When she brought her head back to a normal position, she noticed Erik standing in front of her.


    "Erik, huh? When did you come here?" she asked with a tinge of surprise in her voice.


    "Just now, I would say," Erik replied in a tired voice.


    Alya looked at Erik closely, noticing the unusual tired expression on his face.


    "Are you fine? You look unwell," she asked, her voice showing slight concern for him.


    "I''m fine," Erik said, widening his eyes to show that he was attentive.


    He was in no way interested in getting scolded by Alya for being reckless and using too much magic despite having burnout.


    "You don''t look like it, though," Alya said, letting out a sigh. "Well, whatever. Hand it to me," she said, stretching out her hand.


    Erik removed the Luminarian pouch from his left pocket and passed it to Alya.


    "There are 5 nightwolves in this pouch, so yeah, that''s all for today."


    "Just 5 nightwolves, and you look this tired?" Alya asked with a suspicious look.


    She was completely aware of Erik''s abilities and knew full well that 5 nightwolves could never give him a hard time.


    "I was, hmm, helping a friend out," Erik said with slight awkwardness and hesitation.


    "You''re lying," Alya said, narrowing her eyes.


    "Wait you can tell!" Erik exclaimed in a surprised tone.


    "Yeah," Alya added with a smug grin. "I''m good at catching people''s lies. I''m kind of like a mind reader of sorts."


    "But if it''s something you can''t tell, you don''t have to force yourself," she added with a calm look. "I''ll get this loot checked in and be back in a moment," Alya said as she turned toward the storage room.


    "Take your time," Erik added.


    Alya turned to look back at Erik.


    "I have some business with the guildmaster," Erik said, pointing toward the guildmaster''s office on the first floor with his thumb.


    Alya simply nodded at this. She watched as Erik walked toward the guilds stairs and moved up.


    A concerned look flickered on her face however she refocused on her task and went inside the storage room.


    Erik was standing outside the guildmaster''s office, staring at the wooden door as he prepared himself to meet the guildmaster.


    He let out a sigh as he opened the door and quickly bent his head to the left, barely avoiding a wooden chopstick that was headed for his eyes.


    "You''re as quick as ever, I see," said the man sitting on the wooden chair with his legs crossed and stretched out on the table, said as he looked at Erik.


    The guildmaster was wearing a long blood-red trench coat with a white t-shirt and black pant. His facial expression was sharp, he had sharp black eyes, black hair styled in the left part, and he had a pencil style black moustache. He appeared to be in his early 30s.

 Chapter 34 Reward

    That might really have killed me if it had hit, Erik thought to himself. He walked inside the office, closing the door as he walked in. In front of him was a wooden table placed against the wall with a large window directly behind it. A brown curtain partially covered the huge glass window, allowing a small amount of light to come through.


    To Erik''s right, there was a bookshelf filled with books about magic and adventuring as a profession, these were the books the guildmaster frequently used.


    The table was a wooden one, with a fancy white teacup acting as a pen stand for several fountain pens. A lot of brownish papers were stacked on the table, with a stamp and a red ink container placed together next to the pen stand.


    The guildmaster was sitting in his white, cosy armchair with his feet on the table. The paperwork seemed to have been completed, as it was placed aside. On the table, a white bowl of noodles rested, though the chopsticks were missing, the same chopsticks that had just been used by him in an assassination attempt on Erik.


    Erik walked towards the guildmaster''s table. Standing a step away from the two simple wooden chairs arranged with the table opposite the guild master''s armchair, he looked at the guild master as he began to speak.


    "I don''t know much about how to treat juniors, but I am almost certain you shouldn''t try to kill your juniors, especially children," Erik said, in a loud voice with a visibly pissed look.


    The guildmaster pulled back his leg and placed it on the floor, standing from the chair. He walked towards Erik and patted Erik''s right shoulder playfully, looking at him with a smile.


    "I was just checking whether you are still training or just wasting your time in that shit hole," the guild master said in his deep voice, emphasizing the "shit hole" part.


    "That shit hole is my school, sir Valdrik," Erik retorted as he moved the guildmaster''s hand away and stepped back.


    "Seriously, you don''t have to study there to become a good adventurer. You can climb up ranks like butter if you just become a full-time adventurer," Valdrik said in a slightly frustrated tone as he looked at Erik.


    Giving an annoyed expression, Erik continued, "I prefer learning there since the instructors there are competent in their field and know what they are teaching," Erik said, emphasizing the word "competent."


    "I am not interested in learning stuff from fellow adventurers, whose primary focus won''t be to teach me," Erik replied, giving Valdrik a disapproving glance.


    "Fine, whatever you say," Valdrik said with a shrug gesture as he looked away from Erik.


    "Coming to the important thing, I have something important to tell you, sir Valdrik," Erik said in a serious tone, looking at Valdrik.


    "What? Do you need me to find some high-paying jobs for you like usual?" Valdrik added in a frustrated tone. "I''ll tell you if I have any," he added, dismissing Erik with a wave of his right hand.


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    "It''s not about that. It''s regarding the dungeon," Erik added.


    As the word "dungeon" left Erik''s mouth, the environment in the room became a serious one.


    Valdrik turned to look at Erik. "And what about the dungeon do you want to tell me, Erik? Did something strange happen?" he asked with a serious look.


    Erik nodded at this. "Yes, it sure was something strange; I think I encountered a new type of monster in the dungeon today," Erik added in a serious tone.


    Valdrik''s eyes widened. "A new monster, you say?" he said. "You aren''t playing pranks with me now, are you?" Valdrik asked loudly, looking at Erik.


    "I am not," Erik replied without flinching.


    Valdrik looked at Erik''s expression, not sensing any lie in his face. He moved back to his seat, sitting back in his chair. He looked at Erik. "Do tell me about today''s incident in detail," he added as he leaned forward taking the support of the table.


    <hr>


    Erik described the events that transpired in the dungeon, the unusual lack of monster spawning on the 16th floor, the dense miasma on the 17th floor, and the new type of monster that could not only possess a person but also use that person''s memories and abilities.


    After Erik finished recounting the day''s events, the guildmaster took some time to think about what he should do. After a moment of thinking, he spoke up.


    "How many people know about this whole ordeal?" the guildmaster asked, glaring at Erik.


    "It''s me and Amelie''s party," Erik added. "I have already asked them not to reveal anything about this monster sighting to other adventurers," he added in a neutral tone.


    "You did? That''s good," Valdrik said as a sigh of relief left his mouth. "You can leave now," the guildmaster said, waving his right hand to gesture to Erik to go.


    Wait, shouldn''t he offer me a monetary reward? Guess I have to do something about it, Erik thought to himself.


    "So, Sir Valdrik, may I ask something?" Erik added with a polite tone.


    "What do you wanna ask?" Valdrik replied, raising his eyebrows.


    "I am curious, where should I get the payment for defeating this monster? And how much should I be paid?" Erik said, giving a mock thoughtful look as he folded his hands.


    Valdrik hit the table in fury. "You can''t be serious! You aren''t revealing any information about this to anyone."


    "I am not," Erik added with a slightly surprised tone.


    He''s falling for my trap. I mean, he should have just given me payment upfront for keeping it a secret, Erik thought to himself.


    "How will I get paid then, sir?" Erik said in a polite tone. "You do know I work a single day in a week, don''t you, Sir?" Erik added.


    "Seriously, Erik? That''s what you were getting at?" Valdrik said with a slightly disappointed look.


    "I do have a family to take care of," Erik said, slowly whistling as he looked away.


    Valdrik took a moment to consider. He glared at Erik disapprovingly and added, "Fine, but I want absolute silence on this topic."


    Erik nodded. "Yes Sir."


    "How much do you earn on your average exploration?" Valdrik asked, giving Erik a curious expression.


    "Something around 60,000 to 80,000 ryon," Erik replied immediately.


    "60,000 ryon, huh," Valdrik said, pausing for a moment, taking his time to think before continuing.


    Erik looked at Valdrik attentively, waiting for the amount he would offer.


    Valdrik took a piece of paper from the register and a pen from the stand.


    "Will 70,000 ryon be enough for you?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.


    "Yes, that should be enough," Erik said, nodding, maintaining a calm expression.


    Valdrik entered the amount he was giving Erik in the register. The amount he wrote was 100,000 ryon.


    Valdrik looked down at the table he was working on. There were two drawers on either side of the table. He slid open the drawer on the left, taking out 100,000 ryon from it.


    "Here''s the money," Valdrik said as he stretched his hand with 100,000 ryon. "Ask any of the receptionist to give 30,000 ryon to Aron and Amelie''s party when they see them, and also inform them to meet me," Valdrik said with a stern look.


    Erik nodded, taking the money in his hand. There were 10 notes of 10,000 ryon. "Understood, Sir," Erik mumbled, looking at the money in his hand.

 Chapter 35 Payment

    With that Erik politely bowed and moved outside the guildmaster''s room, closing the door as he stepped out. He turned towards the stairs, descending them at a slow pace, his thoughts running wild as he walked.


    70,000 ryon, huh? That''s certainly a good amount, and with the night wolves I killed, that should make my total more than 100,000, Erik thought to himself.


    Reaching the ground floor, Erik glanced at the receptionist counter where Alya was sitting in her respective seat.


    Erik walked towards her post, standing in front of her within a moment.


    Alya was writing something on a paper. Alya brushed off the strands of her white coloured hair that had fallen across her face as she looked at Erik with her blue eyes.


    "Hmm, the overall weight of the nightwolves you brought was something around 800 pounds. That should be about 400 pounds of meat," Alya blurted out.


    Erik simply nodded, listening attentively.


    "Market price for it is 500 ryon per pound, so it is 200,000 ryon for 400 pounds, and your cut would be 80,000 ryon, with 40,000 ryon more for the crystals," Alya said, letting out a sigh of relief from all that talking. She looked up at Erik.


    "Guess you managed to earn more than your normal income," she said in a calm tone, with a small smile.


    "Yeah seems that way," Erik replied with a small chuckle. "I honestly didn''t think I would. I had no idea night wolf meat was this costly," Erik exclaimed in a surprised tone.


    "It is. They are actually quite rare, as you might already know. Their flesh is quite popular among high-earning individuals for showing their status," Alya added in a knowledgeable tone.


    "I had no idea," Erik said with a surprised tone. Erik took out the money the guildmaster gave him and passed 30,000 ryon to Alya.


    "The guildmaster said that you need to pass this to Amelie or her party and ask them to visit him when they come tomorrow," Erik added, looking at her.


    "Understood," Alya mumbled, taking the money from Erik''s hand. She passed along Erik''s payment, which was enveloped in a brown packet.


    "Can I ask something, Erik?" she said, with slight concern on her face.


    Erik looked at Alya, taking in her facial expression. Did I do something to worry her? he thought.


    "You could," Erik replied.


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    "Did something bad happen today?" Alya asked in a concerned tone.


    Is that what''s troubling her? Should I lie? Erik questioned himself considering his options.


    "Yes, but I can''t tell," Erik said in a hesitant tone. "I have my reasons," he added with a slightly apologetic tone.


    "No, it''s not that big of a deal," Alya said as her blue eyes widened as she looked at Erik. She waved both of her hands in a dismissive motion.


    "You don''t need to be sorry about it, she said. So will you be going back to your dorm, or would you eat here and then leave?" Alya asked trying to change the topic.


    "I suppose I''ll be going back. I mean, you do know about the probability of us getting newbies today, don''t you? Chances are less, but not zero."


    Erik gave a sheepish smile looking at her. "I mean, I gotta introduce myself to my newbies, you know."


    Alya nodded at this. "Yes, yes, that''s right. You need to live your life like a student more, away from responsibilities."


    "I do, huh? Well, have a great day¡­ ah night actually to be precise," Erik said as he waved his hand and turned back, moving to the exit.


    Erik moved out of the adventurer guild, standing on the bustling street of Duxelle. I am seriously hungry, Erik thought to himself, mentally tired. He began walking back toward the city''s exit.


    With roughly 15 minutes of walking, Erik reached the city''s exit. Erik glanced at Albert, who was still maintaining his post.


    His job sure is tough, Erik thought to himself as he walked past the post and exited Duxelle. Erik walked for a few minutes more, moving 200m or so away from the city''s gate.


    Do I have a few bursts of Quick-Step spells in me? Erik questioned himself. Erik was tired from the day''s events and didn''t want to waste more time walking if possible.


    Erik stretched his neck, bending it backwards, looking at the moon and dark sky. He turned his head down, looking at the path straight ahead, covered with trees on either side.


    Let''s do it, he thought to himself, looking at his feet.


    "Quick Step," Erik said as the aura of light magic enveloped him. In a quick movement, Erik managed to traverse half of the distance to Celera. He repeated the spell, stopping just a few meters away from Celera''s magic school.


    Erik walked towards Celera''s premises, heading towards the guard sitting outside next to the main door of Celera''s entrance.


    "Can I get inside?" Erik asked, looking at the guard. The guard was a man in his mid-40s, wearing a black-coloured uniform.


    "Do you see what time it is?" the guard replied in a frustrated tone.


    "I have the headmaster''s permission," Erik replied in a polite tone.


    "Headmaster''s permission huh? Do you think you''re somebody special?" the guard spoke in an angry tone.


    "I''m not anybody special. Could you just open the gate, or should I enter another way?" Erik replied, his tone changing from calm and polite to stern as he glared at the guard.


    The main door opened, and Erik entered the premise of Celera, the vast premise of Celera that spanned across 1,000 acres.


    He was trying to pick on me, Erik thought to himself as he took a quick look at the guard. Returning his focus back to the main thing, Erik turned his head to the left, looking at the building of Ares dorm.


    "Quick Step," Erik mumbled as he quickly travelled the distance between Ares''s dorm and Celera''s main gate in an instant.


    Without thinking much, he walked towards the main gate to the premises of Ares dorm. It wasn''t closed, so he opened the gate and locked it as he moved inside.


    Erik walked on the centre pavement that stretched between the gardens on either side, extending from the main gate of the dorm''s premises to the east entrance of the C-shaped Ares dorm building.


    This pavement was made with pale yellow bricks it was large and circular in the centre of the garden with the fountain. Erik glanced at the fountain, illuminating brightly.

 Chapter 36 Dinner

    This pavement was large and circular in the centre of the garden with an elaborate circular fountain. Erik glanced at the fountain, illuminating brightly.


    "Seras really wastes her time on useless stuff," Erik mumbled as he looked at the fountain and the small orb of light inside the water. It looks good though, he thought to himself with a small smile.


    The east gate to the dorm was a double door made of sleek, black-coloured wood. Erik reached the gate and tried to open it.


    Is it locked? Erik thought as he tried to open the door, but it didn''t budge.


    Erik knocked on the door twice, and almost instantly, the door was opened from the inside.


    "We got some newcomers," Seras said as she looked at Erik, excitement flickering in her eyes.


    "We did?" Erik exclaimed, surprised.


    Seras nodded at this. "We sure did," she added as she moved aside from the door, letting Erik walk inside.


    "They''re asleep though, Like, their first day was long and stuff, ya know," Seras added as she began walking toward the seating area.


    Erik turned back to lock the door. "Has Miss Margrave came yet?" Erik asked as he slid the golden bolt lock to secure the door.


    "Yeah, she did, she''s sleeping herself" Seras added as she walked and sat on the sofa in the seating area. A plate of food sat in front of her on the black marble table¡ªa simple chicken gravy dish with rice.


    Erik glanced at the main hall. Seras was sitting in the seating area which was present on the left side of the hall. Two large white sofas were set opposite each other, with two smaller, similarly well-cushioned sofas positioned opposite each other around a large table made of black marble and dark brown intricately designed wood. A large, light bluish crystal chandelier hung above the table.


    In the centre portion, there was a door similar to the east entrance¡ªa sleek, carefully crafted black wooden gate that acted as the western exit. This exit was directly connected to Celera''s training ground and magic herb garden. It wasn''t directly opposite to the eastern gate but it was instead present slightly to the right.


    On the left side of the gate was the staircase with golden railings, leading between the first floor and the ground floor.


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    On the right side of the main hall, there was a similar door to both the entrances, but it was a single door instead of a double door. This door opened into the kitchen. On the left side of the hall, directly opposite the kitchen, there was the door to the library.


    Erik walked toward the stairs and returned to his room on the first floor. He changed into his normal clothes, a grey t-shirt and loose comfy brown pants. After changing, Erik walked out of his room, returned to the ground floor, and went back into the main hall. Erik entered the kitchen and looked at the food. He already knew what to expect.


    There was a chicken gravy dish with some rice. Looks good, Erik thought to himself as he grabbed his dinner and went outside, closing the door behind him.


    Erik walked toward the seating area, where Seras was still eating her dinner, and he took the seat directly opposite her on the long sofa.


    "Do we have class tomorrow?" Erik questioned, looking at Seras.


    Seras shook her head. "No, I''m not completely sure, but if I''m not wrong, we should have a day off tomorrow. Alisa might know the answer, but she is¡­"


    "Asleep?" Erik completed Seras''s sentence with a small chuckle.


    "Yeah, something like that," Seras replied with a small smile.


    "Why are you this late today, though?" Seras questioned Erik as she took a bite of her food.


    "Things happened. Today''s exploration was the toughest I have ever experienced," Erik replied with an enthusiastic tone.


    Seras''s yellow eyes widened. "What happened?" she asked, looking at Erik with slight concern.


    "Ah¡­" Erik turned his head away to not look at her. "I am not supposed to tell," he replied hesitantly.


    "What do you mean by you aren''t supposed to tell?" Seras asked loudly, raising her eyebrows in a mix of frustration and curiosity.


    Erik looked back at Seras. Seeing her face, he realized there was no way she was going to take no for an answer.


    She isn''t gonna quit, is she? Erik thought to himself.


    "The only thing I can tell you is I had a strange monster encounter today," he said.


    "What do you mean by strange?" Seras asked, her voice filled with curiosity.


    Erik spoke in a serious tone. "That I can''t tell you. Sorry, I have given my word to someone."


    "Was it something unusual?" Seras asked. Erik didn''t respond to this, but just by looking at his serious face, she realized it was.


    Erik glanced back at Seras, who now had a serious expression on her face and was staring at the table. It felt as if her thoughts were somewhere else.


    Seras turned her head to look at Erik. "Was it life-threatening?" she asked, her voice completely sincere and serious, with no hint of her usual joking tone.


    Erik hesitated a bit. "No, it wasn''t," he said.


    "Don''t lie to me," Seras said, glaring at Erik.


    "I am not lying¡ª" Erik tried to repeat but stopped when he looked at Seras doubtful expression. He let out a sigh.


    "It wasn''t exactly life-threatening. I most probably would have been able to escape, which I would have done had it been dangerous for myself."


    Seras stood from her seat, the dirty plate in her hand.


    "No more solo expeditions for you," she said, eyeing Erik as she stood.


    "Sure, no more solo expeditions," Erik said agreeing to her, looking down at his plate.


    Seras walked toward the kitchen to place the dirty utensils there, leaving Erik alone, deep in thought.


    It''s not like I ever want to go solo to the dungeon, Erik thought to himself as he looked up at the chandelier and let out a sigh.

 Chapter 37 Second Day of Celera

    It was early morning, with a little amount of light trickling into Arnos''s room from outside. He was lying on his bed, unaware of anything or everything else in his surroundings, until a sound broke his sleep.


    Arnos''s eyes fluttered open, his vision slowly adjusting to the dim surroundings. He kept lying on the bed, looking at the chandelier on the room''s ceiling.


    After a moment of staring the ceiling, Arnos sat up on his bed and stretched both of his hands above his head. He bent his head towards the right as he stretched his hands. Relieved from all the built-up tension from sleeping, Arnos looked at the curtained window.


    It''s quite early, Arnos thought to himself as he looked at the curtained window. There wasn''t any sun rays coming in yet, it was the time was before the sunrise.


    Arnos sat on his bed aimlessly, his attention shifted to the outside when he heard another loud sound of something clashing.


    Arnos moved to the edge of the bed and picked up the black shoes he had worn yesterday, simply slipping them onto his toes. He then stood from the bed and walked toward the window. He peeked outside, trying to find the source of the sound, but it was to no avail. That''s when he remembered about Training Arena 3 or Celera''s training arena.


    Is somebody training there? He wondered as he walked out of his room.


    Arnos moved toward the main hall. It was empty, but the western gate, present on the right of the stairs, was open. Arnos walked toward the gate, remembering how the western gate led to the training arena and herb garden.


    Exiting the building, Arnos''s eyes fell on a duel taking place in the training arena¡ªa familiar and an unfamiliar face in front of him.


    On one side was Seras, who was wearing a blue top with puffed white sleeve, and a matching blue pyjama. Her long pink hair tied in a single ponytail. She was glaring at the boy in front of her, somebody Arnos didn''t quite recognise.


    That''s a weird choice of clothes to spar in, Arnos thought to himself with a surprised expression.


    Arnos looked at the unfamiliar face. Taking note of his brown hair, eyes, and overall physique, Arnos noticed how he was slightly taller than Seras.


    Is he one of the seniors? Arnos questioned himself as he looked at him. He noticed both of them were holding there respective staff and maintaining some distance from each other.


    Arnos noticed the staff the boy with brown hairs was holding. It was a silver staff, well over a meter long, narrower and pointed at the base, while the top simply ended with a golden loop.


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    Arnos then looked at Seras''s staff. It was unique in design; the top of the staff had a five-petal flower design, and half of the staff, from the top to the middle, was made of wood. The lower part of the staff was made of brown metallic material, resembling a sword''s blade, capable of offence.


    It''s like a sword, Arnos thought to himself, astonished by Seras''s weapon. He kept standing still at the gate, not moving an inch or making any sound, since he wasn''t interested in disturbing their duel.


    "Erik, will you just keep standing there or actually do something?" Seras said, a mocking smirk playing on her lips as she directed her jab at Erik.


    "Lance," Erik chanted as he raised his right hand. Three projectiles, a pair of swords and a spear made of light materialized in front of him. With a flick of his wrist, Erik immediately directed them toward Seras.


    Seras responded with "Lance" as well. Three projectiles made up of dark magic materialised in front of her, a pair of spears and a sword, these projectiles intercepted Erik''s attack and caused all of his projectiles to miss her.


    Seras mumbled, "Quick Step," closing the gap between her and Erik. The assault was frontal. Seras clenched the staff''s upper wooden portion and used it to slash the lower metallic portion at Erik, targeting his right hand in the process.


    Erik stepped back, barely avoiding the attack, while Seras quickly regained her posture.


    "You''re getting better at avoiding attacks. Guess all the running away when things get hard is helping you," Seras said with a smirk, playfully mocking Erik.


    "Seriously Seras," Erik replied. "Firstly, a mage shouldn''t attack upfront like this. You''re supposed to cast spells from a distance and win. Don''t you know that?"


    "Nope I don''t know about any such rule," Seras said with a smirk. "Lance!" she shouted again, as two swords made up of dark magic materialized in the air. They moved toward Erik with blinding speed, targeting his right hand and left leg.


    Erik clenched his staff, and as he did, light magic aura enveloped its top. With unwavering precision, Erik moved the staff, breaking both dark magic projectiles in a single fluid motion.


    Arnos noticed something strange. As the swords made of dark magic were broken by Erik, Seras muttered something else which he wasn''t able to hear.


    And that''s when Erik''s eyes widened. Seras had cast a light-affinity veil spell.


    A sword made of light materialized just behind him and slashed his left hand in one quick motion. Causing his grip on his staff to loosen and make it fall on the ground.


    Seras walked towards Erik, smiling at him. "You died," she said as she pointed her staff towards Erik with a small smile as she released her light-elemental Veil that she had casted.


    "When did you cast Veil?" Erik asked, his brown eyes wide with astonishment directed at Seras.


    "When I attacked you with the Lance spell, it was meant to be a diversion," Seras replied. Her yellow eyes shifted sideways as she noticed Arnos standing in front of the building, watching their interaction.


    "You''re up early," Seras said, glancing at Arnos.


    "Yeah, I like to wake up early," Arnos replied. I shouldn''t mention they woke me up with their duel¡ªthey might feel bad, he thought to himself.


    He shifted his attention to Erik. He seems unwell, Arnos thought to himself, as he looked at Erik.


    "Arnos, why don''t you come here and train with us?" Seras said, gesturing for him to join them. "I think Erik isn''t much of a match for me today," she added, casting a mocking smirk in Erik''s direction.

 Chapter 38 Duel

    "What do you mean by I am not fit?" Erik asked in an irritated tone, giving Seras a slightly annoyed look.


    "You''re tired, or you would''ve used the veil i casted to your advantage and probably used quick step spell to avoid the projectile," Seras replied with a shrug look. "That''s probably due to the mana burnout you faced yesterday," Seras added.


    Seras then turned her glare towards Arnos. "Oi, Arnos, I think I called you here? Come here and be my sparring partner. And Erik," she said looking at him with a dumbfounded look. she stared at him for a moment before continuing.


    "Eh... you can cheer for me." She added with a chuckle after a moment of staring.


    Arnos moved towards the training arena, standing right in front of Seras and Erik.


    Erik stepped towards Arnos, stretching his hand for a handshake, which Arnos gracefully accepted.


    "I''m Erik Walker, a mage with an affinity for light magic," Erik said as he clasped Arnos''s hand firmly.


    "I''m Arnos, Sir Erik. I have an affinity for fire and dark magic," Arnos replied politely.


    "Fire and dark affinity, huh?" Erik said, unconsciously clenching Arnos''s hand harder. Realizing this, he quickly withdrew his hand.


    "He also has a special ability," Seras added with a proud grin.


    "He does? Well that sounds freaking awesome," Erik said in a surprised tone, looking at Arnos.


    "Hey Arnos, let''s do some hand-to-hand sparring since you don''t have a personalized wand yet," Seras suggested, looking at Arnos with enthusiasm. "You can use any spells if you know how, but I can only use spells for defence. You can also use your special ability if you want."


    I can use spells, but it¡¯s not like I know any spell that could get through her, it would be a nice battle experience though, Arnos thought to himself.


    "Is that understood?" Seras asked, raising her eyebrows as she waited for his response.


    Arnos nodded at this, and Erik moved outside of the arena as Arnos and Seras positioned themselves on opposite sides to maintain distance.


    Arnos reached his corner and a thought crossed his mind, Will she use the quick step spell she used against Erik?


    "Seras!" Arnos called out loudly, catching both Seras''s and Erik''s attention.


    "What?" Seras questioned.


    "Will you be using the quick step spell you used against Sir Erik?" Arnos asked, looking at Seras.


    Seras gave it a moment of thought. "Nope, I won''t," she replied, her face brimming with confidence.


    Arnos nodded. "Understood," he mumbled.


    With that, both Arnos and Seras stood at there position opposite to each other. There was roughly a 30-step gap between them. Arnos had also removed his shoes and placed them outside the arena, opting to fight Seras barefoot.


    "The match starts when I say start," Erik shouted, acting as the referee. He raised his right hand and began counting down. "3... 2... 1... Start!" he shouted, initiating the battle.


    Seras remained standing in her position, with a tinge of curiosity evident on her face as she waited to see what Arnos would do.


    Can I use Lance against her? Or will she just dodge it? Arnos questioned himself. She''ll probably dodge it, he answered internally. What should I do?


    "Are you going to keep standing there, Arnos?" Seras shouted. "I won''t try my absolute hardest, don''t worry," she said with a small smile.


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    "Lance," Arnos said, as one sword made of fire materialized in thin air.


    "He can use Lance?" Seras mumbled with a hint of mild amusement in her voice.


    Arnos flicked his wrist forward, and the sword moved toward Seras. It wasn''t as fast as a light magic projectile, but it still had considerable speed. Arnos dashed toward Seras as well, matching the speed of his fire lance while staying slightly behind it.


    Seras remained in her position. "Void," she mumbled as a small orb of dark magic formed in front of her left hand. She flicked the orb toward the lance spell, her attention shifting toward Arnos.


    As the fire lance touched the dark orb, it seemingly vanished into thin air.


    Arnos closed the gap and directed a punch from his right hand toward Seras''s face. Seras grabbed Arnos''s right hand and clenched it tightly¡ªnot hard enough to injure him seriously, but enough to cause some pain.


    Arnos, however, didn''t flinch just yet. "Envelope," he mumbled, momentarily setting his right fist ablaze. Seras withdrew her hand, wincing in pain.


    Arnos took advantage of this and quickly used the envelope spell to enhance his speed, setting his feet on fire and moving back in an instant, maintaining his distance.


    "It hurts," Arnos mumbled, momentarily glancing at his right fist. She has light affinity too. She''d heal like me¡ªthat is, if I give her the chance, Arnos thought to himself.


    "Envelope," Arnos mumbled again, flames erupting from his feet. In a flash, he moved in front of Seras, using his right fist, now enveloped in fire, to throw another punch. This time, though, something was different.


    Seras caught Arnos''s hand and used his momentum to pull him over her shoulder, throwing him to the ground.


    "Ahh," Arnos grunted in pain as he hit the floor. He released his ability. "I lost," he conceded.


    Is her hand enveloped with dark magic? Arnos wondered, looking at Seras''s arms and noticing her palm covered in dark magic.


    "That was a good fight," Seras said with a smile. The dark magic dissipated from her hand as she extended it to help Arnos back to his feet.


    Arnos was about to take her hand, but Seras lightly slapped his hand away.


    "Ya know what? Keep lying," she said in a stern voice as she crouched down next to his right hand.


    Seras took Arnos''s right hand in hers and began to inspect it, observing the burn mark slowly disappearing.


    Erik walked toward them, his curiosity evident as he looked at Arnos.


    "So, how does your ability work?" Erik asked.


    "It works.." Arnos tried to speak, but was cut off by Seras


    "He can cover his body parts with fire, enhancing their physical and destructive capabilities. The catch is that he''s literally burning himself when he uses his ability. Though his fire burns him, he automatically heals when he stops using it," Seras explained, still inspecting his palm.


    Seras stood back up. "You can stand now, Arnos. My inspection is done. I think we can do something about your ability."


    Something about my ability? Arnos repeated the sentence in his mind as he stood back up from the ground.


    "Wait, really?" Arnos exclaimed, looking at Seras.


    Seras nodded. "Yeah."

 Chapter 39 Training

    "And how are you going to do that?" Erik asked, looking at Seras with a doubtful expression.


    Seras glanced at Erik. "Ah, I can curs¡­" she cleared her throat, stopping midway. "Cure him. Don''t ask how," she replied in a slightly defensive tone.


    I definitely heard ''curse,'' Arnos thought to himself. Is she going to experiment on me? He looked at Seras. No way. She wouldn''t do that¡­ She doesn''t seem like that kind of person, Arnos mentally assured himself.


    Erik kept glaring at Seras, fully aware she was hiding something.


    Seras sighed heavily. "Ah, fine, I give up. I was thinking about cursing Arnos to help him," Seras admitted, looking directly at Arnos.


    And I''m dead, Arnos mentally added to himself.


    "Please excuse me¡­ I have something important to do," Arnos said in a terrified tone as he tried to step away. Erik grabbed the back of his collar, stopping him in his tracks.


    "It''s not as bad as it sounds," Erik said, giving Arnos a small, amused smile at his reaction.


    "Arnos, don''t worry. The curse isn''t going to harm you in any way," Seras assured him. "Think of it as an enchantment. And first of all, I''m not completely sure, so let me go ask Alisa about it," she added, looking at Arnos. Then, without waiting for a response, she hurriedly walked toward the dorm.


    Arnos turned to Erik, his curious face making it clear he was expecting an explanation.


    Erik released Arnos''s collar and began speaking. "First of all, I''m not going to go into too much detail¡ªthat''s your teacher''s or Miss Margrave''s job," Erik said, looking at Arnos.


    Arnos nodded quickly. "Understood," he replied.


    "There are eight affinities¡ªor nine, to be precise. The first six are fire, water, ice, wind, lightning, and earth. Then there''s light and dark. The ninth one is normal affinity, which covers all the others that don''t fall into those categories," Erik explained.


    Arnos nodded again, listening intently.


    Erik continued. "Among these affinities, a few have specific functions¡ªnamely, light and dark. Light affinity is used for enchantments. For example, a sword that breathes fire by consuming the user''s mana¡ªthat''s the function of enchantments. They''re designed to give users an additional ability at a low cost." Erik paused, glancing at Arnos.


    "Are you following so far?" he asked.


    Arnos nodded again. "Yes."


    Erik resumed. "The other affinity with a specific function is dark affinity, which is used to place curses on someone else. Opposite to enchantments, curses are meant to deprive the person they''re cast on of their abilities. For example, a curse could hinder someone''s sense of vision or hearing."


    "Don''t they, like, kill people too?" Arnos asked, his expression both curious and doubtful.


    "Hmm, yeah," Erik replied nonchalantly. "That would be the case where a curse deprives someone of their life."


    That''s a weird way to put it, Arnos thought to himself, his mind turning over Erik''s explanation. Suddenly, something clicked.


    "Wait, they can deprive someone of their senses?" he asked in a surprised tone.


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    Erik nodded. "They can," he confirmed. "And you know what else is a sense? Pain," Erik added with a small smile directed at Arnos.


    "I see¡­ I understand now. But why was Seras avoiding it, then?" Arnos asked.


    "She isn''t the explaining type," Erik replied, "and she probably isn''t entirely sure about curses, which is why she went to Alisa," Erik added as he pointed towards the dorm with his thumb.


    Erik moved towards the opposite corner where he had placed his wand while refereeing the match. Picking it up, he looked back at Arnos.


    "Since Seras is busy with Alisa, how about I help you train?" Erik said, looking at Arnos.


    "Won''t it be a waste of your time, Sir Erik?" Arnos replied with a nonchalant look.


    "It would not be like that. You shouldn''t say stuff like that, or you''ll become a weirdo like Al..." Erik stopped mid-sentence, clearing his throat.


    "So, as I was saying, do you want my assistance with that flaming step ability?" Erik questioned.


    "Flaming step?" Arnos muttered under his breath. "Ah, do you mean when I boost my speed? I don''t know how I could improve it," he said, looking at Erik curiously.


    "It has a lot of inaccuracies from what I saw," Erik said, walking back to Arnos and standing in front of him.


    Erik raised his right hand, counting on his fingers.


    "First of all, your fire should be limited to a small space. When you use your ability, your fire spreads everywhere, decreasing the forward push it could give."


    "Second point is, you''re only able to use it for a burst for a single moment," Erik added, looking at Arnos.


    "It''s so I don''t hurt myself," Arnos replied.


    "I understand, and that''s for Seras to fix. Now, coming to the first point, I''ll be showing you a light spell known as Quick Step. Focus on my feet," Erik said in an instructive tone.


    Arnos nodded, standing in the arena with his attention focused on Erik''s feet.


    "Quick Step," Erik said.


    Arnos looked at Erik''s feet, noticing how they were covered in the aura of light magic.


    In the blink of an eye, Erik moved forward. The speed was faster than anything Arnos had seen so far. He observed Erik reach the opposite corner of the arena in an instant.


    "That was awesome," Arnos mumbled with a surprised tone, looking at Erik.


    "Focus on my feet, Arnos," Erik shouted as he scolded Arnos.


    Arnos quickly looked at Erik''s feet. This time, as Erik chanted "Quick Step," the light aura remained limited close to his toes and didn''t envelop as much area as before.


    Is he using less mana? Arnos questioned himself as he blinked. When he opened his eyes, Erik was nowhere in sight.


    Arnos felt a hand on his back. Turning around, he saw Erik standing next to him.


    "Did you notice any difference?" Erik questioned Arnos curiously.


    "It was way faster the second time," Arnos replied immediately.


    Erik nodded. "That''s an accurate assessment, and that''s what you''ll be practising right now, if you want to train, that is."


    "I want it," Arnos replied hurriedly.


    "But shouldn''t we wait for Seras¡­" Erik suggested.

 Chapter 40 Fireball

    "No, we should train first," Arnos replied again.


    Erik chuckled at this. "That''s enthusiasm, alright," he said as he placed his hand on Arnos''s hair and brushed it. "About how to address me, you can skip the ''Sir'' part," Erik added.


    Understood, Arnos said with a nod.


    Erik looked at Arnos curiously. "Can you use mana while you are using your ability?" Erik questioned.


    "I don''t think I have ever tried to do it," Arnos admitted.


    "You haven''t huh? Well, you could try to cast a simple fireball while your ability is activated. It would make it clear whether you can or can''t do it."


    "Yes sir," Arnos replied enthusiastically.


    "I said to skip it, didn''t I?" Erik said in a stern tone as he narrowed his eyes, giving a disapproving glance to Arnos.


    "Ah, I didn''t mean respect by it. I simply said ''sir'' as we say to our teacher, who is teaching us, like, you know¡­" Arnos added in a slightly defensive tone.


    "Does that make any sense?" Arnos asked Erik with an awkward smile.


    "Forget about that. Think of me as your target," Erik said as he moved a few steps away from Arnos, stopping right at the centre of the training ground.


    I just have to use fireball and my ability together, Arnos thought, raising his hand. Fireball... fireball? Wait, I never learned fireball! How would I use it? Arnos thought as an embarrassed look spread across his face.


    "Arnos, just close your eyes, activate your ability, and cast a fireball immediately," Erik shouted in an instructive tone as he looked at Arnos.


    "I don''t¡­" Arnos mumbled.


    "I can''t hear you. Speak louder!" Erik shouted back.


    "I don''t know how to cast a fireball," Arnos admitted, his eyes looking at the floor, not meeting Erik''s gaze.


    "You can''t? But you used lance, an intermediate spell during your duel with Seras," Erik questioned with a doubtful look as he walked toward Arnos.


    Arnos looked up. "I was taught lance by an adventurer. He said it''s the most useful spell, and if I learn it, I could use it with both of my affinities," Arnos said, looking toward Erik with an embarrassed look.


    "I knew it! Adventurers aren''t fit to be teachers, Erik exclaimed. Fireball is the most basic spell that everyone should start with," Erik added with slight frustration.


    Arnos bowed slightly. "Sorry for being a difficult student," Arnos said in an apologetic tone.


    "I wasn''t saying it to you. Relax," Erik added as he raised both of his hands to his shoulder level, trying to give a calming gesture to Arnos.


    Arnos looked at Erik. "You weren''t saying it to me?" he questioned giving an unsure look.


    "I wasn''t. I was just saying adventurers don''t usually make good teachers. Now forget about that and listen here," Erik said as he snapped his fingers to get Arnos''s attention.


    "Tell me Arnos, how do spells work? How is a mage able to cast a spell? What''s the mechanism behind it?" Erik questioned, looking at Arnos.


    How do spells work? Arnos repeated the words in his mind. He took a moment to think about the answer.


    "A mage materializes their mana physically. Thinking about the property, mechanism, and form of the spell as they visualise it in their mind," Arnos answered.


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    "Well, that''s accurate. Could you please close your eyes and raise your hand?" Erik instructed.


    Arnos complied with Erik''s instructions, raising his right hand to shoulder level and closing both of his eyes.


    "Since we already know you can materialize your mana, let''s skip that part," Erik said.


    He moved toward Arnos, standing right next to him. "Arnos, answer my questions now," Erik instructed.


    "Yes," Arnos responded calmly.


    "How does fire look? What''s its colour? How does its flames act?" Erik questioned.


    Arnos stopped for a moment, lost in thought before he began to answer.


    "Fire... its colour ranges between orange and yellow. The flames flicker; they''re chaotic. They spread if they get a chance as well."


    "Anything else?" Erik questioned again.


    "No sir. I don''t know," Arnos replied.


    "Hmm, that''s fine. How does fire feel? Like, think about a burning fireplace and imagine yourself standing in front of it. How would it make you feel?" Erik asked in a curious tone.


    How would it make me feel? Arnos thought in his mind.


    "It would make me feel warm," Arnos replied after a moment of thought.


    "That''s right, Arnos. Now imagine the mana in front of your right arm materializing into actual flames, taking the shape of a ball. A ball made of flames. It isn''t meant to disperse when it hits your enemy. It''s meant to impale them. It''s meant to cause a concentrated attack at one point of the body rather than spreading out and causing no pain.


    "Can you visualize? Or if not visualize, think about what I''m saying verbally," Erik instructed.


    Arnos didn''t reply this time, his mind lost in thoughts.


    Fire¡­ it''s hot. The flames flicker, they''re chaotic, he thought to himself, imagining a large flickering flame in his mind. It''s concentrating into a small ball, he said mentally, as all the fire in his imagination gathered into a ball. It impales, it doesn''t spread, he finally thought, opening his eyes.


    "Chant the name," Erik said.


    And as Erik spoke the words, Arnos mumbled, "Fireball." Small mana particles of fire magic dispersed into the air forming a large ball with empty space filled with air. In the next moment, the space between the small particles was filled with fire. A huge fireball appeared in front of Arnos.


    "It''s hot," Arnos mumbled, staring at the fireball. The fireball was almost as big as Erik''s staff. Arnos''s eyes widened with surprise and happiness as he had successfully learned a new spell. A drop of sweat ran down his face due to the heat radiating off the flames.


    Arnos took a moment to observe the chaotic nature of the fireball, its flickering flames, and the brilliant light it emitted. In the next instant, the fireball rushed toward the herb garden in the direction Arnos had unintentionally been pointing his hand.


    Erik raised his staff. "Al¡­" Erik chanted. Arnos wasn''t able to hear the full spell chant, but he saw a beam of light magic projected from Erik''s staff and dispersed the fireball spell in an instant.

 Chapter 41 Basic Spell

    Erik wiped a drop of sweat from his face, and the light magic aura surrounding the staff''s top dissipated. He had managed to stop the spell before it could cause any damage.


    Erik looked at Arnos. "It was actually better than what I expected," he added with a hint of surprise. "Though you overflowed mana into it, causing a huge fireball instead of a normal one."


    Isn''t that a good thing? Arnos wondered in his mind. I mean, a big fireball would possess more destructive power, wouldn''t it?


    "Isn''t that a good thing?" Arnos asked hesitantly to Erik.


    Erik gave a disapproving gaze. "It is not. Fireball isn''t a spell where you should spend a lot of mana. There are higher-efficient spells in fire affinity that might be more effective with that mana output," Erik added.


    "Ah, is that so? I am sorry for messing up," Arnos added in a slightly apologetic tone as he looked down.


    "It''s nothing to feel sorry about. The spell was perfect, only the magnitude was wrong. Having high mana level doesn''t mean you should use it less proficiently now, does it?" Erik said with a neutral look.


    Arnos nodded at this.


    "Your mana level''s A, isn''t it?" Erik questioned Arnos.


    "Yes, I have A-rank mana level," Arnos replied. How did Erik find out about it though? he wondered to himself.


    "Well, that''s a really nice mana level, but it''s not an excuse to use mana lazily. It''s not like you have S-rank or something," Erik added in a slightly scolding tone.


    "Yes, sir," Arnos added, looking at the floor. S-rank huh, I am curious how much more mana does S-rank have in comparison to A-rank, Arnos wondered to himself.


    "Let''s do the test then," Erik added. "Use your ability and cast a fireball after that," Erik said as he turned around and moved twenty steps away from Arnos, he stood in the centre of training arena.


    Ability and fireball, Arnos said in his mind as he raised his right hand to shoulder level. I have to be quick, he mentally added as he looked at Erik.


    "Envelope," Arnos mumbled, and as he said this word, his right hand got covered in a layer of flame. Arnos winced in pain, feeling the burn from his special ability. Immediately, he chanted, "Fireball."


    This time, no fire materialized in front of Arnos''s hand. "Release!" Arnos shouted. The layer of fire on his hand dissipated, leaving behind a red burn mark on his hand that began to heal.


    It didn''t work, Arnos thought to himself as he looked at his burned hand. It''s not hurting as bad as my leg, but still it hurts.


    Arnos''s thoughts were interrupted by Erik. "It didn''t work, huh," Erik said as he walked back towards Arnos. "Don''t worry much about it. Using a special ability and spell together in unison is hard to do," Erik added as he stood next to Arnos.


    Erik took a quick glance at Arnos''s hand. "I think we should wait for Seras''s remedy before we continue though," Erik said with a stern look.


    Arnos nodded. "I think I got overexcited today," Arnos added. "I should''ve known about my limits and how much I can handle," he said.


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    "I was totally expecting you to say ''I can handle this'' or ''This pain is nothing for me'' or something like that," Erik added with a chuckle, amused by Arnos''s response.


    "I can''t handle this pain," Arnos added with a defensive tone and a scared look.


    This only made Erik laugh harder. Erik put his right hand on his face, trying to hide his laugh before getting back to his senses.


    "Okay, that was perfect," Erik said as he gave a pat on Arnos''s back. "I like juniors like you," he added, hitting him twice on the back.


    Is knowing your limit something unusual in kids? Arnos wondered. That''s when his thoughts went back to the S rank mana level topic.


    Arnos looked at Erik''s face. "Can I ask something, Erik?" he asked in a polite tone.


    Erik nodded. "Yes, go on, I am listening," Erik said, folding his hands and looking at Arnos attentively. "Just don''t make me laugh again," he added with a small smile in a sarcastic tone.


    "How much more mana does a S-rank individual have in comparison to a A-rank individual?"


    "You aren''t talking about the rank of adventurers by S rank and A rank are you?" Erik asked as his expression changed to a slightly sincere one.


    Arnos shook his head no at this. "No I am talking about mages. I am talking about mana level," he clarified.


    Erik took a moment to think. "I am pretty sure the multiplier is ten times from C rank to above. Prior to it, the difference between C, D, and E rank isn''t much though," Erik added.


    "So, if you possess A rank and the other person possesses S rank mana level, it is approximately ten times more than your pool," Erik added with an amused smile.


    "Ten times more?" Arnos repeated with a shocked expression.


    "Yes, that''s correct," Erik replied.


    "Hey, Arnos, what about the other juniors? I am pretty sure they are Princess Emily and Marcus Levile, the Duke''s son. But how are they? Like, were they nice to you?" Erik questioned with a hint of curiosity.


    Nice to me? Ahhh, Marcus sure was nice to everyone, Arnos said in his mind. But Emily, hmm, I can''t say she was nice, but she did apologize at least, so that sure is something, Arnos added mentally.


    "They are nice people," Arnos said to Erik with a calm expression.


    "That''s good. And do they possess any ability as well?" Erik questioned.


    Arnos nodded at this. "Marcus has a ability called life steal. He can steal his enemies'' mana after killing or incapacitating them. Emily doesn''t have any special ability, though; she didn''t tell me about it yesterday," Arnos said.


    "Ah, so the Duke''s son is the more talented one in the family," Erik added.


    "Emily had S rank mana level, though," Arnos added nonchalantly.


    Erik looked at Arnos with a surprised expression. "Say that again."


    "She had S rank mana level. I am pretty sure of it."


    "I take my words back, She is practically a once-in-a-lifetime talent, if she posess s rank at this age" Erik added with a completely serious look.


    Is she that extraordinary? Arnos questioned himself in his mind. Is she starting from a position that''s unattainable for anyone but her? he wondered.


    Arnos''s thoughts were disrupted by someone shouting his name from the dorm.

 Chapter 42 Cursed item

    Arnos and Erik both turned their heads to look at the source of the sound. Standing at the gate was Marcus, who had been wearing the same outfit as the previous day¡ªa white shirt, black pants, and formal shoes. His brown hair wasn''t combed and looked messy.


    He walked towards Arnos and Erik. "Seras had called for you in the library," Marcus said as he looked at Arnos. He then turned his head towards Erik, stretching his hand for a handshake.


    "I am Marcus Levile, Mr Erik," Marcus said with a small smile.


    "It''s nice to meet you, Marcus," Erik replied with a smile. He withdrew his hand after a brief shake.


    Glancing at Arnos, Erik added, "We should get going, or Seras would be pissed at us."


    Arnos nodded at this. "Yes, and if possible please lead the way," Arnos said in a suggestive tone with a small hesitant smile.


    Erik led the way inside the dorm, entering through the western gate. Arnos and Marcus carefully followed him a step behind.


    "Is Princess Emily awake?" Arnos questioned Marcus as they walked inside the dorm.


    "Ah, she is still asleep," Marcus replied. "She is, or at least was kind of the more sleeping type from what I remember."


    Was? Why does he have doubts about it? Aren''t they like super close? Arnos questioned himself as he heard Marcus''s words.


    Arnos didn''t think much about it and looked around the main hall as they reached there. Erik walked towards the right side of the main hall and stopped in front of a black door.


    This door resembles the other doors in the dorm, Arnos said in his mind as he looked at the black door with a golden knob.


    Erik turned the door''s knob, opening it, and walked inside. Marcus and Arnos followed him into the library.


    Alisa and Seras were standing in front of the table. Alisa was holding a book, while Seras was holding a small black box in her hand.


    Arnos looked at the library. It was rather basic in design¡ªone large black table with wooden legs in the centre with four brown wooden chairs and two long shelves filled with books kept in two rows along the longer sides of the room.


    "Arnos, come here," Seras said, gesturing for Arnos to come near her with her right hand.


    Arnos walked towards Seras and Alisa, while Erik and Marcus stood next to the door.


    Arnos glanced at the book, noticing its design. The title wasn''t visible to him, but the cover was pitch black with a golden border.


    Arnos turned his head to look at Seras. "So what exactly are you planning to do to me?" Arnos questioned.


    "See, the part about cursing you was actually true," Seras said with a serious look. "But it''s to help you. Alisa will be the one making a cursed article for you to wear," Seras said as she opened the black box, revealing a black, metallic bracelet with a small transparent crystal in the centre.


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    "If you would wear this, it would get rid of your sense of pain," Seras added in a serious tone before glancing at Alisa and asking, "Isn''t that right?"


    "It should work like that, but it would take a lot of time for me," Alisa said, turning the page of the book she was holding.


    "Oh please, Alisa, look at the boy; he''s practically crying with happiness after finding out he could be cured," Seras said as she glanced at Arnos, narrowing her eyes while looking at his left hand.


    Wait, do I need to cry? Arnos wondered. As he sneakingly put his left hand behind himself as he mumbled "envelope" in a whisper, letting his index finger burn for a brief moment.


    A tear rolled down from each of his eyes due to the pain, giving Arnos a teary look. Marcus and Erik watched the scene unfolding with astonished expressions on their faces.


    I''ve got to act, Arnos thought to himself. "Thanks, Alisa, for letting me know there''s a chance I could rid myself of the pain my ability causes," he said with literal tears in his eyes and an emotional tone.


    Alisa looked at Arnos and let out a tired sigh. "Fine, whatever. I''ll do it for you, but you''ll have to do me¡­ five favours."


    "Deal," Arnos replied without even thinking for a second.


    Seras glanced at Arnos. "That was good quick thinking," she said with a small smile.


    "What was quick thinking?" Alisa asked Seras, giving her a sideways glance.


    "Oh, him accepting the five-favour deal. That... was quick thinking, wasn''t it?" Seras said, looking at Alisa with a hesitant smile.


    Before Alisa could say anything, Erik chimed in, "Yeah, it sure was. I mean, if it were Seras, she''d have given it an hour of thought or something before agreeing," he added in a sarcastic tone.


    "Yeah, exactly," Seras said with a fake smile, nodding at Erik''s comment.


    "That I can agree with," Alisa nodded, looking at Erik. She set her book aside on the table and took the black box with the thin bracelet from Seras''s hand. "Leave this to me for the day. I''ll see what I can do," Alisa said. She then looked in the direction where Arnos and Marcus were standing. "I''d suggest you two head to Celera''s building," she said with an instructive look.


    "Do we have classes today?" Marcus asked in a surprised tone. "I thought our classes would start tomorrow," he added.


    "You don''t have classes today, but if I''m not wrong, your uniforms, fittings, as well as your wand and staff, will be provided to you."


    "Can we get them customized?" Arnos asked, looking at Alisa. "I noticed Seras''s staff is like a pseudo sword, and Erik''s staff, well¡­ it''s just a staff."


    "Just a staff," Erik mumbled in a disappointed low voice.

 Chapter 43

    "Actually both of our staffs are modified," Seras added, looking at Arnos. "The only one who used an unmodified staff here is this creature," Seras said with a small giggle, as she pointed at Alisa.


    Alisa nodded. "Yeah, this creature," Alisa repeated in a sarcastic tone glaring at Seras.


    "Mine might not look as good as Seras, but that''s because I have spells to use for offense," Erik added with a sigh.


    "Everyone has spells for offense, idiot," Seras added, looking at Marcus with a cheeky smirk, trying to agitate him.


    "Coming to the main topic," Alisa said, clapping her hands to get everyone''s attention. "You wouldn''t be given a chance to get your staff modified before the battle tournament, though," she added as she looked at Arnos and Marcus.


    "Is that so" Marcus added with slight dissapointment. "Well it''s not like we can do anything about it, should we get going to the main building then?" he questioned in the next moment.


    "I don''t see why not, Get going." Alisa said as she pulled back the chair next to the table and took a seat on it.


    Arnos and Marcus gave a small bow and moved out of the library, while Erik and Seras took a seat next to Alisa at the table.


    "Did you seriously think I didn''t notice the smoke?" Alisa added with a chuckle in a whisper, trying not to let Arnos hear.


    "She caught me, ahhh," Arnos mumbled in a defeated voice as he walked with Marcus.


    "Your act sure was something, though," Marcus said with a chuckle. "You know what, Arnos?" Marcus added, grabbing Arnos''s attention.


    "What?" Arnos asked curiously, stopping in front of the seating area.


    "If you wait for everyone to go together, it might take some time. I''ll go and wake Emily up," Marcus said, pointing towards the corridor with their room with his thumb. "You should go ahead without us," he suggested.


    "Understood," Arnos said with a small nod. With that, Arnos moved towards the eastern exit of the dorms building. The door was opened, so he simply walked out.


    "It worked out for the better, didn''t it?" Arnos mumbled, thinking about how going with Marcus and the princess would for sure get unwanted attention on him.


    Arnos moved outside the dorm''s premises and began to walk towards Celera. The walk took him about ten minute. Arnos noticed how several students were standing outside in Celera''s ground, in front of the eastern entrance.


    "Has the fitting not started yet?" he wondered as he walked inside Celera''s ground.


    "I should go somewhere with less crowd," Arnos mumbled, looking at the crowd. It was similar to the previous day, people who knew each other from before were standing together, while those who didn''t stood like statues staring the air in the corner.


    Letting out a sigh, Arnos took a spot in the shade of the building, leaning on the black-grey wall of Celera''s side boundary.


    The staff Seras used today was really something, Arnos thought, remembering Seras''s weapon.


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    "Would a pseudo sword suit me?" he wondered out loud.


    Looking at the building, Arnos was lost in thought.


    I think a short sword would be better for me, he thought. Can we modify the wands too? he questioned himself.


    This ended in him smiling at his own question, as he remembered how wands aren''t modified my mages.


    "What might you be laughing at?"


    Arnos turned his head to the right, noticing Mabel standing there with a curious look.


    "Nothing special, truthfully," Arnos admitted, giving an embarrassed smile to Mabel.


    "How was your first day at Cryz dorm though?" Arnos questioned Mabel. As he asked this, he again began to stare at Celera''s building.


    Mabel leaned on the wall herself, looking in front.


    "It was certainly not bad, I would say," she added. "The seniors only asked us not to address them by name and use honorifics like ''sir'' or ''ma''am'' instead. And we were assigned rooms, two people are allotted a room."


    "I see," Arnos said as he glanced at Mabel.


    "What about you, though? Did something interesting happen?" Mabel questioned, her voice filled with curiosity.


    "Yeah, I met all... wait, not all. I haven''t met Mr. Braun yet, have I? Arnos wondered.


    "Actually, I met Alisa, Erik, and Seras. You already know Seras, don''t you?" Arnos questioned.


    "Yup," Mabel replied.


    "They were all really good to us. I also dueled¡­" Arnos stopped midway, "was beaten by Seras today and learned a new spell," he said with enthusiasm.


    "Beaten by Seras? Well, I could surely see that¡ªthe way she hugged or choked you yesterday," Mabel added, trying to suppress her laugh. "About the new spell, what was that?" Mabel questioned.


    "Fireball."


    "Ah¡­ good for you, I guess," Mabel added with a clearly unimpressed face.


    Arnos looked at Mabel''s unimpressed face. "It''s quite basic, isn''t it?"


    "It is, but I thought you knew it already. Didn''t you tell me you knew a few basic spells?" Mabel questioned.


    Arnos remembered the conversation from yesterday, remembering how he had indeed said those words.


    "I actually never got to learn Fireball from someone. I know a few other basic spells, though," he lied.


    Telling her I know Lance but not Fireball would be embarrassing, he thought to himself.


    "Is that so?" Mabel said as she looked at Arnos.


    "Mabel!" someone shouted from the ground. This caused both Arnos and Mabel to look in that direction.


    Arnos noticed a girl with a slim build standing no farther than ten steps from them. He noticed her black hair that fell just below her neck and deep black eyes. He also noticed how she didn''t have any emblem on her outfit.


    "That''s Noelle, my roommate," Mabel said, leaning forward. She looked at Arnos. "Guess I will get going then," she added.


    Arnos nodded at this. "Sure," he added with a smile.


    He noticed how the crowd was decreasing on the ground. Guess I should go inside too, Arnos thought to himself.


    He walked towards the ground, noticing the students moving in and out from the east entrance.


    "Well, it''s not like I have to wait for someone," Arnos mumbled to himself in a whisper as he walked towards the ground and moved towards the east entrance of the building. Walking inside Celera''s main building, Arnos gave a quick glance at the main hall interior, remembering the previous day''s events.


    Move aside if all you''re gonna do is gawk¡­ yeah, it was something like that, Arnos thought. A small amused smile came to his face as he remembered the words spoken to him by Emily.


    Arnos walked further inside the building. The hall further opened into two gates¡ªone to the left corner and one on the right.


    Looks like it''s the right way, Arnos thought as he noticed a small crowd of boys walking from the left doorway while the girls were moving from the right gate. Arnos began to follow the group of boys, walking a few steps behind. He noticed how they entered the same auditorium hall from the previous day.


    Walking inside, Arnos saw a teacher sitting on a chair while the boys stood in line in front of her.


    Isn''t she Miss Chloe from yesterday? Arnos wondered, looking at the instructor sitting in front of him. She was wearing a blue elegant dress and noting down something in the register next to her.


    Class B instructor, if I am not wrong, Arnos added in his mind as he walked and took his place at the end of the line, observing the instructor.


    Her hairstyle sure is peculiar, Arnos thought, looking carefully at her long yellow beautifully braided hair with small amount of hair from the front was styled in a left part.


    Isn''t she quite young to be a teacher, though?" Arnos thought. She must be exceptional to be given such a role in Celera¡­ or maybe she is old but doesn''t look the age, Arnos thought giving a nod.

 Chapter 44 New Staff

    ¡°Next student¡±, Chloe said as she completed noting down the measurements of the previous student.


    The student standing at the front of the line moved forward, standing right in front of her.


    "Relax a bit," Chloe said, eyeing the student in front of her.


    The boy relaxed his arms, keeping them slightly apart. Arnos noticed how Chloe supposedly lip-synced something and as she did this, a bright, thin rope made of light projected over the student, loosely binding all the places where measurements were required.


    ¡°Is she using a light spell,¡± Arnos mumbled in a whisper, surprised by her choice to use a spell instead of conventional measurement tape. Couldn''t she use a simple measuring tape, he questioned, giving a doubtful look to her.


    The spell dispersed, and Chloe noted down the measurements in the register. "You can go now," she said to the student, gesturing for him to leave.


    It was certainly fast, Arnos exclaimed mentally. Yeah, I take it back, it''s certainly more effective, sorry for doubting your expertise miss Chloe, he mentally added in defeat.


    In the next five minutes, all the students before Arnos had their measurements taken. It was Arnos''s turn.


    "Next," Chloe mumbled, writing down the previous student''s details. Arnos walked up and stood in front of Miss Chloe, relaxing his body as he saw the previous student do. Chloe looked up at Arnos with her yellow eyes.


    "What''s your name?" she questioned, turning the page of the register, readying herself to write down the name of the student in front of her.


    "It''s Arnos ma''am," Arnos answered almost immediately.


    "And your family name?" Chloe questioned, looking at Arnos again.


    "Actually I don''t have a family name, ma''am," Arnos mumbled, looking slightly uneasy.


    Chloe looked up at Arnos. "Ah, I am sorry, i had no idea" she said, with a hint of apology in her voice.


    "It''s not a big deal, ma''am. Don''t worry about it," Arnos said in a calm voice, showing that he wasn¡¯t bothered.


    Chloe glanced at him and smiled at his response. "Let me just get this over with," she said, before resuming her lip-syncing.


    Arnos looked at her attentively. Looking at her lips carefully to guess the word. Is the word she¡¯s saying bind by any chance, Arnos thought to himself.


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    His thoughts were interrupted by tiny ropes of light magic snugly binding him. They weren¡¯t tight, they weren¡¯t hurting, they were just loosely tied across his body.


    The spell dispersed, and Chloe took the notebook, jotting down the details.


    "You may go," she mumbled, giving Arnos a quick glance as she gestured for him to leave with her right hand.


    Arnos nodded at this. "Understood, ma''am," he said, taking his leave from the auditorium.


    Well, measurements are done. Where will I get my staff and wand, though, Arnos questioned himself. That¡¯s when a soft banging sound caught his attention. Turning his head in the sound¡¯s direction, Arnos began to walk toward the western side of the building.


    The sound is surely from that indoor training ground, Arnos thought. As he moved closer to the training ground, he began to see a few students roaming around the entrance and western exit. Looking at their faces, Arnos quickly pegged them as first years.


    Looks like I¡¯m in the right place, Arnos mumbled, entering the training ground. Looking around the arena, he noticed that there were seven humanoid stone figures being used as targets by students. Half of the training arena was being used as a target practice area. The circular shape of the arena made it so that the center stone figure was the furthest and hardest to hit.


    Arnos noticed Marcus, Emily, and a few other students standing on the right side of the arena, closer to him, with lots of wooden staffs and wands placed on a huge table. Marcus and Emily were looking at each staff, picking and placing them one by one as if checking them while talking to each other.


    "They came here first," Arnos mumbled as he walked toward the large table.


    Standing in front of the table, Arnos picked up one of the staffs in his hand. It''s really heavy, he thought to himself with mild surprise.


    Marcus turned his attention to Arnos. "Where were you till now?" he questioned curiously.


    Emily, who was previously preoccupied with the staff in her hand, looked at Arnos, not saying anything but simply acknowledging his presence.


    "I actually went to get my fitting done earlier," Arnos said, looking at Marcus and Emily.


    "Is that so," Marcus said with a nod. "We came here first since someone was more excited about picking a nice staff rather than fitting," Marcus added with a small smirk directed at Emily.


    "Isn''t that the best thing to do, though? We are going to be mages and haven''t come here to play dress up, have we?" Emily said in a slightly pissed tone she then redirected her focus to choosing a staff. Placing the staff she was holding back on the table as she picked another one.


    "This one will do," she said in a rather enthusiastic tone, spiraling the staff in a circular motion.


    Arnos gulped unconsciously. She definitely is physically strong too, i should remember to not challenge her for arm wrestling, he thought looking at the staff in his right hand, clearly aware of how heavy the staff is as he was holding one.


    "I will be going to the target area," Emily said to Marcus with an excited look.


    "Understood," Marcus mumbled, giving a quick glance to Emily. Emily walked towards the target arena, standing slightly away from the center target spot, which was currently occupied by another student.


    Arnos looked at the target arena himself, his focus shifting to the student in front of Emily. He watched as the tiny fireball cast by the student wasn''t even able to reach the target and dispersed mid way, without hitting it.


    Aren''t nobles supposed to be trained as kids? Arnos questioned himself in his mind, surprisingly disappointed by the show he saw.


    I guess I should be focusing on this instead, Arnos thought. Looking at the staff in his hand, he closed his eyes and began to imagine the mana accumulating in front of his right hand as if he were casting a spell. After a moment, he opened his eyes, looking at the staff as he whispered, "Perfect.¡±

 Chapter 45 Top Student

    The mana Arnos had released spread evenly across the whole surface of the staff, giving it a transparent aura. Seeing this, Arnos was sure he was lucky enough to get the perfect staff on the first try.


    That¡¯s when Arnos¡¯s attention shifted to the silence in the arena, everyone was quiet. He turned to look at the target practice area, noticing how all six other students weren¡¯t trying to cast a spell but were instead focused on Emily, who had walked to the center of the training arena. The humanoid target still stood strong since all the spells from the students so far had failed to even scratch it.


    Emily raised the wooden staff she had been holding in her right hand to shoulder level, pointing its tip at the stone figure as she took aim.


    ¡°Aldraz,¡± Emily shouted in a loud voice as a small orb of light materialized in front of the staff¡¯s tip. In the next instant, a beam of light magic was released, moving toward the stone figure almost instantly and piercing its neck in the next moment. A huge hole in the stone figure was now evident. Had it been a person, they would have lost their ability to speak before dying in the next moment. This was almost a perfect attack against any mage.


    ¡°That was a basic spell?¡± the girl standing at the next target questioned in surprise.


    ¡°It was. It¡¯s Princess Emily¡ªwe should have expected it to be otherworldly,¡± the boy next to her replied.


    ¡°It was amazing,¡± others chimed in. Emily gave everyone a smile as she walked back toward Marcus.


    It looked just like the spell Erik used, Arnos thought to himself. Letting out a sigh, he spoke in amazement, ¡°That was freaking amazing.¡±


    ¡°Was it good?¡± Emily questioned Marcus with a proud grin.


    ¡°It sure was something. Way better than the last time I saw you do it for sure,¡± Marcus added, crossing his arms with the staff between his right arm, as he nodded.


    ¡°That was absolutely awesome Princess Emily,¡± a boy with black hair said, walking toward Emily.


    Ah isn¡¯t he the one from yesterday? Arnos thought, looking at him, remembering the boy who had attended to Emily. Arnos walked toward Marcus. ¡°Who is he?¡± Arnos whispered in his ear.


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s the son of the Victoria household head¡ªArnold Victoria, brother of Seraphina Victoria, whom you met yesterday,¡± Marcus added without turning his gaze toward Arnos. He simply kept watching Emily and Arnold.


    So basically¡­ he¡¯s bad news, Arnos said in his mind as he tried to quietly walk away from the scene.


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    Marcus placed his hand on Arnos. ¡°Where might you be going?¡± he asked with a devilish smirk, clearly understanding Arnos¡¯s intentions.


    ¡°I am going home? Uhh¡­ dorm, I think? I don¡¯t know any spells so i would be wasting my time here,¡± Arnos added in a defensive tone.


    ¡°I¡¯d suggest you wait,¡± Marcus suggested, his eyes still glued to the scene in front of him.


    Arnos nodded and reluctantly stood by Marcus¡¯s side.


    ¡°Ahhh, thanks, I guess,¡± Emily replied. ¡°Are you settling in nicely Arnold?¡± Emily questioned in an uninterested tone.


    ¡°Hmmm, that¡¯s a tough question to answer,¡± Arnold said, crossing his arms with a thoughtful look. ¡°I think the facilities provided by this campus are average at best. Certainly not something suitable for someone of high standing such as myself¡ªand certainly not for you, Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Well, that¡¯s bad, I think,¡± Emily mumbled, clearly bored by the conversation.


    Okay, why am I feeling embarrassed by the things he¡¯s saying? I¡¯m not even a noble, dammit, He turned to look at Marcus, who was smiling, completely amused. ¡°Do all high-ranking individuals talk like this?¡± Arnos questioned.


    ¡°Not all, but yeah, a few do,¡± Marcus mumbled as he walked toward Emily.


    ¡°Hey Arnold, good to see you,¡± Marcus said with a smile as he approached them.


    ¡°Nice to see you too, Marcus,¡± Arnold added.


    I can¡¯t help but think he¡¯s angry at Marcus, Arnos thought as he looked at Arnold.


    Emily quickly glanced toward the arena¡¯s exit. ¡°I think I should get going to get my uniform fitting done,¡± she said in a polite tone, as she looked at the exit.


    ¡°Ah, I could go with you. I have to get mine done too.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the fitting done separately for boys and girls?¡± Arnos thought aloud. This caused Marcus to snicker.


    Emily did her best to hide her laughter. ¡°I think¡­ I¡¯ll be going by myself,¡± she added. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t want others to get the wrong idea now, would we, Arnold?¡± she said with a small smile. With that she left, and Arnos quickly looked away from Marcus and Arnold.


    I messed up. Shit, I need to do something about my habit of mumbling stuff. Idiot¡ªI¡¯m an idiot, he scolded himself mentally as he saw Arnold glaring at him.


    ¡°Would you like to escort me?¡± Marcus questioned Arnold with a chuckle.


    ¡°Now don¡¯t start picking on me, Marcus,¡± Arnold added, laughing.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he the one from yesterday? The one Princess called inse¡­¡±


    ¡°Ahh, about that,¡± Marcus interrupted. ¡°He¡¯s our dormmate at Ares Dorm too, just so you know.¡±


    ¡°He got into Ares?¡± Arnold nearly shouted, looking at Arnos.


    I mean, I did get into Ares, yes, Arnos thought as he gave a small bow to Arnold when he looked at him.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t pranking me now, are you, Marcus?¡± Arnold questioned.


    ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± Marcus added with a mock surprised expression. ¡°He really did get in. You could ask Emily if you¡ªwell, never mind that. You better go get your fitting done. I have to check this staff,¡± Marcus said, raising the wooden staff he had been holding.


    ¡°You¡¯re not lying?¡± Arnold repeated, turning his head to glare at Arnos. ¡°He got in, huh? Well, it¡¯s not like mana is everything. We¡¯ll most probably be reshuffled to our rightful places after the battle tournament. Isn¡¯t that true, mister?¡±


    ¡°Arnos. That¡¯s my name, Sir Arnold,¡± Arnos replied in a polite tone. ¡°And yes, I believe that too. You would most probably get to your rightful place in Celera after the tournament,¡± Arnos replied, trying his best to butter Arnold.


    Arnold didn¡¯t reply to Arnos after that. Giving a sour look, he simply moved away from the arena. Wait a second, did he misunderstood what I was trying to say? Arnos questioned himself as he gave a dumbfounded expression.

 Chapter 46 A Battle Declined

    "Don''t worry too much about him, he''s just talk," Marcus added, giving a quick reassuring look to Arnos. Stretching his neck slightly, Marcus started walking toward the target arena.


    "Wouldn''t you like to compete with me, Arnos? Since we both have fire affinity, it looks as if our competition is destined," Marcus added, his eyes focused on the figure Emily had targeted.


    Competing with Marcus? Arnos questioned himself. Nope, no way. That would get too much attention, he quickly thought.


    "I don¡¯t think it would be best for us to compete."


    "Eh, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re chickening out, Arnos," Marcus scoffed, looking at Arnos with a hint of disappointment.


    "He¡¯s probably too terrified to compete with Sir Marcus," a bystander girl remarked in a mocking tone.


    Yes, yes, exactly, Miss Whatever-Your-Name-Is. I am terrified of getting attention, Arnos mused.


    "So it was just luck after all," a boy standing next to Arnos whispered.


    Arnos then quietly turned toward the table where a lot of wooden wands were placed. He took one from the identical-looking stack and began walking away.


    Marcus, who had been watching Arnos until now, sighed and simply looked back at the stone target. Meanwhile, Arnos exited the building through the western exit, clutching the staff and wand in his right and left hand, respectively.


    Arnos began moving toward the eastern side of the ground. I¡¯m not missing anything, now am I? Arnos questioned himself. He was reminded of the nonexistent daily wears in his wardrobe since he hadn''t brought any with him.


    "I need to buy new clothes, don¡¯t I?" he mentally noted. The 20,000 ron of savings is surely quite high. I might be able to get some modest clothing with it, Arnos added as he left Celera¡¯s ground.


    <hr>


    In the Ares dorm library, Seras and Alisa sat in silence, though it was frequently interrupted by the noises Seras made. Alisa had already eaten a noodle dish for lunch, while Seras was enjoying the same meal right in front of her.


    "I really think it should work," Alisa said as she stared at the bracelet kept on the table.


    "That''s amazin...?" Seras spoke as she slurped down the noodle dish in front of Alisa.


    "Eat before you speak, idiot. You should have atleast some basic decency," Alisa scolded Seras.


    Seras moved the bowl of noodles slightly away from her. "Not talking while eating is no fun, don''t you know that? What are you, a granny?"


    "Yeah, yeah, now shut up and test it out,"


    Alisa added as she passed the black bracelet to Seras. This time, the bracelet was slightly different, instead of the transparent crystal from before, the crystal glowed with a dark purple aura.


    Seras took the bracelet in her hand as she gulped down the food in her mouth.


    "You haven''t placed a scary curse on it, have you?" Seras asked, giving a skeptical look to Alisa.


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    "Maybe I did," Alisa replied in a nonchalant manner, smirking.


    "You wouldn¡¯t do that¡­," Seras muttered, looking at the bracelet.


    She glanced back up at Alisa. "Did you really¡­?"


    "I didn¡¯t! Just wear it idiot," Alisa said loudly.


    "Okay, okay, I¡¯m wearing it," Seras said. She then grabbed the bracelet with her left hand, slipping it onto her right hand in a single motion.


    Alisa removed the hairpin from her hair, a five-petaled purple flower design hair pin with a sharp pointed end. She then stood from her chair and walked toward Seras.


    "I don¡¯t feel weird. Guess it wasn¡¯t something bad," Seras remarked in a surprised tone.


    "You really thought I would curse you?" Alisa asked as she took Seras¡¯s left hand in hers.


    "I mean, I am a slow eater. I thought you might get jealous from me still eating noodles right in front of you and curse me to get back at me, ya know?"


    "Seriously?" Alisa rolled her eyes as she spoke. She glanced at Seras looking at the serious expression on her face, and smiled.


    "Look at the door," Alisa instructed.


    "Yes, ma¡¯am."


    "Don¡¯t look back, and just answer the questions I ask."


    "Okay."


    "Do you feel someone touching your left arm?" Alisa questioned as she gently moved her hand over Seras''s arm.


    "I don¡¯t, Is it supposed to take away the sense of touch too?"


    "I think you could say that, I mean that''s how it should work," Alisa said as she moved toward the bookshelf¡¯s corner, where a simple white candle and a matchbox were kept.


    Alisa grabbed the candle and matchbox, and walked back to stand in front of Seras, she placed the candle and Matchbox on the table.


    "Touch can be the cause of pain plenty of times, and since the curse is reducing the ability to sense any stimulus, it removes the wearer¡¯s ability to feel any touch, change in temperature, or any other stimulus," She added as she lit the candle, carefully holding the pointed end of her hairpin over the flame.


    "Wait, you¡¯re just reducing the pain? I thought you were removing the ability to feel it completely?" Seras asked in a surprised tone.


    "Sensory activity is necessary for coordinated movements. If Arnos doesn¡¯t feel his limb, won¡¯t it be problematic?" Alisa replied as she removed the pin from the flame.


    Seras moved her right arm as she heard Alisa¡¯s answer.


    "I can still feel my arm."


    "You can? Isn¡¯t that great?" Alisa said as she pressed the heated needle against the back of Seras¡¯s hand. The needle pierced her skin, drawing a small drop of blood upon contact.


    She watched Seras closely, observing for any reaction to the pain as she gradually increased the pressure.


    "I can feel something," Seras muttered, still not looking at her hand.


    Alisa removed the pin from Seras¡¯s hand. "You can look in this direction now, and if possible please heal yourself," she murmured in a slightly apologetic tone as she looked at the wound she had created.


    Seras nodded. "Light Affinity Intermediate Heal," she muttered as a bright light enveloped her hand, healing the wound in the next moment.


    Alisa let out a sigh of relief. "Sorry for making you test the bracelet," Alisa said in an apologetic tone as she took her seat.


    Seras shook her head dismissively. "You don¡¯t need to be sorry for this. I mean, I was sitting here as the test subject, ya know?" she added with a wide grin and an amused expression.


    "You were?" Alisa questioned, raising her eyebrow in curiosity.


    "Yeah,¡± Seras said while nodding, ¡°Stabbing yourself to check whether the bracelet is working or not would have given me a lot of anxiety, and I thought the same was true for you too. Aren¡¯t I a nice and caring friend?" Seras added with a proud smile.


    "Well, that''s rather thoughtful of you, I am impressed Seras," Alisa added.


    "I half expected a sarcastic response to it," Seras added, narrowing her eyes. "You didn''t hide the real Alisa, did ya, doppelganger?"


    "I did no such thing! And it''s not like I am always scolding you or anything."


    "Guess not," Seras replied with a chuckle.


    Seras slipped off the bracelet from her right wrist and stretched her right arm to pick up the black box where the bracelet had previously rested. She opened the box and placed the cursed bracelet inside.


    "I suppose I''ll be taking my leave now," Seras added, standing up from her seat and letting out a yawn as she stretched both her arms.


    "Good night, I am going to sleep. I am kind of sleepy today since I didn''t sleep much yesterday."


    "You were waiting for Erik, weren''t you?" Alisa added with a cheeky smile.


    "Hmm¡­ I was doing no such thing!" Seras retorted. "I was just not sleepy yesterday and am sleepy now. It makes perfect sense," she added in a stern tone as she stormed out.


    "Phew, she sure wasn''t trying to hide anything," Alisa mumbled with a chuckle, as she looked at the door. Her attention quickly shifted to the library¡¯s bookshelf.


    "Guess I''ll learn some new spells then," she mumbled as she stood from her seat and walked towards the bookshelf.

 Chapter 47 Challenge

    Arnos returned to the dorm by the evening after the three-hour trip to the city of Levilenia market. The shopping trip itself took him roughly an hour due to all the haggling he had to do for the clothes.


    Walking into the dorm building, he noticed Emily and Marcus sitting in the seating area having their lunch. They were eating rather hastily, which made Arnos wonder whether they trained in the afternoon.


    Emily was the first one to notice Arnos as he walked inside."You should get your lunch from the kitchen," she said as she pointed towards the kitchen.


    "Understood," Arnos replied with a quick nod.


    Marcus looked in Arnos¡¯s direction as he saw Emily talking with someone. "Where had you gone to?" Marcus questioned.


    "I had to buy a few stuffs, so I went to the market," Arnos replied. "I think I told Erik about it. Did he not tell you?" he questioned in an unsure tone.


    "Ah, actually, I didn''t ask. I thought you were checking out the campus or something," Marcus replied. Emily nodded at this, indicating she thought the same.


    Arnos¡¯s gaze fell on Emily¡¯s clothes more carefully; he noticed how they looked rather dirty compared to before, confirming his suspicion. Guess they trained while I was gone, Arnos thought.


    "I will go keep this in my room then," Arnos added while raising the paper bag, to which Marcus simply nodded.


    Walking into his room, Arnos¡¯s gaze fell on the staff and wand he got; they were placed on the bed. "I need to arrange my cupboard, don''t I?" he mumbled as he placed the paper bag with five sets of modest daily wear clothes on the bed.


    Stretching his arm by taking it to the back, he tried to relax his muscles before finally walking outside. Moving to the hall, he glanced at the dorm''s kitchen, which Emily had previously pointed out.


    Arnos walked into the kitchen, grabbing the food that was supposed to be his lunch, and walked back into the hall.


    He moved towards the dining area, placing his plate next to Marcus and taking a seat next to him. "Is anyone else left to eat?" he questioned.


    Marcus looked at Emily, who shook her head. "I don''t think so. Seras told us that the second years had their lunch before we came," he added.


    Wait, don''t tell me there were classes after I left, Arnos thought, terrified of the possible scoldings he might get from Miss Margrave since he had already messed up on the first day in front of her.


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    "Were there any classes after I left?" Arnos questioned.


    Before Marcus could reply, Emily spoke up. "There wasn¡¯t any class per se, though we were allowed to use the training ground for practice, and I and Marcus decided to spar," she added with a neutral look.


    Arnos let out a sigh, taking a bite of the food. "I thought I messed up again," he mumbled.


    "You didn''t mess up this time, though leaving without telling me or Marcus was meant to cause problems. Be slightly more careful next time," Emily scolded.


    "Sorry, your highness," Arnos mumbled in an apologetic tone.


    "Princess Emily will suffice," Emily stated.


    "Hey Arnos, I was curious about the morning," Marcus spoke up, catching both Emily and Arnos''s attention.


    "What are you curious about?" Arnos questioned with a curious expression as he took another bite.


    "Do you really not know any spell?" Marcus questioned. "Or were you lying for some reason in the Celeras¡¯ training arena?"


    "I¡­" Do I tell him that I was just trying to avoid getting attention? Arnos pondered, his thoughts being interrupted by Emily.


    "He doesn''t know any spell?" she questioned.


    "I think I do know a few spells, but I had some reasons for my actions, which I''ll only disclose if you both try to look at things from my perspective and not force me to work with what seems best to you," Arnos said. Was I too forward with what I said? he questioned himself, slightly scared of Marcus and Emily''s reaction.


    "We won''t try to make you see from our perspective if that''s what you want," Emily added nonchalantly.


    "Sure, I don''t know why anyone would do that. Now spill the beans, Arnos," Marcus said.


    "I know a basic spell. To be honest, I learned my first basic spell from Erik today, so that''s the thing. Now, the main issue of why I decided against fighting you is actually simple. If I fought you, I would have gotten more unwanted attention, and it might not be the best thing for me, considering my background and stuff," Arnos said.


    "Well, I personally think fighting me or even Emily might get more people to accept your talent¡­" Marcus spoke.


    "He said he doesn''t want to see it through your eyes. That was his condition," Emily said, glaring at Marcus.


    "Sorry," Marcus said in a slightly apologetic tone while looking at Arnos.


    Arnos raised both of his hands. "I don''t think you need to say sorry," he spoke with reassurance.


    "If you ask me, what Arnos said does make complete sense. Getting him to fight you would only get him more trouble, and if it''s not something he wants, you shouldn''t force it on him."


    "And I didn''t force anything on him!," Marcus added with slight irritation. "Speaking of which, if attention is what you don''t want, would you want to fight with me in Ares Dorm¡¯s training ground?" Marcus asked with slight enthusiasm.


    "I don''t think I want to. I would most probably lose¡­" Arnos spoke, trying to back down from the fight.


    "Losing or winning is part of the fight. What matters the most is participation and learning from the fight, taking in all the battle experience you could get from it," Marcus spoke with a serious expression.


    "Spoken like a true teacher," Emily added with a small smirk.

 Chapter 48 New Item

    "So what do you say Arnos, up for a duel?" Marcus questioned with visible enthusiasm.


    "I mean, it¡¯s not like losing has any penalty¡­ wait, it doesn¡¯t have any penalty now, does it?" Arnos questioned.


    "Nope," Marcus added, shaking his head in reply.


    "Without a penalty, it won¡¯t be much fun though, but whatever you both like is good, I think," Emily said. She then turned to look at Arnos and added, "You should also go and see Alisa, she was looking for you in the afternoon," she added.


    Alisa¡­ Arnos repeated in his mind. Oh, the cursed bracelet, he immediately remembered. "Do you know where she is right now?" Arnos questioned Emily.


    "In the library or her room, I am pretty sure. Last time I saw her, she went to the library," Emily added. She turned her gaze towards Marcus immediately after, who nodded at the words Emily said.


    "Are you getting excited for checking out the bracelet you are getting from her?" Marcus asked Arnos with raised eyebrows.


    "I am¡­" Arnos admitted.


    "Wait, bracelet???" Emily added, as she looked at both Marcus and Arnos with a dumbfounded look.


    Arnos nodded at it. "It¡¯s to uhh¡­ remove the pain I feel whenever I use my ability," Arnos replied as he started to hastily eat the food at great pace.


    Emily had an unsure look on her face as she turned her gaze towards Marcus, looking at him as if she was demanding an explanation.


    Letting out a sigh, Marcus spoke up, "If you recall properly, Arnos had told us about his special ability yesterday, Envelop, which allows him to cover parts of his body with fire that increases their destructive and physical capabilities."


    "Yes, I do remember it. So where does this bracelet come into picture in this situation?" Emily asked.


    "It¡¯s supposed to take away his sense of pain. It¡¯s technically a type of curse, but in Arnos'' situation, it helps him greatly," Marcus added.


    "Using curse as enchantment¡­ hmm, that¡¯s really unorthodox, I must say," Emily admitted. "Though I would be interested in seeing how it works," she said as she looked towards Marcus and Arnos. "I will be watching your duel to get a better view if you both don¡¯t mind," she added.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Arnos stood from his chair, taking the empty plate in his hand as he did. "I don¡¯t see any problem in it," he added. "About another issue, do you both have any idea where I am supposed to wash this?" Arnos asked, while looking at the plate in his hand.


    "Seras told us we just have to place it in the right corner of the kitchen counter, so just place it there and go find Alisa," Marcus stated.


    To which Arnos nodded. He walked into the kitchen and placed the dirty dish on the counter, after which he washed his hand with the sink present next to the counter. Immediately after, he quickly moved, walking towards the library.


    Standing outside the library, he knocked twice on the door. "It¡¯s me, Arnos," he spoke loudly, announcing his presence.


    And as he did so, the words "Come in," came from inside, to which he obliged.


    Would it have worked? Maybe she wasn¡¯t able to integrate curse with the bracelet, or maybe it just didn¡¯t work, Arnos thought to himself as he walked in, doubting whether or not his special abilities'' limitations would finally be overcome today.


    As Arnos walked inside the room, he looked at Alisa, who was sat in front of the table, reading a book. The bracelet box was kept next to her on the table.


    "So, I tried my best to make the bracelet, but it didn¡¯t work," Alisa spoke in a disappointed tone, averting her eyes from Arnos.


    "It didn¡¯t, huh," Arnos added. It didn¡¯t work after all. It seems as if I am not meant to use the ability I possess, Arnos thought to himself as he looked at the floor. "Thanks nonetheless," he added in a depressed tone.


    "Yeah, I tried my best, and it seems like I won¡¯t be able to completely suppress the pain, though it should work in reducing the pain drastically," Alisa added.


    Yeah, it didn¡¯t work¡­ wait¡­ completely suppress the pain¡­ Arnos thought in his mind. "So it worked out?" he spoke out.


    "It did."


    Arnos, being overwhelmed by the emotions, unconsciously got his eyes filled with tears. He rubbed his eyes from his right hand as he looked at Alisa. "Thanks¡­ thanks a lot. I really didn¡¯t think I would ever be able to use my ability," he added, his voice stammering as he spoke his words.


    Alisa stood from the chair, a slight concern visible in her face. "Sorry for messing with you, I really wanted to see your reaction," she added, passing a handkerchief from her pocket to Arnos.


    Arnos shook his head. "It will be fine," he added with a smile. "The fact that it worked is good enough. And messing with juniors this much isn¡¯t that bad, I guess," he added.


    Alisa smiled at this. She moved back to the table, picking up the bracelet¡¯s box. She opened it, grabbing the black metallic bracelet in her hand.


    Arnos noticed how the crystal glowed dark violet. If I am not wrong, it was transparent previously. Did its color change because of curse or mana she used? he questioned himself.


    "Wear this in whichever hand you prefer," Alisa said as she handed out the bracelet to Arnos.


    Taking it in his hand, Arnos looked at the bracelet for a moment, noticing the sinister-looking purple glow in the crystal. He gulped down the air in his throat.


    "Are you getting scared, Arnos?" Alisa questioned, looking at his face.


    She went out of her way to make it for me, and this is how I am reacting? Arnos mentally scolded himself. In the next moment, he slid down the bracelet in his right hand.

 New Book Announcement

    First of all the most important update: I''ll begin regularly updating Shadow Ascendant from 4th March.


    Now, onto the second key update¡ªI¡¯ve started working on a new story. Well, technically, I began this one before Shadow Ascendant. The good thing is that it has a clear ending in sight, making it a relatively short book. If I go all out, it¡¯ll likely reach around 400,000¨C500,000 words.


    "Getting blood on your hands is inevitable¡ªthe only choice is whose it will be."


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    When faced with a life-or-death decision, A-rank adventurer Alan chose his comrades over orders. Expecting punishment from the Adventurer¡¯s Association, he braced himself for the worst. Instead¡­ they promoted him.


    ¡°Wait¡ªyou can¡¯t just make me S-rank!¡±


    Now officially the fourth S-rank adventurer in Alcia, Alan does what any responsible S-rank would¡ªhe runs. After all, he¡¯d rather face monsters than be shackled by guild rules.


    Unfortunately, escaping didn''t go exactly as planned. Two bratty party members have forced their way into his newest journey, turning his solo escape into an unwanted adventure.