Going around town with Mio was a nice experience. Hiro felt a bit refreshened by finally spending time with someone 'his age'. Ever since he was born, he never got to play with other kids. It was training all the time, studying all the time. Because he was a noble. And a noble from a fallen family. Other nobles didn't want their kids to play with him. Commoners were afraid of their children playing with him, what if something happened, who would dare say they could deal with the consequences?

  That made Hiro a bit lonely. The only person he could really talk to was his mother. But she would just smile gently to him. They couldn't go out to have fun, eat together, or do anything together. Because she can't get out of the bed. She can't exert herself, or she would get even more sick.

  His time chatting with his mother was nice. But it wasn't 'fun'.

  Hanging around town with Mio, though, was a lot of fun. They walked all around Magehold, finding holes that felt like secret passages through walls, a horned pet bunny the size of a dog, frogs who could speak (He said he was human, but a mage did this to him), and all sorts of oddieties that could only be the result of magic.

  He even heard from Mio that there was a rumor that dragon were coming back. When he heard that, he just stopped walking for a second and looked at her with a blank look.

  'What is this? Is this really Sk*rim? Is this a coincidence? A realistic version of Sk*rim, with a bit more fantastical setting? Or maybe an alternate future where magic became mainstream?' Even though he thought that, he didn't say anything and just resumed walking.

  However, time is ever flowing, and soon, the sun was going to sleep.

  "I think is about time we should go, Hiro." The cute redhead said as she looked to the darkening sky.

  "Yes. It is. This King needs to rest properly everyday. Soon the school exam will be upon Us." Hiro said with a face that tried to be dignified, but failed completely and was plainly funny.

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  Mio laughed a bit as Hiro started walking back to her home with flair. After taking her back home, Hiro walked back to the inn himself. As he entered, he noticed that the inn was relatively full, and Kira was sitting in one of the many tables in the reception, eating a delicious looking meal. There were some french fries with onions, a vegetable soup, and meat stew. Noticing he was hungry himself, he sat down next to him.

  "So? How was it?" Kira was the first to open his mouth, as he made a gesture with his hand, to show the girl walking around the tables, probably the waitress, that he wanted more food.

  "How was what?"

  "Magehold, how was your little trip around town? What do you think of it?" He clarified.

  "It's weird. This town looks like a mess, but somehow it works. It is a fun city to be at. This King approves." Hiro had a thumbs up as he smiled a bit.

  "Good. The school examination this year was scheduled for tomorrow. It's sooner than last year. We almost didn't make it. Eat well and rest. Tomorrow morning will be when we set out. Be serious. Don't forget what's on your shoulders." After saying that, he went back to eating. It was at that time as well that the waitress arrived with Hiro's food.

  'Don't worry. This King is always serious.' As he ate, he was thinking about what kind of exam could it be. He was a little upset of not having more time to play around with Mio, it was unlikely for them to meet again when school started. He sighed. 'As expected, the path to greatness is filled with loneliness.'

  As he finished eating, he went back to his room and finally took a shower. Taking his baggage off the bed, he sat in the bed and started meditating.

  'Let Us see, how far We have come. This King is eager to see if i'm still considered talentless.' As he controlled his breathing, he remembered about the book he read on the way to the capital. A book about cultivation. According to it, you had to spread your mind outside your body, instead of inside, which is the case with mana. Control your breathing, slowly gather the energy around you into your body by your breathing, gather it in the dantian, expel the air and little impurities, repeat.

  And so, the first day Hiro reached the Arcane Blue Empire capital, he started cultivating.