AN: Happy New Year!!! Your lazy (and distracted :P) author presents chapter 51. Enjoy!
Yes, I know, it's been a while, life + new distractions (*blush in shame, but just for a second)
PR by Bboybrian
******************************
Since it's been a little while, let's start with a short summary (I had to read back a few previous chapters to avoid mistakes while writing this one. If even I, the author, forgot some details about my own story and characters, what about the readers?):
Aenthar is a reincarnated guy born in Argot village, a small village at the border of Tristam kindom surrounded by wild unclaimed lands known as Frontier. His father is a human (caecian) alchemist and his mother is a dark elf hunter. He learned alchemy from his father, and archery, hunting and leatherworking from his mother. His goals in his new life are to firstly explore this new unknown world, and secondly use his previous life knowledge to improve and create new things. Also, make a harem, because he didn't get much action in his previous life.
During his childhood in Argot village he also learned blacksmithing, hand-to-hand combat, staff wielding, and some magic. He was born with a large mana pool and affinity to all elements. He had his magic awakening earlier than normal due to his body maturing faster than normal (he looks 3 years older than he really is). He worked a lot on his mana sense and magic manipulation, while refraining from doing too many experiments.
His childhood friend Kerrina, who is a year older than him, is a lycan hototo, good with cooking, archery, hunting, and tailoring. Muriem is an orphan, 4 years older than him, whose parents were murdered during a bandit attack on their village. Luckily, she was rescued by Aenthar and his father when they stopped there during a trip, and has been living with his family since then. She was initiallly a farmer, but eventually learned hunting, archery, leather working, staff wielding and hand-to-hand combat to support Aenthar. Both girls are in love with Aenthar and have decided to stick with him for life (how sweet :D).
While being raised in Argot village, Aenthar captured and tamed a serran (big lizard) which he called Komodo. He reached disciple rank (professional level) in both blacksmithing and alchemy. When he turned 12, he left with the girls to further their training and education in Lana academy, situated in the capital of Tristam kingdom, Tristam City. He and the girls got excellent grades at the entrance exam (Aenthar got a scholarship), and aside from their specialised fields, took complementary classes so they could have a lighter timetable. Poor Aenthar had a lot to learn in controlling all the elements, and even joined the student council, giving him more work.
Currently, it's been 6 months since they got into the academy. The girls have improved their combat abilities, Aenthar has learned new spells and improved his understanding of magic, he also improved a bit in his craftmanship (mostly alchemy). He gave his noble friend samples of a cosmetic in hope of getting her family interested enough to buy the recipe from him. Success.
--------------------------------------------------
The eighth month of every year is a holiday. The academy dorms, restaurant, training grounds and the library are still open during that time, but the rest of the facilities are closed to the students. At the end of Doranus (seventh month), the mid-year ranking was posted in the main buildings of each departments, classed by subject and level. Only the top 10 students were shown on the rankings.
In the intermediate magic classes I got first place in both fire and wind magic, and third place in body magic. I got seventh place in earth magic, ranking below my fellows from the student council, Ren Brom and Irmynn Thum, and ninth place in holy magic. I also got first place in beginners compound magic and beginner's alchemy classes, but I wasn't ranked for the other magic classes.
In the society department, I got first place in intermediate arythmetics and intermediate geometry. That wasn't a surprise considering my past life. As for premean history and premean geography, I only wanted to learn the essential and didn't bother much with the details. They are subjects that require memorisation. I didn't have trouble remembering things because my brain got good at storing information, but I also didn't put a lot of efforts into the finer parts of the subject, so I got 8th and 9th place.
As I stood in front of the ranking boards, I could feel the other students glancing, staring or glaring at me, or hear them whispering things about me.
Random noble student boy 1: “... Hey, why do I see his name everywhere on the board?”
Random commoner student girl: “As expected from the genius with 7 affinities!!”
Random commoner student boy 1: “Even with 7 affinities, to be in the ranking for so many subjects...”
Random commoner student boy 2: “Look, he's good even in subjects from the society department!”
Random noble student boy 2: “That's too much for a single person to achieve, I bet he cheated for those subjects.”
Random noble student boy 3: “I don't think so! After all, he already got excellent grades at the entrance exam.”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Random commoner student boy 2: “I heard he already reached disciple rank in alchemy. The teacher doesn't even bother checking his concoctions when the class must make something.”
Random commoner student girl : “Thinking about alchemy class, I heard the first time they had to work in groups there was a big argument because everyone wanted to be paired with him. Was that true?”
Random commoner student boy 1: “Yes. Though the girls were quite fierce at that time, it was seriously scary.”
Random noble student girl 1: “Did you say something?”
Random commoner student boy 1: “No, nothing, I'm sorry.”
Other student boys: “...”
Random noble student guy 3: “Tch. No wonder he has those 2 pretty girls near him. He even gets along well with the daughter of Count Shane.”
Random noble student boy 2: “He is just a commoner, girls of superior bloodline shouldn't bother with him.”
Random noble student girl 2: “Whine all you want, you can't deny that he is skilled. He's given us proof every month. Show you're better than him before criticising him.”
-------
After listening to the gossip for a bit, I turned my attention toward the board for the martial department. Kerrina got first place in intermediate markmanship, however it was a close battle with the second and third place. Still, I was impressed, and it must have showed on my face because she sent a smug and proud look my way. I could only smile wryly at that, and Muriem gave her a fleeting jealous glance.
In hand-to-hand combat she was ranked 10th, but she was unranked for the sword & dagger course. Muriem wasn't ranked anywhere except in the hand-to-hand combat course at the 4th place. In the subjects from the society department they didn't appear in the rankings for history and geography, but they got 4thplace in astronomy for Kerrina and 9th place in music and dance for Muriem. Though those 2 class didn't have more than 15 students, so nobody really cared about them.
Aside from Muriem. That girl always liked music. Back in Argot, during festivities she would always pull me to dance with her. Back in my previous life I was the kind of guy who would heartily dance only when nobody was around. I avoided night club because my dancing was poor. My family and friends made fun of me a whole lot. Thnakfully not enough to eriously hurt me, but enough for me to understand that I shouldn't try dancing in public. When I do, I barely move my feet and shoulders, just enough not to attract attention.
Muriem is quite passionate about music, whether it be singing, dancing, or playing the lute. Yes, she started learning how to play the lute, and quite diligently as well. She also started to use khilas, some kind of castanets, alongside dancing. She kinda reminds me of Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame when she dances while using them. It is not rare to see the 2 of us performing a piece for 2 with Kerrina as our only spectator. But even if it's just the 3 of us during those time, we are quite happy.
-------
After taking care of our business with the academy, we went home and made preparations for our trip. The 3 of us are going with Eliane to her parents house north of Tristam City. It takes 3 days to go there, we will stay 3 days there, then we will come back. Eliane's parents have invited their own alchemist so I could give him the recipe of the cosmetic I made. While the girls are preparing the luggages, I'm putting back our custom chariot in one piece. Eliane proposed to rent a carriage for us, but I declined. Our chariot was more comfortable than what was currently available in th world.
The next day we met up with Eliane outside of the city. She had her own chariot with 5 escorts and a maid. After greeting each other, we headed towards Barnass, the town in which Eliane's family lived. We travelled in simple formation, 2 men at the front, followed by Eliane's carriage, our chariot and 2 men behind. There was a small village in between where we would make a short stop.
We had to camp for the first night. While the maid was preparing the meal and the men guarding the area, the girls chatted with each other while I was playing my viol, barely listening to them. Eliane, Muriem and Kerrina didn't have much occasion to interact so they were eager to know each other better.
In Kerrina and Muriem's case, it was most likely because I was on friendly terms with her, and they were probably wondering if she was a potential lover for me. As for Eliane, I never told her clearly what was my relationship with them, and like any girl her age, she was quite curious. Thankfully, Kerrina and Muriem were already warned about her way of speaking so they wouldn't be miffed about it. It was a nice evening, though I got embarrassed listening to some of the things they said.
******************************
AN: Next update in about 10 days.
This story needs more dialogs to bring more life to the characters (they are still a bit dull), but I'm still not that good with them... And I need less "tell" and more "show". Telling things is so much easier! Habits are hard to shake of...