After the tournament ended, all students were given a month before they were required to move into their assigned dorm.

While everyone else was packing, my mom decided to give me a weirdly serious talk.

“When you begin attending the academy, don’t be disheartened.”

“What do you mean don’t be disheartened?” I was genuinely confused by her statement. Did I not just decimate the entire tournament?

“You’re strong for your age, exceedingly strong. But you lack high level techniques and true experience, while people in the second year have started attaining these things.” She patted my back before leaning down and putting her forehead on mine.

“Grow stronger, learn more techniques, experience being a teenager, do all the things other teenagers are doing. You have time to do these things in moderation, don’t lose sight of yourself.” After hearing Yuna say all of this I sorta realized I’ve done nothing all these years except pretty much ignore everyone and focus on myself. I never asked to see Ariel again when she disappeared, I never got to really know Aiko either since I blindly pursued power.

I never really noticed how selfish and awkward I was to be around until I met Reiner, Ariel and Aiko. I can’t understand why they even like me. It must be a noble thing, but in Aiko’s case I have no idea.

Breaking me out of my thoughts, Yuna dragged me through the Elven Kings estate to the backyard.

“I never bothered to show you it but I think now that you’ll be able to explore a lot of things, I’ll show you your dads keepsake he passed onto you.”

Yuna walked forward and smiled at me, which was incredibly ominous.

“I’m sorry.” As soon as she said that I noticed her hands weren’ normal anymore, they had turned into claws with red scales going from her wrist to her fingertips.

Then she thrust her hand into my stomach before I could even react. Before I could collapse she grabbed me by the shoulder and kept me from falling.

“It’ll be over quickly, I only have to do this once.” She seemed genuinely upset doing this but I know she wouldn’t do this if she had any other option.

After a few seconds of her digging around into my guts I felt something start to surge forward, then out of nowhere her hand was ejected from my body. Instead of blood seeping out of my stomach this weird gray metallic like substance was pouring out and heading towards my palm.

“You could almost consider it as sentient, something that's bonded to your soul. It’ll take time to get used to but with your ability to copy it’ll be a great asset.”

I looked at the substance that had formed into the size of a dodgeball in my hand, it felt weightless and strangely familiar to me.

“It’s called a Soul Bond, it’s a weapon or armor that’ll conform to your needs or command. It’s incredibly rare for even gods to have this, so in your fathers last moments he decided to part with his and pass it on for the future.” Yuna looked slightly sad at the thought of Michael but it quickly passed.

“Impose your will on it and try to make it into a weapon.” Yuna commanded.

I looked down at it and thought of a typical longsword.

Sure enough in the blink of an eye it turned into what I wanted, a typical longsword.

“When your father wielded this weapon it was as powerful as a Black Ranked weapon, but since it passed onto you it’s become Blue Ranked like your core. I’m assuming you can piece the rest together?” Yuna said slightly condescendingly.

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“It grows with me.” I said bluntly.

“Good job.” Yuna said with a smile.

“It can change into armor also but I’d rather solve that another way.”

“I made a bet so now we’re going to collect on that bet, you get to your friend Reiner again.” As soon as Yuna said that I could feel a headache brewing.

“Alright..” I didn’t have a choice in the matter.

“I took the liberty of traveling to his home so we can go ahead and travel there instantly.” Spatial magic users have to visit the locations they open portals to be able to go there, clearly Yuna loved to travel.

As I stepped through I was met with a giant hug from Reiner.

“Welcome to my home, best friend.” Reiner said as he strangled me to death.

After a few seconds of me struggling I finally managed to free myself from his death embrace.

“How did you find us so fast?” I asked.

“I’ve been waiting by the front door for hours.” As soon as he said this I realized something.

This guy is one of the most simple minded beings I’ve ever met, he waited for who knows how long for this exact moment.

“Creep.” I decided to not show my admiration.

“Welcome to my home Lady Yuna, my father is in his study.” Reiner completely changed as soon as my mother showed up.

I finally looked at my surroundings and noticed how big this estate was, it rivaled even Vaelir’s home.

The home itself was surrounded by fifty meter tall walls all around made of metal, with hundreds of guards along the entire thing. Ballistae were lined all along the walls, at the corners of the walls were guard posts and inside of those I could feel very powerful men.

“Don’t mind the guys on the walls, I bet they’re all playing cards or something.” Reiner waved them off before signaling the guards to open the gates. The gate itself was also made of metal but it was pure white and lined with a red crystal like substance.

“That crystal absorbs damage and reflects it, neat huh?” Reiner noticed I had been looking at it.

“How much money do you guys have?” The outside walls alone bordered on insane.

“Not sure, my dad used to be a wealthy merchant before he founded our family.” Reiner merely shrugged his shoulders.

As we passed the gates I noticed the interior was even more extravagant than the walls.

From the gate to the house was a white stone path that was lined with trees. Midway you could see a giant fountain spewing the clearest water I’ve ever seen, rich people are insane.

“My father likes to keep up appearances, like asserting your dominance I guess? He’s a weird guy.” I just looked at Reiner in response, this family seemed to only run on primal instincts. These people were way too normal to be the upstarts of this kingdom.

“Welcome back Young Master, welcome to my master's home.” A butler appeared from the front door of the mansion.

The mansion itself was two stories tall and the material it was built with was naturally white wood. The most amazing part of it was the dome-like structure that encapsulates the entire thing.

“Allow them in old man, they’re here to see my father.” Reiner instructed the butler.

“Very well.” The butler snapped his fingers and a hole appeared in the structure.

The dome-like structure was akin to a force field, except it was fueled by magic.

As we entered the mansion I couldn’t help but be surprised. The floor was made of tiles that were black and white, tons of maids were swiftly moving the place in order to get to their next chore, butlers were lined along the entrance waiting for us. It felt so weird to me, I was so used to living in the slums and having nothing but scraps and myself to seeing people who were on the other end of the spectrum. Inwardly I was jealous but Reiner seemed indifferent to it all so I couldn’t really call him a selfish person.

“Follow me to the Lords study.” The butler motioned us to follow him up the stairs.

As we walked through I started counting the doors and couldn’t help but be flabbergasted. This mansion had over two hundred rooms in it, who the hell needs that many rooms in their home?

Finally we arrived at a door that was much bigger than the rest, it had more of the red crystal lining the door that was metal just like the front gate.

“Enter.” Before we could announce our presence we were invited in.

When we entered I was slightly confused, the study room was incredibly simple. There were a few bookcases in the room and one large white desk that had Duke Reinhardt behind it.

“I presume you’re here about the bet?” The Duke said casually.