After from his work place,Dio didn't immediately go home, he went to the town bulletin board that placed near the town hall.
What he want to check was , the pamflet about the academy admision. The test will be held in 10 days, he so excited thinking about that, the path he choose at least will be held open for him.
He wanted to enroll as soon as possible , when he first arrived at Lath town, but the minimal age for enrollment is 15, while he was only 8 years old back then. The seven years wait he used to fill his head with knowledge from the library and from his boss, mr.Bram.
With him lost in thought, he didn't notice that someone was standing few steps behind him.
The person, quitely stood, watching Dio with intense eyes. Strangely, no one seemed to noticed the person, everyone just passed by, like nothing was there. When Dio awaken from his thought and turned around, the person already gone with the wind.
Dio made his way to the market once more, with extra cash, he could be a little 'generous'. He bought several Redberry, Lynn favorite fruit.
He made his way to home, smiling ear to ear.
---
As him arrived at his 4 room house, Dio started putting his grocery into place and do some cleaning. After Dio took a seat and started reading a thick heavy book that set near his desk.
The book tittle was 'New Invention in Alchemy', it was kind of new book, just published last month, and with Lynn working in library, he could got the book fast, but of course , he only borrowing it.
Although he could not pursue his passion in alchemy anymore , due to financial problem. But he kept his knowledge up to date with books from library.
The newest invention that piqued many interest from many peoples were explosive powder. Yes, it was not new one, explosive powder has been invented long before, as a necessity for fighting Dragons, but the material was equal to small fortune, not many people used it, only handfull.
But this new explosive powder, was cheaper, and can be mass produced. A new breakthrough in human history.
Dio remember a sentences from a book he read long ago. It sound 'Only in crisis, living being will try the hardest, will uncover their true potential.'
"I guess its true, many incredible things that invented is because of the crisis" Dio muttered to himself
He recalled that a history book that told the time before the first Dragon came back. It was placid world, with life just goes on, with same monotous occurance.
But after human defeated in the first war, all of us started to realize, that human as they were, were insufficient to even wound their enemies.
Although fight with beastial creatures were common, but they couldn't be compared to even a small Dragon.
Then, human changed how their mind works. Started to seek a power that could easily help us to kill the Prince of Destruction.
One of the notable discovery , were the Mage's Tower. A symbol of hope and power , that could rival Dragons. Alas, the greater the power, the harder it will be to weild them.
To become a Mage, you must have aptitude, and must endure harsh training. Many were failed.
Although concept of Magic were known before the coming of Dragons, but it was scarce, only a handful of people knew the existance of such power. But as the prophecy it self has told
'they will come to bring us the End, as they will open the seal of Magic, beware you peoples, beware you Kings,'
Many people interpreted that as a sure way to push back or even annahilation of Dragons.
Yes, Mage or Magician number are many times higher than before, but still how many times multiply a hand full, it still won't be enough.
Back to his book, Dio conclude , only the new kind of explosive powder were really useful. Several other new invention like new kind of alloy, or something related to herbology are usefull, but the cost wouldn't be efficient to be implemented immediately.
Dio, aware of the soft footsteps behind his door, immediately glanced up, to see Lynn , standing there with a smile on her face.
"Hey, why you didn't turn on the lamp?" Asked Lynn , while putting fire on Dio's oil lamp .
"Ah, sorry, i forgot, kinda lost the track of time while reading" Dio smiled back innocently.
"So, how's work today?" Asked Lynn while took a seat on Dio's bed.
"Hmm, its usual i guess, with something unusual mixed in it" said Dio
"Um, what do you mean? What was the unsual thing you mentioned?"
"Ah, it was, mr.Bram, recieved a piece of paper from mr.Restari, and he suddenly asked me to take a two days break, with double payment, made me curious what was inside the paper" Dio said while putting bookmark on his book
"Hmm, that's certainly unsual, but you know mr.Bram is considered expert on his trade, maybe something related to that. Anyways, has you prepared yourself for the admision test ? Its just 10 days, you know" said Lynn while twirling her shoulder-long hair.
Dio was fascinated with her hair, as he were back in the old days. Lynn has the most beautiful hair, Dio ever seen. A soft-brown hair that reflect the shining sun, but the amazing part is, a deep scarlet shade, that only can be seen on certain angle if you looked closely at her hair.
A truly magnificent work of art, Dio concluded.
"Hey, are you listening to me?"
"Um, what was that again ?"
"Heh, i asked, are you prepared for the admision test?"
"Oh, ah, yeah test, i did my best to prepare, but the question was known to be hard, but i think i can manage it, probably" Dio shrugged and smiled at Lynn, which only replied with a rolled eyes.
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"Ah, how about yourself ?"
"Me? What do you mean?" Lynn asked with confused expression
"Aren't you going to enroll too? You are probably the second smartest girl i have ever know"
"Huh, i'm the second? Who's the first then?" Curiously Lynn asked
Dio smiled smuggly before dropping the answer "Your boss of course" then, Lynn certainly thought what Dio said, "haha, yeah, that's so true, i bet , mrs.Nurna remember all of the book on the library" Dio laughed with Lynn, but her expression suddenly changed to serious one, this expression mean, a heavy talk with her
'But still, i won't enroll, first, i'm not that talented with sword, and i don't have money" Lynn said with cold detached tone
"Why are you worrying over money? I've got a saving that, i intended for both of our enrollment, and your skill with sword is top class, for someone in your age." Dio said vehemently
"But its your money, and i don't want to be a burden for you anymore, you have done enough for me already" her cold voice changed with one that tinged with bitterness and pain
"Haa~h, why are you always like this? Didn't i already said, you are the most important person for me now, i want you to be able to rise, and the humanity need many skilled people, and why are you so stubborn with money? If you felt burdened if i'm giving you free, you can consider it as a loan" Dio inadvertently raised his voice, while Lynn looked as calm as before
"This is what i'm affraid about, even you looked the same cheerful you outside, inside your vengeance already eating your reasoning. Me too want to kill those dragon, but seeing you like this, i'm affraid you will kill yourself one day, because you've been blinded by your vengeance. We will talk again, after you have cool your head down." Lynn then walked out the room slowly, leaving Dio on storm of thought.
Gone all his excitement for today, but Lynn words were indeed true, its only that Dio already abandoned the world when his parents died, only his vengeance drove him. Many times in the past seven years he thought about abandoning his vengeance , but then his life felt bland, nothing to look forward , in a world where a flying disaster could strike anytime.
He then took a deep breath, thinking that Lynn was right, his vengeance did blind him, but it was his fuel, an important reason that made him want to enter the academy. What he need is, a way to control his emotion, a way to channel his rage, make it into a weapon that he will hone.
~~~~~~
The silence at dinner was deafening. Dio, who used at laughter and conversation with Lynn felt so restless, but when he saw Lynn only calmly eating her food, Dio's pride got better of him, so he kept his silence and eat the food mechanically.
~~~~
The same night, at her room, Lynn were contemplating the earlier conversation with Dio.
'You fool, why are you so bent on something so useless' an inner monologue played over and over again inside her.
She recalled the disaster seven years ago. A secret that he didn't tell Dio. A word from her father, that sworn her to protect the young master, and something else, something that only her father and Dio's parents knew, her father said that she will knew when the time is right. That was upsetting, knowing something will happen but not knowing what, or why.
And there was Dio's mother words in her death bed. She remembered how she was. Mrs.Evelyn was a beautiful lady, not by her physical trait, although she wasn't ugly in the slightest bit, but her graceful figure, her shoothing voice, and her bright green eyes, would undoubtly makes everyone like her. Even in her deathbed, she didn't lost any of her qualities.
~~~~
"Lynn" Evelyn smiled weakly when she saw her son bestfriend was okay, except a few bruises and cuts.
"Must be unsightly, seeing me like this" Evelyn said in a tone of irony, because she always emphasized that any woman must always appear as they were in the best.
"No, Mam, its not, you are still the best woman in this town" Lynn, knowing how her mistress mind, replied with the appropriate answer. But still seeing her crushed arms and legs were heart wrenching. She almost cried, but thankfully , her lesson as swordswomen , saved her.
"Though you need to rest, the healer will make you as good as before"
"Hahah, you silly girl" even her laugh still felt warm to Lynn.
"But no, no healer can save me, my time is near, i will soon follow my husband , and your parents" when Lynn heard that, she unconsciously clenched her fist, knowing your close person was dead is a something, but hearing it still tore a large part of her heart.
"I'm sorry Lynn, we couldn't give both of you a good life" Lynn answer were only a silence, but mrs.Evelyn continued
"Seeing your father already gave you that necklace, it means that you already sworn to our family" Lynn who heard that, unconsciously put a finger on her newly added ring, a keepsake from her father, that came with an oath, and she firmly nod.
"I'm sorry, that we must made you to take such a heavy responsibility in such young age, but knowing my son temper, he will be consumed by blinding rage when he awake later. I need you to consol him, make him forget his rage. Although i wish him for a happy normal life, but that's just a pipe dream now" mrs.Evelyn put another smile, but it followed with a blood cough.
Lynn rushed to help, but mrs.Evelyn only could whisper 'please' before light fade from her eye.
~~~~~
Lynn quickly wipe her beads of tears. Those memories always bring the weak side of her, even as seven years has gone by.
She put out her light and quickly went asleep.