It took a while for me to calm down. Even then, the lingering gaze of the beast was still present.

“ Young master? ”

Closing my eyes, I tried evaluating myself against the beast. The outcome would be death at every turn but I didn’t mind, not like I expected to win, it was just me visualizing how I could do better against the now familiar movements. If of course if I could follow them. If. In reality there was no was I would be able to follow the beast’s movements. Another point of concern was if the beast had not used it’s all. The girl too … I just knew she hadn’t done her best, the beast just got her at a strategic level. Now I wondered if the girl was truly dead. She was the one I always saw in past dreams and the same one I saw in this one. If she died, does the dream end?. Have I gone to the next step, or would I just restart the dream at every occurrence. Is my input needed at some occurrences?. So many questions but no answers.

…

“ Young master ”

…

It suddenly occurred to me I had not try to use any magic. I might not be awakened, but I still knew basic magic theory and confident that after awakening, it shouldn’t take to long to learn my first spell. I should have tried using a spell just to see if I could somehow use magic.

‘ Not like I would have a chance to survive a fight with a Matchor even with magic ’.

…

“ YOUNG MASTER ”

I felt like my ears would burst at Cole’s shout. It did bring me back to him though.

“ By what Cole, I got you ” I said rubbing my ears.

“ What were you so deep in thought about?. From your body language you had the dream. ” I felts silent at that, staring at the door.

…

“ Tell me Cole, what are your chances of winning against a Matchor ” I asked. Cole was stronger than me. Courtesy of being 6 years older than me I always shot back. He was also a mage proficient in water, earth and wind magic. All things considered, he could trash me back and forth. I wasn’t exactly expecting him to win, I just wanted to know of his chances of winning.

“ Nonexistent young master. I could fight it for a time, but my loss and eventually death are guaranteed ”.

“ Why do you ask young master ”

“ I faced a Matchor in the dream. ” I replied, facing him. He was gazing at me with utmost attention.

“ Well, not faced, not directly, but I did experience what it would be like to fight against it ” I continued, telling Cole the whole story. The abilities of the girl especially. It’s not like the Matchor’s were of no importance to me. Some of it’s moves I knew from the monster classes I had with Sir Moloen. Encountering them was another thing, sure, and I even saw some movements I was not previously ware of. The girls abilities on the other hand are a total mystery. With the recounting done, I waited for his input.

“ Young master, you should speak to the Lord about this ” he started. Of course, that was a given.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“ I have no knowledge of the girls abilities. They seem similar to the Barians in some aspects but like you said young master, Barians although not proficient mages, still make use of magical coating in fights. I especially know that no Barian could face a Matchor face on. An adult Barian, even their current leader would cannot do so. Unless they are hiding their abilities. Possible but I doubt it. They are brash and battle junkies so no much ability hiding for them. For the sword, there are artifacts that are rumored to be able to face high tier beasts without any magical coating or abilities but I do not know of any. Research had been done on how to create such weapons when rumors were spread, but there is no convincing theory on a way to create such weapon so many dismiss it as rumors.”

“ Why would there even be such rumors? ”. Do non magicals still believe they can face awakened?

“ The rumors come from the Masxon Empire. They claimed to have discovered it in some ruins. ”

“ Where is father? ”

“ Sir Ludis said he will be moving out to deal with some court matters. He should be gone now ”

“ Mother? ”

“ Ms Carine said they would be gone to prepare for this year’s entrance examinations. ”

“ Bring my breakfast in ”

“ What should that be ”

“ That thing … the one you said will give me a boast in physical abilities and tastes weird ”. It really did take weird. And it was purely liquid. Why someone would want take it everyone morning was a mystery to me. Or maybe not given that I’m the one asking for it now. I planned to take it for … until I got over the dream. Which should be soon. I gave myself 3 days at most. The only reason I even considered it was to increase my physical capabilities. I could rely only on them for now.

“ It’s called Mayomer young master. A concoc- ”

“ Leave it be Cole, I am not interested ”

“ Its a concoction made from consumable organs of mid tier beast, the organs a finely- ” I facepalmed at that. Cole just conveniently ignored me and ramble about it’s heath benefits, how it came about and all. For someone who is usually so stiff he sure does like beating useless knowledge into me. I don’t even get why he does that, not like I am going to remember even a quarter of what he just said.

“ Are you done? ” I questioned once I felt the room quiet.

“ Yes young matter ”

“ Then bring it in. And Cole, we up my training ”.

“ That goes without saying young master ” he said getting ready to leave and I immediately started imagining my impending doom. Cole could be quite harsh in training, reason why I always prefered Sir Moloen’s method of training me. At least he didn’t have the beat me senseless till I get it principle of training.

***********************************************************************************

“ We are ready to leave young master ” a knight interrupted my mussing. We were leaving for Capsil city. My father made an appointment with a blacksmith there. According to father, he was good, comparable to those of the imperial family but one of the few that didn’t work for them. He would be the one to forge my preferred weapon. The appointed had been made a week ago, by father no less, so despite my eagerness to train like mad, I still had to go.

The carriage suddenly stopped.

“ What is the matter ” I questioned.

“ A man is seeking for help young master ” answered a knight by the carriage.

“ Did he not recognize the family insignia? ”

“ He did, and that appears to be the reason for the help request ”

“ What does he want? ”

“ That I cannot discern young master ”

I opened the door to the carriage, looking at said man in question. I could tell he was stressed and anxious.

“ The man says he was on his way to a family reunion and met with bandits who killed their mercenary group, took his wife, son and other valuable ” replied Cole at my side. He was closing his eyes in concentration and using some magic I knew noting of to listen that far ahead. Or it could just be enhanced hearing. In terms of physical capabilities he was comparable to the knight commander.

“ You ” I said pointing at a scout ahead who came jogging.

“ Yes young master ”

“ What reveals ”

“ The traces suggest fierce fighting but the mercenary group were overwhelmed with numbers, no magic traces ”

“ Their gear? ”

“ Bad ”.

So a low ranked bandit group with no mages.

“ What to do young master? ” asked Cole.

“ I need to blow off some steam Cole. ” I said. Willing for a spear, my storage ring materialized one before me. Without wasting any more time, Cole, I and a few knights sprinted towards the escape route as indicated by the scout.