CHAPTER 25
THE DECISION
“You sure have a thing for shiny stuff, huh?” Dietrich, who had been quietly watching Hans, finally spoke up as Hans began embracing his newfound treasures. They were both in the Man-eating Forest, declared off-limits in Concordia.
"I'm getting close," Hans muttered, eyeing his haul with satisfaction. With the help of the dwarves' delivery service, it was easy for him to conduct transactions with the dwarven community in Edenberg. He glanced at the puzzled Dietrich and continued, "Looks like the elf alchemist is still falling into my trap. Useless pride—"
"He's not the only one though. You’ll see in the task hall—it’s officially a request on the board. A hotshot of the alchemy department lost his treasured research there.
Hans quickly foraged into his pile of random treasure. “You mean this?” He pulled a thick book with many bookmarks and opened it. Before Dietrich could say something, Hans skimmed the contents and closed the book abruptly, “I can’t understand a thing—”
“Of course you can’t. It’s a research of an alchemist. Only he can explain it to you.”
“So, my favourite ancestor.” Hans grinned mischievously, “What is the reward he offered for the research retrieval?”
“Do you think I’d pay mind to these irrelevant things—”
“Come on, you should pay attention to them. After all, it’s your LAST DESCENDANT’S business.”
“So you are bringing blood relations into robbing people—”
“I’m not robbing them. I even put a sign there, in bold. Private property, no trespassers allowed. It’s not my fault they keep invading my forest. I’m giving them a valuable life lesson and receiving the fees for it.”
“Yes! Yes! Whatever sails your boat foolish descendant. I don’t have much time since tomorrow is initiation of new first years.” Dietrich let out his watery aura and transformed it into a sword.
Hans had seen it happen many times, but every time he was as surprised and jealous as the first. Dietrich could transform his aura into anything he desired and so does his father Samson Parv. That’s why people said the imperial bloodline user need no swords, they were the living weapons themselves.
“Hey, Great grandfather” Hans said as he raised his hand and malleable metal surfaced in his hand. “Can Chris will be able to produce that sword made of aura?”
“No.” Dietrich responded quickly. “This is the privilege of pureblood.” He swung horizontally, aiming right at Hans’s face, but Hans was quick to dodge and even found time to counterattack. They were sparring normally. Hans, despite not being able to use aura, practiced with Dietrich due to the reason of mastering his power of Inheritance. He had asked Dietrich to teach him, and the only way this old monster knew of was through sword fighting.
So there were regular sparring sessions that began a few days ago, and the results were showing up. In quick movements, he was switching between spears, swords, javelins, and one time he unknowingly used a bow.
After clashing for more than an hour, Hans finally asked Dietrich to stop. He was gasping, but Dietrich didn’t even break a sweat. “Just how strong are you, ancestor?”
“You are in need-to-know basis foolish descendant.”Dietrich dismissed his curiosity, “So what are you choosing for your subjects? You are a third year student from tomorrow.”
“I just need to accumulate 1000 credits to pass the third year. I think this little thing can help me procure those.” Hans pointed at the messy book in his hand.
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“So, if you only plan on getting passing grades again, then you are already done without even starting the year.” Dietrich said, puzzled, “Then what are your plans for the year, foolish descendant?”
“I’m going to level this year’s glory wars and wash my name from being the third rank,” Hans said determinedly.
“Winning glory wars as a third year is not bad, but I want you to do something else.”
“It really should be better?” Hans asked instantly.
So Dietrich explained, “You know, the third years volunteer in Deadlands, right?”
“Mhm.” Hans nodded, adding, “those who aren’t participating in Glory Wars, or incapable of earning thousand credits, the weakest bunch, right?”
“Yes.” Dietrich nodded in same fashion and continued, “I want you to impress Hera there and join Red Monks—”
“Not happening.” Hans quickly denied.
“Why not? She is my only student and you are kinda my student. That makes you disciple siblings.”
“No, she doesn’t sound…. Comfortable—”
“You never even meet her. Who knows, you might actually like her.”
“But if I go on volunteering then I’d miss the glory wars.” Hans pouted.
“Answer me? What is important to you—being the clown for others to enjoy or becoming strong enough to face Xandor on your own?” Seeing him puzzled, Dietrich tousled his hair gently and continued in a warm tone, “There is a limit to what knights can teach a mage of your specialty, and your father is no exception either. But Hera, she is different— an exceptional warlock for starters— and I promise you, with her little guidance, you can really up your game by several folds.”
Hans remained quiet, and Dietrich continued with an embarrassing smile, “I’m sorry to say this, but even if I’m her teacher, she never listens to me. So, you have to garner her interest on your own.”
Hans seriously pondered, if he prepare for Glory wars then he will automatically excluded from volunteering in Deadlands. All of his training of three months were focused on him performing his best in upcoming glory wars but now Dietrich has broken this bubble with an enticing offer of becoming stronger quickly through Shahera, the leader of Blood monks and the node master of Concordia.
“Can I sleep on it?” Hans asked, and Dietrich nodded before disappearing.
Red monks were the name he was hearing quite frequently these days. After Arat had mentioned them, he began researching their deeds. If he could summarise them in short, they were the heroes of justice, the very kind he hated getting involved with. However, being the sucker for helping others had a very big advantage: people respected and loved them. Their words, even without any proof, carried the weight.
One time, they accused the minister of Sunfall without any evidence and got him arrested, just because Shahera Clandor said so. Of course, they got proof after his arrest, but that was an entirely different thing.
There way of doing things was quite contrast from how Hans operated but the thought of Xandor, kept pushing him to follow suggestion of Dietrich and he finally resolved. “Fine, I’ll join the red monks and make him pay for disturbing my life.”
And just like that next day came and Hans, donned with his white uniform of Concordia’s mages, with three concentric circle badge, ran out from the Prophet’s castle. Someone was already waiting for him near the gates. “So did you get settled well, Vanir?” He asked him as Vanir joined him from behind.
“Yeah… but you know, there wasn’t any decent first years this time. I didn’t get to choose any mentees.”
“So you wanted to vent on those poor souls after getting beaten up from me?”
“Kinda, but thats not all, I thought you wanted more people as you subordinates. I was even ready to create a faction around you.”
“Vanir, I do not collect trash. Anyone who is not at least your level, I do not need them.”
“Oh, you are making me blush senior—”
“It’s true sometimes you creep me out like this, but you have your uses.” Hans glanced at him, scrutinising and remarked, “Your second circle is quite stable. We’ll soon need to increase its volume, so clear up your schedule. We’ll soon go for another hunt.”
Remembering the painful method of forcefully increasing the mana capacity of a circle gave shivers down Vanir’s spine, but the result was enticing enough to make him forget the struggle. “Anything else, senior?” Vanir asked like a loyal subordinate ready to receive the orders.
Hans stopped his quick march and contemplated before saying, “Make sure to be included in Glory wars and win the damn thing. I have other plans. I’m not joining this year—”
“What? Why?” Vanir asked instantly.
“I’ve my reasons.” Hans dismissed Vanir’s curiosity and added, “ It is an order. You have to let them know who Vanir Dorfeil serves.”
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