A STRANGE FIGURE captured Gronn’gar’s eyes, standing before him. He tried to walk toward his way towards the person, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get any closer. Suddenly, before the person, there’s a village that resembles Karrec Village, Gronn’gar’s destroyed home. He saw his people living their daily lives as usual.
The strange figure noticed Gronn’gar’s presence and turned his head slightly towards him, then stepped closer to the village. Lifting a hand, a swirling surge of mana formed a dark red magic circle in the figure’s palm. Soon, a dome of magic circles surrounded the entire area, and beams of fiery explosions rained down, incinerating the village and its people.
Gronn’gar watched helplessly as his father’s body turned to ash before his eyes. He screamed, but the sound was lost, unheard by anyone. Suddenly, the figure disappeared, only to reappear behind Gronn'gar, grabbing him by the neck. The figure's face was blurred, but Gronn'gar could hear the chilling whisper, “You’re mine. Myself!”
Just as the figure tightened its grip, a force struck it, knocking it back. Between Gronn’gar and the figure, a glowing entity appeared, its orange light akin to that of the sun. The figure reached towards Gronn’gar, but the entity blocked it, and Gronn’gar heard the figure's final words, “Soon, you will be mine,” before it disappeared into the shadows.
Sweat-soaked, trembling, and heart racing, Gronn’gar jolted awake and realized it was a dream.
A nightmare, huh? He spoke in his mind.
Four months have passed since then. He took Kraye’s helping hand to be his disciple, and now he lives in a house in a remote spot somewhere between the lower zone and middle-rank zone of Havra Region. From the monster outbreak in the upper zone, the stampede and the Sergals attack, leading to the fall of Karrec Village. He has learned to move on from those events that happened not long ago, and during the past months, he trained with Kraye and been taught and has learned many of his skills. But since Kraye is technically still on duty, sometimes he must leave him to continue his mission. However, it has been a month since Kraye has yet to return to train with him, but he has nothing to fear because the barrier that protects the area around the house is still up, indicating that he is still out there somewhere.
He got up from bed and wasted no time preparing for his daily training. He usually started the day by stretching to warm up his muscles and running through the forest – navigating the trees with agility. He was also taught to make no sound and use the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves to avoid leaving shadows. Next, he would train his swordsmanship with a training dummy, and sometimes, he would go outside the area to find monsters for a fight. Since he had no sparring partner for the past month, he went outside to look for one. He’d find a bear, alligator, tiger, and many other beasts, beating them without a scratch.
After a long day, he returned, bringing the monsters he hunted for dinner. Right after he opened the house’s front door, he saw brown boots on the edge of the shoe rack. He was aware that the boots belonged to Kraye and heard footsteps on the wooden floor. He sniffed an exquisite fragrance and followed the trail of the smell leading to a kitchen; he found Kraye was cooking something.
“Ahh, you just got back from training?” Kraye said.
“Yes. What are you cooking?”
“A beef stew. You must be hungry. Come and sit.”
“I brought bear meat.”
“You’ve been training a lot, I see. But put that for later, I have something better.”
Gronn’gar sat at the table, waiting for Kraye to finish cooking. He brought the stew pot and put it in the middle of the table. He also brought rice for today’s dinner.
“It’s been a long time since we had rice for dinner, right?” Kraye said.
“Yeah, I miss this,” Gronn’gar replied. “You know… where have you been? I did not get any word from you from the past four—”
“Now-now,” Kraye cut in, “Let’s eat first, then talk later.”
“O-okay…”
They had a wonderful dinner filled with delicious meals and enjoyed every last bit. After that, Gronn’gar asked Kraye his previous question.
“So, where have you been? Any clues regarding the suspect?”
Kraye seemed hesitant to answer Gronn’gar’s question. He paused for a moment, carefully considering his words. “Well...where do I start? Hmm...”
Sensing Kraye’s unusual behavior, Gronn’gar became more curious about what Kraye had experienced during the past month. “What is it? Did something happen?”
“Yeah, about that…,” Kraye said, hesitating. “We encounter the person that might have been the guy that broke the upper zone barrier and destroyed your village.”
“What?!” Gronn’gar exclaimed, slamming his fist on the table. “So? Did you catch the person? Wait, wait - what do you mean by ‘we’? I thought this was supposed to be your mission alone.”
Kraye raised a hand, silencing Gronn’gar’s barrage of questions. “Slow down a bit. I’ll fill you in.” He took a deep breath. “This mission was a different one. Before this mission, four Rangers – including myself – were tasked with investigating the fallen and destroyed villages across the Havra Region and into the Old Gate Region. It was my report on your case that kicked off this investigation.”
“Do you mean there were other tragedies in other places?” Gronn’gar asked, his brow furrowed.
“Exactly. News was coming from all around the Havra Region, and strangely, all the reports were quite similar. An outbreak of monsters from the upper zone led to the annihilation of several villages. It varied from orc, kobold, goblin, and even some human settlements were affected. The destruction caused was done within days. At the time, we all assumed this was done by the same person, but not until we know that there are other similar cases in the Old Gate.”
“Why is that?”
Kraye reached into his bag and pulled out a rolled map. “This is a map of Santehna. We’re currently in the Havra Region here,” he said, pointing to the top left. “And the Old Gate Region is down here, below Havra. Do you see the large area separating the two regions? “
“Yes, I see it.”
“That’s the Hollowed Peak - a place where the most dangerous and largest monsters battle each other. To travel past there, you must be expertly trained and packed with extraordinary survival skills. The fastest you could make the journey is around two weeks, and that's with a skilled group. You can’t survive more than a second there if you’re not trained enough. So, do you think it’s possible for a single person from Havra to travel there in such a short time and cause the same level of havoc in the Old Gate Region?”
Gronn'gar shook his head. “No, that doesn't seem possible. There must be another person working with the same agenda as the one in Havra.”
“And that would be the most logical conclusion, but it’s not exactly as you say,” Kraye said, clasping his hands tightly.
“Do you mean that the same person did it?” Gronn’gar asked.
“Yes,” he answered boldly. “I did say that the destruction that was caused was done within days, correct?”
“Yeah.”
“The last village destroyed in Havra was located here, just before the danger zone of Hollowed Peak,” Kraye continued, pointing to the map. “Three days later, a monster outbreak occurred in Old Gate. If two or more people were responsible, they would likely act simultaneously to cause maximum chaos. But why focus on one area before moving to another? What’s the goal? This led us to conclude it was the work of a single person.”
Kraye explained how they used their remaining Rangers - including himself - to thoroughly track the perpetrator, eventually determining his next move. He pointed out the locations of the destroyed villages: twelve in Havra over two months, and four recent attacks in Old Gate.
“And his next target is... here,” Kraye said, moving a figurine on the map.
“What’s over there?” Gronn'gar asked.
“A Kobold Kingdom.”
Gronn’gar frowned. “He’s always attacked villages. Why go for a larger target now?” Kraye explained, “First, the Kobold Kingdom is very close to the upper zone. Second, it's secluded, with no nearby villages due to their aggression towards outsiders. Lastly, based on his attack pattern, Kobolds might be his next target. My assumption is he’s always targeting places that are bordering with an upper zone, so it's highly probable.”
“And this led to your prior mission?”
Kraye nodded, tension visible in his posture. “Yeah, and... it gets worse from here. Do you still want to learn about this?”
“I already went through one. So, I might be able to get through surely,” Gronn’gar assured him.
Kraye took a deep breath before continuing. “Our mission team consisted of four paladins, two sorcerers, and three rangers, including myself. All top brass, given the high-level threat. Our strategy was to position the three rangers in a triangle around the Kobold Kingdom. I was at the top, near the upper-ranked zone barrier, with the others at the bottom left and right. We had support teams of sorcerers and paladins stationed strategically around the perimeter.”
Kraye paused, his expression grim. “We were right about his move towards the upper zone. I spotted him first, and we crossed blades. But something was... off. I could see his figure, but his face was masked. And I felt... nothing from him. It was as if he wasn’t even a threat.”
Gronn’gar leaned forward, eager to ask about the person’s appearance, but held back, not wanting to interrupt Kraye’s account.
“He kicked me to the ground, sending me flying, then fled,” Kraye continued, “But I managed to place tracking magic on his robe. I fired a mana burst into the air to alert the others to execute our formation and corner him.”
“Wouldn’t that result in alerting the kobolds?” Gronn’gar pressed.
“Of course. But at that point, we didn’t care. It was our only chance to capture him.”
Gronn’gar nodded in agreement.
Kraye’s voice grew tense. “Afterward, he stepped into one of our sorcerers’ magic traps, getting caught in a barrier that should have held him until we regrouped. I saw him mumbling to himself as we surrounded him. But the moment we tried to make him talk, he was suddenly out of the barrier and...” Kraye paused, his face grim. “He slit the throats of three of our members.”
“Are they… dead?” Gronn’gar stammered.
Kraye nodded wistfully. “I was ready to counterattack, but for some reason, I couldn’t move. He walked past us and said, ‘Don’t get in my way. Or face the consequences.’ We were frozen in shock. We all felt... death. One of us was about to overcome his paralysis and attack desperately, but I ordered him to stand down. We tried to heal the three who were attacked, but it was too late. Not long after, a massive explosion destroyed the entire Kobold Kingdom.”
The story left Gronn'gar sitting in silence, while Kraye wondered if he could fulfill his promise to him.
Kraye then stood up and looked out the window. “Gronn’gar, I know you want revenge on this person, and I promise to train you. But the three members we lost were considered the best of the best. You have the right to choose your path, but let me give you some advice.” He turned to face Gronn’gar, his gaze piercing. “Give it a rest.”
Gronn'gar lowered his gaze, contemplating the weight in Kraye’s eyes. He could tell that this tragedy left a deep scar. After a moment, he stood up. “Thank you for your concern, but hearing about other villages and people being killed... I can't turn my back on this.”
“But this was never your responsibility! You can just—”
Gronn’gar bowed down, cutting Kraye, and ironed his resolve. “Please, I beg you,” he pleaded. “I have no other purpose as of now, and I can only think of my people, my father mostly. I dreamed of seeing a mysterious figure walking down to my village and stretching his arm into the air. A magic circle appeared in the palm of his hand, and a swarm of explosions came out of it, destroying my village and incinerating them.”
Gronn’gar then went down to his knees. “So, Kraye,” he said. “I can’t rest soundly until I can at least identify him. Please, train me until you believe I’m ready.”
Kraye sighed, scratching his head as his brow twitched. “What a drag... All right then. I’ve been suspended anyway, so you'd better be prepared.”
“Thank you!” he said with a bright smile. “—but wait, you’re suspended?”
“Well, first, I failed the mission; second, I let three of my teammates die; third, I gave the order not to pursue the suspect and retreat.”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“But I would say your orders were the right call!” Gronn’gar said, agreeing with Kraye’s order. “Why did you still face the consequences?”
“All of us faced the same punishment but were not harshly punished. We all have the same thoughts and agreed to retreat. So basically, we still failed the mission and received a three-year suspension as a punishment. We won’t be able to take any mission during those times. And that also means this is the last time we have quality meals.”
“Why is that?”
“Because of money!” Kraye exploded. “Do you hear what I just said?! I can’t take any mission! So basically, I won’t be able to earn money! For three years!”
“But we can still manage, aren’t we? We can just go look for wild animals like we usually do.”
“You don’t understand, don’t you?!” Kraye shrieked, crying in the corner, and grumbled. “Goodbye delicious foods… goodbye delicious drinks… Maybe I can take part-time jobs, but I’m too lazy…”
Gronn’gar broke a sweat and was at a loss for words looking at Kraye’s pathetic excuses. Is he for real? He thought. “I’ll be heading to bed. Don’t sleep late.”
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The following day, Gronn’gar finally returned to his usual daily training routine with the returning mentor. But he found today’s training was different.
Impossible? He could say that. Kraye’s instructions came at him like relentless blows, demanding impossible precision. His body was tested to his limit, and a couple of times, he vomited, and his limbs protested each movement he made. The training was intense and hard to follow, for it seemed to Gronn’gar’s assumption that Kraye was trying to make him give up. However, it doesn’t even slightly weaken his willpower.
Seeing the exhausted small orc, Kraye finally calmed down his training and decided to take a break. They sat under a tree to rest. “Come here,” he said, “Let me fix you.”
He charged up his mana and cast a magic spell on Gronn’gar. “Light Magic: Mollis Tactus.”
The magic spell lightens the heaviness of Gronn’gar’s hard-trained body. “Wow…” Gronn’gar awed. “So, this is one of the magic advantages.”
“Cool, right?” Kraye replied, “I just finished learning it months ago.”
“Yeah, my body feels… rested.”
“The spell gradually regenerates your body to its normal state, but I can only use this spell once a week. So, you won’t get the same treatment for tomorrow’s training.”
“I see…” Gronn’gar said nervously.
“That reminds me of your dream from yesterday,” Kraye queried. “What was that about you seeing your village getting burned down by someone? I was about to ask you about it yesterday, but you quickly fell asleep.”
Of course, I fell asleep because you were crying for an hour! Gronn’gar spoke in his mind. “Yes, I saw him using a magic spell to incinerate my village, and I can only stand and watch. I can’t even hear my voice as I scream.”
“A nightmare, huh? What does the magic spell look like?” Kraye asked.
“A dark red magic circle came from his palm,” Gronn’gar explained, “And afterward, countless numbers of the same magic circles appeared. It’s like forming a dome around the village. And then it rains down a burst of explosions toward the village.”
Kraye felt strange because what Gronn’gar described was similar to what he saw when the mysterious figure did to the Kobold Kingdom. “A dark red magic circle. It must be an advanced fire magic, Calamistris.”
“Cala—what?”
“Calamistris. It’s an advanced fire magic spell that drains a big chunk of mana. Not all people can use the spell because of how draining it is. Only a mage with a minimum of Sigma mana level could perform the spell.”
“Sig…ma?” Gronn’gar is getting overwhelmed with unfamiliar words.
“Oh. Sorry, you didn’t understand that, didn’t you?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Well,” Kraye held out his hand to help Gronn’gar stand. “Do you want to learn about magic?”
Eyes light up like a star, Gronn’gar excited about Kraye’s suggestion. “Of course!”
Then Kraye let out an object out of his pocket, a crystal. Its rounded shape fits the palm of his hand. “This thing is called Mana Crystal. Its purpose is to tell your base mana reserve, elemental attributes, and current Grade status.”
He concentrated his mana onto the Mana Crystal, and five lines formed a pentagon from the surface of the crystal at the start, but then it slowly formed into an irregular shape.
“This is the Elemental Pentagon,” Kraye said. “And on each side of every corner of the Pentagon are nature elements. The one on the top left is fire, the upper middle is water, the top right is wind, the bottom left is lightning, and then the bottom right is earth.”
“Why does the shape of the Pentagon look odd?” Gronn’gar mystified.
“That’s because the Pentagon reacts to my mana, and it tells me that I’m not proficient in using the lightning element and completely incapable of using the water element. So that is why it shaped like that.”
“Does that mean you’re capable of using three elements? Fire, earth, and wind?”
“Correct. But it doesn’t mean I can use all three of them – just like what the mana crystal showed. It just tells you that you can learn the elements with ease. The farther the sides are away from the center, the easier and more potent it is to use the element, but if the corners are shrinking to the middle, then it’s the other way around.”
“From what I understand, it means you can still learn how to use a water element, right?” Gronn’gar guessed.
“Yes, but it would take a lifetime to do that, so why bother learning something impossible?”
“You’re right.”
Afterward, the lines that formed the pentagon changed their shapes and created a letter. It formed the letter ‘Σ’ and three I’s.
“An… ‘E’?” Gronn’gar questioned.
“It’s not an ‘E’. It’s a letter called ‘Sigma’ like I mentioned before,” Kraye gestured to the letter with his finger. “And the letter indicates your base mana capacity, while the three I’s indicate your current mana grade. There are five levels to calculate your base mana: Gamma, Beta, Alpha, Sigma, and the highest one, Omega. And there are grades for each mana level. Gamma and Beta have grades from one to three; Alpha have up to four; and Sigma and Omega have up to five grades.”
“What are grades for?”
“It measures mana quality. My mana quality,” Kraye kept on explaining, “is Sigma third grade, which means I’m capable of performing specific advanced spells. For example, one advanced spell I could cast is Enhancement Magic: Velox Motus, which gives me a quick reaction and movement. You could perform this spell if you’re at least in the second grade of Sigma.”
“And what about the Calamistris spell?” Gronn’gar asked curiously.
“Good question. Calamistris isn’t a regular spell by any means. It basically creates a swarm of Ignis, and you must maintain the duration of the spell for it to be effective; otherwise, it’s just a basic fire spell. If I were to use the Calamistris as it should, it would completely deplete my mana. I will need myself to be at least in the fifth grade to be able to cast a regular Calamistris.”
“I still don’t understand about the grades and the mana quality…” Gronn’gar puzzled.
“Right?!” Kraye said, understanding Gronn’gar’s confusion. “I didn’t get it at first as well! That’s why I don’t wanna be a mage, even though my mentor wishes me to become one! Being a mage is a hassle anyway because they have to read books all day.”
“Uh-huh, I see…” Gronn’gar cringed secretly, witnessing Kraye’s blatant laziness.
“To put it simply, Let’s say a Gamma-level person is performing a simple spell of Ignis at grade one, then the second person is at the same level as him, but he’s at the second grade. Which one do you think will have more potent Ignis?”
“The second grade, obviously,” Gronn’gar replied.
“Simple, right? Now, put it in a different perspective: what would happen if the first grade tries to perform a ‘second-grade’ Ignis?”
“He—uhm… can’t?”
“He can, but it will be an imperfect version of second-grade Ignis, and he will overexert his mana, putting him at a disadvantage. Meanwhile, the second-grade person can perform first- and second-grade Ignis without breaking a sweat. So, do you get the picture?”
“I think I do. But what if a person of a higher mana base with the same mana grade cast the same spell as the Gamma first-grade person?”
“That is where the unfairness of this world came,” Kraye remarked. “Everyone is born with a fixed mana level. So, if you’re born with a Gamma mana level, you should refrain from being a mage, or I would say anything below Alpha should not focus on becoming a mage, and just learning basic spells would be sufficient.”
“That’s heartbreaking for people who strive to be a mage.”
“That’s just how the world works, sadly. But there are rare cases where one could advance their mana level into the next one. This phenomenon is called ’Magical Ascension.’”
“Oh, there is still hope left, then?” Gronn’gar asked with uncertainty.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Kraye denied. “Countless people studied and learned magic to the utmost extreme, and no matter how hard they tried, they wouldn’t achieve Magical Ascension. Some say the gods bless the lucky person who experiences Magical Ascension. They are chosen by the gods, is what would they say. What causes them to happen is still a mystery, but it happens mostly among mages. Probably because they dedicate most of their time to spending their mana and learning magic spells.”
“Is that why you never mentioned magic when you trained me?”
“You really thought that far, huh?” Kraye chuckled. “It’s just how my mentor taught me, and now I do the same to you. Maybe I take after her. She said we should never rely solely on one approach when other things are noticeable to our eyes but never visible when the moment comes. So, master the most fundamental and never miss an opportunity to expand your arsenal.” He said with a smug look on his face.
Says the lazy one… Gronn’gar thought.
“That’s why,” Kraye continued, “I equipped you with skills that have not been magic spells until now, especially because we live in an era where practical techniques are developing. Besides, today is the day you get to learn magic, right? Fair, isn’t it?”
“Y-yeah,” Gronn’gar agreed reluctantly. “So, Kraye, can I do magic?”
“Well, there’s only one way to find out.”
Kraye held out his Mana Crystal to Gronn’gar. “Go on and touch this.”
Gronn’gar received the Mana Crystal and felt an odd sensation when he held it. It is as if indescribably connected to him. “So, what do I do now?” He asked.
“Release your mana into the crystal.”
“How do I do that?”
“Do you remember when I healed you with my light spell?”
“I do.”
“Try to recall the feeling of the mana surging through your body, then try to attract all of that and focus it into the mana crystal.”
Gronn’gar closed his eyes and felt the sensation of mana flowing in his body. There! He found and gathered his mana and directed it toward the mana crystal in his right palm.
The mana crystal gradually starts to take the shape of a pentagon, but oddly, the lines don’t move—they just remain in that form. “Why is it not forming any shape?” Gronn’gar said in a pessimistic tone. “Is it because I didn’t put enough mana?”
“Maintain your mana to the crystal.”
“But I am!”
Looking at the mana crystal, Kraye looked confused and thought of other possibilities. This kid… Could it be? He said in his mind. No-no-no. That’s impossible. He’s an orc.
After a few seconds, the lines were moving to form a shape. “Ah, it’s moving now,” Gronn’gar said. “Maybe I didn’t put much mana into it.”
It begins to form a new shape, but the lines aren’t creating a pentagon. Instead, it shifts to take on a form that will determine his mana level. The mana crystal made a beeping sound, which is something that only sometimes occurs during a specific occasion.
The mana crystal shows a ‘Ω’ symbol and one I’s. “A… Zero?” Gronn’gar said, unsure of the result.
“Gronn’gar…! You’re…!” Kraye said, perplexed.
For a brief while, he detected a dreadful aura emerging from Gronn’gar, which felt as massive as if the sky had fallen on him. But he wasn’t sure because it didn’t feel like it belonged to him. But his instinct told him to take a step back and he cast a spell to bind Gronn’gar. “Light Magic: Jubaris Catenae!” A golden magic circle appeared below Gronn’gar’s footing and a glowing chain rose from it, entangling Gronn’gar.
“Wha—! What are you—”
“Who are you?!” Kraye interjected.
“Wha-wha-wha-what do you mean?! I can’t move!” Gronn’gar panicked.
Kraye checked Gronn’gar’s mana with his Clairvoyance spell, but it appeared that he was unable to sense the menacing aura he had felt moments before. "You didn’t feel anything in you?" he inquired after removing his spells.
“I have no idea what you are talking about! I swear!” Gronn’gar said desperately trying to convince.
Why couldn’t I sense the massive mana coming out of him? Kraye thought. “I see. For now, I trust you—but Gronn’gar, about your mana level… it says Omega on the mana crystal.”
“HUUUH!!!? Does that mean—!?”
“Yes, you are overly qualified to learn magic. But for some reason, I felt this… vile aura coming out of you when you unleash your mana to the mana crystal.”
“I don’t know what happened, but I’m sorry if I make you feel uncomfortable.”
“I’m the one who should apologize. Sorry, for almost wanting to kill you.” Kraye said casually.
“Eh…?” Gronn’gar shivered.
“Gronn’gar,” Kraye said, “I have to tell you about something.”
Gronn’gar is a little bit uptight after what happened, so he tries as he can to avoid causing any more discomfort. “I’m listening.”
“Only a few people in this world that had Omega-level mana base. Liechtolt, The Grand Magus of Magna Kingdom; King Chaelecus Galamyr, The ruler of Luminaris Kingdom; Yanica Galamyr, the Princess of Luminaris; and lastly, Gremonita, the surviving remnant of the Demon Army. These are the people whose feats are incomparable to other magic users. Notably, the fallen hero and the demon king were quite on par, or perhaps higher.”
Gronn’gar was overwhelmed since the individuals that Kraye listed were likely among the most outstanding out of all people. He felt inferior, but it was also a sign that he still had a lot to learn.
“This is also,” Kraye continued, “the first time a race other than elf, demon, and human, an orc born with Omega-level mana. Oh god, what have I discovered?”
“Umm… so, what do I have to do now?”
“I have to call someone about this.”
“Is it—is it okay to do that?”
“Probably. When I got suspended, my mission was being passed to an independent organization called ‘Guardians.’ They are an acknowledged and respected group of people whose job is to maintain order and protect the innocents.”
“Sounds relieving.”
“Not for them. They were accused because one of their members might have been the one who had done damage all over the two regions just because the suspect was masked, hiding their identity.”
“Why are they responsible for it?”
“Because all Guardians wear masks and hide their identity—and by chance, the mask that the suspect wears resembles one of the Guardians masks. But since the Guardians were already working on the case, they didn’t mind taking over the mission—plus they needed to solve it themselves to save their reputation. And now I must meet someone working with them.”
“Who would that be?”
“The Luminaris Kingdom Ambassador to the Guardians, my mentor, Jennie Thortana.”
“You have a mentor?”
“Of course I do. So, today’s training is over. I’ll be heading to the Guardians’ Headquarters. If you want to train more, go ahead, but don’t overdo it.”
Kraye swiftly departed, once more leaving Gronn’gar. As Gronn’gar lay down on the ground, he looked up at the blue sky and raised his hand, gazing at it, wondering what would come next.
Magic… I can do magic. he thought.
He was even more eager now that he was more than qualified to learn magic.
Hours later, at the front door of the Guardians Headquarters. Tense and nervous, Kraye thought about seeing his mentor again, what would he say for a reason now that he has a disciple—and moreover, his student is an orc. An odd one, too.
Ugh… why do I have to do this… this is a bad idea, he lamented in his mind.
He opened the door and walked toward the receptionist.
“Welcome,” the receptionist greeted. “How can I help you?”
“Hello, I’m Kraye Raegel, a Ranger from the Luminaris Kingdom. I’m here to see Mrs. Jennie Thortana.”
“It’s been a while, you stupid brat.” A voice that is familiar to Kraye’s ears breaks in between the conversation.
“Ah, speak of the devil. Good afternoon, Miss Jennie.” The receptionist greeted Jennie.
“A-ah, master. It’s been a—”
Not having a chance to finish, Jennie struck him in the stomach at the speed of light. “What’s this? Have you been slacking?” Jennie said provocatively before he sent Kraye flying, destroying a wall of the headquarters.
“Oh my…” The receptionist reacted.
Damn! he cursed in his head. If I didn’t prepare enough mana, I would’ve died. This crazy old hag… monstrous as always.
“How dare you come to me now after all this time,” Jennie exclaimed.
“L-listen, master—I have to talk to you about something.”
“What is there to talk about? Get up, prepare yourself!”
Jennie charged up her mana, putting all the forces into her hand, and flashed toward Kraye, hitting him. But Kraye managed to block Jennie’s attack by doing the same trick as her. The only difference is he’s putting all his mana into reinforcing himself in defense.
“Ugh…! Master—I’m here to talk about my previous mission!” Kraye said as he struggled to hold Jennie’s strikes.
“What about it? You’re here to make an excuse for failing?”
“N-no! Please, let me talk!”
“Then there’s nothing,” Jennie said as she kicked Kraye, sending him flying again. “To talk!”
I swear, she never listens!
“I trained you to be a mage, and you went on your way to be a scout? You’re lucky I was ordered to be an ambassador here,” she prattled. “Or else, I’ll discipline you ‘til you drop dead.”
“You’re doing it right now!” Kraye furiously responded immediately.
“I never trained you to be such a weak fool,” jeered Jennie. She again charged up her mana to her fist and took a stance to jump towards Kraye. She jumps at the speed of a sound with a massive amount of mana coating her fist directing it forward. But when her fist was about to reach Kraye, she suddenly stopped midway. Between the dust screen that’s created by the impact of Jennie’s blow, she saw a crystal held by Kraye and showed a ‘Ω’ on the surface of the crystal.
“What’s this?” Jennie was puzzled.
“I want to talk about a certain person.”