185. Missions and Rewards
Inside a gloomy chamber, an old man is stroking his long white beard as he looked through the window. He is currently the hallmaster of Erindal Outer Circle and behind him is boy kneeling on one knee.
“Our school has thousands of years of traditions, practices that would nurture those who strive to improve their talents, and reward them for exceeding their limits. But sadly, these traditions are too old it can’t cope up with everyone’s growing need for resources. What would you do if I tell you we can’t grant your wish to acquire a Beast Spirit Essence?” The hallmaster turned around and looked at the unmoving little boy.
Last night during their meeting, he thought that teacher Kendricks is over praising a newly accepted Apprentice and immediately refuted him but today, he was proven wrong. They can always train any student to become an Inscriptionist but instilling someone combat senses is another matter.
Earlier, he saw how Clay fought on the recording and it was evident Clay did not even take full fledged Warrior seriously, a Warrior who is supposed to easily defeat a 2ND Circle Mage. That Warrior even had an advantage as he was a dual cultivator.
To defeat someone through sheer speed of casting spells just proves Clay’s ability for combat, however it still does not change the fact that Clay has low resistance to foreign mana and may not be able to integrate with a higher level Essence. Clay may have a superior advantage now but the moment his peers upgrade their Spirit Essences by two levels, Clay will immediately be left out.
But it is not really Clay’s combat talent as to why he needed to meet him. It is to clear his suspicion.
“I am but an insignificant Apprentice. I am fully aware how precious Spirit Essences are and it was the reason I did forgo my initial opportunity and I dare not ask given another chance. I know my days here in the academy are numbered but as I have played by the school rules to gain access to the higher levels of the library, may this elder grant this juniors wish to learn more about Beast Spirit Awakening and Manifestation.”
The hallmaster’s eyes squinted upon hearing Clay’s request. Earlier today, he had been informed about new information about the boy and it was then he was suspicious. Just now, he was expecting Clay would ask for something more trivial but to think that Clay would actually go for restricted information, he almost wanted to laugh.
During the fight, Clay received a fatal wound but his response was inexplicably calm and terrifying his opponent trembled in fear.
To a normal mage in the east, witnessing such fight would certainly spark curiosity and will end up with either with inspiration or jealousy but for someone who had travelled the world, it is not praise nor admiration but will instead illicit memories of cold and vicious auras of Moon Elves in the west.
Clay most definitely displayed the same fighting style similar to those Elves which begs the question, is Clay a spy?
A boy with no background and is purposely forgoing chances of acquiring Spirit Essence.
Certainly suspicious but why can’t he feel any malicious intent.
“Why have you come to our school?” The hallmaster spontaneously asked and at the same time, released a sliver of his mana to assess whether Clay is lying or not.
Clay in the meantime was calm. He just saw the Circulation Circuit of the old man. Of all people he had met around the school, only this man has lit-up Sub-Mana Nodes branching from 7 Beast Essence Nodes. And the reason he is curious is because instinct is telling him how powerful the old man becomes when those sub-mana nodes are activated. If he were to guess, opening the Sub-Mana Nodes should be this world’s term for Awakened Spirit Essence and while he is certain he could put up a fight using his 200,000 year old Beast Essence, he still apprehensive dealing with an unknown power.
Clay looked at the aura that suddenly surrounded him, he almost shrugged his shoulders. Not to belittle the skill but comparing this hallmaster’s prying abilities to those Divinity experts who wanted to investigate him, the hallmaster looks like clown.
Mrrgggh!
Clay softly cleared his throat as he thought of his response. He already anticipated that someone will question him and even without preparation, he is confident he will go unscratched. Being a child has its own perks. Who would dare punish a child bearing sophomoric ideals? Maybe some adults do but an old wise man waiting for his bones to crack, that would be in some fantasy world. Unbeknownst to Clay, the headmaster was actually thinking the opposite.
Stolen story; please report.
“I am unlucky to have been born with a body with Low Foreign Mana Resistance and I have no problem resigning myself to fate but as I am a mage, I wish to study the higher aspects of cultivation. All I ask are rudimentary information about Beast Spirit Manifestation and Awakening if this elder allows. I have nothing in return but know that I will do everything to return the favor.” Clay inwardly smiled.
Thinking back, he thought the school would just acquiesce to his rewards after the fight but the fact that he was summoned by the hallmaster, it is more likely they are expecting him to ask for a Spirit Essence but to not waste their time, he may as well just tell them directly what he wanted.
Hearing Clay’s answers, the hallmaster mused. It would have been simpler if Clay is a spy from the west. He did not want to be cynical but fighting style is not something innate. A person can be blessed by the heavens and be born with the highest level of Mana Affinity but a teacher will always be needed to ingrain into that person methods of cultivation and combat techniques.
But the idea itself is inconsistent. If the west truly did nurture a spy, why would they teach him their fighting styles? Just how amateur one be to have had overlook this and send a precious agent to die?
*Exhale
The hallmaster let a long sigh. While they have no hostile relationship with the other race, they did not have friendly relations either. Clearly he had been over thinking. If one day arises a conflict with these race, then it must be this kind of disposition that would spark a war.
The hallmaster assessed Clay one more time. From the report, Clay was reportedly a mute but when he was brought to the admission test, the boy is suddenly eloquent.
If Clay is indeed a spy, the most logical explanation is that the original Clay was long dead and the person brought to them is a double placed by the other School. But no matter how plausible his reasoning is, a lot still do not make sense.
The hallmaster muttered to himself. “Why oh why?”
The day of Master’s Trial Opening is nearing and right now, Clay is the most eligible candidate. Even if Clay has no chance of upgrading his Spirit Essence, he should be useful during the most vulnerable period of the team they are sending but if there is a slightest possibility that Clay is a spy, then everything they have prepared for will have gone to waste.
Paranoia or not, it is best not to have Clay participate.
The hallmaster took out a box from his Spatial Ring and guided it to land before Clay.
“I’ve carefully prepared a Spirit Essence for you to integrate with. Seeing that you’ve managed to reach 2ND Circle, absorb it similar to how you absorb mana around you and it will reside in your circulation center.”
“I am unworthy for such reward. May this elder reconsider.” Clay immediately replied.
“I am not giving it to you for free. A Class C Spatial Tear is about to burst on the border near your birthplace and I want you to help the royal military contain it. As for your request, I have no issues giving providing basic information about Beast Spirit Manifestation and Awakening. Do you have any questions?”
“I have no questions, Elder. I will make sure to deliver a satisfactory result.”
“Good. And as of today, you are no longer a student of Erindal.”
Clay was dumbfounded upon hearing the sudden news. He thought they would still have a use for him but contrary to his expectation, the expulsion came sooner.
“I thank the Elder for his magnanimity.” Clay was not affected much then got to his feet then walked out of the room.
When Clay left the room, Dirk who had been waiting on the other room entered.
“What’s your opinion on the boy?” The hallmaster took a seat then asked.
“Hallmaster, he is young and naïve. Initially, I wanted to stop him from extravagantly spending his merits but seeing he did not have much of a future, I allowed him to do as he pleased.”
“Did you notice anything suspicious of him?”
“Not at all elder. Occasionally, he did ask me questions but the things he was curious of were pretty much basic knowledge. If there is something worth noting, it was his curiosity about Beast Spirit Manifestation. I am unfamiliar with the subject but I did help him inquire at the library. His last question was about conditions necessary to access third floor of the library.”
The hallmaster took out a paper and a pen then started writing. It would have been very easy to kill Clay. Maybe even look like it was an accident. He could think of a thousand ways to make Clay disappeared however, given that he had already assumed Clay a spy, then he must consider consequences as well.
If Clay disappears for whatever reason, this may trigger an unnecessary tension so for now, the best course of action is to let Clay live, make it appear that Clay got what he came for then observe. If the other school is really trying to send out spies, then surely there will be a next time and in which case, he will report it to the higher circles and investigate Clay further.
And if he is wrong, then they would still not lose anything and he will keep this embarrassment to himself.
After a minute of silence, the hallmaster spoke.
“Hand this to the Royal Military and tell them that the mages from Redivem are more than capable to help them contain the Spatial Tear.”
“I understand, hallmaster. I will not disappoint the school.”
When Clay got to his residence, he was tempted to dance and celebrate. He did not anticipate the hallmaster’s decision at all.
There are many aspects of this world’s cultivation that is completely unfamiliar to him and sooner or later, he will need assistance and if possible, he would like to remain a student and milk out the school but at least he got what he needed the most.
Clay took off his clothes then looked at the newly healed wound on his chest. Thinking back, it was a good thing it was not a real fight otherwise he would have been poisoned by now.
*Exhale!
Clay could not help but gave a long sigh. In the first place, it was because he had to resort Level 2 and 3 Spells but after today, now that the hallmaster gave him a Spirit Essence, then there is no need to pretend moving forward. The only problem is if they will be able to discover he had integrated with a different Essence.
Clay clenched his fist and stored the box into his spatial ring.