A few days had passed since I learned apparition. Just as you would expect, I was being the resident troublemaker in this base.

Because not a second would go by that I wouldn't just whip my wand out and apparate. I suppose some people were annoyed by it, and others saw it for what it was.

Zagreus specifically called it the antics of a teenager. He mostly commented with a proverb along the lines of "Young blood is hot headed". Suffice to say, everyone agreed that I was just being a little shit for no reason.

Anyhow, moving on from the bullshit, today was quite a peculiar day. See like I told you, I spend most of my time training, or reading. Funny but it's exactly the scenario a kidnapped damsel in distress would be in. If I laugh at that, would it be ironic?

Suppose not. I am surprised I haven't gone psychotic spending all my time inside like a princess. But today was a real shocker.

I was just informed that I was needed in the main office for "official" orders. Now that my friends is something exciting. Dalton had been avoiding me for the past few days anyway, seems like he was preparing something. Or maybe his work had caught up with him, so getting a chance to talk was always a welcome occasion.

I immediately apparated to his doorstep when I got the notice and knocked politely thrice to signal my entry.

Once I had done so, I just slowly opened the door and noticed him still busy pondering over a few documents while he sat in his chair.

He continued to read through his letters as a few pens danced around his fingertips, writing responses. Papers would occasionally fly in and out of the room as they were approved by him.

"Have a seat" He said, flicking his fingers as a chair slid back to accommodate me.

I casually sat down and waited for him to finish. I knew the workload he was under, so I didn't mind waiting a few minutes.

An hour or so later his hands stopped shuffling through the papers as he firmly stacked them back onto the table, probably finished reviewing them.

"Now then, let's get down to business."

His voice resounded in the room as he looked towards me.

" I got your notice, but I am not sure what you mean by official orders." I responded skeptically.

"Set that aside for now. You've been with me for quite a few years now, but time moves fast. I look away for just a second and you're all grown up. Surprising isn't it. The kid I had picked up from the streets would one day be sitting across me, Not to mention, your accomplishments in magic, they're quite impressive at your age."

He mused about the past but his words left a weird taste in my mouth. Something that I couldn't quite place my finger on.

"I am not one of your associates that would understand your cryptic tongue. Just be out with it, I am sure you want me to do something for you, but I don't mind repaying you for all you've done." I replied earnestly.

"You are right in a sense, but also slightly off the mark. It's true that I need something from you, but I will give you something you want in return. Besides, I know for a fact you're tired of lazing around in this secret hole. Although, what I've said about your power is true, which is why I think you're the best candidate for the job."

"It's quite a surprise that you would think I was qualified. I suppose I am not complaining, why don't you explain the job." A slight smirk crept up my face.

" You're already fifteen, well into being an adult and personally trained by my teams which means you've earned some trust from my side. Besides, with the war as it is, the people I trust are being stretched thin. One wrong move, and we might just throw ourselves into a trench."

He placed his wand tip at the edge of desk, and a thin layer of a silencing ward enclosed us. Despite us being safe in our base, I suppose it was not something he wanted others to hear.

"You might be risking your life for this, and if you believe it is too hefty a price. Then I can assign this task to someone else." He awaited with solemn silence.

I slightly paused at his warning, because it all seemed to fishy. The man who wouldn't even let me step out for a breath of fresh air, was now suddenly sending me to a life threatening mission.

It all seemed out of place. But I wasn't yet done asking questions.

"To claim it is a hefty price, what kind of reward are you offering me. After all, you said its something I want." I questioned with great curiosity.

"Ever the opportunist, to think about gains even after that warning. I guess I wasn't wrong about you. Most would turn tail and decline after a personal word of caution from me, but you instead asked about the reward. I don't know if your greed runs deep or you simply aren't scared of death. Either way, you've passed this small test." He chuckled

At his laugh, the silencing ward faded around us....

Was it all a test? This had left me quite confused. What does that even mean.

He saw my confusion and replied immediately.

"I do have a mission for you, but it's not so much difficult as it is tedious. As for the reward, I offer you a chance at grasping the art of dueling. I will teach you myself, or rather only for a limited time. The reality is that I simply do not have enough personnel to cover the operation, there are far bigger threats to counteract. Besides, the situation requires someone young and capable. You are the only one who comes to mind."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"I am still offended you felt the need to test me. But that's an interesting offer, what kind of task is it that you would offer your valuable time to me? But I am not sure I would accept, I've already been dueling your vanguards for quite a few years." I scoffed.

"Don't be offended, in this line of work, betrayal and disappointment is only delivered by those closest to you, it is not a rule I can compromise for anyone. As for the task, well I need you to connect with and lead a group. The reason you're suitable is because the force mainly comprises of young wizards and witches. Volunteers mostly, wanting to help their local cities, wanting to make a difference." He replied, brushing aside my anger.

"What you're saying doesn't add up, scouting is not easy. Volunteers that want to make a difference? I didn't know you ran a charity. Tell me the whole story and I'll go."

"Normally, I don't allow questions, but I suppose I will make an exception. A group of young adults have spread frequent rumors of enemy rendezvous. The organization can't exactly send anyone towards these small villages and cities, every wand here is needed. Those that are trustworthy enough are not capable of throwing away their responsibilities, and those capable but untrustworthy are not a safe bet. That leaves you, someone recently trained, possessing the basic capabilities of completing this task and also being trustworthy enough to ensure your honesty."

He explained.

"What I need you to do is simple, go to these places, gather the information they're sharing and send it back to us. If you ever feel endangered, you're allowed to flee. Your main priority is not their safety, but a report of whatever you might find, am I clear. Depending on how you finish this task, I will allow you to participate in other affairs."

"Enticing offer, but circle back to the reward. You said learn dueling, but I already know how to duel. If you can change the terms, then I will be happy to act." I explained.

"It seems you didn't get the gist of my words. You've simply practiced how to duel. Be it team captains or vanguards, all you've done is practice. In reality, dueling is an art that allows you to kill your opponent in the most minimal way possible." His solemn voice echoed.

I was slightly shaken by his tone, but he was right. All I had ever done was "practice". Granted I had Dmitry who would sometimes push me to my limits. Nothing had really given me the true experience of dueling.

His experience and insights, it was true. Those two were things that I desperately wanted. In the end, he had still skewed the deal to my favor. It would be foolish not to accept.

"Alright, but I want you to duel me once. Just to get a taste of what I am in for."

I could see the slight confusion on his face as I requested it.

The real reason I requested it was to really see what the difference between us was. A scouting mission or not, I would breeze through that. What I wanted was to get a taste of the reward early.

"You're as stubborn as ever. I don't usually put up with your antics.. But seeing as you're soon to leave the nest, I suppose someone has to put reality back into perspective" He exhaled a dry laugh as he nimbly sprang up from his chair.

Dalton marched through the base, and everyone stood stiff as he walked by.

Most people noticed me following his trail as a chain reaction of speculation ignited behind us.

As we soon walked towards the dueling grounds, a small crowd had already began following us.

I had a slightly bad feeling about this...but it can't be that bad right.... right?

The two of us briskly walked into the grounds, as a few wizards training there had spotted us. At Dalton's signal they all immediately vacated the grounds.

The two of us now stood in the grounds as we prepared for a duel...

In reality, I had already accepted that I was going to have a come to Jesus encounter today. But I had to go through this, otherwise I would never understand the margin of difference between us.

"Whenever you're ready, but for your convenience. I will allow you three moves in advance." He commanded.

Three moves in advance was a big advantage, but somehow I felt that wasn't going to help me today.

The crowd had already gathered outside, and watched from the windows. It goes without saying that Zagreus and Dmitry had also gotten wind of this.

"I told you to go easy on him, I think you hit his head too hard last time. He's acting out." Zagreus shook his head, dismayed.

"Don't blame it on me, he's a teenage boy, they're always acting out." Dmitry retorted.

The two could only hold their heads in shame as they hoped nothing serious was going down.

Soon Dalton's leaden voice silenced the crowd as he spoke.

"Wands at the ready."

As I gripped my wand and pointed it towards him, my feet firmly planted into the ground.

In contrast, his stance was far more casual, as he simply stood there.

"3. 2. 1. Begin."

I started, immediately lightning sparked from the tip of my wand. I channeled it for a few seconds and it shot towards him.

Merely to be deflected as it couldn't breach his personal ward.

The second move was tactical, as a wave of my magic spread through the ground, its sole purpose was to change the structure of the solid floor.

It took effect and everything beneath his feet turned to liquid sand as it pulled him deeper. The floors had transfigured in a matter of seconds, but it wasn't enough to take him by surprise.

Dalton waved his wand and a lilac hue cleansed my control over the floor, as it dried out back to stone setting him free.

My last spell was what I really counted on, a red pulse of energy crackled as I shot it towards Dalton aiming to at least blow the surroundings to smithereens. It was a spell Dmitry had once used against me.

The red orb of magic blasted through to Dalton sending a wave of energy everywhere, but it was deftly contained as a colorless aura beamed and wrapped around it, eventually snuffing it out. That spell, I had seen it once before. Something Voldemort had once used in the Ministry Duel.

"My turn" He spoke, as a heavy aura enveloped him.

It was only a power that I could feel. An aura so powerful....so suffocating.

I had already lost all hopes of defense as his power grew.

Then he brought his wand closer and flicked it down.

Instantly, I felt pressured, like I was being pushed down....no I wasn't just feeling it. The air around me grew heavier by the second as it weighed on my body. It was so powerful that it even affected some wizards outside the dueling grounds.

Was this gravity magic? I could barely speak as my body was forced to kneel. Eventually, I could barely push myself off the ground as I fell flat onto my chest.

Was this the difference between us, he only swung his wand once and I was on the ground. I hadn't ever seen this type of magic before. But what really scared me was that I couldn't even think of a way to counter the spell.

"The duel is over, get up."

He sauntered towards me as he spoke.

I scrambled to get on my feet as I pushed myself off the ground, slightly shaken by the earlier display.

"That was amazing, if you teach me that, I will do any job for you" I laughed

"You're about twenty years too early to even try boy" He jeered

The crowd quickly dispersed as he went back to his office, and I spotted Zagreus and Dmitry that had hung around as the others left.

"You two enjoyed the show?"

"Kid you really need to learn how to pick your battles, I almost bent a knee from outside here. Didn't even know the boss could do that" Dmitry mocked

"It was a marvelous display. I did hear he was a dueling champion back in his day. Though he probably used a different name back then" Zagreus recalled

"Dueling champion? I might have to look into that later."

"Don't get hopeful, there's plenty of pseudonyms flying around that fit him, besides we don't exactly know what year it was in. Just a rumor that has been flying around for a while now. Though I suppose I've basically confirmed it after today." Zagreus responded.

I greeted the two and went back to my room to prepare for this so called mission, safe to say I was plenty excited to finally leave this place. Though slightly nervous too.

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A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter, leave a comment on what you liked and don't forget to leave a review.