‘Excuse me, could you tell me where I could find the umm Ether Rocks caravan heading towards Alternate Haven city?’ asks Seren while standing at the reception desk within the adventurers guild.
A receptionist glances at Seren before tapping a plate in front of her and asking him ‘Are you sure you want anything to do with them, a group like them can only lead to bad ends.’
Having changed clothes and properly outfitted the shopkeep had at least taken Seren for a local child and decided to try and steer him clear of the caravan due to the prejudices against the academy.
Seren looks confused and responds ‘Well I don’t think that’s very fair to say. I haven’t met them yet and I’m hoping to attend the academy to learn more about my abilities so I think I should meet them myself at least sir.’ Looking slightly repulsed upon hearing Seren intended the receptionist was prepared to send him on his way when before he got a chance
‘Well said! Little brother.’ absolutely bellows a huge young man wearing nothing but a beastskin fur vest, linen pants, and thick boots who stands up along with the young men and women around him from a corner of the guild.
‘A real warrior forms his own opinions about people rather than take the word of someone who has never bothered to give a person the time of day to learn about them.’ angrily retorts one of the girls in the large group of very obviously experienced warriors.
‘Be calm Cela.’ retorts the possible leader of the group. ‘Though she speaks true.’ the large young man says while walking over to Seren. ‘Come little brother, sit with us and we’ll make sure you get to the academy all in one piece.’ while casually dragging Seren to the group as if Seren weighed nothing and then pulls him up a chair to sit with the group and plops him in it while he takes a seat himself.
‘Well little brother allow me to introduce ourselves. My name is Braz and we are the Ether Rocks caravan from the Alternate Haven academy, all of us being upperclassmen within the academy and have therefore taken up some responsibilities for the school which include getting supplies and news from across the Kingdom, but also includes gathering potential students and taking them safely to the academy. So that’s us but I wish to know about you, why do you want to head to the Academy? I don’t wish to dissuade you, I just want to make sure you’re making the best choice you can.’ asks the initially rather goofy young man but now direct and serious.
Not a bit intimidated, Seren responds confidently ‘That's easy, because my senior and caretaker from the pit told me that's where I should go. He told me to head there and pursue Mortal energy after telling me I didn’t use either Qi or Mana.’
Interested Braz leans in to ask ‘Well what do you use then? To be honest knowing it’s not either Qi or Mana is enough and with you Mentioning Mortal I know what energies you at least should have the potential for if he told you to pursue that path but I’m interested to hear it from you.’
Now looking a bit sheepish Seren responds ‘It’s actually only recently that my senior told me I was using something other than those energies. I didn’t realize they were their own energies and assumed they were abilities of Mana or Qi. We don’t exactly have a school in the pit. We only have a basic education because of our senior who being an Owl-Bear, before he got captured and trapped in the pit he had traveled and learned more than enough to teach a couple of pit whelps.’ taking a breath after getting visibly upset thinking about the pit and his senior he continues ‘I recently unlocked Aura, my senior had been training me in tactile telekinesis since I got to the pit and showed a talent for it, and he also said I’m right before breaking into the first stage of Vitality but that it would be hard without getting better nutrition than the pit would provide.’
Looking at Seren wide eyed he asked ‘Little brother just how old are you?’
‘Um I’m 9.’ While looking at him confused.
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Braz, seeing that Seren doesn’t understand ignores this and asks ‘I noticed you mentioned the pit and your senior a couple of times, could you tell me more about that?’ At this he also gestures for someone in the group to step forward. ‘This is Jacks and I’m gonna have him take your info down and what you’re about to tell us so we can have a file for you when we get to the academy. It will make things a bit faster. Before you go into your story could I get your name, age, and who you learned your abilities from.
Looking slightly out of his depth, Seren just starts talking ‘My name is Seren Pit, 9, and Senior Owl-Bear a 6th hand beast taught me what I know. My surname is Pit because I’m what’s called a pit bond child. When a family gambles and loses and gets heavily into debt through pit gambling and taking loans to pay off those gambling debts from loan companies also owned by the pit then when the family hits the bottom they come and test your child for talent and if they have any then the family is offered to have all their debt cleared as long as they legally and through a magic contract give up their child to the pit. I’ve been in the pit since I was three, Senior Owl bear was captured before I was bonded into the pit and forced to train pit-whelps to fight for what are affectionately known as the pit little leagues.’ here Seren pauses to grins ghastly before he continues. ‘They called it that cause that was where all of us younger than 12 were forced to fight, you would think maybe the youngest would have an easier time of things but no. Senior Owl-Bear taught us as if our lives were on the line everyday because in truth the little leagues are also known as the brutal leagues. Most kids don’t have access to any energy or very little amounts, minimal weapon training, and being so young can easily become twisted by the winner takes all atmosphere of the pit. It leads to the fights being more desperate, more violent, and as far as I have ever been able to tell, more exciting for the audience.’ Seren again pauses but this to look at the faces around him.
Braz goes to speak but the girl from before who had spoken up to the receptionist beats him to it. ‘You poor kid.’ she wails at the same time as she’s charging forward to pick up and squeeze Seren all while still wailing. ‘Cela, he can’t breath. Let him go so he can finish talking and you know, breath.’ Braz says before Seren can pass out but instead of moving Cela very firmly sits Seren in her lap and refuses to let go as he squirms about trying to get free before he gives up and continues ‘So Senior Owl-Bear taught us all those things before we moved up to the youth league once we pass 12. If we had any talent in Qi or Mana he would try to give us some advice but he could never really help too much with it. At first I didn’t understand it but with all the things I’m hearing about energy and the amount of attention he paid to me I think I’m starting to get why. He mentioned he was one of the few beasts that don't inherently use Qi or Mana so I guess he could actually teach me since I didn't either. He taught me tactile telekinesis and especially helped me train my Presence so it could evolve to Aura sooner and if he could have fed us better food I’m sure he could have had us all break into vitality. As it was, some of the other kids were able to pull that one off any way. He said my body actually had too much vital potential to easily break it open without better stuff so I never could. When I finally broke into Aura I was able to surprise the pit champ using it and my telekinesis to defeat the pit champ and free myself of a contract I never even got the chance to sign. Since then I’ve walked into the city, got lost a bit’ got some new gear’ and now I’m here talking to you guys.’ finishes Seren.
The whole group just looks at him incredulously. ‘Hey wasn’t the pit champ for this city a 5th hand? I don’t care how shit his foundation was, there's no way he should have lost to someone at the 3rd hand, especially before they even have access to all three energies of Mortal energy or one of the fusion energies between the three.’ One of the group members who hadn’t spoken yet said from the back.
Braz looks at Seren carefully before he says ‘He’s right. Even the worst 5th hand shouldn't lose to a 3rd. At such an early level unless whatever technique you’re using to train was at the Divine level you can’t make up that power gap. With that being said do you mind if I test your talents Seren? Normally we would just wait for the academy to do this but I am authorized to test and record the results for the school so you may have to take another more comprehensive test you shouldn't have to do this one again.’
Thinking about it slightly Seren responds ‘Well if they’re just gonna do it there anyway then It shouldn't be an issue to do it here so sure.’ Getting his affirmative Braz goes into a bag at his waist and takes at a clear melon sized sphere and passes it to Seren.
‘All you need to do is place your hand on the orb and you’re gonna feel a sort of mental prompt asking for permission to scan you.’ explains Braz after passing it.
Taking a breath Seren grabs the sphere and after he accepts the prompt colors start rushing into the orb. Looking closely at the orb Braz explains ‘The almost translucent gold clouds of power signifies your Vitality is right before cracking open fully, the purple energy is your Aura, and as for this white energy it’s Physic energy but there’s something about it. Unfortunately I don’t have an advanced Physic energy detector with me so we’ll have to wait until we’re back at the academy and you can test in. Though with talent like yours I don't expect any issues. Alright Seren you can camp out with us at the caravan for the night and in the morning we can start the trip to the academy.’