Chapter 4: Don't be surprised

Ten thousand years passed

"We're finally here!!! At last!" a hooded person exclaimed while facing the entrance of a small village.

Outside of Lopan village, a group of silver robed people arrived near the entrance with the expression of relief shown on their faces. On their robes are crested with the shape of three swords facing downward. There were 9 people; 6 males, and 3 females. The 5 males and 2 females were in their late 20s. The other two are in their teens, around 15-17 years old. All of them were middle Mortal Arts practitioners. Among the seniors, 4 are rank 4, 2 are rank 5 and 1 rank 6. The 2 teenagers are both rank 5 Mortal Arts practitioners. For their age, becoming rank 5 mortal arts level was unprecedented. Usually, one opens a mana gate by the age of 20 and can become rank 2 by 21, rank 6 by 25, rank 9 by 29.

One of the robed females walked towards the hooded person who shouted. “It’s really an honor to join your group in this expedition, your highness,” she said.

The person removed his hood and a 15 – 17-year-old girl was revealed. She smiled back at her senior and said, “Ah… it’s a pleasure! It’s a pleasure! Hehehe!

The other teenager beside her also removed the hood and a teenage boy was revealed. On his left side hand two silver swords. He had a handsome face, wolf-like blue eyes and a warrior imposing aura. The only flaw in his heroic appearance was the troubled look on his face.

“Argh! Why did I have to go babysitting on my vacation…” the boy mumbled.

“Oh? You plan to go against my sister’s wishes?” the girl asked.

“…..” “Oh well… might as well get this task done… Team captain… what was this task again?”

The ‘captain of the group’, one of the senior practitioners, explained the content of their mission. It was to investigate the complaint from the village chief of Lopan village about attacks from a monster coming from a nearby forest.

“Ah! This is so awesome! Imagine if this monster is similar to the monster of the legends! It also came from the same forest!” the girl exclaimed.

“Ah! This sucks… Imagine if this monster is similar to the monster of the legends… we’d be dying in this mission won’t we?” the boy sarcastically remarked.

“Relax Lyle… With this princess around, all monsters will bow down to me! Hur hur hur!” the girl laughed.

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“…” the others.

“It’s really amazing how the two of them are already rank 5 mortal arts level.” One senior said.

“Yeah. In our academy, geniuses like them can be counted with just our 10 fingers.”

“How do they become so strong though? Captain, how can we be like them and have our Arts level and mana increase faster?” someone asked.

The captain looked at the two teenagers who were currently bickering with each other. His gaze was warm as he looked at the two geniuses who were the pride of their academy. Then he replied to the question.

“Arts is the method of increasing and using mana in the body. It is cultivating one’s aptitude in using the energy of the world. Arts practitioners start as Mortal Arts level, like us, which is the primary rank for a masterless art neophyte. As one gets stronger, one can absorb more energy.”

Each level is composed of 9 stages, which are known as the 3 ranks in each stage; the early rank, middle rank and peak rank. The levels are Mortal, Transcender, and Ascender. The middle Mortal level is the hardest to overcome. Since this is the first stage, it is where the Mana pool for the Arts is formed. Usually, by the age of 30, one can break through to the peak of mortal arts then the rest of the stages will not be age reliant but must be overcome by talent as well as hard work. Either of the two will do. But some are unfortunate to be stuck in the 5th rank due to flawed arts, physical deficiencies, or bad luck from a curse.

But these two teenagers went beyond the norms. Rank 5 Mortal Arts Level at the age of 15-17. Genius! Pure Genius!

"Alice, it's better if you stay in this village and..." the hooded boy started talking when a palm smacked his face covering his mouth and flattening his nose.

"What? Lyle? I can't hear you.." An innocent voice came out from the girl as she took her hood and muffler off. Leaving only a customized leather armor worm in a rebellious way that showed the prowess of a perfectly proportioned and well-endowed body.

"........" The young boy frowned helplessly as he looked the playful looking girl smiling at him.

The girl, although a teenager, looked like a fiery goddess that was sent to restore happiness to humanity. Her vermillion-red hair tumbled over her shoulders. Her face seemed to be molded out by the ancient creator himself to advertise His artistic prowess. She had a cheerful and joyous personality of the infectious type. She had a curvaceous shapely figure which could cause wars between countries. A pair of arched eyebrows that matched the fairness of her emerald green eyes and angel-white teeth. If kings, even the best of friends, could see her, they would wage war with each other only of have this eye-candy jewel grace their presence.

But there was an exception. And this abnormality was the young boy named Lyle. The boy silently thought, "If only I can't see her face in you... If only you weren't her little sister... I would smack your head with a hand chop!!" This boy, who could ignore this otherworldly beauty, was actually deeply in love with her sister. So he had no thoughts of hitting on this playful girl.

But he couldn't say this out loud. If it were just them, he could. But right now, they were with other people who might think badly of him if he does. Plus, his relationship with the girl's sister was a secret no outsider must know.

"I finally got out of that place... now you want me to stay inside a building again? Ugh!!" The girl cutely pouted.

"No need to worry, it’s one of my dreams to enter this famous Sleeping Vine Forest and see the monster of the legends, the legendary spirit bull." The teenage girl replied.

"Nguuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!"

Suddenly a loud roar came from the deep forest and the ground trembled.

"The spirit bull!!" excitement and anxiety can be found in the voice of the 2 teenagers.

"Alice, when the bull shows up, please don't…" The teenage boy was warning the teenage girl when he found out that the girl was nowhere to be seen. The others in silver robes were shocked to see that Alice is gone. Black lines can be seen in their sullen expressions. If something happens to Alice while on their watch, their whole clan will face extinction.

"Not again!! That little…" the boy facepalmed. "Oh well…"

"Sir Lyle… what do we do?" The leader of the group asked as he trembled in fear the calamity they would face.

"No worries… she does this a lot. It's the first time she's with you guys so you might get a little surprised at everything she does." Lyle said calmly

Surprised? Surprised?! We're facing the extinction of our whole clan if something happens to her!

But to their surprise, Lyle was very calm.