Everyone stares as Reagan and Synn step aside for a private chat and whispering strikes up among all the groups. Danika shows envy with a scowl in their direction while Brad and his cronies are discussing the dungeon crystal and when best to take it from Synn. Lance is joking with Sophie about Reagan getting a hook up with Synn before her, to which Sophie is fake pouting while her sister who has been calm and professional until this point can’t help but finally break into hysterical laughter.
“Looks like people are gossiping about us now.” Reagan smirked. “Any jealous girlfriends I should be worried about?”
“The one scowling is my ex. She broke up with me this morning to join Brad and the Venomous Stingers as I have zero prospects.” Synn let out a slightly pained laugh. The events still raw from that morning.
“Well more fool her. I sense something has changed in you today which makes you a hot prospect. Even I’m interested in the future you. Want to know more?”
“I’m all for being looked after by an older woman. How many conditions are we talking?”
Melodic laughter rang out and a friendly dig struck his arm but friendly for Reagan wasn’t necessarily not going to leave a bruise on level 1 Synn.
“I’m not that much older cheeky. I’m just about to start my third year at the Academy.” She pouted flirtatiously. “Missions like these gives us extra merits which can be spent. But anyway if you take up my offer you can learn about that more in the future.”
“And the offer is?” he quizzed further.
“I’d like to sponsor you to enter the academy.” She stated, nothing hidden. Straightforward, open and honest which Synn truly respected.
“Consider me interested but I’m not yet at the minimum requirements. I’d need level 10 wouldn’t I?”
“You would, it’s just a formality in most cases but can you achieve it in 12 days?”
“As you noted, something changed today. If I can get some dungeon runs in, which, with my new found wealth shouldn’t be too difficult, I can definitely pull it off.”
“Confident but without the arrogance. I like that.”
“Okay, here’s how it works. It’s not officially me sponsoring you, only faculty and some high ups within each faction can sponsor you directly but they can proxy the sponsorship so that I can gain benefits through the system. That is as you hit certain milestones or have an outstanding achievement I also gain a reward. Following so far?”
“Yeah, you get benefits when a selected student does well because you gave them a start but really it is your Master deferring his rewards to you.” Synn summed it up quickly.
“Exactly! Now I’m offering you the option now but my Master can withdraw the offer if he thinks I’ve picked rashly once you reach the academy.”
“You keep saying Master, is this your Great Uncle Garrick?” Synn cautiously interrogated.
“It is! Is that a problem?” She stood up straighter, her hands on her hips.
“No, I just never expected the greatest legend of the Starfrosts would end up one of the faculty at the Academy.”
“Oh!” Her eyes turned sad as she continued. “You’re right. I guess it was just over two years ago. He lost one of his closest friends to a dungeon. He spent 6 months repeating the dungeon in the hopes of finding answers but nothing came of it. It almost broke him. I’m not sure he slept in that time, only passed out between occasional delves.” Her fists clenched in front of her chest.
“He sounds like a great friend. There aren’t many people who would do that for those they supposedly care about. He is definitely worthy of your admiration.” Synn, reached and wrapped his hands around hers to reassure her and they bonded a little over that shared belief and respect.
“Thank you. I’m not sure why I told you all that? I rarely share anything emotional with anyone.”
“I guess it’s because of our new relationship.”
“What new relationship?” She demanded shaking his hands off hers.
“You’re my mentor aren’t you? Or is it Master Starfrost who is my Master? Does that make you my big sister?” he chuckled mischievously.
Reagan followed suit and burst out laughing along with him. “Okay, okay. You win that one. Thank you for breaking that melancholy mood I found myself in.”
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“So the last bit I’m still unsure of is why your Great Uncle ended up teaching?” Synn asked.
“He doesn’t, at least not very often. His lectures are rather sparse and… well I think people want to oust him from his position as he stands against them a considerable amount of the time on all important matters. I think you can change that.”
“Isn’t that a lot of pressure to put on a new recruit?” Synn put a shocked face on for amusement.
“Very funny but no! I honestly think your presence will revive his love for delving.” She smiled affectionately.
“Now before the rumours get any more out of hand here is Masters token. Anything else you wish to ask me before my team and I depart?” she asked.
“This dungeon crystal I have. Any chance you’d take it for safe keeping till I come to the Academy?” Synn withdrew it from his pocket and offered it to her.
“Smart, I was going to tell you to deposit it with the bank but this means you can travel without worry between safeholds.”
“Exactly, I trust the Keyhold Bank but I’d still have to get there and if I’m going to be ready for the academy trials I don’t have time for harassment.”
“Okay, I accept.” She happily swiped the crystal from his open palm and stored it away. “But only on the proviso that you still open an account with them and I deposit it at the Academy’s Keyhold branch.”
“Okay, I’ll open one today after I’ve seen a healer… and maybe an outfitter. These clothes and armour are ruined.” He said looking himself up and down.”
Good, well here is your recruitment token which shows you as being sponsored by Master Starfrost, and my contact details. If you send me the account details I’ll deposit your crystal and you can always turn it into the Academy for merit points. Considering what they can generate I’d imagine you’ll get a boat load. Anyway, looks like the team have finished handing out recruitment notices so I’d best be off. Don’t be a stranger and I’ll see you at the Academy.” She beamed a genuinely happy smile.
Walking back to his group Synn saw Lance smiling. “Soooo, I guess Mr. Dragon Slayer also received an invite to try out for Armageddon?”
“It was a drake but, yes. I too received an offer to go try for the academy.”
“Hell yeah. We are going to show them all who’s the best at the Academy.”
“Pretty ambitious considering there are legacy students who are descendants of the eight who are automatically trained from a young age and given every benefit.”
“True, but no head start is going to stop me.” Lance bragged causing Synn to shake his head while trying not to laugh.
“The progenies of the eight are practically worshipped, they are literally a level above due to twin innate skills. They say that the only reason our region survived was thanks to the eight. Their contribution alone was greater than fifty percent during the end of days battle and that was with twenty other delve teams standing with them.”
“Okay, you paint a pretty picture with your words. Are you sure you aren’t meant to be a bard. Maybe you should give us a song. Just to prove you are a fighter obviously.”
“Very funny. Anyway, have you still got room for me to crash at yours? I’m going to settle my bill and give the landlord the keys back. Hoping to be out tomorrow. Not like I ever had many personal items anyway.” Synn enquired.
“Sure Dude, although Sophie has claimed the sofa for tonight after we party so you’re on the floor if you come down.”
“We’ll see, I have a lot to sort if I’m going to be ready for Armageddon.”
“Dude, why are you stepping all over my party vibe?”
“Hey, I’m all for a party but you know I need to make more effort than anyone else if I’m going to stand a chance of getting in.” Synn threw his hands up in air to express frustration.
“True, but I have faith. Especially after the miracles I witnessed down there. Your training and adaptability really are off the charts. Always amazes me when you become a one-man army.”
“That really is luck. I have no say in how it picks up the skills and stats.”
With everything settled at the delve site people began to pack up and move away. Synn asked Lance to drop him in town which he begrudgingly agreed to but only after getting a promise that Synn would at least pop his head in at the party later.
In town Synn did as he’d promised and opened an account at the Keyhold Bank. He sent the details to Reagan who joked about him missing her already, which he couldn’t really deny so he deflected with a few wind-up messages of his own.
From there he dipped into his coin rewards and paid for a full heal along with a trip to the outfitters for some basic leather armour, and a few new sets of clothes ready to take to the Academy and a bigger backpack to hold it all.
Having reequipped the next item on his list was dungeon delve slots, so he called up a few of his contacts at the local guilds on his bus ride back home and got them to put in a good word for him to take the late-night dungeon runs. It benefited them as most people didn’t want those slots anyway, but still they charged him the standard outsider fee for the slots. Not that it was problem to Synn with his newly gained wealth that was quickly diminishing.
As he got back to the apartment block, he bumped into the landlord. He informed him of his decision to give up the apartment and settled his overdue rent and bills.
Heading up the stairs he could hear the music blaring from Lance’s apartment. He wasn’t ready for that yet, today had really taken a lot out of him and he still had to pack up his belongings.
He began packing when his phone rang, he very much expected it to be Lance or Sophie telling him to come down to the party, but he was surprised to see it was Danika. He ignored the call and let it ring through. A moment later a message popped up on the screen.
I miss you… Then a moment later another came through. Please can we talk? There was a longer gap this time. A few of us are trying out for Armageddon. I don’t want things to be awkward between us if we both end up being accepted.
‘No, this is a new chapter. I’m focused on me and getting into the Academy. I’ve not got time to lose over what could have been.’