“Don’t worry so much Ady, most of the mana stones and crystals I used were trash I picked up in dungeons, ruins, and the like. As for the White Calla, it was a gift from one of my older brothers, he said he hoped I could remain as pure and carefree as it has. And the formation was just something I took before I left, just in case.”
Adrest still felt guilty, and even worse hearing the name of the flower. They covered it a few months ago in class, and from what he remembered it was rare and highly sought after because they have countless uses in alchemy, and their ancestry can be traced back to the age of the ancients, unchanging and as pure as it was at the start of the world.
Alissa smacked his back, sending him stumbling forward. “If I say not to worry, then don’t worry. This is something absolutely vital if you want to catch up with the real freaks, the best of the best all have similar areas. But don’t worry Ady, I can ensure you and Belle have every advantage and more even compared to The Holy Sun Sanctum, The Beast Bloodlines, and the Violet Royals. Even compared to the children of the dragon clans I won’t let you lose out.”
Adrest was touched hearing Alissa, she decided to use every resource at her disposal to pull Belle and himself up. To raise two people’s strength to the level Alissa had in mind was an unobtainable amount of wealth to Adrest, he was unable to completely imagine the wealth. Numbers weren’t enough at that level, they traded and bartered in elixirs, miracle pills, near extinct herbs, and the like. He and Belle were only D and C rank respectively but taking into consideration the formation and the various pills and medicines she was always buying and forcing them to take, she must’ve spent close to three hundred thousand platinum already.
Sure, two thirds of that was from the formation, and it would be useful for many years, but Adrest felt that this was only the tip of the iceberg for her perfecting every aspect of himself and Belle.
“Are you sure you can spare all this on us Ali? Aren’t you supposed to be strengthening yourself before that tournament?”
Laughing at Adrest’s naivety she spoke, “Don’t worry over that Ady, I’ve been soaking in and drinking the best the world has to offer since before I was out of my own shell, at this stage my body can’t improve unless I get very lucky. All that’s left for me to do is polish my techniques and magic, which is a very slow process now.”
Adrest was relieved and went along with Alissa back to the house where they found Rin guiding Belle through an acrobatics routine they’d slowly been building on. Belle was somersaulting through the air, landing on just her toes on single pole tops, then jumping to the next. The top heavy and thin wooden poles barely shifting.
As she reached the next phase, Belle jumped towards a swinging knotted rope, grabbing confidently with one hand and followed with the momentum, letting go as they reached their zenith. Belle flew through the air and landed gracefully on a branch way up a nearby tree.
Her audience clapped, Belle was thrilled to see Ali and Ady had gotten to see her first successful run of this course.
“Great job Belle, just a few more of these and we can really start the fun part!” Her new teacher complimented.
“Start? This already looks a lot more fun than anything a certain other teacher does.”
Adrest would have some new bruising to heal later, but Rin was happy to watch the usual two man show, explaining when they calmed.
“This part is alright, but isn’t it way more fun when you can start making your own rules? When we start sparring, Belle will have to take what I taught her and make it her own. And I can’t wait to see what she comes up with, especially with what you’ve taught her Alissa!”
Alissa as always loved compliments wrapping an arm around their new Hero, “You’re an amazing teacher too Rin, and an even better student!”
Rin blushed at the string of embarrassing memories that triggered, images of herself ragged and bleeding, Alissa across from her still in perfect shape. It made her realize just how far she had to go, in just swordsmanship she was actually a little better than Alissa, but her unnatural strength and reflexes more than made up for it.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
It was Adrest to Rin’s rescue as he snapped her out of it, “It’s getting late, anyone mind if we take a break for dinner?”
Belle jumped down, doing several flips in midair and landing soundlessly on her feet, “I’m starving!”
Alissa and Rin joined in, nodding like chickens. But it was nothing new, Belle was in a growth spurt, Alissa had the appetite to match her dragon form. And Rin looked tiny, only a bit taller than Belle, but she could somehow keep pace with the dragon fitting right in.
It was once again proven as they sat for dinner and between the four of them, the tower of steaks at the center of the table disappeared twice before everyone was satisfied and leaning back in their chairs.
“Thank you for the meal Adrest, it was amazing.”
“You really don’t need to say that every time Rin. I wouldn’t mind it if you were a bit more like the rude one over there.” Adrest pointed directly at the sprawled-out Alissa, her face of contentment instantly changing to a glare.
“What was that Ady?”
“See? I don’t mind it at all.”
Rin rubbed the back of her head, “Sorry, it’s how we were raised at the church, it’s hard to change old habits.”
“Don’t worry about it then, I’m always happy to hear it,”
“Oh, I’m going back to town tomorrow, Gerard said that the Academy is starting to question why I’m still here, I’m sure I have a pile of letters waiting.”
“Will you be okay? When do you have to head back?” Adrest was curious, it’d been around three months since she’d moved in, and she was originally scheduled to leave the outpost town well over a month ago.
“Well… I honestly don’t really want to go back. Not so soon. I finally feel like I’m welcome somewhere and I'm learning so much. But I think the latest I can get away with is another month or so.”
Adrest felt more pain in his heart than he thought he would at the statement. From the beginning, the three had gotten along great with Rin, perfectly blending in like she’d always been around. Though it’s only been a few months he had trouble imagining the house without her smiling face.
Belle was already tearing up and hugging the sitting Rin who was reassuringly rubbing her back. Alissa must’ve felt similar because she was the one to speak up, “I said it before, if you want anything just ask. If you’re sure you don’t want to go back, just ask and I’ll make it happen. I’ll just need some help from you.”
Rin’s eyes went wide. She knew Alissa was a strong dragon, but stepping on the Guild’s tail like that was bad for any power. “I really appreciate the thought Alissa, but I couldn’t put you in that position, I’ll just sneak away and visit again as soon as I can. Worst case, I can graduate as soon as I hit A rank so I can come back in just a few years.”
Alissa scoffed, “It wouldn’t be too much trouble at all, compared saving these two it's nothing. I’d just need to ask my brother Kestra to say he took a liking to your sword skills. He’s on a similar path, so if I use his aura in the letter they can’t argue, and they won’t dare. Then you just need to record that you’re willing and happy, and get Gerard to vouch for your safety and you have an airtight escape for years to come.”
Rin was stunned at the show of force suggested, hinting that she’d simply threaten a continental force, “Umm, Alissa? If you don’t mind me asking, how strong is your brother?”
“No problem at all, He’s only at the Peak of the Demi-god Realm, but he’s nearly killed Half-step Gods before, they’re just too good at running at that stage. You should’ve seen his face haha!”
Rin felt like the temperature dropped 20 degrees. A Demi-God was the first step to immorality, while a half-step God was just as the name implied. They were just a half step from Godhood, just waiting for an opportunity to break free. For Alissa to have a brother that can fight and even win above his level at that stage showed the sheer majesty of the power behind her, but it still wasn’t enough to shield her from the Guild.
“Alissa, your brother sounds amazing, but the Guild has more than a few peak half-step Gods, if they send one after your brother it would be the same as me killing him.”
Adrest and Belle were lost at the new terminology, but Adrest could roughly guess they were the realms after S rank and Adrest could only imagine the gulf in power between early and late stage Half-step Gods.
Alissa just waved the worries off, Rin at this point who turned to Adrest for support. He just shrugged.
“I don’t even know what the stages you two are talking about, but don’t sweat it Rin. Our little princess here has nothing to worry about when it comes to backing, am I right Ali?”
“For once you are Ady! Rin, I never got around to telling you, but my full name is Alissa Covenscar. My Father leads the Storm Dragon Clan, one of the five current leaders of the Clans. Father is an Earthly Immortal and the Guild won’t touch you if you’re with one of his line.”
It was a lot for Rin to take in, not expecting the laid back dragon was actually royalty, so far above her own station Rin normally wouldn’t even be able to see her heels above.
Stunned, Rin answered, “That’s not what I expected, I’ll think about it more tomorrow on the way to town, not like there’s a rush.”
Alissa nodded cheerily, “Just say the words Rin. But enough about that for now, let’s play some dice.”
Adrest really had corrupted the royal, who was now addicted to gambling in particular. She enjoyed the stakes, even if they only played with bronze Trevil, which Adrest basically printed out for nothing, getting one hundred per (lp).