“Louder!”

“Witness me!” Airen shouted embarrassingly into the open air, his arms spread wide open as if to welcome someone. To be frank, with his sweaty demeanor and lack of grace, he looked to be quite the clown.

“Louder!!!!” Orshan shouted from behind him.

“WITNESS ME!” Airen wanted to find a hole and bury himself in, but nevertheless did as he was bid. Inwardly, he was praying that the walls were soundproof enough to prevent anyone outside from hearing.

Off to the side and invisible to Orshan, Fieluri’s face was plastered with a smug grin as she sketched this humiliating scene in perfect detail. Every so often, she would throw scalding or humiliating remarks at Airen’s direction.

When Airen, Eullina and Rureya returned from their expedition, Leifaur had coldly scolded Eullina, while Rowan had angrily yelled at Airen for putting Rureya in danger. Orshan on the other hand, had praised Airen and said as long as he ‘accompanied’ him in training tomorrow, bygones will be bygones.

Alien glared at Fieluri, but she simply continued to sketch this scene with perfect accuracy, recording even minute details such as the sweat drifting off Airen’s body, and Orshan posing behind him like a superhero. Somehow there was even more sweat on his body than Airen, forming a stark contrast. It was a scene that would could make young women blush in embarrassment, and young men laugh at the audacity.

After all, to call him half naked would be an affront to those that are actually half naked, with the only piece of clothing on his body being a dirty loincloth.

Airen did not know what to feel as he glared at the petite girl in the corner. Was this how he was going to go down in history, with a muscle head flexing and posing behind his back while he had his arms spread like a preaching priest?

“Come on now, my student! Let me hear your passion!” Orshan tried to clap Airen on the back with a palm, but refusing to be touched, Airen ducked under the sweat infused hand.

“Orshan, please stay several feet away from me, and out of sight if possible.” Airen’s face was twisted in a scowl as he fanned the air in front of him, trying to remove the smell of body-odor away. “Did you not take a bath last night?!”

“Ah, you can tell?” Orshan rubbed his head like a child caught in a mischievous act. “You see I was paid a visit to the brothel and stayed there for a night. There was this new girl and-”

“Stop.” Airen held up a hand. “I don’t want to know of your nightly adventures.”

“Now, now, my student. It is common knowledge for fellow men to bond over alcohol and stories of their adventures.” Orshan clapped his hair covered chest, causing Airen to roll his eyes. “Since you just came back from an adventure, your senior can’t exactly let you one-up him now, can he? Now about my last conquest-”

“That’s not the type of adventure I want to hear about!” Airen turned and face the wall, trying to lose sight of a certain lecherous man showing off his abs.

“There’s no need to be shy! This adult knows about your relation with that young lass you share a room with! Have you done it with her yet?”

Airen breathed in and started to ignore Orshan. This was the sort of meditative concentration that was borne from thousands of battles in the Archive against the heroes of the past, a state of mind that allowed him to survive longer than a single attack. However, it was at this time Airen believed he had found the greatest use of this ability, to ignore the ape of a man known as Orshan. With as much mental concentration as he can muster, he started to ‘concentrate’ on washing off the sweat off his body, zoning out the rest of Orshan’s relentless invitations to go ‘have fun’ and ‘making him a man.’

As Airen left Orshan behind in the training room, Fieluri rose from her position in the corner and floated after him like a haunting apparition.

“That was quite the scene back there.” Fieluri teased. “I have indeed witnessed it.”

Airen felt his cheeks starting to glow with warmth.

“Did you come out of the Archive knowing that this was going to happen?” Airen accused quietly. Although it was dusk and the amount of people had decreased, Airen could not speak loudly without being given looks. He had gotten so skilled with speaking without moving his lips that he thought that he could be a ventriloquist if the chef thing did not work out.

“You know me too well.” Fieluri cough. “No, I’m here because it’s the end of the month.”

“What does that have to do with anything? Are you on your period and you just have to nag me?” Airen deliberately provoked her, but Fieluri did not even bat an eyelash. Instead she made a motion of forming her hand into a fist, and slamming it into her other palm.

Airen sensed danger, but his body did not seem to follow his will as a heavy, invisible weight pressed down on his shoulders. Airen gritted his teeth and continued to walk, trying to ignore the heavy burden, but it continued to grow in weight until his knees were starting to crack and he was panting heavily. After another minute he was forced down onto his knees by the pressure and he quickly apologized before others took notice of how he was kneeling on the ground.

“You never learn, do you?” Fieluri commented as Airen picked himself up amidst the concerned gazes of a few passerbys. “I have half a mind to wipe your memories and educate you on your language from scratch.”

“Is such a thing even possible?” Airen rubbed his sore and well-abused shoulders.

“In the distant past, there were creatures that enslaved others by masking their memories and manipulating them through illusions. If enough time passed, their memories would be wiped away and replaced to ensure perfect servitude.”

“...That’s not funny. You can’t be serious.” Airen said in disbelief as the Tiger Wing came into sight.

“It’s true.” Fieluri shrugged as Airen unlocked the door and walked up the rickety stairs. “But the reason I came out- you will see why soon..”

Airen quickly understood as he was greeted by the sight of blond hair and a regal red dress. Irona sat in the kitchen next to Eullina with a vast display of treats on the table, as well as a tea set.

“Ah, Mister Airen. Would you please join us?” Cordelia stood up and formally greeted Airen. Behind her back, Eullina was sending him death stares.

“Miss Ludurva here and I have been getting to know each other.”

“Hey Airen. Who is this Neäir person?” Eullina’s bluntness surprised Airen. “How come I have never heard about him before?”

“He’s an acquaintance of Keri’s.” Airen had long anticipated this sort of event to transpire, and had thus prepared a web of lies with Fieluri’s help.

“Remember when I made that weapon from Soul Silver? He’s the one who taught me.” Then he sighed and shake his head as if the cat had been let out of the bag.

“….Is that so?” Eullina nodded, but her expression obviously harbored suspicions. However, she did not raise her guard as much since she had actually met Airen’s other proclaimed teacher, ‘Keri’, as well as traveled with her.

“Keri?” Cordelia cocked her head, interested in this name. If this other person was similar to Neäir, then she too should extend a hand of greeting.

“Airen’s hidden teacher. She’s quite skilled as well.” Eullina explained.

“Oh? I thought Neäir was your teacher?”

“I have many teachers.” Airen quickly tried to smooth things over. “For example, Orshan, my adviser at Stonewall Academy, and Jourm- Jomin back in my hometown.”

“You must be quite talented to have so many people having their eyes on you.” Cordelia complimented flatteringly.

“Rather, all of them are quite troublesome...” Airen laughed it off, thinking about the shut-in that calls herself an indulger of stories, or the muscle headed idiot that could not control his lower body.

“Troublesome… is it?” Cordelia joined his laugh with her mouth covered with a hand.

“So I suppose you are here to invite Neäir to the upcoming Grand Auction?.” Airen went straight to the point after being prodded by Fiel. “Rest assured, I…. my teacher and I will be attending.” Airen added. “There’s no need for you to personally relay an invitation.

“Of course there is. The two of you are highly valuable customers.” Cordelia tilted her head. “Even if I was not one of the daughters of the Irona family, I would have still liked to make Neäir’s acquaintance. It is not often one runs into someone like him.”

“Is this person really that impressive?” Eullina asked.

“He’s quite handsome, as well as mysterious and probably a skill combatant as well.” Cordelia responded with a smile while keeping watch of Airen’s reactions in the corner of her eye. “Neäir would be quite popular with the ladies, myself included.”

“I’ll pass on the message.” Airen couldn’t resist and winked at Fieluri, his face turned so the other two would not see his intentions. “He is rather hard to please, after all he is a shut-in hermit that hides himself from society, so the offer will likely be rejected like last time. If it doesn’t interest him, then he’s the type to not pay it any heed.”

“Haha, that is quite the shame.” Cordelia hid her thoughts behind a smiling mask. What sort of ‘shut-in’ can toss out gold bars as if they were nothing?

“Hey, hey Airen. Why is it do you always run into weird sorts of people?” Eullina grumbled. “First Keri, then Orshan, and now this ‘Neäir‘. ”

“I wish I knew too, Lina. I wish I knew.” Airen sighed with exaggeration. “I must live a cursed life.”

“It’s a good thing if you have all sorts of guardians” Cordelia added. “Lately unfortunate events have been occurring...”

“Unfortunate events?” Airen asked, and even Fieluri looked up from a red-leather bound book.

“For example, a local village was wiped out after toxins were found in their well.” Cordelia said quietly. “Then there was a patrol of twenty personnel that went missing, and they still haven’t been found.”

“It seems the times have become quite dangerous lately.” Eullina commented.

“Indeed. Since I have verified your participation. I should take my leave before the night grows late.” Cordelia curtsied holding the hem of her dress before departing gracefully. With a quick bow to Eullina, Cordelia departed.

With a sigh, Airen started to prepare dinner for three while deflecting most of Eullina’s questions.

“So you’ve finally come.” Fieluri mumbled. Seated in a luxurious, soft-looking armchair, she had dug herself a cozy little hole into one of the corners of two shelves.

“Can’t I get a ‘hello’ or ‘welcome’ instead of some nonchalant dismissal like ‘So, you’ve come’ or ‘Well if it isn’t, Airen?’ or ‘Oh, it’s just you.’ ” Airen grumbled.

“No. I’m simply responding to you based on your description of me.”

“Are you still holding a grudge over being called a shut-in?” Airen rolled his eyes. This girl seemed to hold grudges to the grave.

“The History Eater has a perfect memory. Be careful what you say.” Fieluri smirked and returned to her book.

“You shouldn’t hold grudges, Fiel, it’s hard to make friends that way.”

“Shut it and put on the mask and mantle like a faithful servant.”

Airen shrugged and did as bided. Although they bickered constantly, it was merely out of jest. In any case his verbal sparring was not one to be underestimated thanks to this sort of constant tempering of his wit. Airen considered this to be a sort of skill, and he has picked up several colorful insults from Fieluri.

“How do I look?” Airen reappeared as ‘Neäir’.

“Like a proper prince.” Fieluri responded using Airen’s mouth and his voice.

“Can you not do that if it’s unnecessary? Hearing myself respond in my own voice is unnatural.”

“In that case, after hearing it enough times, it’ll become entirely natural.” Airen’s voice responded again. “However if you wish, I can take total control of your body, and you can simply be an observer.” Fieluri smirked.

“...Please refrain from doing so.” Airen sighed. “Let’s go with the prior agreement.”

“Very well, then why don’t you start making your way towards the Auction House? Perhaps there will be something interesting...” Fieluri shrunk herself until she was the size of a fairy, then sat on Airen’s shoulder. With a flick of her hand, a large rift appeared in front of Airen. “Let’s go, my slave.”

“...”

“Esteemed guest, may I see your entrance pass?” A familiar looking guard asked Airen politely as the line of onlookers stared at his hooded back. Airen pushed a hand out from the body-altering mantle and handed a black metal card to the guardian.

“A Black Pass? Welcome and please enjoy your stay, sire.” The guard nodded his head to the two large burly men that were twice Airen’s height, and they moved aside to reveal the side entrance. One of them pushed aside the heavy iron door for him.

“They must have ogre or giant’s blood in their veins.” Fieluri commented as they strode past and entered the well decorated hallway, the door closing with a slam behind them.

“They weren’t here last time.” Airen noted.

Fieluri slapped him on the cheeks with a book, and despite her tiny figure, it felt as if Airen had been mauled. “What did I say about not speaking at all? Get into character already.”

“Fine. Fine.” Airen shut his mouth. It would be problematic if the two of them were talking through his mouth at the same time. After another few minutes of walking down a red-carpeted hallway, ‘Neäir’ entered the VIP lounge room.

Airen was glad he had a mask on, for the sight of decadence made his stomach twist.

Due to today’s Grand Auction, the entirety of the lounge was packed. There were at least several dozen men and women in the uniform of the Irona Auction house shuffling around and serving drinks and meals, but there was ten times that the number of slaves, either signified by a mark on their body, a steel collar around their neck, or a symbol on their armor. These slaves were ‘attending’ to their respective masters, some feeding them by hand, some performing sexual acts, some sparring with another slave in a duel to the death in some cruel wager of their masters.

“Greetings sire, will you be alone or are there more in your party?” A young woman with a badge shaped like a sparrow greeted him at the entrance.

“Alone.” Neäir replied.

“I see. May I see your card?”

Airen pulled out the Black Pass and handed it to her. The head attendant’s eyes widened for a moment, but the professional mask returned in place a few moments after.

“Your booth will be 2A. Please enjoy your stay here until the auction starts in two hours. As you are an owner of a Black Pass, would you like for a personal attendant to be sent for?”

“That will be unnecessary.” Without another word, Airen made his way through the crowd, he had spotted a certain individual in the distance.

“...” The head attendant watched him go before turning to writing a message and passing it onto a servant.

After procuring a drink, Airen leaned by a pillar as he eavesdropped into the nearby conversation. He was given several curious looks due to the hood covering his face, but he was left relatively alone.

“Speaking of which, Mister and Missus Lasat. I have heard that you allow your slaves to freely marry and permitted minor wages. Is that truly wise?”

“A few small freedoms and opportunities serves as inspiration to work harder.” A gruff man’s voice replied, and Airen tilted his head to see a large, well built man. Standing next to him was Rowan and his mother, Freeja. The Lasat family was in full attendance. After mapping voices to faces, Airen hid himself back behind the pillar and continued to listen in.

“Haha. That sort of philosophy will get you into trouble. If a rebellion occurs, then I fear that your gardens will be invaded first.”

“If that is the case, then I will simply reap what I sow. But I believe an occurrence like that will never come to pass. Shariah, what happened to my last order? Isn’t there usually a surplus of women and children slaves?”

“Haha. About that, a rather wealthy customer has been buying all my stock lately. I’m afraid that it’s been difficult to procure more through the usual channels.”

“‘All of your stock? That’s quite something but...”

“Lately he has been looking for some more specialized slaves, and it’s quite troublesome for me to find them.” Airen heard a choked laugh. “I end up having to buy off others or commission slave catchers...”

Relax, Airen. Fieluri whispered into his ear, and Airen realized his hands were clenched into fists. Be patient, and soon I will show you something amusing.

“Speaking of which. Young master Rowan, didn’t you have a half-breed slave that had feline traits? I would be willing to pay a high price for him since it is what the aforementioned buyer is looking for...”

“It was a her. And she serves a mistress now, called Eullina.”

“Eullina. Eullina… Pray tell young master Rowan, where may I find her? Perhaps we can work out a deal, but I must confess I have never heard of this person.”

“….I doubt she would consent, and furthermore the person you should be more wary of is her friend. A man by the name of Airen.”

“Airen. That is a man I know.” Airen smiled when he heard the poison dripping off his tone. “A rude, abrasive, and ignorant child. He dared to insult me in front of my men, and it was only thanks to the intervention of Miss Cordelia that he left this place intact.”

“It seems you don’t have a good impression of him.” Rowan’s mother, Freeja chuckled. “I thought that young boy, when he visited, had quite the imposing aura. I think young Rowan here is making some good friends.”

“That boy is a troublemaker! My son, Jarrioh was tricked by him during one of his expeditions to train slaves, and took off with a package of supplies! I have half a mind to send my men after him and demand answers!”

Now is the time Airen. Walk towards them slowly… Fieluri instructed with a grin. Why don’t we make this show a bit more… interesting?

“You are Rowan?” Neäir walked up unannounced and interrupted their conversation, and pulling off his hood.

“I am, and you are?” Rowan surveyed at the prince-like man pulled off his hood, his appearance a stark contrast from the others in the room. “I’m afraid we have never met before...”

“Allow me to introduce myself.” Under Fieluri’s instructions, Airen did a royal greeting, with one hand behind his back, and the other across his chest in a slight curtsey. “I am the one who received that letter of introduction by a certain man you said to be ‘wary’ of. My name is Neäir.”

“Letter of recommendation?” Otto, Rowan’s father frowned at his son.

“Actually, I obtained it from my disciple, Airen, who is one of your son’s… acquaintances.” Neäir quickly shifted the flow of the conversation, and Rowan can only groan inwardly as Neäir subtly revealed that he was aware of their relationship.

“Ah, Airen’s teacher, wasn’t it? I wasn’t aware sire was such a handsome man.” Rowan greeted Neäir, having no choice but to play along.

“Oh? Were you expecting me to be some old hermit or sage with a staff?” Neäir laughed, his voice attracting glances from both male and females all around the VIP lounge. As soon as Fieluri determined enough attention had been attracted, Neäir turned to Shariah, who had been slowly backing away.

“Slave trader. Where are you going? Why don’t you and I have a nice conversation about your veiled threat from before? We can speak, from one senior to another.”

“In that case.” Shariah turned around and brazenly stood in front of Neäir. “Your student has insulted me, and I demand an apology!”

“Oh? Are you referring to when he called you a pig? If you ask me...” Neäir turned his gaze down towards the man’s protruding stomach and layers of flabby fat. “Calling you a pig can be considered a compliment.”

“You...”

“If you ask me, you should be referred to as a new species of land-whale. Except in your case, you’re swimming in aromatics to cover your stench instead of water. ”

“Like student, like master.” Shariah spat out. “I was a fool to think talking to you would be worth my time. Are you a thief as well?”

“Thief? If you are referring to the ‘supplies’, those were given freely.” Neäir smirked.

“As if I’ll believe you! All the men in the training team witnessed it!” Shariah shouted. Several of the men behind him nodded in affirmation.

“Having your men lie to get your way? All is meaningless against the truth.” Neäir sighed and held out a hand, and a white mirror appeared, replaying the scene like a motion picture.

‘It would be impolite to say no if you’ve already prepared it. We will take it gratefully.’ Airen’s words and actions revealed the truth of the matter, causing the crowd to murmur and shoot distasteful looks at Shariah.

“What manner of farce is this? Some sort of foul magic?” Shariah gnashed his teeth together.

“Farce you say? Why don’t you bring your son and men here? I just so happen to have some Truth Potion with me...” Neäir grinned as he started to corner the slave trader.

“Very well!” Shariah gestured for one his trusted men to come forward, calling Neäir’s bluff. Truth Potion? As if such a thing existed!

“You have dug yourself a deeper grave, land whale.” Fieluri deposited a crystal white bottle into Airen’s hand, and he passed it over to the veteran guard. After he swallowed it, his eyes glazed over until the pupil vanished, and Neäir started to question him.

“Now then, tell me exactly what happened.”

“It is exactly as sire said from before. Master commanded us to lie to maintain his image and also bribed several of the mercenaries in the group. Truthfully, young master Jarrioh had no qualms about it but Master insisted.” A monotone voice answered Neäir’s question. The answer caused Shariah to reel in shock, and then anger while proctoring a large hubbub through the crowd.

“Now then, what else should I ask him?” Neäir smiled eerily at Shariah. “Perhaps about his master’s strange tendencies, or dark indulgences?”

“Enough!” Shariah’s raised a hand, and all of his men reached for their weapons. At this point Shariah no longer doubted this man called Neäir and feared him immensely.

“If you draw those weapons, I will not be merciful.” Neäir’s cold words cause them to hesitate, however a few more loyal servants ignored him and pulled their weapons out, pointing them at Neäir.

“Last warning.” Fieluri snapped his fingers, and the swords and sabers in the men’s hands fell into the ground, leaving an indentation on the ground due to their increased density. Some of the more unfortunate ones did not manage to let go fast enough, and their hand was crushed under the tremendous weight of their weapon hilts. “The next time will be your lives.”

“You. How dare you treat my servants like this!” Shariah accused. “To attack in broad daylight in the midst of noble folk!”

Neäir did not respond until he had taken a seat in an armchair amidst shocked gazes. “ Is it considered civilized among folks here to point multiple weapons at a lone man as a form of greeting?” Neäir turned to the head attendant that had rushed over to assess the situation due to the sound.

“Of-of course not. It is forbidden to draw weapons or cast magic in here...” She quickly responded. “One can only do so if it is to defend oneself.”

“So you have it.” Neäir taunted Shariah.

“I will have both you and your student’s head for this!” Shariah spat. “I have connections the likes of you will never know!”

“Is that a threat?” Fieluri snapped his fingers and suddenly all of Shariah’s men in armor fell onto the ground, their bodies unable to support the increased weight of their armor. Screams of pain cried out as some of the more heavily clad in armor had their limbs crushed or twisted into unnatural postures.

“Perhaps I should nip the problem in the bud now. My student may be an idiot, but he is quite entertaining.” Neäir chuckled as those wearing breastplates struggled to stand up, only flopping around like fish out of water in the process.

“A… a heritage type magic? Or hybrid magic?” Rowan quickly assessed the situation. At his whispered words, Shariah’s face paled.

“Master Neäir, can we ask you to stand down? The Irona House will deal with this matter.” Cordelia’s soothing voice reached Airen’s ears as she made her entrance, already clad in a tight-fitting dress for the auction. Besides her was a tall man with white hair dressed in an ornate robe. Behind them trailed a procession of soldiers. At this point, Fieluri quietly undid her spell.

“What is the meaning of this, Shariah?” The head of the Irona family asked in a cold tone. “Combat is strictly prohibited in here, and even more so before a Grand Auction.”

“L-Lord Hermann! This man insulted me and wounded my pride! My honor demands an answer!”

“Honor?” Neäir cocked back his head and laughed. “It is not I am questioning your honor, but I am denying it.”

“You sparred with words, yet after losing, you resorted to force. Is that how a merchant is supposed to act?” Cordelia accused after listening to the head attendant’s report.

“Lady Cordelia...” Shariah gritted his teeth at her taking Neäir’s side.

“You accused this man, and then attacked them after being refuted.” Hermann shook his head. “Rules are rules, Shariah. Since this is your first transgression, we will overlook it.

“But I have been a patron of this auction house for years! I’m a senior to this country bumpkin who has only appeared here once!”

“Mister Neäir possesses a Black Pass.” Cordelia interjected. “If we demote both of you two grades, you understand that you will be forced to leave correct?”

“...” Shariah was at lost for words. Without another word he glared at Neäir before leaving with his men and entering the auction hall.

Airen almost wanted to kneel in reverence at how Fieluri had so easily handled the situation.

“Without further ado, let us start the One Hundred and Eighty-Seventh Grand Auction!” Airen glanced at the podium below him as Cordelia acted as the auctioneer. He was in a small ‘private’ balcony, with an assortment of refreshments on a nearby table. An attendant stood right outside, waiting on his every whim. Right below him, the crowd was as lively as ever.

“Ooooh. She’s here! She’s here!!”

“I came here just to see her today!”

“Beauty of the Auction House. Princess Cordelia!”

“Marry me! Cordelia! Just name your price!”’

Indeed the crowd was just as Airen had remembered it. Atop the podium, Cordelia shot a radiant smile and ignored the words of the men chasing after her.

“Ehem.” Cordelia pretended to cough, and the noise started to quiet down. As soon as the room went totally quiet, the auction actually began.

“To start off… the first item will be a monster material, a Wyitrant’s Eye. As some of you already know, a Wyitrant is a sub-species of dragon, and although they cannot fly or breathe elements, their armor cannot be pierced without the use of powerful magic. This eye can be used as an ingredient in potions! The starting bid is ten gold coins!”

…

“Our next item is a unique set of robes made using the materials from Spectral Slimes! The material is transparent and extremely lightweight! Although it doesn’t offer high physical defense, it is resistant to dark and water magic!”

…

“Now we have a Glow-Slime in a Bottle! A monster tamer managed to secure a batch of Glow Slime Eggs, and these bottles can serve as simple lights and lanterns for a century! All you have to do is feed it once every three days with water and barley!”

…

“Our next item is this heavy-ruler weapon! A pitch black slab of iron that once belonged to a tribe of ogres! The iron in the blade has been tempered to such an extend that even magma won’t melt it! Who will be the strong enough warrior to wield this as their weapon?”

…

“This next valuable is a bit strange, but the taste can be assured! The meat in this dish is taken from a combination of beasts, and is said to invigorate your metabolism while keeping you awake for an entire night! The recipe is a secret of the seller so we cannot reveal it, but we have determined the sauce is made from several rare herbs! This can be considered a fine gift for men who don’t have the vigor to last all night, if you get my meaning, fellow ladies!

...

Time passed slowly as Airen drifted into a nap. Besides him, Fieluri had pulled out a book to pass the time. After nearly thirty more items that made their way on and off the stage, Fieluri nudged Airen on the cheek with her elbow.

“It’s starting. Wake up.”

“Now for the moment, all of you have been waiting for, the conclusion of the Grand Auction! As usual there will be three items, and all of them are one of a kind!” Cordelia glanced above her at the VIP seats, her eyes catching sight of Neäir to the center right. She wasn’t exactly surprised that the mysterious man had not made a single bid during the last sixty- two items.

“Our first ‘last’ item is an ancient sword!“ Cordelia pulled off the red cloth, revealing a large two handed sword with a mottled blade. “As some of you may be aware of, the high-level dungeon, Petrified Dungeon’s Crypt was recently found to have several more areas after it. The results of the expedition team led them through a series of caves, and at the very end was a reservoir of water that ran up to one’s knees. Strangely enough, there were no monsters in that area, and the water was was clear and pure. This sword was found in the center of that reservoir!”

“However, even we cannot determine what sort of weapon this is! We have invited numerous blacksmiths and enchanters, and none can make out what sort of magic that was imbued within!”

As Cordelia continued to hype up the weapon, Airen was surprised to hear Fieluri mumbling to herself.

“…I see. So it’s been finally found, has it?”

“You seem familiar with this weapon?” Airen asked timidly.

“That there is the original Vundubr. Long ago, due to the respect I held for both the wielder and the weapon, I did not collect it and only made a copy.”

“You? Show respect?!”

“Excuse you, Airen. Did you think I was going to simply snatch someone else’s weapon by force?”

“Actually that was exactly what I was thinking.” Airen confessed. He tensed up, expecting Fieluri to attack him with magic, but was surprised when it didn’t come. Instead she started to speak in a quiet voice.

“During the Era of Spirits, there were some spirits that forged themselves into a weapon, and passed it on to a human that they trusted. At that time, they were called many names, from Soul Gear to Spirit Weapons to Aeon Armaments. If you didn’t already figure it out, many of your friends in the desert city wield an imitation of one such weapon.”

“That there is one of those… Aeon Armaments?” Airen pointed at the moss covered blade. Other then it’s strange shape and runes, Airen thought it looked rather shabby.

“It’s a vessel for one. The spirit that dwelled within has long since departed this world, and thus all the magic dwelling within it was gone as well. Still, it is a weapon formed from a spirit’s essence… It would be good to obtain it...”

“The starting bid is as usual, ten gold coins!!”

“Twenty!”

“Thirty!”

“You younglings don’t know how to appreciate fine smithing. Fifty gold coins!”

“Shut up, old man. You’re just a hobby blacksmith! Sixty!”

“Seventy!”

“Three hundred gold coins!” Neäir announced, instantly silencing the crowd. The group below glanced above them to try and see who gave the bid, but the frosted glass hid Airen from all but the ones onstage and on the upper levels.

“Three hundred gold coins, to the handsome man on the second level!”

“It’s that bastard again...” Shariah realized as he glanced over at Neäir. He grinned as he started to see the chance for revenge, and he gestured for one of his men to come closer.

“Four hundred gold coins!” One of Shariah’s men called out, serving as Shariah’s voice.

Both Airen and Fieluri turned their eyes across the room to the other balconies, to see a particularly fat man rubbing his fingers and smiling in glee. Airen could almost feel the atmosphere turn cold as Fieluri smiled eerily.

“Five hundred gold coins” Neäir shouted before Cordelia could begin to announce the current offer.

“Six hundred gold coins!” Shariah’s henchman announced. Shariah was chuckling haughtily as he relayed his instructions. What was a bit of money to a slave trader especially when there was a willing buyer for both children and women?”

“One thousand.” Neäir’s declaration quickly rubbed the smile off his face.

“One..One thousand one hundred.” Shariah’s servant slowly forced out after receiving a glare from his master. This amount of money was enough to let a common man live out their lives!

“One thousand five hundred.” Neäir said lazily.

“...” The auditorium hall grew quiet, and then all sorts of rumors started to break out.

“Could he be a high ranked noble from another country?”

“No, no. Did you not see his face? He must be a prince from one of the smaller, hidden countries!”

“One-one thousand five hundred going once!”

“Going twice!” Cordelia swept the crowd and balconies with her gaze, stopping momentarily on Shariah who had a flabbergasted look on his face, with his mouth open in the middle of chewing, and then on Neäir, who’s princely face showed a smirk.

“Sold to the fine gentlemen in the second balcony!”

“Our next item an ancient tablet!” Cordelia pulled off the red cloth revealing a stone tablet twice the height of a human. “Found buried in a newly-discovered ruins in the Desert of Heroes, the origins of this slab of stone is unknown! Our appraisers have deciphered a few lines of the runes already and we have determined that this is a list of alchemy potions! It will certainly be valuable for both aspiring and experienced alchemists alike!”

“The starting bid is one hundred gold coins!”

The crowd on the lower level murmured among themselves. Even if they bought it, they would need to hire a specialist to decipher it, and then since it’s an ancient recipe, some of the ingredients may not be available.

“Five hundred gold coins.” Airen was surprised when Fieluri decided to make a bid for it as Neäir. Under her instructions, he turned to Shariah across the auditorium and smirked in a declaration of war.

“Six hundred!.” Shariah shouted.’

“Seven hundred.” Neäir waved off casually.

“Eight hundred!”

“Nine hundred.” Airen started to tense up. Was this tablet really this valuable? Fieluri hadn’t mention anything about it.

“One thousand!” Shariah shouted, however his face quickly turned into a frown as ‘Neäir’ started laughing and clapping his hands. He did not let out another bid.

“One thousand gold coins, going once to the big-boned man with the many guards!” Cordelia laughed inwardly at the situation. The Irona Family hadn’t deciphered all of the runes, but they could guess it was all merely basic formulas for common-place potions like Homeostasis and Rejuvenation Potions, although their formulas were different from the norm.

“Going twice!” Shariah quickly realize the ploy he was led into, and gritted his teeth. He glanced around the chamber and saw that nobody else had any intention of bidding. If ill-intentioned glares could burn, then Airen felt his body would be lit aflame.`

“Sold!” Cordelia slammed the hammer, secretly pleased with the result.

”And now for the final item in this month’s Grand Auction! There is no explanation needed for this one!” Cordelia pulled back the red cloth and revealed a large forest-green emerald, which was almost three meters in height and half a meter in width. and “This was procured in Councilman Levint’s personal mine, and we are auctioning it for him! The stone has been left uncut so the buyer may personally decide what to do with it, whether it be creating jewelry, armor, or perhaps even carving out a weapon out of it!”

“Of course, we will not withhold any details from you! There is one major flaw in this mineral crystal, that there is a large crack from the top towards the center! Although it does not impact the beauty of such a large uncut emerald, it will take a skilled smith to carve and cut it!”

As Cordelia continued to speak about the care the emerald was given as it was transported here, Airen conversed with Fieluri, who has a strange monocle with several layers of glass on one of her eyes.

“Don’t tell me… you have a collection of emeralds and you’re interested in this one as well?”

“Of course I have a collection. In a different time, there once existed a group of light mages that used gems as catalysts for magic. If you’d like, you can experience it firsthand sometime. If not the so called mentioned flaw, this emerald would be considered a once in a century treasure. Although it pales in comparison to some of the emeralds in my collection…” Fieluri’s eyes sparkled.

“So in the end, you’re going to take it.” Airen sighed.

…

“And so, the opening bid will be two-hundred gold coins!”

“Two hundred and-”

“Five hundred gold coins! Neäir raised a hand, interrupting the bidder from before. At the sound of his voice, many were afraid to continue bidding, lest they end up like a certain red-faced slave trader.

Without another opponent, the hunk of emerald was quickly sold to the ‘handsome man in the second floor balcony.’

“Here is your card sir. Based on the selling of your painting and your current balance you have twenty-six gold coins and fifty-two silvers remaining.” Cordelia returned Neäir’s card with the usual poker-face smile. “Would you like us to transport the emerald for you?”

“No. That won’t be necessary.” Neäir waved his hand, and a rift sucked the slab of emerald into the Archive. Airen could not help but curse inwardly at Fieluri casually revealing her power when he had to go to great extents to hide it.

“That’s quite the magic spell. I have never seen anything quite like it.” Cordelia commented. “Like student, like teacher I suppose.”

Neäir made no move to explain or reply, instead he grabbed the ancient spirit weapon, Vundubr, and held it up so Fieluri could examine it up close.

“Are you familiar with this weapon?” Cordelia did not let Neäir’s silence stop her and she edged her way closer towards him.

“This sword is called Vundubr, the ‘Faded Cylinder’. In its glory days, it could be fed fire affinity gems like fire opal or rubies to release a cyclone of flames with heat on par with that of dragon’s breath.”

Airen was momentarily surprised when Fieluri responded, but then grumbled inwardly about what a showoff she was. He sincerely prayed that in the future he would not draw this weapon from the Archive- where would he get fire element jewels? Those things were considerably expensive, and he would make a bigger profit selling them!

“Aha. It seems that we have let something valuable go without knowing what it was.” Cordelia knocked herself in the head, trying to play cute, but Fieluri simply stared at her in disgust, muttering something about cliches.

“...Moving along, it seems my student has asked you to procure somethings for him. Since I am here I may as well pick it up for him.” Neäir said carefully placing away the sword and turned to Cordelia.

“Of course. Allow me to escort you.” With the usual smile, Cordelia moved towards the door while holding it for Neäir. “All of the materials have been stored in an underground warehouse. The underground passages in the Irona Auction House are complex to keep out would-be thieves, so please stick closely.”

“There is little need of concern of me getting lost.” Neäir declined the offer to walk shoulder to shoulder and followed Cordelia two paces back. Any further attempts to strike a conversation was skillfully deflected by Neäir’s words. After descending several sets of stairs, through several guarded checkpoints, and then through a long winding tunnel with many right turns, they arrived in front of a large door.

“After you, sir.”

After walking in, layers and layers of building material were stacked in front of him. Finely cut stone blocks, hardwood, clay and plaster, metal hinges and nails, bags of sand, and even several pillars of marble were neatly ordered. The sheer amount was in fact, enough to build a three-story mansion, complete with several guest houses, a garden, and even a small lake.

“This is a lot more than I expected.” Neäir commented, although Fieluri was actually pointing her words at Airen.

“As a daughter of the Irona House, I used some connections to get a below market price so the quantity of materials is larger.” Cordelia gave a light curtsey. “It was Master Neäir that needed these items, no? It is the least we can do to assure your trust is not misplaced.”

“Like I said prior, the one that put in the request is my student.” Neäir replied, waving a hand and causing all of the items to be slowly sucked into a rift, transporting them to Airen’s vault.

“I understand.” Cordelia smiled, not quite believing in Neäir’s words and misunderstanding the situation. “Your magic is quite interesting to behold. If you have any interest working as a transporter of goods or merchant, I’m sure it would be quite handy.”

Neäir made no comment except to clap his hands together and shut the rift after all the items have vanished. He turned and gestured that he was about to leave.

“Mister Neäir please wait a moment. Although it may be a bit arrogant of me, may I have a few moments of your time?” Cordelia called out, reaching out with a hand to pull on Airen’s mantle. “Since there are no prying ears down here, can we exchange a few words?”

“...You may speak.” Neäir did not turn around, but he halted in his tracks.

“Actually it was not my intention to to ask sir for assistance with this affair, but during the selling of the painting, the head of Irona family and the head of this auction house interfered and ‘obtained’ the item before it went to auction. I attempted to reason with him, but in the end your painting was sold to him for two hundred gold coins less than the price I would have sold it for.”

Seeing that Neäir was listening, she continued.

“Dolores, if you remember him, confessed to the events that transpired with the prior Grand Auction, and he has since taken a great interest in you. Lord Hermann- the one I have to call ‘father’, has tendencies to try and obtain things he finds interest in. He will attempt to recruit you, and through force if necessary. It is not for sire’s safety I worry about, big brother Neäir is without a doubt a master combatant, but your student, Airen and his friends, are not.”

At her words, Airen felt both a chill and a bit of warmth. He was quite irritated with Fieluri for bringing him into this mess, but his impression of Cordelia rose since she was indirectly warning him. However, as he was gathering his thoughts and trying to come up with some countermeasures, Fieluri’s words out of his mouth shocked him.

“In that case, you will give him a warning from me. If he wishes to truly understand the meaning of letting sleeping dragons lie, then by all means try and interfere with my collecting.”

“...Collecting?” Cordelia echoed.

“Furthermore I detest dragging my disciple into my own business...”

You’ve long since dragged me into your business! Airen wanted to retort.

“If I see or hear a whisper of plotting against me through my one and only student, he’d better pray that whatever god he believes in will personally descend to protect him and buy him a few more precious seconds of life.”

“...” Cordelia was utterly lost for words. She had only intended to warn him to lie low for a while, but instead Neäir had offered to solve the problem on the spot, and when that wasn’t possible, threatened to kill.

“Ah, and one more thing. Take this.” Cordelia caught a small green dew-shaped crystal shard, the size of her fingernail. Airen could sense that it was a small portion of a keystone to the Archive, or more precisely, his vault.

“You have served me faithfully. If for any reason you find yourself in danger because you are delivering my warning, shatter this crystal and it will take you somewhere safe.”

“Sire...” Cordelia accepted the crystal. If anything this would become a potential bargaining chip in her negotiations with Lord Hermann. “This one gracefully accepts Master Neäir’s protection. Allow me to see you out.”

“No need. I will manage.” A portal appeared next to Neäir after a few hushed magical incantations from Fieluri. “Worse case scenario, I may just annihilate those in your family that are against you and make you the new Irona family head.” Neäir said in a joking tone as he stepped into the portal and vanished.

After his threats, Cordelia could not help but feel like he was not joking at all. However she pushed this though into the deep recesses of her mind and dealt with the problem at hand, delivering Neäir’s warning to ‘Father’.

Outside the Auction House, Airen was prowling along the marketplace, while hawkers tried to get his attention to their wares. He was no longer wearing his mask or mantle, but a large straw hat covering his face. If Cordelia was there, she would have realized it was the same hat that Neäir had worn on his first excursion to the Irona Auction House. In the midst of the loud marketplace, it was easier for Airen and Fieluri to speak openly.

“Airen, I can guess what you intended to do with the materials, but do you even know anything about building?” Fieluri was perched against his shoulder in her miniature form as they moved along.

“...I do not.” Airen admitted. “I was actually going to ask you about it.”

“You have some nerve. To want to create a world like Osperica inside a portion of your vault, yet know nothing about it. Do you think it’s as easy as chanting a magic spell or two? Oh wait, even you can’t do that.” Fieluri mocked. “Things aren’t as easy as you imagine them to be.”

Airen shrugged. “You were one that said something about killing a god in a few seconds as if it was as easy as swatting a paralyzed fly.”

“Your definition and my definition of gods is different Airen. Even someone like Lizabel may have been worshipped as a goddess if she appeared at the right time and place in history.”

“Still, I’m quite surprised you decided to involve yourself. Weren’t you planning on not interfering with anything?”

“My promise was to not involve myself with your business. This is my own affairs, so I have some semblance of responsibility if you get drawn into it.” Fieluri shrugged.

“...That’s reasonable.” Airen did not harbor any ill feelings towards his benefactor. Although Fieluri was quite ‘hands-off’ when it came to him, she still guided him… ‘occasionally’ and as long as he payed ‘tribute.’ “You can be quite direct when it comes to threatening people.”

“Confrontation is the quickest solution.”

“Well in that case. Advise me how to build a small-self sustaining city.”

“...Turning my words against me? You have some guts.” FIeluri poked Airen’s face face with a finger, and Airen felt a stinging pain, like the pricking of a needle. “You do understand that if you were to die, all of the inhabitants of that world within your Vault will die as well, correct? And that if they do enter, they may never leave?”

“I do.” Airen affirmed, tossed two pieces of copper to a fruit stall and walking away with a silky white fruit, with thousands of black edible seeds.

“What you are building is a prison, Airen. Not a country or haven.” A small magic circle appear on the tip of Fieluri’s finger, and a bit of wind magic sliced off a portion of the fruit.

“We are all prisoners to something. Those are your words.”

“You’re a really unpleasant kid, do you know that? Who exactly do you think you are talking to?”

“A glutton. Stop eating my food!” Airen jerked aside the fruit in his hands, but was too late. He had yet to take a bite and nearly thirty percent of it had been eaten. “We’re in the middle of a crowd!”

“The only type of people that pay attention to others in a crowd are thieves and pickpockets. Plus, nobody else can see me, and you’re running off your mouth. Many would just assume you’re a crazed mage and back away.”

“...” Airen simply sighed and handed her the entire fruit.

“Good boy. Now about your question before, usually I would simply create everything through magic. However, you don’t have that option. In that case, the first order of business was not all that useless building material, but to acquire ‘land.’ In other words Airen, you need to acquire some dirt.”

“That’s it?” Airen stopped moving, causing the woman behind him to bump into him and snort before slipping past him.

“Why do you seem so shocked?” Fieluri licked her fingers as Airen continued walking down the marketplace.

“I thought I would have to do some crazy voodoo magic to change the shape of the land or something…” Airen admitted.

“Voodoo magic that specializes in curses and spiritual control can never change the land.” Fieluri snorted. “You are in luck. I was about to get rid of the painting of Osperica, but I will give it to you instead, although in this case, it is nothing but a dead land and lake at this point.The town of Osperica also no longer exists, so you will have to rename it.”

“That’s… quite generous of you.”

“One woman’s waste is another man’s treasure.”

“I’m not into that sort of disgusting thing. Ask Loys or Orshan instead.”

“I don’t defecate.” Fieluri shrugged.

Airen was trying to be witty, but instead he found out something he did not want to know about.

“Right, as much as you appear to be, you’re not human. What sort of monster are you?! Wait...magical beasts and monsters defecate as well.” Airen pointed an accusing finger. “So what I thought was true all along, you’re nothing but a spirit or ghost haunting me.”

“...Actually some spirit-like lifeforms defecate as well. In more detail the energy that they gather from the surrounding is condensed and impurities to the spiritual body is often released as dust and common items like-”

“Stop.” Airen held up a hand to Fieluri’s face before she revealed a revolting earth-defying secret. “I don’t want to know anymore. Please forgive me.”

Lasat Gardens.

After pretending to be introduced to Rowan’s father, Otto, Airen was led to Rowan’s study. After some small talk with Rowan’s parents, they left the room.

“...So why have you come?” Rowan said bluntly.

“Would you believe me if I said I came to see a business partner?”

“Please throw yourself out a window.” Rowan replied. “I’ll pay for the repair and hospital costs.”

“Are you still angry about bringing Rureya into a ‘beginner’ dungeon?” Airen sighed. “Aren’t you being a bit over dramatic?”

“I wasn’t aware exploring new floors was a job for a beginner.” Rowan grumbled. ”Did you guys even get anything for it?”

Airen glanced over to the magical bracer on his left hand, Dir Sayf. “We got the right to challenge a powerful monster and gain valuable experience that can be utilized in the future.”

“You’d make a great politician. Like student, like teacher.”

“I see that you’ve met Neäir. What do you think about him?” Airen smirked.

“It truly makes me wonder why you come to me when your teacher can throw out several thousand gold coins as if it was nothing.”

“Our relationships is a bit complicated you see. He’s the type that would throw you into a pit of vipers if you ask him to help with training, and he’ll walk away after saying one word. ‘Survive.’ “ Airen smiled bitterly. Fieluri had done exactly that several times already, but instead of a pit of vipers, it was something much worse.

“You have my condolences.” Rowan said politely, with nary a trace of pity in his voice. “Let us get down to business, Airen. Why have you come?”

“In that case, I will get straight to the point. I wish to gather some of the dirt from the gardens here, as well as seeds.”

“...Seeds? Are you planning to compete with the Lasat Gardens?” Rowan replied suspiciously.

“There’s no need for alarm, I’m just trying to grow my own food supplies.” Airen waved him off. “If anything, that would mean that I would appear less often in front of you.”

“...Fine but I have a condition.” Rowan nodded. A bit of dirt and a few seeds is nothing, and he doubted Airen had the ability to rear and raise plants in this sort of arid environment as a beginner.

“And that is?”

“Duel me. That woman, Eullina, has already proven to me that Rureya is safer in her care than mine, but you, Airen, I know little about you. As you told me prior, your teacher has a ‘hands-off’ approach, so he cannot be depended upon.”

“That sounds reasonable.” Airen nodded. After eavesdropping into the Lasat families, he would like to dispel the hostility between them. They seemed to be alright people, even if Rowan was a bit of the scheming type.

“I am quite a reasonable person.” Rowan held the door open for him.

“Is that why you decided to kick up such a large scene when you entered the mess hall?”

“...Let’s not talk about my acting. I had just received news and I was desperate to get Rureya out of here. Still I think I played the role of ‘arrogant noble that relies on his money’ pretty well. All those years of training to be a merchant paid off.”

“Merchants need acting classes?”

“Of course. Ah, Bennis, excuse us, we will be in the yard for a bit.” Rowan greeted to the Lasat family butler as they descended the stairs. “Let my parents know if they ask.”

“Of course, Rowan.” Bennis bowed in return, large frame moving aside to let them pass. “Shall I add another seat for dinner?”

“...Please do.” Rowan replied without consulting Airen. “Also prepare two extra sets of meals for Airen’s companions too.”

“As you wish, sire.” Airen halted to watch him leave, and Rowan stopped to wait for him.

“That man has a rather large figure for a butler.” Airen commented as they moved towards the entrance’s exit. “Is he-”

“A former slave, correct. He was originally from the Kingdom of Four Winds, but he was captured after his ship sank under a storm, washed ashore a foreign place. Bennis has served us for nearly twenty years, and decided to stay after my father offered him his freedom.”

“...Wouldn’t most people leave?” Airen asked.

“It’s not as simple as you think. His family was on that ship, and he was one of the few survivors. During one of father’s visits to the Kingdom of Four Winds, Bennis was found to be presumed dead and his home and possessions was long pawned off…. It is a common story for slaves.”

“I see. What other ‘common’ stories are there?”

“Money for one, some sell themselves into slavery for the sake of repaying debts. Another is for a better life, since at the very least, slaves are fed. Although this place is called a ‘Republic’, almost every one of the councilman buy their votes in. And slaves have no choice but to vote for their masters, lest they wish to forfeit their life.”

“Slaves are allowed to vote?”

“Partially. Their vote only counts as half of that of a freeman. Although the term ‘free’ is also a bit pointless here, as if you are not connected to any large association, you will end up in the slums.”

“So that explains why the alley Orshan brought me to has goods nearly half the price of the main markets.” Airen nodded.

“You need a permit to sell goods. Most of the stalls outside of the Libzon Market Square can be considered illegal. Still they have no choice but to attempt to make a living that way since only the rich can afford permits. Even in the case that officials show up, at best they can only catch one or two while the others get away, but most turn a blind eye. It is just how things are.”

“...”

“Ah. Here we are.” Rowan pointed to the empty land in front of them, where roughly thirty men and twenty women were training. The brand of a slave signified their standing.

“Young Master Rowan.” At the sight of the young heir of the Lasat Gardens, the instructor clapped his hands and the slaves turned and saluted him.

“Be at ease, we will be using the far end of the arena.” Rowan raised a hand in dismissal.

“Sire.” At Rowan’s command, the slaves went back to training with spear and bow.

“You train the slaves in the art of war?” Airen declined the steel sword he was given with a shake of his head.

“They are people that have homes and families here. If the time comes that the Lasat Gardens fall, they should at least have the strength to protect their own, even if they are but slaves. I believe the nobility of the Holy Land of Ecclisa use this same arrangement with their knights. But enough chatter, I have come to affirm your strength today. Do you have your own weapon?”

“...” Airen quietly opened a rift behind his back and reached within for a weapon. He had not summoned anything today, so he still had three times to call forth a weapon.

Number 2193 from the Codex of Swords, Sevelit. A sword with the tip of the blade ending in a half-moon like hook, the shape is reminiscent of a pickaxe. Was the chosen weapon of a certain mass murderer due to the many ways it can kill. As Airen looked over it, he was amused how much it resembled Keri’s weapon, Silverlight, except it was a sword and not a halberd.

“A strange looking weapon.” Rowan commented. “Although I can say the same for myself.”

Rowan drew the thick sword at his waist out of its sheath, and Airen noted the deep ridges like the teeth of a comb near the hilt, a sword-breaker. In his other hand, he held a thick round shield.

“Do be careful, my weapon is not as it appears. Are you ready?” Rowan shifted his feet to give him a better balance.

Airen nodded in response, his eyes not leaving Rowan’s weapon. It would be bad if his weapon was caught inside one of the ridges.

As such he was easily read Rowan’s first swing, side stepping the strike and returning with a swing of his own. Being off balance, Rowan ducked under the blow and slammed into Airen’s side with his shield. Airen had anticipated this, and he threw himself back, evading the strike.

“Your movements don’t have a single hint of hesitation.” Rowan commented as they circled each other, preparing for the next exchange. “You don’t have insane strength, or extreme speed like your friend, but instead you have experience.”

“Repetition is the path to mastery.” Airen replied, wondering exactly how many battles he had fought in the Archive. As soon as his words finished leaving his mouth, Airen covered the distance and swung from the side.

Rowan barely managed to catch Sevelit’s blade on his shield, but the pick-like tip embedded itself into the shield. Airen tried to disarm Rowan’s shield, but his unfamiliarity hindered his speed and before he could disengage, Rowan had swung his weapon towards his arm. With no other choice, Airen let go of the weapon and ducked, kicking out at Rowan’s exposed legs. He cursed as he lost his balance, but slammed his shield into Airen before he fell, knocking him backwards. At the same time, Airen grabbed the hilt of Sevelit and tried pulling it out.

However Airen underestimated how deeply imbedded the weapon was after the slam, causing the weapon to fly a ways off as he misjudged his strength. He dashed towards it as Rowan returned to his feet.

“...I thought I had won the second exchange but I guess not.” Rowan shrugged as he saw Airen pick up his weapon in the distance.

“It can be considered a small victory.” Airen replied, his lower body aching from the blunt trauma. He regretted his choice of aiming for Rowan’s stout legs.

The next three exchange of swordplay can be considered draws. Although Airen managed to rough up Rowan’s shield, there were no clean blows. He stayed on Rowan’s left, and the heavy sword breaker never got the chance to land a strike or connect with Airen’s weapon.

“I suppose it’s time we started displaying our true skill instead of gauging the other.” Rowan commented as he tossed aside the flimsy remains of the shield. He reached towards his waist and pulled out a thin whip that was hidden inside his belt.

“A whip, is it? You did use a whip of light back when we first met.”

“You remember that? ” Rowan’s left hand glowed with light energy as he grasped the whip, causing the metal whip to be infused with light energy and glow a dim yellow.

During this time, Airen had returned Sevelit to the Archive and pulled out a gray and emerald bow. Number 723. Ah-Nakar. A famed composite bow wielded by a legendary gryphon rider.. It has been enchanted and fine tuned to be accurate no matter the situation. It is said that this rider, in his final moment, managed to kill a sorcerer while being caught in the sorcerer’s Tornado spell.

“A bow?” Rowan frowned as he stared at Airen’s hand. Where did it come from? Furthermore, bows were not favored weapons in a close range fight. With both hands, he swung his whip and the enchanted lashes left a trail of light as they flew towards Airen.

However, Airen had already started moving, and the whip fell short. While strafing to the side, he constantly pulled arrows from his vault while drawing and releasing them at Rowan.

Rowan’s reaction was to conjure up an Earthen Wall to which the arrows were stuck into.

However, Airen had almost a thousand arrows stored in his vault. As a result, the battle quickly turned into a standstill. Rowan had no choice but to slowly move forward with the help of the Earthen Wall, but the speed was much slower than Airen’s.

“You really are quite bothersome as I thought!” Rowan shouted from behind the wall,

“Then we can perhaps end this?” Airen released another arrow as soon as he saw Rowan poke a leg from the side, causing him to jump at the bow’s twang and leap back into safety. “Sooner or later your shield will fall.’

“And sooner or later you will run out of arrows!” Rowan replied. “Or one of my spells will hit you!”

From behind the rock shield, Rowan had started to send out Holy Bolts and Earth Bolts in what he assumed was Airen’s general area.

The general exchanges had turned into like so:

Rowan would peek out from the side of the wall and try to get a whip lash out if he was close enough. Then Airen would release an arrow and force Rowan to retreat, and then a small Earthen Bullet would chip off from the wall and shoot towards Airen’s general area, although they often missed. Whenever the wall was deemed too thin, or Rowan wanted to reposition, he would create another Earthen Wall.

Behind the wall, Rowan was waiting for the next twang of the bow, however it did not come. He peeked out of the side to see Airen charging towards him with a spear in hand. Upon being noticed, Airen’s hand flashed, as three Wakki Stars flew at Rowan’s direction. They were easily blocked by the sword-breaker, but they have served their purpose as a distraction as Airen closed the distance even more. Rowan swung in a wide arch with his whip, and at this range, it was impossible for Airen to dodge without forcing him to slow down.

However, Airen did not wish to slow down or stop, that would give Rowan time to swing again, forcing him to lose his momentum. With no other option, Airen blocked the whip with his left hand. Rowan grinned, thinking he had secured victory by catching Airen’s hand with the whip, however he was shocked to see a thin shield appear on Airen’s hand out of the blue.

He did not have time to contemplate where the shield came from so suddenly, as Airen had swung downwards with the twin-forked sword in his hand. In a quick decision, Rowan tossed aside his whip and gripped his sword breaker with both hands to block the blow. A high pitched note rang out as one of the forks slid into one of the ridges in his sword breaker. With a grin, Rowan pushed forward, while raising his weapon high into the hair, taking Unutha’s Song out of Airen’s right hand.

“I am curious where you keep pulling all these strange looking weapons.” Rowan commented as he pulled Unutha’s Song off his sword breaker.

“And I am curious why you went easy on Eullina.” Airen shrugged, accepting the weapon and slipping it back into the Archive behind his back.

“...I did not. That girl was simply too fast for me.” Rowan commented “Still, I believe this is my victory.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because I managed to disarm you.”

“Who ever said that was my weapon?”

“...Eh?”

Rowan noticed the thin-rapier like blade jutting out from Airen’s left hand as he knelt and retrieve the Wakki Stars. He felt a thin trickling sensation down his back and when he rubbed his neck, a burning sensation showed the existence of a shallow cut.

“I made sure the cut was light, but you should put some ointment over it.”

When did you… Rowan shook his head as he glanced at Airen, the rapier-like blade had vanished without a trace of its existence. Rowan simply shook his head and acknowledged his loss.

“And to think you did not use magic or techniques… I was right in judging you to be the dangerous one.”

“Why would I use such things in a training match?” Airen questioned. Getting used to using a random weapon too, was a part of training, or so he thought.

“I see.” Rowan hung his head as he realized the implications behind the words. “I will leave Rureya in your care then.”

On the other hand of the training field, the inhabitants of the Lasat Gardens had been spectating all this time. There were mixed feelings about Airen’s sneaky victory.

“Ah. This is quite good. My compliments to the chef.” Airen sliced a thin slice of hare atop a bed of minced lettuce with a sweet and sour glaze before transporting it to his mouth with a fork.

“Haha. I was not aware Airen had such refined table manners.” Freeja, Rowan’s mother, complimented Airen on his tableware skills.

“I’m merely imitating what I see.” Airen humbly accepted the words. “These vegetables are quite something, the produce here is indeed as splendid as I thought.”

“I heard you procured some seeds and dirt from my son? Since you seen to be well-acquainted friends, we can give you the nourishment and growing details as well.” Otto, Rowan’s father, added as he sipped some water.

Rowan hid his emotions behind a mask. After Airen’s victory, he had obtained nearly fifty-two types of seeds, all of which could be considered highly valuable since they have gone through several generations of natural selection by the Lasat family. Furthermore, Airen had gathered nearly a ton of the most nutrient rich dirt that was Rowan’s personal composition formula.

“There’s no need. I would like to have the experience of growing my own food by myself, and learn from my mistakes.” Airen replied with a smile. Inside he was plotting how to get Fieluri to give up the information to him.

“I see. I see. That is quite admirable.” Freeja applauded. “Bennis, why don’t you give Airen here another helping?”

“My gratitude.” Airen withdrew his hands as Bennis and another maid refilled his plate.

“So Airen. I was wondering, where do you hail from? It is quite a deed that you are younger than Rowan, and yet you can best him in a fight.” Otto asked.

“I come from the Tel’dora desert.” Airen said after some hesitation, however his response caused Otto and Freeja to glance at each other with a complicated expression on their faces. Rowan quickly picked up on this.

“Ah, he meant he traveled through the Tel'dora desert to get here.” Rowan quickly smoothen things over.

“In that case did you pass by Haven?” Freeja asked.

“Haven?”

“If you don’t know, then that is fine.” Otto grunted. “Haven was a small town by the border which ended up being a town of slaves. A few weeks back, some Councilman banded together and send an expedition to capture or destroy that town.”

“I see...” Airen realized that they thought he was one of the survivors. “No, I went to the Tel’dora desert with my mentor to train.”

“That’s quite commendable. Going out alone in the wild to train at your age.” Otto replied. “It would be good if you can get Rowan to go with you.”

“I am quite busy.” Rowan refused flatly.

The dinner continued. Although Airen felt that he was getting better impressions from Otto and Freeja, he felt as if Rowan had some sort of grudge against him. After it was over, Airen left in high spirits in a carriage that was called for him, with a large box in tow with contained Eullina and Rureya’s meals.

Still, when he got back to Stonewall, he received quite a scolding from Eullina.