It seems my writing was so well received that I managed to complete another chapter last night. *yawn* instead of sleeping. Well, enjoy the work of my untimely inspirations.

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The year flew by. Soon enough, it was time for Laura to go and be tested for her martial spirit capacity. Thera was invited to come with them and see for herself. Of course she went along, with Helen and Sir Maverick as well.

After the measuring, of course, there would be a huge festive celebration using the best products of the district to welcome the new martial practitioners.

Thera skipped from here to there, followed by her parents. She was curious to see how the children were tested. Of course, she herself was still considered too young. But she was allowed to watch, so that she would know what to expect.

This was also one of the first times she had gone somewhere other than The Murlough Estate, so she was eagerly looking around wherever they went.

The cooling fall breeze blew a few red leaves into her hair, which made Helen cluck as she teased them out and straightened Thera’s bow.

A big building in the center of town with red pillars, a large bronze bell, and a black slated roof had a large crowd around it. The names of all the martial practitioners that came from that town were inscribed within.

This was the place known as Martial Hall. Thera guessed that it also doubled as a city hall, since the town governor was there.

All the eligible children formed a line before the front step. Thera watched as Laura lined up at the very end of the line.

Laura turned around and winked at her, grinning. Thera returned the conspiratory wink with a responding grin. Satisfied, Laura turned around again, after hearing the bell ring.

The governor gave a speech that Thera only half listened to, because her eyes had been drawn to the man standing behind the governor, with a rather bored look on his face. He even yawned halfway through.

To most people, he looked completely ordinary, and they ignored him. But to Thera, she noticed the uneasy way that the governor glanced at the man, every so often. Thera surmised that the man was higher in rank than the governor.

Higher in rank, and yet he did not wear the clothes appropriate to his state. Thera kept her eyes on him, waiting for him to make a move.

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Thales’s POV

Thales rolled his eyes as the governor droned on and on. If it hadn’t been for the King’s orders, he wouldn’t even be out here in the middle of nowhere. Yes, the previous official who would measure the children’s levels had oh so conveniently broken a leg, but there were still plenty of others that the king could have dispatched!

Having just got back from overseas, he had been looking forward to a rest. As it was, he had only just arrived after riding three days and nights.

He yawned. The King’s intentions couldn’t have been clearer: he wanted Thales to pick a child of considerable talent, and train them with the special arts that he himself had developed.

However, Thales was unwilling to take on a disciple at this time. He knew quite well, that unless a child had reached the green stage, Thales’s training would do nothing but destroy future talent.

He closed his eyes, to wait until the dull man was done talking. Yet, right after that, he felt someone’s gaze upon him.

He opened his eyes partially and slowly looked in the direction of the gaze. It was a child about four or five years old, staring intently at him, with a concentration far above her age level. Even a passing butterfly couldn’t tear her to look away.

Her unblinking stare reminded him of a kitten.

He gave a small smile and winked at her, then closed his eyes again, inwardly chuckling.

Well, well, well! A child with that much perception would most likely grow up to be something interesting~…

Thera blinked and looked away.

The man’s wink had conveyed four things: that he knew she was watching him; that he knew she was aware to some extent of what he was; that he was asking her to keep his secret until it was time for him to act; and that he was both pleased, and amused at her vigilance.

Right now, Thera was at ninth level, Green class. She had only a little ways to go before she reached Blue class, perhaps ten days or so. If the man had known that, then he’d probably have fallen out of his seat.

The governor’s speech ended and the crowd applauded. Thera also clapped her hands, relieved that it was over. Then the testing began.

Each child walked up the steps, to the man, who had them place their hands upon a blank white slate. Then the slate would light up to greater or lesser degrees of white, and the Man would announce their martial spirit capacity.

It seemed the average was at around 30 martial spirit units. Not a genius number, but not a weak number either. The highest number was the governor’s son, William, who had a martial spirit capacity of 45 units. The governor beamed at this.

Finally it was Laura’s turn. She placed her hands on the plate, and it immediately shone like a beacon.

Everyone shouted in confusion, and had no choice but to close their eyes. Everyone within ten miles could see the light shining from the town. Then the light disappeared.

The man was staring at the plate in his hands. It had broken. This girl had had such a great martial spirit capacity that she had broken the testing plate.

He cleared his throat. “It seems that you have a larger capacity than this plate can measure. Would you like to take the martial class test?” He pulled out another slate, which had a black border around it this time.

Laura nodded her head. “Yes, please, sir. I’d like to know what my capacity level is.” She extended her hand again.

Everyone else watched closely as the white light quickly changed to a creamy yellow. “third level, Yellow class.” The man said, breaking the silence.

There was a large intake of breath.

“Yellow class!” “That girl’s at yellow class! And not even the beginning stage! In about twenty years, she’ll be the strongest of this generation!” the crowd began to murmur. But what came next caused the crowd to begin speaking loudly.

The man stood up and nodded. “Very good! What is your name?”

Laura inclined her head. “Laura Murlough.”

He nodded again. “Good, good! Nice to meet you, Laura Murlough. I am Master Thales, otherwise known as the Ranger. I would like to invite you to train under my instructions, seeing that you have the highest capacity of spirit power on the records worldwide. In other words, you are a prodigy.” He held out his hand.

“What did he say!?” “Did he just say he was the Ranger?” “It’s really him! It’s the Ranger! The strongest man in the kingdom is right here at the Martial Hall!”

Laura’s mind blanked. Then she frowned and muttered to herself. “Wait, wait. If I’m considered a prodigy when I’m only this strong right now, then that person is the prodigy of prodigies!” No one but Master Thales caught what she had said.

Master Thales’s eyebrows shot up. “You mean to say that there is someone with an even greater capacity than you?” He asked her, in a voice that only she could hear.

But, Laura, proud of her friend stood up straighter, and said in a louder voice.

“That’s right! There is someone who has an even greater spirit capacity than I do. In a year or two you shall see the true person who will be the strongest martial practitioner, no doubt about it! So, if you’re looking for the strongest, then I’m afraid I cannot accept.”

This time, the governor heard her, and was so shocked that he exclaimed. “What? Someone else will be the strongest? How can that be? Who is it?!” Then Laura realized that she had said something she shouldn't have, and covered her mouth, refusing to say any more than that.

The whole crowd burst into a frenzy of talking then, and the noise was so loud that Master Thale had to retreat inside the hall with Laura to hear her.

Laura still refused to say anything more, though. Even though she had almost told the secret that Thera had told her, she would not tell anyone Thera's name. Her loyalty would not let her betray the person who had put so much trust in her.

Master Thales tapped his chin. “Very well then, I shall not ask any more about that person. About before that, I was asking you to train under me because, out of all the children there, you are the only one –as of yet-who has the qualifications for it. Well? What do you say?”

Laura hesitated.

“If that person really will be as strong as you say, then I will invite them to train with us also at a later date. But, for now, you are the only one who qualifies, and I want to train you. Will you accept?”

Laura glanced at her parents who had also come inside the hall, and saw her father vigorously nodding his head up and down.

“I-I accept, then!” She said.

Master Thales sighed. “Thank goodness! Now go along to the banquet. I have some business to attend to.”

As Laura and her parents came outside, the whole crowd cheered, and the attendants closed in on them to usher them into place for the parade.

Thera was watching, smiling happily. Laura looked at Thera. If I am this strong now, then you will be as strong as a monster by the time it is your turn. I must train hard if I am going to live up to my promise as your older sister. Laura thought before she was led off through the crowd.

Then the festivities began with a big parade through the streets to the banquet hall.

Flower petals were thrown and bells were jingling all through the streets. There was music and dancing and acrobatics all along the way.

Outside the banquet hall, stalls were set up along the side of the road. Jewelry makers, woodcarvers, and toymakers set up shop there, selling paper fans, masks, jewelry, and many other things along the side.

Thera thought that the only thing that was missing was cotton candy, but seeing that machinery hadn’t developed very much in this world, there was no helping it.

The people concentrated merrily upon their merrymaking. But, after that, they often ruminated upon the same question: who was the person that the prodigy could not measure up to? Who would be the strongest of that generation?

Master Thales looked at the illuminations from the banquet hall glowing despite the darkening sky, thinking for a long time.

Then, slowly, his face broke out smiling. A prodigy even among prodigies? He couldn’t wait to see...

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Cold though it was outside, the inside of the banquet hall was warm from the heat of coals-still red from baking.

The walls were lined with stalls selling various cooked harvest foods. There were soups, salads, pastries, pies, candies, meats, fish, cooked vegetables, breads, butters: all sorts of foods.

In the center of the hall, were large round tables for people to sit around and eat, surrounding a rather hearty bonfire.

Thera noticed that there was rice, too, which made her smile. Rice…a piece of the last place that ever felt like home to her-in her previous life. She cut her reminiscence short, however, since the smells were enticing her.

Then and there, she made it her duty to sample all of the different kinds of food. But she underestimated how many different kinds there were. In the end, she had to use her energy condensing twelve times before she had come full circle.

Sir Maverick and Helen had given up after not even a tenth of the way and sat at one of the tables.

“How can you eat all of that food?” Sir Maverick asked, rubbing his bulging stomach. “Aren’t you afraid of getting fat?”

Thera smiled sweetly and replied. “No more than you are afraid of getting a beer belly.”

He laughed. “Good one! But, you know, I have a second stomach for beer.”

Thera nodded. “Then it seems I have a second stomach too. I must have gotten it from papa. I’m going back for the stuff I really liked now, would you like to come?”

Helen chuckled as Sir Maverick’s face turned a bit green. “Ah, no, that’s okay. Why don’t you take Laura with you? I bet she hasn’t even had a chance to eat anything yet.” He pointed at Laura, who was surrounded by people.

Thera’s eyes lit up. “Even better! Thanks, father!”

Sir Maverick looked slightly dejected and a bit teary eyed. “Father? What happened to Papa?” He sniffed.

"There, there. Don't you think Thera's cute when she tries to be grown up like that?" Helen patted Sir Maverick's shoulder to comfort him.

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Laura was caught in a web of people asking her questions, offering to show her aroudn the festival, and suck-ups trying to get into her good graces. There were a few of the more sinister type, too, who were looking for an opening to get close so they could harm her.

Some had not taken Laura's good fortune well. William in particular had looked on with a frustrated gaze when Master Thales had taken Laura for his apprentice. But he couldn't do anything about how his martial spirit capacity was lower than hers.

A few of his friends were encouraging him to get close and spill juice all over her dress. If adults had heard them, they would have quickly been hushed. But, being young children who didn't know any better, they were only fixed on their jealousy.

Laura didn’t notice, but Thera did. Despite the noise, she could hear their jeering quite clearly. Since she was small, she crawled in between the legs of people. Not only was this to get closer to Laura, but it was also to help her get near the villains unseen. She took out a length of cord from her Magic bag and deftly tied off the feet of those who had evil intentions.

After crawling through the crowd, Thera popped up right next to Laura and grabbed her hand.

“Come on, Laura! You promised you’d spend the festival with ME today! We’re going to the sweeets stall~!” She said and charged into the crowd, which had no other choice but to let them through.

Behind them, Thera could hear the cries and curses of the ones whose feet she had tied up. Turning around, Thera saw William trip over his tied shoes, spilling his glass on another boy, which then caused the other to cry out in his misfortune and begin to scold Will. She grinned mischievously as she dragged Laura over to the sweets stall for Laura’s first serving, and her own second serving.

Thera kept Laura close besides her the whole festival, dodging those who wished her ill, as well as those who were trying to get on Laura's good side. Since Laura was Thera's friend, Thera didn't want her to be involved with those who only sought her for her potential to become powerful. It was rather tiring work. Thera was so tired that she fell asleep on the way home. While her mind was that of an adult, her body was still that of a child, easily exhausted.

It wasn’t long before the words said by Thales’s new apprentice was spread to every corner of the kingdom, and then on to the neighboring kingdoms. A prodigy among prodigies? Many factions wanted to witness it.

And so, slowly, but surely, certain key people began moving towards the Kingdom of Grayelle.