The area around the training field grew very tense. Ancestor tiers did not take action often as a fight between well matched individuals could level a city. There was an unwritten rule that they were not supposed to interfere with the lives of normal people. Even people without the backing of an Ancestor of their own would not be bullied as the other ancient individuals within the region would take offense to wanton acts.

The people that had been observing the fight knew that this ancestor who had attacked Derek was truly an Ancestor tier person. They could feel it from the power he emitted when he attacked. The more powerful among them could even discern his relative power with Status magic, but even with the power he had, what could he do with it?

At that moment there were no less than half a dozen pressures appearing around the city more powerful than his. There were even more around his power level. What was more important was that the particular actor that had stopped him was vastly more powerful than him and was coming this way.

Derek was relieved. When he had attempted to block the Elnon Ancestor’s attack with his Aegis it had been the most he could do to keep it from collapsing under the pressure. His mana had drained rapidly and if the confrontation had continued much longer his spell may very well have collapsed on him and he would have been placed in incredible danger. At the critical moment, the enemy spell had been forcibly destroyed, causing a backlash in his attacker, while his own had been quite gently unravelled, returning his mana back to him before he could harm himself by Overdrawing.

There was quick movement as the Windreach guards in the area drew their weapons and aimed them at the soldiers of Elnon. Meanwhile, several figures leaped into the training field to protect Derek. Among them were older members of his family, Ovid, and several of the school instructors. None were on par with an Ancestor, but their combined might was enough to protect him now that Ancestors from within the Academy were actively paying attention.

It didn’t matter much though. As that ancient and powerful aura grew closer, Derek saw the increased pressure on the Elnon Ancestor. It grew until the man had been forced first from the air and then to his knees. Derek saw the man’s knees penetrate the hard packed dirt of the training ground and wondered at the level of pressure on the man. Blake similarly had caught sight of his Ancestor’s plight and he turned white as a sheet as realization of his current situation dawned on him.

Finally, a grizzled old figure made its way into the view of the people around this training field. The man’s face was pinched as if he had been eating lemons. He had a mean look to his eyes as if he was a shopkeeper expecting every customer to try to shoplift from him. Derek recognized him instantly. Wasn’t this that damned old man that always made him late for lunch? This was his Classics instructor, Eomer Windreach, the man whose day was made brighter by taking petty actions against those around him.

Thinking about it, Derek was amazed that someone like this old codger had grown to be an Ancestor tier person, but after a while he realized that it was quite possible the old man had not always been this strange, but had become this way through such a long life. Thinking about how casual the old man was with petty behavior and the amount of power he was showing right now, Derek started to think that maybe it was an unfortunate day for the people of Elnon here. It wasn’t that Derek felt bad for them, but he really wouldn’t want to intentionally make himself a target of this cantankerous old man.

The old man moved at his own pace, not fast, nor slow. He walked calmly with his cane down the path through the training fields to come to the place everyone was at. After a moment, he came to a stop in between the people of the Academy and Blake and his Ancestor. Looking the two of them over, he finally broke the silence, “Aren’t you a little weak to be behaving how you want in someone else’s city? What did you eat today to have the confidence necessary to take action here?”

The Elnon Ancestor was embarrassed. He knew that there were some strong people in this place when he arrived. Five had made their auras known to him when he had entered the city. Those auras had come from various parts of the city and had each been about equal to his own. He hadn’t realized that so many more had chosen to remain hidden. Five was already more than most kingdoms would possess. His own was considered fortunate with two and he was the stronger of the pair.

Where would Windreach City get so many ancient masters? After the initial flaring of those auras when he had entered the city, there had been no further fluctuations to indicate the existence of Ancestor tiers in the time he had been here. Five would already make them the undisputed rulers of the region, with this many they could sweep through most of the Western half of the continent. If they had that level of power, why didn’t they let it be known? Who would come here to cause trouble then? This Ancestor really felt mistreated in his heart.

After coming to terms with the situation, he eventually had to speak, “I apologize, I have indeed acted poorly in your city. It is no wonder that Windreach City is called the ‘Great Kingmaker’. You have all concealed your strength quite well.

“Well then, how do you wish us to proceed?”

The old man looked at all of them quietly before signalling to the guards, “Take these people into custody for now. There has been enough disruption during this Spring Tournament already. The rest of you are dismissed.”

The next few weeks went by in a flood of activity for Derek. In short order he wrapped up his coursework in his academics classes and demonstrated his proficiency with the skills being taught in his practical classes. In the mornings he worked the smithy with his grandfather, giving form to the materials he had been rewarded for the tournament. A new set of gear had taken shape. This one would serve him throughout the latter second and all of the third tier. In the evenings he worked on practicing his new techniques and got himself better acquainted to fighting while enhanced. Finally, as the term was ending, he was called into the Dean of the Magical Warrior College’s office.

Walking into Dean Karl’s office, Derek was surprised to see his mother was already there. The office was ornately decorated and The Dean and Derek’s mother were seated at a coffee table in front of a tall window that looked out onto the Academy grounds. With Derek’s arrival the Storm Knight stood up and welcomed him over.

“Derek, welcome. Come over so we can have a talk.”

Signalling for Derek to sit next to his mother, the man went to his desk and grabbed a document. Setting the document before the two of them he started talking, “This is a waiver that will allow Derek leave for the summer. Normally, our students are only allowed to return to their homes during summer leave, this way their families take responsibility for protecting them. This changes after their fourth year has been completed with us at which point they are considered strong enough to protect themselves outside of the Academy. At that point they are encouraged to seek outside experience throughout summer campaigning seasons.

“There are generally two exceptions to this. The first is that the student is tier two and has sufficient combat skills to protect themselves. The second is when the student is accompanied by faculty or staff of the Academy. In those cases, we can provide a waiver to allow those students to similarly take those opportunities during the summer.

“Derek, I have been informed by your mother that you have been approached by the Cathedral to participate in their Crusade in the north this summer. You definitely fulfill the first criteria to receive a waiver to go. Due to the nature of the Crusade, the Academy has already prepared a force to participate. It will be comprised of Armsmen of the House as well as students from the various colleges. If you wish, you can join that force. The Captain we have selected for that force has already requested you take up a position in his command staff.”

Derek looked at him with a puzzled look, “Who?”

Karl Windreach laughed, “You have already met him. We have tasked Captain Drake with leading the contingent this time. That cutthroat has seen more than enough hard campaigns to lead this group we are creating effectively.”

Derek nodded, “If it is Captain Drake, I would be honored to work with him.”

“That’s the spirit. Aside from you, there are a few you may know joining as well. Your roommate Tristan Brennon will be going as well as Marcus Riley and Xavier Cortez that you likely met during the tournament. From what I heard, Marcus and Tristan are being added to the command staff, while Xavier is going to be leading one of the cavalry squadrons. Meanwhile, your giant friend, Garrett, has been added to one of the infantry units.

“More are joining by the day and I am sure you will hear more rumors about it as summer approaches. We will begin mustering this force in the next few days. If you are fine with this set up, I just need your signature on this waiver to make everything official.”

Derek looked over the form in front of him. It signified that he understood the risks he was taking. Karl had already signed it as a representative of the Academy and his mother mother signed as his guardian. Seeing that, Derek realized that his own signature was a mere formality. Dipping the pen in ink, Derek added his name under his mother’s.

When he was done he stood up and hugged his mother. He knew that just because she had acquiesced to his desire to join this campaign, she had not given up worrying for him. On the contrary, as he hugged her, he felt the pace of her heart and knew that she was even more worried.

Holding her, he whispered, “Mother, I will be fine.”

He felt moisture land on his shoulder. There was an undercurrent of desolation in her voice when she responded, “I know, son. It’s just that you have grown too fast.”

Derek Thorne-

Previous Classes-

Magic Warrior, Rune Smith

Permanent Enhancements-

Rune Smith, Tier One: +2 Strength, +2 Body, +2 Agility, +2 Mind

Demon Warrior, Tier Two: +2 Strength, +2 Body, +2 Agility, +2 Mind, +2 Dark, +2 Chaos, +2 Light, +2 Order, Demon Sense

Disciple of the God of the Forge: +3 Strength, +3 Body, +7 Fire, +7 Earth

Blessed Child of the Hearth Goddess: +2 Body, +2 Mind, +5 Order, +5 Light

Greater Demon Heart: +3 Strength, +2 Body, +2 Agility, +3 Mind, +5 Dark, +5 Chaos, Expanded Essentia Pool, Masking

Blessing of the Sun Goddess: +2 Agility, +5 Order, +5 Light, +5 Fire

Storm Plum: +5 Water, +5 Wind

Blessing of the War God: +2 Strength, +2 Body, +2 Agility, +2 Mind

Awakened Seal of the Hell's Gate Mountains: +2 Strength, +2 Body, +2 Agility, +2 Mind, +5 Order, +5 Water, +5 Light, +5 Wind, +5 Fire, +5 Earth, +10 Chaos, +10 Dark, Expanded Essentia Pool

Equipment-

Magisteel Armor: basic protection mid t4, maximum defensive spell level 10

Magisteel Warsword: basic offensive high t4, maximum offensive spell level 10

Magisteel Glaive: basic offensive high t4, maximum offensive spell level 10

Magisteel Bow: basic offensive mid t4, maximum offensive spell level 10

Talisman of the Sun, Forge and Hearth: eight mature sprites +8 to all elemental attributes, other assorted benefits