**

In the comfortable room of the Inn, Makani slept in comfortable bed. He had not slept on a bed ever since he became an apprentice to the Rudolf the blacksmith. Makani found it very pleasant that the place that he slept in didn't have maggots crawling everywhere, flies hovering all over him and it specially didn't smell like manure.

Makani slept all day and woke up in the afternoon feeling refreshed. After waking up he took a warm bath which he hadn't had in such a long time. When he was Rudolf's apprentice, Makani and the other junior adventurers showered in the nearby lake with freezing ice cold water. Eventually over time he had gotten used to the cold water but Its satisfying taking a bath with hot water.

After his hot bath, Makani ate the meal that he had ordered from the Inn. It was the most delicious meal he'd had in such a long time. The texture and flavor of the meat was delightful.

Pampering himself after the months that he was treated like a slave felt so great. But he now has other agendas to think about. The first thing that Makani had in mind was the Mana that he had obtained from the eye of the legendary boar named Pilau who he barely escaped from.

Makani took out the Mana and observed the spherical marble. The Mana's golden brown surface glisten as he held it up for him to observed. Makani opened his mouth and ingested the Mana.

[Earth Manipulation ability obtained]

The voice began telling him what ability he had gained from the golden brown marble and the details of the ability.

[Earth Manipulation ability] this allows Makani to create, shape and manipulate earth and "Earthen" elements including most solid objects, specifically all and mineral compositions regardless of their state.

Makani's eyes widened as the gentle mystical voice in his head informed him about the new ability that he had gained. Out of curiosity Makani grabbed the large plant in the room and dumped its contents on the floor of his room. A decent amount of soft brown dirt spilled from the plant pot.

Makani placed his hand over the soft brown dirt on the floor and focused. The soft brown dirt began to move around as he imagined inside his head.

'Its like magik but without the incantations being used' Makani thought to himself.

Through out the land, the knowledge of magik had dwindled down to one type of magik which is summoning. Centuries ago before the epic battle between the mortal being of the lands and the gods, the knowledge of magik among the beings through out the land were vast.

Beings through out the lads would be able to use the powers of the elements using incantations. But now its as if the knowledge of magik had been erased and the incantations to control the elements have cease to exist.

A grin appeared on his face as he continued to play around with the dirt using his [Earth Manipulation ability].

**

Tristan Kekona the son of the well known adventurer named Ray Kekona knelt down besides three others in front the clan leader of Ahi. The clan leader in front of the four looked around and began to speak.

"Bothers and sisters we are here today to welcome the new members of our family."

The clan leader Iwi looked down on the four and continued to speak.

"The four of you may rise after repeating the clan's creed. Please repeat after all of us."

All of the clan members of Ahi including the four who are kneeling down began reciting their clan's creed.

"Ignited from the spark of hope. We rise and grow to spread our light. Let those who attempt to challenge us be incinerated by our fire for we are Ahi. Our hearts be filled with the flames of courage!"

The crowd behind the four who was kneeling down cheered and clapped as the four risen. Tristan turned around and as he turned he's embraced by his father.

"Haha! My own son a part of my clan!" Ray laughed

"I've been waiting for this time ever since I've become an adventurer." Tristan smiled.

"If you mother could see you now she'd be so proud."

Tristan's face changed when Ray mentioned his wife. Tristan placed his hand on his father's shoulder.

"I'll get stronger so that one day i'll be the one to protect you."

As the father and son chattered the clan leader gave an announcement.

"Will the clan's council members come to the council chamber to discuss the plan for the the announcements made by the Adventurer's Guild."

"Well this is something that I have to do son. Go mingle with the other members, their your family now."

Ray patted his son in the back and walked away to the council chamber. Tristan who had been training with his father for eleven months have gained some prestige from some of his hunt for Holos. After some time, Tristan decided to join the clan who his father have been a member of ever since before he was born.

The Ahi clan is one of the oldest adventurer clans through out the lands. Recently the clan had gained sponsorship from the mayor of Pea town. Since the clan had some of the strongest adventurers in the kingdom of Akau, the mayor of Pea town and Ahi's clan leader created a contract for both sides to benefit from.

The contract states that Ahi clan will do what ever they can in their power to protect the town from any Holos that will attempt to attack it. In exchange the Mayor agrees to establish a Clan head quarter for Ahi clan in town.

Inside the council chamber, the leader and its councils began to discuss the actions that they will take concerning the announcements made by the Adventurer's Guild. Each of the council began to give ideas of what actions should be done.

"I suggest that we stay out of it. We've already gained a sponsor who will sustain out pockets with enough gold for all of us to live comfortably." Ray gave his idea.

Some of the other council members who had nothing to suggest agreed to Ray's idea and the ones who didn't remained silent. Everyone looked around the big rectangular table that they all sat in front of to see who else had any suggestions. Since no one from the clan's councils had any other idea the clan leader began to speak.

"Since no one else has any suggestion, I would like to suggest that in the duration of the year before the auction for the dungeons, we should try to earn as much gold as we can. We'll use the gold that we've earned to buy a dungeon. With the dungeon in our pocket, our families will never have to worry about ever going hungry and with the money that we obtain from the dungeon we'll be able to stop risking our lives fighting the terrifying Holos that we face on the daily basis."

The council members began to chatter with one another about the ideas that were given. Most were leaning towards the idea that the clan leader had given. It was a solid plan and if they fail to win any of the bid they'll end up with a large amount of gold that can fund the clan.

But if they win a bid they'll all become wealthy from the income coming from the dungeon's entrance fee. If that happens they all will be able to retire as wealthy men.

An hour later the council decided to take a vote on the actions they should take concerning the Adventurer's Guild's auction with the dungeons.

Iwi the clan leader began to speak.

"Let us now vote on the suggestions made earlier. All who votes in doing Ray Kekona's suggestions please raise your hand."

None among the council raised their hand to vote for Ray's suggestion. Even Ray himself didn't vote. The clan leader went on with the voting.

"All who votes for my decision, please raise your hand."

Every person in the council chamber raised their hand. It was a landslide vote for the clan to attempt to obtain one of the dungeons being auctions by the Adventurer's Guild. A grin appeared in the face of Iwi the clan leader. Ray saw this and it gave him chills.

**

In the room of the Inn that Makani was in, Makani sat while he played around with the soft brown soil on the floor using his [Earth Manipulation ability]. After hours of playing around with the soil on the floor of his room, Makani is able to control the dirt by just simply thinking about it.

From the past hours Makani had done many things with the soft brown dirt on the floor. He's turned the soil into rocks and back into soil. He's also turned it into rocks of any shapes and density. Makani also learned how to lift the soil into the air and move it around while it floated.

Since he was so amused with the ability that he had just obtained, Makani had forgotten about the other agendas that needed his attention. Makani looked outside the window and saw that it had become too dark outside. That means he spent the rest of his day playing with the soil on the floor.

Since there was nothing else he could do. Makani decided to just go back to bed after extending a day's rent for his room.

The next day Makani went to the market place to search and buy the things that he needed. As he looked through the stalls he realizes that the old lady who sold gemstones wasn't in her spot anymore. Instead there was an empty gap where all who are browsing around went through to move around the market place.

Makani was a little worried and hoped nothing bad had happened to the old lady. He then continued to search for a stall that sold gemstones. After a few moments of searching he bought several large high quality gemstones. Makani bought five red ones, three blue ones and a yellow one. He then stored all gemstones into his DS ring.

As he continued to browse around, he decided to go to stalls that sold books. Instantly he saw books that interested him but Makani knew that he just wanted them so that he could read them. Ignoring his interest, Makani continued to browse around and then he saw a book about weapon making.

Ever since he became the apprentice of Rudolf the blacksmith he had always wanted to learn how to create various weapons but the months that he had stayed in his master's shop he learned nothing but to keep the fire in the forge hot.

When he saw the book about crafting weapons, Makani instantly wanted to buy it so that he could teach himself how to create weapons properly. After buying the book about crafting weapons, Makani continued to look around. An hour later he had browsed through all the stalls and realized that there were not much varieties of merchandise sold in the market place.

If he wanted to find the things he needed Makani has to travel south to the grand city Hau the capital of Akau. In the capital, there are for sure various things sold there that would be able to help him in his journey.

But now the problem is getting to the destination. There are two ways Makani can travel to the capital; The first is to use the carriage service that would take him there safely but the time that would take to get there will take ten days. The second is to travel there on foot which would be faster but more dangerous due to the Holos that roams in between the capital and Pea town.

Makani walked to the Adventurer's Guild to inquire about the carriage service. He decided to ask about the service because he was curious how much coins it would take to take a carriage from Pea Town to the capital.

Makani entered the Adventurer's Guild and walked to the counter. He then ringed the bell to ask for assistance. Moments after ringing the bell on the counter, Melanie the manager of the Adventurer's Guild appeared.

Melanie looked at Makani and instantly she recognized him.

"Makani? Is that you Hon'?"

"Hello Melanie." Makani smiled.

The old lady laughed out loud and slapped Makani on the back.

"Its good to see you again Hon'! It been almost a year since I've seen you!"

"Yes, its been awhile." Makani grinned in pain from Melanie's slap on his back.

"What can I help you with today?"

"Well I'm here today to ask the price of going to the capital using the carriage service." Makani scratch his head as he asked.

"Oh hon', I'm sorry to tell you this but the service carriages have been halted due to the increase of Holos activities between the capital and Pea town. We've been basically cut off for months now."

Makani frowned when he heard the news. It was inconvenient to hear about it but If Makani really wanted to go to the capital, he would be able to get there by himself. But before he leaves for the capital, he has to prepare for the travel.

Makani thanked Melanie for the information and walked away from the counter. As he turned around he saw someone he recognized. The person Makani recognizes, is Tristan the boy who bullied him during the academy days. Tristan was standing behind him and didn't recognize Makani at all. Makani continued to walk pass Tristan.

It was interesting how their paths crossed like that. But Makani has a feeling that he'll be meeting Tristan again very soon in the future. As he was near to the exit, Makani turned around. Makani observed the armors and weapon that Tristan had. As he observed his equipment, Makani realized what he's missing.

'I need a better weapon and a set of armor.' Makani thought to himself.

**