"What else do you know about the Divine Art?" Lock asked, and surprisingly, both her eyes were open and staring intently at Gin.

"Nothing, really. The usual, being like gods, Nobles, and expensive. You guys are always the talk of the town when it comes to the Divine Art, but it's mostly what you have achieved rather than the Divine Art itself, of course." Gin racked his brain for anything more he could add but that was the limit he came to. "Today when Kiri and Flower fought was the first time for me seeing the Divine Art in use. Rather shocking."

His last sentence was more on par with a country bumpkin. The Divine Art wasn't something easy to witness since its use in Jade was minimized to the Royal Capital, more specifically, the Noble Ward and some rich people in society.

"Some of those are facts, but still exaggerated to some extent. We will start the training early tomorrow by giving you proper knowledge of the Divine Art." Il San stood and prepared to leave.

"Master!” Gin stood up after the Master in a fluster. “Please reconsider! This truly isn't the right path for me and-"

"Silence!" Il San turned and glared at Gin. "If you decide to go against my will, I will write to your parents to get you back, and end all relations with the Ena family."

Gin looked in horror at the Master. His weak spot was being utilized like an axe to hack down his determined resolve to ignore the horse crap being thrown at his face. Gin didn’t know the specifics of what Il San had done for his family, all his mother had told him was that the favor they carried with Il San had helped them in many ways to reach the position they held. He had believed that was all that needed to be said, and if it was something to have his parents agree with one another, it was definitely a matter of import; especially if the old geezer was confident enough to use it as leverage to gain his acquiesce.

If looked at plainly, losing the favor of someone like Il San was beyond a no-no situation. If things went south now, it would mean great dishonor. Far too much dishonor for the Ena family. And... most definitely Gin's death if his parents learned of this.

For ba’s sake! Gin gritted his teeth.

"Hehe," a sly chuckle came from Flower.

The sound of their voice made Gin grit his teeth with more force. It was like a brand that made the situation far more real than reality itself, but at the same time, not. Gin's mind raced to think of ways to get out of the predicament. He could run away, but how would he do that with a Master like Il San as his opponent? Without money, not many would allow him on board, if they even had enough space for him to squeeze in.

He could walk, but the journey would take a good two days for him to reach Janln, but why walk when escaping?! Again, his opponents weren't ants, it was the five legends and their Master! He could write to his parents, tell them of what transpired, certainly they could have a way around this… But what if they didn’t? Also, wouldn't he be bringing them more problems? They had enough on their plates already, even though they acted like kids most of the time, they worked hard and still had much to do to make their lives better; and cheaper!

Although, the most important point, what was the Ena family to repay the Master’s generosity with? Even if Gin didn’t know what Il San had helped them with, it wasn’t in his nature to look down on it, big or small. However, the glaring fact was, Il San, with his status and all, probably wouldn’t go out of his way to help two village folks personally for the sake of it.

Thinking of this fact made Gin curious, but he had no time for it since it would be better to ask his parents at a later date, than test his conclusions. For now, he had to put aside his reluctance, and help his family. Maybe this would be the way to release the Ena family from Il San’s annoying benevolence. But, Gin didn’t want to give up just like that, not yet. He had time, and would try to convince the old man otherwise.

Gin's frown deepened. Gods!

"I… " Gin swallowed. He braced himself as he straightened his posture, then bowed while saying, "I agree and thank the Master for the opportunity to... have me under your guidance. I'll gladly do my utmost best to learn the Divine Art... and gain you your revenge."

Il San gave a satisfied nod, "Very good. I believe you will do well compared to these miscreants." Il San turned and left the Dining Hall.

Lifting his head, Gin saw the receding figure of the old fogey, and closely behind him was Spear. His heart clenched as he let his anger and disappointment wash over his entire being. Trembling and breathing through his nose, he looked over at Kiri.

"In hindsight!" Gin angrily muttered and sat back down.

The group laughed at him without so much as a small spread of sympathy.

"The old man got this one good, I tell you! He at least didn't have anything to hold us with! Made it a lot easier for us to defy his vengeful self." Flame supplied merrily.

"So, he had offered you the same deal?" Gin asked with curious rage. It was official for Gin, they would all be added to the list of ‘The Legends I Know and Hate’.

"More or less," Lock answered, looking at Gin with vivid mirth.

"How come you haven't avenged him?! Oh! Wait a minute! Wait! What exactly is the vengeance for? Ah, how frustrating!" Gin smacked his forehead, ridiculing himself for agreeing to something without knowing what he was going to do as payment. But, who could blame him? The whole matter, though real, was in the same breath, still too surreal. He even had hopes of soon waking up, finding himself back at home, and being woken up by his father to start the day’s work at the farm.

Flame waved her hands, as if to dispel Gin's worries; and failing. "It's nothing, just a few people that need to be handled. You'll manage."

How is that nothing?! What if these people are of your caliber and I'm to face them?! Oh no, oh gods no. Gin’s mind made a disturbing stop. Divine Art equaled fighting, so what of the revenge? Well, obviously, the revenge involved him fighting! If he was to learn the Divine Art, that probably meant that the opponents he was to face were Divine Art users as well. No, gods, I need to run!

"Yeah! Yeah!” Flower’s loud support brought Gin out of his surfacing panic. “Some of them just pissed him off!"

Gin was thoroughly unimpressed, and he didn’t know what to say about the acquired information. Was it a joke? It was a joke, huh? It had to be, right? This contemplation was doubled over when Kiri offered his intel.

"I heard that one had stolen his favorite cup and got to sell it for a fortune. They now live lavishly and with top-notch security! Truly too easy!" Kiri leaned back on his chair. "Also, there was this time—"

"Anyway," Flower interrupted Kiri, "It's all just petty things."

"Now, why would you interrupt me?" Kiri sent a hostile glare at Flower, he was already reaching for his greatsword.

"Who would want you to keep on rumbling none stop," Flower shrugged nonchalantly, they, too, had a dagger at the ready. "Also, do you think I would let you off with your snarky comments about me? Think again."

The anxiety that had wanted to grip Gin was quelled down by the two. He had no idea how the dagger that had been out of Flower's reach had gotten back to their deft hands, but he threw it on the Divine Art. He had more important matters to attend to; what did top-notch security over a cup mean? Was the matter that simple and petty?

As Kiri and Flower continued their arguments, far more intensely than they did when the Master was there—especially Kiri—Gin’s brain twisted and turned at what the two had said. Well, he tried to, but he found his attention slipping to the two oafs. He had to reestablish them as outrageous. From the tales about them, they did fit well as fighting obsessed goons, but nothing, not a shred, of them being fantastic and gallant. He hadn't put in much thought of what would happen when the two fighters got placed together, but now he knew, and they were going to be nothing but headaches.

“You are both rather obnoxious if I do say so myself. Half and half,” Gin muttered under his breath with a shake of his head.

Surprisingly, all present had heard him and laughed, except for Flower. They just shouted at Gin, "Oh, shut it, vengeance boy!"

Gin frowned, he found the jab to be completely off the mark. "What do you even mean? Aren't you all sharing the same fate as I?"

"Hah, please!" The group before him snickered and placed their disagreements.

"No way am I going to get revenge for that kind of nonsense," Flame rolled her eyes.

Nonsense? So, the stolen cup revenge nonsense is true? But before that, she wasn’t going to avenge the old fo- Master? Gin frown in puzzlement deepened.

"But you are obliged to. As payment. You must honor your agreement with the Master," Gin reminded. He was growing more annoyed, first the Master, now the flippant attitude of the group. If they saw it as a waste of time, he did too. He most certainly didn’t want to waste much of his effort on this when he could be reading an interesting digest on the Spider's Plague and it’s vast mysteries!

More laughter ensued.

"No way! 'Obliged to', 'Honor your agreement'. We would if these were the old times. Say, 400 years back," Kiri slapped the table and laughed heartily.

"Weren't you given the same options as me?" Gin asked in further doubt, his annoyance ticking up and away.

"You mean threatened? No. That's only you," Lock said.

"As for us, it's just a money debt, and like any good debtor, we ran!" Flame giggled.

"Revenge?! Can you all believe that we are 'obliged' to do that? No way, no way!" Flower gave a very joyous laugh joined in with the others.

As they continued the dishonorable chatter, Gin was in the background mellowing in self-pity. His fate was truly rotten. The fools in front of him were beyond disappointing and unhelpful. If anything, they were the main cause of his current circumstances. His only chance of knowing what he had thrown himself into was by asking Il San, then, maybe, try to have the old man change his mind.

Those rumors and stories praising the sacks before him and their Master needed a thorough revision! He was dead set on making that happen once he got himself a nice brush, ink, and stacks of the best mulberry paper; he had to make sure all the information was recorded clearly and would last for generations to come.

As Gin was about to give them a stern wording, a voice beat him to it as it bellowed:

"You utter disappointments, crass ingrates, get out of my house!"