Meanwhile, the always gently smiling Percy was registering a mission for a beautiful young woman who entered the martial house the same time he did. She had light almond eyes, clear skin and pitch black hair that hung all the way to her waist. Her face seemed to be carved for a kind smile but her expression was not even remotely similar, she was…

[ A cold beauty, Ah...so refreshingly common, I can smell your fake arrogance from a mile away. Last year I didn't have the confidence to talk to someone like you but this time I'm going to try my luck. I already have a good feeling, your fake coldness is a way to play hard to get, you never acted like this back in the day, at least not in public.]

“All done, this mission is now under your name. Please head to room number 80 and wait for your fellow disciple to arrive. He’ll give you more details about your task.”

He, as per usual, was gently smiling while talking but this time it had something more, something a bit flirtatious .Yet, it seemed it didn't cause any effect on the young woman who stoically listened and once he finished, she silently turned around and walked away.

Percy was beginning to feel a bit disappointed.

[Did I overthink things? Maybe she really turned into a cold beauty…]

Yet he noticed an ever so slight swagger in the women's walk that wasn't present when she first approached him and a smile crept back into his face.

[Ahahaha! I see the game you're playing… ]

“Excuse me.”

The young woman stopped for a second but didn’t turn back so as to hide the small smile on her face. Once she regained her cold demeanor she turned towards the desk.

“I’m going on a mercenary mission with a few , I guess I can call one of them a friend and the other is a friend of that friend… well it doesn't matter...” Percy blushed a bit for getting sidetracked in such a crucial moment. That detail obviously didn't escape the young woman who in response smiled ever so slightly, breaking her aura of aloofness.

Seeing her also lose composure gave him the courage to continue.”So anyway we need four more people but I only know three others, would you be interested in coming too? It's a mercenary mission and the reward is 200 contribution points.”

Percy facepalmed himself mentally for repeating that it was a mercenary mission.

[She will think I'm nervous or something.]

“Sure.”

An awkward silence ensued with both parties not really knowing where to go from there.

“Huum, so what's your name? Just so I know where to find you...for the mission of course.” Percy said but he already knew her room number after registering her mission.

“Linda Reese.'' Maybe Linda didn't notice the lack of necessity for her name or perhaps she simply ignored that fact but in the end she answered and right after spun on her feet and left.

Percy didn't move his eyes from her back until her silhouette was no longer visible, when she finally disappeared into the horizon he snapped back into reality.

[Well, my work here is done!]

After organizing the paperwork on his desk he left the Mission Hall and walked towards a certain pavilion with only one table but over 20 people under its roof.

…

Bang!

Two wooden swords clashed and trembled as they pushed against each other. Their users were only a few centimeters apart.

Roy was giving it his all with both hands gripping his sword, his face dripping with sweat. Aegon, on the other hand, was using only one sword to contend against Roy but he too was drenched in sweat.

[ FUCK! Even with my higher cultivation it’s not easy to beat him with one hand.] A cruel smile appeared on Aegon's face.[ A pity that I have two hands and…]

In a quick movement, Aegon removed his left sword which he had been hiding behind his back and swung towards Roy’s right leg.

“ ...a second WEAPON!”

"Arghhhhh."

The sword hit the inside of Roy’s knee resulting in him losing balance, he dropped his sword and fell on his knees.

If another disciple passed by at that time he would see a scene straight out of a novel, the sun was low on the horizon and threatened to blind the viewer, yet a person could still make out the silhouettes of a man on his knees with a sword dropped in front of him and another individual with a pair of swords looking down on him with a condescending look.

Aegon extended his hands with his best “Aloof individual” impression while desperately trying to erase the grin and happiness from his face.

A few seconds of silence and complete stillness ensued.

Roy moved to take Aegon’s hand, faking a “gracious even in defeat” expression while also trying to restrain his own laughter.

“Hahahhaha!” Roy took Aegon’s hand and his impression cracked as he let loose a genuine laugh while standing up.

“Hahahahaha!” Aegon was inevitably pulled in as well and left his persona.

Both laughed almost hysterically for a bit until they finally managed to restrain themselves.

Looking at each other both knew that they had made their first real friendship inside the martial house, one that perhaps would last far into the future.

“Well…,I guess this wraps it up for today, we did a good amount of training and I'm sorry if I hurt you a bit.” Aegon’s tone and grin did not convey much honesty but he really didn't intend on hurting Roy, he didn't want to ruin their friendship over being too heavy handed while sparring, they both shared the same ideal of no unnecessary suffering after all.

“Yeah, 20 minutes of sparring was more than enough to learn all I needed to know about you.”

“Both dedication and hard work are a form of suffering, just a useful one, and that’s why we still do it but it doesn't make it any easier. Anyway, tomorrow at the same time?”

Aegon received a nod from Roy and was ready to see his new friend off when he spotted Percy coming from down the road.