(Author: Didn't expect to release a third chapter but I haven't written a chapter for Jade Immortal yet. To those wondering why Elgar seems weak: he didn't use any dark or demon magic. The ability of the Demon King to bend and control space, such as gravity, wasn't used. Why? The Demon King's ability is one of the demon race's most powerful abilities and would garner too much unwanted attention. Furthermore, Elgar didn't want to reveal all his abilities as he wanted to keep his necromancy a secret. As Elgar has stomped over the pride of the Dune clan, he unknowingly becomes a higher interest. Enjoy the chapter. As I wrote so many, I don't know when I'll release another chapter.)

Chapter 8: Friends and Enemies

"T, tha, that young man," Gregoria stammered.

So many nobles and lords wanted Lady Caroline's hand in marriage and the one man who did broke off the engagement. It was preposterous! Absurd. Which clan was Lady Carline a part of? House Dune! The Batralg Empire was the leading nation in trade and the Dune Conglomerate own a third of all the trading rights and businesses in the empire. They also had branches in other countries, including the nine other continents! It was the same as saying Lady Caroline was a queen as she was the heir apparent! Who would refuse marrying into such a powerful clan?

"We have failed you madam!" the knights who attacked Elgar cried as they fell on one knee.

"He was a rank 2 mage, an Adept Mage," she waved, ordering them to stand. "Still, to only defeat a group of a dozen knights with only two spells out of seven others...This young man must be experienced in fighting. Summon Geo Valkim at once. Tell him I have orders for him."

"I, Geo Valkim, hear and obey the madam," a middle-aged man and rank 6 warrior cried after a few moments. He was one of the five bodyguards of Lady Caroline, but was the weakest. He was allowed to serve the Dune clan due to the madam's influence and changed his life for the better. Whatever she wanted, he would give his utmost attention and stop at nothing to get the job done.

"Ah, Geo," the madam said as she sipped some tea. "Lady Caroline's fiancé arrived. Apparently, he came to break off the engagement."

"WHAT?" Geo shouted, unable to maintain his composure.

"My thoughts exactly," the madam said. "How could a man refuse Lady Caroline's hand in marriage? He must have an ulterior motive. Find this young man and see which academy he is in or joins. Send the sons and daughters of our knights who have reached the age of thirteen this year and have them join the academy. Tell them to find anything and everything about the young man. What he eats, how he thinks, how he fights, and anything else that could help us determine what his goal is."

"It will be done," Geo shouted and received a sketch of Elgar from one of the knights who fought Elgar before he left the manor.

"What are you planning?" the madam thought as she refilled her tea cup. "What is your goal?"

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"That was easier than expected master. Although, I was worried when the knights attacked," Magmar mused with its mental link.

"I expected such hostility from a noble house. Humans, why do they love money so much? Don't they know that if they meet a mage or warrior too high a rank to defy, that they will lose everything? That pathetic mindset belongs to those satisfied with living in the Mortal Realm I plan to conquer land here for a while before conquering lands in the Immortal Realm, something I didn't do in my past life. So many more planets and powerful beings, I can only imagine how good the meat of the magical beasts tastes," Elgar scoffed.

"What now master?" Magmar asked.

"We do what we came here for: join an academy. We will learn more about this planet and where the strong live and rule while gaining power. Once I no longer see a reason to learn more, I'll roam the world and conquer some land I deem worthy of interest," Elgar answered.

Elgar and Magmar walked for three miles before they reached the center of the merchant district. The capita; city was thirty miles long, almost half that belonging to the five academies. As the capital city of the most powerful nation in trading, naturally the academies built there would be the greatest and most lucrative.

Elgar stared around and finally found the recruiters of the five academies in Ilgar, ignoring the people gawking at his appearance and Magmar. Each recruiter proposed pros and cons for joining their academy. The names of the academies were Crest Serpent Academy, Heavenly Blade School, Sky Spirit School, Tyrannical Dragon Academy, and Blue Rain Academy.

Crest Serpent Academy taught only mages and also taught alchemy to their students. Those who graduated would go on living luxuriously due to making and selling potions, pills, powders, and elixirs. The Heavenly Blade School only taught warriors, but they also had a secret technique that allowed their students to learn enchantment magic. The Sky Spirit School was the weakest school and taught mages and warriors but had no method to allow their students to learn both.

The Tyrannical Dragon Academy was the most dangerous academy as the Chasm of Chaos laid on the outskirts of its territory. The deeper one went in the chasm, the more powerful the magical beasts one encountered. Sometimes they would leave the chasm and a few unfortunate students lost their lives. The Blood Rain Academy was the most powerful academy and most of its graduates went on to be rank 8 and 9 mages and warriors. Those who didn't pursue a career in the Mortal Realm chose the Blood Rain Academy.

Elgar pondered for a moment as he went over his options and made his decision. He wanted to join the Tyrannical Dragon Academy. Why? It was because he was interested in the Chasm of Chaos. He longed to eat the flesh of magical beasts. Furthermore, the deeper he went, the less likely he would encounter people. He could openly train his necromancy on live targets in the chasm. The Blood Rain Academy? He had the soul of a Dragon King and the power of a Demon King. Both were a dragon and a demon that ascended into the Immortal Realm! There was no way he couldn't become a nine rank mage and ascend!

He had received so much mana and soul energy but didn't dare use it. He didn't want to draw unwanted attention on himself. He told his family and Tristan that he was a rank 2 mage, but he had actually broken through all the way to become a middle rank 4 mage, a Sorcerer. He didn't tell them in case spies investigated his family. His siblings were innocent and would easily trust others. If he wanted to, he could have easily killed the knights who attacked him. He wasn't weak at all, but he handicapped himself to blend in society. He didn't know enough about the world to carelessly use his power and kill someone who annoyed him on a whim. It vexed him, but he was not all-powerful. Yet.

"I would like to join the Tyrannical Dragon Academy," Elgar said as he approached the recruiter.

"This is the token allowing you to take the test. The fee of thirty gold will also be paid when you arrive at the academy. Once you pay the fee, pour your qi or mana into the token and give it to the judge. Should you pass, the token will be split in two and strung on a silver chain. Wearing the half-token medallion will notify others that you are a student of the academy. Good luck," the recruiter said as he handed Elgar a silver token with a black, two-headed dragon on both sides of the token. The token was three inches long and was made of holy metal.

"Thank you," Elgar said and headed to the north west as the recruiter told him which roads would lead him to the academy. He had a little over a thousand gold which was his keep while he gave tens of thousands of gold to his father. He didn't care to use much money and at most spent a few silvers on meals. The reason was that he only valued a meal made of magical beasts and spent cheaply on everything else. He cared not for money but knew he needed it anyway. Thirty gold? That was just cheap change to him.

A little while later, Geo Valkim arrived with two boys and a girl, all of whom were thirteen as well. Geo interviewed each recruiter and showed them the drawing of Elgar, asking if he passed by.

"He accepted a token and is heading to my academy, the Tyrannical Dragon Academy, for the application tests," the recruiter bowed, knowing who Geo represented as Geo was nearly always seen protecting Lady Caroline. "These three tokens will allow your little friends to take the test. I wish you all the luck in the world for your success."

Geo nodded and turned to the three teens, saying, "Elgar Maltos is your top priority. Try not to draw any suspicion and become friends with him naturally. You all know the madam's orders. When you send your monthly letters, one of the two you are allowed will be a report to me. Do not fail House Dune!"

The three nodded and took the tokens from Geo. They nodded to one another, dressed into plain white and black clothes, and received a storage bag with six hundred of gold coins. Their parents had allowed them to join any of the five most powerful and dangerous academies because of their assignment. Not to mention, they now owned more money than their parents. All they had to do was spy on one teen their age. They trembled with excitement and headed toward the academy and their target.

Chapter 7: Connections over Power Main Page Chapter 9: Hidden Forces