The Beginning After The End 08

by Turtle Me

  The usher standing at the far end of the corridor hurriedly opened the cherrywood door and directed me inside, calling out, “Ascender Grey has arrived!”

  The room was open to the arena, almost like a balcony, and from it there was a clear view of the arena floor below, on which stood rows of preadolescents in uniforms that distinctly highlighted their towns. The arena consisted of hundreds of coliseum style seats surrounding a wide, manicured-grass field. A raised platform dominated the center of the field.

  The room was decorated modestly with dark wood furniture and a couple of portraits that seemed to be decorated warriors from the village. The lack of seats in this “sitting area” seemed to promote walking around and getting to know each other.

  Inside were around twenty distinguished individuals of varying ages, all garbed in their best suits or dresses. Considering how rural the area was, I was somewhat surprised to see how dressed up they were, but then it occurred to me that these people were likely trying to create an impression for the visitors from Stormcove Academy. This also explained the fine wine glasses and crystal goblets full of deep red wine held in nearly every hand. It was as if they were posing for a picture, I thought. Like they were trying to capture a specific sensation or atmosphere that wasn’t honest to the moment.

  “Esteemed ascender!” a familiar, booming voice called out. Chief Mason wore a fitted suit that highlighted his broad frame, his salt and pepper hair slicked back and his beard properly combed and tied near the end.

  He handed me one of the many wine flutes displayed on the cocktail tables arranged throughout the room before turning to the rest of the people present. “We’re all so excited to have you with us today!”

  “Thank you for having me.” I accepted the glass and turned to the staring individuals, raising my drink and presenting a smile. “I must’ve gotten a bit excited myself, seeing as how I’m dressed to join the kids down there rather than to drink up here.”

  Laughter broke out among the officials, breaking the tension as they began flocking to me.

  ‘Wow. Who is this smooth-talker and what have you done with the angsty Arthur that I grew to tolerate? I thought you said you were bad at social gatherings,’ Regis said.

  Shut it. And I said I didn’t like social gatherings. That doesn’t mean I’m bad at them.

  “As expected of esteemed ascender. Not only is your presence so imposing, but your looks are stunning as well,” a woman, who was perhaps in her early twenties, said with a giggle, brushing her hand against mine.

  I smiled back as I took a step toward her. “Please. Call me Grey.”

  Not bothering to learn her name, I made my way through the crowd. Dismissing their overeagerness to introduce themselves to me and flaunt whatever morsel of power they had in order to appeal to me, I kept a charming and lighthearted air.

  I finished my glass of wine quickly as I exchanged greetings and a drink with the people present. As I excused myself to get a refill, a sudden shudder ran through my body.

  My attention was pulled toward the door.

  “Elder Cromely of Stormcove Academy, students Aphene and Pallisun of Stormcove Academy, have arrived!” the usher announced, opening the door.

  The chatter and laughter surrounding me was soon drowned out by the blood pumping in my ears. I focused on the lean, grizzled man, who wore a dark suit that draped around him almost like mages’ robes.

  More specifically, our attention was pulled toward the unassuming, decrepit stone set at the end of his sleek obsidian cane. Though it looked plain, the stone radiated a powerful aetheric aura.

  289

  The Catch

  I tore my gaze from the stone adorning the man’s black cane and studied the three guests that had just arrived.

  The hook-nosed and pale-skinned Cromely exchanged polite but terse greetings with the flock of officials and their family members. The two students, both of whom looked around my age, barely spoke, but the way they stood with their chins raised and chests puffed out told me all I needed to know.

  The female student, Aphene, had an athlete’s body with long, slim legs that were accentuated by her uniform. Her fierce gaze bore into me from behind her dark bangs, singling me out.

  Dismissing her provocation as cute at best, I turned my gaze to the blonde-haired man. He looked like he spent a tad too much time in front of his mirror. Compared to his brusque female schoolmate, the student named Pallisun met the officials with a practiced smile that seemed to convey his hubris in a more implicit way.

  Watching the teen strut about in his white suit embroidered with a single embellished shoulder guard, I was reminded of a rainbow goose displaying its feathers during mating season.

  Regis chortled at my comparison, agreeing wholeheartedly.

  The trio eventually made their way to me. Following behind them was the entourage of officials, each of them doing whatever they could to curry favor, though most seemed desperate for Cromely to even look in their general direction.

  “An honor to have an ascender in our presence,” Cromely said, his expression not quite matching his words. “My name is Cromely of Blood Mandrick.” Gesturing to the young female student, he said, “This is my granddaughter, Aphene. And this student is Pallisun of Blood Blather. Both of you, introduce yourselves.”

  Aphene dipped her head, a bit reluctant. “Aphene of Blood Mandrick.”

  Pallisun, who was around my height but with a bit more bulk, scanned me from head to toe.

  “Pallisun of Blood Blather,” he greeted, releasing a bit of mana to cling tightly against his frame in an attempt to show off his control.

  ‘What a rainbow goose,’ Regis scoffed.

  “A pleasure to meet you all. And thank you again for taking me with you to Aramoor,” I said to Cromely with an amiable smile. He was my ticket out of Maerin Town, after all.

  “It is nothing,” he replied humbly.

  “Hearing that our town had an ascender visiting, Elder Cromely brought along the top students from Stormcove Academy,” Chief Mason explained.

  The Stormcove representative’s gaze flickered over the town chief dismissively before adding, “Yes, while they can’t yet compare to Ascender Grey, they’ll both be transferred to an ascender institute in the central dominion rather soon.”

  I regarded the two students, keeping my smile casual. “Congratulations in advance.”

  Pallisun craned his neck to get that extra inch over me as he replied. “You seem very young, esteemed ascender. I can’t imagine you having much experience yet, but I’d still love to hear of your tales down in the Relictombs.”

  Regis bristled. ‘Please, let me humble this manchild.’

  It’s beneath us to bully them. Plus, I’m baiting them on purpose, I sent to Regis before replying to the vain blond.

  “It’s quite the pleasant place for a stroll. Do you care to join me the next time I go?” I asked with a wink.

  This got a few chuckles from the crowd. Pallisun’s brow twitched in restrained annoyance, but he gave me a stilted laugh as well.

  “Please excuse me while I get a drink,” Pallisun said with a forced smile. “Let’s go, Aphene.”

  The two students turned around and headed off to one of the tables behind them. As they did so, I couldn’t help but notice that their backs were covered, hiding their runes.

  Not thinking much of it, I made myself comfortable against the ledge overlooking the exhibition. Below, the host in charge of mediating the event was having the students walk in a circle to wave at the audience.

  Cheers broke out as most of the students walked off the field, leaving behind only one group of students, all of whom looked to be around eight to ten years in age.

  Caster students were up first. Workers brought targets and laid them on the opposite side of the field, and the students tried to hit them while displaying both accuracy and power. After that, they began running through an obstacle course while hitting targ
ets without stopping.

  While I didn’t condone child soldiers, it was impressive to see even the children of this small town effortlessly go through the complicated obstacle course while firing off bolts of pure mana like trained combatants heading for war.

  A war against Dicathen.

  I cursed myself for thinking unnecessary thoughts. There was nothing I could do at that moment that would change the war in the slightest. Even if I flew into a battle range and killed every Alacryan mage in Maerin, including Cromely and his students, it would only bring the Scythes down on me, and I wasn’t ready for that.

  Unlike the Vritra Clan, I thought as I watched the young Casters below, I’m not going to butcher innocents, even if we are at war.

  Swallowing the bitter taste in my mouth, I tried to find interest in the exhibition as the Caster students finished and the host called for the Shields to step back onto the field. Their performance consisted of each of the Shields protecting two mannequins from blunted projectiles made of wood and stone.

  Throughout these two events, the other officials from the neighboring towns made wagers on their own local students, and the names of promising students were mentioned and praised loudly in the hopes that Cromely would overhear and take notice.

  As the Shield students of Ludro, Cessir, Deura, and Maerin Town stepped down, the atmosphere shifted. While both the Casters and Shields received enthusiastic cheers throughout their events, the cheers paled in comparison to when the Striker students ran out onto the field and took their positions around the raised platform.

  This event consisted of six representative Strikers from each town partaking in a tournament. It would start by having the six from each town duel each other for a chance at representing their towns, and it would end with the remaining Striker from each town facing off in the semi finals and finals.

  After the host introduced the Strikers and reminded them that intentionally losing to let a specific member of their town advance was strictly forbidden, the tournament commenced.

  While I didn’t expect much, I had to admit that I enjoyed this part of the exhibition. The children fought with practiced movements, displaying prowess in both physical and magical abilities. Because the marks or crests that they had forced their spells to form into a specific shapes or actions, they had to rely on understanding and outmaneuvering their opponents—utilizing their magic as a tool rather than being entirely reliant on it.

  “I can’t imagine this little pageant would entertain you in any way,” a thin voice said from behind me.

  “You’d be mistaken then,” I said lightly, not bothering to turn around. “At this level, their weapons are unsharpened and inflexible. This forces the students to be more quick-witted and creative. Don’t you agree, Elder Cromely?”

  The older man stepped up next to me, his brow raised in thought. “Are you saying that the sharper our weapons get, the slower and more unimaginative we become?”

  I shifted my gaze to Cromely, a smirk pulling at the edge of my mouth. “That would depend on the person, but the temptation to lean heavily on the sharpest tool is always there. Isn’t that why we evolved past fighting with our bare fists in the first place?”

  Cromely blinked before letting out a dry laugh. “Wise words, and something that I haven’t thought of myself. Perhaps the Relictombs bestow wisdom upon its ascenders.”

  “Perhaps.” I turned my gaze back to the next pair of Striker students stepping up onto the arena. “So have you found anyone worth admitting to Stormcove Academy?”

  “I’ve already scanned the entire lot of students and not a single one carries the mana reserves worthy of Stormcove,” he replied in a tone that said he had expected it. “Still. The Headmaster of our academy requested we bring more talent from outside Aramoor, so I’ll just take the winner of this little tournament and be done with it.

  “Truthfully, I was reluctant to visit this… outpost.” Cromely then turned to me, his hooked nose less than an arm’s length away from my face. “If that old bear of a man hadn’t told me an actual ascender was here and needed a favor, I wouldn’t have bothered coming, let alone with my top two students.”

  “It seems like you’re implying something, Elder Cromely,” I responded, casting a sideways glance at the older man. “I wasn’t aware that there were strings attached for my short trip to Aramoor.”

  “No strings attached of course,” he quickly responded with another dry laugh. “I merely hoped that you would grace my students, and this town, with a display of what the strength of an ascender looked like.”

  I had been waiting for it from the moment the two students had looked me over like they were sizing me up for a fight, but I didn’t think they’d want to challenge me here.

  ‘Makes sense though,’ Regis sent. ‘If you guys spar here and they lose, they don’t run the risk of losing face for stupidly challenging an ascender.’

  “Hmm… while educating the youth is important, I chose to become an ascender rather than an instructor because I valued material goods a bit more,” I hinted with a playful smile.

  The old representative gave me an appraising look, and I could see the gears turning in his mind. A genuine smile spread across his wrinkled face, and he patted me on the arm. “Looks like it won’t be very hard to get along with you, Ascender Grey! Name your price!”

  “Gold is easy to come by,” I replied, flashing him the runecard provided by Chief Mason, which was filled with my earnings from selling the mana beasts. “But I am curious about that odd rock you have on your cane.”

  “As expected of an ascender, you have a good eye,” he mused, holding up his cane so I could get a better look. “Even though this has been deemed a dead relic by our Sovereign, it still cost me a small fortune at auction.”

  “Does it contain any remnant of its previous power?” I asked nonchalantly, suppressing both my and Regis’s urge to consume the aether stored inside it.

  “If a dead relic could perform even the smallest spec of ancient magic, then it would be impossible for a mere academy elder in some small city to afford it,” Cromely answered as he rubbed the palm-sized stone with his thumb. “No, it’s just a very expensive trinket for me to brag about.”

  “A shame,” I said, feigning disappointment.

  I was unaware that relics deemed “dead” by Agrona were auctioned back to the public, but it made sense. Why not obtain riches for the scraps you had no use for after taking all of the relics that were still intact?

  Thinking back, I couldn’t help but wonder how things would’ve played out differently had the djinn projection not given me the dimensional storage rune, and if Chief Mason had said he would need to take the cuboid relic from me.

  It was safe to assume that my relationship with the people of this town wouldn’t have been as carefree as it was.

  “Still, if Ascender Grey is a connoisseur of such things, I can’t imagine you not wanting to add this to your collection,” he replied. “How about this: if esteemed ascender can best Pallisun and my granddaughter in a friendly spar, I will not only escort you to Aramoor and ensure you’re completely taken care of, I’ll also give you this relic. If they can best you, all esteemed ascender needs to do is put in a good word for them.”

  I cocked a brow. “Put in a good word?”

  A knowing smile crept across the old man’s face. “It’s no use feigning ignorance, Ascender Grey. Mason told me of your close relations with Highblood Denoir,” he whispered. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

  I took a deep breath and willed down my irritation. Looks like the large chief caved in. I really didn’t want my association with such a powerful name being broadcasted so soon, but I guess it did work in my favor at the moment.

  Letting out a sigh, I agreed. “That doesn’t sound like a bad proposition.”

  “Great!” Cromely clapped his hands. “I presume that you’d have no qualms with facing off against my two students at the s
ame time?”

  He really has no shame, I conveyed inwardly to Regis.

  Shrugging, I said, “I assumed that would be the case.”

  “As expected of an ascender!” Cromely beamed. “I’m sure, whether my students win or lose, this will be an excellent learning experience for them!”

  ‘As expected of an ascender,’ Regis echoed mockingly. ‘What a fox.’

  He speaks in politics. It’s nothing to be surprised about when there’s such a distinct hierarchy in Alacrya.

  Cromely gave me the smallest of bows and turned on his heel, making a beeline for his students. He couldn’t have taken more than five steps before Chief Mason scurried over to me, concern laced in his furrowed brows. “E-esteemed ascender.”

  Chief Mason turned his head to make sure Cromely was out of earshot before continuing. “M-my sincerest apologies. Elder Cromely was on the verge of cancelling his visit, and I knew that would complicate your trip back to Aramoor as well. And he’s met many ascenders before, so just saying you were an ascender didn’t seem to interest him.”

  “What’s done is done,” I replied, my voice tinged with annoyance. “I’m assuming you’ve anticipated that Elder Cromely would ask me to put on a little show with his students?”

  The burly man’s gaze lowered. “He mentioned it, yes.”

  “Good. Then progress as planned.” I stood up to get a drink when Chief Mason grabbed my sleeve and leaned in toward me.

  “Please be careful of Elder Cromely. He is known to be quite devious in his plans, and he cherishes his granddaughter,” he whispered.

  My mouth twitched upward in a smirk. “So you’re worrying about me now?”

  The town chief’s expression faltered and he looked like he very much wanted to crawl into a hole.

  “I’m joking,” I smiled, patting the large man’s shoulder. “I hope your son wins the exhibition. His first win was impressive.”