8K words!
Enjoy! My mistake for delaying this, I was reading something with great interest! A Regressor's tale of Cultivation, quite good! A little frustrating sometimes...
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"Training room?"
"Don't you know about them? Most students use them."
"Well... I haven't been around for long..."
'The library alone consumed most of my time.. Some things simply passed through me…'
"That isn't a problem; it's not that complicated."
"… The Academy's main purpose has always been to train warriors. Even if they end up pursuing another path, they'll come out knowing how to fight half-decently."
"From the first to fifth year, we emphasize practice over theory. In fact, the Academy has scholarships to send students away to other institutions if they prove talented in this field. It happens frequently."
"Most times, if someone enters the Academy to study and just that, it's usually because of its reputation. They rarely stay for long, leaving before the third year."
"Of course… What made Parad Academy what it is today were its policies. "Education for all", regardless of blood… Although that approach is less common today."
"It stems from the time of strife when it was built. And while things are more peaceful today, the Academy has never changed its priorities, nor has it tried to hide them."
"To train the students, the Academy prepared a series of dedicated tools and areas, all for the same purpose… Be it the training arenas, the Dungeons, the monthly exams, and more."
"Since this place boasts itself to the Continent for being the best at what it does, it needs something to differentiate itself from other similar institutions such as the Academy of Mystics or the Tower of Knowledge further down South…"
"That's where training rooms come in, artificial environments created to simulate many scenarios one could face on the Continent. And to push those already extreme situations even further."
"Hum…"
'It sounds like a worse version of my Skill… But I can't train effectively inside it as I can in reality.'
'Besides, my Skill is based on my experiences. These training rooms were built over centuries of research and failures… Maybe I can learn something from them.'
'Maybe I can add those rooms into my Skill, that way I can simulate them anywhere I desire…'
"How do we know which room to choose? I imagine it's not as simple as just going for the bigger, most expensive ones."
"True, it's not workable to compress the technology behind all those rooms into a single one. So there are multiple ones out there, each serving a unique purpose. And of those, they also possess multiple layers of complexity and difficulty."
"I'm divided between two options right now: Isolation training, or the more grounded technical room."
"The isolation room works by locking you inside. The Academy would provide you with all kinds of beneficial items and training equipment, the kind you'd have difficulty finding anywhere…"
"Of course, this would mean you'd have to give up your current work schedule. It hasn't been long since you started, but I can make it work so don't worry."
"Meanwhile, the technical room is equipped with exotic and sensitive tools. Academy aid would be reduced, but if you want to learn more about yourself, that room would fulfill your aspirations."
"Other rooms aren't as interesting in my opinion. There are some training rooms focused on magic research, manufacturing, and combat. But the latter is present in both options regardless."
"What do you think?"
Philip didn't even think, replying immediately:
"The second option."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"I'm not a big fan of isolated training. It's counterproductive to what I'm trying to achieve."
'I already know how things would go if I were to isolate myself and train… I'd rather not go through that again. I had enough of it for quite some time.'
'Besides, if I'm forced to go into isolation, how is he supposed to assist me? How would I inspect the other training rooms? And above all, I can't allow myself to be bound anywhere for long.'
'From his tone, it seems the Academy would literally lock me somewhere. If something happens and I need to move, what I do if they denied my leave?'
'It isn't going to work. I need to prepare some things for the future… But something tells me he expected this answer from the start. Maybe he's trying to figure out something from me…'
With a light shrug, Fabrin smiled as he tapped on his table:
"I guess we have our winner then."
'I was planning to make fun of him if he chose the other one, but he ended up choosing this one as well… As expected…'
"Lets see… Where did I put that old thing?…"
Fabrin got up from his seat and went to one of his bookshelves, taking a long rectangular block of wood from inside a drawer at the corner of the room.
"… It should've been here… Found it."
He took a small dark crystal with golden edges and inserted it at the center of his office table.
/Clink!/
With a clear chime, the hologram of a dark square window formed on top of the table. It looked different, but it was the same system Philip used when he was a Warden.
Fabrin sat down, going through the system with a frown:
"It's been a while since I used this… here it is... Booked."
"So, uh… You didn't even check the price? What about the specifications?…"
"If you don't have enough, I'll pay the rest. It's not that expensive anyway…"
Philip checked his identification with a frown, "Just uh… Give me a moment… Twenty-Six thousand."
"That's quite a bit… You worked quite hard down there. We can talk about the rest on the way. I booked the room for a day so you can have a taste of it."
"Let's go."
"Lead the way."
'Time to see if these Credits have any worth…'
…
"… Say… How's your daughter?"
"Hm?…" He smiled, Thanks to you and that little girl's help, she won't have any lasting scars… She's in another room, resting."
Philip looked around. Eventually looking at the ceiling. It was faint, but he could feel her breathing coming from upstairs.
"… Let me be clear here, no."
"What?... What do you… Man, I was just asking if she was okay…"
"I hope so."
"..."
'Overprotective parents… Or rather, father. Makes me wonder what happened to the mother, but this doesn't look like the time to ask such a thing.'
…
Philip followed Fabrin deep into the woods to a large building. It looked like a sprawling complex, bustling with students and professors.
A banner above the entrance proclaimed something in a foreign language Philip could hardly translate as "perseverance", when consulting with MT, it failed to come up with a response, the data regarding the language yet to be properly analyzed.
Its faded lettering hinted at a history far older than its seemingly modern facade. Philip exchanged a quick glance with Fabrin, the imposing structure seeming to hum with unseen energy.
'The hairs on my arm have raised on their own, I don't feel any danger though, it feels more like there's static electricity in the air.'
"These are the training grounds, there should be around fourty or so rooms in here. It's usually quite busy so expect to see other people from time to time."
He looked around before whispering, "Most of the people that can afford this place are your usual rich people, so look the other way and they'll mostly ignore you as well. Those that do bother to come here are usually not the kind to pester others."
"If they bother you, then don't cower else they'll just bother you even more… But I'll give you a piece of advice since you already caused so much trouble..."
"..."
'I didn't cause trouble, the trouble came to me...'
"… Try to be aware of who you're dealing with, minor Nobles don't tend to hold grudges for long, but bigger ones are a hassle. Especially if they're vindictive."
"Noted."
'Not like I haven't been trying to do that…'
"Aside from that, welcome to your new home for the day!... I also placed an order for the next week to prevent others from booking it after us. It won't be too late to book those days or more if you do enjoy it."
"I understand..."
'They really have a lot of facilities in this place… I suppose I'll train until I've had enough. Take a look at the other rooms and see if I can simulate them with my Skill.'
He took a glance at Fabrin as he stepped inside their assigned room, 'What matters here is him. Let's see what he has to offer.'
With a determined smile, Philip started his training with Fabrin!
…
/Time flew by, and before he knew, half an hour…/
/CLANG!/
"Haa… S-Shit…"
Philip's sword flew out of his hands as his skin was ripped apart from the impact.
'I can't feel my fingers... Ah, I see... They are all torn...'
/Thud…/
After an intense clash, his sword flew away, hitting the hard floor with a depressing thud. Meanwhile, Fabrin cracked his neck with a pleased expression.
"Good enough for a first try."
"Yeah… Huff…"
'It was short, but I still can't understand what he does. He switches combat styles far too often, but I think that's just because the difference between us is too high. I simply can't press him enough to force him onto what he's used to… Though this could also be his natural state.'
'Previously, he fought with his pen in a pseudo form of swordsmanship. Now, he coated each of his hands with a strange energy, with divergent properties. He fought mostly with punches and kicks, but even then I was unable to overpower him.'
'Still, he seems to be like some sort of magic user but…'
/CLAP!/
Fabrin clapped his hands, shattering Philip's thought process, "Enough thinking, you do that too often. Besides, we're only starting. If this is everything you're capable of, we'll end the practice training for today and start the physical training."
"I want to see just how capable your muscles really are!"
"..."
'He has quite the energy… I'm not against it but… It hurts… This energy of his hurts me a lot! Sigh… I miss the time when my only worries were my exams… Not so much, really.'
"Don't be discouraged, you're quite capable! Your foundation isn't built on nothing! Nonetheless, there are still two… three… let's say four things I have yet to use."
"If you can force me to use it all, you can consider yourself to be a Master."
"Discouraged? Is that how it looked like?… Anyhow, what do you mean by that?"
"A Master is a general term… Hum, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it, alas! Overall, a Master is usually a term directed at people like you and my daughter, martial artists."
"A Master stands at the same tier as a 7th Circle Archmage. Perhaps that would make more sense to you?… Don't take it at face value though, there are all kinds of freaks and unique circumstances out there."
"I never do…" Philip scratched his head awkwardly before adding, "That said, I'm not too familiar with the abilities of an Archmage… Are you an Archmage?"
'In fact, I barely even know those of a 5th Circle. Viera was far from the best example… There is a big difference between a hard-working magician who trained for four decades amidst countless battlefields and a sheltered genius teenager magician…'
'Experience is in itself a form of power. That's why many say that wisdom is power…'
"If I'm an Archmage?… The short answer is no. I do not form circles like other magicians…" He reached for his head before scratching his chin, "That said, I could be considered one from a purely technical perspective."
"For your doubts, we'll get that done over time. You seem to lack experience, that seems to be what you need most right now rather then standard training… Not that I advise you stopping it."
His eyes sharpened, and he eventually replied:
"… From my eyes, you are barely enough to make ends meet with a 5th Circle."
"What… Why is that?"
This massively surprised Philip. He didn't feel offended nor attacked in any way, but didn't that feel quite low, given everything he went through? Of course, 5th Circle was halfway through the hierarchy of wizards, and the gaps between the higher levels were immense, but he still considered himself to be above Viera…
He knew just how strong the instructors were, and he knew he was beneath them, but in the simulation room, with his mastery over Berinou's techniques, he could at least clash with her strikes… Although whatever strength she displayed then was balanced to his strength at the time, so maybe his view of things was distorted… No, it certainly was.
But clearing those misconceptions was exactly why he went all the way here with him in the first place.
Fabrin smiled, pleased he didn't go into an instant rebuttal due to pride, "Let's look at this in a mora logical manner. Your abilities are diverse yet not in harmony. They cannot be executed together without severe damage to your body."
"Your full strength is nothing but a momentary burst of effort. A proper 5th Circle would be prepared to resist you at least once. Even if you can, let's say, assassinate one, that does not put you in the same realm as them."
"Also, I'm talking about a proper combat magician… Not those flamboyant students. They're good enough to make ends meet, but that isn't enough for us, is it?"
"... Or don't tell me you are okay with being on the same level as these kids?" Our goal should remain much higher than that."
"You are… like a poisonous butterfly."
"Pardon?"
"Swift, elegant, and full of colors… A single touch could kill a bear, and the bear knows to stay away… But what of it? For all the butterfly is, it is also… Very frail. All it takes from the bear is a swipe and you're gone."
"You are strong enough to kill many creatures, but giving them a proper fight? That's debatable. And that's only for wizards… What are you going to do against a martial artist that specializes in physical combat? You may overpower them with technique, but what will you do if your sword does not penetrate their skin?"
"Are you going to hack away at them until a strike passes through? It could work, anything's better than giving up, but… Please… That's no fight. And don't tell me otherwise."
"... I understand."
'His words are correct for the most part. I have several martial systems within me that do not coexist with one another. I can chain them together, but in the end, even if I have ten guns that shoot 9mm rounds… None will pass through a titanium block.'
'Some styles are stronger than others. A few can be partially used to support others, but it's not a seamless procedure. Only when the System recognizes those all as part of the same system or I fuse them all into a skill can I say I've achieved what Fabrin is trying to hint at.'
"Maybe you believe this is a matter of perspective? And I agree. You can't beat, nor can you defend against everything. You'll excess and perform poorly in some scenarios. That's how it is. You can only try to cover those weaknesses with something else like deception and critical thinking… Isn't that right?"
"..."
'He noticed I've been hiding some of my abilities. My mental power for once… But nothing would've changed even if I had used those… Because it's the same thing as before.'
'The strange thing is… How did he figure that out? Fabrin's mental power is strong, but it doesn't overshadow mine. How did he notice it then?'
"You're always so pensive and quiet, especially when you're challenged… Not that I mind. I'm used to my daughter acting like this as well. That said, call it as you may. I will only recognize you as able if you can hold yourself in battle."
"How about that? Are you satisfied with my observation?"
"Hum… I'm fine with that." Philip replied with a shrug as he looked aside
'I never really cared about the whereabouts of my power or how it would be categorized among the various peculiar powers and abilities in this world. As long as I got stronger, that was fine, as long as I was having fun, I was satisfied…'
'But since Ill be meeting more and more enemies in the future, having a better idea of what I'm dealing with and where I stand is paramount. I like a good fight, but I'm not suicidal.'
'Even back then, I selective took my battles. A strategic mind was the minimum from a Hunter. Those without it lost themselves to the abyss.'
"It seems we agree, in that case, let's proceed to the next step…"
Fabrin smiled, and turned around to walk a corner of the room, but quickly turned back to him "Oh, I forgot to ask. You told me you were okay with intense training, was that right?"
Philip nodded, "I'm at least used to bleeding and breaking my bones, so that much should be more than fine."
'Be it before or at the Palace and beyond… I've always trained quite gruesomely. Berinou especially did not hold her punches at all.'
"That's a relief. Let's start small, shall we?"
/SPLURGE!/
"?!?!"
/SPAT!/
/THUD/
A perfectly executed cut to Philip's neck sent a large amount of blood splattering onto the ground.
"WH-GT…"
Philip tried to say something but blood was quickly running towards his lungs… In anger, Philip used his combat technique, controlling the blood on his neck and making it flow normally without blocking his throat.
"!"
'THIS FUCKER!'
"Woah…"
Fabrin opened his eyes wide with surprise as he pulled his hair back in shock.
'He survived even that? His blood… He is controlling it. That's new.'
'Strange, his Vitality isn't being stimulated, nor do I sense Necromancy, much less Blood magic… So what is it?'
'This boy… He's fascinating.'
"You… Cough! What was that?!"
'If he wanted to kill me, he would've done it by now. That aside, what even was that strange energy?! I've been feeling it every once in a while but I can't get a grasp on what it is.'
'I spent an entire year in that Simulation Room and not once have I come across anything remotely similar to this power. It's not visually striking, but it doesn't have the same "feel" as everything I've seen so far.'
'Man… I don't like this. Had his cut been a little above the neckline, it would've been over for me.'
For the first time in a while, Philip's guard was completely up, because now, there was a tangible chance he may die!
Fabrin noticed this, but rather replying, he rushed forward with untold momentum!
/DASH!/
"?!"
/CLANG!/
His focus fully ahead of him, Philip barely parried a sharp stone cone launched at him from the ground, stepping back from the intense recoil!
'He's controlling the damn stone!'
/CUT!/
"Wha…"
/Thud…/
'Dammit…'
For the first time since he came out of the dream, Philip felt the taste of death… As his left amputated arm fell to the ground.
"Urg..."
'He's constantly aiming at my neck. This is bothersome…'
… At that moment Philip completely sobered up. In an instant, he changed Classes, and took out a blood vial, injecting it into his bloodstream as he used his Combat Art to move his arm back into position…
/Splurge…/
Within a second, his severed arm was back in action! But he did not let his guard down as he once again changed Classes.
Fabrin observed this scene with open eyes, extremely surprised.
"You sure have a lot of Vitality…"
'He's much better than I expected. His survivability is also extremely high with what he showed me… I haven't seen many men able to mold their bodies with such profficiency in my life.'
Fabrin smiled evily, "But… how many times can you do that?"
/Crunk…/
The stone below him moved, and a sword formed. Without saying a single word, Fabrin took a step forward with his stone sword in hand.
The sword hummed with power as Fabrin prepared for battle. His eyes, shaded blue, locked onto his opponent standing before him.
The air crackled with tension as Fabrin's movements became fluid and precise. With a swift motion, he lunged forward, his stone sword cutting through the air with a sharp hiss. Philip raised their own weapon in response, the clash of metal echoing through the training room.
/CLANG!/
As the two fighters engaged in a fierce duel, sparks flew and the ground trembled beneath their feet. Fabrin's every strike was met with equal force, but he remained focused and unwavering in his resolve. With each movement, he seemed to draw strength from the very stone that composed his weapon, channeling its exoteric power into his every blow.
This energy traveled across Philip's arms, sending shivers down his spine with every touch.
'I feel as if my arm was shoved into a tub of ice…'
His senses growing numb with every clash, despite being able to follow Fabrin's move at first, Philip was soon pushed into a passive position, being forced to defend against his every blow, growing ever weaker than their clashes ragged on.
Soon enough, with his body and swordsmanship alone, he was unable to resist his onslaught of strikes regardless of what he tried, and eventually, his head was cut off like before.
Then again, he reattached his head with a frustrated expression. Fabrin smiled, and their clash ensued again.
…
/Two hours later…/
/Splash!/
"..."
'Can I… Have a fucking b…'
/THUD!/
Philip fell onto the ground "dead". His two arms severed into three pieces, and his legs were twisted beyond recognition. There was a literal sea of blood on the ground, and Fabrin stood above it, gazing at Philip's fallen body with a conflicted expression.
He stood there for a while, waiting for Philip to reattach himself, yet he didn't, and for a moment, he grew worried.
The air beside him twisted, like waves in the sea, and his eyes darted to it, a bead of sweat between his eyebrows.
"... You think I took it too far?"
Seemingly listening to something, he went for the back of his head, feeling apologetic.
"… I mean… Did I?... Okay, okay… Huh? Why are you rushing me?... I'm testing this very seriously!"
After discussing with the air for a few more seconds, Fabrin seemingly lost his patience, waving his arm dismissively. Immediately after, he raised his right hand… And the ground responded.
It distorted, taking the shape of a leafless stone tree. From one of its branches, a small clear blue drop condensed, falling right inside Philip's mouth.
But nothing seemed to happen.
/Ripple…/
The air rippled again. It seemed to convey… Frustration.
"... What do you mean nothing's happening? Do you think this is instantaneous? Just wait and…"
/Shine!/
In a sudden flash of light, the pool of blood on the ground suddenly shook, moving back into Philip's body. His arms, and legs… Everything went back to where it belonged.
But Philip seemed to be unconscious, although still breathing faintly.
"See? I told you everything would go well…"
Despite his confidence, his voice was shaky and his skin moist from sweat.
/Ripple…/
"... Shut up."
Silence resumed.
…
/Several minutes later…/
"Urg… I… I uh… ?!?!"
/Splat!/
With a headache followed by a sudden jolt, Philip woke up, making the bit of remaining blood on the ground splash all around.
He looked at his hands and feet and exclaimed in disbelief:
"I…"
'I'm okay? Phew…'
"You're alive."
"You… Alive? Wait..."
The pieces of the puzzle fell into place…
'Did I actually… Did he actually kill me? How could that even?… No matter how many times I was cut. No matter how much blood I lost, I'm certain I could've regenerated. His cuts were clean and smooth, it took little effort to re-attach my body parts or even seal those wounds… Wait…'
'That strange energy, it didn't just numb my body but also my mind… I see… I lost consciousness and could not regenerate.'
Philip read some lingering notifications on Apex Evolver and understood what had happened.
'It seems my cells were unable to resurrect me. Maybe because of the energy consumption… They're mighty, but I've been tortured in this room for hours, forced to heal repeatedly without rest. My cells are now famished with little energy to sustain me, otherwise, I might've survived.'
'I believed I was beyond such injuries as long as my head wasn't harmed, but it seems I was mistaken. This is as close to a real confrontation as it can get. And even though I didn't try, I doubt he'd give me the chance to recover some energy mid fight.'
'This... is my loss. I have died.'
An indescribable feeling passed through Philip's mind. He didn't know how to feel about this. His mind and spirit were in disarray for the first time in a while.
His Trait assisted him through many hurdles, but this one was deeper, targeting his very beliefs… It wouldn't shake him, but it left him without words.
Giving Philip some time to process this information, Fabrin confirmed his words with a stern gaze, "Yes, I killed you. And I'll do it every day from now on."
"What?... Could you repeat that?"
He chuckled, amused… Amused? "You didn't get that wrong, from now on, every day, I'll attack you intending to kill, so if you don't want to die, grow stronger."
"Heh…"
Funny enough, Philip smiled a little. 'Brings back some memories...' However, Fabrin did not take his smile as a positive reaction:
"Didn't you say you were up for it?"
'Despite how little we've trained, he's progressed quite a bit to my offense. His talent is evident. It just needs polishing. My previous plans have been scrapped given his extraordinary resilience, but I hope I'm not being hasty.'
'For someone who grows the fastest under the pressure of a serious fight, a fight to the death is the best way for him to grow… I'll give him pointers where it is due, but after giving him a closer look, I don't think I can help him that deeply.'
'His techniques are sharp and alien to me. I do recognize some, however… But even if I do, I haven't practiced them, so it's difficult to give any meaningful assistance.'
'We can summarize it all with what we discussed before. Experience. He needs to find his path on his own. He doesn't seem lost, just in dire need of a wall to hack at to his heart's content…'
'… I shall become that wall. I'll break his edge every day until it does not shatter anymore. Then I'll sharpen it. That's all I can do.'
'But… I worry about his mental health. If he can't take this, then I'll have to go back to what I had previously planned… If his physical resilience isn't a problem, then it becomes a matter of metal fortitude.'
"I… Did say that. I just didn't expect you to… Can I have some time to think and breathe?"
Philip put his fingers on his temples, brooding as he furrowed his eyebrows. He was utterly uncaring about his physical condition or at the blood pool beneath him.
"All the time you wish, I'll be here to answer your questions…"
Saying nothing else, Philip got up and sat down on a chair nearby.
"Urg…"
'That hurt… In many ways.'
'Being killed… That is a first for me.'
Philip rummaged through his memories, sighing as he remembered something.
'I got close to it a few times in the dream, but never did a monster reach so close as to actually cut one of my limbs off… I was once cut in the belly and felt my stomach spill… If it wasnt for the insane vitality of the Hunters, I would've died and the dream would be over.'
'However, that does not compare to what I subjected myself to when I was stuck in Simulation Room. Once I learned that the simulation did not end with my presumed death… Obviously due to my overconfidence… So I began experimenting… I suppose those counts as death? Probably not…'
'The simulation merely reset back to null. However, maybe now that I have experienced it, things will change?… I don't know if I like the sound of that…'
'Those aside, I can understand what he is trying to do. I grow the fastest under pressure while in combat… and I did grow considerably in the last few hours.'
'My next death likely won't be as impactful since the shock factor is gone. But as he said, I don't want to die, I would never want to experience that again… That feeling.'
'It was… Boring, I mean, perhaps death only truly happens when my soul leaves my body… And given all the books I've read about Souls and the Spirit, maybe I haven't experienced "true" death…'
'It was more of a coma, I blacked out and woke up after… But with that strange after feeling of helplessness… Perhaps I should be thankful that I didn't see the famed light at the end of the tunnel…'
"Urg… I am not a masochist… Just because I can resist the pain that doesn't mean I can't feel it, nor that I enjoy it…"
'I felt all sorts of pain, and some surpassed what I felt this time… But the feelings that I felt in both are completely different… This might truly be the hardest training I have experienced so far…'
Hearing his words, Fabrin coughed faintly as he looked away. After settling his thoughts for a few more minutes, Philip got up, approaching Fabrin…
…
/A few hours later…/
Shortly after completing his training, Philip found himself at a small, open-air coffee shop on the Academy grounds. The same one he had gone to before with Fabrin to enjoy some snacks.
The place had grown on him. As he pointed out time and time again, it seemed he forgot to enjoy the refined nobility the Academy offered. There were far too many shops to be explored within its grounds. And to no surprise, the Academy was large enough to be its own nation, being utterly self-sufficient.
"… My right hand is still a bit numb…"
'Following a brief chat with Fabrin, I was given a rest period between sessions. This way I could give my body some time to recover energy and adapt. That said, hope there wasn't any sort of permanent damage from the constant stimulation to my cells…'
"It's brutal, but I can't deny the results."
'It's working… It's everything I wanted. Now I only need some time to internalize it all. In due time, I'll certainly surpass this "wall" and fuse these skills.'
'Things would've been faster if my System cooperated, but ever since it broke down, things haven't been the same. Whatever Sub-routine has taken hold of its functions, it hasn't been doing well. The last message it successfully gave me was about being unable to proceed with something a few days ago.'
'A Hero without the System… As if my task couldn't get any harder…'
Philip rested his head on the chair and enjoyed his juice under the moon…
"..."
"… How long are you going to remain there looking at me?"
"!..."
/Step step step.../
Someone slowly approached Philip from behind, their voice shaky, "Ex-Excuse me, are you perhaps… Philip Vinten?"
It was a girl with a gentle voice. One that invoked a sense of nostalgia within him...
'I recognize this voice... And this sensation as well… But there isn't anyone outside of the Empire who should've known my true name.'
Hearing his family name was the last nail on the coffin in helping him confirm who it was.
"Heh..."
Nonetheless, with his guard up, Philip slowly turned around with a smile, "I think you got the wrong person, miss…"
'It's her.'
Before him was none other than Larin, one of the Elven princesses… As fate foretold, they met again, and to Philip's embarrassment, it was a bit faster than he expected. After all, he left in such a sudden and mysterious way the last time they met. How embarrassing would it be to meet them again, just like this?
All the drama he had built seemed to have gone up in smoke, just like him when they departed…
"… Miss?"
Although this meeting momentarily shocked him, Philip remained focused, and noticing Larin's silence, he tried to get her attention.
He sharpened his eyes and memory, 'I wonder what led her here. Was there anything regarding her possible actions in Dae's diary?… I don't think so… From his perspective, Larin was solely an individual meant to be met and parted ways with. What mattered most was her guard, not her per se…'
'Such an encounter was… Unforeseen. Either that, or the chances of it occurring were so low, Dae did not decide to include his notes. Theres the chance he forgot or did not have the time to write it down, that's obvious… but… Where's the fun in that?'
"Eh? A-Apologies, I lost my concentration there for a moment." She said with an apologetic smile
"It's okay, but how can I help you?"
She smiled and said:
"Would you mind if I sat here and shared some tea with you?"
She played around with her fingers as she adjusted her hair in the wind. Something was wrong… Where did this odd mood come from?
"..."
'So it's about that... I'm slightly embarrassed. I was in a hurry before but it was because of the misunderstanding between us. I didn't want to blow my cover nor remain for long and risk recapture by the Crown, so I ran away.'
'What am I even meant to say now? My thoughts aren't even steady, I've been thinking about my training and plans all day long… Maybe some proper rest won't do much harm… but…'
Philip sighed internally, not displaying his inner emotions.
"Not at all."
He pointed towards a chair and invited her to join him. Larin gently sat in the chair opposite Philip, before ordering something for her soon after.
She offered to pay for it all, but Philip refused, making her a bit upset.
But after talking a bit and somehow breaking the ice, Philip said bluntly with a smile, "It's been a while since we last met..."
Dropping all manners of mistery, what was the point in keeping it anyway?
But Larin raised her hand, interrupting him. She took a small object from her pocket and placed it in the middle of the table.
'Oh, that… I suppose she values caution… I had utterly forgotten about that. Truly, my head's all over the place.'
Philip did not recognize what it was, but he had seen a similar thing once before... It was faint, but something had unraveled around them. But he was far too inexperienced to tell what it was.
"I hope you don't mind."
"This is better actually." He said with a smile after he took a sip of the sweet tea Larin ordered
'It's good, I'll keep this in mind for next time.'
Although he did not voice it inside his mind, the reason he spoke so little was for the sole reason of looking cooler.
"Have you two been doing fine?"
This momentarily surprised Larin, but she replied with her own smile "Yes we are, all thanks to your and everyone's efforts…"
"Ah yes, how are the others?"
"We parted ways at the Path of Liberation. The children of the clans have been sent back home without trouble. They wanted me to relay their gratitude and also a promise of adequate rewards for their rescue, but I couldn't accept that since I had no way of confirming when I would meet you"
"Meanwhile, the High Orcs were sent back to their land… Or so it is what was reported… The truth is, sending them back would've likely resulted in their… "disappearance". I'm certain you're aware why… So, in truth, they've…"
"There's little need to share such with me. As long as they've found a place to belong to, then it's fine to me." He said as he interrupted her
"There is also no need to give me any sort of reward or compensation. I'm glad you came to me to have this sorted out, but I don't really mind. I was just doing what I was tasked to do. I hope things can remain as such."
"I hope you pardon my rudeness for what I'm about to say, but your situation is also not very stable right now, so you do not have to force yourself into giving me something."
"Even so…"
'I still wish to give you something…'
Larin was frustrated. Without her knowing, she pouted. Not solely due to his refusal, but due to his extreme formalities. Even now, Philip acted and spoke in a manner that put her above him, causing her to feel estranged.
She wanted to grow a little closer to her savior, but did not wish to push too far into his comfort zone. As such, seeing the boundaries Philip rose between them, she decided to nick at it, one prick at a time…
"… Regardless of your reasons, I still think of this as a favor. If I can't pay for it now, I'll pay for it tomorrow. This is beyond mere formality, it's connected to my very beliefs."
"The same goes for the others you've assisted. I heard Dwarves are especially stubborn in repaying such debts."
Philip let out a faint sigh. She was serious, this much he could tell from her appearance. He tried to feel her emotions, but they were like grey mist, thick and without shape.
He felt frustrated. Recently, far too many had evaded his unique senses. It was starting to bother him quite a bit…
"… Very well. I do have something I can think of… But…"
Her eyes sparkling, she leaned on the table, "No buts! I'll keep my word!"
"… I learned much during my confrontation with Yer-Al. However, I've come to a roadblock on my studies. It may be much to ask, but I'd like to learn, even if the utmost basics of his technique. Blue Asminthum."
/Chuckle…/
However, she began to laugh.
"Is that really all you desire? A mere second-hand technique of a man who couldn't even properly become a Knight? You know it better than me, don't you? The desperation within him…"
"I'm uncertain about the qualities of both him and his weapon, but it's the sole thing still stuck in my mind ever since our past encounter. I wanted to clear it of my head once and for all."
She stayed silent for a while, but she raised her head to look at Philip, and after doing so, she seemed to have decided on something.
She took a small ring from her left ring finger and presented it to Philip.
"What you asked for can be easily arranged for. But its not enough. Take this, it's the only thing I can repay you with… and the only thing I believe to be of equal value to both mine and my Knight's lives…"
"A ring? You didn't have to, the information is…"
But as he looked at her pouting expression, one she didn't even realize she was performing, Philip closed his mouth and focused on the ring.
The ring was rather simple, it looked like a bunch of green metallic vines bundled up together… If she was giving this to him as a reward for saving them, then this ring was important in some way, right?
Strangely though, he felt as if he had seen this ring before. Most likely, he had read about it and internalized such information inside the Phantom Library.
He tried to use Scholar Vision on the ring but it failed to relay anything concrete. Making him reconsider his previous assumption. Still, he couldn't shake off the feeling he had seen this before, and it certainly wasn't from their last encounter.
"This ring possesses a special power. It can work as a token of identity as well."
"Identity?"
"Yes, but don't worry, most can't recognize it at face value. So long as you don't wander around Elven royalty, most won't be able to recognize this Ring. But if you do require assistance, they will provide it upon seeing this ring."
"Even then, it will help you in your journey… or so I wish." She said with a faint and warm smile
"..."
'So is some sort of magical item? I won't refuse… Especially since if I do, she'll definitely just push something else onto me. I'm too mentally tired to think about these things…'
'That said, I doubt I'll need any assistance from the Elves anytime soon. Even if I do, handing over a ring that once belonged to an outcast princess wouldn't do well for me… I'm sorry, it's cold and harsh, but it's reality.'
'That said, this aspect of the ring could have its uses in some specific scenarios…'
"Oh, I forgot to mention it, but there were also the presents from the people you saved that day. They aren't substantial, but they were left with me in the hopes of reaching you. Please, do not refuse them."
"It's okay, I understand that there's a point where being too humble becomes rudeness… But there is one thing I would like to ask you…"
"Of course, ask away."
"What ended up happening… In a political sense? After I left?"
"..."
The princess had to think for a while before replying, "That is hard to answer. There were negotiations in the Path of Liberation with representatives of the affected clans and houses days after we parted, and while its difficult to summarize everything discussed then, I'll try to do so."
"From the perspective of the kidnapped, all clues point towards this being a framing attempt from a third party, but it's been determined that the Southerners have something to do with it."
"Even after everything and the concessions, the Humans weren't fully able of ridding themselves of a part of the blame... Some culprits have been captured and delivered to the affected clans to relieve some of the tension, but how effective that was remains to be seen." She said with an apologetic look as she sighed faintly
"There is no need to apologize. The mistakes of those people have nothing to do with me."
The princess seemed a bit relieved, so she continued, "Slaves passing through the mountains were always something most races had some sort of idea. Some even participated in the smuggling. Even if some were mostly against it, there wasn't anything they could do."
"You wipe out a group of slavers and another one appears… Worst of all, in most countries, their actions are legalized, so they wouldn't stop them from taking another route or procuring another source, so the best those nations could do was close one eye and keep the other open to their movements."
"The problem was how the perpetrators perfectly executed a wide-scale operation to kidnap the future Heads and Nobles of many races, leaving little to no clues."
"The races have recognized that had them been successful, it might've been enough to spark a war, and this has put many of them on edge. Tensions between them are high, but the wide majority has dropped suspicions that the Southerns are solely to blame."
"Now, most of them are busy preparing for conflict and searching for the ones responsible for this. Either way, it's clear to all that someone wants to spark conflict between the races and put the Southerners to blame, although some are still skeptical."
"I'm sure that was what my brot… He wanted. One way or another." She said in a serious tone as she corrected herself
"..."
"Ahem… Right now, most of the affected parties are trying to gather the available evidence, but their trails have already been cut, so right now, they are trying to find a scapegoat to ease tensions… I expect one to be found sooner or later. And for certain it won't be end with just the slavers."
"Fro… From the Human side, the royal faction has already started to move and investigate this matter, although on whose orders I dont know, besides, these are mostly rumors…"
"Their exact actions have been shrouded in secrecy. It's evident they're taking things extremely seriously. I believe that out of all, they're the most tense, likely considering all to be possible culprits in this attempt to spark conflict."
Philip could imagine that much. He wasn't much aware of the Crown's methods, but given the history lessons he received, he knew how defensive the Humans were regarding their interactions with other species.
Larin took a quick glance at the sides, and seeing that no one was there she whispered,
"There are words that the King has started to uproot the people behind this in secret..."
"Words sure travel fast..."
'It has barely even been two weeks since we parted ways.'
"Well... I heard them directly from one of the crowns agents."
"You did?"
"Yes? Not long after you left, one of their agents contacted us and escorted us here, in the way I learned a lot."
"..."
Philip remained silent, but he started to get a better understanding of his situation.
'It seems the crown noticed my movements way earlier than I thought... Actually, there's the possibility they knew I had left from the very beginning.'
'I was holding onto the hope I had momentarily escaped them, but that was mostly my wishful thinking. This raises a question though, why didn't they try to bring me back?'
'Are they keeping an eye on me?… Let's hope they haven't seen much…'
The last thing he wanted was to be paranoid all the time. Philip had already cast aside his worries when he entered the Academy, but at this rate, they were going to return…
"It's good that this situation has been resolved somewhat."
'None of this is my business, but know more doesn't hurt… Within reason, of course. I'd rather not involve myself in this anymore than I already have.'
Larin smiled faintly, she held the bitterness within her heart, "Its just the start, there is still a lot to do..."
...
/Half an hour later.../
Philip and the princess continued their pleasant tea, discussing politics and other matters. Smiling, the princess departed with a promise to meet again, one he could only accept.
His original task was to grow closer to her, and although he didn't understand Dae's reasons, perhaps he would someday. This made him rethink the reasons Dae did not add more about her in the notebook. Perhaps he was trying to deprive him of information regarding his true plans… Otherwise, why give him such a direct mission yet add little detail to it?
Some aspects of the diary possessed multiple pages of deliberations and guidance while Larin's ended at their last meeting. He might be acting slightly overly paranoid, but Philip had some reason to suspect Dae… Multiple…
For now though, tired and worn out, Philip returned to his room, needing a deserving and hopefully deep, good rest.
/Time passed…/
...
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Notes
When I first wrote this chapter, I was a little unsatisfied with it, feeling I didn't properly convey the things I wanted. To the me now, I don't feel the same anymore, but maybe its because I fleshed it out more compared to before.
If we follow the ordinary progression, the next chapter will be the real beginning of the end... Although I wanted to add a few more things before that... I'm still building the chapter so yeah.
Thank you for reading. Peace! It's well over 3am now and I need some sleep... Bye!