Arthur looked at Merlin. His eyes twitched at the same time. He was a hard person to read.
He tapped his armor nervously.
Alice shifted, and made a move to shield Arthur.
"Do not scare him like that, he just woke up he didn't know about the dark crystal"
Merlin smirked. "And you expect me to believe that Mrs. Thorn?"
"Just because you have noble blood in you doesn't mean you are worthy to talk in front of the holy knight, you know that?"
Arthur didn't like that tone; it made his mom shudder.
Of course he knew she was a noble before she was outcast by his own father, who abandoned them both.
He clenched his fist how dare they threaten his mom.
"Very well Mr Arthur, I heard you didn't awaken at the ceremony which made you a gouler. You know that deadly right. You are likely to work in a mine or worse, be used for a trap on a mission" Merlin stated.
"And at the same time, which is suspicious. You manage to make the crystal black even though you possess nothing. Do you call that a coincidence? Or what?"
"I awakened" Arthur said.
Merlin eyed him, even Alice did.
"What do you mean young boy, are you trying to play tricks with us?" Ugo stepped forward and made a move to grab Arthur, but Merlin stopped him.
"You awakened?" Merlin's voice was silk over steel.
Yes," Arthur said. Forcing his voice steady " The crystal must have misfunctioned"
" Though Arthur knew it was a lie, the crystal isn't a technology that can malfunction. But that was the only way to make them go away.
Everything can have faults.
"Malfunction?" Merlin laughed. His eyes darkened. "The crystal having a malfunction?"
He nodded. "Okay I accept that. If you can show us your awakened ability"
Arthur froze on the spot. He looked at Merlin who smiled like everything is fine.
What the hell is this man doing?.
Arthur's knuckles to turn white. as he clenches them.
He shouldn't have told them he awakened.
He had made a really big mistake.
"You are blessed with enough mana since you are of noble blood," Merlin added.
Arthur wanted to stand up and bolt outside. But he couldn't run anyway and he remembered he is still half crippled.
Merlin chuckled. " Or are you afraid?"
Alice looked at her son. "Arthur"
I can do this.
Arthur assured himself. He only needs to show them his ability.
{Choose path}
Healer [ D- rank]
Mist Pathfinder [D- rank]
Arthur stared at the screen. He was the only one that could see it. No one can.
Which one should I choose?.
He has to make it less suspicious.
They can't find out about his system.
Healer.
[healer path- 10%]
Skill: healers pocket {heal a low species animal within 20 seconds}
Arthur smiled. That would do.
Anyway he didn't expect the least.
Merlin eyed Arthur like he was seeing past the boy, or maybe he could see the system.
Arthur beamed and looked at Merlin.
" I am ready," Arthur said.
What can I heal?.
I thought the system would produce a low species animal.
He looked at the air like he was expecting an animal like an insect or bird to appear.
But that isn't how the system works.
He groaned. Why would the system give
him a low skill.
I should have chosen mist Pathfinder.
He didn't know what that meant but at least it would be useful.
"So what can you do?" Merlin asked , folding his arms. "A necromancer, assassin, mage….. " he started listing them down for Arthur. Who looked in the air.
If only the system could produce the low species animal.
Please,He prayed.
But nothing appeared.
"And Beast tamer" Merlin finished. Arthur was lost in thought. "Which one are you, young boy?"
Arthur snapped out of his dream. "I.. em…. Healer" he managed.
Though he didn't have the skill or mana to heal something big.
"Healer" Merlin repeatedly looked at Alice."Okey then"
He brought out a small dagger, that glinted with the sunlight.
Arthur flinched.
He made to cut himself.
"No" Arthur stopped him. "I can only heal a low species animal, I can't produce that kind of mana I am still weak"
Merlin and Ugo exchanged looks. Then Merlin put his dagger back in his pack pocket.
"If you say so" he raised his hand in the air.
"Rounsan egyork, almana, lag" he chanted.
Arthur watched in amazement as a bird appeared on the floor in front of him.
It was magic. That explains why he didn't bring a sword like Ugo.
He is a mage.
The bird struggled, as Arthur tried to touch it.
The bird cawed and rolled in pain, Arthur figured it out and looked at the neck. It had a cut there, and it was beginning to decay.
"It is almost dead," Arthur said and looked at Merlin.
"Yes and that is your job as a healer to heal him right?" Merlin smirked.
Arthur nodded. He knew what Merlin was trying to do, he wanted to make it look harder so he could fail.
He knew normal just awakened wouldn't be able to do it.
But he had to, it depended on his future, in this world.
Arthur placed his hand on the cut. He felt the bird's pain. He resonated with it.
The bird stopped struggling.
Arthur inhaled, he had to take away his pain.
He just knew that somehow.
But he knew it was the work of the system.
He closed his eyes as Merlin watched him closely.
He inhaled the bird scent, and pain. He could feel his emotion, the bird's struggle and the bird's desperation to be free.
It was just another version of him.
Then he concentrated all his inner energy into his arms and released it mentally on the bird wound.
A green light shimmered from Arthur palms and shone on the wounds.
With a sizzling sound the wound closed.
The bird stirred then whoosh it was on its feet.
It flew out of the window and sowed into the air.
Alice gasped as she looked at Arthur.
Merlin was lost for a second then he cleared his throat.
"You have proved to be an awaken sir Arthur"
He clicked his finger as a paper and an ink with feather, shimmered in front of Arthur who flinched.
"That is the academy form, fill it and submit it in a few days time at the admissions office"
Merlin said standing up. "I am glad you are not a threat and also I am glad you are not a gouler. For now at least when we haven't found the reason why the crystal turned black"
Arthur nodded.
"We are going to keep an eye on you, Mr. Arthur,"
He said and went out the door.
Ugo followed.
Alice looked at her son. "I am proud of you"
Arthur smiled. He had done it, he really had done it.
He beamed at Alice who pulled him into a hug.
"You have proven yourself."
Alice smiled. "Let me get you something to eat"
Arthur sighed.
He really did. He should now trust the system.
{ Leveled up}
Healer path- 15%
Rank: D
He leveled up.
He smiled.
A wave of light overwhelmed him.
He didn't understand this system but now he just has to start trusting it.
His organ seems to lighten.
He feels a little different like something spread through him.
You have unlocked the daily quest: you look skinny and weak.
Train to gain strength, and endurance to advance to the paths trials.
Do you want to enter the Green trials?.
Yes/ No
Arthur looked at the screen.
He didn't know what to choose..
Maybe it wouldn't hurt to try.
It might just be another healing activity to gain strength and endurance.
Arthur breath hitched.
Yes he said.