REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC49- Farewell
"Here are the things you need to keep in mind while you are working with the Steelhound: You won't need to report to the Academy regularly, but once a week, send a report. Your life would be in constant danger, and there wouldn't be any supervisor looking out for you since you are now training to become a warrior. So take care of yourself and don't depend on anyone else."
Taking out a pouch, Jullie handed it to Alex, "This is fifty silver coins, for the travel and other expenses. While you would be living there for the month, you would be provided with weekly pay and a place to stay. If you have any problems regarding finance, send me a letter." Jullie added the last point by herself. It wasn't allowed to support a student through personal funding but Jullie made an exception.
"Third, you need to remember that your purpose to go there is to become stronger not to become their servant. If you feel they are imposing their work on you, you are free to forfeit."
'You don't need to tell me that...' Alex thought.
Jullie gave a firm nod once she was done, before she asked, "Anything you want to ask?"
Alex shook his head, "No, Professor."
Jullie nodded before she allowed him to meet his friends and get going.
Alex heaved a sigh and looked at the four people waiting for him, near the entrance.
Edric, along with Amanda, came forward while Valarie remained standing aside, but her presence here alone was evidence that she came here to bid him farewell.
"Don't mindlessly put yourself in danger, since if you die Edric would be sad." Hearing her words, Alex dryly chuckled,
"You are not concerned whether I live or die, you are worried about how your lover would react, eh?"
Amanda clicked her tongue, "Don't pick on the fine details, and here..." She handed him a pouch, "...there are several potions in there, most of them recovery ones. Use them wisely."
Alex gave a thankful nod before turning toward Edric, as the guy handed Alex a device which was familiar, "This..."
"The Beaker we told you about."
Alex frowned, "But it's incomplete...where is the second half?" Alex assumed that Edric might have bought a second hand—which wasn't possible considering it is a one-time usage item—that's why he got half of it.
However, "She snatched the other half." While pointing at the blond Princess, who was looking away, Edric muttered.
Alex doesn't feel surprised by these actions of hers.
He raised his hand for a shake and said, "Thanks, man..."
Edric looked at the hand, before raising his arms and wrapping them around Alex's back, "Be safe out there, buddy."
Alex was momentarily stunned by the sudden hug. It has been a while since a friend hugged him. The only friend he had in his previous life betrayed him, so he didn't think he would ever make someone his friend again so quickly.
However, right now, he could say that these two people in front of him were his friends.
"Yeah, I will."
They both soon parted, and a smiling Amanda said, "Now go. She is waiting for you."
Alex nodded before he moved toward the Princess who hadn't looked at him even once since he arrived here.
"Don't wanna look at me-" Alex paused, his words coming to a halt when he gazed at her face and found large droplets of tears rolling down.
Celestria hurriedly wiped them away, but the more she wiped the more tears came out, prompting Alex to say,
"You promised you won't cry that's why I told you when I am leaving." He doesn't like to see people cry for him and, specifically, when he is about to leave.
Celestria kept rubbing her eyes as she uttered, "I tried, I swear. But these stupid tears ...they just won't stop *sob*."
Alex put down his bags and neared the girl, "Celestria, look at me." She did as he said before the silver head added, "Someone gave the prophecy that if I see someone crying when I leave, my journey won't be good."
Celestria's eyes widened as she completely shut off her eyes and covered her face, "You should have told me earlier!"
Alex couldn't stop himself from laughing this time as he held her hand and after slowly removing them from her reddened face he said, "I am just joking."
Celestria flinched hearing that before her small hands balled into fists and she began hitting him lightly in the chest, "Why you...always...joke about things like this?"
Alex continued to laugh, enjoying her reaction.
Celestria slowly paused and looked up at him. The girl seemed smaller than usual, with her eyes turning round. She looked nothing but adorable and pettable at the moment.
"Alex...please be safe. I know I am not in the position to make you promise me, but for the sake of the friendship we once shared, please don't push yourself too much, okay?"
Alex nodded as he wrapped his hands around her frail back and pressed her against him, "I will. And you too, take care. After I return, I have to fulfil 'that' promise too, after all."
Hearing about that 'promise,' her cheeks turned rosy pink as she closed her eyes and snuggled closer. These last few moments before he departs were too precious, too charming. She didn't know when was the last time they had hugged each other like this. However, she doesn't want to think about the past anymore and wants to enjoy her present and hope for a better future.
Amanda and Edric, who were standing nearby, looked at the duo like they were watching over some children they had raised.
Valarie has a complicated reaction, not able to think where she stands now. The person she loves is already taken. And the person she recently came to admire, already seemed to have a fondness towards another girl.
'It seems dating is not my thing after all...'
Soon the duo parted, and Celestria was more composed than before.
Smilingly she said, "Take care, Alex. I will be waiting for you."
Alex gave a brief nod before he waved at Valarie and the duo.
Turning away, he picked up his bag and heaved a sigh.
A new journey begins.
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A/N:- I hope you all are enjoying the development. Thanks for reading.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC50- Cursed
*CRACK*
The surface of the house cracked, under the aura of the woman who stood in the abandoned house.
She immediately discerned that the people who once lived here had run away and upon not finding Alex's things in his room, it was apparent that they had taken him away as well.
The silver-haired woman told those two idiots to never leave this nation, given this one was the safest place for Alex to reside. Of the three major human kingdoms, Grimland was the strongest one so her kingdom would never try to search for the child here.
However, those two dumb people took him away to God knows which part of the world!
"Agh! Fuck!" She punched the wall, creating several cracks, that threatened to take down the wall with a single impact.
The lady looked around to find a single clue as to where they might have gone...however, everything was taken away. Alex's room was empty as well.
Taking off her hood, she revealed her snow-white face and enchanting blue eyes that stared at the cupboard where Alex stored his clothes and belongings.
She closed her eyes and muttered something inaudible under her breath, and the moment she opened them, a bright radiance erupted from those shining orbs.
The surroundings of the woman shifted, things were being placed back where they originally belonged. Alex's clothes and books were now back to their original position and right before the lady stood a certain blond girl.
'The Princess...' The silver-haired knew this girl. She has seen her with Alex before and also has heard from Alex's 'parents' about the closeness between the two children.
Although the lady was unwilling to let Alex be near a noble, considering how shy he was about making friends, she didn't take any action against the relationship between Alex and Celestria.
However, now that she saw the Princess weeping while looking at Alex's belongings, the lady discerned that their connection had become more intimate. But more than Celestria's cries, what worried the lady was the fact that she was crying for Alex.
'Did something happen to him?' A very horrifying feeling was born in her heart as she closed her eyes and released the spell.
Clenching her fist, the lady decided to visit the Soulforge Academy to investigate the matter.
The boy whom her mother saved all those years ago shall not die in any case. Alex has already faced a fair share of torment in the past. Someone who was called the Cursed Child, Alex was disowned by his blood-related parents. And before they could have executed him, the lady's mother took the child and escaped.
Erasing his memories so the boy doesn't feel burdened by his existence, and sealing away his curse so the new connections he forms don't get severed once again.
For him to wander away, out of the lady's sight was not a good sign. Not at all
'I need to find him...' With such thoughts, the lady disappeared from the house, advancing toward the most prestigious academy of Grimland.
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The headquarters of the Steelhound was situated around seven hundred kilometres away from the Academy and it took a whole day to reach there on a horse.
However, Alex had a certain place to visit before going there so he asked the carriage driver to head towards that place in exchange for an extra gold coin.
He wanted to buy the cauldron and the necessary herbs for the refinement. He wouldn't be able to find the sacred flames and spectral water there, but he wasn't in a rush as of now. While working with the Steelhound, he would first collect numerous Soul Stones and, if he could, the other two necessary ingredients for the refinement.
Once he would be done with all the preparation he would start refining the Soul Stone once he returns to the academy since showing his knowledge in front of those nosy hounds would be problematic. They might as well, won't let him go.
The people of the Steelhound clan are weird creatures with whom Alex has to deal calmly and carefully. There is no doubt that they are exceptional hunters, however, the attitude that comes with that strength is quite problematic.
"We are here, dear sir." The carriage coach announced as they entered the small town called Dunvale—famous for arenas and their ironwork.
Alex asked, "Do you know some good place to stay here?" It was already evening and Alex was surely not going to restart his journey right after shopping. Since he had to reach his destination by tomorrow, he decided to depart from Dunvale tomorrow morning.
The older one thought for a moment before suggesting, "There is one good place near the Grand Arena. But the charges are a bit...you know."
"Including your commission, surely it would be expensive." The driver grinned hearing that, urging Alex to say, "Fine, bring me there, but don't ask for any extra money for your stay."
"Don't worry, kind sir, I am not that big of a leech."
Alex didn't say anything after that and just enjoyed the scene of the market outside.
The town was a paradise for warriors since the arenas here openly allowed betting and death matches. This is the reason why no academy brings their children here, nor do they allow them to come here. Naturally, Soulforge was the same.
Since the market remained open the whole night, Alex decided to first have dinner, some hours of rest, and then go out shopping.
En route, he spotted the massive dome built in the middle of the town, which people named the 'Grand Arena'. The biggest coliseum for the warriors.
Soon Alex reached the hotel and checked in using ten silver coins. He paid an extra five silver for three portions of meals.
Reaching the room, he first checked around to see if there was any surveillance artefact or a secret door.
There was a cupboard in which Alex stored his bags, a king-sized bed, two windows and a tea table. There were three jugs of water and complimentary cookies.
Alex sat down and allowed his fatigued body to relax a bit.
Not so long after dinner arrived and after eating, he left the place to look around the market and find the things he needed.
Just in case, he took the slim single-edged sword with him. Carrying a weapon here is not illegal, but yes, killing someone outside the arena would surely throw someone into a cell for years.
Alex was roaming mindlessly in the market, looking at the variety of tools and weapons being sold at a much higher price compared to the market where he went with Celestria.
In one of those shops, Alex went and asked, "How much will it be for that cauldron?" He just wanted to get an idea of what would be the range of the cauldron.
However, the price was unexpected, "A thousand gold coins for the gold-coated cauldron."
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The price made his eyes widen since Alex only expected two hundred or so gold coins would be required.
He went to other stores and the price was nearly the same...making him realize that he should have inquired more about the market price before leaving the academy. He has only brought ten platinum plates, considering carrying more can be dangerous.
And now, all the money he brought along would be spent on a cauldron....then how would he buy the herbs? And for the rest of the month, how would he afford his living?
'I need to earn quick cash somehow....' The answer to that question was quickly found as Alex turned his eyes to the giant arena.
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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