The Everlight party climbs down the series of high mountains after enduring the cold for two weeks. Raye had to endure another training from the literal necromancer from the Dark Sages himself.
"How was it?"
Will asked maliciously, trying to sneak in a teasing and mocking tone as he ask Raye.
"To think I trained with the necromancer from the Dark Sage...it was truly a tough training, might say it's even harder than my knight training...though strictness...maybe I had endured those during my training as a knight, it does not feel the same when I first started as a knight..."
Raye muttered softly, with a tone of someone who had suffered through series of mental pain.
"..."
Will was a little displeased. Though he get the response his tone wants but he thought that Raye would be a little open minded even the tough training he was set in.
"Well, you seem to have improved,"
"I guess you're right, i think this sword style technique suit better for a hero than using those that I've learned as a knight,"
"...That's assuring,"
Will did not say much after that. After a few hours, the Everlight party has finally exited the tundra, passing though the mountains that served as a border between the Kingdom of Ferria and the next kingdom that the Everlight party is going to visit. Unlike the few kingdoms that they had visited, the kingdom they are going to visit is a small kingdom. There are many residents and quite a high population for its land, although not as high as the others. The kingdom that they are going to visit-----the Kingdom of Verkiz.
There was not much for the Everlight party to do in this small kingdom. This is not in the list of the kingdoms that the Kingdom of Hiden wants to join allies, so Raye has no plan to visit their king.
"I just realised this, I managed to hold my ground against Lord Kolt, just how powerful is he?"
Raye asked as they were about to reach to the Kingdom of Verkiz.
Lord? Is that how you're addressing him? I guess he is a Dark Sage that is feared around the world...but you never called me lord when we first met. Will thought to himself. Maybe he was full of fear that he could not utter out a single word. Though am I that scary...?
Will who was full of thoughts that condemned himself for a moment snapped back into reality and answered Raye.
"He's probably holding back, those centuries that I lived with him, he had been training his sword style day by day. He is able to slice a mountain with a single slash without breaking a sweat. What once used to be a young demon who seems frail turns out to be a monster ruling over the dead, calling out those and using them for his benefits, even the corpse of the strongest beasts he still able to summon it and make it obey him, nothing could break the authorities he has with those dead,"
"That sounds scary..."
Raye got the shivers just by hearing about it as Will continues to talk about Kolt.
"Necromancy also comes with reanimation, which that is bringing corpse of the dead and controlling them as a mindless zombie while the corpse retain their powers they had in their life,"
Will then thought about their conversation they had during the first night after reuniting. The demon king's corpse is on his hand...I doubt he uses it for destruction judging from how he lives now.
The cost of using black magic is that you will have the urge to kill every once a month and if your mental is not strong, black magic itself will corrupt the user, turning it into a mindless bloodlust tyrant. Black magic also comes with the cost of your blood and mana being corrupted which happened to Tara Tropaz, Amethia Tropaz's sister, though Will was able to help her ease it and conceal it away. While normal black magic user suffer from those symptoms, the Dark Sages all manage to ease and taken control of it. Despite the rumours of them are tyrant who kill just at sight, they all do not have the interest of meddling with humans affairs.
They continued chatting until they arrived at the borderline separating the Kingdom of Ferria and the Kingdom of Verkiz. Well, the borderline isn't far, just right next to the tundras a few metres away. Raye walked up to the counter and handed all of their guild cards to the male receptionist. He took a look and mentioned every Everlight party members's name out loud, confirming that all of them are real and not people disguising as them before letting them in.
"Welcome to the Kingdom of Verkiz, although it's small, it's famous history and the latest tournament held in here would get you kicking your feet in glee,"
The male receptionist gave the Everlight party a quick introduction and the current state of their kingdom before the Everlight party enters before the grey arch bridge that led into the castle. The structure of this kingdom is similar to the palace of the Kingdom of Ferria. Surrounded by stone walls all around the kingdom with knights patrolling from left to right. It is said that this kingdom has one of the highest trades for the slumbering forest is right next to this kingdom which is at the right of this kingdom. Ingredients for potions and elixirs can be found in the forest which is retrieved and use for business in this kingdom.
"An upcoming tournament...shall we go and take a look?"
Raye was interested in the tournament than exploring the city which he does every time with Will in every kingdoms. This kingdom has a huge stadium held for various sword fight tournaments, inviting swordsman all around the world to join this tournament. There is an builded old man wearing what seems to be an armour vest, blending in with the 'sword fight' theme.
"How may I help you?"
The old man let out a gruff voice. It was deep pitched. His grey beard covers his whole entire chin and his beard was twisted and swirled at each end.
"We want to watch the tournament,"
Raye told the old man. The old man placed his left hand on his beard and caress it.
"The tournament does not start until tomorrow. We are still accepting participants if you care to join,"
Raye thought about it and was about to decline, thinking of not wasting any time and quickly get on with their journey. Before he could reject, Will asked how to join and the old man handed him a document that needs to have the participant's name and signature. Will quickly write a name as Raye took a glance at it. To his surprise, it was his name, Raye Winston!
"Wait, I'm now joining the tournament!"
"Think of it as a fight to see how much you have grown, and also, winner gets the reward of 500 gold coins and being able to evaluate themselves into sword king no matter what rank they're in"
Will gleamed as he mentioned the money. This money lover, he would not leave even a penny behind!
"The last one where you can be evaluated into a sword king is because we have strong candidates joining the tournament too,"
The old man added on, hoping that Raye would join. Seeing Will's excitement over the money and the old man's, he had no choice but to let out a sigh and sign his signature on the documents.
"Well then, you are now a candidate of this tournament,"
The old man handed Raye a card with a set of numbers, proving and declaring that he is now a candidate.
"Your battle would be tomorrow,"
"What? That early?"
Raye was planning to take a stroll around the city the next day with the rest of the Everlight party members.
"Our candidates this year are quite less due to rumours that one of the candidates is too strong for them to handle, so tomorrow we would just be able to finish the first round tomorrow,"
Well, it wouldn't be too bad if that's the case...the sun was about to set so they decided to stay a for the week in an inn for they don't know how long the tournament would be. The next day, while Raye serves as a candidate, the rest of the Everlight party members has to buy tickets in order to watch the fight. Raye was inside a hallway as he tries to find his way to the arena for his match. He bumped into a man who has a sword hung beside his left hip. He was taller than Raye just only a few centimetres. He did not wear any armour or vest. Just a dark blue hakama and a dark grey long pants. He has long black hair that is thoroughly brushed and is silky.
"Excuse me sir, do you know the way to the arena?"
The man looks at Raye and pointed his index finger on his right hand forward. His other hand is resting on his sword.
"Go forward and turn left, you will find yourself at the gate of the arena,"
"Thank you sir!"
Raye quickly ran towards the directions given by the man.
"...Good luck on your battle, Raye Winston,"