(Written while listening to: "Legacy" by Lost Stars on YouTube)
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The "chat" between old Wizard and Laito has come to an end.
The boy was handed a hastily written and sealed letter to pass to his "master" Gastac with instructions regarding Laito's future "education".
His weapon combat training was to be hastened. He was assigned a right to choose a single enchanted weapon (Awakened rank at most) of his choosing, that is currently available in the armory.
And also he was supposed to receive lessons from some "specialist" knights about various skills like survival, mount riding and even skulduggery related things.
He also was supposed to receive "advanced lessons" from the Lord Commander himself, but that would have to wait for later stages of his training.
But it was still too early for him to receive the characteristic "Incandescent Armor"[1], (or the adjusted versions of it, depending on individual knight's aspect shticks) that every knight here was wearing while on duty.
Apparently, he had to "earn it" first.
After leaving the cathedral's tower, gatekeeper Gastac has led the boy back to the lower keep where "his" quarters were.
"Allrigh Soot lad…- Ye had tis "reassignment" so from t'morrow various knights 'll show up to try hammer s'mthin into that head of yer's."
"Better rest t'day well. As from 'morrow ye won't have that luxury anymore'." He turned to leave, but stopped himself as if he had remembered something.
"Oh. And no leavin' yer room t'night. Lest ye sneak out s'mwhere again. S'mbody will deliver food to ye." And with that Gastac left Laito alone with in "room".
Though it was just a tiny, pocket of space placed under the stairs next to the castle's gate, with a small bed, tiny desk, crude stool, a small chest for his belongings…- and a bucket.
–
"
Laito sat down on his bed.
'FINALLY.'
'Some time to think.'
Everything happened really fast, so he never really had any time to stop and consider the current situation.
And there was A LOT to consider.
'But first'
His first action since he started gathering his bearings in this "free time" of his, was to summon the runes again"
He quickly looked through them.
Everything was just as it was when he looked before, with a single exception.
There were now new strings of runes added, that weren't there last time.
The additional lines read:
Innate Ability: [Tie those damn shoelaces!]
Ability description: [You can manipulate your shoelaces, binding them and unbinding, at your free will.]
'Well the ability itself is not much, obviously, though having an innate ability without unlocking an Aspect first is weird, to say the least.'
'But that doesn't really matter. What REALLY matters are…- the implications of what even IS all of this.'
'I mean I WAS living in the "My Hero Academia" world, so how the heck am I inside the Nightmare Trial? Which is from a completely different universe?'
'And what the Spell said earlier? About "Damaged Innate ability?"...- This was supposed to be my quirk!'
'Yea. There's TONS of things to unpack here…-'
'But none of this makes sense…- As I was reincarnated…- I saw my ROB with my own eyes…- and "He" wasn't either of the seven gods of "Shadow Slave" world...- but, those cribs again…-'
–
–
–
"Fuck it!" 'I'm too tired now from…- everything, so I'm just going to catch some sleep while I can. Thinking has to wait for later. Just gonna check out that memory. And it's sleepy time.'
He focused on words "Gatekeeper's key". And the strings of runes materialized in front of him.
Memory: [Gatekeeper's key - basic access]
Memory Rank: Dormant
Memory Type: Tool
Memory Description: [Incandescent Citadel's universal key. Synchronized with all locks around the Castle. Basic access. Mass produced. This one is Gatekeeper's though. If "found" please return it to the closest office of the Incandescent Order. Made by "THE GOATS" Incandescent Smithy.]
–
'Charming.'
'Alright, that's it, nighty-night.' And with that thought Laito has laid on bed and fell asleep…-
Almost.
'
"
Behind them he found...- a maid?
Wearing a traditional Victorian era maid uniform and holding a tray with small assortment of food, was the redhead girl he met this day earlier, "Dory" was her name.
She looked also like she vehemently hated the fact that she was even there.
"Hello Soot! Here you go." She pushed the tray into his hands, while trying her best to maintain a forced, stiff smile.
"Oh! And by the way, sorry for everything...- And thanks for kinda saving my life and all...- sooo, BYE!" And with that she turned on her heel and started to walk away.
"Wow, that was the worst apology I have seen in my entire life." 'Two lives even.' He groggily said out loud by accident...- but it was enough to agitate her.
"Hey! What's your problem you peasant! You should watch your mouth, unlike you I'm a noble lady! I'm only here because they told me to." She started to henpeck at him.
He cringed.
'Oh, great! I just aggro'ed a "Karen in the making". A typical noble/peasant drama. BORING!' He thought to himself, but couldn't bother himself to say anything really, so he just shut the door right into her face.
"HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU!" He heard through the door and quickly summoned the Key, while holding onto it.
Just as she tried to pry them open, the Key materialized from silver sparks. He grabbed it and activated enchantment it, sealing the lock.
"GREAT! Just hide yourself, you coward! You are just a random orphan chosen out off pity! Unlike you, I'm destined to become an Incandescent, like Saint Irabeth! So I have much higher standing then the likes of you!"
'Holy fuck, the noise is so annoying.' He complained in his mind while putting the tray onto a desk and hungrily throwing himself at the food. "Itadakimasu~"
"HAH! I really wonder though, what kind of punishment they gave you!" Her muffled shouting was still heard through the door. "I bet it's something REALLY terrible, considering how PATHETIC are you!" She continued to spout delusional nonsense, through her uncontrolled emotional outburst.
"Actually, I got promoted!" He yelled back at door in between taking a bites at his food. "I am now a bona fide Knight's Squire!"
The noise from behind the doors stopped for a moment.
–
"LAIR!!!" He heard and then, oh so sweet, sound of footwear angrily stomping away was heard.
"
With his belly now full he threw himself back onto his bed, though he wasn't as sleepy as before, because of all that shouting.
With his mood slightly ruined, his thoughts turned towards something he'd rather not think about.
'This is my First Nightmare. That means my real body is still where I fell asleep. I hope dad will realize that something is not right as I am not waking up and move me to some hospital or something.'
'Dammit. Dad will be SO upset with this, truly the timing couldn't be worse.'
'But what's worst of it...-'
'If I am a Spell carrier, that means right now my soul is infected with a Nightmare Seed.'
'So if I die and fail my trial...- from that seed, the Nightmare Gate will bloom.'
'Right into a My Hero Aca...- into a "Meta World", bringing a flood of Nightmare Creatures upon it.'
'And instead of becoming a hero and saving people...-'
'All of my legacy, that I would leave, is going to be...-'
'A bringer of the Apocalypse.'
'Even though heroes are strong, even someone as strong as All-Might, or All-For-One can't fight against literal corrupted gods, who could snuff them out with just their will alone.'
"I can't die, no matter what." he steeled himself, rising his open hands in front of his face.
And slowly curling his fingers into a fists. As if he had found his "Conviction".
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[5 years left until MHA plot beginning]
[Chapter End] The story is not over yet
[1] Pic in the comments