Clang!
"Hmmm... you blocked that, huh?" A deep voice echoed inside the room.
A jolt ran through my hands as I blocked the unknown man's strike. My arms trembled as I locked his blade with my shadow blade.
What the hell is this strength?!
The blue lightning that crackled in his blade showed the man's faint features. Brown skin with a scar running down his one eye. His hair—from what I could make out—was brown.
His grey eyes were focused on as if unravelling my very being. He observed —my strength, my capabilities.
I flicked his blade away with a single push and jumped backward, creating space between the two of us. The darkness consud him again, making his location unknown to .
But that was his biggest mistake.
Because darkness is my forte.
[Eye of Umbra]
The surroundings around twisted; the darkness that consud the whole room now paled, beca lighter. Everything turned into a shade of grey.
My vision swept across the room, my eyes locking onto anything that showed heat—A large wooden desk piled with paperwork, a few bookshelves.
But that was not what I was looking for.
Then it moved.
A figure lunged towards , his blade coated with a silver light, arching for a vertical slash. I sidestepped his attack, pushing my dark blade towards his neck.
[Voltstep] the figure uttered as the mana surged around his feet. His entire fra blitzed to the side, avoiding my slice.
"Not bad," The man uttered. He raised his hands and then—with a flick of his fingers—turned the lights on.
"Fuck!" I cursed as the light entered my retina, blinding . My spell countered with nothing but a cheap and simple trick.
[Eye of Umbra] is a spell that allows to see objects and people in darkness with grayscale. However, it can be easily countered if light is emitted, and it can temporarily blind the person.
That is exactly what had happened here.
I deactivated the spell. My eyes stung with tears falling out, I closed them shut. Trying to lower the stinging pain.
"Well, I apologize for my sudden antics," The man spoke, but I could not see what face he was making.
"I am Valkan Weicht—A Forr Knight Commander of the Royal Knights and now a good old Branch Master of Ravenspire Guild. It is nice to et you, Applican—My apologies, Mazekin Dimitri Novikov."
"Well, it was surely not nice to et you, Mr. Weicht," I replied, rubbing my eyes. I slowly opened them, adjusting to the light.
Everything seed blurry, but over ti, my eyes adapted. I looked at the figure of a man before , he looked sowhere between his 40s-50s. Perhaps a bit too old to manage a guild.
"So, why would the esteed Branch Master of Ravenspire Guild attack a normal guy like ?" I asked, my brows furrowing with annoyance.
"I would not call you 'Normal' though," He mused, rubbing his chin.
My teeth clenched, knuckles tightening as I looked at him. But calming myself down, I finally asked. "So, what does the honourable Branch Master want from ?"
"You don't have to pretend."
"What do you an by that?" My eyes narrowed.
He approached with slow and deliberate steps. "Oh, you know, your identity as Dimitri Novikov."
As soon as those words left his mouth, my eyes widened. Sweat ford between my eyebrows. I took my hands behind my back, creating a dagger of shadows. "I think you are mistaken, Mr. Weicht. I am not faking my identity."
"Calm down." He raised his hands in the air. "I am not here to harm you but just talk with you. And as for your identity, it is simple... You are using such a novice alteration enchantnt that I can see warped mana around your hair and eyes."
My breath hitched. The hell do you an by that?
"I see. You are clearly confused. The thing is, the ring that you are using cos with a cheap altering rune. Which does a very poor job of obscuring your identity."
Dante, what he is saying... Is it true?
[Yes, Runes are usually tiered into different stages, just like your proficiency with your affinities.] Dante explained. [But it should not be noticed by everyone, only a select few who have mastered the art of alteration or are a very high-tier mage.]
This thing... It was never ntioned in the ga. Yes, there was a system of enchanting one's weapon with Runes, but it was not that detailed.
I should've done my research properly. Fuck!
"Since you are here already. Let's talk about why I called you here," Valkan said. He flicked his finger, and the space warped, bringing in new furniture—A set brown sofa along with a small tea table.
No.
He did not bring them in, he concealed them using his barrier magic. One of the most basic magic in the ga.
But now—Now that sa magic was being used in such a thodical and smart way that I never even thought of.
"Surprised? Well, I wouldn't bla you." He approached the sofa and took a seat. "Well, why don't you take a seat, young man."
"Please call Dimitri for now, Sir Valkan." I took a seat across from him. "Now, will you tell what you wanted to talk to about?"
"No tea or coffee?" He asked.
"Nothing, I simply lost my appetite."
"Well, then let's start. I will go straight to the point." His expression beca serious, his eyes sharpened. "Join the Ravenspire Guild, Dim—"
"I refuse," I replied curtly, cutting him off.
"Well, that was quick." He chuckled, clearly amused. "But at least listen to the offer I will give."
"Fine then, spit it."
"I understand that soone like you does not want to work under a guild; they want autonomy without being tied down with a guild contract. And frankly, I agree with you."
Valkan took a deep breath before speaking again.
"That is why I have an exclusive contract for you—You will get more money for the Mana Stones you bring in from Maze Expeditions and also will be given an ID with the Ravenspire Guild Emblem, which will allow you to use the different branches of the Ravenspire Guild scattered across Germainia. You can use them for your stay or to get exclusive contracts. The best..."
"You can go on Solo Maze raids..."
He flicked his wrists, taking out an obsidian card from his sleeves. "This can be your new Mazekin ID, a highly valued independent mber of the Ravenspire Guild. A privilege very few get..."
"Well, before I accept your generous offer, would you kindly relay to the catch?" I posed. It was too tempting of an offer—Quarters, more money and Solo Raids? I won't have to form a party.
But there is always a catch.
Valkan gave a knowing smile as he placed the obsidian card on the table. "Of course, as a privileged mber, you can be called on special guild raids or be assigned to do high-level tasks—an escort mission from one city to another or escort nobility or sotis Royals too."
"Well, do I have to accept all of them?" I enquired.
"Yes, but." He leaned forward, his voice dropping. "I can make an exception for you."
"Well, that is indeed a generous offer." My eyes darkened, my smile fading. "Why would you do this much for re C -Ranked?"
Valkan leaned backward into the sofa, his posture relaxed. "You see, I have served in the Royal Knights for more than 20 years. I have seen and trained prodigies... One of them, you might know him. He is pretty famous over the Empire."
"His na is Micheal Von Blitzfeld, The Prodigy of the Storm and Heir of Thorvian."
My eyes widened at the ntion of Michael. You an... that annoying brother of mine was trained and taught by this man? A man out in the middle of nowhere in the Frostholm Duchy?
"Seeing your reaction, I believe you have heard of him."
He is my brother, Mister.
"Of course I did. He is a famous man even in Ashbourne..." I replied.
"Ashbourne, right..." His tone sounded sceptical. He cleared his throat. "Well, we went off-topic. The thing I wanted to say from my earlier statent—I see potential in you too, Dimitri."
"A potential even greater than so of the Prodigies I trained. I won't force you to be my disciple, I believe you already have a formidable ntor. The way you carry yourself as a knight in training is proof of that."
"Think of it as an Investnt that I want to make because I can see that you will grow further." He gave a knowing smile and tapped his finger on the table. "Will you accept my offer?"
"Do I have to disclose my real identity?" I enquired one last ti; it was important.
"Well, I believe I can even make an exception to that as well." He slid the black card towards ; the guild's emblem was shining with its black and gold the. The card had my photo along with my na, age and rank.
"Now, your decision?" He asked again.
"I accept,"
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