I’m at the lobby, at the receptionist counter— my gaze’s calmly relaxed on Mira, the receptionist.
"So you really won’t tell how many more C-rank tasks I need to complete to beco B rank?" I ask Mira with a low voice.
"No, Mr. Blank. I can’t. It’s against guild policy to tell you your rank up progress. You just.. wait until you recieve the ssage that you’re B-rank." She speaks, her tone flat, and her eyes are calmly scanning as her lips stretch wide into an uncanny grin.
Hmmm, I feel a sudden urge to raise a middle finger.
"I see. Have a good day, then." I speak as I turn to leave— toward the training grounds.
"Are you heading to the training grounds?" She asks, causing to halt my movent.
"Yes. I think by now, everyone in the guild knows that’s my spot." I reply curtly.
"Well yes, but, Mr Blank. Um.. I think.. I think you might need to find sowhere else to train." She stutters as she voices out.
And my brows arch, "why exactly?"
She shuts her eyes tight. Her hand scratching her hair. "The thing is.. the training grounds.. I don’t think it’ll be okay for you anymore. It’s filled up. And oh! I’m not saying this to stop you from going or anything. It’s just that I know you don’t like being where many people are gathered." She adds.
I see. So the rcs gathering there are becoming too much.
"Thank you for the heads-up Mi—"
"And the reason they’re all gathered there.. Well, you partly contribute to the reason. But it’s mainly because one of the five S-rank rcenaries visited the training grounds early this morning, and he was asking for the one who managed to leave large dents on all the training dummies in the training grounds.. he was the one who crafted them."
My eyes widen.
That’s .
And I nod, "who is this S rank rcenary?"
"K the Enigma." She replies in a low, almost reverential tone.
"Thank you." I nod, and I turn and make my way to the door.
No wonder the lobby is empty.
There’s no single rcenary in the lobby. And the sweaty sll is less. Even the wooden board where tasks are usually pinned is empty.
My heart beats wildly as I open the door— walking outside.
I’ve already chosen my task for this night. 5 C-rank tasks. I think they’ll take the whole night. Might even take half of the early morning.
"Now where am I gonna train?" I whisper as I walk past the courtyard.
And then suddenly, it cos to .
I know a place! Yes, I discovered it when I was hunting down a rogue rcenary two months ago. A first circle water mage.
And I quicken my pace, heading toward the rear of the outer district— almost close to the inner district.
The cobblestone gradually reduce as I get closer to the place.
Almost there.
The sll of fresh wood, and wet leaves flood my nose.
Yes. Here.
The cobblestone has completely faded away— now the ground is filled with wild greenery. It’s an abandoned farm.
In an enclave of lush trees. The rays of the late morning sunlight rains down through the canopy of trees— reflecting on the ground.
And as I head deeper into the farm, the greenery on the ground completely disappears. I’m now in the middle of the farm— a sandy area.
"It’s actually perfect. Why have I never thought of coming here to train?" I mutter, speaking to myself.
The bag on my back— the one that holds my two artifacts which I take everywhere with — I drop it on the ground. And I take off my red robe and place it next to my bag.
And I adjust my mask— straightening it on my face. And I sit on the ground— in a lotus position.
I’ve planned to ditate for about three to four hours. My shirt would get soaked with sweat. So I take it off, exposing my bare chest and abs.
"Hooo.." a smooth exhale leaves my mouth as the tree-filtered rays of sunlight dance on my skin. My eyes are shut tightly.
And I beginning mana gathering— breathing in the mana in the air, and converting them to both air and fire mana through the breathing technique— and it moves from my lungs to my mana pathway, and from my pathway into my circle.
Oops. I forgot. My circle is full now. I have to hold off on mana gathering for now.
That ans, I’ll save this already gathered mana in my cells, and jump right into body training.
"I really need a training partner or sothing. This is becoming utterly boring." I whisper.
And then I crack my neck, roll my shoulders, and I open my eyes. Then I stand up slowly from the floor.
And imdiately I stand up, I head to my bag— taking out my ring blade artifact.
And I touch the steel. Feeling the smooth texture of the tal.
Since I got this as a gift from Alexander last year at the Flaworths, I just dumped it. Not even checked it once.
"Is there a way to sharpen it or sothing?" I ask myself as I spot a log, and I toward head there, and I sit down.
But I don’t use weapons.. what the hell am I gonna do with a blade? I’m a mage.
"Now I rember why I abandoned this thing. It’s useless. I’ll just drop it back in my b—"
"Quite an interesting blade you’ve got there, boy." A deep, gruff voice rings out, disrupting the serenity of the environnt.
My heart beat spikes dramatically— a hot fluid-like substance begins to circulate my mana pathway with intense speed.
I didn’t sense his presence at all. Who the hell is that?
And imdiately— I drop my blade back into my bag, and turn back— to the direction of the voice.
And I crouch into a battle stance.
"Where is he?" I ask myself. My fla mana surging through my pathway intensely.
"Look up, boy." the voice resounds again.
And my gaze ascends— up at the trees, a masculine figure gently sits on one of the tree branches. One of his leg is on the branch. And his other leg is down— swinging freely. And he’s holding a long sword that he rests on his shoulder.
And on his lips— there’s a wide, maniacal grin.
"Who the hell are you?" I ask, my voice low, and swirling with untad hostility.
And then he stretches his head. And his long, white hair that flows down to his waist pours on both shoulders— outlined by the rays of the sun.
He.. he’s an old man.
His grin widens much more as he rubs his thumb and index finger on his white, long beard. " I am K."
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