Chapter Twenty-Seven

Arnin led the group towards the quota line. He wanted to quickly enter the academy and begin his cultivation practice. Although his eyes were relaxed and his body wasn't trembling, only Arnin knew fast his heart was beating. He wanted to quickly understand the time essence and figure out a way to master it. If he did that, adding to his sealed power, then he could truly enter those worlds and begin conquering.

He was still wearing his worn-out tunic and pants; Arnin hadn't changed into his robe because of how long it would take. This caused him to not receive any special treatment in the line, so he had to stand in the back with the three people and his beast.

"Arnin, are you really alright with how you spoke to that Moth group teacher? He isn't someone you or I can handle at this stage. You didn't have to do that for us!" The village elder held a face of apology and concern as he spoke, however wrinkles appeared between Arnins slim, jet-black eyebrows.

"Do you truly believe that I would go to such lengths for you? Although I argued with him, it wasn't for your stones. He wanted my loyalty through a contract, which was something I could not accept. Even if your pitiful life was on the line, I still wouldn't have signed the contract!" Arnin ruthlessly spoke to the village elder. Even though he wasn't going to do anything major for the stones, he was still mad that such an event occurred because of them.

"Arnin, isn't that a little too harsh?" Sweat poured down his wrinkly forehead as they slowly made their way to his somewhat saggy chin. The village elder couldn't help but find Arnin's comment to be a little too bold. He began to feel even more guilt and shame because of his uselessness.

"Arnin, how could you talk to my grandfather like that? Aren't you too mean?" Elidia's eyebrows knitted together as her small face turned red with anger. She spoke with gritted her teeth towards Arnin's harsh words.

"Harsh? I don't think so. I would never ruin my own life for a random stranger. Your grandfather is nothing more than a partner to me; we made a deal and that is all. I am not obligated to risk my life for his, little girl." Arnin spoke unbridled. He was speaking honestly, he wouldn't sacrifice his life for anybody, not even his own family. He would try his best to protect them, even if he had to climb a mountain of swords or walk through the depths of hell, he would try to protect them. However, if protecting them came to the point where he would have to kill himself, or do something that would guarantee his death, then he wouldn't take that risk.

Elidia's face became even redder. She looked like she was about to burst and attack Arnin. Just as she was going to take a step towards Arnin, the old man stopped her. His face was covered in sweat, while he had a bitter smile on his face.

"It's alright, Elidia. Arnin is not wrong. We are nothing more then partners. I will protect his family, while he will protect you girls. That was the deal." Arnin calmly nodded towards the two girls, which infuriated Elidia even more. She knew that her grandfather really liked Arnin and treated him like a friend, however Arnin just declared that there was no friendship. She couldn't even imagine the pain her grandfather was feeling. Her eyes became slightly moist as she glared at Arnin with extreme hate.

Although the village elder was feeling down and even a little hurt, he didn't take Arnin's words to heart. He saw how Arnin was going to leave the academy because of them. He felt that Arnin didn't truly mean those words, so he didn't take them to heart.

Lilise listened from the back, however she also had a similar feeling like the village elder. She saw the relationship that the two had in the village and how Arnin was going to leave the academy because of them. She truly felt that Arnin didn't mean what he said, it was only something that slipped out of anger.

"Next in line, please." Arnin walked forward with the village elder and the two girls. Vilis stood by the side and watched with boredom.

"I would like to register these two girls into the academy." The old teacher lifted his head and was surprised to find Arnin's group appearing once again. His face became a little annoyed as he spoke with some anger.

"You guys again? I have already told you that you cannot enter witho-" Just as the old teacher was about to finish speaking, Arnin threw the two quota stones on the table. Xillars name was imprinted on the top which cause the old teacher to become surprised and even suspicious.

"Where did you get these from? Did you steal them someone else?" The old teacher's eyebrows slammed together as he slowly rose from his seat.

"Stupid old teacher, why do you think we stole these? Just because we didn't have stone previously doesn't mean we can't get them later on. You're getting old, do you really think that I would lie to someone as old as you? You already have one foot in the grave, what can you do to me? Teacher Xillar personally handed these stone to me." Arnin spoke without a care in the world. He didn't care if the person in front of him was a respected teacher or not, he treated them all the same.

Seeing Arnin's attitude towards the teachers only helped to further boost the speculations that the village elder and Lilise made.

"Little boy, you must learn to speak with respect. Who do you think I am? I will call Sir Xillar over and get rid of all of you." The old teacher was infuriated with Arnin's attitude. Arnin knew that if he brought out his identity card, then he could use it as proof of receiving the stones, however his anger towards the academy was still present.

'You want to trick me into giving you my loyalty? I will give you something alright.' Arnin thought of a plan quickly.

"Teacher, believe me, I am not lying! I was truly given the stones." Arnin put on a tearful expression as his eyes became round and puffy. The village elder and the two girls became surprised with Arnin. Elidia was about to go forward and say something, however the village elder put his arm out and blocked her path. A smirk could be seen on his face.

"So, you finally show me respect? Well, it's a little too late. Leave now, while I still treat you like a child." The old teacher was furious. Although Arnin was a child, he was impartial. He didn't care if the person was a child, woman or an old person, if they treated him with disrespect then he would do the same. The village elder put on a pathetic face and walked forward.

"Sir, please. My grandchild was a little rude before, but he is only five years old. Can you not let the matter go? Also, those stones are truly ours. Sir Xillar handed those to this boy himself. Please believe us." Arnin was surprised that the village elder was able to understand his plan. He couldn't help but praise and curse him at the same time. 'What a cunning old fox'.

"I don't care if he is a child or not. If anything, his parents should have raised him properly." The old teacher calmed down, but he still spoke with a harsh tone. He felt offended because of Arnin's attitude and the way he addressed him.

"Mom, Dad, if only I knew who they were." Arnin began to tear up as his parents were mentioned. He turned around and put his head into the village elders chest, who was surprised at first but also put on a sad and angry face.

"Sir, I am respecting you because of your status, but how could you talk to a child like that? He lost his parents when he was young, so your comment is very much uncalled for." People in the surrounding began to speak in hushed tones. They also had anger written over their faces.

"Shameless!"

"How could such a teacher be in the academy?"

"Yea, he really brings the schools reputation down."

Arnin smiled slightly when he heard the different comments. He was successful in his plan. Suddenly, the wind picked up and a woman appeared from behind the old teacher.

"What is going on here?" The woman was a person that Arnin knew. She had a smile on her face that was very bright. Her eyes, however, didn't show the smile, which only Arnin was able to notice.

"Miss Fae, nothing is going on. Only a little problem has occurred with this thief, nothing to get yourself involved for." The old teacher switched his personality immediately. There was a smile on his face that reached his ears and his chest was puffed out like a warrior who was getting selected.

"Thief? I know this boy. What did he steal?" Fae smiled when she saw the current Arnin. It was shocking to see him acting in such a way, however she picked up the acting right away. Arnin, however wasn't too pleased with Fae's entrance. He didn't like her or feel that she was genuine. Her arrival where he was did not mean anything good.

"Umm, these two stones are Sir Xillar's. I believe that he stole them from another person, which is why he has them." The old teacher's voice was slightly trembling as sweat drenched his back. If Fae knew Arnin, then he might just be walking into his own grave.

"So, that's the case? Well, where is your evidence?" Fae looked at the old teacher with a pleasant smile, however this only caused the old teacher's spine to tremble.

"About that, I don't have any. I just assumed." His voice was shaky as he spoke.

"You assumed? Who gave you the authority to do something like assume?" Fae continued to question with her pretty voice.

"No one, Miss. I thought that since they couldn't come through Getek's stones, they might have stolen some from someone else. I am sorry." The old teacher felt a pressuring aura encompass him.

Arnin watched everything happen with a frown. He didn't believe the woman would help him through such a situation for free. Although he could deny her, if she intended on killing him, he would need to release his own powers, which was detrimental to his reason for reincarnating.

"Gil, why did you call me here?" Suddenly, another person joined the fun. Xillar walked out from the gate with a frown. When Fae saw Xillar coming, her smile lessened.

"Well, since someone has come to solve the problem, I will take my leave." Fae vanished mysteriously. Arnin grumbled when he saw her leave, however he felt his battle instincts reduce when she left, which was good news to him.

"Sir Xillar, I was just doing my job, but these people claimed that you gave them your quota stones. I didn't believe it and was about to remove them, however Miss Fae came and began to question me." The old teacher spoke to Xillar in a complaning manner, almost like a child crying to their parents. Arnin and the rest of the crowd began to curse the old teacher because of his shamelessness.

"Miss Fae was here? Where did she go?" Xillar was surprised to hear about Fae but couldn't find her anywhere.

Arnin became even more suspicious about Fae's identity. She was feared by the old teacher and even Xillar seemed to hold her in high regard.

"She was right here… where did she go?" The old teacher found that she was gone, so he began to panic, however Xillar waved his hand to quiet him down.

"So, someone stole my stones? Who could that… Arnin?" Xillar looked around and was surprised to see Arnin with a tear-filled face. He panicked at first before his face was completely red. He placed his hand on his mouth as tears came out and his eyes filled with water.

"Hahaha! Arnin, what happened to your face?" Xillar couldn't hold himself back as laughter bursted out. He held his stomach as he looked at the childlike Arnin. Who could have imagined that this very child was about to go toe to toe with him over a couple of stones?

Arnin didn't have much of a reaction towards Xillar's laughter. He only took his hand and wiped the 'tears' on his face.

"Can you hurry up and get these two signed up? I have been waiting for a while now." Arnin reverted back to his informal way of speaking.

"Yeah, alright. Gil, come here and sign them up. Don't call me unless something major happens. Arnin, I will see you in a bit. I am going to go and handle some small affairs." Xillar was just about to go when Arnin appeared in front of him. "What is it?" Xillar became confused.

"I have a question for you, teacher Xillar. Have you signed me up for the Mark Master class, or any of my classes yet?" Arnin felt that something was off. Xillar reacted really weirdly to him when Xillar was releasing his aura. He was happy, and then became a threat, and then became joyful once again. Arnin felt something was up.

"Not yet. Something came up, so I got busy. Why?" Xillar was still confused why Arnin was asking such a question. No one could hear what they were talking about, which also made Xillar suspect something was off.

Arnin smiled and walked past Xillar, however he stopped right behind him for a second.

"I hope that whatever you were busy with, or whoever you were discussing things with, doesn't concern me. If it does, then…" Arnin didn't finish, and just continued to walk.

No one noticed, but Xillar's face was drenched in sweat. When Arnin walked past him, he released a very threatening and piercing aura, which traveled to the depths of his orb. It was something extremely frightening. Xillar turned his head around and looked at Arnin before vanishing.

"This kid is too frightening. He must be hiding his true powers and even something more… threatening. I must report back." Xillar ran through the hill, towards the academy, however just as he was about to approach the top of the hill, someone appeared. It was Fae.

"Xillar, it seems you are in a hurry to report something? Before you go, let me give you a present." Fae vanished from her post and appeared before Xillar. Her slender finger tapped onto his forehead, causing him to fall onto the ground. Fae then vanished from the area with a wicked smile.

A few minutes passed before Xillar slowly got up from the ground. He looked around to see where he was. "What am I doing here? I needed to report something to the principal, but… what was it?"