Chapter 25: Seclusion and preparation

Returning back from the illusionary world, Theo spent some time pondering about several things he saw in the illusions. In fact, it wasn't his 1st time he entered the Adept trials, but he didn't train into the forest trial in his previous life and concentrated mainly on battle-orientated trials.

If he didn't have experience of training in Adept trials, he wouldn't notice that the forest trial differed from other trials. Adept trials structure was one of the buildings created by the Great enchanter himself, and he used his own memories as a basis for the illusions. Theo doubted there was a real need to show the battle that happened during the time when Trade Union still didn't exist just for helping young adepts train their skills. Comparing other trials he participated in, his intuition and the vast experience of the adventurer cued him that there can be something more than it showed on the surface.

In fact, Theo has already dealt with similar structures in his previous life that looked ordinary but had a secret in them, so certain things couldn't escape his eyes. Those things could be prerequisites to anything, starting with information, unique weapons, and finishing with the inheritance left by their previous owners.

Theo still had inadequate information about the forest trial, so he decided to return here when he becomes the 5th rank adept and get more information and clues than just seeing a familiar insignia on his killer's armor.

***

Returning to his manor Theo entered into his study room and prepared several sheets of paper in which he had written his plans and thoughts in the spare time.

Looking at his small column of thoughts, Theo crossed out the 3rd line under Magic growth and looked at the other goals that he needed to achieve. There were several columns: one for Battle energy, another for Alchemy, one about North forts, one about his bet with his father for the "Mana sword" manual, one for the expedition, and several others. However, there was one that differed from others, it was in the center of all his plans and was marked several times, "Retrieve my weapon" was written in there.

Pondering for some time, a resolute flame appeared in his eyes, when he looked at the Expedition part, he has already improved his magic prowess, so it was the right time to improve the battle energy prowess. He still had a week until the army would leave, and had enough free time to make another breakthrough because he knew that many of the city academy's professors would participate in the expedition themselves, and it was a question of time till he would get a message about a short break in studies.

Moving into his meditation room, Theo activated a magic formation, closing his manor by the magic shield. He intended to go for seclusion for the whole week and leave only after he becomes a 3rd rank squire.

Adjusting himself into the lotus position, Theo swallowed several basic battle energy cultivation pills that could help him stimulate his energy source and closed his eyes, starting the training.

There were several ways, using which warriors could improve their battle energy cultivation. First was through the harsh training and the last through the battles that stimulated their talents and abilities. However, there was also another way that only a few could use, it was through the alchemical pills and other resources that could stimulate the energy source to fill itself to the brim.

Many warriors and knights considered that way as cheating, but it was quite popular among a certain portion of society that had plenty of resources. However, it was also the worst way of development because the surplus of the alchemical pills and other developing resources could harm the foundation of the warrior and affect him in the long term.

Of course, Theo knew about such a drawback, but it wouldn't affect him much in the long run if he used it only once in the squire realm. Besides, he already knew how to get rid of the potential drawbacks through the much harsher training that he would use after he becomes a 3rd rank squire.

The time continued to pass, the 1st day passed, while Theo continued to sit and train, swallowing the basic training pills from time to time while his energy source started filling itself under the effects of the pills. 2nd day passed. 3rd day passed. 4th day passed.

At the end of his 5th day, when he has already used more than a hundred basic alchemic pills, Theo finally filled his energy source and was ready to make an advancement in rank.

When a pain appeared in the area of his energy source, the energy source started shifting. As a result, the huge amount of wild battle energy left the energy source and started moving through his body. Theo couldn't lose such a chance and concentrated his full attention on energy circulation. He moved it to certain areas of his body. As before he heavily concentrated on improving his bones and main organs before moving to muscles and other body parts.

The whole process was much slower due to the method Theo used for training, and only when it was already the afternoon of his 5th day in seclusion, he finally finished his training, becoming a 3rd rank squire! His energy source, body, and height all changed becoming stronger or bigger.

Leaving the meditation room, it took only a moment for Theo to realize that he was super hungry when he heard his own stomach. Disabling the manor formation, Theo moved to look for food.

***

Fortunately for Theo, his personal aide had several instructions for such situations, so Arthur prepared everything for Theo before leaving with other servants to the expedition camp. When the magic formation disappeared, it didn't take long for Theo to find many dried food and other meals near the entrance to his manor. Another servant guarded it and made sure it didn't become too cold.

Thanking his personal aide, Theo took that dried food and other meals and rushed to his manor.

Finishing with his lunch, Theo took several sheets from his space ring with different basic energy techniques.

Since he has advanced in rank, now he had enough battle energy reserve to choose more techniques that he could use in the battle. Theo intended to join the expedition army, and he knew that anything might happen in there. So, after spending half an hour, choosing his new techniques, he stopped on the technique called "Energy shield" and set of 3 attacks called the "Energy slash". The 1st technique created an energy shield around the warrior and could block one basic energy technique if the warrior doesn't imprint more energy on it while the set of 3 attacks the "Energy slash" created similar energy attacks Silo was using in his sparring against Theo.

Finishing with choosing his new techniques, Theo decided to leave more battle energy for himself instead of choosing the 5th one and left his manor looking for his father.

***

Standing in his father's cabinet, Theo circulated his battle energy, creating an energy shield around himself, letting his father feel the vibes from his body.

Darwin that was still reading the document in his hands furrowed his brows before raising his glance at his son.

Of course, he remembered his words regarding Theo's participation in the expedition army, but he didn't expect that he would in fact become a 3rd rank squire a day before the expedition army would leave from the outskirts of Freinos city.

"I see. Looks like you have used quite a huge portion of your cultivation resources just to get in time," said Darwin with a light smile on his lips, "You really want to be a water porter just to see the real army camp and see the real battlefields?"

Theo didn't say anything and just nodded his head with a resolute flame in his eyes.

Darwin spent several minutes, looking at his 12-years old son that was much taller than before and looked more like an 18 - years old boy. He continued to look at his son's changes before sighing and putting a document in his hand to the right side of his table.

"Fine, you won, you can go to the expedition camp, and become a water porter," said Darwin with a slight smile on his lips.

Theo already wanted to thank his father and leave to prepare things that he would need in the expedition, but he was stopped by his father's words.

"If you want to feel the real army and feel the real expedition that much, I will help you," said Darwin with a smile on his lips, watching at the reaction of his son, "Now, few people that serve our family would recognize you due to changes in your body. It's a good chance for you if you want so that people in the camp treated you differently than they do now just because you are my son."

"A black dye and simple-looking clothes made of ordinary materials will help you even further if you want to follow my suggestion," said Darwin, looking at his son.

Theo pondered a bit, thinking about the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a decision before nodding his head and looking at his father.

"Good. Since you have proved yourself capable of participation in the army camp, go to the family treasury and choose a weapon and armor for yourself. You never know what might happen on the battlefield and the expedition camp, a place where you would serve is a battlefield."

Theo nodded his head before bowing and leaving his father's cabinet in the direction of the Freinos family treasury where he would exchange his merit points for the things that he might need in the army camp.

Several minutes after Theo left, a person in armor with a bow on his back entered Darwin's cabinet.

"You called for me, my Lord?" said the man after a quick bow.

Darwin continued to look at the documents before changing his glance and looking at the man in from of him.

The man with a bow felt how he was pierced by that glance and quickly realized that his Lord called him for the serious matter.

"Alex, prepare a small squad of 200 knights and mages and get ready to move out tomorrow,"

Alex immediately became serious and couldn't hold himself from asking.

"Who is the target?" asked Alex with killing intent in his eyes.

"Relax," said Darwin, seeing how one of his guardian knights commanders entered into the battle-ready regime, "Your group will just follow and protect my children, Stella, Aurellia, and Theo that would leave tomorrow to the expedition camp."

"There shouldn't be any potential drawbacks, but I will send you and your group just to make sure nothing bad happens to them if things wouldn't go as planned,"

"My Lord, should we interfere only in the life and death situations or we can help young ladies and young master during the expedition?"

Darwin pondered for several moments before shaking his head.

"No, just follow and keep yourself secret, interfere only when you are sure that the risk of death is much bigger than their chances. In short, just follow the instructions for secret convoys," said Darwin, returning his attention back at the documents, "You may go, prepare yourself,"

Alex nodded his head before turning around and moving in the direction of the door.

"By the way, there might be a 3rd party that has already interfered into the business of family spy network. Stay on your guard, Star shooter"

Alex stopped for a moment with a strange flame in his eyes before continuing to move towards the door.

***

The Freinos family treasury was located on the hill in the Freinos castle territory. It was divided into two zones: the bottom and the top. The bottom of the hill was used to exchange merit points for ordinary and well-made things. People could exchange their merit points here to get a new enchanted sword, armor, and other goods in the different shops. In short, it was one of the most active areas in the Freinos castle territory.

Unlike the bottom, the top was 180 degrees different. It was located at the top of the hill and was much more secured and protected because it was the place where the Freinos family kept all the rare and strong treasuries that they earned through generations. Unlike the bottom it was silent, and only stern elite patrol units could be seen moving throughout that territory.

Passing through another pair of the guardian knights, Theo entered the area with many shops and signboards on them. In fact, all the shops he saw belonged to the Freinos family where the goods made by the family craftsmen were sent in exchange for merit points. Theo stopped near one of the armory shops made of black marble before moving inside.

A moment later, he was already standing among many different types of weapons and armor. Unlike the usual shops where the price for the merchandise was counted in the gold coins, merit points were the currency here.

Passing through several stands with different types of armor and weapons, Theo moved towards one particular stand when a clerk, responsible for this shop didn't approach him.

"Greetings, dear customer,"

Theo threw his glance at the man in his middle years before returning it on the stands of armor. He didn't have much time and still had many things he needed to prepare, so he didn't want to start the usual slow process of trading with the clerk just to decrease the price a bit.

"I am looking for an enchanted sword made of black iron and light armor enchanted with wind incantations," said Theo, approaching one of the stands with armor and swords. "Give me 2 sets of this armor and 2 swords like these,"

The clerk nodded and gave several orders to the servants that disappeared behind him.

"It would cost you 1200 merit points, dear customer," said the clerk with a smile on his lips.

Theo nodded his head before giving a sheet of paper with a certain amount of merit points.

The clerk spent several moments checking the incantations on those sheets before nodding and smiling at Theo. When servants brought the armor and the swords, Theo quickly sent them into his space ring before leaving this shop and moving into the other shops where he could buy other things he wanted to prepare.