023. Touching His Heart

"Good morning miss Alba," Adam smiled.

"My, how do you know?" Alba surprised, she then glanced at Pete and nodded knowingly.

"Sir Adam, you surprised me. Do you have anything to talk about?" Ruby asked.

"Yes, but it's not just about me, it's about us," Adam said seriously.

Ruby and her friend Alba were surprised once more, after listening to Adam's statement.

Ruby's face became red, "Us? S-sir Adam, it's not appropriate to talk about it, furthermore... There are too many people here."

Alba could only smirk after saw Ruby's expression, 'Hahaha, it's the first time I saw she was blushing. Is it him?'

Adam is confused at Ruby's expression, 'Did I say anything wrong?'

Seeing there might be a misunderstanding, Pete said," Good morning your Highness and Alba, we want to talk about our team."

"Team?" Ruby still couldn't understand the whole thing.

"Oh, You mean the battle ball team? I'm sorry I still couldn't find more members, I was at the hospital until dawn yesterday," Ruby said embarrassed.

"You don't have to worry Your Highness, our team has already been feasible to play matches," Pete smiled. Pete then explained that Gavin and Logan wanted to join Hellcat.

Gavin and Logan then introduced themselves.

"Nice to meet you Your Highness, my name is Gavin, a shapeshifter level 3. It's an honor to join your team."

"Good morning, Your Highness. My name is Logan and my class is elementalist. Thank you to accept me."

Ruby looked really glad, "I really appreciate your willingness to join our team, let's struggle together from here on."

"And Sir Adam, say it if I'm wrong. You want to join our team, Right? But, didn't you just awaken yesterday? You need to increase your level to level 3 before you can play this game. I am sorry but, it's the rules, so I can't help you." Ruby tried to explain to Adam gently, without hurting his heart.

Adam's face became weird, Pete and Cleon wanted to say something, but after saw Adam shook his head, they just nodded.

Gavin and Logan thought it was funny, but because Pete and Cleon didn't want to explain, they tried to hold their smiles.

Alba felt something was wrong, but she couldn't point which one.

Adam pretended to be sad. He then clenched his palm, and said," If... If I can get to level 3. May I join your team, Your Highness?"

Hearing that, Ruby's heart was warm. Ruby thought it would take at least 1,5 to 3 years for Adam to brakethrough, depending on his talent. And if Hellcat still existed, it's not a bad idea to let Adam playing.

"Sure, I will be waiting for you. Please work hard Sir Adam! I support you!" Ruby made a punching to air gesture.

Adam couldn't hold laughing, "Hahaha, alright. You had already promised, Your Highness. Guys, you heard it yourself. Princess Ruby had already agreed."

After that, everyone applauded and congratulated Adam except Ruby and Alba who were still confused.

"Then the Hellcat team has been formally formed. Let's have a party!" Cleon shouted.

"What did you say? Of course, we need to have a game against a team." Gavin said.

"No, no, no! We need to train. We need to know our strengths and shortcomings and then fix them," Pete said.

"Yes, teamwork is essential. It needs to be practiced before we have any match," Logan said quietly.

Ruby and Alba could only rooted and dumbfounded, they didn't understand what they meant.

'Wait! They said the team has been successfully formed. So it means Adam has already level 3 mage and a summoner. Because Logan clearly is an elementalist and Gavin is a shapeshifter. But, multiple breakthroughs to level 3. It's big news,' Alba's eyes gleamed. She then walked to Adam.

"May I ask something Sir?" Alba asked with a smile.

"Hmm, sure miss Alba. Anything," Because he was carried away by the joyous atmosphere, he carelessly answered.

'You fool, don't answer readily! She is likely a reporter or something,' Eve shouted at his mind.

'Why not?' Adam asked.

'Mmm... Well, I don't know if it's good or bad. It's up to you then.'

"Have you already been a level 3 mage?" Alba asked.

"Yes"

Alba was ecstatic, at another side Ruby was shocked, "How?"

As for the other people, they didn't know where was the problem, but their curiosity was successfully piqued.

"Yes, how?" Abla also asked.

"Huh, just like the others, I was doing the awakening ceremony yesterday, then I have been brokenthrough one level to another, until level 3 mage. I thank God for that," Adam said ordinarily.

"T-that's mean, you did m-multiple breakthroughs?" Ruby asked unnaturally.

"Yes?" Adam.

"That's going to be big news, I tell you. Ruby, you don't know how the Silverpool citizens will react if they know someone has brokenthrough three levels continuously as a summoner?" Alba said.

Ruby's face became pale instantly, "No, you can't. It will endanger Sir... Wait! What did you say? Summoner? Sir Adam, Did you awaken as a summoner?"

Adam didn't know why Ruby behaved strangely. He wouldn't feel strange if she was excited like many people in Professor Nadine's laboratory or the referee. But she acted differently. Moreover, she didn't look disappointed when she heard he was a summoner.

"Yes, I'm a summoner. May I ask Your Highness?" Adam asked seriously.

Then Ruby looked relief as if a heavy burden had been loaded off from her heart. She then smiled at Adam.

"Phew... It's good to be a summoner. It's good if it's a summoner. Yes?"

Adam captivated. He couldn't help to feel warm when she said that. He didn't know what he felt at the moment. But it was surely a good feeling.

'Hahaha... You are done, Adam!' A chuckle was heard in his heart.

'Eh, what do you mean?' Adam pretended as if nothing happened.

'So false.'

'I don't know what you mean.'

Adam ignored Eve who was still teasing him.

"Could you explain to me, what so special about multiple breakthroughs?" Adam asked.

Everyone was also curious about that. So they waited for Ruby's answer. But Alba looked

want to say something.

"Isn't it because it is a very rare event? I heard in the last 30 years only a person had experienced it in this kingdom. We don't know who he is, as the records have never mentioned it. But it is deemed as an auspicious moment for the kingdom," Alba explained.

Ruby smiled bitterly, "That's true, but it also means that person is a genius and has a chance to breakthrough level 8 even level 9."

"Wow," Everyone's eyes then focused on Adam.

Adam's face became red, so he asked "Is that all Your Highness?"

Then Ruby said, "Unfortunately, in the history of the Salama continent, although many summoners had successfully brokenthrough level 9, they weren't able to contract level 8 or higher summoned creatures. As you know, the summoner's might depends on his summoned creatures. If he only has level 7 summoned creatures, he won't able to match another level 8 mage. Because, starting from level 6, a mage will get a tremendous power that difficult for a lower level mages to contend."

"So, because of that, for more than 200 years, there has never been a war," Alba said.

Ruby nodded, "Yes, because war is meaningless if each country had level 8 or 9 mages. Although level 8 mages can not contend with level 9 mages. But a level 9 mage needs more effort to eliminate a level 8 mage."

"Is it because of the skill that the level 8 mage has, Your Highness?" Adam asked.

Ruby smiled, "No, starting at level 6 and then higher, a mage will get extra trait per level, and their trait is same with all mage at that level."

"So, why Your Highness looked relieved when I said I'm a summoner?" Adam finally asked what he wanted to know the most.

"Because you will not be in danger. You're not a threat in 'their' eyes."

"Who are... So that is." Adam wanted to ask the identity of 'them'. But after thinking a little, he could guess who were 'they'.

Everyone nodded, they also could roughly guess who 'they' were, except one.

"Who?" Cleon asked. Everyone ignored him.

"So can it be reported?" After knew the truth, Alba looked hesitant to continue her plan.

"Just focus at the auspicious moment. It will be fine."

"Miss Alba, are you a reporter?" Adam asked.

Ruby and Alba smiled mysteriously. Alba then answered, "You can say it like that."

Adam could only sigh.

Looking at the sighing Adam, Ruby laughed merrily, "Sir Adam, do you know Silverpool weekly?"

Adam nodded, "Don't tell me miss Alba is the owner's daughter?"

Ruby smiled, "Yes, you got it right."

***

After that, all of them except Alba who wanted to report her 'achievement' to her father, went to a restaurant that they had visited before coming to academy hospital to have lunch.

On the road, Adam introduced Eve, Haldir, and Ural to Ruby. As usual, Eve could instantly close her relationship with Ruby. As the only girls in the group, they hit it off right away.

***