Chapter 45 : : There Are Always Exceptions

Kale observed the emerald green vine floating inside the colourless chemical in it.

The vine looked similar to the vines consisting of the railing of the balcony outside the room, the same vines that easily lifted him and Sanae like they were made of cotton. There was one thing that was very strange about this wine, on a closer look, Kale realized that the green vine almost looked like it was made of rubber.

Sanae came closer to him, took the jar, and removed the lid. She put her hand inside and took out the vine "I named it «Wild Vine», it was something I made in the past to serve as a whip, it is Tier 2 plant and only have three main abilities.

First, it can extend more than ten times its length like a super elastic. Second, although it looks weak and feels like rubber on touch but is strong as steel. Third, even if it gets damaged as long as it's isn't thoroughly destroyed, it can slowly regenerate. Furthermore, it only needs the host's mana to nurture itself, but I need to tell you, it has two weaknesses. Firstly, it isn't easy to control, and second, it has elemental weaknesses, the element that counters wood will also counter it, such as fire,"

Sanae said as she poured her mana into the vine and it swirled around her wrist like a snake, she then turned to look at the glass on the small wooden table in the center of the room. Her lips curled into a slight grin, she waved her hand towards it, and suddenly, one end of the vine extended like a whip, it shot out at lightning speed then passed by the glass's side, swirled around it, and retracted back like a stretched rubber band.

Sanae caught the glass easily, it had no cracks or damage whatsoever "You would need this level of control over it if you want to bring out its full power,"

"Can we channel mana into it for strengthening?" Kale asked.

Sanae nodded.

"How much does it worth, compared to the value of those two Jade White Lotus?" Kale asked, he had already made up his mind on this «Wild Vine».

"This is at the peak of Tier 2, moreover it's mine creation so there are very low chances of you finding it around, but even then, its overall value is slightly lesser than the two Jade White Lotus, do you want something else besides it too? Tell me, if it's not too much we can discuss," She said, she was a respected senior so she can't trick a junior like Kale who had just started his journey,

"Hmm… How about you- Miss Rosary's phone number?" Kale asked.

Sanae looked at him with a faint smile on her lips, her eyes carried a trace of amusement "Youngsters these days… Sure are hot-blooded," She mumbled to herself.

Kale knew that she was just teasing him. He didn't react in any way.

"If I have a way to contact Miss Rosary then in the future when I have obtain something that may be precious, I can confirm if Miss Rosary wants it or not on phone, it takes quite some efforts and time to come here for confirmation," He said but inwardly he thought 'You yourself is just barely in your twenties, what right do you have to call me a youngster?'

Sanae thought while keep looking at him.

She was a big figure, not many had her private number, although almost anyone can get the number of Sky & Mountain Plantation Center but now that Kale asked it, he was clearly not talking about that one, he wasn't interested in talking to workers but her.

Frankly speaking, even if he had brought four Jade White Lotus instead of two, Sanae would still reject him but Kale knew it wasn't the same because the one who recommended him to this place was Instructor Fina, from her words he already knew that Instructor Fina had praised him a lot while talking to her and had good relations with her.

"Would E-mail work?" Sanae said with a smile, she thought about it, and giving number was still not feasible, the problem wasn't Kale but someone else could trick him and get the number for themselves.

As a big figure, it wasn't a doubt that she avoided many people and their deals by making excuses like she was busy and giving her worker's number instead of hers. Kale was a youngster so he could be tricked with good bait... Or so she thought.

How would she know that he was anything but innocent, he was an old monster who kills without batting an eye. As for being tricked? He was someone who rose to power without others knowing and controlled the forces of the whole Silver Phoenix Empire under his foot, going as far as to trick the Crown Prince to death and even decide the next Emperor.

Kale nodded, he was fine with E-mail too.

After completing the trade, Kale didn't forget to thank her, good manners were the foundation of being a good person… Or we can say, a good boy.

Sanae was about to call someone to accompany him to the main door, but he told her he could go alone there was no need for her to send him out.

"Feel free to come and ask your doubts," Sanae said from behind, her words surprised Kale but when he was still thinking, she smiled and added "That is, once you are preparing to fuse Wood and Earth Mage class to unlock Plant Mage class,"

Kale shook his head, he now knew she was teasing him even when she was speaking the truth.

After all, it would be more than he could ask for if she started to guide someone who had barely become a mage.

She let him in and skipped many formalities while talking was already a form of acknowledgment, Kale understood it but didn't act like he did, after all, he was a kid, acting too mature was just letting others doubt you, it would be like asking them to investigate his background and past.

He left the Sky & Mountain Plantation Center and headed back to his home.

***

Kale was driving back home.

The sun was already set, but fortunately, he had already got the hang of driving.

On the way, he listened to the whole Voice Letter, there was nothing important in it with only Riyan telling him about the good side of his daily life and asking about his. Kale sighed, he composed a Voice Letter himself in a child-like excited tone and sent it back.

He then called Layla.

{You finally called back, it's rude to cut a girl's call, you know,} (Layla)

{I will think about it the day you start to act like a normal girl, now get to the point, what do you want?} (Kale)

{I am always normal whatever, listen you remember the party Mike invited us to? Looks like some future Hero's party member candidate or maybe even the Hero candidate would come to attend it,} (Layla)

{This is more of a reason to not attend it, I'm gonna tell you I don't have a good image of aristocrats I easily get pissed off when talking to them, it's better to act rude by not attending the party rather than punching them in the fit of the moment,} (Kale)

{It was always written on your face, and it's not like I want to attend it but if I don't, it would be a problem if some petty-minded idiot starts to create problems at Academy if we are probably the only ones not attending the party,} (Layla)

'What can they do? Make trouble for me at the Academy? Humph, once I reach Level 10, I will become self-sufficient, I can go into Trial Tower and Dungeons, buy spells from Black Market, and steadily become stronger while easily hiding my progress. As for revenge, there isn't a single person who plotted against me and is still alive.' Kale inwardly snorted.

{Still, if I go to the party then I would have to converse with others, and every idiot would directly or indirectly only ask about my background, it's a pain,} (Kale)

{Why are you worrying, I'm with you,} (Layla)

{It's exactly the main reason for my worry,} (Kale)

{…} (Layla)

{Walking with a Beast Tamer is like having a Trouble Attracting Magnet attached to my back,} (Kale)

{Humph, when did you lose your guts? Anyway, I have a plan, the party is actually in Falling Moon Hotel, the hotel is quite big, there is also a casino, virtual arcade, movie theater and bar-like places inside it, we can keep avoiding others and head out early, how?} (Layla)

'A casino?' Kale's eyes shined 'I'm low on funds, and what can be a better place than casino for easy money hehehe…'

{If you insist, we will go have a look, when is the party?} (Kale)

{It's after three days, you have a party dress, right? I brought mine just in case, should we go shopping if you don't…} (Layla)

{I'm good,} (Kale)

Kale ended the call, he bought some cooking ingredients from a convenience store on his way back home.

After arriving at home, he spent some time practicing ‹Wood Hammer› and only stopped after it was at the Master's level in mastery.

He didn't sleep just after that and spent more time reading the spellbook of the ‹Mana-Resilience Cycle› before getting some rest.

But this much was enough for him, to be just one step away from reaching Novice level mastery in the spell. He had realized that, with time, he was beginning to make use of the same comprehension skills in learning and mastering spells, like the one he used in learning martial arts in the past.

Comprehension skills, of course, cannot be gained overnight, but he had already sharpened his comprehension skills for years he was just getting used to applying them on spell formulas.

***

At Morning…

A guest room on the 3rd floor…

Trinng… Trinng…

Clunch…

'Zeeezzzz… Another morning…' Layla reached out her hand and hit the button on the alarm clock. She sat up on her bed with her eyes still half-closed and lazily stretched her arms.

She looked around at the familiar wall, ceiling, furniture… This room, she still hasn't gotten used to it.

'It's his house,' Layla remembered, she felt her pajamas getting tight, when she looked down she realized it was really tight, her trimmed abs were still fine but her top and bottom had grown, it wasn't all, her height had also increased.

'I should do some shopping… When I have the time,' She thought.

Layla didn't actually like shopping that much, her tastes were different from normal girls, the reason being she lived a different life from the very start.

When the girls of her age used to play and learn how to be elegant in the aristocratic families, she was learning how to hunt.

They learned how to talk and build connections, she learned how to tame and raise beasts.

They got introduced to the concept of beauty and makeup, she started practicing self-defense techniques and dagger arts.

But as a result…

By the time they had just stepped on the road to being practitioner, she was already way ahead of them.

Ding…

Layla turned and saw her phone on the table vibrating, she took the phone and saw the incoming call on the screen. She saw the caller ID and picked up the call.

{How is my little darling doing?} A worrisome voice of a young woman came from the other side of the call.

{I'm fine mom, how are you free today?} Layla asked in a carefree tone as she stood up from the bad and removed the curtains from the window.

Rays of sunlight came from the other side, making her block it with her free hand to buy time for her eyes to adjust to the light.

{Don't talk like that dear, you already know how busy your mother is. Leave that aside, for now, tell me, did my little girl made some friends?} The woman asked.

{Yay, I made a few, and one of them is quite interesting. He is very different from what dad said,} Layla said.

{Oh, how?} The woman said

{Didn't dad always say that new students take months to be able to use spells or skills properly in real combat, and without that, they can't fight higher life form level beasts or monsters? Dad was lying, I saw him beating higher life form beast like they were just newborn puppies, he even singlehandedly killed a Vanishing Lizard,} Layla said in a rebellious tone.

{What are you talking about dear? Your dad only talked about the normal human race, races like Dragonman and Stoneman have strengthened bodies and are capable of fighting since birth, their population is lower but their fighting talent cannot be underestimated,} The woman explained in a soothing tone.

{Mom! He is a 100% pure human,} Layla refuted her.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other side of the phone.

{Well… There are always exceptions,} The woman said.