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[Status]
Name: John Colton
Age: 14
Level: 6
Experience: 350/600
HP: 100/150
Mana: 80/80
Strength: 17
Intelligence: 16
Dexterity: 15
Agility: 15
Wisdom: 16
Unspent points: 3
Skills: Identify, Intermediate Magic Focus, Primal Instinct, Indomitable Will, Sword Training - Intermediate, Magic Creation - Beginner, Pain Resistance - Beginner, Overcome the odds - Beginner
Spells: Fireball, Light, Aqua, Wind Slash, Raise Earth, Blind, Fire Bullet, Earth Bullet, Wind Bullet, Water Bullet
Boons: Wadur's Blessing
Curses: -None-
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Classes were suspended for the first years and Froelia was on lockdown and on high alert. The daughter of an Earl of the kingdom has been kidnapped. I stayed in my room and stared at my status screen, dazed. 'I'm still too weak…' I thought to myself. I sat on my bed for a long time thinking about how I can get stronger.
'The Inter-Kingdom tournament team… I need to join in order to get stronger… Luna, wait for me. I'll save you.' I thought to myself. I got out of my room and headed towards the Duke's office.
I knocked on the door once I got there and the doors opened. Duke Lawrence sat there with a serious look on his face. "What is it, John Colton? I am quite busy." He said in a serious tone, his face, sullen from the news of the kidnapping.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Your Grace. However, I need to know… Is there any way for me to get stronger in a short period of time?" I ask him, showing my determination as I look him straight in the eye.
"You want to get stronger?" He got up from his seat and started walking towards me. As he was walking towards, the same feeling I got from my old instructor, Lucas Mason, started appearing again. That feeling of despair and fear.
[Indomitable will] skill activated.
I felt my knees go weak from the pressure, but the skill saved me just in time. I regained my senses, fixed my posture and stared at him as he walked closer and closer towards me. Even when the skill activated, I could still feel enormous pressure emanating from him.
"Oh, so you can still keep standing even after that." He complimented. "Well, if you can manage not to pass out after this, then I shall help you get stronger." He closed his eyes for a moment and he stopped walking when he was right in front of me. He opened his eyes and the atmosphere in the room changed.
I was looking up at him as he opened his eyes. It felt like he was an insurmountable wall that reached the heavens. He looked like a devil that was able to kill me with just a single blow. My vision started to get darker and darker.
'NO! I MUST HOLD ON!' I clenched my fists and bit my lip hard enough that blood started to drip. I kept staring at him as he focused his entire pressure onto me. The pain helped keep me conscious for a little bit and as I was just about to pass out, the pressure suddenly died out and I felt my legs go numb as I got on the floor on one knee.
With heavy breathing and hazy vision, I look back up to him with even more determined eyes.
"You really are something. I guess killing the Wolf King wasn't entirely out of luck." He said. "As promised, I will help you with your endeavor in getting stronger." He turned his back on me and walked back to his seat.
He sat back in his seat and stared at me as I was kneeling on the ground. "Because I am a Duke of the kingdom and the principal of the Froelia Royal Academy, I can not show bias or personally train you." He stopped for a moment and looked down on his desk, thinking. He looked back at me. "Although I can't directly help you, I will give you opportunities to get stronger."
As soon as I heard that, I mustered up all the strength I had left to stand up. "Opportunities, Your Grace?" I asked.
"Yes, I will give you more opportunities. Besides the fact that you and your team are already qualified to fight for a spot on the Inter-Kingdom tournaments, I will also allow you to join the expeditions of those in the upper years, as long as their instructors have shown their agreement."
"Thank you, Your Grace." I tried to walk out of the room but instantly felt my legs go numb again.
"You can just rest here for a while, I exerted 50% of my real strength to pressure you, most students wouldn't be able to take that." He said nonchalantly.
'That was just 50% of his actual strength?' I was surprised as I sat down on the floor trying to regain my strength.
It was silent for a while while I was seated in his office. "Are you getting stronger to find Luna Thomas?" He said all of a sudden.
"Yes, Your Grace." I replied.
"I admire your courage, but it's best if you give it up and leave it to the adults. We believe that she was kidnapped by the elves of the Braethen Kingdom." He sighed as he finished those words.
'Braethen Kingdom… Qaviel Kingdom's enemy…' I clenched my fists, anger forming on my face.
"You are still too weak. Don't die trying to save her." He said sternly.
"Yes… Your Grace…" I looked down at my legs as I sat down on the floor and stayed that way for a while. "I'll just have to get strong enough to save her, Your Grace." I look back at him with a resolute face.
"Good, very good, John Colton. I like that look in your eyes. I will be expecting you to get stronger." He said with a smile on his face.
After that small exchange, we stayed silent for the entire time. I regained my strength and bid goodbye to the Duke. I went towards the training grounds and waited for the second years' training time. After some time, they entered the grounds and their magic instructor saw me.
"What are you doing here? You're a first year student and I heard that you had no classes today." He said as he eyed me top to bottom.
He looked and dressed like a noble. He was very neat and had black hair and brown eyes. The way he carried himself leaves you in an awe of admiration and makes you want to respect him.
"Greetings, Instructor. My name is John Colton and I have been granted permission by the Duke to ask to join any of my seniors' expeditions. His Grace said that I must gain your approval." I stood up and gave a bow as I spoke.
"John Colton. Ah the one that killed the injured Wolf King. You are indeed strong, but that is only within the first years. My name is Roman Philips, the second years' magic instructor. How can I know for sure if you are able to handle the missions given to the second year students?" He asked.
"I am prepared to show you my abilities." I said in a serious yet respectable tone.
"You overestimate yourself." He snickered. "Alright, I'll give you a chance. If you are able to defeat three of my students here, then I shall give the Duke my approval." He said as he chose three students.
The three students walked to the front and started introducing themselves.
"My name is Jack West, son of a Viscount." He said.
"I am Kian Holmes, son of a Baron." Another male student said.
"My name is Kyra Hamilton, daughter of a Marquis." She said as she looked at me.
"These people will be the ones that will fight you. You will start with Kian here, then Jack, then Kyra. If you are able to beat them then I will approve of you joining the expedition. I will also go out of my way to convince Blake, the other instructor, of your participation."
I give them a bow. "I'll be in your care. Shall we?" I said as I headed towards the middle of the training grounds waiting for my first opponent.
"I won't pull any punches just because you're younger." Kian said as he readied his wand.
"Neither shall I." I replied back not taking my wand out.
"Start!" Roman shouted.
As soon as I heard that I aimed my hands at Kian and casted a spell.
"Fire Bullet!" I shouted and aimed for the right side of his head, just barely missing him.
Kian was unable to react to the spell and was still preparing his own spell when he realized what just happened.
"Wha-" His magic completely dissipated and just stood there in a daze.
"Thank you for going easy on me." I gave him a bow and waited for the next competitor.
Everyone was silent and in shock at how I was able to cast a spell as strong and as fast without using my wand.
"Amazing… Truly amazing." Roman whispered. "Jack, you're up next."
"Sorry, Instructor Roman. I am unable to keep track and stop that spell. I forfeit." Jack replied.
"Very well, Kyra. Go on. Show him the power of the second year students." He said with pride.
"Yes, sir!" She replied as she walked towards the middle facing me.
She readied her wand. "Prepare yourself, I will not hold back."
I felt a slight pressure emanating from her, one that felt like she had experienced many battles regardless of her age.
"Yes, Lady Kyra Hamilton." I replied and readied my wand as well.
"Start!" Roman's voice sounded out again.
'I can't hold back anymore. I guess it's time to show them my real talents.' I thought to myself.
"Blind!" Kyra screamed as she pointed her wand towards me.
Sooner than later, my vision darkened and could only see a few meters ahead of me.
"Raise Earth!" I surrounded myself with chunks of earth for protection.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I heard multiple spells hit the chunks of earth protecting me and disregarded them. I focused my power on casting light magic and imagined a flash grenade that explodes after a few seconds. I waved my wand towards the opening in the sky and lobbed a ball of light out. A few seconds later, it explodes into a bright flash.
[Flash] learned
[Flash]
Ball of light that explodes and blinds the enemy after a few seconds
I used the Raise Earth spell on the ground underneath me and pointed my wands toward her.
"Blind! Wind Slash!" I used both spells consecutively and successfully hit her.
She laid on the floor and started to get up.
"Stop! You have won, John Colton." He stopped the match. "I've heard that you had talent in all four elements, but I never thought you could use light and dark magic as well. Truly amazing." Roman complimented me.
"Thank you, Instructor Roman." I bowed and walked towards Kyra to help her up.
As I reached out my hand to help her, she slapped and stood up on her own and walked out of the training grounds.
"Don't mind her, John. Let her heal her pride and it will be fine. As for my promise, I give you my approval to join." Roman said.
"Thank you!" I shouted as I gave a solemn bow.