Chapter Ten

Mother's idea on spending the gold in little amounts was a stroke of genius, 'cause A suddenly being rich causes suspicion, and B because of the high chances of getting robbed. In Lizon, almost everyone had the same income because the career options in Lizon were farmers, merchants, and working for the Windsors.

The Windsors were the nobles in charge of Lizon and other towns and villages. So if we suddenly showed the chest, then it would be similar to cooking ourselves in the middle of a tiger's den. Other than that, mother told me about some long... Something academy in the city. She was hoping to use a few of the coins for transportation and admission. I asked her where she had heard about it and if she was sure that they gave admission to well people like us, but she insisted that she was extremely certain about it.

"I know that you've never been far from home but finding this chest and me hearing about that academy is a sign from the gods," mother said.

"But..."

"No excuses, Raiden, we have the money and you have a core, what else do you need? Opportunities like this come only once, like your father's death. If even one of us knew how to use mana then he would still be alive."

Mom rarely brings up father, usually because his death affected her the most and even bringing up his name changed her mood.

"Just think about it," mom said as she sighed, then she left for work, hoping the Windsors only let her go with a pay cut and a scolding for missing a day of work.

"Enough of that," I said as I got up from Sam's unconscious and, more importantly, beaten body. After breakfast, the first thing I did was go to the workshop of Mike's father. Mike's father was a blacksmith. He was the one who crafted the hoes, spades, and machetes. He made more money than most of the folks in Lizon, which was how Mike found the funds for his escapades. When I knocked on the large wooden double door, Alvin was the one who opened it. As soon as his eyes landed on me, he started trembling, and a black spot was slowly getting bigger on his brown pants which led to a puddle forming under him. I pulled back my elbow and landed a strong uppercut on his chin, which made him fly back as the door also swung wide open. Sam and Mike saw me, sweat started forming on their brows as they put their guards up.

"Guess who's not dead?" I said in a singsong tone. "Hmm, no answer then guess who's about to be?"

I coursed mana through my limbs as I dashed forward. After a brief forty minutes or more, I got tired and sat down on Sam. I used Mike as a leg's rest. I just left Alvin with an uppercut mostly because I didn't think that he was in on the plan to murder me, but really, they tried to kill me because I beat them up.

I let my eyes run around the smithy. There were some ores on wooden tables, a furnace that was at the back with a fan hanging on a wall close to the furnace, and various tools were hung around the walls of the furnace, like a pair of tongs, a hammer, among other things. Seeing this made me slightly pissed at Mike. His father had a really nice business. It made enough money since Mike found ways to use it in the wrong ways. Sam, on the other hand, the only reason he even formed a mana core was due to the fact that Mike was too lazy. Mike's father bought him a mana core forming just like my mother but instead of him using the opportunity he was presented he gave the book to Sam.

A once in a lifetime opportunity just given away and in my case I was afraid, afraid of the city I've never been beyond the borders of Lizon and nobles also attend that school which means the students they would be miles ahead of me in terms of everything. Usually I would talk to Henry about stuff like this but I don't know ever since that day I've been giving him his space.

"Well I should give it one last try, what's the worst he could do? Just shut the door on my face, haha," I said as I rubbed the back of my neck.

As I walked out of the smithy, I turned and looked at the three boys passed out, Sam and Mike had lost their smile, Sam the most all four of his front teeth had broke in half. Mike just lost two of his. As a huge wave of happiness washed over me.

"Good job, Raiden," I said to myself as I walked out. I slowly dragged myself to Henry's house thinking of every possible scenario that I did not notice that I was already at his door.

"Okay here goes," I said as I knocked his door three times. "Henry you in?"

"...."

"Henry can we talk?" I said but I got no response, "Well since you're not talking to me then, I'd like to say thank you for everything you've done for me especially the circulation technique and the fusion arts it really saved my life. So guess this is goodbye then."

I turned around and was walking away when I heard a click, I don't know why but a smile grew on my face, I turned and saw Henry standing at his open doorway with rum in his hands.

"Well don't just stand there get in," he walked in and I followed after.

The two of us headed to his living room, in his living room there was a medium glass coffee table in front of it was a transparent glass of wall which I never really knew why he had it and behind the table was what they called a sofa, the sofa was a comfy dark blue leather sofa. In the middle of the seats were two dark blues pillows which were also made of leather.

"Ooh this is the stuff," I said as my body sunk into the sofa, this stuff did wonders to my butt and overall body.

"I see you haven't been slacking off on training," Henry said as he dropped next to me mostly because he was drunk as hell well the last time he saw me I had little muscle mass so this was a huge transformation.

"Yeah," I said now that I was in here I couldn't help but feel a strange awkward tension it's been two years since we last spoke so.

"Listen kid about that day.. I'd like to apologize, I also want to apologize for you know ghosting you and stuff it's just that when I almost fried you.. I don't know I just felt disgusted by myself and... What am trying to say is that I missed you," Henry said and as he finished those words he took a large swing of rum.

"Well say something," Henry said I've known him for a really long time and this was the first time I saw him feeling embarrassed.

"I missed you too man, without your advice I almost died, I should have... "

"Wait what's this talk about dying?" Henry asked as he raised an eyebrow.

"Oh Mike and Sam pushed me into a goblin territory where I almost got torn to shreds," I said as a matter of fact.

"Oho ho ho, am gonna kill those little shits," Henry said as he stood up with his fists clenched.

"Don't bother already took care of them also, I was able to test out some moves on those goblins, you should have seen me punching, stabbing, kicking, and elbowing those guys, it was beautiful. I still can't believe I did it. Also, apart from that, I found a goblin chest.

"Hmm, well lucky you, those chests have tons of money," Henry said as he sat back down.

"Yeah, about that, mother wants me to use some of it to head over to the capital and join some rich people academy," I said as I leaned forward with my hands on my thighs.

"Longhorn academy, it's a great school. They even admit peasants who are exceptional for no pay, like a charity. Give it a shot," Henry said as he scratched the stubble on his chin.

"That's just it. Those 'peasants' must be from merchants who could afford quality books, tutors, and the other nobles; they've had those ever since they learned how to walk. I, on the other hand, just had to get by with what my mom brought me," I said as I now stood up and paced around.

"The people there would be miles ahead of me. What should I do?" I said.

"First, come closer," Henry said, and I did as I was told, only for him to slap me on my head.

"What the hell was that for?!" I said as I moved back with my hand rubbing the spot it was hit.

"That was for speaking nonsense. All this talk of 'I don't have this,' 'I'd be behind.' All that is bullshit. Like you said, all you had to get by was the books your mom snagged from the Windsors, and with something like that, look at the heights you reached. You don't need that academy; that academy needs you. So the next time you start saying stupid shit like that again, I will hit you with lightning."

I just stood there, and I don't know why, but I dropped my gaze.

"Thanks, I needed that. So I guess after today, I'll be heading to the big city. Got any advice?"

"Yes, a few actually. Where you are heading to, you are going to meet bigger assholes than Mike, so I'd suggest to keep your head down and your trap shut if you know what's good for you," Henry replied, offering his insights.

"Okay, and..."

"And be careful while you are there."

***

"Mom, I've decided that I will give it a try," Raiden said as soon as he saw his mother.

After a brief catching up with Henry, Raiden went back to his home to pack the essentials: his clothes and he took out some money from the pouch and placed it in an even smaller pouch which he tied around his neck. The amount of coins he was carrying was enough for the journey and any other inconvenience he would face. Also, the amount of money he was carrying was enough to feed them for a year.

"You already packed, when are you leaving?" Lilith asked.

"First thing tomorrow morning," Raiden said.

"Oh, then that soon. But why?" Lilith said as the realization that her son was going to leave started hitting her.

"Come on, mom, don't tell me you are starting to miss me already?" I joked.

"Well, my son is leaving me," she said, trying to match my energy, but her voice broke a little.

"But you can give me company till the station," I said.

"Well, I was going to, with or without you saying it."