Chapter 17: Revealing The Truth & Rank Promotion
ARTHUR LEYWIN'S POV:"Arthur? What's going on here?" A voice broke through the clearing.I turned to see Jasmine standing at the edge of the clearing, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the sight of Sylvie and Mistral."Jasmine?" I said, surprised to see her back so soon. "I didn't expect you to be back already.""Kyu! Kyu!" Sylvie chirped excitedly at looking at Jasmine after more than a year. "Kaspian called for both of us to meet at the guild hall," she said, still staring at Sylvie. "But what is this? A dragon... and a talking wolf?"I took a deep breath, knowing this was a lot for her to take in. Dragons were supposed to be extinct in our world, and here was Sylvie, very much alive and majestic. This was the moment I'd been anticipating but also dreading. How was I going to explain everything to Jasmine? I had come to trust her deeply over the past year. She had proven herself time and again as a reliable and loyal companion. If there was ever a moment to reveal the truth about Sylvie, it was now."Jasmine, I need to explain," I began. "This is Sylvie.""Sylvie?!" Jasmine exclaimed in surprise, I nodded slowly, her eyes still wide with shock but willing to listen."Yes, But to understand how this happened, I need to start from the beginning, remember, when I was three years old and we were on our trip to Xyrus, and how I fell off a cliff when bandits attacked us," I started as Jasmine nodded her head in affirmation. "I should have died, but instead, I woke up with almost no wounds. Turns out a dragon named Sylvia has saved me from the fall, she asked me to come and meet her and that's how I met Sylvia. She took care of me for four months and, created a portal for me to travel through, which eventually led me to the elves. Sylvia became like a grandmother to me. She protected me and taught me many things." tears welled in my eyes recalling the time I spent with Sylvia, but I didn't let it show.Jasmine's expression shifted from shock to a mix of fascination and disbelief. "A dragon took care of you? And she made a portal?""Yes," I confirmed. "Sylvia was incredibly powerful. She knew I had potential and wanted to help me. Before she died, she left her will within me and entrusted me with an egg, her daughter, Sylvie. That's how I got Sylvie.""After that, I met Virion Eralith, the former king of the elves. He saw a powerful inside me and asked me to be his disciple. That's where I assimilated with her will."Jasmine took a deep breath, trying to process everything. "This is unbelievable, Arthur. Not one but two dragons... But..""I know," I said, understanding her disbelief. "I'm telling you this because I trust you completely. And you've taken the role of an elder sister in my life." I paused, looking at Sylvie and then back at Jasmine. "I've been thinking about telling you about Sylvie for a while now."Jasmine's expression softened, a hint of a smile touching her lips. "Thank you for trusting me, Arthur. This is a lot to take in, but I appreciate you sharing it with me."I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "There's more," I continued. "When we were in the boss room of Mistral's Den and everyone was unconscious, I met Mistral. She was sealed there, an ancient guardian of the wind. Over the past year, she's been watching over you, and now she's chosen you to be her bond."Jasmine's eyes widened again. "She's chosen me? But why?"Mistral stepped forward, her voice calm and reassuring. [You have shown great strength, talent, courage, and a willingness to protect those you care about. These qualities make you a worthy bond.]Jasmine looked overwhelmed but nodded slowly, accepting the gravity of Mistral's words. "I... I don't know what to say.""You don't have to say anything right now," I said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We've faced a lot together, and we'll face even more in the future."Jasmine took a deep breath, her determination returning. "Alright. Let's do this."Mistral stepped forward, her eyes glowing with a gentle but powerful light. [Jasmine, if you're ready, please roll up your sleeve to your shoulder,] she instructed.Jasmine nodded and pulled up her sleeve, exposing her arm. Mistral moved closer, her presence calming and reassuring.[This might sting a bit,] Mistral said softly. She opened her mouth and took a small, deliberate bite on Jasmine's arm. Instantly, a green hue surrounded the bite mark, spreading across Jasmine's arm in intricate patterns.Jasmine winced slightly but held still, her eyes focused on the glowing patterns. The green light intensified, forming a wind-like symbol that settled into her skin, marking the bond.As the light faded, Jasmine examined the mark on her arm, a mix of awe and determination in her eyes. "It's... incredible."[We are now bonded,] Mistral said, her voice filled with warmth and pride. [Together, we will face whatever challenges come our way, and grow stronger.]Jasmine nodded, her eyes meeting Mistral's. "Thank you, Mistral. I won't let you down."Mistral's eyes softened. [I know you won't, Jasmine.]I watched the scene unfold, feeling a sense of pride and relief. With Jasmine bonded to Mistral, our team was now even more formidable. Sylvie feeling my emotions licked my faceAs we stood together, the bonds of trust and companionship between us grew even stronger. With our newfound strength and unity, I knew we were ready to face whatever lay ahead."Anyways, Jasmine. What were you saying about Kaspian wanting to meet us?" I asked remembering the conversation earlier. Jasmine snapped back to the present moment. "Oh, right! Kaspian sent word that he wants to meet us at the guild hall tomorrow. He mentioned it's something important.""Got it," I replied, already thinking ahead. "So, how are we going to keep Sylvie with us due to her enormous size?" Jasmine asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern.Before I could respond, Sylvie transformed right before our eyes. Her massive dragon form shimmered and shifted, shrinking down until she stood as a cute black cat, her horns disappearing. Jasmine stared, stunned by the sudden change.[Beings who have surpassed SSS rank, or, higher beings like dragons, can unlock polymorph,] Mistral explained calmly. [It's a shape-shifting technique that allows them to change their shape and size to their preference.]Jasmine blinked, taking a moment to process what Mistral had said. "So... Sylvie can just turn into a cat whenever she wants?"I nodded, smiling as Sylvie nuzzled against my leg, her eyes gleaming with intelligence. "Yes, she can. It's one of the many amazing things about her."Jasmine shook her head in disbelief but then laughed, accepting it as it was. "Well, that's convenient. I guess we don't have to worry about drawing too much attention then.""Kyu!"Sylvie chirped and climbed jumped on Jasmine's shoulder and licked her face showing affection.We all shared a moment of lightheartedness, the tension from earlier dissipating. With Sylvie's ability to transform and Mistral's bond with Jasmine, we were more adaptable and prepared for whatever challenges awaited us."Alright," I said, "let's get some rest and meet Kaspian tomorrow. We've got a lot ahead of us."As we made our way back to the inn, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for the future. With our strengthened team and newfound abilities, I knew we were ready to face any adventure that came our way._________________________________________________________________________________The next day, Jasmine and I went to the guild hall. The morning air felt invigorating, and the sun was shining. As we approached the guild hall, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. Whatever Kaspian wanted to discuss with us must be important.Inside, the hall was filled with adventurers of all ranks, exchanging stories and planning their next quests. As we made our way through the bustling crowd, I couldn't help but notice the whispers and glances directed our way."Isn't that the legendary swordsman, Note?" someone murmured."Yeah, that's him. They say he's unbeatable in duels and has cleared a B-class dungeon without using any mana," another voice added.The recognition was both flattering and a bit overwhelming. Under my alias, Note, I had made quite a name for myself. I glanced at Jasmine, who seemed unfazed by the attention, her focus solely on our task.We approached the receptionist's desk, where a young woman with bright eyes sat. She was the same receptionist who had taken us to Kaspian when we first arrived here for the rank examination."Oh, Good morning, Mr. Note and Ms. Flamesworth," spotting us she greeted us with a friendly smile. "Good morning," Jasmine said. "We're here to see Kaspian. He called for us."She glanced at our adventurer cards as we presented them, then nodded. "Yes, Mr. Kaspian informed me about your visit. Please, follow me. I'll escort you to his office."We followed her through the bustling guild hall, past rows of adventurers and notice boards filled with quests and bounties. The atmosphere was lively, but my focus was entirely on what Kaspian might have to say.The receptionist led us down a quiet corridor and stopped in front of a large, wooden door. She knocked lightly before opening it and gesturing for us to enter."Kaspian, your guests have arrived," she announced before stepping aside to let us in.Kaspian was seated behind a large, ornate desk, his expression serious but welcoming. He stood up as we entered, extending a hand in greeting."Ms. Flamesworth, Note, thank you for coming," he said. "Please, have a seat. We have something to discuss regarding your future career as Adventurers."We took our seats, curiosity, and anticipation evident on both of our faces. The gravity in Kaspian's tone indicated that whatever he had to share with us was of great importance."Ms. Flamesworth, Note, thank you for coming," Kaspian said. "Please, have a seat. We have something to discuss regarding your future careers as adventurers."We took our seats, curiosity, and anticipation evident on both of our faces. The gravity in Kaspian's tone indicated that whatever he had to share with us was of great importance.Kaspian leaned forward, his expression serious. "Given the names you've made, particularly you, Note, and the reports I've reviewed from the last few leaders of your party, it's clear you both have surpassed expectations. The dungeons you've tackled and the challenges you've overcome have been exceptional."He paused, letting his words sink in. "As a result, I'm recommending a ranking examination to promote you both from A-rank to AA-rank."Jasmine and I exchanged surprised glances. The opportunity for such a promotion was significant. Generally, a formal ranking test would be required for such an advancement, but Kaspian's next words changed everything."I understand that normally there would be a ranking test," Kaspian continued, "but I am willing to take responsibility and promote you both immediately. I've already had the chance to evaluate Note's capabilities personally. As for you, Ms. Flamesworth, I believe it's time for your promotion as well."Jasmine's eyes widened with a mix of shock and gratitude. "Thank you, Kaspian. I appreciate your confidence in us."I nodded in agreement, feeling a surge of pride. "Thank you. We won't let you down."Kaspian smiled a look of approval in his eyes. "I have no doubt about that. You've both proven yourselves time and time again. With this promotion, you'll have access to more resources and responsibilities, which will be crucial for the upcoming challenges."He handed us our new AA-rank Adventurer card, which was golden in color, and the additional responsibilities that came with it. "Consider this a recognition of your hard work and dedication. Prepare yourselves for the new tasks ahead. The Beast Glades are becoming increasingly volatile, and your new ranks will help you tackle these emerging threats more effectively."With the weight of the promotion sinking in, we stood up to leave. The prospect of facing new challenges as AA-ranked adventurers was both exhilarating and daunting, but we were ready to rise to the occasion.As we left Kaspian's office, I felt a renewed sense of purpose and excitement for the journey ahead.~~A/N: Just in case you are wondering, How strong Mistral, Nehir, Ignatius, and Demitrius are, they will be almost as strong as the S+ rank(for reference Aya or Varay are SS rank) by the Xyrus incident. They have lost a lot of power due to being sealed but their true strength is still unknown. Also, while planning for the academy arc, I realized that I do have not many plans regarding how Kathlyn's interaction with Arthur. So I wanted to ask how you expect Kathlyn's relationship with him, should I keep it platonic or just friends, and cut off any chance of romantic development between them from the start, or do you want me to keep the option for romantic development open? ( I am open to this, honestly.) I know I already said that this will be GreyxCaera, but who knows, Arthur may woo Kathlyn too. Of course, Tessia is not going to be included, but I may add another girl who is OC from the Sylph clan of Asura who will be quite outgoing. (This is also what I am also inclined towards). Wait let's make it short, Comment who you expect Arthur to be with in the future, (Tessia, Seris, Varay, Aya, Claire, and Alea would not be included.) (Sorry if you wanted them but that won't suit the plot I am writing) But I may make a one-shot story from them if you want.Dang! I got so excited that I ended up writing a whole paragraph. But here is the thing, I won't make it a cliche harem type. There will be only 3 girls, I will try my best to write them well.anyways, another question, here is the plan for Mistral, Nehir, Ignatius, and Demitrius:Mistral - JasmineNehir - KathlynIgnatius - ClaireDemitrius - (I am thinking of introducing an OC dwarf to be his bond. Comment if you want someone)Sorry for all this yapping, lol~