Chapter 4: A surprise quest

As Kael and Jesp returned from their sparring match at the training grounds, they found an visibly angry Abel and a carefree Davit laughing without a single care in the world, standing next to one of the gardens outside the guild hall.

"IM GONNA BURY YOU ALIVE, YOU ANNOYING SPIKY-EARED F@#%" Abel screamed angrily.

"Watch your language, Pebbles," Davit said with a laugh, dodging the rocks Abel hurled at him using magic.

"Oh, hey, Breezy and Fireboy. What's up?" Davit waved.

"Pebbles? Breezy? Fireboy? What's with those terrible nicknames?" Kael thought, amazed.

"Sorry to bother you guys, but Kael has something he needs to show you," Jesp said casually, clearly used to moments like this.

"Uh, yeah. Look at this." Kael regained his focus and raised his right hand, causing beautiful black flames to burst from his palm, tinged with a hint of navy blue.

"WOW, you already learned how to control them? You're a natural!" Abel exclaimed, surprisingly calming down.

"No fire near the garden, please," Davit sighed. "But I'll admit, that's pretty rare—even if you're a late bloomer."

"Late bloomer?" Kael asked.

"Yeah, usually kids your age have a bit of experience with magic already. They go to academies to get more adept," Jesp explained.

"But we still have three months until we send you to Arcanorum Academia. At the rate you're progressing, you'll be fine," Jesp added, giving Kael a thumbs-up.

"Real comforting. Three months of training just to get into the most prestigious magical academy in the country, so I can protect some random girl," Kael thought, sighing.

"Speaking of which, the academy is six years long. We're going to talk with the headmaster and the teachers to make sure you can avoid showing your celestial magic. You'll be entering as a fourth-year student with a 'scholarship'—one that doesn't actually exist, but they don't have to know that," Jesp said with a sly grin.

"Secret agent time!" Davit laughed.

"Isn't the Moon Tree's leader's kid also there?" Abel asked, fully calm now.

"Who? What?" Kael asked, surprised.

"Oh, yeah. Little Anger Issues is also there. I think Moon Tree got the same quest as you, so you'll be competing with him," Davit sighed.

"Moon Tree is the top guild in Aerolia right now. The guild leader's adopted son has celestial magic too—though I think his is lightning," Jesp added, slipping into teacher mode.

"Isn't celestial magic supposed to be super rare?" Kael pointed out.

"It is, but it's a big country, and nearly every church has a priest with celestial magic of some kind," Abel shrugged.

"Come on, let's go eat. You can ask the bosses for more details," Jesp said, smiling.

"Right, I'm pretty hungry," Kael agreed without hesitation.

As they made their way into the guild hall, the warm smell of roasted meat and freshly baked bread filled the air. Kael's stomach growled, reminding him just how hungry he was after the intense sparring session.

"Ah, there you are!" Orin waved, adding a hand gesture suggesting Kael come sit closer,

"How did your first lesson with Jesp go?" Orin asked with a smirk, clearly it seemed like he could sense the change in Kael's mana.

"Pretty good for the first lesson, started being able to control mana and was able to use my magic properly with not hurting anyone" Kael said smuggly 

"He even managed to land a hit on me" Jesp jumped in 

"Oh?, that's quite impressive" Dorain said, almost more emotion than usually,

"He held back a lot, he didn't use magic" Kael shrugged

"Still even if he didn't use magic, you're around F rank and Jesp is B rank... We haven't told you about ranks yet have we?" Orin said slowly,

"Nope, can you tell me now before you forget?" Kael asked 

"Ok so..." Orin started explaining that wizards in guilds have a ranking system that shows how strong and experienced they are and which quests they can take on, there are 8 ranks in total

F Rank wizards are complete beginners with minimal magical control. They've only recently discovered their magic and are still learning the basics. Their power is extremely weak, and they are often tasked with errand runs or simple quests.

E Rank wizards are new to magic, with limited control over their abilities. They are just starting to learn how to use their magic and can only fight against wild animals or low-level bandits. Their powers are unstable, and they often require guidance from higher-ranked wizards.

D Rank wizards are still novices with basic magical control, capable of handling low-level threats like weak monsters. While they aren't as powerful as the higher-ranked wizards, they are still able to contribute to guild missions by performing support roles or completing low-risk tasks.

C Rank wizards are the reliable middle-tier of guilds, capable of handling moderate threats with solid magical abilities. They are skilled in adventuring and often tasked with guild missions of moderate importance, but still need more experience to take on high-level threats on their own.

B Rank wizards are capable of handling large-scale missions, whether solo or as part of a guild team. While they aren't yet at the level of top-tier wizards, their magical power makes them valuable assets to any guild, especially for dangerous missions.

A Rank wizards are often seen as autonomous individuals who can alter the balance of power within both guilds and kingdoms. While not quite at the level of S Rank, they can easily influence political decisions, disrupt the economy, and decimate powerful factions. They are respected, and often act as independent agents with their own agendas to complete.

S Rank wizards represent the pinnacle of magical prowess for most guilds. They are able to face entire armies or devastate countries with their overwhelming strength. These wizards can start their own guilds, often becoming the leaders of vast magical factions or political powers.

SS Rank wizards can erase entire continents with a single spell and are feared across the world. They have power that can reshape the world, destroy armies, and rewrite the very laws of nature. It's said that only a handful of these wizards exist, and their feats are often recorded as epic sagas.

As the meal settled in and the group shared laughs over their hearty feast, Kael couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. The weight of what Jesp had just told him—three months until he'd be sent off to Arcanorum Academia, the most prestigious magical academy in the country, weighed heavily on his shoulders.

He absentmindedly pushed his food around his plate, the reality of his situation settling in. He'd been so focused on learning how to control his magic, he hadn't really considered the bigger picture.

"You're quiet, Kael. Something on your mind?" Orin's voice broke through his thoughts. The older wizard had been observing him closely ever since their conversation about ranks.

"Just thinking about this academy," Kael replied, letting out a long sigh. "I barely know how to control my magic properly, and now I'm supposed to get into this school? What if I don't make the cut?"

"That's not something you need to worry about, we've talked with the headmaster today, you'll get tested in a different area, so you won't have to expose your identity" Jesp said with a reassuring smile. "You're making incredible progress already, and we've still got three months. Trust me, you'll get there."

Kael nodded, though doubt still lingered. He had a long way to go, and the road ahead felt uncertain. But there was something else about the academy that still troubled him.

He looked over at Jesp. "You said I'd be entering as a fourth-year student... Why not just put me in as a first-year? Doesn't that make more sense?"

"Ah, good question," Jesp chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "It's because of your celestial magic, Kael. The higher-ups at the academy will expect someone with your potential to be farther along. Plus, it'll give you a chance to hide your celestial abilities. We don't want to attract too much attention, after all."

"Also it makes more sense cause of his age and the client is gonna be a 5th year this year, so it's gonna be easier for you to interact" Orin chuckled

"So, let's say I get in and keep this celestial magic under wraps—what happens when they find out?" Kael asked, a hint of worry creeping into his voice.

"That's where things get tricky," Jesp said, his tone turning more serious. "We've got to make sure they don't find out, or else you could be recruited by a whole bunch of people—Moon Tree included." He gave a pointed look toward Abel.

Kael blinked. "Moon Tree? Oh right Jesp and the others mention them and their guild leader's son also having celestial magic"

"The kid's name is Leon and his dad, Steven Faraday is also gonna be a pain, his magic allows him to combine different magic types he has seen before" Dorian said, "Plus even if you did reject their offer, you would have to deal with Leon's battle hungry attittude, quite bothersome if you ask me, you can also ask Davit" Dorian chuckled

"I hate that anger issues brat, he is a perfect counter to me since he is immune and can absorb my magic" Davit said visibly annoyed for the first time

"Although at the end of the day, confortation is unavoidable, since both of you are taking on the same quest and he is the same year as her, so do your best to avoid any issues with him until then." Orin suggested in a serious tone.

Kael sat back in his chair, trying to process everything they'd just thrown at him. The more they spoke about Leon Faraday and his magical abilities, the more he realized how much he was walking into a hornet's nest. A rivalry with someone like Leon—who had his own celestial magic—was bound to be troublesome. And with the added pressure of entering Arcanorum Academia as a fourth-year student, the situation didn't feel any less daunting.

"Battle-hungry attitude," Kael muttered, still not entirely over Davit's frustration. "That doesn't sound like someone I want to cross paths with."

"You don't have a choice," Jesp said, his voice steady but serious. "The academy is the first step, but the mission will bring you face-to-face with him sooner or later. You've got to be ready for that."

Kael felt a knot form in his stomach. He wasn't exactly thrilled at the idea of facing Leon, but there was no backing out now. This mission was tied to his future—and the future of someone else, someone he was supposed to protect.

"Speaking of the mission," Kael said, glancing up from his plate, "What exactly are we supposed to do when we get there?"

"We'll fill you in when the time comes," Orin replied, leaning back in his chair. "For now, your focus should be on training and making sure your celestial abilities stay hidden. The rest will fall into place once you get there."

The silence hung in the air for a moment, as Kael's mind raced. He could feel the weight of the upcoming mission pressing down on him. If the rumors about Moon Tree and Leon Faraday were true, things were about to get a lot more complicated.

Suddenly, Davit's voice broke through the tension. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm sick of all this talk about Moon Tree and their magic. Leon's got nothing on me." He cracked his knuckles, the usual carefree attitude flickering back into his tone. "Let's just focus on Kael getting stronger, and we'll deal with that brat when the time comes."

"You're right," Jesp said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "We'll worry about the rest when the time comes. But Kael, you need to take this seriously. We're not just training you to get into the academy—we're training you to survive the mission."

Kael nodded, feeling the weight of Jesp's words sink in. He wasn't just training for school anymore; he was preparing for a life-or-death mission with someone like Leon involved. There was no time to waste.

"So, what's next?" Kael asked, trying to push his anxiety aside. "More magic training?"

Jesp smiled, but this time it was a little more mischievous. "Not just magic training. You've got some combat training with Davit tomorrow. You need to learn how to fight, not just throw around spells."

Kael's eyes widened. "Wait, you're going to let Davit teach me how to fight?"

Davit grinned, cracking his knuckles once more. "Yep. And believe me, you're going to want to keep up. I don't go easy on anyone."

Before Kael could respond, Orin raised a hand, his voice cutting through the banter. "Alright, enough for tonight," Orin said, giving Davit a warning look. "You can break him tomorrow. For now, we rest. It's late, and we've all had a long day

The sudden knocking on his door jerked Kael awake, and he groggily rubbed his eyes as he tried to make sense of the early morning. The sunlight filtered weakly through the curtains, and it felt like he'd only closed his eyes a moment ago.

"Who is it?" Kael mumbled, still half asleep, pulling the blanket up over his head in an attempt to ignore the world.

"It's Jesp, get ready! We're going to the city to get you new clothes!" Jesp's voice came through the door, unmistakably excited.

Kael groaned, barely managing to sit up. "Clothes? Really? What time is it?" He glanced at the clock, blinking in disbelief. The sun hadn't even fully risen.

"Time to get moving, buddy. We've got a busy day ahead," Jesp continued, almost cheerfully. "And don't even think about sleeping in. I've got a lot planned for you today."

Kael let out a long sigh, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He had barely gotten any sleep, but he knew better than to argue with Jesp when he was in one of his "motivational" moods.

"Fine, fine," Kael muttered. "I'm up. I'm up…"

He stumbled to his feet, rubbing his eyes, and tried to shake off the grogginess. The idea of going into the city wasn't exactly a bad one—it would be a nice change of scenery. Shopping for clothes wasn't an experience he really had often back in the orphanage

"Good, you're up. Now, get dressed. We're leaving soon. I've already got a list of places we're hitting up," Jesp said, eyes gleaming with excitement.

Kael rubbed his face. "Do I really need all these new clothes? I mean, I'm pretty sure I've got enough already…"

"Oh, don't worry," Jesp replied with a wave of his hand. "It's not just about clothes. You're about to enter a big world, and you need to look the part. Plus, the academy's formal dress code? Yeah, you don't want to be caught unprepared."

"Right…" Kael muttered under his breath. He didn't even know if he had the energy to care about dress codes right now. But he was curious about the academy, and Jesp's enthusiasm was starting to rub off on him.

"Alright, I'll be ready," Kael finally said, nodding toward Jesp as he grabbed a simple and old shirt to wear

Jesp raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that? I've got some suggestions—trust me, we can make you look like a proper student at Arcanorum Academia in no time."

Kael just nodded, trying to suppress a smirk. "Sure, you're paying after all."

As Jesp led Kael through the crowded streets, Kael couldn't help but feel a growing sense of awe. The city, Eldoria, was unlike anything he had ever seen. It wasn't just the size of it that overwhelmed him, though the towering buildings, guild halls, and marketplaces were impressive in their own right. It was the life of the city—the energy that pulsed through every corner, every street, that left him speechless, he couldn't help but feel regret for not going out more often when he had the chance.

The streets were filled with the chatter of merchants haggling with customers, the rattle of carts, and the faint hum of magic in the background, as enchantments sparkled in shop windows and street performers used simple spells to dazzle crowds. There were children running through the streets, laughing, and elderly citizens chatting peacefully on benches, while adventurers and scholars hurried through the crowds, all with a sense of purpose and determination.

Jesp's voice broke through his thoughts. "Don't just stand there, Kael. You're not gonna learn much by staring at buildings all day." He laughed, but Kael could hear the good-natured teasing in his tone.

"Sorry," Kael said, shaking himself from his daze. "I just—this is all a lot to take in."

Jesp gave him a knowing grin. "That's Eldoria for you. It has a way of making everything else feel small."

Kael nodded slowly, still gazing at the towering structures around them, his eyes wide. The sheer scale of it all was nothing like he had ever imagined. He stayed inside the orphanage and would barely go to the garden at most.

As they walked through the bustling marketplace, Kael couldn't help but take in everything—the bright colors of the fabric stalls, the sizzling smells of street food, the gleaming jewelry that hung in shop windows, and the dazzling displays of magic that merchants used to advertise their goods. Every moment felt like a new discovery, and Kael's excitement only grew.

It was like stepping into a world of possibility, a place where his dreams could actually take root. He wasn't just going to some small, run-of-the-mill school—he was heading to the most prestigious academy in the kingdom. Everything felt like it was suddenly within his reach, like the city itself was inviting him into its fold.

But with that awe came a sense of uncertainty, too. Kael wasn't sure if he was ready for all this, or if he could truly rise to the challenges ahead. Still, he couldn't help but feel the thrill of it all. This was his new beginning. And whether or not he was prepared, the world of magic, adventure, and guilds was going to be his to navigate.

"Alright, here we are," Jesp said, giving him a nudge as they reached a clothing store nestled between two larger buildings.

"THIEF, HELP THERE IS A THIEF-" Kael and Jesp saw what looked like a middle aged man with a black cloak running away from a store with a couple of gold necklaces with jewels.

"Ah, change of plans, time for your first quest" Jesp exclaimed

"Wait what?!" Kael was caught off guard

"JUST GO AFTER HIM AND DON'T WORRY ILL PICK OUT GREAT CLOTHES FOR YOU" Jesp insisted

"FINE" Kael run after the thief

Kael's heart was racing as he dashed after the thief. The crowd around him barely seemed to notice the commotion, their own lives too busy and chaotic to pay attention to a man in a hurry. The thief, a man in his forties with a black cloak fluttering behind him, was quick—too quick for Kael's unrefined skills.

"Stop!" Kael shouted, trying to push his way through the crowd, but the people seemed to part instinctively, as if they were used to the city's constant flow of chaos. Kael's breath came in quick bursts, the heat of the chase making the air feel heavier with each step.

"Hey, I said stop!" Kael called again, but the thief wasn't listening.

Kael's thoughts were jumbled. He had never chased down a criminal before, let alone in a busy city like Eldoria. His instincts screamed at him to keep running, but there was a lingering doubt in the back of his mind. What was he supposed to do once he caught up? He couldn't just grab the thief and fight—he wasn't trained for that, not yet.

Kael decided to try to make the man fall, he tried consetrating his magic into his right index and fire off a flame bullet but he couldnt make properly while running.

"GET BACK HERE" a young girl shouted before releasing a wave of sound magic, strong enough to break the glass windows of the houses in the alley they were in and stun both of them. 

Kael's head felt like it was about to burst open, without thinking and without fully understanding why, Kael pushed the energy outward. A bullet of black flame erupted from his finger, hitting the thief in the leg and making him fall,

The noise stopped but his ears were still ringing, he got closer to the thief and attempt to recover the stolen jewelry

Kael was still catching his breath when the girl with crimson red hair stepped forward, her blue eyes sharp as she looked down at the fallen thief. She gave Kael a small, appreciative nod as he stood over the thief, clutching the stolen jewelry.

"Thanks for the help," Kael said, his words a little shaky from the adrenaline and noise. "I... didn't expect that."

The girl grinned, her lips curving mischievously. "You didn't do bad for a first-timer. The name's Bayle Lunaoak." She offered her hand, the bracelets on her wrist jingling slightly. "Don't think I've seen you around here before. What's your name?"

Kael hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should share too much. Eldoria was a big city, but he wasn't sure he wanted to attract attention. He didn't want to risk drawing any eyes toward his magical abilities, not yet.

"Kael," he said quickly. "Just Kael."

Bayle raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing his reluctance to give more. "Kael, huh? You don't look like you're from around here." Her tone was light, but there was something in her eyes that seemed to suggest she was sizing him up.

"I'm… just visiting," Kael muttered, she didn't need to know about the orphanage or Second Dawn, his gaze darting to the thief. The thief, still dazed, was slowly trying to pull himself up but was clearly too disoriented to put up much of a fight.

Bayle seemed to sense his discomfort, but she didn't press the matter further. Instead, she just nodded thoughtfully and gave a small shrug. "Visiting, huh? That's one way to put it."

Kael didn't respond, but he couldn't help feeling her scrutiny. It was the way she looked at him—like she could see through the walls he put up, peeling back layers with nothing more than a casual glance.

The thief, now clearly recovering from the blast of sound magic, glanced around, panic in his eyes as he realized the situation was quickly turning against him. "I—I didn't mean no harm," he stammered, trying to crawl away.

Kael felt his heart thump in his chest, adrenaline still coursing through him, but something in him told him to stand his ground. This wasn't just about catching a thief. It felt like more—like a test. He had to prove to himself that he could handle this, that he wasn't just someone waiting for others to do the work for him.

He stepped closer to the thief, holding the stolen jewelry tightly in his hand. "You're not going anywhere," he said, his voice firmer than expected.

Bayle watched him with a keen look, arms folded, as if she were silently assessing him.

"Careful, Kael," she warned with a hint of amusement in her voice.