The Broken Crystal

LLOYD'S POV

"Uhm, was that supposed to happen?" I asked.

"Of course not! This should be able to measure up to 4 rings and even if it's higher, it shouldn't break. It would only show unreadable on it." The lady replied, her hand was inspecting the broken crystal.

"Who are you?" She asked, her gaze shifted to me. 

"Uhm.. I'm just a regular guy. Maybe the crystal is broken?" I answered, my gaze went around the room as the adventurer started down at me. To be fair, it might really be broken because there is a chance I don't even have one ring, let alone 4!

"Now this is interesting." Darren pointed out, his eyes shifting between me and the broken crystal. "Maybe he should take a practical magic test instead."

"Hm. Since the crystal doesn't work, I guess that's the only option." She replied, scratching her head. "How will I report this to the higher ups.. These crystals are really expensive."

Soon, I could hear the adventurers murmuring between themselves. A practical test? I don't even know how to use basic magic! What should I do? This is really bad for me.

"Excuse me, Can you just give me the lowest rank and I'll work with that?" I asked, wanting to avoid embarrassing myself by not knowing how to use the most basic magic.

"That might work but you have to come-"

I could hear the adventurer behind me start whispering something as a footstep echoed closer and closer until it reached us.

"I figured I would find you here, Lloyd." a familiar man spoke out, his face was beaming with a smile. 

"Aiden? What are you doing here?" I asked, a little surprised.

"No way, is that… really him?" the adventurer murmured behind me, their expressions were of shock and surprise. "That can't be right?"

"Hm? I have nothing to do anyway so I'm here to lend you a hand." He replied, his face unbothered.

"You really do like deciding for yourself that I'm quite needy huh?"

"Don't take it the wrong way." He chuckled. 

"Are you acquainted with him?" Darren grabbed my shoulder as I turned towards him. His expression shocked also.

"Uhm, Maybe?" I replied.

"That's cold, Lloyd. We are friends." Aiden corrected me. "Anyway, you can register as an adventurer later. Follow me for now."

Aiden turned around and began walking towards the exit of the building. His cape was fluttering even when we were inside a building, making his aura quite heroic.

"Huh? Why should I?" I asked, but willingly followed him anyway.

"You don't have a place to stay right?" He continued as he opened the door outside. "I can house you for a while. Free of charge of course."

"Huh? I would believe it more if you were to charge me.." 

"Haha, why would I do that?"

"They were a bit surprised to see you, Aiden." I pointed out, my eyes glancing back. "Are you popular or something?"

"I guess I am a bit. Don't worry about it too much." He replied, his eyes set straight.

After a few minutes of walking, we stopped in front of a mega-size white mansion. Its golden gate was hella big, almost too big actually. The gate suddenly was pulled open as we were greeted by multiple guards. Walking through the gate, we stumbled upon a lushful garden that was very vast. We followed the marble path straight until we reached the mansion. 

"You didn't tell me you were a millionaire, Aiden.." I pointed out. 

"Because I'm not." He replied with a subtle smile on his face. "This is my sister's mansion. I usually crash at her place when I stay in the capital."

The mansion overall, was of course very white and huge. The front door was out of a high quality wood that was designed nicely. Inside was a red carpet with yellow edges that trail along the floor and there were multiple servants lined up. 

They bowed down in sync as they all greeted us, or specifically, Aiden. "Welcome back, Lord Aiden."

"Yeah. Prepare a room for my guest here. Is my sister home?" Aiden asked.

"Lady Caera is currently in her study room. She preferred to not be interrupted." The head butler replied. He donned a perfectly fitted white suit that fit his slim figure with white mustache and hair. He looks to be around 50 years of age.

"I'm sure she won't mind. We'll be going to see her now." Aiden said, as he guided me up the grandeur stair onto the second floor. We walked along the red carpet, passing multiple rooms until we reached the room at the end of the hallway. 

Aiden knocks on the door before opening it. "Hey Caera."

It was silent. Aiden slowly stepped inside as he peered around the room. "Where did she go?"

Inside the room was very messy. There were piles and piles of books lying around everywhere. In the end of the room was an office table with a chair. There were multiple papers on the table itself and overall, the room looked to be quite dark.

With a crunch, Me and Aiden looked up towards the ceiling. There was a black figure that was hanging on the ceiling. It suddenly jumped down and crashed into Aiden. I covered my eyes as dust spread everywhere from the book when it landed into Aiden.

When the dust settled, I saw Aiden was pinned to the ground with a lady on top of him. She had red hair with golden eyes, just like Aiden's. Her body was quite slim though I could see muscle through that tight fit shirt of hers.

"Ah, there you are." Aiden tried to speak, struggling against her.

"I'm sure you were informed that I do not want to be interrupted. You just don't listen, huh?" She states, her eyes pierced through his. "Well whatever."

She got up and dusted the dust off before her eyes landed on me. "So, who's this bump?" 

"Nice to meet you. I'm Lloyd." I bowed down.

"Oh? I like you. You have good manners. Your friend, Aiden?" She asked.

"Yeah. I was hoping he could stay here for a while." Aiden answered.

"Oh? Is that so?" Her eyes began scanning me from head to toe before she let out a smirk. "Enjoy your stay. I have some things to discuss with Aiden."

"Ah, Alright." I spoke out before I left the room, leaving those two be.

I went to explore the mansion. The interior was well decorated, lanterns were hung on each side of the wall as a smooth carpet was laid on the ground. There were overall three floors including the ground floor. Everything was being cleaned regularly as they were all smooth, I could barely find a single speck of dust on them. What interests me the most is the huge training grounds.

While I was admiring the huge tree in the vast garden, I suddenly heard footsteps echoing closer to me.

"Lloyd, was it?" Caera approached me, her eyes looking at the tree in front of her. "This is my favorite tree."

"Is it?"

"Mhm. I'm not telling you why even if you're curious."

"I'm not."

"Don't lie to yourself."

"But I'm really not."

"Hey Lloyd. You got some time right? Let's have a friendly duel."

"Huh? But I don't even know how to fight."

"It's fine. I'll teach you some basics along the way." She took us to the training ground as she threw me a wooden sword. "I assume you use a sword?"

"I don't use any of them." I replied, trying my swing on the sword.

"Really? You seem like the type of guy to use a sword." She pointed out, picking up a wooden spear as she pointed it to me. "Alright. Come at me."

"Huh? We aren't doing a countdown-"

"Just skip it." She said as she dash towards me her spear just barely grazed my outfit. I spun my feet as I tried to counter attack but she kicked me right in the stomach, throwing me off balance as she plunged her spear into the ground right next to my head. 

"That's 1-0 to me." She said, pulling the spear back. "Don't get cold feet on me now. I'm just getting started."

Just getting started? I'm already sweating. A reminder that I'm weak huh.. 

"Use your mana." She suggested.

"I already told you, I don't know how."

"Huh? What are you, two years old? Everybody should be able to know how to use mana."

"Easier said than done, huh?" I said as I lunged at her with my sword, the tip clashed with the handle of her spear. She spun her spear around, getting ready for a counter attack and swoosh, I fell upside down as she struck her spear into the ground again. It seems it was a feint and she caught me off balance with her feet instead.

"Then you just have to overcome that barrier." She said, pulling her spear back. "2-0 to me."

"You got any tip?"

"Hm. You just have to feel your mana. It's the same as your blood flowing. You have to know their movements, feel them and channel them accordingly." She answered.

"That's crazy…"

"I can show you an example." She suggested as she pointed the spear towards me. 

Suddenly, the air around her had gotten thicker and the ground started shaking a bit. Her body seems to be.. Glowing a bit.

"Do you feel it? This is the power of mana." She said before taking a step forward, her eyes determined.

Within a second, she appeared right next to me, her shadow still trying to catch up to her speed and she knocked me down. "3-0. You really need to get your game up, Lloyd."

Sweat began falling as I pant. "That was amazing."

I got up as my eyes faced her. "I think I understand a bit of it now."

"Times up. We should continue this another day." She said before putting the spear back and walking away.

Huh? I thought she was testing me or trying to train me.. Did I disappoint her?

A FEW HOURS LATER

I am basically stuffed after that dinner. The dining table was a long luxurious table. Nothing more, nothing less really. The cook's food was amazing and the atmosphere was quite lively too. I opened the door to my room and fell down on my bed before closing my eyes. I was basically tired after the long day so I'm gonna get some sleep early.

CAERA'S POV

"You aren't going to bed, Aiden? Lloyd already went." I asked, my eyes wandering across the dining table and the empty seat of Lloyd. The chandelier hung high above the table, shining a bright light across the entire room.

"Haha are you really asking me that?" Aiden chuckled, his eyes meeting mine. "I can work fine even without sleeping. In other words, I don't need sleep."

"I'm just asking. More importantly, what's up with that kid?" I asked curiously.

"Interesting, isn't he?" he spoke out.

"I would say he is more bizarre and strange." I pointed out.

"What is your opinion of him after dueling with him?" Aiden asked, taking a sip of his tea.

"Hm. He is quite weak, more weak than the average population and his swordsmanship also needs improvement but strangely enough, I can't feel any mana from him at all."

I could see Aiden's smile widened slightly as his eyes focused on me. "When I found him at the Adventurer guild, I saw the crystal ball shattered on the desk."

"Shattered? Did somebody break it?"

"I don't think so. The adventurer's face was more of shock and surprise as they were all focusing on the man who was being assessed during that time. I'm sure you know who I am pointing to."

"Lloyd.. Did his mana break the crystal? Wait no, he can't even use mana."

"A crystal ball. A magical device that is used to accurately count the number of rings on one's mana core." Aiden started explaining. "Even if they have no rings, it would still show the number 0. What do you think happened with Lloyd's case?"

"Hm. Since he has no mana, wouldn't it show 0? Then that doesn't explain why it broke."

"You are thinking about it wrong. It's not the rings that he is missing. It's the actual core."

My eyes widened as I stood up in surprise. "That's absurd!"