CH 20 - Level Up

Emilia

Two days, and a lot of hassle from the Guild's bank representatives later, we sit in an office suite upstairs. The room consists of a grandiose oak desk set before a coffee table and a comfortable white and gold-accented couch. The window behind the desk is open to the courtyard outside, where adventurers train and mingle, and further beyond on the tallest hill in Vatica sits the Hera estate.

Sitting at the desk is Guildmaster Ainz Hill. He is an older human man, old and creaky. I am told he is a Demon, though no one remembers what of. He hasn't seen battle in over a decade now, content to run the Vatica Guildhall. Next to him is his daughter and protege, Ainsley Hill. She is pretty, in a bookish way. She has cute glasses with round frames and peaceful, blue eyes that stay at half rest.

Also next to him is Eifa, who isn't here to receive a rank up. In fact, I'm not too sure why she is, she certainly doesn't need to be. This is pretty routine and simple, nothing she has to supervise.

Ainz clears his throat before diving right into the evaluation. "Okay, so, Rising Sun. We will measure your physical and magical reserves at the end, though I'm sure you three have nothing to worry about.

"Total quests completed: one fifty. Check," he marks something on the paperwork in front of him. "Qualifying feats, uh, let's see here. Dainn has on record his defeat of the serial killer Raizen the Ripper, classified as a B-rank threat, a possibility due to faulty records concerning the target's abilities."

I remember that. He had been travelling all over Nubia, killing three girls in a city or town before moving on to the next. Dainn had discovered his pattern and determined he would come to Vatica, and we managed to catch him before he ever got his first victim by having myself play the bait.

"Impressive, especially since you were D-ranks at the time. You'll need something better than that for your next level up. Okay, next, let's see here. Uh, oh wow. Cassandra, apparently you just reported defeating a draxon? Truly astounding. Eifa, can you confirm this?"

Eifa gives a cheerful smile, placing before him our evidence. "It is indeed. We have its horned-jewel as proof."

The man chuckles, stroking his thick, white beard. "Very good, very good. With that, I can confirm Dainn and Cassasndra ready for level up. However, I am told that we have something else to do today," he looks at me as he says it, then stands and lets Eifa take his place. He gives a cheeky smile, and I find myself confused as to what's going on.

My master takes a moment, shuffling through the papers before finding the one she wants. Then, she looks at me, and I see a sad smile and tears in her eyes.

"Master Eifa!" I jump up and exclaim. "What's wrong?"

I feel a familiar hand take mine, and I don't need to look to know who it is. "It's okay, Em. This is a good thing."

I try to pull free, to go to my master, but he holds firm. I look at him. He is giving me a kind look, a reassuring look. I calm, knowing it takes a bit of effort for him to do that. It must be important, so I sit back down.

Eifa wipes her tears away, then begins. "Emilia Hera, you were witnessed killing an Orange Drake mid-evolution, by yourself. This feat qualifies you a level up within the Adventurers Guild, yes, but moreso, it marks the next stage of your journey as an archer."

My eyes go wide. "Wait, you're not saying what I think you are, are you?"

She nods, presenting a black oak case, finely made with golden corners and accents. Inside, behind the glass lid, is a badge matching one Eifa has on her own cloak. A winged helm, the mark of a Paladin. "Emilia, my student and apprentice, I am here with the utmost pride to declare that you passed my final exam. You have reached a level of skill that is a match for mine, if not better. As such, please, take this medal as a sign of your graduation from me."

She stands up slowly, as if it pains her to do this. As she walks over, I find myself reminiscing on our time together. Hunting harpies, facing horses of goblins, having dinner prepared under the stars. There are tears in my eyes as she undoes my current pin, a gauntlet with a star on the palm, the General pin, and fastens the new one. She is trembling, and so am I.

"Master… does this mean…"

She nods, putting a hand on my head. "Yes, sweetie. This is the last day we will spend together, for a while at least. It is time for us to go our separate ways."

The tears start flowing, the dam broken. "But, miss Eifa, I don't want…"

She pulls me into a bear hug, and I can hear her crying softly. "It's okay, Emmy. We will meet again, I promise. It's time for you to spread your wings, to reach heights I can't. We may not be together, but know I'm going to be rooting for you every step of the way."

I hug her back, wrapping my arms around her waist and squeezing tight. "It's unfair! You should have warned me!"

"I know," she says peacefully.

"I'll miss you."

"Not as much as I will miss you."

I feel two more sets of arms wrap around us, Dainn and Cassie joining in. The Rising Sun says their goodbyes to their mentor and guardian. I cry my eyes out, purging myself before the start of a new chapter in my life.

Dainn

Back at Hera Manor, at just after five in the evening, I am called to Henry's bedroom. As I reach the door, I am met by Alfred, Bartleby's replacement, and Hannah. Hannah is without a doubt beautiful, and developing well, to put it lightly. She is a knock-out.

She gives me a look that is both kind and dangerous, a result of her training as an assassin. She is unaware that I know.

"Hello, Dainn," she says, giving a slight bow. I return it in turn.

"Hello, Hannah. Were you summoned, as well?"

She nods, and opens the door, holding it open for me. "I was. Well? Ladies first."

I give her a dismissive wave, but still enter the room first. Hera is sitting on the bed, hands crossed and leaning forwards as if bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders. He doesn't look up as we come in. "Close the door, Alfred. Do not let Emilia in until we're done."

The door closes, and Henry looks up. He is blunt with me off the rip. "Dainn, I'm going to separate you and Emilia."

I clench my fists, an anger rising in me. A defiance. I hold my tongue. "Explain."

He nods. "You see, it's been a few months since you surpassed the last of your instructors, Leanna. Now Emilia has outgrown her master. It is time. You've both reached the next stage of your lives, and as much as it pains me, that means you must go your separate ways."

I look at him, searching for any sign this might be a joke. I see none. "Why wait until now? Why spring this on me out of nowhere?"

"You misunderstand me, Dainn. This is the warning. I'd say you have a year left at most, though there is no need to worry. It will surely be a temporary departure, long enough for you both to grow strong as individuals and become the best versions of yourselves."

"I see." I did, too. I would be lying if I said there weren't times I thought about how codependent we have become. Though, to be fair, most other days it feels as though she is the only thing holding me together. Still, maybe I do need time to find myself.

"Starting at the end of this week, I will be sending the two of you -and if you'd like your friend, uh, Cassandra, was it?- with Gauss to the capital, Olympia. It will take a year at most, and that's accounting for diversions and such. Once there, Gauss has been instructed to enroll you in the Royal Academy. When there, he will reveal your Black magic, and provide my letter of recommendation and approval. Emilia will find a Demon master at the capital, as well. My father, Councilor Harken, has arranged for General of the Imperial Army Leviticus Mars to take on her training."

I don't respond. I note something in the way he mentioned that I would have to reveal myself. "I'm missing something. What is a letter of approval? Wouldn't a letter of recommendation cover that? Does it have to do with my Black magic? What aren't you telling me?"

He cracks a thin smile. "You're very perceptive, Dainn." He pauses. I sense his bloodlust rise, warning signals suddenly racking my sixth sense.

Wait, that's not his bloodlust! I pivot, turn, draw my sword, and block the dagger Hannah was driving straight for my heart. I raise a hand and blast her back with wind. She is sent flying, slamming into the wall before I bind her against it by making the floorboards reach up and pin her.

I turn on Henry, blade raised and pointed, blue flames erupting on the blade. "Did I do something to offend you, my Lord?"

He chuckles dryly. "Very perceptive indeed, Dainn. Tell me, did you feel her murderous intent? Did you recognize the predator in her?"

The way he says it sends chills down my spine. He knows that I know what the Hera family is. I know their true profession. I nod, lowering my blade. He isn't in a killing mood, that much is clear. "Yes. Just like I sense in you at times, and Alfred. Even Yanxa, way back when."

"I know, Dainn. I have it, too. And Hannah. I was taught how to do it, and I taught her. But for you, it's inherent. I have to ask myself, why is that? You see, most people develop the ability by being exposed to death, but you had it even before that night with Yanxa. You've always seen the real me, I'm sure of it."

I feel like I'm in dangerous territory. Hannah's bloodlust fades, and after a moment of weighing if this is a ruse or not, I release her. "I mean, it's my Black magic, right? It's literally death."

He hums. "Maybe, but then again, Gauss has a different theory. A theory relating to why you would need both a recommendation and an approval letter. You see, Dainn, you aren't the first Black mage. There was one before you."

My eyes narrow. I decide to make a guess. "A hundred years ago, right?"

He stands, and I feel his guard rise, a warning to me that he is ready and willing to put down an imminent threat. I certainly am on thin ice.

"Indeed. Before we continue Dainn, I will need you to explain everything you know. Be aware, if I am not satisfied, I may be forced to take preventative measures."

I take a deep breath. I see no way out but to cooperate. I doubt I can fight Henry and live. Besides that, I don't want to fight the father of my closest friend.

So, I start explaining my theory about my being a Miracle. I tell of my research into the phenomenon, and how the pattern broke a hundred years ago. "So, it only makes sense that the Miracle of a hundred years ago did actually exist, but for whatever reason, he was wiped from the history books. More than that, it now makes sense as to why, since it's the very reason you have decided to test me. I don't know why two Miracles in a row would manifest Black magic, but I can only assume the first of us wasn't such a nice individual. "

Henry is silent for a moment. "He slaughtered hundreds of thousands, conquering all of Elysia. His armies considered him the god Death himself, and he may as well be." His tone is somber, sullen, sad.

"What happened to him?" I ask hesitantly, unsure if I am allowed to,

He eyes me for a moment, and I can feel the daggers in that stare. Finally he sighs, and answers. "It took a massive surprise attack, consisting of two hundred men and women, of which only ten initially survived. Worse still, they were unable to kill him, so instead, the remaining troops sealed him away. They used a curse, a form of magic that costs mortal lives. It is forbidden, but in this case, it was the only way. They sacrificed themselves to temporarily stop one man."

I see. He was like me, or rather, the worse version of me. "I promise, I am well aware of the darkness within me. I keep it under control. I just…" I trail off. I had been about to say something stupid. I want to be the kind of person Emilia can feel safe with. "The point is, you have nothing to worry about. I rarely even use my magic, and I have refused to puppet the dead ever again."

I feel him calm down, the threat in the air vanishing. "I believe you, Dainn. I really do. Over these last seven years, I can't deny you've really earned your place in my house. I had considered adopting you outright, but that quickly began to appear rather inappropriate. That said, I do consider you family. Which is why I arranged things to be this way.

"A word of advice, Dainn. Over the next year, please enjoy your time. Be open and honest with Emilia and yourself. Make it clear to both of you what it is you want when you are reunited. I say this because regrets can be painful, especially with life being so cruel at times. You never want to leave things unsaid."

I nod, thinking back on my old life. There had been nobody in my life at the end that I could have talked to. There was never a chance to leave things unsaid, as he put it. Except, that's not entirely true.

My parents. I never told my mom how much I hated her and how she threw her life away. I never told my father how much I had needed him growing up. Then again, these were not thoughts I ever had back then. For all I know this is just me repeating stereotypes and cliches.

"Will we pass through Asylum?" I ask before I even realize it. I suddenly had the urge to see my current parents.

He nods, smiling cheerfully. "You will indeed."