Elaira and Jon sat by the door facing Malik, who examined her sword. “Skywyrm feathers are just feathers if they are still attached to the wings, but once launched, they harden.” He swung the sword, slicing through the piece of wooden table. “Those hardened feathers can even pierce through rocks and are better than most metals, even sky steel and cold iron.”

  Jon raised his hand for no reason. “Is this weapon an advance - grade weapon? Like how her daggers are basic grade. Sky steel and cold iron are intermediate grade?”

  Malik put the sword on the table, took a seat and crossed his arms. “No. Weapons made of skywyrm feathers and wyvern scales fall under a different grade. They’re called Master Grade weapons.” Jon’s eyes widened, and he shot to his feet. “Does that mean we have the highest-grade weapons now? Aidan will be mad when hears about this.” A sly, almost serpent-like smirk spread across his face and jumped. Elaira slapped his back and looked at Malik. “Listen here, old man. How long until they are ready?”

  He took a moment before answering. “Four months. Three for yours, one for his.”

  Elaira nodded and dragged Jon out of the forge, leaving both their swords and Malik inside.

  The wind blew by, through the noises of Teqa, carrying the scent of spices, flowers and burned wood. Elaira and Jon made their way back outside Teqa, leaving behind the whispers and ramblings. Jon mumbled something to Elaira as they continued and passed by a man they should have recognised, but didn’t. Green eyes, coloured hair, a sapphire blade on his back and a golden sleek belt tied to his waist. A short, slumped and meek man walked beside him, rubbing his arms. “Boss, we should leave him behind, hehe. He failed and got caught, hehe.” They both walked through the streets of Teqa and arrived at a merchant’s place, where people stood surrounding a man in an orange robe.

  Without another word, he unsheathed his sapphire sword and grabbed the merchant in the orange robe, angling his sword at his neck. “Where is the thief you caught a few months ago?” The merchant fidgeted as the crowd dispersed, distressed and screaming. “W-what thief?” The merchant’s voice cracked as the blue glint of the blade shone across his face. The runaway crowd alerted the guards, and they rushed to surround the man. “A few months ago you lost a bag of silis. You didn’t get the money, but you caught the thief.” The blade grazed the merchant’s neck, and blood trickled down its edge. “Where is that thief?”

  The merchant took a moment before answering, likely stalling for the guards to get there. “Yes, yes, I remember. I’ve already sent him to the capital city. He must be in the cells there.”

  The blade lowered from near his neck; the merchant let out a shivering sigh. “Did he tell you what happened to the money?”

  Before the merchant could answer, the slumped man rushed behind the merchant’s place. “Boss Duval, the guards are here, hehe.”

  Duval signalled the man to run and asked the merchant again, “Tell me.” The merchant again took a moment before answering. “H-he said an academy student probably took it from him. A kid with blond hair and green eyes.”

  Duval blinked and then burst out laughing while the guards finally surrounded them. One of the older guards shouted, his voice echoing. “Put your weapon down!”

  Duval pushed the merchant aside, and as soon as he did, the guards jumped at him. He blocked their attacks and moved through. But the guards never counterattacked; they stood still as if frozen in time, and Duval made his way out of Teqa with a smirk on his face. “Ray, huh? I see.”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  The slumped man appeared next to Duval as they walked down the path outside Teqa. “I am left in awe every time I see your Freeze, hehe. Where are we headed next, boss, hehe?”

  “To Nemeos, the capital city.”

  The sun high in the sky shone brightly over the vast green plains of Heliosia. The clouds moved through the wind, casting their shadows on the grazing cattle below. Dirt roads connected village after village, town after town and city after city. Until finally turning into paved paths entering the capital city of Nemeos, a city built around a mountain, with the royal palace atop it.

  People walked around dressed in shining robes and jewelry. Soldiers wearing a blue or green belt and the royal insignia — a lion — patrolled every corner. Through the crowd passed a woman with black hair and blue eyes — Julia — carrying a bloodied bag and a weary expression. “Just like father said, gaining merit is hard.” She stared at the bag in her hand. “A bandit leader’s head is nowhere near enough.” She climbed up the stairs, along the mountain, towards the palace. On the way, an old woman wearing a light blue robe greeted her. “Hello, Julia. Back again?” A smile spread across Julia’s face. “Here I am.” They both shared a laugh and walked up the stairs. The old woman led Julia into the building behind the palace. “The scholar’s hall… I have been here so many times, it’s starting to feel like home.”

  They entered the hall, a building filled with books on all sides. With people reading, walking about, all in light blue robes. Julia, along with the old woman, entered a room and took a seat. Julia placed the bloody bag on the table. “This is the bandit leader Khazam.” She said, slumping into the seat. The old woman opened the bag and examined the head and grabbed a feathered quill and a book. “With this, you still aren’t close to a single merit.”

  Julia let out a quiet sigh and waved her hand. “I know, I know.” The old woman walked to her and rubbed her shoulder. “Worry not; a chance to gain more merit will come soon.”

  Julia nodded, stood and left the scholar’s hall, walking back down the mountain, her fist clenched around the hilt of her sword. She stared at her feet and took a deep breath. Under the blue sky and moving clouds, across the vast plains, on a distant dirt road, three carriages moved with dust flowing around them. Brandon sat, his eyes closed, breathing even. Inside the second carriage, Maya still glared at Ray, while he stared outside. Mei Zhi, with her arms crossed, eyes closed, sat straight and unmoving. Luke, still smiling, looked over at all three of them.

  The other two carriages were noisy; the second-year apprentices talked and laughed, some nervous, some confident. They continued on the road, as did the sun across the sky. The blue sky turned crimson as dusk fell. The carriages halted, and everyone stepped out. Luke gathered the students, his arms behind his back. “We will rest here for today.” After saying that, he walked away. Ray squinted his eyes and then shook his head. The coachmen, Maya and Brandon, set up the camp. Luke stood staring at the setting sun, and the second-year apprentices, along with Ray and Mei Zhi, stood still.

  Well… this is awkward. Ray scratched the back of his head when. “Hello Ray, we meet again.” He turned to look at the voice and squinted his eyes. “Do I know you?” Her steps and smile faltered. “It’s me. The one you bumped into at the girls’ dorm.” Ray flinched and coughed. “Yeah, no. I don’t remember.” Her shoulders slumped, but then a smile appeared on her face. “Fine, be like that. I’m Ruby. Just Ruby.” She extended her hand, and so did Ray. They shook hands and then Ruby turned to Mei Zhi. “Nice to meet you too, Vivian.”

  Mei Zhi nodded, her arms crossed. After Ruby, the remaining second-years introduced themselves, all except for three who walked away. Nyla, a short, black-haired girl with a bow at her waist. Julius, a disowned noble, with long brown hair and gauntlets. Rowan, a lowborn, with light brown hair and a sword, was also the top second-year apprentice. And finally, Grace, a tall, lean girl with black hair and a broad blade on her back. Luke watched the interaction from afar with a smile, then walked towards them and said, “Why don’t you familiarize with a spar?” He turned and signalled to the three who had left. “Don’t you want to see how exceptional these two first years are?”

  The second years nodded, while Ray and Mei Zhi shared the same expression and thought. No, absolutely not.