After finishing my daily training and running outside, I opened the door to the cabin. It was very quiet inside. The only sound was the crackling of firewood in the fireplace. Master Valorant sat near the hearth, warming himself while reading a letter in his hand.
He looked unusually serious, which made me curious about what he was reading.
"What are you reading?"
"Gather your things. We're going on a journey."
"A journey? What kind of journey now?"
"Duke Alaris has summoned me. I have to depart."
"Why would they summon you? You're retired! Or did you perhaps steal something before your retirement? Ha-ha-ha!" I tried to lighten the mood with a joke.
"Very funny. Just get your things. We leave immediately."
"Being summoned even in retirement must mean it's something important."
"Yes, it's very important. I'll explain on the way. We need to move quickly—before the snowfall worsens."
After hearing him say that, I started packing my things. I dressed warmly, wrapped a scarf around my face to keep it from freezing, and threw on the cloak Master had given me.
Once I was ready, Master and I left the cabin. To protect ourselves from the bitter cold, we began running using our Flame Mana.
Master ran ahead of me. He looked like he was worried about something. As for me, I couldn't stop thinking about the letter he received.
[Why would someone summon a retired person? And if it's the duke, it must be a serious matter. I should ask Master directly.]
"Master Valorant!"
"Yes, I hear you."
"You said you'd explain why they summoned you."
"Yes. Duke Alaris wouldn't summon me without good reason. I believe there's been some kind of issue with the Elves."
"An issue with the Elves?"
"The Flame Kingdom shares a border with, and is allied to, the Elven Nation of Yggdrasil. If something's happened there, the Elves may have turned to humans for help—or they might have summoned me specifically to assist with a matter involving them."
"What kind of help could they need?"
"I'm not sure. The Elves don't trust easily. They only confide in those they deem trustworthy."
"Are you saying you're one of those people?"
"Yes. I've had strong ties with the Elves in the past… and a few memories. That's why they trust me."
"What will we do once we leave the forest?"
"According to the letter, a carriage should be waiting for us there."
It took us quite some time to get out of the forest. But thanks to Flame Mana, we moved much faster than normal.
Since it was a winter day, the temperature was extremely low, and snow was falling steadily. The snowfall was so thick it made visibility difficult. Still, we managed to reach the forest's edge quickly, and just as the letter said, a carriage was waiting.
When Master saw the carriage, he began walking toward it. I followed behind him. As we neared, someone stepped down from the front of the carriage and started walking toward us.
"Greetings. My name is Scott. I'm one of the Seven Sages. Duke Alaris sent me to retrieve you, Lord Valorant."
[One of the Seven Sages? Why would he personally come for Master?]
"Hello. It's been a while since anyone called me like that. Just call me Valorant."
"In that case, I'll address you as Lord Valorant. I thought you'd be alone. Who's this boy?"
"He's my student."
"Hello, my name is Attu. Pleased to meet you."
"Likewise. I hadn't heard you'd taken on a student."
"I hope my student won't be a problem."
"Not at all. The duke's only order was to bring you. Everything else is secondary. Please, board the carriage at your convenience and we'll be on our way."
"Then let's go."
Master and I climbed into the carriage. As I sat down, I realized this wasn't an ordinary carriage—it was luxuriously decorated, with golden patterns carved everywhere. Anyone would immediately recognize it as a noble's transport.
Once we were seated comfortably inside, I decided to ask about what Scott had said earlier.
"Master Valorant?"
"Yes?"
"Why did he call you one of the Seven Sages?"
"There's a reason for that. I'm one of the Seven Sages of this world."
"What does that mean exactly?"
"Among Elestars—and among all mages—there are a few individuals recognized as 'Sages'. They are granted that title due to their vast knowledge, experience, and mastery over their element and magic."
"So if I read and train a lot, will I become a Sage like you?"
"No. Strength and knowledge alone aren't enough. People must acknowledge your greatness, and you must accomplish something truly exceptional. Only then will they call you a Sage."
"Becoming a Sage sounds really difficult."
"There's nothing easy in this world—so don't be surprised."
"I'll find out more about Sages if I ever get the chance."
"If you go to the Mage Academy of Chronos, you might find plenty of information—maybe even about me."
"Mage Academy? Really?"
"Yes, just like how I've taught you magic and swordsmanship, they train other young mages like you there. Would you like to study with others your age?"
"Yes! That sounds really exciting!"
"You're right. I studied there too. I'm sure you'll like it."
"Where is it located?"
"In the Land of Wind, on the floating island known as Chronos. Both the island and the academy are named after one of the greatest Archmages—Chronos—who once lifted the island into the sky and defeated the Demon King alone."
"He defeated the Demon King by himself?"
"Yes. He stood alone against the Demon King and wielded one of the Three Supreme Spells."
"Three Supreme Spells?"
"Yes. They are spells based on the fundamental forces that form the foundation of this world."
"What are they?"
"These include the magic of the five basic elements that make up the world—or more precisely, the things you see around you. The second is Time Magic, which no one has been able to master since Chronos. And the last is Space, or Dimensional Magic. If anyone can master even one of these, that mage alone would possess power equal to the Demon King."
"Is it possible to obtain such powers?"
"People are born with certain capabilities. More accurately, which elements they can control is determined from birth. If you can control fire, it means you have the potential to become a mage. But even then, sometimes you can have mana yet still be unable to do anything with it. It doesn't all come down to luck either—hard work can also turn you into a powerful mage.
"That's why you must train and keep pushing forward. No matter how hard you work, your results will only be a tenth of the effort you put in. That means to reach your goals, you must exert ten times the effort—and that means it all depends on you."
[Master told me this to encourage me. If I train hard and never give up, maybe I too can become an archmage one day. But that means I must dedicate myself to training—nothing else.]
After those words, silence settled in the carriage for a while. What Master said made it clear to me that I could reach any level I wanted—as long as I was willing to put in the work. As the silence stretched on, I turned to the window and watched the snowy landscape, letting myself enjoy the view.
As I sat and looked outside, the falling snow had covered everything in white, and I began to notice that visibility was getting worse.
Outside, Scott was finding it harder and harder to see through the snowfall. He squinted, trying to see further ahead.
At that moment, he noticed something in the middle of the road—a figure lying on the ground, surrounded by something red slowly spreading outward.
Since Scott was seated at the front of the carriage, he got a clearer view as they approached. The figure on the road was an animal, and the red surrounding it… was blood. This was not a good sign. An animal killed right in the middle of the road didn't end up there by chance. Scott began to feel uneasy and stopped the carriage before it got any closer. He could sense danger nearby and turned to Valorant.
With a trembling voice, he called out,
"Lord Valorant!"
"What is it? Is everything alright?"
"For now, yes… but I think something's about to happen. Forgive me for being blunt, but could you step out and inspect what's ahead? My instincts are sensing danger."
Master could tell Scott was genuinely nervous. He calmly took his sword and opened the carriage door. Before stepping out, he scanned the surroundings. Only after confirming that there was no immediate threat did he get down. Then he looked at me and spoke:
"Don't leave the carriage unless I call for you. Be ready—unexpected guests may arrive shortly."
After hearing that, I understood that Master was being completely serious. I drew my sword and sat alert inside the carriage.
"Look over there," Scott said. "There's some sort of animal lying dead."
Master followed the direction Scott pointed. About twenty meters ahead, something was sprawled on the road, soaked in blood. He slowly walked toward it and found a large stag with mighty antlers, still twitching in its final moments. Bite marks on its neck and legs revealed that it had been attacked by a pack of predators.
[The stag was definitely preyed upon—but why wasn't it eaten? What would they gain from this? Judging by the wounds, it was attacked by a group. Considering the current conditions—snow, cold weather—there's only one creature that hunts in packs during times like this. They often leave behind their prey and immediately hunt again. It must be snow wolves.]
"Let me free you from your pain," Master said, and drove his sword into the stag, ending its suffering.
He returned from the carcass and opened the carriage door again. Glancing around once more, he looked at me and said,
"Attu, get out of the carriage!"
Upon hearing Master's words, I immediately jumped down from the carriage. The moment my feet hit the snow, I felt a strange sensation in my chest—like something was approaching us.
"Do you see anything clearly?"
"The heavy snow is blocking my view."
"And your hearing?"
"I don't hear anything nearby yet."
At that moment, Scott, who was seated at the front of the carriage and couldn't understand what we were discussing, called out to us.
"Lord Valorant, what's going on?"
"The snow wolves have set a trap. They're hunting us."
"Why did you make the boy get down? He's blind! How is someone who can't see supposed to help you?"
"Everything's fine. Don't worry," Master replied.
Just then, the horses started neighing violently.
"Scott, get inside the carriage. Now!"
Without another word, Scott obeyed, jumping into the carriage and peering nervously out the window. The horses were beginning to panic, tugging against their harnesses and trying to flee.
While I watched them, I heard something else hidden within the whistling of the wind—footsteps, swift and multiplying. Something was running toward us. I realized then: wolves.
"Two are coming from the right, and there's another behind the carriage."
"I'll take the two," Master said, leaping over the carriage roof in a single bound.
"The one in the back is mine," I said, dashing behind the carriage.
[Attu's warning was right—as expected. Now I need to deal with my target.]
Master Valorant reached the two wolves before they could get too close and cut them down effortlessly, slicing through both side-by-side in a single strike.
Then he turned and headed to the back of the carriage. By that time, I had already slain the first wolf.
As the beast came rushing toward me, I waited for it to leap. Just as it did, I dodged to the side and thrust my sword upward into its belly.
The blade sank deep into the creature, but the wolf refused to die easily and tried to strike me again. I gripped the embedded hilt tightly and dragged the sword deeper, finally finishing it off.
It was an unsettling feeling—taking a life. As I killed the wolf, my hands trembled, and my breath grew shaky. This… was fear. Fear that gripped my limbs and made me want to freeze up. But I fought it. I refused to be controlled by fear. I walked over to the first wolf I had slain and pulled my sword free.
Behind me, I sensed Master Valorant's presence, and I also heard more footsteps approaching from the direction of the carriage.
"Four from the front. Two from the right."
Master took off toward the front, while I moved to the right side of the carriage to intercept the next threat.
The wolves didn't make me wait long. Two of them were charging straight at me. I held my sword out and impaled one. The second used the moment to leap at me. I struggled to pull my blade free in time—but I did—and struck down the second wolf as well.
The wolf landed directly on top of me, and its blood splattered onto my face and clothes. We both collapsed beside the carriage.
It had been quite some time since I started training under Master Valorant, yet I still struggled to kill just two wolves. If I hadn't gotten lucky, I would've been dinner.
I pushed the dead wolf off and stood up, only to hear more sounds—this time, many more.
"More are coming. A lot more this time."
"Leave the rest to me. You climb on top of the carriage."
Master was definitely preparing something. But what?
[What's he planning? How can he take on an entire pack alone?]
I did as he said and climbed onto the top of the carriage, watching him carefully. What I saw… stunned me.
Master's sword had begun to glow with a strange green flame—his own elemental magic.
[What the…? What is this? Master's about to do something incredible.]
He stepped forward a few paces from the carriage and readied his stance. Holding his sword in his right hand, he angled it back while his left foot moved forward and bent slightly.
He stared down the wolves. Once they were close enough, he swung his blade horizontally—not at any specific target, just into the air.
Nothing was in front of him. But where his sword had cut the air, a green flame erupted and surged forward—along the exact arc of his swing. It struck the charging wolves, slicing them in two.
[What… what just happened?! That slash left behind a trail of green fire that flew forward and cut the wolves down?! How is that even possible?!]
With just a few swings, Master Valorant destroyed the entire pack of snow wolves. The few that survived turned and fled.
I was in awe. I jumped down from the carriage to ask him what he'd just done.
"Master Val—" I started, but the carriage door suddenly burst open and slammed straight into my face, knocking me to the ground.
It was Scott. He leapt from the carriage and ran straight to Master.
"Lord Valorant! That was magnificent. I knew you could take them all on your own."
"Thanks for the praise. How's Attu?"
Just then, I was barely managing to stand up, using the carriage for support. I hadn't expected the door to hit me that hard.
When Master heard Scott's answer, he turned toward the carriage and saw me struggling to my feet.
"Are you okay? What happened? Why are you bleeding from your nose?"
[My nose is bleeding?! I didn't even notice… I didn't think the door hit me that hard.]
"The wolves were tough… One of them swiped my face," I lied.
"Ugh, how pathetic. You should really learn from Lord Valorant! Look how strong and wise he is. If you train hard enough under him, you'll never end up in a state like this again."
[Who asked you, anyway? This all happened because of you—haven't they taught you how to open a door properly?]
"Can you stand?"
"Yeah, I'm okay."
"Sit back in the carriage. I have something to finish."
"Let me help you. Just tell me what to do."
I listened to my master and climbed back into the carriage, waiting as he finished his work. My hands were still trembling. It was the first time I had ever killed a living being to protect myself. I looked at my hands and clenched them into fists, trying to stop the shaking.
I turned to look outside the carriage window. The snow was still falling. As I watched it quietly blanket everything around us, something caught my eye.
[These wolves... they seem different from ordinary ones. Do they have horns on their heads? Master is cutting those horns off. Why is he collecting them?]
Master Valorant cut the horns off the wolves he'd slain and placed them into bags. Then he returned to the carriage and threw the bags inside. Curious, I asked him:
"What are you going to do with those horns?"
"We'll sell them."
I didn't know where one would sell something like wolf horns, so more questions came to mind.
"Where will we sell them?"
"You'll see once we reach the city."
"Are they worth anything?"
"Not sure exactly. They'll appraise the value when we get there."
"Can I see one?"
"Sure, here you go!"
As I reached out to take one of the horns, my trembling hands didn't escape Master's notice, so I quickly snatched it from his hand.
"Hold it tightly!"
"Got it."
"You still have a lot to get used to. You're lacking bloodlust—and aura."
"Bloodlust? Like a wild beast?"
Valorant nodded.
"Yes, something like that. You're still young, and all you've done so far is train. That fear of blood, that hesitation to kill… it's normal. But one day, after you've killed enough beasts, you'll start to get used to the sight of blood. Eventually, killing won't scare you. Then… you'll start to crave it. That's bloodlust."
"What exactly is bloodlust?"
"It's a type of aura. It's common in predators. For example, when the wolves charged at you, did you feel fear?"
"Yes, it felt like they were going to devour me."
"That's bloodlust. Wolves grow up hunting to survive. That builds an aura in them. A rabbit, on the other hand, eats only plants and vegetables. If a rabbit comes across a wolf, it either freezes in fear or runs away. When people like you—who've never seen blood—encounter a wolf's aura, the same thing happens."
"So you're saying bloodlust is used to intimidate prey?"
"Bloodlust makes your opponent feel like prey, and you like the predator. That's why they call it an aura."
"What's the difference between bloodlust and aura?"
"Bloodlust is a type of aura. But aura itself is a power that lets you present yourself to others however you want. Politicians and leaders use it to appear powerful and majestic in front of crowds."
"Can you show me both types?"
"If I show you bloodlust now, it might overwhelm you. I don't want to scare you."
"I don't mind. I want to understand what it is—please show me."
"Alright. But don't blame me if you feel sick. You asked for it. First, I'll show you a positive aura."
Master decided to show me the aura of majesty first.
"I don't feel anything."
"Hey! Slow down and focus properly!"
I did as he said, watching him closely. Then… I felt it. As if he were shining with a warm, radiant light like the sun. It felt… pleasant.
"Did you sense it?"
"Yes. How did you do that?"
"I'll teach you later. It's just a way of making yourself appear innocent, guiltless. By the way, if you use this in front of girls, they'll fall for you instantly."
"Oh, come on!"
His words made me blush a little.
"No, really! Try it and see for yourself. Humor helps when using aura, too."
"Humor?"
"Yeah. A light smile in front of a girl, and suddenly you're the kindest person in the world to her. Just know when to use it."
I started daydreaming.
[A crowd of girls is chasing after me, yelling 'Attu! Attu!' or waiting in line to confess their love. And when I say 'I love you all,' they all faint from happiness. Wow, what a life that would be!]
"Please teach me! I'm begging you!"
"Of course. I'll teach you not just aura, but also how to talk to girls—where they're most sensitive. You have in front of you the death of maidens—fifty years of experience."
"Oh, mighty one! I am forever grateful!" I said, bowing deeply to him inside the carriage.
"Alright, get up. I'll teach you everything I know." We both laughed.
[I never imagined I'd see Master so happy. When we first met, he was cold and distant. But now… after all this time, he treats me like family. And I feel the same—like I've known him my whole life.]
"Now show me bloodlust!"
"Alright, but brace yourself. Here it comes." Master closed his eyes.
I sat up straight in the carriage and mentally prepared myself.
[It's okay! This is just a demonstration. Master won't actually hurt me.] I repeated to myself. Once I was ready, I told him:
"I'm ready!"
As soon as I said that, Master looked at me with a serious expression. That look alone sent a chill down my spine. My throat clenched as if something were stuck in it. I couldn't swallow.
It felt like if I made one wrong move, I would die on the spot. Even though I knew Master wouldn't hurt me, his gaze alone convinced me otherwise.
[Master's going to kill me. No—he's going to crush me in an instant.]
The light-hearted mood inside the carriage from just moments ago vanished completely.
After a while, Master released his bloodlust aura. I immediately felt a sense of relief—the suffocating sensation around my neck disappeared.
"Are you nauseous?"
"No, I'm okay. I was just really scared. I'll be fine after a while."
"Let me know if you feel worse."
I hadn't expected Master's bloodlust aura to be that intense. After that conversation, I sat clutching my chest, trying to calm my heart.
Outside, Sir Scott looked even more terrified than I was.
[What was that? Why did you even ask for it, Attu? It felt like someone was standing right behind me, ready to kill me.]
And so, Master and I continued chatting in the carriage about all sorts of things. Since Sir Scott wasn't an Elestar like me—just an ordinary person—we took turns driving the carriage.
When he got too cold, I took his place outside and drove using my Flame Mana. And when I became too tired from maintaining the mana, Sir Scott would take over again. This arrangement was Master's idea.
"It's not right to leave Scott outside in the cold. Switch places with him from time to time. It'll help you train your Flame Mana as well."
At the moment, it was my turn. I was sitting in front, driving the carriage. Evening had fallen, and everything was growing darker. I stayed as alert as possible, keeping an eye out for wolves or any other wild threats like before.
As I guided the horses forward, I heard Master's voice from behind—he had stuck his head out the carriage window to speak.
"Are you freezing out there?"
"Not yet."
"How much longer can you maintain Flame Mana?"
"About half an hour."
"Good. We're almost at the city. Just hang on a bit more."
Half an hour passed. The sun had set, and night had fallen. I was completely exhausted from using Flame Mana. The moment it faded, I immediately felt the freezing cold—something I hadn't noticed while the mana was active.
[I didn't realize how cold it really was until my mana ran out. It's freezing! And still no sign of the city. I should ask Master. Master! Master! Why isn't he answering?]
I glanced into the carriage—and found both Master and Sir Scott fast asleep, snoring peacefully.
"They're sleeping?! I'm freezing out here and they're sleeping! Now I understand what Scott went through."
Still, I didn't wake them. I continued driving the carriage on my own.
Ten minutes later, Master awoke and looked outside. The snow had stopped falling, and the sun had long since disappeared. He stuck his head out and looked down the road. By now, we were approaching the city. Seeing this, he called out to me.
"Attu."
I didn't respond. He called again.
"Attu."
Then he pulled back inside the carriage and opened the panel that connected to the driver's seat. He looked at me—and saw that I was frozen solid. Immediately, he opened the door, stepped out of the moving carriage, and came to sit beside me.
I was so cold, I could barely stay conscious. My eyelids were heavy from exhaustion, and I could hardly keep my head up.
Master summoned his green flame and placed his hands on me. The ice that had formed on my clothes slowly began to melt. But as the last of it melted, my clothes suddenly caught fire.
Master had turned up the flame too high while trying to thaw me out. I hadn't completely passed out, so I knew what was happening. And when my clothes caught fire, my thoughts panicked.
[Is Master trying to burn me alive? If he really wanted to warm me up, he could've just used Flame Mana. Is this how I die?]
To put out the fire, Master began slapping me, but the flames wouldn't go out. Then a smarter idea struck him. He quickly removed his own cloak and wrapped it tightly around me.
That finally smothered the flames. As warmth returned to my body, I began to move again, though I was still feeling the aftereffects of the cold.
Master placed his arm around my shoulder, guiding my head to rest against his. He took the reins from my hand and drove the carriage himself. I slowly regained my senses and began to whisper to him.
"Master… I had a dream."
"What kind of dream?"
"You were trying to burn me alive. You summoned your green flame and lit me on fire… and you even beat me while I burned."
"That was just a dream. Don't take it seriously."
"Are we close to the city?"
"Yes, look ahead. You can see it. We'll stay there for the night. Tomorrow, we'll be on the road again."
While I was talking to Master Valorant, I drifted off to sleep without realizing it. It happened so quickly.
Master then placed his hand on my forehead and felt that I had a fever—my body temperature was extremely high. He summoned another green flame, this time much smaller, and gently pressed it against my forehead.
"Just hang in there. We're almost inside the city."
When Valorant reached the city gates, two guards were warming themselves by a fire. Seeing a carriage approaching, one of them stepped forward to stop it.
"Good evening! State your name!"
"One of the Seven Sages—Valorant. I'm in a hurry, let us pass quickly!"
"Sir Valorant! My apologies. I'm sorry to trouble you. Please, you may enter the city," the guard replied respectfully.
"I have a question."
"How may we assist you?"
"Where can we find an inn to stay for the night?"
"If you go straight along this road toward the city center, there's an inn called Golden Goose."
"Thank you for your help," Valorant said and continued driving.
The first guard returned to his companion, who asked,
"Who was that?"
"Sir Valorant."
"One of the Seven Sages?"
"Yes, him."
"What's someone like him doing here?"
"There must be important business. A man of his stature wouldn't come to a remote city like this without reason."
"Maybe he's heading to the capital."
Valorant searched around the city center for the Golden Goose inn. Upon finding it, he stopped the carriage in front, got out, and carefully lifted Attu into his arms before walking into the inn.
Inside, seated near the door, was a young woman around 18–20 years old. He approached her and asked for rooms.
"We'd like two rooms."
Seeing the wrapped-up child in his arms, the girl nodded,
"Follow me," she said, leading Valorant upstairs. She opened a door on the second floor, and Valorant entered, laying Attu on the bed and sitting in a nearby chair. He placed a hand on Attu's forehead.
"The boy seems to be in bad shape. I'll call a doctor."
"No need for a doctor. I know how to care for him."
"Are you a doctor?"
"No, but I know what to do."
"In that case, is there anything else I can help with?"
"Our carriage is outside. My companion is still in it. Please wake him. He'll know what to do."
"If you need anything, just call me. I'll be nearby. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Rebekka." She then left the room.
A while later, Scott entered, his eyes filled with worry.
"I'm sorry, Sir Valorant. The boy got sick because of me."
"It's not your fault. Attu simply caught a cold. He'll recover after some rest. His condition doesn't warrant your guilt. I'll stay with him tonight. You go downstairs and get a room from Rebekka. Rest up."
"Understood, Sir Valorant. I'll be nearby if you need anything," Scott said and left to get his room key.
Valorant spent the night by Attu's side, using his green flame to heal him. He gently placed it on Attu's forehead and body to restore his strength.
When morning came, I woke up and opened my eyes. Looking around, I realized I was in an unfamiliar room. With no one nearby to ask where I was, I got up to leave—but just then, a girl entered.
"Oh! You're awake."
"Excuse me… who are you?"
"My name's Rebekka. I'm the assistant to the manager of the Golden Goose inn. And what's your name?"
"I'm Attu. How did I end up here?"
"You better ask the old man downstairs! He brought you here. It's breakfast time anyway, come on."
I followed Rebekka downstairs. As I reached the stairs, I spotted my master seated among a crowd of people. I walked over and sat beside him.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yes. I feel fine now."
"Good."
"Where's Sir Scott?"
"He went to tend to the horses."
"So, what's the plan for today?"
"We're heading to the Adventurers' Guild."
"What's that?"
"It's the place where we can sell the wolves' horns."
Rebekka came over and placed our breakfast on the table, joining the conversation.
"Where are you headed? The local guild?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I can tell you where it is—of course, not for free! And by the way, you still owe me for last night's stay."
Master reached into his pocket, pulled out a pouch of coins, and placed five silver coins on the table. Rebekka's eyes sparkled at the sight.
"I think that's enough. Now, tell us where the guild is."
"It's not far—just three streets over. You'll see a building with a bunch of armed men out front. That's our local guild. Look for a girl named Silviya. Tell her I sent you, and things will go smoothly."
After finishing our meal, Master and I left the inn and headed toward the guild.
"Master, are we just leaving Sir Scott behind?"
"I already spoke to him. We'll depart around noon. We have time to sell the wolf horns before then."
"I wanted to ask you something else."
"Yes?"
"How did I get to the inn?"
"You froze while riding in front of the carriage. You were burning up with fever. So I brought you here myself."
[I caused trouble for Master. I should thank him.]
"Master Valorant."
"Yes?"
"Thank you!"
"No need to thank me. Just keep training so this never happens again."
"I will!"
We arrived at the Adventurers' Guild. As Rebekka had said, there were plenty of armed adventurers gathered around.
Despite the cold and snow, the streets were bustling and lively. We made our way through the crowd and stood in front of the guild's entrance.
As we stood in front of the guild's entrance, Master grabbed my collar and pulled me aside. I didn't understand what was happening.
[Why did Master pull me by the collar?] I wondered, when suddenly a man was thrown out of the door.
"Watch where you're going!"
I nodded in response, as if to say "okay," and stepped back toward the entrance. Just then, a large muscular man came out of the door. Once he had passed, we entered the guild.
Inside, the place was a mess—furniture overturned, broken objects scattered everywhere. A girl was picking up the debris and straightening the tables. Master and I walked up to her.
"Good morning. You wouldn't happen to be Silviya, would you?"
"Yes, I'm Silviya. How can I help you?"
"Rebekka recommended you to us."
"Oh? If Rebekka sent you... you must be here to sell something?"
"Yes. And I'd also like to register this young man," he said, gesturing to me.
Hearing that, I was surprised.
[Is Master planning to register me as an adventurer? Why would he do that?]
"Alright then, wait a moment. To register, head over there," she said, pointing to a desk.
We went to the registration table where Silviya had directed us, while she continued cleaning up the broken items. I turned to Master to ask what was going on.
"Master, are you really registering me?"
"You need a sword like mine. With your current blade, you can't perform the techniques I showed you against the snow wolves."
"Do I need a magic sword to use those techniques?"
"What did you think?"
"Can't I use a regular sword?"
"Your sword is too fragile. You might be able to swing it five times before it breaks. My sword can handle such techniques endlessly."
"Ah, I understand now. So that's why we hunted the snow wolves."
"Exactly."
"Where do we get such swords?"
"They're specially crafted by dwarves who live deep in the Earth Kingdom. Since your flame is blue, you'll need one made specifically for you. But you can't go there yet, so for now, you'll use a standard sword made for Eternal Flame techniques."
"How much does it cost?"
"It's custom-made in another country, so of course it's not cheap. But since you can't afford that now, start working to earn money and buy one later."
"Understood. I'll do my best from now on."
While we talked, Silviya returned to the desk.
"Sorry about the mess! What would you like to sell?"
"The horns of snow wolves."
"Really? This is the first time this winter someone's brought in snow wolf horns. Where did you hunt them?"
"They attacked us during yesterday's heavy snowfall."
"I see. How many horns did you bring?"
"Check the contents of this sack," Master said, placing a bag on the desk.
Silviya opened it and began counting. There were 24 horns in total.
"Twenty-four horns... Each one is worth 10 silver coins. Are you selling them?"
"Yes. Also, please register this young man."
"Alright, I'll go get the coins and paperwork," she said and went into the back room with the sack of horns.
While she was gone, we picked up some fallen chairs and sat down. At that moment, the guild doors opened and the same muscular man who had been thrown out earlier returned. I watched as he noticed me looking at him. He walked over and spoke.
"Hey kid, you're sitting in my seat…"
Before he could finish, I stood up and offered him the chair. I grabbed another nearby and sat down again. The man laughed.
"Didn't they teach you to listen till the end? Since you sat there, you gotta pay for it too."
"You wanted your seat, now take it and sit."
My response left him speechless. He reached out, trying to grab me by the collar—but Master stopped him by grabbing his arm. The man tried to pull free but couldn't budge. Master had locked his grip.
"You old bastard!" the man shouted, trying to punch Master.
In a flash, Master twisted the man's arm and kicked him out the door.
[I've got to hand it to Master—he threw an 80-kilogram man out the door with one kick. He's amazing.]
"People here sure are rude," Master said.
Just then, Silviya returned with a tray carrying a scroll, a glowing orb, two gold coins, and forty silver coins.
"Here's your reward, sir."
"I'll take the two gold coins. The rest is for him," Master said, looking at me.
[It feels great to earn money through hard work. I'm really happy.]
"Who's being registered?"
"I am."
"Alright, how old are you?"
"Twelve."
"Good, that's old enough. If you were under eleven, I couldn't register you. You're lucky. Now place your hand on the orb and direct your mana into it."
Relieved that I could register, I followed her instructions. As I placed my hand on the orb and channeled my mana, it began to shimmer before my eyes.
"That's enough. You can take your hand away now."
"That's it?"
"Yes, you're officially registered. If you look at the hand you placed on the orb, you'll see a mark. You can show that at any guild and they'll provide you with services."
I looked at my left hand. There were two rings and between them were the words "Northshtat" and "2.12.2018."
"What do these mean?"
"That shows where and when you registered. Now, let's determine your rank," she said, placing the scroll over the orb.
Symbols began appearing on the scroll…
"Your current rank is D," Silviya said.
"Is that good?"
"Considering your age, yes. It's a good start."
"How many ranks are there?"
"There are six total: E, D, C, B, A, and S. Right now you're ranked D, which reflects your current physical condition and your ability to control mana."
"I see."
"Now that you've learned what you need, we should return to Scott."
"Alright. Silviya, is that everything? Can I leave now? Don't I need to write down my name or something?"
"No need for that. The mark on your hand already contains your identity and information. If you continue training and improve your mana control and physical strength, your rank will go up in the future."
"Then thank you very much."
"The Northshtat Guild is proud to have you registered. Good luck on your hunts, Adventurer Attu!"
"See you!" I said, and we left the guild.
Once outside, we glanced around. That same bulky man from earlier was now getting up in front of the guild.
"Not enough, was it?" he growled.
"I'll show you what happens now!"
"You're going to take on one of the Seven Sages?" I added, praising Master.
Hearing me, Master slapped his forehead and shook his head. Everyone on the street turned to stare at us in shock.
"What did you just say?"
"That's nonsense!" the man shouted, trying to deny it.
But Master was already angry. He unleashed his Bloodlust Aura. The air grew heavy as everyone around us felt the overwhelming pressure of that aura. Fear appeared on every face. The man's voice caught in his throat.