Chapter 227: A Favor Owed
"Ha!"
Wrock watched two people spar. One used a rapier while the other used a long dagger.
Kayne answered an unspoken question, "My eldest son, and my daughter."
"An interesting choice of weapon, the rapier is not commonly used as a weapon."
"He had taken a fancy to it."
"Hmm."
Wrock walked over to them. The two slowed their spar and watched him approach. The one with the rapier spoke, "Who are you?"
"It matters not, care for a spar?"
"Hmph, as if I would. Who do you think you are?"
Kayne was about to reprimand his son, but Wrock spoke first, "A shame, I figured I would provide some insight with your fighting."
"Ha, like you would know anything."
"You would be surprised."
He spun his rapier, "Fine then, I change my mind. I, Eral the Eldest Son of the Royal Family, accept your challenge."
The one holding the dagger backed away, interested on what was going to happen.
Wrock held his hands up, "You may start whenever."
Eral immediately twisted his wrist and executed a complex series of stabs. Several afterimages of the rapier headed towards Wrock.
Wrock's arm flashed and he caught the rapier with his fingers. Then in a slow smooth motion he tapped Eral's jaw with his foot, "That would be one strike."
He let go and backed off, waiting for the next strike.
Eral grit his teeth, "Tch! See how you deal with my Celestial Path Steps!"
Eral seemed to vanish in plain sight.
'Footwork eh.'
Wrock threw a fist to his side, halting its momentum at the last moment. Eral felt sweat form at his neck, for the fist was a few hairs from his face!
Wrock casually spoke, "That would be two strikes."
Eral retreated and calmed his nerves. Any sign of arrogance was gone, now only caution remained.
Wrock nodded inwardly, this meant Eral had a steady head on his shoulders. The arrogance may have formed from either constant victories, or his Royal status. Perhaps both.
Eral approached cautiously, the moment Wrock moved the slightest bit he unleashed a flurry of strikes. This time opting for swinging instead of stabs.
Wrock moved fluidly through the strikes. Within a second he had placed his hand on Eral's shoulder, "And that would be three."
Eral took a shaky breath, "Who are you?"
"The name's Wrock."
"I haven't heard of you before."
"That's not surprising."
Wrock walked back to Kayne, "You focus too much on executing complex techniques. Try fighting without using them, perhaps you would improve."
Wrock paused and looked over to the silent dagger wielding girl, "You're doing just fine. Your head is steady, your movements are smooth. All you lack is experience. Also, don't overthink, reacting with your gut will save your life more than once."
Wrock stood next to Kayne, "Your family has some skill Kayne, you must have found some good mentors."
"I'm glad you think so Founder Wrock, it makes me think it's worth the price."
"Your eldest son, Eral. Has he lost battles before?"
"When he was beginning yes, but now he is the top in the Royal competition of his age."
"That explains it then, he has grown complacent. Perhaps finding some proper challenges for him would be beneficial."
"I'll take those words to heart."
Eral walked over, "Father! Who is this man you have brought?"
"Did he not tell you?"
"I know his name is Wrock."
"Ah."
Kayne looked over to Wrock, unsure if he wanted his identity revealed. Wrock made a small smile as he spoke, "Perhaps I was too vague, I am a Martial Founder."
"Martial Founder?!"
Eral immediately dropped to his knees, "Forgive me Founder for my disrespect!"
Wrock chuckled, "No harm done, as long as you realize your mistakes."
"Thank you!"
Kayne looked to the side, "Ah, it seems like he has arrived."
~ ~ ~
"Good, you arrived on time."
Travis nodded, he wasn't going to miss this.
Zanyill rubbed his palms together, "We are going to fetch some things. Come along."
Travis frowned, but followed. As they walked he asked, "What is it we are getting?"
"Some specific herbs and gems. If I am going to teach you to wield mana, you are going to have to come into contact with it."
"Isn't it all around us?"
"But normally if you wish to learn that way it would take months, even years. I am sure you do not wish to spend that long doing so correct?"
Travis did not answer, but he agreed.
Zanyill continued, "So we are going to obtain some items to enhance the ambient mana, enough for you to come into contact with it. Once you obtained even the slightest idea on how it feels, your progress should be quick and smooth."
"So what are we obtaining first?"
"Hmm, you don't need to know the name. But a nice herb from a certain someone who owes me."
"There wouldn't be an issues with this certain someone right?"
"Why would you say that?"
"The way you said it sounded like you have beef with them."
"Why would I have beef? I much prefer chicken."
Travis sighed, what kind of response was that?
. . .
The two arrived at an old tree. It was clearly made into a home, for a door and window were obvious from the outside. Yet the tree looked sturdy and healthy, which was odd. Since Travis assumed the inside was carved out.
"Oi! Old hag! Open up!"
Travis blinked at Zanyill's shouting. It almost was completely to his expectation.
"You're older than I!"
"Ha! You look older!"
"That's it! You asked for this!"
The door slammed open and a large ball of energy shot out of the doorway. Travis immediately went to unsheathe his sword, his senses were screaming danger from the ball.
Yet Zanyill batted it away, "What's with the elementary spell? Have you grown so senile you forgot how to make a proper one?"
Travis watched the ball hit a hill, only to see that exact hill vanish from existence. Some small sweat formed at the back of his neck.
'Fourth Stage combatants are terrifying.'
"These guys are Fourth Stage?!"
'Around the bottom of Fourth Stage yeah, that spell that erased the hill was probably a breath of air for them. Meaning they aren't really trying.'
"That's. . . a little terrifying."
The voice shouted from inside, "Because you have a little First Stage hanging around, I don't want them to die in the crossfire."
Travis wanted to shout: I would have died from that attack anyway!
"Ha, excuses."
A woman stepped at the doorway, she didn't even look that old. Like a middle-aged woman who time has caught up to. She raised an eyebrow, "So what is it you want from me?"
"I'm here to claim my favor."
"After all these years? Finally."
"I need a Rose of Flowing Mist."
"I won't be able to do that."
"Why not?"
"I don't have any, that flower is near extinct these days."
"What? Didn't you have a whole vault of rare herbs from back then?"
"That vault was destroyed. Why do you need it anyway?"
"To teach this one mana control."
"Ah, you're doing it that way?"
"I have a feeling it will work splendidly."
She rubbed the bridge of her nose, "If you want to. . . then we will have to find it."
"Didn't you say it was near extinct?"
"Near, not completely."
"So what you are saying is. . ."
"We are going to help with its extinction."
Travis interjected, "I wouldn't want to be the reason for a flower's extinction."
"Don't worry. I am going to collects a few seeds from it. I plan to grow some in my garden."
Travis sighed in relief, there was a major issue that the game had in its future. Players rushed to obtain rare herbs for various potions and pills. So much so that the herbs turned extinct. Travis would much rather not assist in this.
Zanyill cracked his neck, "So, where are we going?"
"Huntret's Wood."
Zanyill froze, "Can we not?"
"Closest place that has a chance for the flower."
"You're doing this on purpose aren't you."
"No."
"You lie."
Whilst the two argued Travis tried to remember the name of Huntret's Wood, however it didn't even ring a bell. He knew almost every major place in the game, with various treasures hidden inside them. Yet not this one?
So he asked, "What is Huntret's Wood?"
The woman spoke, "A hidden underground forest ran by a druid."
Zanyill made a sad face, "That druid is a fan of me. More like fanatic, but I would have preferred to stay away from him."
"You know that he would give us the flower with no issues."
"I know, I just have this bad feeling."
"Regardless, I am going to have to prepare for the trip. Meet me in Yorun in about half and hour."
Without waiting for a reply she closed the door. Zanyill brushed his beard, "I am sacrificing a lot for you. You better have some appreciation."
"I do."
"Good."
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