Chapter 54: Arthur Landragon
After bidding his farewell to the Ivory Tower acolytes who were close to him, Arthur had began a long travel in his return trip.
Although his contract stated to serve Count Elderwood, the latter could only make three personal requests requiring him to leave the Landragon Territory. Hence, Arthur decided to settle in his ancestral family castle and conduct his research there.
The long trip took three months in total, with very few stops at wandering acolyte organizations. There, he managed to exchange the high-grade magical artefact [Blood Scepter] against several spells, elixirs, magical crystals as well as magical ingredients necessary to conduct experiments that would help him dig deeper in Helena's research.
In these three months, Arthur had realized that the study of souls and the creation of [Ice Monsters] were linked altogether, yet Helena only succeeded in making the vessels. Arthur had an idea: merging [Cursed Soul Flask] with the Ice Monster he could create through Helena's refining process.
This would take hundreds, if not thousands of [Cursed Soul Flask] to succeed, but if he did, then he would be able to make an army of ice monsters who could serve him on a daily basis.
[Name – Arthur Landragon
Class – Level 9 [Intermediate Rank] Acolyte (0 / 9 000 EXP)
HP – 100 / 100 | Mana: 90 / 90
→ Experience Stored: 3 135
Attributes:
Strength – 13 | Agility – 5 | Vitality – 8 (+2) | Magic Power – 9
Skills: Advanced Swordsmanship (105), Archery (96), Magical Knowledge (75), Ice Magical Knowledge (68), Deceiving (35), Spell Reading (28), Acting (26), Cartography (16), Scroll Copying (15), Eloquence (15), Charming (12), Poetry (10), Trading (8), Information gathering (6)
Perk: [Ice Physique: (+2) Vitality, (+6) Magic Resistance, (+30%) Ice Damage]
Knight Technique: Heavy Vertical Strike (58), Power Thrust (32), Killing Intent (40)
Spell: Ice Poison Aura [High-grade] (54), Soul Seal [Intermediate-grade] (35), Freezing Touch [Low Grade] (33), Shield of Ice [Low-grade] (23), Charm [Low-grade] (16), Ice Arrow [Low-grade] (13), Frozen Seal [Low-grade] (10), Frozen Curse [High-grade] (8)
Magical Artefact: Moonlight Ring (Strength Blessing Cast [1/1]), Arcane Fox Mask (+30 Mana), Blood Earing (+5 HP / spell), Blood Totem (Blood Arrow Cast)
Enchanted Items: Celeste (Medium-grade Enchanted Weapon), Ring of Courage (Low-grade Enchanted Item, (+1) Pain tolerance), Amulet of Healing (Low-grade Enchanted Item, +1 Regeneration), Orc General Flag (Low-grade, (+1) Fear)
Research:
[Ice Monster Creation] : Progress (68%)]
Daily meditation and consumption of elixirs had allowed Arthur to earn one point in each physical attribute and earn a considerable amount of EXP despite not really fighting during this period. His greatest achievement besides reaching 16 of age, was Helena's research.
Taking a look at her research papers and her numerous insights and experiments had allowed Arthur's opinion of her to change altogether. The theories and understanding of Ice Magic far exceeded her beginner acolyte realm. It was the fruit of a decade's worth of research. However, she had only managed to reach half of the requirements to create an ice monster.
In order to create one, you needed both a vessel and a soul. She never quite understood that.
'Fighting a war will allow me to gather many souls...Count Elderwood wants to use me for my strength. I will use him to justify my soul gathering!', Arthur swore.
After arriving to the castle, Arthur was summoned to the dining hall. There, he was received by his father, who couldn't believe his youngest son's transformation.
[Name - Frederick Landragon | Class - Level 12 [Intermediate] Knight
HP - 90 / 90 |
Attributes:
Strength – 9 | Agility – 3 | Vitality – 9 | Magic Power - 1
Status - Healthy
Skills - Intermediate Swordsmanship (64), Horsemanship (45), Spear Mastery (40), Strategy (30), Leadership (25), Etiquette (20),...]
Knight Skills - Heavy Vertical Strike (34)
Enchanted Item - Landragon Heirloom Sword [Heavyness Rune]]
Frederick Landragon, the Guardian of the South, was only this strong. Although he was someone who would instute fear in bandits and subordinates, the man was only an intermediate knight with no noteworthy skills.
In a matter of four years, Arthur had surpassed his father physically-wise and skill-wise altogether. As for a duel between the two, Arthur would easily win, even if he didn't use his magical abilities. This was how incredible the body refinement path was.
His ring allowed him to level up his skills faster than anyone, by merely completing missions.
His two greatest source of EXP in the next few years would come from missions too. And their completion would allow him to step into the [Advanced] swordsmanship realm.
[Knight Training - Secondary Mission
You have decided to return to the Porfield Kingdom in order to hone your skills, complete your contract and test your skills against knights.
Task - Defeat 100 Knights (2 / 100)
Rewards - 5 000 EXP, 20 Proficiency Points in the skill [Swordsmanship], 20 Proficiency Points in the skill [Archery]]
[Ice Monster Research - Class-related Mission
All acolytes walk the path of knowledge. You might have forgotten that in the past, but you have now decided to devote your time and resources on a subject.
Task - Complete Helena's research (68%)
Rewards - 10 000 EXP, Unique skill related to Ice Monster Creation, 20 Proficiency in Magical Knowledge, 20 Proficiency in Ice Magic Knowledge]
Three years.
For three years, he would have to remain in this forsaken mortal land, with very few contacts with fellow acolytes walking the path of magic. Others might think of it as a burden, or even as a waste of time. However, it was only true for poor acolytes.
Arthur had gathered over 600 magic crystals in his time at the Ivory Tower, and he had several bags full of magical ingredients, ice monster cores and soul flasks. With the sheer amount of material he had at his disposal, he could occupy himself for a decade, not to mention three years. With daily meditation and knight training, then he would be able to grow peacefully at a steady rate while completing a mission that could possibly allow him to become a one-man-army.
Of course, he would have to put sly foxes in check first.
'John Landragon, huh...', Arthur analysed, 'What a disgustingly perfect noble indeed'
He could feel the man's frustration, envy perhaps. Yet John was not showing any of it.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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