Kapitel 17: Chapter 16- Raid(2)

There is something Valarie understood by witnessing Alex's battle: she can never judge a person based on their past performance.

She watched him closely during the battle because of Amanda's confidence in him. She wasn't sure why but that girl, who only shows signs of being interested in anyone else other than Edric if the person is good with what they do, was suddenly showing such great enthusiasm toward the silver-haired.

It wasn't like Valarie was completely oblivious about Alex, given she often comes in contact with Celestria. Although she is not on that good terms with the Princess, unlike how their fathers are, Valarie still is on friendly terms with the blond Princess. That's why Valarie comes across Alex once in a while and also has watched his fight once or twice before.

However, never in her wildest imagination could she have assumed that the same shy boy who used to become submissive whenever someone glared at him had the strength to not only go against an enemy way above his league but also come out victorious.

The way Alex withheld that much pain of getting sliced at every corner of his body, and also how he never compromised the calmness which he showed throughout the battle against Aiden, made her dumbfounded.

And that sword rebound...was just phenomenal. Last she didn't know whom she witnessed using such a refined technique where, despite having an unfavourable weapon, they were able to wield it with such precision.

From a general perspective, the wow factor of that technique was the sudden rebound of the sword after hitting the ground, but there was more to it. The way Alex turned the sword mid-air and directed it towards Aiden's mid-section rather than bringing it towards his throat—which would have been easier but naturally, illegal—showed that he holds such strength to manipulate his attacks to his will.

Truly admirable.

Valarie used to think that only Edric was worthy of her respect, but no. There is someone else as well, who has the perseverance and attitude to become a knight.

As such, after Valarie got the word that today Edric was leaving the academy for a raid, she decided to tag along so she could get some training done.

She couldn't allow herself, the daughter of a Commander Knight, to fall behind her peers because of her laziness. If she wanted to walk shoulder to shoulder with such fine warriors, then she must train harder from now on.

As such, now she could be seen walking along with Edric toward the Hunter's guild.

....but what she didn't expect was to meet the silver head here as well.

"It might become really messy if you introduce him to raiding without having an instructor around." En route, Alex was walking a few meters behind and gave the duo some space to get done with their conversation.

Valarie knew that Alex was no newbie warrior and had the guts to take risks for the sake of victory, but for someone who was attempting his first raid, Alex needed some mature guidance. Although she didn't suspect Edric when it came to protecting others, Alex wasn't going there so he could just get himself protected by Edric.

"You think the Instructors would have allowed Alex to raid a labyrinth when he has spent his previous two years surrounded by books?"

Edric's question was met by a shrug, as she responded in a matter-of-fact tone, "They have already witnessed what Alex is capable of. Do you think they would have stopped him?"

Edric heaved a sigh, "They will never allow a student who won the first battle after entering the academy to just get started with raiding without getting trained for six months, at least."

Valarie...can't refute that. The Professors have become a little too cautious these days. Although it was said that the pedagogy would change within due time, thanks to the realisation that dawned upon the Headmaster regarding how things were going downhill with the current teaching system.

However those changes would need some time to show effect, and, "Alex doesn't have such patience, from what I have observed recently," Edric uttered

"You know I can hear you, right?" Alex asked in a tired tone.

They are chatting too loudly to even call it a secretive discussion. He was not that far behind them because it was dark in the forest...

Edric was startled hearing that as he turned toward the fellow student and assured, "I wasn't badmouthing. As a warrior, eagerness to get on with real battles is a virtue."

With his eyes falling, he added, "It's just...bringing you there without any professional support makes me a little anxious...that what if..."

"I die out there?" Alex's blunt question stunned Edric as, with wide eyes, he stared at Alex and heard him continuing, "You don't need to worry about me. See, I got no one worrying for me, nor is there someone waiting for me back in the academy. So just-"

Valarie jumped in, "Wait a second...aren't your parents alive? They work in the capital right?" Valarie has heard about them from Celestria before. The reason why Celestria got in contact with Alex was because of them.

Alex shrugged, "Well that relationship didn't last long. They got tired of me and just got rid of all the threads that connected us."

Edric was, just like Valarie, dumbfounded hearing those words. They both have loving parents, so they know the importance of familial love. And here, Alex was abandoned even though his parents were still alive.

"Anyway, shall we get going? Staying here could be dangerous." Alex urged. He really didn't want to get sympathy for this. He only told them about it so Valarie doesn't end up misunderstanding something and starts nagging him.

She can get really annoyed in no time.

Edric didn't say anything to that other than a slow nod before he urged Valarie to keep moving just like the other two.

Silence ensued between the three after that. Valarie was too shocked to speak a word, about which Alex was inwardly thankful, and Edric still couldn't believe that after getting disowned, Alex had the courage to keep moving forward rather than wailing about his loss.

If his family had said that they wanted to sever ties...Edric didn't know how he would have continued to survive. They give him very strong emotional support in times of crisis. And here, even after losing his only support, Alex was showing such an uncaring front to not make others worried about him.

'Whatever happens now, I will ensure his safety, even at the cost of my own life.' Edric swore with his fist clenched.

The trio soon crossed the jungle and reached a city which was still lively even at this late hour.

This city was known for its bread and raid. The city was situated years ago, when the land was getting devoted to the academy.

The King of that time, deemed necessary for having a raiding center nearby for both purposes; responding to any emergency situation and to provide the students with the opportunity to gain some real life experience through raiding.

Although the relationship between the Guild and the Academy is not on good terms anymore, students are still allowed to raid the labyrinth if they could provide the fees.

Entering the guild, Alex was met by a scene just out of fantasy. And the first thought he had was,

'I am so gonna have fun here…'

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Do you like the pace? This story is moving hastily towards that final arc, that's why there won't be many chapters for Slice of Life.

Anyway, drop a review and some comments, if you like the story.

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Kapitel 18: Chapter 17- Insult?

"Aren't we ultimately doomed, now?" Those were the words that came out of the raven-haired woman, once she returned home from work.

Celeria was on the verge of pulling her hair in frustration and agony after she heard the declaration of punishment from the King regarding their decision to disown Alex.

Brendon heaved a sigh as he sat down, "Not only did we not get a reward, but we have to now compensate."

The lady yelled, "We are going to get killed here and all you are thinking about is money!" Her voice terrified the man as he stopped sulking and looked up at her.

Celeria had a crazed look as she went through the possible options they had.

"It's all his fault. If only that shit face didn't entice us, we wouldn't have ever gotten ourselves mixed in this mess!" She roared and threw away the flower vase nearby in frustration.

Brendon also gritted his teeth, and seethingly added, "Abeth promised us...that Alex won't make it alive. That's why we brainwashed him all for the whole last year. But now, the person himself is dead and Alex is roaming free!"

Celeria was huffing violently with her eyes bloodshot. She couldn't believe that the perfect plan of getting rid of that burden was stolen away from them because a stupid human failed. And on top of it, she got convinced by her dear husband, that to retain their jobs, they should disown Alex as soon as they could before trials.

In desperation and panic, she followed his words after getting the word that Alex survived, from Abeth. They spent two hundred gold coins on that piece of parchment that reached Vermillion instantly, and before trials, the Professor had the proof that Celeria and Brendon had to do nothing with that brat anymore.

However, now not only did Abeth fail to wipe Alex out of existence, but they also got punished by the King because they abandoned their son.

"We have to leave." Celeria finally spoke, her voice sounding dead serious.

Brendon panicked, "But Cel, where will we go? I don't-"

"Are you fucking nuts?! Don't you know what will happen when that white witch comes to see Alex near the end of this month?! What will you tell her? That we abandoned him? Or are you willing to let her find out about the little plot we conspired?"

Brendon's face became pale hearing that.

He hurried, got up, and said, "I will pack the bags."

Once Brendon walked out, Celeria looked at the picture frame, which contained the three of them. The picture was hand drawn by Alex and something they have kept for the past five years.

Taking the picture, she coldly stared at the boy who changed their lives, for the good and the worst.

However, all Celeria could feel right now was hatred for the pipsqueak who had tarnished their reputation in the King's eyes and also forced them to run away.

Tearing the picture from the middle, she uttered under her breath, "For this favour, I sure will repay you."

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The role of Hunter's guild surrounds raiding and trading. They assign labyrinths to hunters in exchange for small fees and after signing a contract that whatever comes out of the labyrinth, the guild would take ten per cent of it. Along with it, the contract also states that for the loss of things or people inside the labyrinth, the hunter's guild wouldn't be responsible.

The rules of participating in raids also include being in a group of at least five members, and this rule has been brought down since the time the settlement was established.

Now, inside the hub, a party of three young people were already waiting when Edric arrived. They knew him and had already signed up for a labyrinth for the raid.

Alex looked at the trio and found himself completely unable to discern their power level. He still hasn't understood how one discovers others' power level just by a look. However, from their physique, scars and stance Alex could tell that they aren't newbies.

"Woah, you got an intense look there." Suddenly, the red, spiky-haired man exclaimed with his hands risen, "We aren't rogue hunters, y'know."

Rogue hunters are those who loot from other hunters and usually enter a labyrinth without any permission.

For a hunter to be called rogue is like one of the biggest cusses.

Edric chuckled, "He mostly remains silent, Vlad. Anyway, let me introduce you three to my classmate, Alex. He is a sword user and has quite sharp senses."

Gesturing toward his other classmate, Edric added, "You must know her already, she is Valarie Hornblade. A flame user and uses an axe as her weapon."

Being aware of your raiding partners is very necessary since inside a labyrinth you have no other support than your partners. And in many cases, there can be no worse enemies than them as well.

"Alex....Alex...wait! Are you the same Alex who got involved in the Soulless case recently?" The blond healer asked with her round and innocent eyes sparkling in curiosity.

Alex nodded, "Yeah."

The girl, who goes by the name Maria, gasped, "Then you defeated an S-rank Soulless on your own?"

The other two members of the party also seemed excited at the thought of having someone so strong by their side, however, "No, I nearly died. A professor saved me."

Alex casually stated and found the blond girl's shoulders slumping in disappointment.

Alex raised his brows; he had a feeling that the girl was already aware of the fact that he was rescued....yet she asked.

'She wanted to insult me? Well, whatever.' These childish tricks are something he has long gotten over. Getting triggered by such small things was never a part of his habits.

"O-Okay then, shall we go?" The second girl with short blue hair awkwardly asked. She was wielding a pair of daggers, and her lean build suggested that she was, most probably, an assassin.

....but well, those massive juggs must be a hindrance for her job.

"Yes, let's go." Edric nodded; however, his voice suggested that he wasn't in the same mood as before.

He was very well aware of Maria's personality, and as Alex assumed, she indeed wanted to insult Alex for no reason.

The team of six left the guild side by side and advanced towards the labyrinth they were supposed to raid tonight.

Alex was feeling the excitement which he hadn't felt in a long time.

'I hope it doesn't turns out to be disappointing...'

But at that time, little did he think that his first labyrinth experience would be so disastrous.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.

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