by Jackson Bale
“Wow,---been---a---while---since---I---used---that---much---mana.”
I---give---her---a---confused---look.
Isn't---she---a---level---90---something---[Witch]?
“Making---mana---actually---able---to---be---seen---requires---a---significant---amount---of---mana---concentration.---It's---not---easy---kid.”
She---stretches---her---arm---and---cracks---her---neck---rather---loudly.
“Ohh,---that---one---was---pretty---good.”
She---points---at---the---staff---on---the---table.
“Anyways,---I---want---you---to---use---the---staff---to---create---a---shape,---any---simple---shape.---The---staff---should---make---it---easy.---Then,---after---your---attempt,---practice---doing---it---without---the---staff.---Only---when---you---master---the---shape---without---the---staff---are---you---allowed---to---use---the---staff---again---for---another---shape.---Rinse---and---repeat.”
I---nod,---grabbing---the---staff,---mentally---ordering---my---mana---into---it.
_________
A---[Hero]---eh?---I---did---not---expect---to---get---such---an---interesting---student.
I---watch---as---he---sends---his---mana---through---the---staff,---a---concentrated---look---on---his---face.---He---nods---and---places---the---staff---on---the---table,---his---eyes---closed---as---he---attempts---to---recreate---whatever---shape---he---did.
Normally,---this---type---of---training---is---only---done---by---elven---children---because---elves---naturally---have---a---very---large---amount---of---both---innate---Mana---and---Mana---regen.---A---normal---human---child---would---find---it---very---difficult---to---even---use---the---staff---as---the---sheer---mana---requirement---would---cause---them---to---pass---out.
But---[Heroes]---are---different,---aren't---they?
At---first,---I---thought---he---was---some---kind---of---son---of---a---rich---[Lord]---who---was---found---lacking---in---the---ability---to---use---magic,---so---much---so---that---the---school---would---not---accept---him.
And---I---would---have---told---the---kid---to---go---home---and---to---find---another---class.
But---my---big---oaf---of---a---grandson---had---introduced---him---to---me,---so---I---felt---it---would---be---in---my---best---benefit---to---at---least---attempt---to---teach---him.
So---I---did.
I---first---explained---to---him---about---how---to---sense---mana,---and---to---my---immediate---surprise,---he---got---the---hang---of---it---rather---quickly.
Then---I---instructed---him---to---move---it---around---mentally.---At---which---point---I---placed---clear---mana---stones---in---both---his---arms---and---told---him---to---make---them---light---up---at---the---same---time.
He---had---instead---given---me---a---confused---look---and---asked---‘how’.
At---this---point,---I---should---have---realized---something---was---wrong---considering---his---ignorance---of---something---so---simple.---I---explained---to---him---that---they---lit---up---when---near---mana---and---that---he---would---need---to---focus---his---mana---into---both---hands---at---the---same---time.
After---explaining,---I---left---him---and---went---to---grab---something---to---eat.
When---I---came---back,---he---had---both---crystals---glowing.
I---was---flabbergasted---considering---it---takes---the---average---student---a---week---to---learn---to---manipulate---mana---separately.
And---he---did---it---in---less---than---an---hour.
After---that---display,---I---started---showing---him---better---ways---of---control,---of---thought,---of---practice,---quickly---becoming---mesmerized---by---his---rather---quick---learning---and---surprisingly---exceptionally---large---mana---pool.
If---I---had---not---misplaced---my---staff---of---[Analyze],---I---would---have---immediately---checked---to---see---if---the---young---man---had---gained---any---levels---in---the---[Mage]---class,---for---surely---he---had---the---class.
After---several---hours,---he---thanked---me---and---left---a---bag---on---my---table,---telling---me---he---will---be---back---for---more---training.
Granted,---since---he---was---a---good---student---and---a---friend---of---Brock’s,---I---would---have---waived---the---fee,---but---he---left---the---bag,---telling---me---I---deserve---it.
It---was---only---when---I---opened---the---bag---did---I---think---something---was---extremely---wrong.---The---bag---contained---an---entire---months---pay…---for---an---entire---class---of---students.
After---he---left,---I---got---in---touch---with---several---individuals---I---know,---paid---some---coin,---and---found---out---that---the---person---who---I---had---been---teaching---was---actually---one---of---the---summoned---[Heroes].
“I---did---it!”---Franky---calls---out,---face---covered---in---sweat,---looking---into---the---air,---the---location---that---his---mana---is---probably---at.
A---month.---It---takes---a---month---for---the---average---student---to---even---attempt---to---make---even---an---outline---of---a---shape,---let---alone---a---complete---one.
Franky---shakily---grabs---the---staff,---a---smile---on---his---face,---similar---to---a---child---after---he---completes---something---difficult.
“Franky,”---I---call---out.
He---stops---and---turns---his---head---to---me.
“Avoid---training---when---you---have---low---mana.---Low---mana---will---muffle---your---head,---making---it---difficult---to---learn.”
He---frowns,”---and---what---should---I---do---in---the---meantime.”
Most---people---would---be---happy---with---a---break,---but---not---you.
“Release---a---bit---of---mana---and---circulate---it---through---your---body---like---I---explained---the---last---time---you---were---here.---This---will---help---you---call---on---your---mana---quickly---and---allow---you---to---cast---faster.”
He---nods,---closing---his---eyes---and---doing---just---that.
Seventeen---levels---in---three---days.---[Heroes]---truly---are---amazing.
I---shake---my---head,---my---thoughts---changing---to---the---church---and---on---what---they---will---do---once---they---find---out---they---have---lost---sight---of---their---[Hero].
______________
*BOOM*
A---loud---muffled---sound---shakes---the---classroom,---forcing---Franky---to---lose---concentration---of---the---geometric---shape---he---is---attempting---to---make.
The---runes---on---the---wall---glow,---protecting---the---stone---from---cracking.
“What---was---that!”---he---says,---turning---towards---Matilda---who---complicated---look---on---her---face.
“I---think---our---training---session---today---has---come---to---an---end.---It---would---be---best---for---you---to---head---home---and---come---back---on---another---day.”
Confused,---Franky---nods---and---stands---up---shakily,---sitting---for---several---hours---had---caused---his---legs---to---fall---asleep.
Leaving---the---staff---and---coin---behind,---Franky---walks---to---the---door,---unlatching---the---lock---and---opening---to---it.
“Oh,---and---Franky.”
I---turn,---looking---at---Matilda---as---she---stands---over---a---table---with---various---items---and---papers---scattered---about,”---Continue---your---mental---exercises.---A---good---foundation---is---key---to---using---spells---properly.”
He---nods---and---closes---the---door---behind,---thoughts---focusing---on---the---loud---sound---that---had---emanated---from---above.
Walking---towards---the---stairs,---Franky---mentally---calls---up---his---stats.
Franky---Sasco
Level---22---Warrior
Level---09---Hero
Level---23---Mage
Minor---Mana---Sense
Flickering---Strike
Flash---Fire
Defensive---Instincts.
Analyze
Strength
18
Dexterity
14
Stamina
22
Perception
32
Endurance
13
Vitality
107
Mana
281
M/regen
1.1
Affinity
7
Intelligence
48
Willpower
450
Soul
320
He---had---gained---six---levels---in---the---mage---class---after---only---a---couple---hours---of---training,---which---had---increased---his---mana---reserves---by…---six.
Which,---from---what---he---understands,---is---normal.---What---isn't---normal---is---that---a---mage---around---his---level---might---have---only---a---hundred---mana---at---most---and---a---mana---regen---of---a---significantly---lower---amount.
The---only---thing---that---upsets---Franky---is---that---he---did---not---gain---any---skills---when---he---hit---level---twenty---in---the---class.---He---had---been---told---that---most---people---gain---a---skill---every---ten---levels,---but---it---doesn't---happen---always.
Sighing,---Franky---walks---up---the---stairs,---finding---himself---in---the---lobby,---watching---as---every---diver---now---huddles---at---the---window,---watching---outside---the---guild---building.
Confused,---Franky---moves---towards---a---window---that---is---seemingly---open---and---is---greeted---with---a---rather---amazing---sight.
Several---men---with---the---church’s---insignia---stand---before---the---building.---Over---twenty---of---them.---A---couple---of---them---are---in---robes---while---the---majority---are---in---shining---gold---armor,---signifying---them---as---[Paladins],---one---of---the---most---powerful---classes---the---church---has---to---offer,---each---requiring---a---level---of---at---least---one---hundred---to---obtain.
Such---a---sight---would---normally---cause---awe---and---fear,---making---entire---armies---shake---in---their---boots.
But---instead,---fear---can---be---seen---through---the---holes---of---the---[paladin]s---helmets---as---they---take---on---a---defensive---posture,---shields---pointed---towards---an---individual.
A---woman---with---long---flowing---red---hair,---covered---in---leather---armor---with---several---enchanted---items---on---her---person---and---a---beautifully---crafted---spear---on---her---back.---She---stands---on---cracked---stone,---her---arms---folded---as---she---glares---menacingly---towards---the---churchmen.
She---opens---her---mouth.
“Leave!”---she---says---one---word.
Not---even---a---moment---later,---a---feeling---of---power---settles---on---Franky’s---consciousness---as---his---body---heats---up,---throat---starting---to---feel---dry---as---a---status---effect---forms---into---view.
You---are---under---the---effect---of---[Scorching---Ground]
You---are---172%---more---susceptible---to---being---set---on---fire.
Chapter---Seventeen:---The---makings---of---a---true---HERO.
Sweat---starts---to---quickly---form---down---Franky’s---face---as---his---body---temperature---increases,---the---area---around---the---woman---increasing---in---intensity,---even---the---air,---which---was---a---nice---cool---temperature---is---starting---to---feel---like---an---oven.
Wiping---the---sweat---from---his---face,---Franky---leans---forwards,---watching---as---the---lead---robed---individual---takes---a---step---forward,---his---robe---signifying---him---as---an---[Inquisitor]---of---the---church---of---Odin.
“I---am---[Inquisitor]---Joseph---and---I---demand---you---step---aside,---we---have---business---inside---the---divers---guild.”
Though---his---posture---is---steady,---Franky---notices---the---rather---large---number---of---droplets---of---sweat---pouring---down---his---face.
The---women---lifts---an---eyebrow,---looking---at---Joseph---as---one---would---an---annoying---insect.
“The---[Guild---Mistress]---has---left---for---a---meeting---and---will---not---return---for---another---week.---I---have---been---entrusted---to---make---decisions---in---her---place---for---the---time---being.”
She---frowns,---looking---at---the---sweating---man,”---and---I---decide---you---and---your---people---will---not---be---entering---the---guild…---Now---leave.”
The---[Inquisitor]’s---face---takes---on---an---even---darker---shade---of---red---as---he---attempts---to---control---his---anger.---His---hands---form---into---fists---as---he---looks---at---the---women---who---just---stares---at---them,---unmoving---and---appearing---bored.
___
Confused---at---the---reason---why---the---church---is---defensive,---Franky---whispers---and---activates---his---[Analyse]---skill---on---Joseph---and---then---the---women---with---the---fiery---red---hair.
Joseph---Selenos.
Level---137---[Inquisitor].
Level---57---[Noble]
One---of---the---higher---leveled---inquisitors---of---the---church---of---Odin,---he---left---his---noble---family---at---a---young---age,---quickly---rising---the---ranks---in---the---church,---becoming---a---force---to---be---reckoned---and---respected.
Calidi---Flammenwerfer,---the---Scorching---Star
Level---217---[Lancer---Archmage]
Level---189---[Magmamancer]
One---of---the---most---powerful---individuals---in---existence.---Calidi---had---gained---the---title---of---Scorching---Star---after---jumping---several---thousand---meters---into---the---air,---mimicking---a---star,---and---then---landing---upon---a---Wyvern---nest,---turning---the---entire---area---into---a---molten---wasteland.
Frankie's---eyes---widen---at---the---realization---that---their---fear---is---completely---warranted,---especially---considering---the---sheer---devastation---this---woman---can---do---to---the---entire---city.
“We---will---not---leave.---I---have---orders---to---enter---and---retrieve---a---certain---individual,”---he---moves---his---hand---to---his---side,---opening---an---enchanted---pouch,---taking---out---a---long---slender---staff.”---And---I---will---get---into---that---guild---one---way---or---another.”
At---those---words,---the---Paladin's---unsheathe---their---swords,---the---heat---lessening---off---their---bodies,---but---still---not---completely---gone---as---the---[Inquisitors]---aura---attempts---to---protect---them.
“Shit,”---Franky---curses,---quickly---taking---off---his---robe,---a---heavy---thing---considering---the---protective---metal---within.---Immediately---turning---it---inside---out,---the---crest---of---Odin’s---[Inquisitor]---is---revealed,---an---eight-pointed---star---with---an---eye---in---the---middle.
Putting---it---back---on,---Franky---runs---towards---the---door,---taking---a---deep---breath---before---opening---it,---hoping---his---acting---classes---will---come---useful.
_____
Joseph---sends---his---mana---through---his---body,---preparing---it---to---cast---his---spell---and---skill.---His---staff---glowing---softly---in---response,---awaiting---his---call---for---it---to---activate---the---powerful---dormant---ability---within.
The---sound---of---his---paladins---unsheathing---their---swords---brings---him---some---confidence,---hoping---that---they---would---be---able---to---stop---Calidi---with---their---defensive---skills---before---he---can---attempt---to---bring---her---down.---Overall,---Joseph---has---little---confidence---in---himself---and---his---men's---ability---to---defeat---her,---but---he---has---been---tasked---to---retrieve---the---[Hero],---a---sacrifice---he---is---willing---to---make---for---the---church.
And---then---the---doors---open,---a---young---man---walks---out,---the---mark---of---Odin’s---[Inquisitor]s---on---his---chest.
With---seemingly---strength---and---courage,---the---young---man---walks---forward,---an---angry---scowl---across---his---face---as---he---makes---his---way---towards---them,---sweat---clearly---present,---but---seemingly---ignored.