Chapter 1 - Prologue (Part 3)

Jotoheim of Canines is not a big city. But, it had three Yggdrasil trees at three different locations. The most enormous Yggdrasil tree was in the north, where their Master, Aldrich Goodwill’s school, was located.

Unlike Halmsay, which is a replica of a city on a snowy mountain, Chanines was a city with a peaceful rural feel. It was a relief to breathe warm air with a bit of the taste of autumn. That is until the two reach the gates and are again examined at the front gate.

One of the guards, who was checking their sub-spatial storage, frowned when he noticed that Shion's house-sized sub-spatial storage was loaded heavily. And it was almost complete. There must be something big inside. “You guys brought something in the sub-spatial storage?”

Shion nodded. He looked around. “Back off a bit.”

The guards looked at each other, a wry look painted on their faces.

Even though they’re from the same city and know each other, there is this distinct discrimination against those who learn under Aldrich. These guards all graduated from social schools where those rich people could only pay the fees. It’s common for them to bring every small matter they see fit to Aldrich's pupils because they think they're superior to them.

“You’re ordering me? Huh, getting a big head because you're one of Aldrich’s students?” one of the guards stepped forward and puffed out his chest. He was clearly trying to look intimidating in front of the two teenagers who were way under his age.

“We graduated earlier than you guys from the social academy! We’re nobles who pay off our tuition, unlike you rascals!”

“Even though you are Aldrich’s students, you can’t carry that much stuff without telling us what’s in it.”

Shishio let out an exasperated sigh. These guys are unreasonable as always, he thought. “He just asked you to back off. No one said we won’t show what’s inside our bags.”

“What do you mean, telling us to back off? What did you bring?” One of them pipped in, suspicious.

“The size is big. If I let it out now, right here, you’ll be pushed by it and harmed,” still, Shion explained without hurry. He is as calm as ever. However, the guards didn't believe him even with such polite and harmless mannerisms.

“Trying to fool us, now?”

“Hah! Get it out first, brat, and we'll see how big your luggage is!”

Shishio snorted at the side. He didn't share the worry that Shion felt towards these bastards. “Just let them see for themselves.”

Shion shook his head. “They will get hurt.”

“Don’t be pretentious! Get it out quickly, I say!”

Shishio had enough. He battled a whole pack of Hyewolfs and almost went to the afterlife, so he couldn’t stand to see the guards’ cocky behavior. He snatched the sub-spatial storage from Shion’s hands, and before Shion could grab it back, he had already taken out its contents.

Ba-dum!!!

Three guards were blown away a few meters from where they initially stood. Shishio laughed mockingly beside him, feeling utter satisfaction; meanwhile, Shion just shook his head at Shishio's behavior.

The commotion sparked even more chaos and drew almost all the guards to rally at the commotion site. Though, they were not there to help the poor guards who were blown away. Instead, they circled the content of Shion’s sub-spatial storage.

“Whoa! Is that a Hyewolf?!”

“And there are three of them!”

“You-both of you killed them?! How could that be!?” “They’re Sir Aldrich’s students, you idiots!”

It took a little longer for the guards to let Shion and Shishio go off finally. They’re still bickering about how two boys could annihilate the entire pack of Hyewolfs when it takes a dozen of the bravest men to fight even just one. It was already late when they arrived at the foot of the Yggdrasil tree’s hill.

Their Master, Aldrich, has no home. The Chief of Jotoheim gave him a plot of land at the foot of the Yggdrasil tree’s hill, and he built a school there. There was an

official school for training future Rune Masters in Chanines, but nothing is free like many things in this world. In fact, the tuition for attending school can only be paid by those with a high social position and a lot of money. However, Aldrich built the school with his funds and taught the children who came what he knew. Because of that, people call it Aldrichemster or Aldrich’s School.

Although people didn’t need to spend a penny to be taught there, the lessons from Aldrich were not something that most people could handle. The training is challenging and rigorous, and Aldrich is infamous for not being the most patient person. Thus, more people quit than those who continue. Shishio would know this; he was one of the veteran pupils.

When Shion and Shishio arrived at the Aldrichemster, the lights were dim, and almost everyone was asleep.

Everyone, of course, except their Master.

Aldrich was a man in his mid-fifty, but his physique was like a man half his age. Apart from the faint lines on his face and the strands of white hair that were contrasted with his black hair, he looked like a young man with a fit body. He was almost two meters tall and was said to be the mightiest warrior. However, not everyone knew the truth that Aldrich was so frail inside. One step outside the protection of the Yggdrasil tree was enough to kill him, and he needed to rely on medical herbs to maintain his strength and health.

Aldrich is standing on the open land that used to be a training ground. He walked toward Shion and Shishio and welcomed them.

“Master, we’re back,” they announced in unison.

Aldrich nodded. “I see that you made a commotion at the city's front gate,” he said, ever so knowingly. His eyes were sharp, and it felt like he knew when someone was trying to lie to him.

Shishio looked sheepish as he scratched the back of his head. Meanwhile, Shion admitted wholeheartedly. “Yes. They refused to back off when they inspected my sub-spatial storage,” Shion said. “We fought a pack of Hyewolfs on our way back and brought them here. I thought one of them, the pack’s leader, wasn’t an ordinary Hyewolf. We think he had an owner and was highly intelligent.”

The news made Aldrich slightly stiff, somehow. It was only a fraction of a second, but both Shion and Shishio caught it and wondered what the strange reaction meant.

Aldrich turned his body and walked downstairs. “You shall show me.”

Shion and Aldrich went to follow in their Master’s footsteps. They headed to the school's basement that Aldrich sealed, and when they were inside, he sealed the entrance so no one would enter. With a light swish of his hand, the lights in the basement were turned on. They walked down the long corridor until they reached one of the largest rooms to hold the entire pack of the Hyewolfs that Shion and Shishio caught, maybe more.

When they were inspected at the front gate, Shishio purposely didn’t take out the pack’s leader. Evidently, it differed from the other Hyewolfs, and they guessed right. Aldrich inspected the stone that was planted on Hyewolf’s forehead. He touched it to gain some information from them, but he retracted his hand so quickly as if he had touched fire.

Aldrich’s face grew solemn afterward.

“Master?” Shishio was worried. He never saw his Master this troubled before.

“Do you know something about this Hyewolf, Master?” Shion asked carefully.

Their Master took a long time to ponder. After a moment of unbearable silence, Aldrich turned toward his pupils. He already schooled his expression with nothing to give away. It only made both of them worried evermore.

“Shion,” he called.

“Yes, Master.”

“Tomorrow, you must go and begin your journey to find The Glaive.”

The sudden announcement made both of them startled. Shishio looked at Shion, who didn’t see it coming, and then looked back to his Master. Aldrich never jokes even more in this situation.

They knew that the day Shion would come, but not like this. Not this sudden.

Despite that, Shion was raised as a good pupil. Whatever his Master says, he obeys.

Kneeling on one knee, he bowed to his Master. “I will, Master!”

“You may stand.”

Shion got up from his position.

“I heard that someone spotted The Soaring Dragon's Smith in Jotoheim of Magnamius. You should go there and meet Palmlion,” Aldrich instructed.

Shion bowed respectfully. “I will make sure to do as you instructed.”

Shishio looked at his Master, waiting for the moment to speak. “Am I going as well, Master?” he asked with a sliver of hope in his heart, hoping to prove his worth. However, he instantly knew one glance from his Master that he had overestimated himself. He lowered his head and took a step back.

“You’re not ready yet, Shishio,” Aldrich said in a factual tone. “But, you might catch up if you train hard. A few more years.”

Shishio clenched his fists at his sides, too embarrassed and angry at himself. “I will train as hard as I can,” he promised. Afterward, he sensed that his presence was longer needed and started to walk out. “I will go. Excuse me.”

With that, Shishio backed off and slid out of the room, leaving Aldrich and Shion alone.

Aldrich took two things from his sub-spatial storage that rested in the ring on his left hand. He handed them to Shion. “These will be my parting gifts for you.”

Shion accepted them. “I will never forget Master’s hospitality and will never disappoint you.”

“Remember, if you look for The Glaive, there will be a lot of people who will chase you. Not everyone wants the same future as us. They’re people who take advantage of these situations for their benefit,” Aldrich warned him. “And when there’s no one else you can rely on, weapons can become one of your best friends.”

Aldrich revealed the first thing he gave to Shion. It was wrapped in a white cloth, and Aldrich took it off. It was a billet, like a stone with an uneven surface.

“Your first task is to take this billet to The Soaring Dragon’s Smith. They’ll turn this billet into whatever weapon you desire. And from that, your journey would begin.”

Shion took the billet and put it in his sub-spatial storage. And then, Aldrich turned to the second item, a mysterious steel box. “And this,” he said. “You must protect it at all cost, as it will guide you to find The Glaive. If you lose it, so is half your hope to find The Glaive.”

Shion eyed the mysterious box in his hand.

“There will be a time when you know what's inside, but it’s unnecessary now.” Shion understood. “Thank you, Master. I will protect it with all my power.”

TO BE CONTINUED...

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