Eagrosa William was a beautiful Beastkin, her lion heritage was most prominent in her facial structure, she wore a tight fitting High plunge split dress that was a solid green that showed off her muscular figure.She enjoyed showing off her lion fur and was happy to display it now. Eagrosa was sitting in a luxury lounge located on Xulun space station. The lounge was fairly small with only enough room for a few plush velvet chairs that faced a massive window overlooking Alneses with its lush green plains and large mountains ranges that accumulated into a large amount of. There was a long table used to set food for catering. Eagrosa watched as her husband Will William was grabbing an assorted plate of food for her and himself. Will William was a human with no practical magic ability. That wasn't to say he couldn't use magic. He had an elemental affinity for fire and he could use it well as he often did in his research however years of neglect has caused his mana reservoir to atrophy preventing him from gaining any more power.Eagrosa was fine with this and loved him all the move she loves his thin and blanket frame, his bottle lens glasses and the patchy beard he always tried to grow. He was her brains and she was his brawns. Eagrosa herself had long ago achieved elemental affinity and as a result her body was changed and she nodded longer aged in the typical sense. She knew she would essentially stay the same while her husband aged and died and that was something she wasn't prepared for.

  “Credchip for your thoughts, my love?” Will walked up balancing 5 plates along his forearm and skillfully sliding them down onto the table that was set between the chairs. Eagrosa grabbed a deviled egg from one of the trays and ate it.

  “Valder granddaughter made it back alive.” Eagrosa said.

  “That's good!” Will exclaimed excitedly “ I was worried that our son would have an easy time at the tournament but now I'm confident he will have a great time.” Eagrosa nodded agreeing with her husband.

  “ I am happy she's alive. Our two schools have been rivals for a while but that doesn't mean I wish misfortune on Valder's descendents. But that's not what has me concerned. Her teammate this Rin Wezts I did some research on him and uncovered a startling fact.” Her husband in response took a chicken wing and started eating it, nodding at her to continue. Despite the high society they both grew up in, one of the pleasures they enjoyed together was being able to eat without manners around one another.

  “ Valder placed him into his granddaughter's team a week after his eighteenth birthday.”

  “That isn't so weird. He could have been trained from birth to work with her like ket and our son.”

  “ Yes, however this Wezts grew up in the blocks. He is not from some noble lineage. I have Arther meeting us today to inform us of any context he can dig up.”

  “ And here I was thinking we were just having a wonderful date.” Will said with a smile. The husband and wife duo continued eating, clearing each plate with a steady pace. Eventually the only door into their room opened with the hiss of pneumatic Pistons.

  Arther was a dwarf dressed in dark brown slacks and a nice polo shirt that was neatly tucked into his pants accentuating his guy. He had no beard in the typical dwarf fashion as he kept it nice and tight.

  “My sir and lady William it is a pleasure to be in your presence today.” His voice had a very distinct accent with his rhotic pronunciation of certain vowels. Eagrosa gave Father a smile and held out her hand allowing her familiar to seep from her skin a coil around her arm. Eagrosa was unique in her use of familiars. Something every person who dedicated time and effort to improving their magic would find out sooner or later was aptitude. Even though every known living creature could have multiple elemental affinity that didn't mean that they had the aptitude to perform every feat magic was capable of.Certain magical categories were harder for some than others. Healing magic was one example: yes everyone could perform basic healing with the correct elemental combination and rituals but for some unknown reason despite all the countless hours and millions of credits dedicated to research the magic administration was never able to come to a conclusive conclusion. The same went for summoning magic. Forming an entity from pure mana was typically a long and grueling task for those without the aptitude for it; however , for Eagrosa it was as easy as breathing as she kept her familiars inside her body housing a different one in each mana reservoir she had. The summoned familiar she held now was an abyssal snake deep red scales that moved down its body slowly turning pink ending in a second head, a useful prop for intimidation.

  “ In the last couple of days I have conducted an investigation into the man you inquired about. And found a few useful bits of information. All of it was mostly speculation really but it seemed to be the most plosable explanation for Valder's actions.” Arther glanced at the Eagrosa familiar. He had worked with the Williams a number of times and knew Mrs.Williams propensity for violence and fits a rage. Arther coughed to clear his throat and continued speaking.

  “ In a display of power Mr.Wezts perform a small demonstration to Mr.Hunst on their Academy grounds. During that display he showed his ability to cast all four elements in quick succession albeit with the assistance of a magical tool he performed these casting without incantations.”

  “ So he has already achieved qued affinity? That is special. Rare but not unheard of.” Eagrosa said.

  “ Yes my lady. We have had a hard time locating him after Mr.Hunst granddaughter and her team returned from the rift however I have managed to get a few eyewitness accounts of Valder spiriting them away in a speed bubble.”

  “That's some unique magic.” Will said he rubbed his chin smoothing over his sparse and patchy beard.

  “Keep looking into this boy. I want to know anything you can find out. Valder seems to have a vested interest in him and I want to know why.” Eagrosa snake familiar slithered its way up and around her neck bopping its flat triangle head against her cheek. She lifted up her wrist to access her bracelet, a simple looking silver chained bracelet with a long and thin metal rod that laid on top of the hand. The bracelet was anything but simple, however the perfect melding of magic and technology using a series of complex spells that interwove into a magical circuit board along with complex metallurgy to produce a metal with dimensional storage properties artificers were able to produce a bracelet capable of storing the contents of a studio apartment. It was expensive, one bracelet normally costing more than a luxury space craft.With a simple push of her aura into the bracelet began to glow a bright gold and then a small window appeared. She scrolled through the selection and picked out something. The bracelet produced a small mouse. She tossed it into the air where her familiar snatched it away devouring it.

  For Rin the time spent at Valder villa before the tournament was relaxing. Everyday was nearly the same lessons with Alverez in the morning and training with Douge, Sophia, and Liliandra around lunch. They would start with a cardio heavy work out before moving to weight training. The villa had an expansive weight with weight ranging from five pounds to the upper thousand easily accommodating those with enhanced ability. Once Douge and Sophia felt Rin was competent in the basic sword skills they began training him in the various forms. Douge wasn't a master with the earth stance however he has been training in it for as long as he could hold a blade. Earth stance was a defensive form set with wide stances to take heavy blows the basic kata for earth form was grand sweeping motions with the blade as you squatted maintaining core strength. Douge and Rin would move from one side of the inner garden to the other as they performed it. Occasionally Sophia and Liliandra would join them, Liliandra having a hard time maintaining proper form.

  “Come on Lili it's really not that hard to get.” Douge had said as she was on the ground having fallen over after losing balance.

  “No it isn't my father trained me in Wind stance which opposes earth stance on a fundamental level.” Liliandra said.

  “ Bahh wind stance is just easy is all.”

  “ Oh yeah then why don't you join Rin,Sophia, and I when we practice"

  “ Maybe I will and when I'm proven right I get your share of that cake Rin is baking right now.”

  “Deal. But when you struggle like I do I want an apology and your cake.”

  “Deal “

  Liliandra took them all through the basic kata for wind stance Sophia was already well practiced and had no problems. As the earth stance was ridged and unmoving the wind stance was flexible and quick. Despite the difference in the weapons they used each stance had a kata that could still be performed with only slight deviations. Liliandra used her staff while Sophia and Douge both used a long sword. Rin held Malice with a stick slide down the barrel to simulate a blade. Douge struggled to stay up right as his feet tripped over themselves again and again eventually causing him to topple over into Rin and the two of them fell to the ground.

  “ Looks like Douge lost his share of the cake.” Sophia said while laughing and helping the two of them up

  “ If he doesn't get cake , can I get some?” A new yet familiar voice spoke out, all four of them turned to see Kenji standing at the edge of the garden still inside the Pagoda Valder was behind him.

  “Kenji?” Douge asked. “ I'm so.” Rin placed a hand on Douge's shoulder giving him a look that told him to wait.

  “ Why don't we all go upstairs? The cake should be done soon anyways.” Rin said his voice monotone beside a small strain that the three of them all understood. They nodded and left, leaving Valder, Kenji, and Rin alone.

  [Sophia take the cake out when the timer beeps, and don't let Douge anywhere near it and pull the frosting from the fridge.] Rin used his interface to message Sophia

  “ Took you a while to bring him over.” Rin said, walking up to them.

  “ I'm a busy man and you're not going anywhere until the tournament starts up so I had time.” Valder replied “ I will be leaving.” He turned to walk away then paused. “ Rin, don't tell the others what I'm about to tell you.”

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  “ Then why tell me.”

  “ You need to know. I don't know if you see it but I have. In the short time the four of you have been back, the others look to you like a leader. I know on paper my granddaughter is the party leader but even she glances to you before making a decision and that simple fact makes you responsible for this information.” Rin glanced at Kenji who was still just standing there and with a start he jumped as realization dawned on his face he turned and plugged his ears with his fingers. Whistling a short tune.

  “ The archbishop of judgment is being flown into Xulun to hunt you four down. The church knows you're in the city, they just don't know where and with the arrival of the archbishop others under his command are arriving ones that specialize in tracking demonic mana, the same kind of mana that has not left your scent.”

  “ And what do you want me to do about that?”

  “ Be cautious about your foray into the city proper.” Rin openly cringed at Valders casual mention of their trip into the city.

  “ You knew?”

  “ Of course I knew Alverez told me as soon as you asked him for help.” Rin groaned in response and then nodded

  “ Okay.” And with that Valder walked away

  Kenji sat on one of the arm chairs in the suit the team was using Douge sat in the seat directly opposite of him. Douge was looking down ashamed but no words had crossed between the two of them. Liliandra was sitting against the couch, her butt firmly planted on the lush carpet floor as she read on her tablet. Sophia and Rin were in the kitchen getting the cake ready. They worked together to apply frosting and small candy pearls made of chocolate. Rin had asked Sophia to help because he wanted to ask her why they seemed to trust him so much until Valder hadn't mentioned it. Rin hadn't noticed them looking towards him for guidance and he was curious as to why they did especially after everything they knew but he remained silent, deciding against asking her. Bringing a plate out for everyone one beside Douge once everyone one had there plates he took a seat next to Kenji.

  “ Did you really bake this Rin?” Kenji was marveling at the cake pushing his fork into the soft spongy texture.

  “ I did and I'm gonna be making pho for dinner tonight. I could use your expertise. you know your family owning a restaurant and all.” Rin said

  “ I'm a Japanese man, Pho Vietnamese.” Kenji replied.

  “ And? I saw it on your family menu.”

  “Wait who is this and why haven't we gone to his family restaurant Rin.” Liliandra spoke looking up from her tablet.

  “If you would stop reading your fanfic Lili you would have heard him introduce himself.” Douge said. And Liliandra scoffed in mock offence.

  “ What I read is my business.” She laid the tablet face down on the floor.

  “ Lili if two men.” Rin had started before Liliandra started making random noises, everyone besides Kenji paused watching her and broke out into laughter.

  “ Uhh did I miss something?” Kenji asked.

  “ No, I guess it's an inside joke.--- Kenji Dougelee has something he wants to say before I talk to you about Alverez.” Douge perked up at the mention of his name

  “ Yeah I wanted to apologize for my brother's and I out behavior was The coming of someone of our name or general kindness.” Douge offered his hand for Kenji “ will you accept my apology?” Kenji took it and nodded.

  “ I do from you anyways your brothers are another story Dougelee.”

  “ I heard they got worse right?”

  “ They have.” Kenji nodded. “ Before it was only a few people you three targeted but now they harass anyone. They have even sent people to medical they blame it on your Rin.”

  This statement made Rin's blood boil as he looked at Douge. Douge's face was much what Rin felt like his expression should be anger and disappointment all rolled into one complex expression.

  “ They have.” Rin stood up, giving his slice of cake that he had yet to touch to Douge placing a hand on his shoulder. Rin's anger slowly cooled down as he saw his friend in what he assumed was emotional pain.

  “ It's okay Douge your back and can bring them back into line in a few weeks once we go back to the academy.” Rin said.

  “ You're right. I just need to be patient. I said my piece thank you Rin.” Douge took the cake and despite his anger started digging in groaning in pleasure at the flavor. Rin to do Kenji.

  “ Kenji, why did you want to wait for my opinion? I have only really known you for a week. That's not enough time to value my opinion so highly.”

  “That's true but the real reason was the trust you gave me by telling me of your. Umm condition.” Kenji said, his eyes skirting around to the others in the room.

  “We know about Rin's ability to use magic. Turns out some things are harder to hide when you're fighting for your life in an astral dungeon.” Sophia said.

  “ Oh. Well that's why I value what you say you brought me into a deep secret even though you barely knew me and I wanted to show you the respect I had for that, “ Kenji said. Rin nodded his understanding, Rin took Kenji's hand and pushed his aura onto his own prompting a window to appear.

  [Would you like to give Kenji Iwatani access privileges? Yes. No.] Rin mentally clicked yes, quickly sending Kenji a party invite. Rin had maintained the party Interface with Douge, Liliandra, and Sophia while they stayed in Valders villa and now Kenji was added. Rin curious looked at kenji's stats.

  [Kenji Iwatani]

  [Race:Humen]

  [Level:11]

  [Stats: Strength:8 Constitution: 6 Dexterity: 14 Intelligence: 18 Wisdom:18 spirt:8]

  [Elemental affinity: Fire: Wisdom]

  [Skills: None]

  Rin frowned, looking at Kenji's stats, how could there be such a large disparity to his understanding, Kenji was around the same age as Douge, Liliandra, and Sophia all a year older than himself despite all his time in the Academy training. How could he have such a lower level compared to them? Kenji himself appeared to be excitedly scrolling through his new interface window.

  “ Wow, is this how you see the world? It's amazing and I'm already level eleven. I'm a lot stronger than I thought I was. Rin shared a look with everyone else as he restricted Kenji's access to view others' stats . He didn't want to dampen his excitement and there were a few secrets they wished to hide from him anyways.

  “ I think you should go work for Alverez drop out from the academy and join the magic administration.” Rin said

  “ I was already thinking about that but I still want to become an adventurer. I want to explore the cosmos finding new and rare materials. Crafting overtly powerful magic items. It's a dream.” Kenji said.

  “ That's still possible for you to do. A lot of members have dual membership with the adventures administration and the magic administration and dropping out of the academy to immediately join the magic administration will help you in the long run. Once you feel ready, you can take the adventurers administration's test and become a certified adventurer.” Sophia said “ Alverez has dual membership. In fact, he's in a team with my grandfather.”

  “ That is true. Would you four be willing to allow me onto your team? The team I had for our assignment didn't really mesh well with my capabilities.” Kenji said everyone remained silent. They knew the power disparity that he now had to them and the dangers they faced and will face soon to come. Weren't suited for someone like him. It didn't go unnoticed too Rin but the rest of the team was looking at him for the decision.

  “ Yes I would like to have another friend on the team. “ Kenji's eyes lit up. “BUT on one condition. Everyone here besides me. Obviously I can't cast magic. Can perform chantless incantations. For more than one or two spells I'd like you to be able to do the same.”

  “ Oh.” Kenji's face drops slightly “ I'm not sure where to even begin on that.”

  “ We just need to find your specialty, Kenji. Each of us has grown into our own special role Douge is our tank and his skills and attitude for magic has reflected that Lili is our healer and despite still only having one elemental affinity. She's able to perform complex magical rituals in the middle of a fight to provide healing. I know this hasn't been explained in the academy but not everybody is suited for all types of magic. We each have an aptitude for what we're best at and all the other stuff comes in at a much higher cost. I'm willing to bet you have an aptitude for some kind of magic. We just need to find what it is.” Sophia said “ I'll talk to grandfather to see if you can stay here with us and you can train. We only have a little while till the tournament. But I think you should compete in it too. Despite the small amount of time. I'm sure you can see large leaps in your ability.”

  Rin and his team talked with Kenji trying to figure out what skills he could leverage to utilize his magic to its fullest. They were back in the inner gardens picking up on the wind stance kata Douge having admitted that it wasn't for him decided to train Kenji in basic swordsmen ship just as he had with Rin. Kenji was himself already an adequately trained swordsman but Douge wanted to get an understanding of his current abilities Without the proper information, he was afraid the efficacy of his training would be dulled.

  “ So Kenji you helped develop Rin's magic tool?” Sophia's voice was strained as she slowly and methodically moved from one position to another. Douge was relentless in his assault, not letting Kenji have a moment as their wooden blades clashed.

  “ Yes.It.was.a combination of.Rins interface—ouch– letting me know. The mixture.was.wrong–fuck– and. My years of studying.” Douge had landed quite a number of good hits as Kenji spoke.

  “ With the discovery and ability to infuse metal with magic, that opens a world of possibilities and I think mining operations of magical metal might suffer, but I think it'll be better overall.” Liliandra said. Her father for all his reverence of the gods still sought money power which is what put him in the kingly position he held today. His mining operations dug into the mountains in search of deep magical veins that produce magic variants of all kinds of metallic ores.

  “ Yes but I haven't. Released it yet.”

  “ Kenji instead of talking about how you try to land one hit on me.” Douge said as he parryed an attack from Kenji. After a few more minutes of torment Kenji bowed out. He walked over to a concrete bench to catch his breath.

  “Your basics are fine but they're all clearly book smarts so we're gonna keep working at it.” Douge sat next to Kenji and waved to Rin and without words Rin pulled a bottle of water out of his inventory and tossed it over.

  “ I don't know Dougelee.”

  “ Call me Douge.”

  “ Iv tried spell casting and swordplay iv learned the basics of them all but none I've been able to get good at. I don't have enough control to properly form spells from my fire affinity.”

  “ Maybe you need a focus. One of my uncles, Hector specializes in the use of golems. He creates their bodies and embeds them with his mana. He typically does all that in a few moments but maybe you can craft yourself a golem that you can control with your own mana. Eventually after the practice and use of your mana you'll be able to cast spells like fireball or flamethrower. I'm still working on that one myself. I can get the fire to spray out but it's uncontrollable, too hot and burns through my mana reservoirs way too fast.”

  “That's a bad pun, man.”

  Rin having just finished the wind stance, Kata overheard Douge and Kenji and decided he wanted to get in on some bad puns.

  “ You guys telling some bad puns? Well I got some that will explode….” At that moment Rin was engulfed in a plum of fire and smoke as something below exploded.