25 [ Rising Ascendants 1 ]
Entering the bustling Ruonar Adventure Guild, the man with a sword scabbard on his waist queried, "Why's this place so crowded lately?" His partner, a young girl with a bow on her back, replied.
"Haven't you heard? The Ruonar Guild's Rising Ascendants Program started, and lots of young ones are signing up. This year, there are twice as many participants as last year."
"Oh, I had completely forgotten about it!"
The man mused, "I wish they had programs like that when I was young. I'd have shown off my talents and had all the Kiven Kingdom academies begging for me to join."
His partner teased, "Maybe prove yourself first by reaching B-Rank Adventurer."
"Hey~ Anyway…"
Changing the subject, he mentioned her possible role as a mentor in the program. The girl, however, dismissed the idea, saying, "Nah, I'm not keen on handling a bunch of kids, especially the ones with big egos—
Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by excited screams from the table where program registrations were taking place.
They both turned their attention to the source of the commotion, curious about what was causing the uproar.
—What's with the commotion over there?"
…
A few days after that eventful day, Aeren instructed Vanessa and me to visit the Ruonar Guild to obtain her mentor ID cards and my ID cards today. Leno, my other supposed mentor, would be present alongside Gina there too.
I had never met them before, but they are Aeren's colleagues who are still active as adventurers. Excitement brimmed as we stepped into the grand Ruonar Guild.
The guild's interior was an impressive sight to behold. Vast and sprawling, it was adorned with intricate carvings and polished marble floors that reflected the warm glow of the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
The walls were lined with artifacts, and ornate tapestries depicting records of the past adventurers. A sense of prestige lingered in the air, making it clear that this was a place of great significance in the city.
I caught her in the act of stealing a glance at me, Vanessa couldn't help but notice the excitement written all over my face as I took in the guild's interior.
Amused, she remarked, "You're practically beaming with interest, kid."
Chuckling, I responded, "I mean, who wouldn't? This place is quite the sight to behold."
As Vanessa led the way, I couldn't help but marvel at the opulence of the guild. It was a stark contrast to the humble guild in Delrith Town. The bustling activity around us showcased the diversity of adventurers and their quests, creating an atmosphere of shared purpose and camaraderie.
As I followed Vanessa, we headed toward a designated area within the guild. Among other young adventurers who appeared to be around my age, the counter for the Rising Ascendants program stood out prominently.
Amidst the crowd, I spotted my cousin Naera and Uncle Zerec. My uncle seemed engaged in a conversation with two individuals, Leno and Gina. Leno, with his blonde hair and striking golden eyes, had a spear casually slung across his back.
"Gina," I heard Leno's voice, "look who's here." Gina, with her pink hair and captivating scarlet eyes, had a magic wand fastened to her waist.
As Vanessa raised her hand and waved, both Gina and Leno greeted her. Naera and Uncle Zerec noticed my presence and turned their attention in my direction.
"Raul!" Naera exclaimed excitedly, making her way toward me.
"Hi, Naera," I greeted with a wave, slowly approaching her.
At the young age of 7, Naera had managed to fully awaken her mana core. Even though it had only been a year since her awakening, Garen mentioned sensing a substantial amount of mana within her, as though she were meant to become a powerful mage.
In my case, my parents chose to share a slightly altered truth with Uncle Zerec and Aunt Fiona about my early awakening. Instead of revealing that I had awoken at the tender age of 4, they informed them that my awakening had occurred at a later age, 5 years old.
It's generally considered typical for children to awaken their mana around the age of 7. A bit less common is awakening at 6, and it's considered quite rare to awaken at 5.
It sounds like if people were aware that I had awakened at the age of 4, it might have caused more complications and challenges for me.
Hence, Aeren and Viora had given this matter thorough consideration. Initially, I could sense Aeren's apprehension regarding my early awakening, but witnessing Viora's enthusiasm seemed to encourage him to follow her lead.
Aeren might have felt apprehensive about my early awakening due to a few reasons. Firstly, awakening one's mana at such a young age, like 4, could indicate exceptional potential and power. This might have raised concerns about how to handle or harness that power responsibly.
Additionally, this world might have certain norms and expectations around mana awakening ages. My early awakening could have created worries about how others would perceive me or whether I'd face undue pressure to meet high expectations.
Lastly, the unexpectedness of my early awakening might have introduced an element of uncertainty and unpredictability. Aeren might have been concerned about how this could influence my upbringing, education, and future experiences.
Despite any initial concerns, deep down in his heart, Aeren felt a profound sense of pride in my achievements.
I could sense that he took immense pride in everything he had taught me. This sentiment was mirrored by Viora as well.
Abruptly, a roar of excitement echoed from the news board adjacent to the program counter. The crowd that had gathered around it was brimming with enthusiasm and anticipation.
"What's happening over there?" Vanessa asked with curiosity.
"They've posted the Rising Ascendants Party list, and people are excitedly reading it," Gina explained.
"Excited? Why?" Vanessa inquired further.
Leno grinned. "Oh, you see, this year's Rising Ascendants include some major ones. Like Jovier Orsen, the youngest son of Duke Folgier Orsen,"
Whispering to Vanessa, Gina added, "And Madeira Reldan, the eldest daughter of the Reldan Family. Rumor has it they both awakened at age 5!"
"I understand that, but why all the hype? Last year, we also had the eldest son of the Gravor Family. What's different this time?" Vanessa questioned.
Gina and Leno exchanged glances before simultaneously saying, "Go take a look at the party list over there, and you'll get it." They both offered slight smiles.
Vanessa turned to me and asked, "Want to take a look too?" I nodded in agreement, sharing her interest. We maneuvered through the crowd, pushing ourselves to make our way to the board.
First, we searched for our party.
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Party Number: 11
Mentor: Leno Aguso, Gina Jezla, Vanessa Desea
Ascendants:
1)Raul Vuren
2)Naera Vuren
3)Cliff Bervic
4)Sarla River
5)Deni Avir
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As we scanned the list, nothing really grabbed my attention. I didn't recognize any of the other ascendant kids, except for the two names Gina and Leno had mentioned.
Jovier was listed in party number 3, and Madeira was in party number 7.
But later, it soon became clear that it wasn't these kids' parties that were drawing all the attention. Vanessa's gaze, much like mine, settled on a particular party. The shock on her face was evident as she read the name in the party. The reactions of those around us who were also reading the party member were equally stunned.
"Are you serious..." Vanessa murmured in disbelief.
"It's her, right?" A voice emerged from the crowd.
"Absolutely. It's her. The Blade Of The Nesian Elf, The Windwhisper, Seraphina."
Puzzled by the commotion, I turned to Vanessa and asked as we left the crowding space. "Who is she?"
Vanessa's expression turned serious as she responded, "She's one of the historic figures, a living legend. Her name is well-known. Thirty years ago, she achieved something unimaginable."
"What did she do?"
"She single-handedly conquered an A-Rank Dungeon that had defeated numerous parties. An achievement that's considered untouchable."
"What with the sudden? Why is she suddenly showing herself after secluding from the world of adventuring and being a mentor for the Rising Ascendants program?" Vanessa asked Leno and Gina as we came back to them.
"We also couldn't figure that out, however there must be something that has to do with one of the Ascendants in her party.
I tried to recall the member of her party with my "photographic memory".
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Party Number: 1
Mentor: Seraphina, Adlina Desmond, Henry Martez
Ascendants:
1)Aria
2)Verto Caldino
3)Dixe Vazqueen
4)Luria Scallan
5)Pedro
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'Maybe she took in some pupil?' I thought.
"Thirty years ago?" I repeated.
Vanessa nodded, adding, "Yeah, even though I wasn't born back then, her name was so renowned that everyone in the Kiven Kingdom knew of her."
Curious, Leno asked, "Have you ever heard of The Mysterious Unknown Scriptures?"
I searched my memory for any trace of that story but came up empty. I shrugged and admitted, "No, I'm not familiar with it."
"You haven't, Raul?" Leno asked, surprised. I laughed slightly.
We settled around an empty table and took our seats, anticipation in the air. Soon, Leno and Gina began to recount a fascinating story. Naera was also interested to hear.
A century ago, an enigmatic set of Nesian Language scriptures was discovered within a dungeon. The inscriptions carried an intriguing message:
"No matter how many times the world faced destruction, my efforts alone couldn't avert it."
Then, three decades later, within a dungeon cleared by Seraphina, a similar set of Nesian Language scriptures came to light:
"Who are you? Where are you? I saw you, yet your presence eluded me. You weren't there. You weren't here either."
"Mysterious and unsettling, don't you think?" Gina pondered.
"However, what followed those incidents was Seraphina's abrupt retirement from adventuring. Adjacent to the scriptures lay a demolished wall. The prevailing theory was that Seraphina herself had brought it down. It's believed she must have encountered something on that wall she wished to keep hidden," Vanessa added.
"Numerous dungeon scholars had pursued her relentlessly, seeking the truth. Yet, she secluded herself, maintaining her absence until now. And now, she's resurfaced," Leno concluded.
Uncle Zerec playfully tapped Leno's head, remarking, "Are you attempting to give my daughter and nephew a fright?"
"Ouch, um, no, sir," Leno responded, massaging his head.
Then, Uncle Zerec handed us ID cards, each a small rectangular piece of metal etched with writing. They bore my name and other pertinent information.
"Let's prepare and convene at the Guild Third Hall. The briefing is about to start," Uncle Zerec announced as he walked alongside Naera. Gina shared a laugh with Leno, and we trailed after Uncle Zerec's lead.
'This world also has interesting folklore stories as well,' I mused at the thought before checking my stats and my profile achievement.
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[ Player Status ]
Username: Raul Varon
[ Player Stats ]
Strength: 7
Agility: 9
Defence: 6
Vitality: 7
Intelligence: 16
Perception: 13
Willpower: 4
Mana Capacity: 800
[ Essence Points Accumulated: +1357 Pts ]
[ Skills ]
O [ Lvl. 1 Soul Harvester's Transmutation ]
O [ Lvl. 1 Cognitive Fortress ]
O [ Lvl. 2 Polyglot ]
O [ Lvl. 1 Photographic Memory ]
[ Blessings ]
O [ Lvl. ∞ Talent Forge ]
[ Achievements ]
O [ A New Born Of A New World ]
O [ From Cuddle Doll To Crawling Dynamo ]
O [ A Language Prodigy ]
O [ Graduated From Babble To Brilliance ]
O [ The Prodigious Infant Magus ]
O [ Dual Elemental Magus ]
O [ Tri Elemental Magus ]
O [ Quadra Elemental Magus ]
O [ Apprentice Swordmaster ]
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