13 Consideration

Contrasting how most other groups and organizations conducted their spars, Asim and his opponent, Tristan, wielded actual weapons as they slowly circled a training field. In Asim's case, he wielded a large, bladed mace with seven distinct edges and a great shield. As for Tristan, he was someone who aspired to become a Monk, so he wielded a part of silvery-white gauntlets.

"Haaap...!" shouted Tristan, his figure momentarily blurring as he covered the distance between him and Asim, his fist landing in the center of the much larger Lionel's shield.

Despite the disparity in their sizes, Asim was the one pushed back, the pointed end of his greaves biting into the compacted dirt of the training field. His body was garbed in silvery plate mail, bolstering his defenses, but, as could be expected, his mobility was severely diminished.

"I'm not done yet...!" exclaimed Tristan, leaping through the air with the heel of his left foot directed at Asim's head.

Bending his knees, Asim stabilized his footing while raising his shield to meet Tristan's flying kick. At the same time, his grip tightened around the handle of his mace. When Tristan's foot impacted his shield, he waited for the force to disperse through his body before swinging his mace forward, narrowly missing the red-haired boy as he used the shield's surface as a springboard to backflip to safety.

Taking advantage of the precious moments before Tristan regained his footing, Asim's body blurred in a manner remarkably similar to when the former initiated his assault. At the same time, a faint, bluish-white glow enveloped his shield as he rammed it into Tristan's crossed arms, pushing him back and causing him to be stunned momentarily.

"Prepare yourself...!" shouted Asim, his expression resolute as he swung his mace in a practiced arc, unhesitantly embedding it into the side of his friend's ribcage.

As the sound of breaking bones and mangled flesh echoed through the training hall, Cairn couldn't help inhaling sharply through clenched teeth. It was far from the most brutal scene he had witnessed, but seeing how 'ruthless' the spars between Neophytes were, he was glad he had refused Sophia's invitation for a spar.

Demonstrating why their spars were able to get so intense, Tristan's mangled body barely had time to roll to a stop before a blindingly white light enveloped it. Seconds later, even the holes in his tunic were patched up as he pushed himself to a seated position, a friendly smile plastered across his face as he said, "That was an excellent counter, Brother Asim."

Returning a smile of his own, Asim shouldered his mace and said, "Your words honor me, Brother Tristan. And thank you, once again, for assisting in my training."

"And you, mine," replied Tristan, shifting his gaze to Cairn and Kaia to add, "It seems we have company."

"Indeed," appended Asim, turning to the spectating duo with a welcoming smile. "Have the two of you come for training?" he asked, his expression and body language making it clear he was willing to 'assist' them if they answered in the affirmative.

Though Kaia looked prepared to say yes, Cairn preempted her by waving his hand dismissively and stating, "Maybe some other time. For now, we wanted to ask you some questions about the local dungeons, specifically one to the east of here, inhabited by [Naked Horned Rat]s."

"Ah, you must be referring to the Gnawing Burrow, the Dungeon located in the slums," said Asim.

"Sounds about right," answered Cairn, adding, "Kaia and I were thinking about heading into it today or tomorrow morning. Any information you can provide in advance is welcome."

"Hmmm..."

Stroking his chin with his gauntleted hand, Asim appeared to be in deep thought. In his stead, Tristan took it upon himself to express, "Entering a Dungeon within the city is easier said than done. Due to the possibility of a Mana Efflux, entry is strictly prohibited to members of the Lion Knights and those with special permission from the Duke. We sometimes enter to assist in training exercises, but only a few times a year."

"But it's not impossible," appended Asim, drawing everyone's attention to him as he added, "With most of the Duke's forces focused on the situation underground, they have likely closed down the other Dungeons. If we ask for permission, they should permit us entry. After all, they can't ignore the other Dungeons. If we voluntarily attach ourselves to one of the cleaning groups, I imagine they would thank rather than deny us."

"That isn't what I had in mind, but I guess I can't complain," said Cairn, understanding why the local government wouldn't want strangers poking around what could be considered a dormant nuclear warhead.

Raising his brows, Asim asked, "Speaking of which, why do you wish to enter a Dungeon? If it's for training purposes, I am more than willing to accompany you here."

Shaking his head, Cairn answered, "To make a long story short, I need to fight monsters to increase my strength. The Gnawing Burrow seemed like a good place to do so."

Blinking in surprise, an apologetic smile adorned Asim's face as he said, "Ah, I never did ask, did I? I can deduce from her aura that Sister Kai'ankh is a Neophyte, but what Class is Brother Cairn...?"

"I'm something called a Jack-of-All," answered Cairn, seeing no reason to keep it a secret. So long as he didn't cross the line and piss Restia off, the Church would likely be his most powerful ally. Thus, while he didn't intend to divulge everything, he had no qualms about sharing simple information with the good-natured duo.

"Jack-of-All...?" repeated Asim, making no effort to conceal his confusion. Neither he, Tristan, nor Kaia had heard about such a Class, so they had no idea what it was capable of.

Nodding in affirmation, Cairn answered, "That's right. Unfortunately, even I didn't know about it until a short while ago, so there isn't much I can tell you. One thing is for certain, though. To unlock its full potential, I need to enter Dungeons and battle increasingly-powerful monsters."

"I see..." replied Asim, crossing his arms and caressing his chin a second time. The concept of defeating monsters to absorb their Mana and Life Essence was fairly common. However, due to the cost of equipment and the risks associated with battling powerful beasts, not everyone had the conviction or resources to tackle Dungeons. Those who did, rather than the pursuit of self-mastery, did so in search of wealth, fame, and status.

"If you don't mind my asking, why do you seek strength? What do you hope to accomplish after reaching your 'full potential'?" asked Asim, his amber eyes staring deeply into Cairn's.

Shrugging his shoulders, Cairn casually replied, "I haven't really thought about it. But being strong and capable is better than being helpless when a situation calls for action. So, rather than thinking about what I want to do with power, I'd rather focus on gaining enough power to do whatever I want. Pretty straightforward, no?"

"More like reckless," quipped Asim. However, the smile on his face made it clear he didn't disparage Cairn's answer. Rather, as Restia favored those willing to take risks, he gave an approving nod and said, "Very well. I shall speak to Bishop Adranis when she returns. So long as she is not opposed to the idea, we should be able to enter a Dungeon come tomorrow. If not the Gnawing Burrow, then one of the 'Free Dungeons' located outside the city."

"Sounds good," replied Cairn. "Though, if I'm being honest, I was kind of looking for something to do tonight. I'm not exactly a 'sit still and pray all day' kind of guy."

Crossing his arms, Asim issued a thoughtful "Hmmm..." before noting, "I'm unfamiliar with the acquisition method of Jack-of-All. I'm also not good at judging the age of humans, so I apologize in advance if this comes across as rude..."

Catching Cairn a little off guard, Asim inquired, "Have you undergone your Coming of Age Ceremony...?"

Suppressing the urge to laugh, Cairn skirted around providing an answer and instead remarked, "That's a strange question to ask. Just how old do you think I am?"

Looking at Tristan, Asim answered, "Brother Tristan here is thirteen. You appear older than him but younger than most Knights. If I had to guess, that makes you between sixteen and nineteen."

Raising his brows, Cairn asked, "Seriously...?" while looking between the trio, observing their reactions. While it was true that he had modified his appearance to appear on the younger side of twenty, there shouldn't be any question about whether or not he was an adult. Not if his appearance matched the Avatar he had designed...

Realizing he hadn't seen his reflection, a wry smile marred Cairn's face as he asked, "Are there any mirrors around here?"

Though somewhat confused by Cairn's words and actions, Asim nodded in affirmation, answering, "The closest I can think of is the large mirror in the locker room. It's just through that entrance over there."

Looking in the direction Asim had pointed, Cairn noticed a large entryway through which blue and white tiles could be seen lining the floor, wall, and ceiling. It had a strangely modern look to it, like the entrance to the locker room of a YMCA, but Cairn wasn't too surprised after seeing some of the technologies available in Austral.

"I'll be right back," said Cairn, parting from the group without explaining the situation. Kaia looked like she wanted to follow after him, but seeing the other two remain put, she sat down and decided to wait patiently...

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"This explains a lot..." muttered Cairn, staring at the reflection of a young man with tanned skin, bluish-white eyes, and somewhat spiky brown hair that primarily flowed backward from his hairline. He didn't exactly look like a boy, but he was far from the roguish-looking badass he spent hours customizing.

"Well, not like it matters..." muttered Cairn, running his fingers through his hair as he decided not to let his unexpectedly youthful appearance bother him. He still had a chiseled physique and a 'companion' that would inspire envy in all but a few men, so it ultimately didn't matter if he had to grow into the Avatar he had designed. Rather, as he was starting over in a new world, being younger meant more time and opportunities.

Having convinced himself that his current appearance was a good thing, Cairn left the locker room to find Kaia, Asim, and Tristan standing off to the side, happily conversing next to racks of swords, shields, spears, and mannequins adorned in armor. When they noticed him, they readily came over to meet him, Asim taking the initiative to ask, "Did you confirm what it is you wanted to confirm?"

"Something like that..." replied Cairn. "As for your earlier question, yes, I have completed my Coming of Age Ceremony. Why, what did you have in mind?"

Catching Cairn completely off guard, Asim shamelessly revealed, "I am acquainted with several taverns and brothels. If you're bored and simply looking for a way to spend the evening, I could introduce you to some of the more reputable places of business."

"Seriously?" asked Cairn. Then, remembering Asim's impending Coming of Age Ceremony, he questioned, "Aren't you a little too young to be involved with things like that...?"

Exhaling a throaty chuckle, Asim pointed out, "You misunderstand. While it is true that I frequent such establishments, it is to administer Healing and Purification Magic. Lady Restia does not condemn those forced into such professions by circumstance, so we do what we can to ease their burdens. That includes providing medical care and, on occasion, taking in young children to ensure they can flourish in a safe environment."

Scratching his head, Cairn said, "Well, that's noble and all, but I'd rather not get involved with sex trafficking or prostitution. Throwing back a cold one doesn't sound too bad, but I doubt my furry-eared friend here would approve of me using her money to get sloshed the night before we enter a Dungeon."

Contrasting Cairn's expectations, Kaia tilted her head to the side and replied, "I don't see why not? You never know when your time will come, so it's important to live life to the fullest. Even among the upper echelons of the Church, Lady Restia permits her faithful at least one vice."

("That explains the Bishop's Alcohol Tolerance...") thought Cairn. At the same time, curious about the types of alcohol available in his new world, he gave a curt nod, subsequently agreeing to Asim's proposition to hit the town...

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(A/N: Restia is a lot more tolerant than most Gods xD...)