40 Counting down to the adventure.

After changing out of my Rez attire I decided to join my family and the Leywins in their private booth. I was still a little annoyed at having to drop out, but I truthfully didn't want to be a Lance. Arthur and especially me will be anomalies stronger than Lances on this continent and it just wouldn't do to have all the responsibilities Lances would. After all I may be a strong fighter, but that doesn't mean I'd be a good general or leader on the battlefield. Unless we're fighting mana beasts as I doubt there's more than few as knowledgeable or more than me on the strengths and weaknesses of them.

Knocking on the door a maid opens it, and upon seeing me immediately ushers me into the room. When everyone saw me they had surprised expressions and for good reason, as I was supposed to return to the stands.

"What did the king want you for?" My father said as he and everyone's eyes were on me.

"He recognized my sword when I was fighting Bree, and after talking I told him the reason I accepted to fight in this tournament. It didn't fit with what they are trying to accomplish, so he had me withdraw from the competition." I said with a shrug as a chair was brought for me beside my family.

"Why did you enter the tournament, and why didn't it fit with the tournaments goals?" It was Arthur who spoke this time.

"Well, the tournament is to decide Lances for each race. These Lances are supposed to be the strongest mages of their respective races, and my goal was to beat the human competitors to show that they can still improve while not taking the position." Arthur clarified what I hadn't said.

"And I'm guessing the strongest aren't allowed to have lost or looked weak." I give a faint smile and a nod

"Yup! Something about better for the Lances, but worse for the public. Anyways now we don't have to come to this place everyday, and we can start planning for our journey." This gained smiles from everyone though some were a bit sad.

"Don't look so glum! The journey is not for another 3 months after all." I say trying to brighten the mood a little.

"You're right, Jaron. Lets enjoy these 3 months." Alice said with a more cheerful expression now.

"Winner Aya Grephin! Next match will decide the second place candidate of the Elves between Alea Triscan and Vivian Puffin"

"Hmm. Who do you think will win Jaron?" Arthur asked as he was watching the competitors enter the field. I smirked inwardly.

"I have a strong feeling that Alea Triscan will be the winner." Arthur nods to my response.

"I see." His gaze focuses on Alea and her mastery of plant deviant magic. Vines would shoot out and attempt to snag Vivian only to be cut down, she was making quite a good showing. Her wind magic proving sharp enough to cut the thick vines worming their way to her, but she could never advance any further. Once she slipped up and got caught by a vine and was sent flying, she caught herself with wind magic only to get hit by a whip like vine.

While she was tumbling through the air the vines caught her and wrapped her up so she couldn't move. Realizing how out matched she was she forfeited.

"Winner Alea Triscan, she and Aya Grephin will join Bairon Wykes and Varay Aurae in the winners box as we get underway with the Dwarf matches." Alduin's voice came over the artifact, and I truly didn't care enough to stay and watch this match.

[TimeSkip-3 months]

Since the tournament the days have moved on easily enough. Me, Arthur and Reynolds would spar daily in the mornings and then I would attend noble matters with my dad. Partly because I wanted to get closer to him, but also to work towards the agreement I had with Cynthia. My dad works with lots of other nobles and high ranking members of Xyrus city society which means I inevitably meet their daughters or sons. Daughters are a bit easier to persuade to vote for me when I become a student Xyrus academy. Sons usually ask why should they, and they ask me to show them why I should.

Which lead to the moment of me and Krenshaw's little brother Nicolas Dreyl boxing in his backyard. He was a brawler type and didn't tend to use weapons so I decided to fight similarly to prove my 'worth' as student council president. It wasn't close, and I take no pride in defeating him as even though I wasn't using mana since he didn't have a core yet. I'm still half Asuran at the end of the day, meaning my hits feel heavier and my blocks feel like steel walls especially to an eight year old kid.

By the end he had relented and said that he would vote for me if the time came, but honestly by this point I was pretty sure I'd get the council president position regardless. As my 'beautifulness' as mother and Lilly call it, seems to effect the opposite gender of a variety of ages. Anytime Lilia had friends over for tea or mother for the same, me and Arthur seemed to get mobbed with 'coos' and 'ahs'.

Sorry Arthur, but if using you eases my suffering then you're coming down with me. He seemed to sense my thoughts at that moment as he glared at me while a middle aged woman was stroking his hair, while I was listening to the daughter of said woman drone on and on. The words 'you owe me' entered my mind and I had to wonder if Arthur had become a telepath in the last few months.

It should also be noted that not all the nobles, lady or lord, were of the snobby variety. Especially while with my dad I was able to see the business side of his dealings, and saw that a surprising amount of nobles are pretty agreeable. Though that could be because my family is known to have a good relationship with the royal family, so it could just be them kissing our ass in hopes of one day appearing before the king's.

The time spent these past 3 months were well worth the occasional suffering and my as well as Arthur's name, much to his chagrin, has spread through the noble girls of our ages as the 'ideal' when it comes to future marriage candidates. Too bad for them we were both taken in similar ways. By Princess's that we saved from misfortune and we ended up being their only true friend. Strange how things work out.

Enough of that though as it is finally time for us to begin our journey. I had thought long and hard how I would approach this journey, whether as Rez or as Jaron Helstea to improve standing that much more. Claiming to have awakened just before 9 is still prodigy level, but obviously not near as insane as 2. However there are many problems that could arise from that as well for my traveling companion.

If people know who Jaron Helstea, then they will inevitably find out about the Leywins. And beautiful or not Arthur's hair and eyes work against him here as he is rather noticeable, with eye catching features. I suppose I could convince to wear a similar get up to the my Rez persona, but then why wouldn't I just do that? Which brings us to me deciding to adventure as Rez with Arthur and Jasmine.

"Are you ready Arthur?" Jasmine asks as she looks at Arthur while standing in the doorway. The rest of the Twim Horns were already making their way to their wagons to go on their own adventure.

"Uh, we still have to wait on Jaron." Arthur said while looking over his shoulder for me, mask already on his face and his adventurer outfit on. Stepping around the corner I have the cheesiest smile on my face underneath my Rez persona. It grows even bigger as I see Jasmine's eyes widen and mouth drop.

"R-Rez! What are you doing here?!" It was the loudest I had ever heard Jasmine speak, and apparently was the same for others as the Twin Horns came sprinting back.

"Jasmine what's wrong?" Adam shouted with spear drawn only for his gaze to land on me.

"Rez? What are you doing here?" He asked a lot more calmly than Jasmine. Me and Arthur were red in the face from holding in our laughs, before we couldn't hold it any longer. Jasmine and Adam looked between each other in confusion as the other Twin Horns arrived and you guessed it.

""Rez? What are you doing here?"" The remaining 3 Twin Horns ask simultaneously, causing me and Arthur to laugh even harder. It's not that their reactions were really anything too funny, but just the synchronicity of the party as well as the complete obliviousness. Not too mention laughter is quite contagious, especially when you find it funny before it ever happens. Like a prank that has you laughing before the victim is ever pranked.

They finally seem to get a bit impatient and Arthur waves a hand at me while still fighting off giggles.

"C'mon 'Rez'. Tell them why you're here." I reach up for my mask and I can hear them all gasp. They of course like all the other adventurers, especially in Xyrus, have wondered what I look like underneath the mask. I was honestly surprised Jasmine didn't recognize my hair with his observant she is, but I guess she had bigger things on her mind at the time. As my mask comes off the gasps start again and then came the yells.

""Jaron Helstea!!?"" Once again their synchronicity makes me laugh softly.

"Yup, that's me." I say with a cheeky grin. All of them are surprised obviously but Adam was already gnashing his teeth in frustration.

"You're telling me I was beaten down by a kid."

"And saved by the same kid as well. Pretty lame to just get knocked out during such a big fight Mr. AA adventurer." His face turns red and the others break from their surprise to laugh at Adam.

"Youuu!" He stalked back off to the wagon grumbling something about 'damn brats not respecting their elders.' The other 3 followed close behind and it was just me, Jasmine and Arthur once again in the hallway by the door.

"You ready Jasmine?" I ask as I replace my mask back on my face. She seemed to come back to the present and had slightly red cheeks, I couldn't be sure but it was probably a bit of embarrassment like Adam from having been saved by a 7 year old kid. However her face goes back to its usual expression and she gives a nod.

"Yes, lets go." Arthur looks at her back as she walks out the door then looks to me with Sylvie finding her way atop his head. Reminding me of my own bond is send a message to Tuk.

'Tuk, can you stay home and keep an eye on my and Arthur's family while we are gone?' The reply comes almost immediately, though it sounded as if he had just woken up from a long nap after a meal.

'No worries hatchling. I'll keep an eye on them.'

'Thanks.' And with that I cut the temporary connection and follow Arthur out the door, on our way to the adventurers guild. I currently had my katana sheathed at my side, and my staff stored in my ring. I was actually planning going fully magic during this adventure as I really want to hone in my various abilities. After all their are a wide range of things that just my Sound and Lightning mana could accomplish.

I still had yet to journey into the realm of using sound for illusions. Though I don't know the exact science I'm pretty sure you can use electricity to create magnetism, which could almost be another deviant in its own way. Then there is mana strings, I've increased my efficiency with them, but there's still plenty of uses I haven't tapped into yet. I hope to perfect these even if just by a little as they can become powerful weapons in my repertoire

Though I'll also be helping Jasmine train Arthur, as this is his journey this time. He grew a lot during this journey in the books, so I would just be hurting him if I held his hand too much. No this time I'll play the role of sparring partner and teacher of sorts into what I know about mana. My memories I gained from the Asuran wills I've absorbed can be used to teach Arthur, so that he'll develop at least a little faster than originally.

After all even more eyes will be on Arthur now that both me and Jasmine will be sponsoring and journeying with him, but he can handle it. Which brings us to the adventurers guild as Arthur walks alongside Jasmine and I. He was given much of the same things that I was given upon my first journey. My parents knowing me, just bought me a stockpile of teas to bring on the journey. Perhaps I'll teach Arthur the ways of tea brewing… The topic will be thought on more later, though for some reason I can easily picture Arthur being a tea drinker. Maybe I'll share my special stock I'd gotten from the king's castle.

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Author's Note

Sorry for the late upload, shit work day, has turned into shit work day(s). Thankfully I was able to get the chapter out and I hope you enjoy. Don't worry I didn't just skip Arthur getting Dawns Ballad for no reason, I intend to make it a flashback chapter during the journey with its own little significance to Jaron.

I didn't want to just relist the things Arthur and I got, so sorry if you forgot.

Also something I keep forgetting to mention, that I hope people have caught on to. Jaron no longer refers to his parents as Tabitha and Vincent during his personal monologue. He calls them mother and father/mom and dad. This is my attempt at character progression lol. Him eventually becoming closer to his family to the point that now Mom and Dad is natural for him to say even inside his mind. Hope that was translated in some way and if not well now you know.

Not sure how long I'm going to make this adventure arc as I do want to add more to it than what we get in the books. Not sure how much, but at least a few dungeon dives/party ups with other adventurers. As well as showing more of the rumors of Note not being an augmenter since he never used mana.

Hope nobody is too annoyed at Jaron joining Arthur's adventure and I can't promise it'll be amazing, but I'll do my best to make it fit and not feel like a retelling of Arthur's journey.

Also I don't know when or where I'll put it in the story, but I have a major-ish thing I want to do. It would almost have to be during this journey or maybe I'll save it for after Xyrus, but it's something that's pretty much unexplored in the books from my knowledge. No spoilers though as it will be something that I'm truly going off on my own and want to keep it a surprise.

Thanks for reading.

-SocioPhobia