9 Commoner

It's been years since anyone or anything had ever broken through the fortified city of Starbow. The structure of the wall makes it impossible for an enemy to go unnoticed. However, for the first time in a long time, the city was breached with ease. This is unprecedented.

"How did it get in?" A female voice in the shadows said. She is stationed very close to a large window with her back being the only visible part of her.

"I do not know," says Anwyl in reply.

"How pathetic," said the female. This time, she sounded a little annoyed.

"If your sister wasn't present, you would have proven yourself useless,"

"It was powerful. I never saw that coming," Anwyl defended.

"That creature is powerful or you are just incompetent... which is it?"

The young and elegant woman came down the stairs and walked closer to Anwyl.

This is Anwyl's mother. It is very hard to tell, as she doesn't look anywhere close to being a mom.

"Maybe I was wrong. You tried your best. Except your best wasn't enough," says the Matriarch named Weylyn.

Her words did not encourage Anwyl in the slightest. He still felt ashamed, and this only amplified.

"I'm sorry. I'll do better." Anwyl desperately tried to avoid eye contact with his mom.

"I'm sure you will." Weylyn had a smile on her face. Whether they are genuine, it is unclear.

"You may leave now,"

These are her last words before backing him and heading back to her previous spot.

Paying his last display of respect, Anwyl exited the room.

"How did it go?" a female voice came to his ears the moment he came outside.

An angelic beauty stood at the corner of the hall. The little smug on her face gave her a charming appearance. To Anwyl, however, this is her way of making fun of him.

"What do you think?" says Anwyl as he walks away, paying no heed to her.

"Come on, don't give me the cold feet," Syden pouted and ran after Anwyl.

"I'm busy,"

"Can I help?"

"No,"

"Are you still angry about what mom said to you?"

"I am not, and what does that have to do with you?" Anwyl sounded indifferent.

"You know I would never stay behind and watch you die,"

Her words made Anwyl stop on his track, and he stood there for a second.

"Thank you,"

She smiled as she happily followed right behind him.

. . .

"Mr. Anwyl, we have gathered info from other cities," a warrior said.

"Do tell,"

"From the looks of it, we weren't the only ones to experience such an onslaught," says the warrior. "They've been many other attacks by Magical Beats and other strange creatures... This has never happened before,"

"That thing isn't just any Magical Beast," says Syden; "I sensed something very dark hidden within it."

"Almost like it was possessed by a powerful negative force." Anwyl's brow furrowed deeply as he finally realized what he was up against.

"That explains why it is very tough," Syden said. "I took it out in one strike by hitting its Mana Core. That would be the easiest way,"

If this report given by the warrior is true, then there is a possibility it may repeat itself.

"How is the construction going?" Anwyl asked.

"With the help of the Mages, rebuilding the walls is moving quickly," says the warrior.

"Good. Keep your eyes on the lookout. I'm leaving the construction project in your hands,"

"I certainly will," He replied with a bow.

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Ambrose sat cross-legged just in the corridor of his home. His eyes were closed since he was currently meditating.

Diving into his inner consciousness where the Mana Box is located. There, a blue flame appeared in the darkness. It stood tall while radiating its hidden power, the same one that is running through Ambrose's veins.

The blue mana has a very cool and comfortable feeling that could draw anyone closer to it...

Just beside the blue mana stood an unusual Magical realm. It is darkish_red with a little string of black around it, and unlike the blue Mana with its cool feel, the dark one gives a more terrifying and chilling impression. It is also desperately trying to draw Ambrose closer to it, but the young kid kept his distance, and that is wise.

'It is getting stronger,' Ambrose said inwardly as he opens his eyes.

He had a worried expression on his face, almost like he could anticipate a terrible event in the future and needed to prevent any of this from happening.

"If I don't seal it off, I'm afraid it would draw unwanted attention towards me," says Ambrose while staring at the night sky, more precisely, the stars themselves.

Both of the Magical Realms do not get along, not even close, but the dark energy has a more aggressive approach and is more powerful than the blue mana. Most of the time, the weaker mana gets consumed by the dark one, this only results in its ever-increasing magical aura.

The only way to prevent the dark realm's aggressiveness is by sealing it. This may also slow its rapid growth and give it a weaker display, just in case.

However, Ambrose does not know how to chant a sealing technique. He had painstakingly searched through the book Dexter had given in his care, but found nothing. In actuality, most of the reason he had been reading it is to find some useful information.

He found very few useful class-C techniques for beginners, the ones he could develop by himself as he grows stronger.

Sealing techniques, however, are classified as class-B or A, one to which Ambrose has no access. This is indeed a pain, and it would be worse in the future...

Ambrose stayed awake in the same posture until the very next day, gradually absorbing the unique spiritual energy known as 'KI' and fusing them with his blue mana. He has been doing this for a very long time, but the result is still very slow.

*sigh!*

Frustrated, as usual, Ambrose came back from his long meditation...

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.

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"Mom, by any chance, is there a way I could get a class-A magical instructional book?" Ambrose asked.

"Why? what do you need it for?"

"It's obvious,"

"You're too young for such level of technique,"

"No, I'm not a kid,"

"You are a kid, Ambrose, and that's why you should start with elementary spells," Blythe said.

"I hate being treated like a baby. I'm a lot better than those infants who are more fixated on playing and jumping around like frogs,"

"Alright, fine, I'll think about it," unable to say anything in reply to Ambrose, Blythe had to accept this... except she knows not where to get a class-B instructional book.

Resources such as that are usually not very easy to find, it's mostly available for the privileged ones who can afford such expensive materials.

The good news is; in nine years from now, once Ambrose is eligible for advanced education as a Mage, he'll have unrestrained access to all the resources he needs, or at least the ones that would be left available for him.

Also, as an apprentice to Dexter, Blythe is confident he would do everything needed to help with her son's development. However, Ambrose doesn't seem patient in the least. It is not clear why this is the case.

"When will you get it?"

"I can't say for sure,"

"Sounds like you don't plan on getting it, do you?" Ambrose gave his mom a meaningful look.

It is still very marveling how mature he always acts at such a young age...

"I'll get it, but it's going to take a while," Blythe said, "Resources such as that aren't very easy to come by."

"But it's just a book," says Ambrose.

"That's not how it is viewed,"

Ambrose looked quite confused at this. "is it that precious?" he asked.

"Yeah, apparently so," says Blythe, "You're still very young Ambrose. You'll understand once you venture out. But a promise is a promise. I'll get you a class-B magic book just as you wanted,"

"Is it possible I could get a class-A instead?"

Blythe stared at Ambrose with a furrowed brow, and he understood what that means...

"Fine, let's go with a class-B magical book then," Ambrose said in reluctance.

"Besides, getting a magic book shouldn't be the full priority. Not all techniques are recorded down in just magical books. If we could get ourselves familiar with the privileged ones, A.K.A 'The Nobles', there is a better chance of finding something more valuable," Blythe said.

"However, we commoners are nothing in the eyes of noblemen and they would not waste their time with people like us... Unless they find you somewhat useful to them. In other words; A Tool," she said once again.