94 || Ancestral Protector of Riversword!

"Ancestral Protector?" The King bubbles in shock. No one else has seemed to realize this person has arrived besides him. An invisible pulse radiates from the figure though even before it has reached Tara, she's already making eye contact with them as if she sensed him immediately.

Tara's presence doesn't fade. Out of instinct she circulates a Solar Ember Wisp as the Angelic Rousing Sun array within her soul space suddenly brightens. The pulse actually meets resistance for a beat and is even pushed back before snuffing out her presence.

"Good, good! With Little Bei finalizing Navel Enshrouding in under 200 years, it's no wonder such a little monster was created." The figure gives a bellowing laughter before materializing in front of Tara.

'Tara be careful!' Msireta calls into Tara's mind, genuine worry. Both Wolyung and Oorun are also on guard. This person is well beyond Eye Illuminating or Navel Enshrouding.

"Squire Captain Hufang greets Senior...?" Tara turns to bow but is stopped by the same invisible pulse.

"You're much too wet behind the ears to address me as Senior. Instead call me Ancestral Protector or--perhaps Instructor, if you're willing."

Many in the crowd are very confused but several of the older noble families blanch. The Nukura Patriarch's face looks a sickly green. Ancestral Protectors are the strongest force available to the neighboring powers with every figure beyond the Stages of Body Altering. It was said that a mere of their thoughts can turn mountains and split lakes. And now Riversword's had decided to instruct the youngest monster of her generation.

"I'm willing, Instructor!" Tara confirms with a grin. Msireta just informed her that the Ancestral Protector used Intent, the tangible manifestation of mental pressure! Maybe she could get some insights and then use force concentration with mind energy next!

They nod before turning towards a certain area in the stands.

"Young Nukura, your brats made a bet with my student and then you had the nerve to suggest the Captain's Challenge. Luckily for you, Tara is strong and courageous. However, I think I'll be traveling alongside my student to your land. Maybe the Royal Inspectors are needed, hmm?"

"N-no, Ancestor! Nothing will happen to Captain Hufang. There is no need to send the Royal Inspectors." The Nukura Patriarch babbles out, fear on his face. Truly his family had been loyal and simply running their pill and potion stores around the country but who knows what could happen!

"Is your friend here?" The Ancestral Protector asks Tara. Tara immediately finds Frae in the crowd, and with a wave of the Ancestral Protector's hand, Frae is beside Tara. "As the Ancestral Protector, I announce that Hufang Tara is an official squire of Riversword. I will be the one who guides her growth and duties! Any objections?"

Every member of the royal family, nobility, or renown immediately from their seats rises while shouting a resounding "No!" to their question. Long Fei gave Tara what looks to be an insignia. Only then did she receive a notification!

[Hidden Quest Squire Battle Royal Complete!]

Bonus Task: Initiate + Complete Captain's Challenge!

Hidden Task: Gain Favor Of Riversword's Ancestral Protector!

Rewards: Captain's Insignia, Squire of Riversword (Lv2), Student of the Strong Title

The Captain's Insignia was actually a wearable Accessory Equipment! Besides giving her a certain authority within the Kingdom, it was unique in that the more allies she fought alongside the higher her attack speed. When fighting with 100 allies her attack speed would increase by 100%!

Squire of Riversword now lets her have an additional 15 percent Weapon Proficiency. Her new title Student of the Strong lets those that know the Riversword's Ancestral Protector treat her with some respect, unless of course there's a feud between another power and Riversword. Furthermore, her Luck and Will stats receive a 10 percent boost!

Giving quick hugs to her family, Tara sets out with the Nukuras. Frae, the Ancestral Protector, and Tara all ride in the grandest of carriages meant for the Patriarch.

The Ancestral Protector begins to ask Frae about herself and talent, but as they speak, Tara feels an invisible presence tapping her mind lightly. Tara closes her eyes and acknowledges the presence, a projection of the Ancestral Protector appearing within her mind space.

"I wanted to speak with you privately. I wasn't aware you had such a group watching over you." They say, nodding at Oorun and Wolyung, who are in their animus forms with their weapons out as they stand in front of Tara. Msireta and the Protector lock eyes, with the latter showing confusion and then respect and fear. "Xei An greets the Imperial Guard of the Floating City Demon Clan."

"Floating City? Demon Clan?" Tara repeats, confusion scrunching her face as she looks at Msireta. These were terms she hadn't heard before. Were these Demon Clans similar to Aelix who were a people or were they malevolent like the stories and other media depicted? Tara wanted to know more as this was interesting.

"You only wish to instruct her? You aren't going to eliminate her for being an animus in the human country, especially after becoming the star pupil of the Eightswords academy? How do you know she's not a spy seeking Riversword's and the Academy's destruction?" Msireta asks them with distrustful eyes.

"I doubt I would be able to even touch you now in your repressed state. Besides I am almost close to the next Realm, why would I risk my life to kill a cub? No, I am simply interested in sharing my achievements to the next generation. I haven't taken a disciple of my own, you see. As for the Academy, you know as well I do that the creator of the Eight Prism Sect was an unique animus. That is why the Academy accepts those of both ancestry without judgment." They reply with a bit of information Tara wasn't aware of but files away for later.

Misreta nods, relaxing. There is no ill intent in their words. "You two can back off and lower your weapons. They mean no harm to Tara."

Oorun returns her war ax before standing on Tara's immediate right. Wolyung releases her bestial form with a faint presence of danger emitting from her as she curls around Tara's feet. Both are still glaring at An to which they smile a little. This child is very protected by two Soul Beads, an Imperial Guard, even a powerful Soul Brand is sensed by them.

"I heard a rumor that you're a dual element user like myself. I was curious to see if this was true, as you only used Light Manifestation on your body. In order to instruct you better, I'd like a full display of your abilities."

While they can sense Tara's true Stage and Wisps when in use, the Gates are not something anyone should notice unless they fully unlocked one themselves. An has only coated both eyes, stomach, and brain with their aural and elemental energies.

They had access to Wisps as well in these areas as well, which is why they had met the bare minimum to advance to the next realm after Body Altering. But while they were strong against humans, if An met an Animus or Zolani of the same level with the eyes and stomach even half refined with their energies, they'd have to release their full strength to escape.

Tara summons a sphere of light in her right hand instantly, while her left hand conjures an orb of darkness with her left. If it were a low or mid stage Eye Illuminating, then the delay between the two wouldn't be noticeable.

"You have two auxiliary energies that increase your strength well beyond your Stage. While you do have an affinity with Darkness, you filter through one of these energies to channel. It is a lot smoother than expected and you are very close to skipping the filtering step completely." An nods in satisfaction.

It seems whatever technique her family found in those ruins really benefited Tara. Unless they were born with a special constitution, raised in specific organizations, or blessed by heaven, most don't figure out their dual affinities till later in life. Even An didn't realize until several opportunities pointed out they could wield Light as well.

The sphere and orb transform into Sun Claw and Moon Fang respectively, as Tara shows off both sides of her soon formed Retention Technique. This is very intriguing to An to watch Tara attempt to make something original out of their Blade Play. Tara has also unleashed her full presence of her aural and Twin Sphere energies with every strike carrying Light-based Elemental Focus Raiment. After she is done, An can truly gauge how strong Tara is.

"You're as brilliant as you are strong and talented." An sighs, a little jealous. It was not easy to come up with the Riversword Blade Play. It takes someone truly coveted by fate to fuse it with a completely different Body Art. Tara hasn't even reached Vein Plating but An can tell that she has very good control and direction of her dual elements, even if one has to come from an auxiliary conversion technique.

Still, this display doesn't explain the Wisps they had sensed earlier. Even 20 auxiliary conversion techniques couldn't create a single Wisp. An is curious about this matter but with the way Misreta is deadpanning at them, they think otherwise about asking. Tara may tell them in time.

"Thank you for demonstrating. I have a good understanding of how along you are in terms of both Light and Dark elements. I can sense that your wavelength with Darkness is off a bit, but there isn't an immediate fix to this. It will likely align itself in time." They assess after going over what they sense from Tara. They then tap at her glabella, imparting a Skill.

"This should help a little bit, it's one of the first techniques I learned once I awoke my second element. Once you have full control you'll be able to use Elemental Raiment with Darkness," They say with a bit of nostalgia.

[You have learned Dagger Art: Mimicking Light and Dagger Art: Haunting Darkness!]

"Go over it for a while and practice when you can. Once we return to the Academy, I will show you how to use it fully."

Following this check up, Tara returns to consciousness as An continues their conversation. As the group travels, An explains that pill refinement allows an Alchemist to give certain elements to a pill, increasing the results when given to people of matching affinity by onefold. If all the materials used from the start are of said element that enhances the pills effect by anywhere from threefold to sixfold.

At this, Tara uses the Dream Connect Chat to inquire from her friends about herbs and beasts parts that are either Fire or Light attributed. By the time the group arrives at the Nukura residence, Tara has been given ten items, five of which are Fire based and the other five Light based.

Both Tara and Frae receive deep insights into pill making and refinement, returning to the Martial Academy with An and a treasure in hand. The Nukura Patriarch even thanked them as they got to use rare and even unheard of items which advanced his own talent to Grandmaster!

An goes to check on Beiling, who is surprised to see them. Both An and her master are from the same generation. As the two figures hadn't seen each other in some time due to their responsibilities, Beiling ends up serving them tea for hours while Tara listens to their stories.