Chapter Twenty One

(In this chapter I'll be writing in the third person)

In Rivendell three houses are the most influential besides the royal family, these houses are House Dragnane, House Dragnane provides the Royal Army with the armor, weapons, and funds they were the lifeline of the army. House Crawford was different they didn't provide the kingdom with money, what they offered was something more valuable, in every generation House Crawford produced a once-in-a-generation mage or augmenter that would push the human kingdom into greater heights, of the three houses House Crawford had more say on the matters related to the Kingdom.

Last but not least was House Granger, they were the ones who provided the kingdom with their inventions and their technology but their inventions fell short of the dwarfs' craftmanship. The Lord of House Dragnane was Roy Dragnane and the lady was Hazel Dragnane, they had a son Jacob and like most families, they tried to foster a relationship between them and House Crawford, through the daughter of House Crawford Elena Crawford.

Elena Crawford was a prodigy unlike any other, she formed her core when she was six years old and even then her affinity with mana was extraordinary, her family spared no expense on her studies she had the best of the best instructors, went to the best school and she even got the president of the famed Longhorn to become her mentor. Jacob was and still is infatuated with her, the first time his father suggested that he get close to her he felt like it was a bother.

But that changed the moment his eyes landed on her, he was nine years old, she was eight, and everything about her made him lose his composure, the way she carried herself, the way she spoke, and her looks. Also due to her family's status, she didn't give a damn about Jacob most people would always strive to be in his favor but not Elena. Elena then unlocked her elements and so did Jacob though he had only unlocked Earth but it didn't matter to him. Elena did acknowledge him as an acquaintance but only because her family pressured her into it.

Jacob and Elena got admitted into Longhorn at the same time, Elena was admitted earlier due to her special circumstances. As they were admitted Jacob saw less and less of Elena. At this point he had gotten addicted to her so he did other things to get his mind off her, unfortunately, one of those things was to beat up the maid's son who weaseled his way into Longhorn, Jacob could tolerate the nobles who had money but not him, he had nothing and he should have known his place. On the first day, Melissa told him about Raiden he decided to pay the boy a visit.

His actions started a domino effect that made every noble of the human race target Raiden but what was strange was even though Raiden didn't care the beatings felt like a nuisance more than anything and he wasn't alone he was always seen with a dwarf and an elf but Jacob was getting bored of hitting Raiden. Now Jacob decided to visit Elena's dorm room, he knocked on her door and it was Elena who opened the door for him as soon as his eyes landed on Elena he was reminded of why he was infatuated with her it also didn't help that she was fresh out of the shower.

"Mr. Dragnane, what brings you here?" Elena asked as her eyes landed lazily on him.

"how many times have I told you to call me Jacob, and the reason am here is to invite you to spend some time together with some friends," Jacob said.

"it would be my pleasure but.....''

"am not taking no for an answer Elena so get dressed, in something a little more casual I'll be here in an hour," Jacob said and with that, he went back to his dorm room changed, met up with three more of his friends or leeches as he liked to call them before heading to Elena's room. They rode a wagon to their destination where Jacob gave each one of them a face mask.

"We would be needing this," Jacob said as he handed Elena her mask. Elena was a little pressed at being here but she didn't say it, so she forced a smile as she took the mask. The five got off the wagon and they were in the slums standing in front of a building with a metal door with a slit on top. Jacob knocked on the door and the slit was opened.

"Mr. Troy, give me a second," the man at the door said, Troy was Jacob's alias when he came to Valhalla, Valhalla was an underground fighting den that he would visit and bet on the fights. The door was opened and they were led up the stairs to their private cubicle from where they could see the fight. The first fight of the night was of Braun the undefeated Valterian and swift killer. Elena was skeptical at first but as the fight progressed she was now interested, the way Braun was analyzing his opponent followed by how he fought back she understood why everyone was intrigued by him.

She also understood why no one dared to challenge him until one raised hand caught everyone's attention, she saw a dwarf with auburn hair standing next to an elf and a human with white hair, she couldn't hear what they were saying or more accurately what they were arguing about until the human begrudgingly got in the ring.

"Jacob isn't that the maid's kid?" one of Jacob's friends asked.

Jacob focused on the boy, "You are right it is him,"

Jacob was thoughtful for a moment before he said, " I have an idea," he tapped a button on a table in front of him and whispered something.