"Hmmm, I'm glad they all Awakened," Nox remarked, watching from the walls. He wanted to jump down and celebrate with his friends, but there were still things he needed to sort out first.
As he started to leave, his eyes caught sight of Nyx, who was smiling and talking with Grandpa Nathan. It was a rare sight.
'It seems even this stupid girl is very happy,' Nox thought. Nyx didn't smile much to begin with, but ever since she lost to Hendrix, she'd seemed even more distant.
Perhaps she was embarrassed because Hendrix had crushed her pride by smashing her head into the ground. She had since distanced herself from everyone, and he could imagine her thoughts turning to self-criticism...
'I'm the older sister.'
'I'm supposed to protect you, but I failed. What will Mother think? That I'm not capable enough?'
Aina's thought process had never been like that. Yet, for some reason, Nyx always seemed to feel older than she was, capable of making decisions beyond her years. This struck Nox as odd, given that Nyx was only five years old, while he, mentally, was sixteen.
Nox felt that Nyx was mentally much older than him. This was the reason his mother and grandpa first told her about their father's disappearance, trusting her maturity to handle the news.
Later that day, Nox returned to Eve's manor.
"Hmmm, I know I'm forgetting something," Nox thought with a lost expression after another session of grueling training. Sprawled on the ground was Fluffington, who couldn't stop cursing Nox. Thirteen was busy looking at Skully, the butler, who was trying to clear the fighting platform.
The panda stared at the skeleton with a puzzled expression. Is this his next opponent? But why does it look like a human? All this time, Thirteen had been observing the skeleton butler. With eyes filled with curiosity, he gently pulled Skully's hand and his face morphed into a frown. Skully was indeed not human.
To be sure, he pulled on the hand again, and Skully's arm dislocated from its bony joint.
[Ah!] Thirteen exclaimed, confirming his suspicion.
"Hey, bring back my hand!" Skully's green eyes glowed angrily.
[Wuw, catch it!] Thirteen smiled mischievously as he hurled the hand to Nox, expecting him to throw it back.
Nox caught it. Skully sighed and turned to Nox, who handed him back his hand. "Hmpf, keep your pets on leashes, pipsqueak, or I'll discipline them myself." Sneering, he stormed off.
"It's not nice to play with skeleton parts, Thirteen." Nox stroked the panda's fur.
[Skeleton parts?] Thirteen tilted his head, seeming to ask why.
"Because they're dirty and smelly."
From the entrance of the coliseum, Eve walked in. She had left earlier after giving Nox some instructions.
[Evil woman! How dare she make this monarch train?] The fat cat glared hatefully at the red-eyed woman as soon as she walked in. For the past five hours, she had told Nox not to give Fluffington milk or meat if he wanted to discipline the arrogant cat.
And it actually worked; now that he was stronger than Fluffington, Nox knew how to deal with the cat.
'Imagine if she could hear you?' Nox thought, sending cold shivers through Fluffington, his mind flashing back to the time Eve had shattered the python into fragments with one attack.
[Don't you dare tell her, brat.]
"Oh, watch me." Nox smiled mischievously.
[You mongrel!] Fluffington jumped up, panicked.
"Master," Nox started, causing the cat's heart to race. "Have you heard about Elemental Beasts?"
[Phew!] The cat sighed in relief. A moment later, he said in his cocky tone, [Hmph, I knew you couldn't.]
Ignoring the cat speaking in his head, Nox awaited Eve's reply.
"I know about them," Eve responded, "but they're very rare. Why do you ask?"
"I need their crystals. Is there a way for me to get one?" Nox asked eagerly. Surely, someone as strong as Eve should have elemental crystals, right?
"But I can show you a way to get one," she added after a moment.
"Where, how?" As expected, Eve was very resourceful!
"By hunting for one or purchasing it at auction. Because they're so rare, though, elemental crystals are expensive."
Nox gulped. If Eve, who lived in this expensive manor adorned with several runes, said they were expensive, they must be really expensive. He didn't even want to ask the price for fear of being discouraged.
"Although elemental beasts are much stronger than magical beasts, I still suggest starting with a low-level one. It'll be a good test for you to put everything you've learned into practice," Eve suggested.
Having him fight elemental beasts would intensify Nox's training. Eve planned to oversee these battles closely, ready to intervene if Nox's life was endangered.
"Alright, where can I find these elemental beasts?"
"Don't be hasty. You'll have to participate in the mock tournament first before we head north."
Although she won't admit, Eve liked Nox eagerness to get strong. But she doubted he'll be so eager again after facing an elemental Beasts, who were known for their powerful Elemental skills.
A few days later, the day of the mock tournament arrived. Smillarly, all ten other towns were also gearing up for their own mock tournaments.
They also share the same believe with Nathan that early identification of five top participants would allow them to concentrate resources on honing them into elite contenders.
However, this method was exclusive to smaller towns. The Amstrong Dutchy followed another approach!
Instead of staging a tournament, the duke dicided to summon his five children from the Prestigious Vermillion Royal Academy... Each boasted levels exceeding 20, the duke was confident that winning this tournament was only a matter of time.
AN: 100 Power Stone goal= Hit!
Golden ticket= remaining 7 to reach 50
Castle for six Chapters= not hit.
Like I said, I'm currently out of Town so I'll not be able to pump out the bonus Chapters now but when I get back I'll fufill this promise. Imagine me working around town just to find internet connection to upload Chapters, Sigh.