Chapter 46 - Take The Bet

-- Rodriguez - POV --

'I just Ruptured each & every nerve of the body then healed it, you'll be able to move in no time but the coordination will be a bother for few days, like you'll wobble when you walk and won't be able to glass but since I used it on just Class Knight Level you'll be able to return to normal in few weeks!'

"The heck? It hurts so much!"

'Hehe I am sorry but it doesn't look like that both of us can continue an idle life, so kid I'll give you a piece of advice'

"What?"

'I'll keep it short, go to Magus Academy take part in Grand Selection and enroll there as a student, there are many kinds of monsters of mages there, who turned their weakness to strength, you can learn to wield better use of the peculiar power inside you, also there is another person I want you to meet'

Shaken up he was just as good as passed out.

"Who?"

'No telling but she'll find you, once you meet her tell her your name and about your mother, she'll recognize you and wait…'

I should give this to him, it would be best if he keeps it.

'Show her this and ask her to teach you, she is the one who admired your mother the most, but be careful despite however she looks she is quite a devil herself.'

"Why should I believe you and do what you said?"

'This Kingdom and your blood have a deeper connection than you think, and don't you want your mother's book? For now, the best thing for you is to 

get stronger and then enroll in that academy, it has a lot to offer, especially to you boy, and for me now I have some business to attend to. First, let's get out of here. I'll carry you,'

"What will you do?"

'That doesn't concern you for now, but one day once you get stronger, find me to take back what's yours now. It doesn't matter if you think I am a robber or something but I'll promise you something, I'll keep those books safe until I meet you again.'

I should head out, now I know who the pawn was! But before that, I need more information and a good team.

'You rest here kid, I can't waste a second here anymore'

I should lay Aaris on the ground outside the shop & wrap things up.

"Wait! where are you going? Who are you really? Tell me!"

'Didn't I tell you all, everything will come to light at right time' 

[ SAFEHOLD ]

****

In mere seconds Rodriguez compressed his bookstore and disappeared.

"Where did he go? & the shop! The shop disappeared too!" Everything happened so fast Aaris couldn't believe his eyes.

"Boy, what are you doing laying around? And it looks like the owner closed the Book store."

Serlin walked up to Aaris and didn't understand why he was spread on the road like this?

"Closed?" Aaris raised his brow,

"Yes you can't leave anything alone in the Garden, it won't even take a minute, so owners often use a low-level spatial drift to hide their shops but this shop, I guess, its owner wasn't a normal guy I can't even sense the opening of the enclosure anyway how long do you plan to lay down like this?" Berlin explained.

"Well…" Aaris tried to explain but he thought it is probably best to keep quiet.

-- Aaris - POV --

I lied to Sir. Serlin that I got in a fight with the owner but knowing him, he probably knew I was lying but never bothered to ask me the reason.

"So now sleep boy it must be an exhausting day for you." He knelt and was shooting arrows with his eyes.

'Sir, can I ask something?'

"What?"

'I want to take part in the Grand Selection'

"Boy, first of all, tell me one thing, did he hit you on your head or something?" Berlin picked me up and carried me on his back & started walking.

'No! He did but not & I am completely sane, and I want to'

"Shut it! You ain't normal kid boy you don't have any mana nor a familiar, on top of that you're a dead criminal in the kingdom! Do you think it's child play to enter a place filled with the strongest of mages in the kingdom?"

He yelled at me & it was reasonable.

'But-'

"Enough now go to sleep! You can't even cross a single stage with conditions like yours, tomorrow we'll set out for the bounty for Douglas, and I want a good rest before a fight so don't disturb me with your nonsense again!"

I need to convince him somehow, 

'What if I… what if I defeat him! Will you let me enter then?'

"Are you serious? He is a criminal with a bounty of 50,000 muras and you are saying you'll defeat him?" The disbelief was clear in Sir's eyes.

'Yes, and if I did, would you let me participate then?'

"Your dreaming boy neither can you defeat him nor will I let you go."

'Just one chance please! I'll definitely defeat him if you train me please! Sir! Just trust me if I fail I won't ask for it again! Just one chance sir please!'

"Ah! Fine! If you manage to capture him alive I'll let you take part in Grand Selection but if you fail you'll give up on this idea you got it? Also, we need to back to dear village first we still have a few things to prepare before confronting Douglas"

'Yes! I promise!'

I can't fail this time, I need answers. Who was he? Who does he want me to meet? What is this Locket he gave to me? Also, I do need to go to the Academy to know what is this thing inside me? Once I go there everything will be clear.

But before that, I need to defeat Douglas. I did ask for it but he is someone I definitely don't want to meet in normal circumstances.

***

--Back in the present time--

Tara stands in front of Aaris placing a bet that will decide his fate.

"So what is your answer boy?" Tara spoke.