Chapter 21 - A Chance Meeting

2:00 AM

...

Although I really want to go explore the market, taking rest takes priority.

We reach our room and I ask Corey and Chase to take a rest for today as the journey plus the test has put a toll on our bodies. It is better to completely refresh ourselves before starting to train.

...

6:00 AM

I wake up and take a bath after which I wake up my brothers.

We take some energy potion to refresh ourselves as 4 hours of sleep isn't enough for complete rejuvenation.

Before we start training, looking at Kaneto, I ask him for some alone time with Corey and Chase.

When Kaneto left, I ask Corey and Chase to remove their shirts, turn around and sit in a meditation position.

After they did so, I ask them to force channel mana away from their back and they followed.

I take out my dagger and adjust the frequency of energy output, then I draw 4 big circles at their back connected by a small circle in the middle. I also leave some openings at the edges.

It took roughly 2 hours to do it precisely.

'Fooo' I catch my breath as I complete it and wipe the sweat on my forehead.

'This should be enough for now,' I thought.

" I drew 4 energy circles on your body, with this, you guys should be able to replenish mana even after completely exhausting it, a total of 4 times, but I have locked the last circle which will only activate in case of emergency. The circles restore their mana slowly...umm...it will take a week to restore the mana of a single circle," I explain the function of circles.

"Also, if you use more than one circle at a time then you would get a temporary boost of mana, I suggest you guys use it only for extreme cases. And when it comes to using all 4 circles at once," I pause, then I look at them for a few seconds before mentioning, "do it only for running away. It's an order." I say the last line in a bit dominant tone at which they shiver but still nod.

After that, I ask Kaneto to teach Chase about the sword and I teach Corey a few more ways to channel mana and concentrate on his body.

'He lacks concentration today, maybe what happened yesterday is still on his mind,' I thought.

"Hey, still thinking about yesterday?" I ask.

"Hmmm," he nods.

"It could have been a mind control or something."

I tell him the truth.

"I know, there is no other way to explain that...but I am not worried about that, it's just..." He trails off. He knows what happened and that feeling of being weak to mind magic is bothering him.

'My brother is smart, huh, he knows where to look' I think

" Hey? How about I teach you a trick to fight against something like that?" I threw a bait.

He looks at me with hope, damn those shiny eyes.

'So cute'

" But for that, you need to raise your mana proficiency and concentration a bit higher, I'll teach you later, but first work on your mana concentration," I tell him.

He happily nods and gets back to concentrate.

'Crisis solved' I muttered sighing.

I teach them for a few more hours giving them pointers.

Soon I move out to explore the market area.

...

12:00 PM

In the market

Various colourful stalls selling various items like magic potions, foods, etc can be seen.

There are also weapons and other accessories being sold at shops.

After travelling a bit here and there I come across a vegetable stall.

I see something interesting there.

I go to the vegetable stall and as soon as I try to pick up the best vegetable, another hand grabs the same vegetable.

I turn to find an elf with golden hair and azure eyes. He looked young, roughly around 18 by human standards and should be 59 by elf's standard.

"Please take it, I'll choose something else." He speaks politely.

I nod and put the vegetable in my bag, and pick another one but then the elf too picked the same one.

"This time, you take it" I speak politely.

He nods then puts it in his bag.

This event repeats 4-5times more before he asks, "Can you feel it too?"

"Nope, but I can see which one is the best," I tell him understanding what he means.

"Hi! I am Zwain," he brings his hand forward.

"I am Morpheus," I return the greeting with shaking his hand.

He looks at me with a curious gaze, then.

"Would you like to have a cup of tea?" He asks pointing at a nearby restaurant.

"All right," I reply with a smile on my face.

We reach the restaurant and sit at a table near the front corner.

"I will take one Black Casp Tea," I speak to the waiter

"The usual," he speaks

"You come here daily?"

"Yeah, I like the tea here, been coming for a week now. Forget about me, what about you? What brings you to Eslain?"

"Nothing fancy, just adventuring n all. Mostly for recruiting strong individuals in our party."

"Is that so? You must have some strong people in your team if you are thinking about attracting strong individuals."

"Yeah, we have someone who defeated a Supreme devil in 3 slashes."

"Damn! That's so cool man. What about the others?"

"Nothing that great but a platinum rank adventurer who is hiding his true strength and a bunch of kids with high potential."

"That's still goo-," as he is speaking someone interrupts him.

I look in the direction of the voice to see.

"Hey, Zwain!! I knew you would be here!!" A guy and a girl both around 18years old come in our direction.

They come and sit beside Zwain on each side.

"Honestly, how come you are free all the time? Won't the Elf King nag you when you go back?" Speaks the boy...he is an elf too...looking carefully...

"Are you both brothers?" I ask

"You can tell?" Says Zwain in astonishment

"Is that difficult?" I ask

"Yup, except our mother, father and sister, no one can tell. Even that idiot over there." The other elf points at the girl.

The girl is quiet ever since she sat with us.

"Hmm? Hey Lucy, what happened to you?" He asks Lucy.

Yup, the other girl is Lucy Farcel. The young mage who failed my brother Phan.

"Nothing. Zwain, who is he?" She inquires.

"This is someone I found while buying vegetables, a small event led us to here. His name is Morpheus, an adventurer." He speaks, "Morpheus, meet Robin and Lucy, they are both Ruby rank adventures."

"I saw Lucy, yesterday failing my companion on his test in the adventurers guild," I speak non-chalantly.

Zwain blinks at me before looking back at Lucy again

"Ah! Lucy, you did it again?" He looks at Lucy with a piercing gaze.

"But, he was so young!" She rebates.

"Umm... Morpheus, she has a backstory with young children being adventurers. She can't see young adventurers going on dangerous missions. She did it out of her goodwill, can you ask your companion to forgive her?" Robin asks with pleading eyes.

"You don't need to worry about it, he is a good boy so he won't take it to heart," I reply

"Is that so? Hear that Lucy, you are forgiven. Now cheer up. Listen here Morpheus since yest- mmphmm" Robin tries to speak something but Lucy hurriedly covers his mouth.

"Stop it!! you son of a..." Then she starts to curse Robin.

Ignoring them I turn to Zwain, "If it isn't too much, can I borrow these idiots for a week or two?" I ask what I had in mind for a while.

"You will need their permission; Ask them, not me." Replies Zwain.

"But Morpheus, what's your role in your party? You clearly don't look a fighter but since your observation skills are so strong, are you a lock picker or trap diffuser or perhaps both?" He asks curiously.

" Secret," I reply with a finger on my lips.

The duo stops their bickering and get back up.

"Miss Lucy, there is a way to be forgiven faster" I speak

She looks at me with a confused expression.

"Teach my companion," I say

"No" she refuses, "I don't have time."

I look around, then lean a bit towards her and speak in a low voice,

"I can cure your left eye," I drop a bomb in the conversation.

"Huh!!??" She looks at me shocked. Zwain's smiling face turns serious and Robin puts his hand on the dagger he had.

"Your left eye that has 'Demon burning curse', I have a way to cure it," I speak pointing at her eye.

She looks at me for a few more seconds before asking

"Who are you?" She asks.

The tension in the room starts increasing.

Ignoring her question I stand up and throw a card at her.

"Meet me at this location, all of you can come. I will answer all your questions there." I speak in a serious tone and start to leave.

Zwain's eyes turn green then return to their original colour, then his face turns astounded.

The three look at each other before nodding at something.

"Wait! We will go with you." Speaks Zwain

"Okay" I reply

...

The door opens and Corey is standing in front of the gate with his eyes wide open and mouth so big, that even an egg would fit in it.

"I bought some friends with me," I speak with a smile on my face.

Robin, Zwain and Lucy are standing behind me.