Chapter 223: To Move the Plot

With a thought, Ned withdrew Ser Edwin's Personal Token out of his pocket dimension.

He then slid it across Roy, who—by the looks of his glinting eyes—were eager to get a hold of the Knight's Token.

"Were you two close?" Ned said, also eager for an answer. 

"No," Roy said, with a slight hum. "But we respect each other. In terms of rank."

"And how about Testa?"

"Kid. Could you at least put some honorifics when speaking of someone older than you?"

Ned shrugged. Instead, he said, "Will it help me gather information about the Marks?"

"Fair enough," Roy said, as his eyes squinted to examine the Token leaving Ned with a shrugged shoulders.

Ser Edwin's Token was made of unknown material (just like his master's token) with a crowned dragon embracing a shield. Shield looked regal it shone with light from the mana stones. It was as if the Token was pulling the light off the mana stones they emit.

Roy turned the Token. He nodded seeing feathered wings coiling another shield and inside this shield was a crown that belongs to the current King.

Roy arched a lip seeing the crown in the most devious way. He shook his head as if trying to forget the things that that had happened in the past.

He then extended the Token to Ned.

"Inject your mana."

Ned didn't hesitate. As he injected his mana, Roy's eyes went wide too much it almost fell its sockets.

"Y-your," he said, "H-how? How did it become so pure?"

Roy's arms trembled as Ned's mana circulated to the Token and some part of it touches his skin.

How would he answer him? Of course, he can't tell him that he was a combination of different species, with Terran ( human) blood being the main ingredient. Instead, Ned shrugged it off. There were things that he needed to keep secret. Luckily, Roy was not arrogant about this kind of thing.

The tip of his horns flashed red as though iron was hitting it with a hammer against an anvil. He shook his head, then the flashing red dimmed off.

"How many spells can you conjure?" He asked instead.

"One?" Ned replied.

Well, two if I include Egnious. Three if utilities like Inspect and Detect were to include. Ned thought but almost jumped off the chair hearing Roy with a loud cry.

"Only one?!"

Ned nodded.

"Who is your Master?"

Ned was taken aback. It has been long since Ned was asked by his Master's name. Should he?

Should I? He thought. Should I tell him about Master Will? Maybe I should, he might know him.

"Master Will," Ned said, eventually, after a moment of eyebrow frowning.

Roy stopped. Whatever he was doing, he stopped. The token he held shone blue and white and yellow, but he stopped as Ned's words were registering to him. "Master Will," he muttered. "Will. Will." His jaws opened as if humming. "Will. Well," he then cried. "I don't know such a name."

Ned was taken aback, he almost fell off his chair underneath.

Trying to control himself, Ned gestured to the token.

"Yes," Roy said. "I almost forgot."

Well, you did forget, Ned thought with a shake of his head.

Roy flipped the Token. Rolled it over his palm, rubbed it with his fingers. For a long moment, he decided to smell it.

So this is what a Burner could do to you? Ned sighed and hoped Roy could give a proper answer.

"Well," Roy said. His eyes glittered looking at Ned. As if Ned was a toy, and Roy was a kid who saved money to buy him. "It's your lucky day, kid."

"Why?"

"First, tell me your name."

At first, Ned seemed to be confused as to why the human-o-beast was asking for his name.

Impatient, Roy cut off Ned even before he could say anything.

"Listen, kid—no. Look at me."

Ned heeds for his request. He looked at Roy.

"I may not look like it anymore because... Of all this"—his finger circled all over his face—"but, I am once Edwin's Captain. I thought him things even his Master forgot to do so. Or wasn't able to do so. Now, do you want to learn more about the Mark?"

Of course, Ned wanted to. But at what cost? He simply nodded.

"Then," Roy said. Again, humming as if singing. "Tell me your name I want to know."

"Ned."

"Ned?"

"Ned Strat," he said. Ned felt relieved that eventually, he could utter the name his master given to him. Ned could hear his heart with a lub-dub, lub-dub sound resounding in his ears. Ned smiled, forgetting the weight he was carrying even just for a moment.

"Ned Strat of?" Roy asked more. "Do you belong to any House? If so? What?"

Ned nodded and said, "Sskat." He paused. "I'm currently in a House I created with the help of the House of Woods. As you can see, my current situation is... Something not a 14 year-old-kid like me should have."

"I get it," Roy said. "The Mark, things like that. Anyway, Ned of Sskat. As I have said before, it is your lucky day. But... But, if we do this right, we might. Okay, just maybe, maybe we could get you inside the Royal Library."

Now that was something Ned had been waiting for. Something that could move the plot of his life. He was eager. He couldn't hold it. He leaned forward waiting for Roy's next words.

"For a kid like you," Roy said. "You are too young to be burdened by the secrets of this world. But, don't worry, we will make sure you are ready for anything."

The next words were nothing. It was silence beyond silence. Ned waited.

"You will have two months before the next Hunter Examination. So we need to start. Now, if possible, but tomorrow is feasible." He paused. Ned could hear the humming of his words. "Ned Strat of Sskat. You will become a hunter."