1 Inauguration Party
Long long ago, there lived a guy called Tom.
He felt like just another guy in the crowd, he has an ability similar to just another guy in the crowd, and he could very well be replaced with any other guy in the crowd.
Just like that other guy in the crowd, his father did not agree.
Such sentiment is apparent from his very name, Titan Osiris Mairu, taken from god knows which civilization, representing but one singular concept.
Power.
By the way, that name doesn't even include his last name.
His dad is the kind of the guy you think you will see everywhere, but won't.
There is a major difference between all those braggarts and his father.
His father could always back up those ridiculously arrogant brags with power, strength and at times, utter malice.
Yep, you got it right..
His father is a successful high-flier, who broke through the glass ceiling and transformed into new age dragon, or worse, a super successful story. Yes, that's SSS grade success story.
If you did not get it right, don't worry.. You are but like his son.
Our dear Titan is five foot three, fourteen years old, weighs hundred kg.
He decided early on if his father must have a problem with everything that he is, he better give up on matching his expectations rather early than late.
He is one and only stain on his father's stellar life, he knew.
However, he also knew it's better for his father to give up on him matching parental expectations sooner than later, for he did not have it in him to be that guy.
Ah.. also don't worry about his emotional health either, because he has enough allowance to buy emotional health through sweets, delicacies and otherwise.
He has the most expensive clothes, if not the best looking, most expensive shoes, if not the most comfortable, most expensive ride if not the swiftest, on top of all that, he is attending the most expensive school, if not the most respected.
Adventurers Academy for Aristocrats.
AAA, to be short.
As the name implies, it's an adventurers school for the rich and privileged.
In other words, it's the only school where you can buy your graduation, scores and honors brazenly, yet be recognized for those grades .
Now, don't go looking down on the AAA as a crappy school where rich brag about being rich.
There are far too many talented students for you to look down on this school.
After all, aristocrats in the first place are born out of meritocracy.
Most of the rich did not get to the place they are at by sitting in their fancy villas and twiddling their thumbs. Those successful genes did get passed down.
Thus, despite there being a differentiation of AAA gold for aristocrats, AAA silver for common students, the degree value of AAA gold did not go down.
More over, there is one simple reason AAA is not a crappy school.
They allow equal value credit exchange with all the specialist schools. Then there is their one and only original course.
'Beast taming.'
In order to understand why this is so important, and makes AAA such a temptation, we have to go into the history of Arcadia.
Arcadia is a mystical planet where dungeons and spirit beasts exist.
All the people in Arcadia have a status, which they received when they were five. The board tells them where a person's physique may lead with proper training, whether they have magic or not.
Imagine someone telling your parents when you are five...
"Dear Mr. XXX, your child has the ability to become a grand sword master, with a probability of 1%. Please be aware that the '1%' only refers to diligence of your child towards his education. I.e. as long as he works diligently, he has 100% chance of becoming a grand sword master."
What do you think your capable and well earning parents do after seeing that result?
You will not have a single moment of peace since then. You will eat, breathe and live sword from then on.
Thankfully, that is not what Titan's status board said.
It simply said this.
"Absence of mana producing core. Start investing in your child's future. In this land of magic and spirit beasts, the only way he would get anywhere is if he gets acceptable education and sufficient non magical skills."
Obviously, his father refused to accept such an outcome.
He said...
"Titan. Don't worry. Father will find a way to make you powerful."
"But father, I don't mind not having mana. I have enough money to eat and live for the rest of my life happily. Just buy a talented daughter-in-law." Tom answered sensibly.
Yep, slavery exists here, though there are some rules to control abuse in such practice.
"You useless son! How could you say that ?!!! Father is only thinking of what's best for you. No! Do not speak back. You will become powerful. From today on, you will take lessons in swordsmanship, magic and combat." his father decided.
Tom hung his head and followed after his father.
After that, his father spent almost all of his fortune on researching how to make an extraneous beast tamer contract.
After ten years, he succeeded.
And he got a patent on that.
Could you imagine the impact of it? It's the same as penicillin or steam power.
On a planet where 88.8 percent of the people do not have any kind of mana, his father invented a method to bind a beast to people even without mana.
If they did not build a shrine for him, that would be a wonder.
Currently, this is the news all over the planet, how only Goldmedal company in the world sold beast taming scrolls.
Yes, it's called Goldmedal company, no, it's not a pun but his last name.
Yes! You did not read it wrong. Our dear Titan's last name is Goldmedal.
Ergo, his name is Titan Osiris Mairu Goldmedal.
Talk about being tacky..
That is the very reason dear Titan has shortened his name to the very ordinary, perfectly normal Tom, so, there's that.
Now, on to their extraordinary latest invention, which is probably going to lay platinum eggs on top of golden eggs.. It's working mechanism is pretty simple.
Place your beast on the scroll, drop a single drop of blood inside the ring, the contract is formed.
From then on, the beast is yours.
The price is wee bit prohibitive at hundred golds, but not so much that a common man has to go through heaven and earth for it.
A common man would spend ten to twenty years of income for the scroll.
Then there is the price of the beast too.
However, the rich can most definitely afford it.
The scroll might very well become a trend. Probably even beast tamers would like to use this contract instead of directly taming beasts at some point.
Now, the day after tomorrow is the first beast taming class.
His father has intended for him to get contracted with an imperial golden dragon.
Tom has to tame the beast in front of the entire school.
His father repeatedly informed this detail to all the dignitaries attending the current inauguration party.
Titan really hated this part of his father's parties.
He has a thousand other great achievements he can use for show and tell.
Why must his father use him?
they all take one look at him and dismissed him from their minds. It almost feels like his father is proffering him up to sharks.
In order to relieve himself from the stress of having to attend a public event, and in anticipation of future stress he will accumulate from another public event, tom sneaked over to the sweets section.
Now, don't underestimate our little friend.
As long as it is about sneaking food, he can exhibit stealth [Max],firepower [10x].
Soon, he had a pecan pie, red velvet cup cake, tiramisu and mango mousse on his plate.
Only chocolate cake is missing..
He slowly sneaked to the chocolate cake when he heard a familiar voice.
"Did you do it?" a gruff voice asked.
Titan recognized that voice. It's Fenton, he is his dad's subordinate.
"Yes, Boss. I replaced the taming scroll, and changed the conscription on the beast tablet to need mana. Moreover, the beast tablet will release the beast as long as an attempt is made at taming." the voice reported.
"Lower.. Why in the world are you this specific? Do you want someone to overhear and take the words to that greedy bastard? What about funds? And the reporters?" Fenton asked, as they started walking away.
Titan only saw a hand throwing away what looked like a scroll in one of the bins.
He assumed it is the taming scroll they are talking about.
He sneaked over to the bin, and retrieved the scroll.
Despite being in the bin, the scroll remained fairly clean.
After all, This is a five star hotel and desserts came in peanut sized portions, and ramen bowl sized plating.
It's an Yellow scroll, with all the bells and jingles attached to it. It has the silk backing, white smooth paper which felt like synthetic paper, but it is not.
This is called runic paper, and is handmade paper specially imported from mulberry country, from young mulberry trees which are fed only mana infused water, used crystal shards for manure. It is called the highest grade of paper in the world. It's usually used for magic scrolls.
This paper is worth it's weight in gold.
He stuffed the scroll in his pocket, and ate his cakes.
He did not do something silly like going to his father. Why? It's simple. It's his father's problem, not his.
In his opinion, their company would do well to take a couple of hits.
He happily munched on his desserts, only to face an irate butler when he came out from under the table.
"Master Titan.." the butler grumbled at him.
Titan smiled guiltily at him.
The butler sighed and led him to the car.
His father is waiting for him impatiently.
"Titan Osiris Mairu… How many times have I told you social networking is most important for a noble? How could you run away just after greetings? It is important to form relations early on. Do you think father would have come this far without knowing people in the right places?" … his father could have said more, but they already reached their mansion.
"Come with me. We will do a rehearsal of beast taming for your school." his father told him.
His father had him sit in front of a white marble table.
A simple glass plate with clear liquid is arranged in front of him.
"It is fairly simple. First, you add a drop of blood to the detection liquid here. If you have a contract, it will show the beast you have a contract with. Once you have confirmed that, you will place the beast tablet on the taming scroll. Then drop a blood droplet anywhere in the white area." His father explained, spreading out a scroll in front of him.
the scroll is full of runic structures displayed in a ring. His father placed the wooden beast tablet inside the taming scroll, gesturing to the white area inside the ring.
It's a fairly simple process.
"We will be doing this in front of the school assembly.
Titan nodded.
However, inside his head, he is going through a turmoil. As soon as his father explained the process to him, the words spoken by Fenton became clear.
They are going to undermine demonstrations at the school.
Damn.. how should he solve this?
