Condition Part II

“I’m a Thunder-Wielder.”

Arias’ short reply came as a shock for both of his parents again. The Thunder Magic – these were words that they had heard before, along with tales about Thunder-Wielders. However, neither of them had seen someone who was a Thunder-Wielder before. Although Thunder was an element that could be found in nature, nobody had ever met a person who could control it. Aside from Earth, Water, Air, and Fire, the two of them had never seen a mage who could wield the power of another element before.

Arias’ answer brought with it so many more questions, and the three of them spent a long time talking about everything. Arias told his parents that he received some guidance from a mysterious mage not long ago. This mage was the one who helped awaken the Thunder element inside of Arias and also taught him several fighting techniques, but the mage told Arias to keep this a secret. Arias thought that this was the best solution for everything. Since he had already made up a story about a potion-brewer master, it should not be too bad to create another non-existent master. Also, this was probably better than telling them that he was a soul that possessed this body. Just imagining the horrified look that Maria and Albert would give him was enough to make Arias feel a pang in his chest.

“Can you tell me the name of your master? Perhaps he is someone I know.”

Albert inquired. He had become more composed than a moment before. But his heart was still beating heavily inside his chest due to excitement and delight.

“Tanos. That was the name he told me.”

With much time to think, Arias unintentionally used the name of his old self to create the identity of his master. But it was not exactly a lie to say that Tanos was his master. In a way, his old self could be considered a master of his current self as well. Every skill and knowledge that he had now came from the memory of when he was still called Tanos.

“Doesn’t sound familiar at all.”

Albert rested his chin on his hand with a thoughtful and wondering look on his face. After that, he continued to question Arias about many things out of curiosity.

“Enough, dear. This is your son, not some kind of prisoner. Stop asking him so many questions!”

As Arias’ head was just beginning to hurt from answering all the questions, Maria interrupted loudly as if she could read his expression, and that made Albert stop all his questioning immediately. The sight that Arias saw made him wonder if this was really the same man as the one who was releasing murderous intent like he wanted to kill Merson this morning.

“Father, Mother, there’s another thing I’d like to ask of you. I would like to keep this a secret until the day of the Tournament.”

The three of them had talked until the sun nearly disappeared behind the horizon. Before his parents could leave, Arias had asked them to help keep this a secret until the time was right.

“You’re joining the Tournament? Do you know how dangerous that Tournament is? If something went wrong it would lead to more bad than good results. It won’t be too late to think about this after you’ve become a bit stronger. The Hargen holds this Tournament every year.”

The first request from Arias, they could easily comply. However, once Maria heard that Arias was going to join the Tournament which will be held in three months, she quickly warned him out of concern. She strongly refused to let her son do something that risky. She may be glad that he had become a mage like other people, but she knew that Arias’ power was still too weak compared to young people of the same age. Normal mages started their training as they reached the age of twelve. Arias who started at the age of sixteen was late compared to other mages. However, Maria forgot about one thing: although Arias’ journey as a mage had started less than a month ago, he had already become an eighth-level neophyte.

“I will not stop you from joining. However, I do have one condition.”

Albert lifted the corner of his mouth into a cunning smile.

“Dear, our son is still a neophyte. There are some young mages who are almost on the adept level. How would our son be able to fight them? I certainly won’t allow this!”

Maria quickly objected in a stern voice. She threw Albert a disapproving look.

“Let me finish first, Maria. Arias, if you are able to become a second-level acolyte within three months, I will allow you to enter the Tournament.”

Upon hearing what Albert said, Maria who had been giving him a disapproving look quickly changed her expression. A small smile appeared at the corner of her lips as she thought about how cunning her husband was today. It was almost impossible for Arias to become a second-level acolyte within three months.

For an eighth-level neophyte to become a second-level acolyte, the most difficult part was not to move from the eighth to the ninth level but to push themselves past the neophyte level. To push themselves through this phase, even a gifted mage would need months. As for normal mages, it could take years. This ‘bottleneck’ phase that existed between each rank of mages was the most difficult point to go through and it required a great deal of time. Not to mention that Arias had to ascend from the first to the second level of an acolyte as well. She knew that Albert’s condition was intended to make Arias give up on joining the Tournament.

“What do you say, Arias?”

Albert smirked as he asked Arias who seemed to have gone a bit quiet. He was hoping that the obstacles he was giving Arias would become a motivation that enabled his son to push through it within three months, not to discourage him as Maria thought. He knew that the mysterious mage Arias told them about would be around somewhere to help his son. Although Arias did not say anything about it, there was one thing Albert suspected: the reason that Arias who was powerless could become an eighth-level neophyte in less than a month must have something to do with this mage named Tanos.

“Alright, Father. I accept your condition.”

Arias raised the corner of his mouth in a small smile. He met Albert’s gaze for a moment as if to challenge that condition. When his lips curled up like this, his smile looked almost exactly like Albert’s. In three months, he would surprise the two of them again. In the Tournament three months from now, he would make them proud; it was something that his old self was barely able to do. He did not know when it happened, but their happiness had become the source of his happiness as well.