CHAPTER 13 BACK

As he was lamenting at his stupidity, Garen suddenly felt massive waves of energy surrounding him. The mana suddenly became more vibrant and clear. The mana surge out and washed all over him. They seem to cling to him for a while before drifting off to other place. He seem to have developed affinity with them.

Not only did the mana in the atmosphere become more vibrant, even the dispersing soul energy within him had a massive surge. He turned his soul eye to within himself. The soul energy traveleved through his body,and washed over every single part of his flesh. The energy seem to ingrain itself into his body and after completing a circle, came back to rest at his temple.

He seem to be far more sensitive to mana than before. This came at a total surprise to him. Though he felt the spirit stats was related to his training, he never thought it would actually be so involved. The spirit stats isn't expensive for nothing, it was really worth the 500questpoints. An increase in his spirit stat will increase the speed at which he learn sorcery.

Garen couldn't help but look closer at the eye of soul under his skill. The eye of soul is really fascinating and also important to him. He wondered what changes would occur if he increased his soul eye skill. Though it seem irresistible to him, he didn't want to waste the questpoint for something that isn't cost effective. He can't be sure what changes will occur if he increased the skill. And also, he haven't received any mission for a very long time and he didn't know when next he would get one so questpoint are limited resources for now. He couldn't gamble it away.

Though that said, he felt there were still quite some attributes that needs some improvement. His strength is his weakest stats and could use some powering. His agility and physique should only be around 0.3 to 0.6 lower than those of his age, something he could deal with.

Though he really wanted to splurge, surprisingly, he actually had enough willpower to hold himself back from spending his questpoint. It seems the spirit stats don't only affect his affinity with mana and other energy, but also increase his willpower and who knows what other things it also increased.

He felt an increased urge to see what more the system can do. It kept on bringing in surprise everytime. He couldn't help but fantasize what other benefits he could squeeze out from it.

While contemplating about his system, he heard cheers outside. He figured out that the groups must have returned back home. He couldn't help but go outside. Olauf must be among them. That frightening guy and old bahil could be considered as only close friends in this little settlement. He couldn't help but miss that frightening guy. After all without him, he might not be alive now.

Walking out of the house, he guessed correctly. The group were back home. The people rushed out from thier homes and surged towards the town hall. They all went about searching for thier relatives to see if they were ale and healthy. The bandits all held sacks that seems to be filled with riches and some even wore extravagant cloths and accessories. A big smile was plastered all over thier face, and Garen wasn't sure if it was the joy of thier new-found wealth or being reunited with thier family.

At some distance from the town hall, a group of kids all sat with all youngman at thier centre. The youth gesticulate widely and swung his hands about. He had an animated expression on his face and he was consumed by whatever exciting thing he was saying. As garen walked closer and soon heard the horrible lie he put together. "uh, you will not Believe how big that convoy is. The convoy stretched as far as the eye could see. The guards numbered in ten's of thousands, they don peerless armour and wield the sharpest blade. But." he stopped. He wanted to keep them in suspense and make the gullible kids worship him.

Soon he got his wish fulfilled. "big brother, please continue, you are killing me with the wait." a kid who couldn't take the suspense any longer couldn't help but plead and grab unto the young man's cloth while giving him a doe eye.

The young man ego was stroked and he couldn't help but feel pleased after all it isn't everyday he receives so much attention; which inadvertently made garen look down on him.

"as I was saying, but even the sharpest blade and the largest army couldn't damp my bravery. I spurred my horse forward and charge straight at them. Though outnumbered and outmatched, none of this put me down. I charged through thier midst and they were thrown into disarray. With a swipe of my sword I cut down my foes left and right." the young man become even more excited as he reached the climax of his tale. He swung around his imaginary sword.

The young man's forehead was beaded with sweat as he panted heavily. Garen couldn't help but see the irony in it. In his mind, he could charge unimpeded through am army, but now in the real world, he was already sweating heavily just from story telling.

Garen lost interest in whatever tale he will cook up. He squeezed himself among the crowd as he tried to search for olauf.

Standing isolated from the rest, the scarred face man fold his hands and kept his heads down. He seems to be feel in thought.

"hey." was the only words that came out of Garen's mouth. He didn't really know what else to say or how to raise a conversation. "hey" olauf replied and soon went back to contemplating.

Garen was ok with thier exchange of hey after all thier interest is completely different. And they both really feel like doing much talking. The boy turned around and slowly walked back to his house. Olauf went after him and as soon as they got away from the town hall. He made his proposal.

"I will teach you. You once asked me to teach you how to be strong right? We since you fulfilled your own end of the bargain, I will likewise do the same." olauf planning said. While expecting the boy to jump up in excitement, the reply he received wasn't something he saw coming.

"thank you, but I don't really have any interest again." the boy's replied stunned olauf. This wasn't how the script should have gone right? Or the he mishear him he poor man thought.

"Why" olauf couldn't help but ask. He saw the thirst for strength in the boy's eye that day. He believed that thirst shouldn't have be quenched so easily. There must be something going on.

"nothing." Garen shook his head. Old bahil warned him not to tell anyone about his training and also warned him from focussing on other things. It is better if he just let olauf think he lost interest. "I just don't feel the need anymore. I am OK with the current simple life."

Olauf looked at the boy mouth wide open. The ambitious boy seem to have suddenly died and another person as taken his place. Maybe I was mistaken. Maybe he really isn't the one he thought.

"well anytime you change your mind, you can come to me." olauf said offhandedly and walked briskly away, they were nothing to say anymore.