Hi guys! Sorry for the late update because I was busy studying, taking tests and play Maple Story (the revamped Zen skills are so awesome that makes me want to keep playing). Anyway, please enjoy~~~
Is the same nightmare again.
She was screaming in pain. Everyone else just stands there, with no expression on their face, watching her die.
Then, she blames me for everything, cursing me, which I know that is not true because I know that she love me and she will never say something like that.
After she died, I woke up, as usual.8:00 A.M. That is the time she passed away. I don't even need an alarm clock to wake me up.
I stand up from my 'sleeping chair' and start preparing breakfast. I don't need to clean myself or change my clothes because they are always clean.
I place the fried eggs, sausages and slices of bread on a big plate and put it on the dining table. Then, I take out two plates from the cupboard and put it on the table.
I start walking towards a room with a pink door and I knock the door.
"Emily, it's time to wake up."
A voice came out from the room, "Hmrgh. I'll be out in ten minutes."
I walk back to the dining room and sit on my chair, wait her to come out from her room in exactly ten minutes.
A 15-year old girl opens the pink door.
"You are 5 seconds late from what you promise. Didn't I teach you to keep promises no matter what?"
"I DIDN'T promise you; I just SAID that I would come out from my room ten minutes later." She walks down the corridor from her room and stand in front of me while talking.
"Today is your 15-year-old birthday, right? Since you didn't keep your promise, then I don't need to keep mine too-"
"I'm sorry Master. I will keep my promise from now on." She instantly kneels down in front of me and begs me.
Why can't I always say no to her? Maybe is because she used the term 'Master'.
"Get up. And don't call me Master, you know that I prefer you call me by my name."
"But feel that I am disrespecting you because you are the strongest mage ever lived and the only mage that is able to battle the Black Mage alone. I like to call you Master is also of course that you are my savior. "
That is a lie of course. And it will always be a lie.
"Call me by my name or you can feast your eyes by looking me eat my breakfast (although I don't need to eat and still can survive)"
"Fine, whatever. Can I have my breakfast right now, Wing?"
"Yes, you may."
I stand up from my chair and walk toward the dining table with her. She keeps smiling when I gave her permission to enjoy her breakfast. Her smile is so pure and I wish I could have more of this moment.
"Before we start your training, run 30 laps on the run track and give me 30 push-ups followed by 30 sit-ups first." That is the first thing I said after we finished our breakfast and walk out from the old wood house.
Her jaw totally drops when I give her the order.
"B-But…"
"Now."
"Hmmph. Fine."
She starts running as she replies me. I can her cursing me under her breath.
She is so childish. But what kind of skill does she want to learn I wonder.
2 hours later.
"I've…I've finished the 'warm-up' exercise." she lies down immediately after finishing her sentence.
I sit down beside her and try asking her what she wants to learn. But I can't open my mouth and ask because that is not who I am.
"Aren't you going to ask me what skill am I going to choose to learn?"
Is she reading my mind? Well, the past her is good at mind reading so maybe—
"It's written all over your face. Fufufu." Said Emily with a muzzled laugh*.
She suddenly sits up and says," I want to learn anti-magic swordsmanship."
I turned my head and look at her face with a cold face. Her words are like meteorites fall from the sky. I understand that she wants to learn anti-magic skills to defeat the Black Mage, but swordsmanship? Where did that come from?
"The other day I saw some samurai looking guy showing off his skills in the market. After sawing those skills, I totally want to become a swordsman that wields a katana with anti-magic skills. I will be so AWESOME. Those boys in the village will finally bow to me! MUAHAHAHAHA! " She keeps laughing like a madman until I snap her out from her imagination.
It's going to be a bit hard to teach her swordsman skills but of course nothing in this world can stump me.
But
"But are you sure about this? Do you really want to become a swordsman?"
"Yes, I do. The Black Mage will definitely be shocked when I use this skill to take him down. "
And he did. He really did. But the way of my thinking really changed huh. I guess living with her might have changed my mind…
No. My objective will never change. I will still get my revenge on this world. But before that…
"Alright. But we don't have the equipment so we will have to go to the blacksmith's place to get the equipment that you will need in your training. After that, we will start your training."
"YAY! Thanks Wing."
"…My pleasure."
X
Kritias. It's been awhile since we last went there to get some equipment and medicines. To be honest, I'm quite impressed how fast Kritias catch up to the world since I seal Kritias in time to prevent the alliance and the people of Kritias working together when the former empress—Aria had visited there.
We've been living in the old wood house on the outskirts of Kritias so we rarely visit there because it's quite far away (by walking that is). I can just teleport to the Kritias Market in a blink of an eye, but I need to give Emily more exercise, so when we reach there is already six in the evening.
"Here's 5 million mesos for you. Go enjoy yourself while I go and fetch your weapons and other equipment. If you feel sleepy, go to the inn near the Market and rent a room for you to rest. I won't be back until all the stuff is been craft finished which might take days."
"DAYS?! How many things do you intend to craft until you need DAYS to finish?" She looked extremely surprised and shouted on my face. I just plug my ears with my fingers until she is done.
"All the equipment from your level to the highest level possible."
"I know that you being a powerful mage earn much money, but all those things would cost BILLIONS! Where'd you get all those money? Or are you just lying to me?" She muster** up her cheeks while finishing her last sentence.
I raise my hands up and point at the banner that is hanging on the entrance.
"What are you doing? Is this your way to say that you are lying?"
I keep pointing at the banner while seeing her eye to eye.
"What the hell are you pointing at…"
She finally turns to her back and sees what I am pointing at. The banner is in red color (background color) and gold color (words color). "Welcome to the 100th Rune Stone Festival!" is the words that are wrote on the banner.
"Th-That is The Rune Stone Festival sacred banner!"
The Rune Stone kingdom of Kritias celebrates it every 15 years when the sacred Rune Stones appear from the ground with many other rare minerals and herbs. The festival lasts six months until the appearance of the Rune Stones stops completely.
"Why didn't you tell me that The Rune Stone festival starts today?"
"I want to give you a surprise."
"Really?!"
"Not really. It's because…" I take out a flyer from my pocket and show it to her, "…of this."
She takes the flyer from my hand and starting to read it out loud.
"The Rune Stone Festival Battle Royale is held by Ranheim Academy. Registration starts from today until the day after tomorrow. Anyone can enter as long as the contestants level is above level 130. Contestants can sign up at the counter outside the Inn. Contestants are only allowed to enter the competition in solo. Contestants will not need to pay registration. Contestants will need to arrive The Coliseum before 8am and show your identity card to guard at the entrance which the clerk at the registration counter will give it to when you hand in your registration form or the guard will not let you go in. The preliminary round will start at 8.30am after briefing the contestants about the rules and we will NOT wait for the contestants that are late. Contestants that are late will be kicked out from the competition instantly. In the preliminary round, contestants will be divided into three groups and a single quest will be given to each group. The quest for the three groups is different. The first 15 contestants that finish the quest will be advancing to the semi-final. The semi-final round will consist 50 contestants which the five spots left empty from the preliminary round will be given to THE FIVE HEROES! OH MY TRANSCENDENT! THE HEROES WILL BE PARTICIPING THE CONTEST!"
I was shocked a bit by the sudden loud reading of Emily, also because that I didn't notice the part that the Heroes will be participating.
Emily continues to read the contents on the flyer, "From the semi-final rounds contestants must fight to the death. Are you crazy Wing? YOU want ME to enter a SLAUGHTERING competition?! You KNOW that I'll puke if I saw blood. Then-"
"Keep reading."
"Fine. A saw-blood-and-puke*** prevent pills will be given to contestants that will puke when they saw blood (since we all usually kill monsters that won't spill blood instead of humans). If contestants died in the battle, the Bishops will immediately end the fight and use Resurrection spell on the dead contestants. Now I feel much more safe. The semi-final round will be held three months after the preliminary rounds. After the semi-final, only ten contestants will advance to the final round. It will be held in the last month of The Rune Stone. The rules for the final round will be given after the end of the semi-final round. As for the prizes, contestants that are eliminated before the final round (in the semi-final round) will be given high experience points and expensive (and rare) potions. The items for the Grand prize, second prize, third prize, fourth prize and the fifth prize and will be revealed in the final round. The prize for the 6th till 10th spot contestants are 10 BILLION MESOS. Wow, the prizes for the competition are really attractive."
"That is because Kritias have many things that other parts of Maple World (and other worlds) don't have and so they are sold at high price. That is why Kritias is now the richest kingdom in all three worlds."
"Now for the rules. Contestants that are caught cheating will be eliminated from the competition and will request to help anything that is needed in the festival until it ends. They will also enter the blacklist of Kritias and cannot get near to The Coliseum which the competition is held until the competition has ended. Contestants are also advised NOT to use skills other than your skills, black magic spells are banned, cannot use cursed weapons, blah blah blah…."
She keeps on saying that until she read the last part.
"…And finally the winner of the contest will enter the alliance and FIGHT ALONG WITH THE HEROES AND THE NEW TRANSCENDENTS OF TIME AGAINST THE BLACK MAGE."
Her hands are shaking when she finished reading the contents of on the flyer.
"A chance…. to fight the Black Mage…." She lowered her head and her hands (it looks like she is going to rip the flyer apart) shaking like an earthquake.
Burst out in 3,2,1. (Covers ears)
"SO FRIGGIN' AWESOME!" Her eyes are literary shining as she holds up he flyer with both of her hands and looking up to the flyer.
She always overreact when she hear or see that there is a chance to beat the Black Mage. It's not because she hate the Black Mage but because she thought she could be famous and rich if she beat the Black Mage (her imagination is quite wild sometimes.)
After she talks to herself for a while (about what she will buy if she gets a reward by beating the Black Mage), she snaps back and asks me that is she really going to enter the contest.
"Of course. This is the chance to move up your level. You do want to defeat the Black Mage right?"
"I want to but I'm only 125 level, the requirement of the contest is 130 level."
"That is why I am going to get you a 130 level weapon that has a 5 level decrease stat to make you look like you are 130 level and sneak you in."
"But….."
"Or you can spend the next 10 years training to reach 250 level and let other people defeat the Black Mage."
"Whatever you say, Master." She kneels down for the second time today in front of me.
"I'll go to Ardentmill now and place my orders for the equipment to Gere. You go and enjoy yourself in the festival. I'll bring our stuff to the Inn when I'm finished." I said to her when she stands up.
"Are we going to stay overnight in the Inn?"
"We will stay until the preliminary round ends. I'll be going right now."
When I turn my back to her, she was standing there making a sad expression. I feel that she has something to say, so I turn my head back and ask her. She smiles forcefully and say that I should go and do what I have to. She also say that she will enjoy the festival and I shouldn't worry her.
Since she says it that way, I turn my head back and start walking towards the portal of Ardentmill.
X
"Nack, give me all the things that are on the list here." As I hand over the list to him.
"No problem boss." He looks at the list for a while and take all the things on the list from his store and put it in a he give me the bag.
"That'll be 8 million mesos.****"
I take the money from my bag and give it to him.
"You are a dense one aren't you Wing?" Gere talks with me as he read through the list.
"…Pardon?"
"You said that she wanted to say something to you no? She must've been trying to ask you about going to the festival together." He starts to write something on a piece of paper at an incredible speed.
"…I don't think so."
"I've been around for a long time and I've seen many things including that cliché scene. Trust me Wing, I couldn't be more wrong."
"…Maybe."
"I know that you have been living in the shadows and doing some magic-related things since Emily died to forget your pain. Maybe you already forget how to try to understand people's feeling and open yourself to them. But the past is already a past. You can't do anything to change what has already been done. You still have a chance to do what you failed to do a long time ago. Stop drowning yourself in the pain of the past and move forward or you will regret it when you came to realize that you had lost everything again." He hand me the paper that he was writing when he finish writing.
"Here's the list of Rune Stones you might want to get if you want the stats on the equipment you asked me to craft. And one more thing Wing…" He put his hand on my shoulder and looks into my eye.
"Value what is in front of you right now. The girl's name is also Emily right? Take good care of her. Don't forget to bring her here to see me once ok? I also missed her." He laughs after finishing his sentence.
"…You'll need to wait a long time for that." I smile at him faintly.
"Being sarcasm eh? See you tomorrow, kid." He added 'kid' purposely.
"…See you tomorrow, Gere."
X
As soon as I left Ardentmill, a person with a black coat bump into me. He didn't say anything and continues to walk forward.
My eyes caught the symbol that is on the person's (coat) shoulder.
It is a crimson sun with an X in the middle of the sun.
It feels like I've I seen that symbol before. My heart starts to feel uneasy.
I quickly teleport back to the old wood house and walk into it.
After I put all the things we need into a bag, I walk towards the living/dining room.
I stop and look at the picture that I put on the table.
It's a picture of Emily and me standing outside the house. She was smiling happily in the picture.
I wonder how long can her smile lasts. I want to keep seeing that smile on her face.
The moment I step out from the house, I heard people screaming and it's coming from the Market.
"Shit-" I instantly teleport to the Market entrance. I saw many people running away from the center of the Market. I quickly run towards there since I can't use teleport in a place full of people.
"Please be safe, Emily."
At the same moment, back at the old wood person that is been observing Wing laugh couldn't wait to taste the despair of the Black Mage again. He turns back and walks into the dark forest and disappear. The black coat he was wearing has the same symbol that the person have in the Market on the back of his coat. The only difference is below the crimson sun symbol, there are two words written there in an ancient language.
Crimson Darkness.
*I'm not sure that is right or wrong. If it is wrong please do correct me.
**If you want to blame me for using the wrong word, just blame Google Translate.
***It refers to whoever that sees blood and will puke. (Hell, that is some nonsense English.)
**** I just randomly put a number since I didn't craft things that are above level 120 and I have no idea how much does the materials cost.
Okay guys that is all for the first chapter. The reason that I use 'Spell 1' instead of chapter 1 is to identify who is using 'I' for the chapter.
Spell - Wing
Magic - Emily
Circle - Evan
And, of course, do forgive me if my English sucks.
The reason I write a story about Black Mage is because I believe that there is always a reason or a story behind a villain, even if he/she is a cold-blooded murderer.
In the next chapter I will be describing the appearance of Wing and Emily.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.
FYI, I seriously hope that the upload of the file will not mess up the words again.
Please review~~~