p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center""…And then I was on my way back when I ran into Lance and Killian." Ace explained to lance and his mother./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"As soon as he got back, after making sure he wasn't hurt, he was made to explain everything that happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""How sure are you that it was the Baruchs behind the assassination?" Lance asked, still unable to believe the extent his formers were willing to go to for revenge on two little kids./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I can't be 100% certain, but that assassin definitely mentioned being hired. Between that, Lina's shock when she saw Killian and me, and how they're the only people any of us have annoyed, it's the only thing that makes sense." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I still can't believe they'd go this far, all because two children rejected them." Lance's fists were clenched tight with anger and disappointment as he thought about the pettiness of a family he once respected from the bottom of his heart. "I can't believe I ever trusted them!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Don't worry. I promise to make them pay in full!" Ace's voice and face were eerily calm as he spoke./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ace, I know you're angry and have every right to be. I won't ask you to forgive and forget, but don't do anything silly or impulsive. You have people who love you!" Milianna said earnestly, as she could almost feel the anger being suppressed by her son./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I know, mom. Don't worry. I don't intend to do anything reckless." Ace took a deep breath to calm himself down./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'In my previous life, I probably would've been halfway out the door in a blind pursuit of revenge by now. I guess I really am maturing.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""You're mother's right. The most important thing for you two right now is to focus on the assessment tests in two days. Until then, it'd probably be easier to stay in the inn so as not to draw any more unwanted attention to ourselves." Seeing everyone nod in agreement, Lance smiled and got up to get some more rest./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace and the others barely left the inn over the next few days. Whilst Killian and Lance spent their time resting, hoping to recover as much as possible before the assessment, Ace was diligently training or spending quality time with Milianna./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Two days later, Ace, Killian, and Lance made their way to the city centre from the inn./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I hope Mom's okay." Ace said as he made his way down East Fenlai's Greenleaf Road alongside Killian and Lance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I'm sure she's fine. She understands that if anything was to happen, we stand a better chance of getting away if she's not with us." Lance replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I know. It still sucks, though." Ace said, frustrated at the whole situation. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"As the trio entered the more popular part of the city, they started receiving more eyes on them. From how they were dressed, they looked exceptionally ordinairy, yet the further they travelled, the more frequent the looks became. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"It was starting to make them uncomfortable. Well, most of them, anyway. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I'm so hungry, and that smells amazing! Ooh, so does that… And that!" Ace seemed completely unphased as he kept stopping to stare at the various restaurants they passed en route with lustful eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Killian tried to calm his nerves but being stared at by so many strangers made it difficult. He didn't even have the mind to pay attention to the lavishly constructed buildings like he usually would./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ace, stop messing around. We're almost there." Despite feeling uncomfortable with people staring at them, Lance forced himself to ignore it as he noticed the tallest and most extravagant building on the road./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""So this is the Cathedral of the Radiant Church?" Ace asked as he studied the building that looked more like a small palace than a cathedral./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""The Radiant Church is in complete control of the entire Holy Union. They have six Kingdoms and fifteen dukedoms that fall under their jurisdiction…" Lance said as he looked at ace with an almost pleading expression./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Don't worry; I'll be on my best behaviour." Ace said with a chuckle, understanding Lance's concern./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Will we see the Holy Emperor?" Killian asked excitedly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Haha, Holy Emperor Heidens has an extremely high status. He has the power to get rid of any king in the Holy Union. The reason why the cathedral is the tallest building in the capital is to pay tribute to his status. A man like that wouldn't have the time to watch the assessment of some children." Lance replied with a tone full of respect. It was clear he had a great deal of respect for the church./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"This morning, the entrance to the Cathedral of the Radiant Church was packed with several hundred people. The vast majority of whom were extravagantly dressed noblemen. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Countless carriages filled the space in front of the Radiant Cathedral as the various nobles chatted amongst themselves, waiting for the assessment to begin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"As Ace and his group approached, the wealthy nobles started to take note of their presence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It's the same every year. These country bumpkins come from far and wide to take part in the assessments, only to fail."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Those aren't your ordinairy country bumpkins, Joel."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ooh, Wensworth, you know of them?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I don't know about the other two, but that dark-haired child, he's the one who beat the child from the Baruch family."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""That was him? I heard that Wharton boy could even turn into a Dragon Warrior!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""He did, but he still ended up being no match for that child."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I guess the dragon warriors don't live up to their name after all."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace and his group expected some weird looks, but they definitely weren't expecting to be the sole focus of everyone's attention. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ahh, we don't have time for this; just ignore them. We need to go and register." Ace said as he led the other two to the table near the entrance to the cathedral./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Good morning, sir priests. We're here today to register these two children." Lance said as he bowed respectfully to the elegantly dressed priests before them. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Name?" The priest sat on the left asked impatiently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ace." Ace replied indifferently, ignoring the looks he was receiving from Lance/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Kil…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Killian." Killian mumbled hesitantly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ace? The same Ace who beat Wharton Baruch a few days ago?" The priest on the right asked, clearly having heard of what happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""That's me." Ace replied uninterestedly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Haha, interesting, very interesting." The priest didn't take offence by Ace's attitude. He was well aware that the more talent a child had, the more proud they were. "I look forward to your results. That'll be ten gold coins for each child."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Handing them the coins, Lance led Ace and Killian away./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""What happened to best behaviour?" Lance said, exasperated with Ace's nonchalance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Isn't that the Dragonblood Warrior from the Baruch Family?" A man said, grabbing everyone's attention before Ace could respond./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"As soon as he got back, after making sure he wasn't hurt, he was made to explain everything that happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""How sure are you that it was the Baruchs behind the assassination?" Lance asked, still unable to believe the extent his formers were willing to go to for revenge on two little kids./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I can't be 100% certain, but that assassin definitely mentioned being hired. Between that, Lina's shock when she saw Killian and me, and how they're the only people any of us have annoyed, it's the only thing that makes sense." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I still can't believe they'd go this far, all because two children rejected them." Lance's fists were clenched tight with anger and disappointment as he thought about the pettiness of a family he once respected from the bottom of his heart. "I can't believe I ever trusted them!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Don't worry. I promise to make them pay in full!" Ace's voice and face were eerily calm as he spoke./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ace, I know you're angry and have every right to be. I won't ask you to forgive and forget, but don't do anything silly or impulsive. You have people who love you!" Milianna said earnestly, as she could almost feel the anger being suppressed by her son./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I know, mom. Don't worry. I don't intend to do anything reckless." Ace took a deep breath to calm himself down./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"'In my previous life, I probably would've been halfway out the door in a blind pursuit of revenge by now. I guess I really am maturing.'/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""You're mother's right. The most important thing for you two right now is to focus on the assessment tests in two days. Until then, it'd probably be easier to stay in the inn so as not to draw any more unwanted attention to ourselves." Seeing everyone nod in agreement, Lance smiled and got up to get some more rest./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace and the others barely left the inn over the next few days. Whilst Killian and Lance spent their time resting, hoping to recover as much as possible before the assessment, Ace was diligently training or spending quality time with Milianna./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Two days later, Ace, Killian, and Lance made their way to the city centre from the inn./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I hope Mom's okay." Ace said as he made his way down East Fenlai's Greenleaf Road alongside Killian and Lance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I'm sure she's fine. She understands that if anything was to happen, we stand a better chance of getting away if she's not with us." Lance replied./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I know. It still sucks, though." Ace said, frustrated at the whole situation. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"As the trio entered the more popular part of the city, they started receiving more eyes on them. From how they were dressed, they looked exceptionally ordinairy, yet the further they travelled, the more frequent the looks became. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"It was starting to make them uncomfortable. Well, most of them, anyway. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I'm so hungry, and that smells amazing! Ooh, so does that… And that!" Ace seemed completely unphased as he kept stopping to stare at the various restaurants they passed en route with lustful eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Killian tried to calm his nerves but being stared at by so many strangers made it difficult. He didn't even have the mind to pay attention to the lavishly constructed buildings like he usually would./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ace, stop messing around. We're almost there." Despite feeling uncomfortable with people staring at them, Lance forced himself to ignore it as he noticed the tallest and most extravagant building on the road./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""So this is the Cathedral of the Radiant Church?" Ace asked as he studied the building that looked more like a small palace than a cathedral./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""The Radiant Church is in complete control of the entire Holy Union. They have six Kingdoms and fifteen dukedoms that fall under their jurisdiction…" Lance said as he looked at ace with an almost pleading expression./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Don't worry; I'll be on my best behaviour." Ace said with a chuckle, understanding Lance's concern./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Will we see the Holy Emperor?" Killian asked excitedly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Haha, Holy Emperor Heidens has an extremely high status. He has the power to get rid of any king in the Holy Union. The reason why the cathedral is the tallest building in the capital is to pay tribute to his status. A man like that wouldn't have the time to watch the assessment of some children." Lance replied with a tone full of respect. It was clear he had a great deal of respect for the church./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"This morning, the entrance to the Cathedral of the Radiant Church was packed with several hundred people. The vast majority of whom were extravagantly dressed noblemen. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Countless carriages filled the space in front of the Radiant Cathedral as the various nobles chatted amongst themselves, waiting for the assessment to begin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"As Ace and his group approached, the wealthy nobles started to take note of their presence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""It's the same every year. These country bumpkins come from far and wide to take part in the assessments, only to fail."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Those aren't your ordinairy country bumpkins, Joel."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ooh, Wensworth, you know of them?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I don't know about the other two, but that dark-haired child, he's the one who beat the child from the Baruch family."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""That was him? I heard that Wharton boy could even turn into a Dragon Warrior!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""He did, but he still ended up being no match for that child."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""I guess the dragon warriors don't live up to their name after all."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Ace and his group expected some weird looks, but they definitely weren't expecting to be the sole focus of everyone's attention. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ahh, we don't have time for this; just ignore them. We need to go and register." Ace said as he led the other two to the table near the entrance to the cathedral./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Good morning, sir priests. We're here today to register these two children." Lance said as he bowed respectfully to the elegantly dressed priests before them. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Name?" The priest sat on the left asked impatiently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ace." Ace replied indifferently, ignoring the looks he was receiving from Lance/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Kil…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Killian." Killian mumbled hesitantly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Ace? The same Ace who beat Wharton Baruch a few days ago?" The priest on the right asked, clearly having heard of what happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""That's me." Ace replied uninterestedly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Haha, interesting, very interesting." The priest didn't take offence by Ace's attitude. He was well aware that the more talent a child had, the more proud they were. "I look forward to your results. That'll be ten gold coins for each child."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"Handing them the coins, Lance led Ace and Killian away./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""What happened to best behaviour?" Lance said, exasperated with Ace's nonchalance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;""Isn't that the Dragonblood Warrior from the Baruch Family?" A man said, grabbing everyone's attention before Ace could respond./span/p