Chapter 201 - Allocation (1/2)

Chapter 201: Allocation

The Castle appeared overhead within a sky of solid gray. Rain had yet to form within the thick clouds, but I could feel the moisture on my skin and clothes and the dense water mana around me as I neared the flying structure’s base.

The soldiers on flying mounts guarding the floating fortress gathered around me.

“General Arthur!” they saluted in unison before making a path in the sky leading to the landing dock.

I mustered a terse nod at the squad before landing, taking one last look back in the direction of the Wall as the gates rolled shut.

The workers that were in charge of keeping the dock and all of the artifacts in place to keep it functioning and properly warded in defense stopped what they were doing and immediately scrambled around me in salute.

“Proceed with what you were doing,” I stated, motioning them away. I continued walking, my clothes and hair dripping with water from the clouds until I spotted two familiar girls that appeared close in age. A smile tugged at my lips a the sight of them.

Ellie stood tall with chestnut eyes glowing with confidence. Her ash brown hair that flowed just past her shoulders was a sore reminder of our father, who I had just met and argued fiercely with.

Standing next to my sister was a girl more unique. She looked a bit younger than Ellie, but her glimmering yellow eyes radiated a sense of maturity. A curtain of pale wheat hair draped over her slender figure which was shrouded in a black dress shining like fine obsidian. Matching her attire were two jagged horns that jutted out from the side of her small head. What made her unique wasn’t the fact that she had horns, but the fact that she was actually an asura, a dragon, and—most importantly—my bond.

My sister waved before trotting happily toward me with Sylvie in tow. My bond took hesitant steps, but her movements had become much more fluid in the few days since we’ve been apart.

“Welcome back,” my sister greeted. “Seeing as how your entire body is drenched, let’s just pretend like we hugged.”

“I’m not one for pretending,” I said deviously before pulling my sister into my arms.

“Gah! I just bathed!” she protested, struggling from my grasp.

After soaking my sister to a satisfying degree, I let her go and turned to my bond. I tousled her light hair, which felt almost sharp to the touch. “I see that my fearsome dragon is growing up to be a healthy young girl.”

Despite my light-hearted jokes, Sylvie’s large eyes only narrowed as she regarded me with concern.

We’ll talk about it later, I sent to her, cursing the inconvenience of our telepathic link at times.

My bond let out a sigh and patted my arm. “Welcome back.”

“It’s good to be back,” I said to both of them.

“So how was your mission? I want to hear all about it,” my sister asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

As Ellie improved her skills in magic and archery, I could tell she was yearning more and more to be out on the field to prove herself.

“I’ll tell you all about it later,” I promised. “But first, I need to report to the Council.”

After conjuring a simple wave of heat to dry myself off, the three of us left the crowded room that had become uncomfortably silent due to my presence.

As soon as we stepped out, I could almost feel the workers relaxing as they began picking up where they left off.

“I broke into light red stage while you were gone,” my sister declared proudly. “That, and because of my daily training regimen with Boo, probably makes me a pretty competent conjurer for my age. Even Commander Virion complimented me on my skills, saying that I might even be able to skip the mandatory training for the soldiers.”

Every time my sister brought up her enthusiasm in joining the ranks of the army, I felt immediately inclined to intercept her. This time, though, I gave her a friendly smile and nodded—the most supportive response I could give.

Meanwhile, my bond walked silently beside me, her concentration still on the action of walking bipedally. I could feel mana practically bursting out of her small body as she used magic as a crutch until she has full control over her body.

Still, Sylvie’s acclimation to her human form had vastly improved since the last time I had seen her, which was just a few days before. I could tell she was doing her best so that she could join me on missions as soon as possible.

“You know, Princess Kathyln has been really helpful too. She’s been sparring with me and helping me out with some intricacies of mana manipulation,” my sister chattered on, skipping ahead and walking backward to face me as she talked.

“Oh, really? You know I could always help out with teaching magic when I’m free,” I replied. “I was an official professor at Xyrus Academy after all.”

“For like… a semester,” my sister reported with a smirk.

I waved her snide comment away. “A professor is a professor.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I feel like learning from you will just discourage me more,” she chuckled.

“What?” I blurted, surprised. “Why would you be discouraged?”

“I know we’re five years apart, but we still share the same blood,” she answered, turning around, so her back was to me as she walked properly. “Seeing as how you’re already a white core mage on top of being a quadra elemental, I’ll probably just start comparing myself to you every time you teach me magic.”

My sister’s chirpy attitude dampened and I found myself staring at Sylvie in hopes that she had a way to solve the mess that I just created.

My bond raised a brow at me before walking up to match pace with my sister.

Sylvie patted Ellie on the shoulder. “It’s okay. Your brother’s talent is considered an anomaly even amongst asuras. Don’t compare yourself to a freak like him.”

I scratched my cheek. “Freak is a bit much, isn’t it?”

My sister looked back over her shoulder with a smirk. “No no, I think ‘freak’ describes you perfectly in this regard.”

***

We reached the meeting room after parting temporarily with my sister. I wanted some time to talk more with my bond—about the changes in her body now that the seal had been broken—but some obligations that had to be fulfilled.

I locked gazes with the two guards standing on either side of the entrance and they, in response, clicked their heels together and saluted at our arrival before letting us in.

Sitting directly in view of the entrance was Virion, who turned eagerly in our direction. His face lit up as he got up from his seat. “Arthur, you’ve finally arrived!”

“Commander,” I greeted, keeping formalities in public. Sylvie opted for a slight dip of her head.

“Sit,” he motioned, looking off to the side with a grin on his weathered face.

I turned to see what he was looking at to see the rest of the Council and one familiar face that I hadn’t expected to see.

Twiddling his beard—looking bored out of his mind—was Buhndemog Lonuid, my former dwarven magic teacher.

“Ho. If it isn’t the young lance,” he greeted monotonically.

“I see the meetings have been taking a toll on you,” I replied with a grin that mirrored Virion’s.