Spectral Regalia Resurgence

A few days had passed since Avrin woke up. He could now move around freely and was currently heading towards Forson's home. As he walked, he found the villagers who passed by greeting and waving at him, to which he would greet them back. He also noticed that his sensitivity to the world had increased several fold, almost like a 6th sense.

"This must be because of what happened," he joyfully thought. After reaching Forson's home, the herbalist looked Avrin up and down and nodded. "It's good that you recovered quickly, kid. Take a seat." Soon, they both sat down.

"I always knew you were an unusual kid, even before you memorized the book I gave you. I understood you aren't meant for this village. What happened recently is just more proof that you're meant for greater things! It's a big shame if you continue to stay here even a second longer!" he excitedly spoke.

Avrin was stunned, not sure what had gotten into Forson today. "What do you mean?" His brows furrowed slightly. Forson reached over and took a thin booklet that he gave to Avrin. "I wrote this down in a rush, but it was my experience and understanding of mana. This should help you a lot. You need to understand the principles early. otherwise, if you take the wrong path, it will be too late to change."

Forson continued, "Kid, I heard what happened to the magic beast and how it died. I've seen many things, but never have I seen someone like you who isn't even a mage, being able to kill a magic beast. I'd doubt it if the villagers and your father didn't see it with their own eyes. Even now, I'm a little skeptical, but it's fine. I tried my best to look and think about what might have happened, and I'm fairly certain it either has to do with your bloodline being special, or a sort of unique constitution."

Avrin listened to Forson without interrupting. It's not like he could tell him about his past life and all that; it was just too big a secret. "Take this," Forson said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a palm-sized round sigil, made of an unknown material, and it had an emblem shaped like a hand that held a blue crystal cluster, which gave off a blue glow.

"This is?" Avrin asked with uncertainty, to which Forson replied, "This is an application token. With it, you can apply at the Crystal Reach branch academy in the city. Kid, don't waste this chance. This is really all I can do for you; these tokens even back then were rarities."

Looking at and reaching over to take the token, Avrin was thankful. He didn't really know what else to say, but he looked at Forson with complex emotions. "Why are you helping me so much?" he suddenly asked.

"Heh. Look at me. I don't know how long I have left. I have no legacy, and I'm just a loser. If I can at least have helped to raise a figure that one day becomes a well-respected, powerful mage, I can die without regrets."

Avrin's heart ached for the old man. Forson had been wronged and was too ashamed because of his lack of judgment and being a cripple that he simply vanished. "Thank you, I won't let you down, I promise!" His voice was firm.

"Good kid. Since it's like this, let me tell you a bit more about the outside world. This world is enormous, kid. We are just one region in one direction on a continent. Crystal Reach Academy is one of 4 of the largest, most prestigious academies, so famous that they have an endless stream of applicants that they had to set out branches for those applicants. Only the cream of the crop are going to make it to the main academy. Even just applying for the branch academy requires a token like yours, which can only be obtained by connections or tournament rewards."

Hearing this, Avrin was a little dumbfounded. Such a large academy that was as famous as what Forson spoke of seemed impossible in his mind, but in such a world, it didn't seem as surprising the more he thought about it. "Kid, this is a dog-eat-dog world. Don't trust anyone; learn from my mistakes. Don't hold back and show your talent and find yourself a strong backer. You need to carve out your place in the world. I can't tell you how to do it, only you know. All I can say is, right now we are just country bumpkins compared to those in the city, and they are bumpkins to those in the stronger regions. Only the powerful make the rules!"

Forson's eyes narrowed as he spoke with as much a tone of truth as he could muster. He was afraid Avrin might fall for the same trap as he did or even worse. Avrin didn't ignore this; he could tell the man's sincerity. "I'll be careful. Can you tell me about the other academies?" Forson waved him off. "They aren't really important unless you're in the main academy. Each of them has their own direction of the continent: north, west, south, east. It's to promote more fairness, but they compete."

"Understood. Is there anything else I need to know?" Avrin asked. Forson thought for a moment. "I don't know how much the outside world has changed, so take each step carefully. Things I've stated may have changed. I still need to convince your mum to let you go too," he grumbled.

Avrin suddenly laughed. "You don't need to worry about that anymore. I got her to let me; I'll just have to keep some promises." Forson, hearing this, smiled, his near-ruined teeth exposed. "Good, good! Kid, all that's left is to prepare yourself. The sooner you leave, the more you can learn."

The two then went out to gather herbs while Forson discussed his own experience with mana, which was of help to Avrin in the sense of learning some theory, but it had been a long time for Forson and he couldn't remember properly, so he had little.

Forson explained people become mages by turning the surrounding mana into a condensed form and using it as ink to draw a rune that was bound to their spirit vein. He told Avrin that the most common source of mana was a neutral type with no proper element that was abundant, and mana with elemental energy was rare, some of course more rare than others.

Avrin listened attentively, understanding better. Eventually, he headed home after finishing up with Forson and arrived back in a good mood, having learned quite a bit. "Symbols and letters that hold significance and power, with symbols being harder to create than letters." He remembered Forson had told him that one couldn't draw any random symbol or letter; it had to be one that already existed and held significance. The more the symbol or letter means, the more effective, but also the more dangerous it was to create.

Avrin thought of one other piece of information Forson gave him regarding the subject: that only those super powerhouses in legends or out of this world would be strong enough to create a symbol and letter, and it had to do with melding it into the laws of the universe. But the information he had on that was just too scarce.

Avrin pondered, remembering the being who took him out as a soul, wondering how powerful he was exactly. It also made him wonder about Pathless. When Avrin entered inside, he greeted his mum, who had just finished cooking. She smiled and walked over, hugging him and asking how he felt and how was his time with Forson.

"It's all good. I learned a lot more than I thought I would today," he didn't bring up that he would leave as he knew it would upset his mum, despite her agreeing. "Where's dad?" he looked around, asking.

His mother scoffed. "Your father is out hunting!" Avrin was confused, seeing his mum irritated. "While he's injured?" His mum turned around to prepare to set up plates on the table. "He said he just doesn't feel right doing nothing and lying around. He took his things and snuck out. The only good thing is Forson's ointment works miracles," she complimented, which was rare.

Avrin smiled bitterly, feeling a bit for his dad, knowing he would get an earful later from Avrin's mum. Soon, the two sat down and talked more. Avrin talked a bit about magic; he could see a happy but sad look on his mum's face. "Mum, one day I'll take you to live in a beautiful mansion. You won't have to work; we will have servants to take care of everything."

His mother's smile deepened as she laughed. "Servants and mansion? How could I fit into that sort of life? My family and friends are here; in this village, we all celebrate together and cry together. That life isn't for me."

Avrin was happy to hear this; it just meant his parents were humble. "Okay! Well, I'll one day help the village so it's safer, and not as dangerous!" he promised. A few moments later, his father walked in with some rabbits on his back, his bandages still around his body.

Audrene and Avrin greeted him, and they talked for a bit. Eventually, Avrin went upstairs; it was time for him to attempt cultivation.