Chapter 2 - First Blood

"Desmond, you're home early.", his Father said while staring at the view outside of their balcony.

"Yes father. I have just returned from my mission at Hunter's Ridge.", Desmond answered proudly.

"Good. Take a bath and prepare for dinner."

Desmond bowed his head and closed the door gently.

While walking to his room his mother gave him a questioning stare and Desmond responded with a subtle smile and nod and proceeded to his room. "Finally, that annoying little brat is out of our lives!" Desmond screamed into his pillow with excitement. He will now be the sole heir of the Vanguard family and will be set for life.

Meanwhile, Verde and Charles are still at the ruins.

Charles is feeling his new body. It's small and quite fragile but it'll have to do. 3000 years of sitting and maintaining a spell has made even his soul weak. He checked his new body's capacity and potential and he smiled with satisfaction. Verde's body is full of vitality and has a significantly large Mana Shell.

"What a great body, a large Mana Shell and great vitality. You could've been a top notch Magic Swordsman Verde", Charles exclaimed.

"You will keep your promise right?", Verde asked timidly.

"Of course child. I, King Charles Heinrich, invoke the spirits of the abyss to grasp my heart if I break my word.", Charles cast a binding spell on himself and dark veins appeared on his left chest near his heart.

"W-what did you do?", Verde asked worriedly.

"I cast a binding spell on myself to prove to you that I don't and will never go back on my words.", Charles's eyes were glowing with conviction.

Verde understood quickly that this person is trustworthy and kind, that he should be by his side no matter what. "Okay. I understand. We should get back to mapping out the ruins. My father will be back soon.", Verde's voice is calm and collected now. It shows a sign of maturity despite his young age.

After a few minutes...

"Verde, come out! It's time for your assessment.", a growling voice resounded throughout the ruins.

"Here father, I am done.", Charles showed his work to his father.

His father carefully examined the map and noticed something was wrong. "Verde, this map says that there is a stairway where we stand but there clearly is none. You will spend the night here and I will collect you tomorrow morning." His father was obviously disappointed.

"Wait father, I can prove to you that this map is indeed correct and complete."

His father gave Verde a curious look. "Alright, prove it to me child", he asked with authority.

"Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. Sands of time hear me and trust. Erodo sandarium!" Verde chanted a spell and his eyes glowed with mana.

The sand shifted under their feet and slowly revealed a hidden portion of the ruins that was buried underneath. It was some stairs connecting into the main hall but due to time the passage had collapsed.

Verde's father was stunned and amazed. Not only did his son discover a new part of the old ruins but also has the potential to become a magic swordsman. His amazement was evident and as soon as he realized this he composed himself and turned to Verde.

"Well done Verde. You pass. Let's go back."

"Yes father", Verde bowed to his father and got onto the back of the horse.

Charles was very happy. Verde's body was capable of casting a spell even without a magic circle inscribed onto his body. Magicians usually have magic circles inscribed on some part of their body to fully utilitize the mana in their bodies. This also represents the level of competency the user has.

"I need to inscribe a magic circle soon to fully make use of this body", Verde whispered onto himself.

While all if this was happening, because Charles has transferred into Verde's body, the spell that binded the Demons to be locked infinitely in a time loop has started to break. This means that their demonic powers have started to leak little by little.

Once Verde has gone home he was immediately sent by his father to take a bath and to rest. Tomorrow will be the welcoming ceremony for children that will enlist into the Imperial Army. The Imperial Army is the first line of defense of the nation against any threats. They are also the lowest ranking military troops and are responsible for recruiting and maintaining the numbers of armed defense forces of the country.

Once morning comes, Verde immediately fixed himself up for the welcoming ceremony and sat at the dining table for breakfast. His father was already seated at the helm of the table reading what seems to be a large piece of paper with the latest events from their city.

"What are you reading father?", Verde asks.

"Don't you see? It's a newspaper, child.", his father answered as he flipped to the next page.

Charles was confused. He has never seen anything like this before. He closed his eyes and concentrated his consciousness onto his soul to speak to Verde.

"Verde, wake up." Charles patted the child on his shoulders.

"Just give me 5 more minutes.", the child said with his eyes still closed and turned away from Charles.

"Get up!", Charles tossed the child and Verde simply floated.

"Fine, fine. What is it?", Verde said half yawning and rubbing his eyes.

"What's a Newspaper?" asked Charles.

"You don't know what a Newspaper is?"

"No, I don't. That's why I'm asking"

"It's basically a small collection of events that happen around the city or the continent. It usually has the most interesting stories at the front page." Verde explained in detail.

"I see. That's a very useful tool. Thank you." Charles quickly said goodbye and returned his consciousness.

At the dining table, Verde sat up and asked his father politely.

"Father, may I read the newspaper as well?"

"Hmm... Sure, after breakfast." his father replied.

Verde sat quietly and ate all his food. Today was special because they will be going to the capital. Today is the day he enlists into the Imperial Army.

"Verde! Come, let's hurry or we'll be late to the ceremony." his father shouted outside the house.

Verde came rushing downstairs.

Verde wore a brown and blue leather chest piece and black boots. A small scabbard is fastened at his side and a sigil of the Vanguard family is engraved on the hilt of the dagger.

Verde quickly jumped up to the carriage that will take them to the Capital.

"Verde, do you still remember what I said about the Imperial Army?" his Father questioned him with a stern look on his face.

"Yes, Father. Always keep a low profile. Tall trees are cut down first"

"Very good. When you arrive at the Capital Hall, look for Aunt Imelda immediately and she will take you to the assessment grounds."

Verde nods in acknowledgment and his Father never spoke until they arrived.

"Here we are son. Don't be a disappointment." His Father's last words. Cold and distant, and not expecting much.

Once Verde gets out of the carriage he immediately heads to the Capital Hall. He's steadily staying near the side of the road, close to the stalls and buildings when he was suddenly tugged from the side into a dark alley.

"Give me all your belongings and you'll be able to see your mom and dad." A low growl and threatening voice spoke from behind Verde.

Verde felt a sharp object pushed onto the side of his neck. A knife. Newly sharpened. This guy knows his stuff.

"I-Im sorry mister. I only have this dagger with me." Verde answered sounding scared.

The criminal looks at the dagger and sees that it looks quite expensive.

"Alright I'll be taking that now. Don't move or you'll be fed to the dogs." the criminal slowly reaches for the dagger and slightly releases pressure from holding the knife.

Verde takes the opportunity to head butt the thief on the chin stunning him. Then he takes the dagger quickly and throws it up.

"From sand to soil, from soil to rock, from rock to mountain. Grande Masso!" Verde quickly chants a spell to make the dagger a thousand times heavier and it quickly fell down into the thief's skull causing instant death.

"You should always have your victims drop the items you want and not take them immediately. But I guess this advice is useless for you now." Verde smirked and fixed himself up and picks up the bloody dagger, cleans it with the clothes of the man he just killed, and walked away.

Map of the Capital:

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