Chapter 3: The Man In Black (1)
Today marks a full month since Ryan had started training, and the day of Ryan and Edward's final duel before entering Empara City.
The two had already started traveling towards the city while training about a week ago, with them now being about a couple hours away.
The two of them stand facing each other from a far one final time.
"You ready Ryan? Today's the last chance you have to beat me before we make it to Empara City, not like you will though," Edward said in an arrogant, but calm manner.
Ryan just stood quietly, gripping his spear and getting into a battle stance.
Edward just smiled at the silent boy, "Guess you've grown up from your arrogance."
No countdown was needed as the two rushed in, their 597th duel had begun.
Ryan immediately thrusts his spear forward, looking to land the hit as soon as possible. Edward just simply moved out of the way before slamming Ryan with his elbow, sending him back a couple of meters before continuing his assault.
Ryan could only parry the attacks as Edward continued pressing hard. Eventually, Ryan found a potential opening to kick Edward, forcing Edward to withhold his assault to avoid being hit.
As Edward jumped backward, Ryan dashed forward using wind to increase his speed.
"So we're cheating now huh, guess you've given up?" Edward mocked.
Ryan thrusts his spear at Edward again, the latter swiftly dodging.
"Oh please, you've been doing this the whole time," Ryan accused. "You never said anything against using magic on yourself."
Edward just smiled as Ryan tried to slash at him, using wind to move himself away from the attack.
Ryan decided to quit his advance and just retreat before Edward could counterattack, taking a moment to think.
Edward propels himself forward using wind, preparing to beat Ryan in one final attack.
With quick thinking, Ryan leans back, falling onto the ground right before Edward could hit him. Once Edward is above him, Ryan slams his hands behind him to propel himself forward, slamming his feet into Edward's chest.
Before Edward could even register what happened, Ryan attacks him with a barrage of slashes, cutting Edward's cheek a little before he backs away.
Edward wipes the blood off his cheek before smiling, "You're using your head now, it seems like your training has been a success."
Ryan just smiled back at him while clutching his makeshift spear.
"Thank you for all you've done for me, Mr. Edward."
"Don't thank me yet, we still have to get you enrolled at the academy," Edward replied.
"How are you going to do that?"
Edward just put a finger over his mouth.
"That's a secret. Also, throw away that spear, I'll buy you a new one later."
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Empara City, is the capital of the Emparal Empire. A city where you can find people from all walks of life, from the wealthy who live in noble districts to the common folk who live in districts all around the giant city.
Ryan stared at the city in awe, entranced by the sight of the beautiful city.
"This place is amazing! There are so many cool things here!" Ryan exclaimed as he dashed around the streets, looking at different shops with a childlike curiosity.
Edward just facepalmed as he watched Ryan's antics, how could someone so smart and talented act so dumb?
Ryan continued shifting from place to place until he set his sights further into the distance. There he could see a giant white fortress at the center of the giant city.
Pointing towards the fortress, Ryan asked, "Hey Mr. Edward, what's that big castle-looking place?"
"That's the imperial palace."
Ryan tilted his head in confusion, causing Edward to sigh.
"It's the place where the Emperor of the empire lives."
"The Emperor huh? You think I could become friends with someone like that?" Ryan inquired while fantasizing.
Edward promptly crushed his dreams, "A kid like you would get yourself killed as soon as you open your mouth."
"Ack! Can't you let me dream at least?" Ryan pouted.
"Don't care. We need to buy you some clothes before we reach the hotel."
Ryan looked at his clothes, seeing how old and unappealing his shirt and pants looked.
"Right."
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After an hour of shopping, half of it being the two of them just bantering, the two eventually reach their destination.
The Ivory Lotus Inn is a beautiful hotel that was founded 200 years ago. Once starting as a modest establishment, through the dedication of Isabella the founder, it had grown into the most popular hotel franchise in the whole continent and a place frequented by nobles, high-status mages, and merchants alike.
Again, Ryan was stunned by the establishment.
"Am I really allowed to be here?" Ryan asked while in awe.
Edward just patted the boy on the back, "Don't worry about it, as long as you don't mention your origins, you should be fine. Just say that you're my apprentice."
Ryan was a bit nervous but nodded anyway.
The two walk into the hotel, immediately greeted by staff who call Edward by his title, making Ryan a bit uncomfortable.
Ryan just stood there quietly while checking out his outfit. It was a high-quality black coat with a blue neck collar, gold designs could be seen throughout the center of his shirt. Under the coat was a blue shirt with matching designs. He didn't know what to think of it.
"Is this boy with you as well Emerald Knight?" the receptionist asked.
"Indeed he is, this is my apprentice Ryan. He's very talented," Edward proudly proclaimed while patting his head.
Ryan was getting annoyed but decided to just keep those thoughts to himself.
"It's nice to meet you, miss," he said politely.
"Oh my, he's so polite. You've taught him well."
"Haha, thanks."
Ryan just tuned out of the conversation, looking around at his surroundings. The main lobby alone blew him away, there were many lounges and places for the rich to chat. He could hear them talk about topics that he honestly didn't care about, like politics or merchant nonsense.
In the corner, he noticed a young man in all black with white hair. He had a cool, calm vibe around him which made him quite popular with the ladies. After a bit, the man left the group of ladies and walked out of the hotel.
Before the man was out of sight, Ryan told Edward that he had something he forgot to do and rushed off.
He trailed behind the man in black, swiftly moving through the crowds of people into an alleyway. There the man encountered two suspicious individuals in all black with masks, Ryan watched from afar as the three of them exchanged words. The man was visibly annoyed and told them to tell someone to "stop rushing him" and that he would "complete the mission eventually."
Ryan couldn't hear much as he was focused on not being seen by the three. Eventually after eavesdropping for a while, the two suspicious men disappear, as if they were never there.
The white-haired man looked bored as he turned around, looking directly at the spot where Ryan was hiding.
"Come out, you're not slick."
Ryan quickly complied seeing that his cover was blown.
"Guess you caught me," he said casually while putting his hands up.
The bored man looked at the boy up and down before smiling.
"How old are you?"
"Why do you care?"
The man just ignored the question, "I'm 19, just tell me."
"15."
The man, or teen now was a bit surprised.
"15 years old and you're already doing spy work. That emperor sure is desperate," the white-haired teen sighed before unsheathing his sword.
Ryan panicked, backing up a bit, "Hey dude chill, I'm not a spy?!"
The man just jumped forward, trying to cut Ryan's head off. Ryan quickly uses wind to push himself back out of the alley before running away.
The white-haired teen quickly chased after him. The two run through the crowds of people who look on at the sight with worry.
[I'm such a dumbass, why did I think following a dude into an alleyway was a good idea?! Hell, why did I start following him in the first place?]
Ryan swiftly dodged another sword slash, hopping onto the roof of a market stall. The white-haired teen stomps on the ground, scaring civilians and cracking the ground. The teen uses Earth magic to shoot rocks at Ryan, who could only dodge a few of them.
Ryan falls onto the ground, rolling away from a few more rocks before ripping a wood beam from a nearby stall, promptly collapsing the roof of the stall.
People had already cleared away from the area, allowing Ryan to wield the wood beam freely.
"Ha, looks like you're ready to fight now," the teen acknowledged.
"Just shut up and fight," Ryan replied, channeling wind energy around his wooden beam.
The teen looked a bit impressed. The emperor had stepped up his game when it came to spies, this one could put up a fight.
Ryan ran forward, swinging his beam to create a wind slash that the teen easily blocked. The teen's smile grew wider as he retaliated back with his own wind slash, much stronger than the one Ryan made. Ryan barely maneuvered out of the way using wind magic before chucking his beam at the teen, who just stops it easily with his hand.
"You're going to have to try harder than that spy."
"I told you already, I'm not a spy!"
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