Chapter 22: New Mastery

"Why one?" Eli was confused now because the person who gave this technique to him was clearly in 3rd form in Flame Arts and not much old.

"Because I like you, I tell you this but do not ask anyone and say this to anyone, okay?" Rock seriously said.

"Ok" Eli was also serious, 'Wait,..like me...ahh' he was a little traumatized back then so he little backed away from Rock.

Rock didn't say anything about Eli's little move away from him and said,

"This Nex academia is only for those talented people, and 'we' are just byproducts. Even though they never showed any impartiality toward us but on the inside we are nothing but a meat shield to them, no mercy at all.

They only cared for their own agenda and still, they showed mercy to soulless people then they must have some other agenda...or the person who is in charge of teaching the soulless must have higher connections" Rock said with little worry.

"I see, so they only accepted us because of someone and...that's the most they can allow and do" Eli briefed it and asked, "What's with the meat shield thing?"

"That you will know when you become the Third year" Rock smiled mysteriously.

"Even so Eli, you did great with this incomplete technique" Rock praised Eli as he looked at the Mana breathwork technique book.

"Incomplete?" Eli's eyes wide opened.

"Yes, the True power of Mana breathwork is far more dangerous than you think. Even I can tell there was nothing much in this book and I am even surprised that you mastered the 1st form with little knowledge...hmm" Rock started to rumble.

Eli's eyes turned murderous, 'That fucking bastard, I will tor..no, no I am the one who made that deal' Eli tried to calm himself but, 'Even so you cannot do this to me' Eli still felt he was being cheated even though Eli was the one who cheated.

"Where can I find the complete technique?" Eli questioned.

"ah...you cannot" Rock threw the book to Eli.

"Why?" Eli caught the book.

"Because this technique is too old and not many people have the complete version but except Royals and the Nex academia; well Royals...you know...

and as for the Nex, you can find it in Nex Library only but only Nex students can be allowed to enter Nex Library.

Hmm...some black market and auctions will have that but the cost would be enormous" Rock explained while talking about dark things without considering he should be teaching something good.

"Is that so?..." Eli was dejected and after then regained his confidence, "Well, All I have to do is be in the Top 10 in the Inter-division competition".

Rock looked at Eli with weirdness.

"What, old man? You think I can't it?" Noticing Rock's look, Eli's eyes twitched.

"Well, I don't want to shatter your confidence but before entering Nex Academia everyone was just an amateur but hereafter they will hone their skills and improve like any others and even you felt their improvement over the last month...

Considering soulless, you will be the only one fighting against them....and with skills like yours, there will be a chance that you may not win, brat" Rock said hesitantly.

"It's fine, what will happen it will definitely happen unless someone changes it" Eli just waved his hands 'No need to worry'.

Rock didn't say any more just pondered, while Eli thanked him and was about to leave but Rock threw a book at Eli.

"Hmmm?" Eli looked at the book and shot Rock a questioning glance.

"It's my investment, Eli" Rock said casually.

"Hmm...I still don't understand" Eli still confused.

"sigh, as I said before I have taken a liking to you..."

"WAIT A DAMN MINUTE, I am interested in an old man...no, I'm not interested in any man at all" Eli shouted as his life depended on it.

After some time Rock finally understands what's the problem and started to laugh, "haha...haha...I am not literally mean that Eli, it is just a metaphor."

"Even so don't say it like that" Eli hugged his shoulders. Eli felt goosebumps just thinking of him and old man ki...blarg.

"haha...well then let me explain, you want to make the girls fall in love with you, right?" Rock asked amusedly.

"Yes, kinda" Eli scratched his head.

"My youngest daughter is currently studying in the Nex and you are an interesting fellow, so I thought why not pair up these two?" Rock said small smile.

"You? You do know that I am Soulless, right?" Eli shocked.

"Yes, I may not know many things about you, but I can feel you are the most suitable person I have seen so far even. Even If you are soulless, so what? One of my wives was also soulless but she and I love each other dearly." Rock said with melancholy.

"Even so..." Eli tried to say something but,

"I know, I am not forcing you or anything and I know the fact that you will die before her and that will hurt her but unlike me, she will live with that she is a strong girl after all.

I can feel you will take good care of her and also you passed all the conditions.

So If you like her..No you will like her, all you have to do is make her fall in love with you" Rock with a small smile.

"Is that so?" Eli didn't know what to say even though It kind of felt forced but he did know about Rock few things.

"Don't worry about it. This old man has good eyes, so I don't want to miss such a wonderful son-in-law. We do have time, so I will arrange some time for you guys and I will tell you after you are in top-10.

That aside, you have not mastered any fighting technique or weapon mastery. So that book contains both fighting styles: hand-to-hand combat and weapon mastery: kyoketsu-shoge.

I don't have a weapon technique for your Tritent, those are rarely used nowadays and you can only learn it in the Nex, so just learn this weapon mastery for now and it will be useful when the time comes; I am not teaching you anything, you have to learn it by yourself for that you can take whole and no one will ask you any question" Rock said proudly as he maintained his words.

Eli looked at Rock few seconds and with a slight bow,

"I don't know what you had in your mind to say this to me without consenting your daughter but I really happy that you trusted me, so 'Thank you'" Eli thanked him from his heart and left.

Rock after Eli disappeared, said sadly, "I may not know what happened to you but those eyes yours sometimes reminded me...they are the same as mine when I lost all my loved ones. So I just hope you will live a..." Rock rumbled.