Cherreads

Chapter 10 - Urgency At Hand

The tavern's doors squeaked open, drawing Aiden's attention back toward the building. It was Rakan, one of Alaric's companions. He approached with a knowing look and said, "Seems our neighbors didn't allow you the joy of sleep either?" referring to the sounds of sexual intercourse that had came from one of the tavern's rooms earlier. 

Apparently, the room Rakan shared with Tam and Ingrid was much closer to where the couple had conducted their passionate affair. 

Aiden was momentarily lost for words, and before he could respond, Rakan continued with another question. "What are you doing out here this early, noble son? Perhaps you're reconsidering the deal you made with Alaric and you want to leave?" 

"No, it's not that, it's just—" Aiden began before a sudden realization struck him, "Oh, you can't see it…" 

A confused expression appeared on Rakan's weathered face. "See what?" 

Aiden was referring to the screen of golden text still floating directly in his line of sight, though apparently invisible to everyone else. 

"Uh, nothing… I'm trying to prepare myself for the dungeon today," Aiden said, attempting to steer Rakan's attention away from his unusual comment. 

Rakan nodded slowly, seemingly understanding, and Aiden noticed that he carried a sword in its sheath. "May I borrow that sword of yours for a moment?" Aiden asked, pointing toward the weapon. 

The confused expression returned to Rakan's face. "What for?" 

"It's been a while since I practiced with the sword," Aiden replied directly. 

"Are you not a mage?" Rakan's expression grew dim with concern. "That was the whole reason Alaric called out to you." 

"I am…" Aiden said, conjuring flames that danced above his right palm, immediately quelling Rakan's rising doubt. He extinguished the fire and turned back to the warrior. "But I also know the way of the sword. Just trying to get into proper shape." 

"Wonder why a magic-wielding noble wants to practice swordwork, but very well—have at it," Rakan said, extending the sheathed blade toward Aiden. 

"Thank you," Aiden said, accepting the weapon and drawing the steel before letting the scabbard fall to the ground. He took his stance, with his feet apart, knees bent, and a blade held steady before him. 

He moved through the basic forms: first an overhead strike, then a diagonal slash, followed by a thrust. Each movement flowed into the next as he worked through the sequences that had been drilled into him years ago. 

Sweat began to form on his forehead as he pivoted left, then right, practicing his footwork while maintaining proper guard position. The blade cut clean arcs through the morning air with each repetition. 

After about twenty minutes of continuous practice, he lowered the sword and caught his breath. That was when several golden screens materialized before his eyes. 

[Daily Mission: Practice Your Sword Forms → Complete]

[You have gained 150 XP]

[+1 Available Stat Point]

Aiden stared at the floating text for several seconds until Rakan called him back to reality by clapping his hands lightly. "Your form is basic, but not bad at all." 

"Thank you," Aiden said, retrieving the scabbard and sheathing the sword before returning it to Rakan. 

Aiden closed his eyes briefly and opened them again, causing the screen to vanish from his sight. He had somehow discovered that he could dismiss the displays with focused thought, then he decided to return to the tavern, leaving Rakan alone to himself.

When the door closed behind Aiden, Rakan whispered to himself, "What a strange lad indeed." 

On his way upstairs, Aiden closed his eyes once more and reopened them, willing the main system screen from much earlier in Thyrak's Liar, to appear. It materialized before him in shimmering gold: 

[DRAGON KING SYSTEM]

Host : Aiden Crowley

Title : Hatchling

Level: 1

Rank: ???

Experience Points (Exp): 150

Mana Pool : 800/800

Vitality: 800/800

Health Pool : 80/80

[Host's Stats]-

Magic: Fire

Rank: SS

Strength: 10

Agility: 7

Intelligence: 8

Perception: 5

[Stats Points Available: 1]

 [Authorities]:

-Destruction: SSS

-Replication: (Locked)

-Space: (Locked) 

[Destruction skills]

-Fists of Destruction (Default)

[Replication skills]

-None

[Space skills]

-None

[General Skills]

-None

[Inventory]

-None

 He observed that the experience points he had just earned were now reflected in his totals, along with the available stat point. 

Frankly, he still had no complete understanding of everything he was seeing, the authorities, what those even meant—but he grasped one crucial thing: this golden screen's purpose was to give him objectives to complete. 

Given that the system had appeared at the same time as his sudden increase in magical power and overall mana capacity, he had little choice but to follow its guidance. 

...

The day had broken properly now, and darkness no longer clung to the world. It turned out that much earlier that morning, the King had ventured forth alone to verify whether Ursla's claims about Thyrak and the missing lair were true, and now he could be seen riding toward his knights, who stood in proper formation across the roadway leading toward the location of Thyrak's lair. 

He had requested they wait there while he rode ahead to investigate the area personally. He rode back with a face so grim that words seemed to have abandoned him entirely, and his horse continued its steady pace, as he didn't pause for even a moment. 

One after another, his men fell into formation behind him, calling out to their mounts to match the King's urgent pace. Soon after, King Jarius arrived at the palace—The Wyvern's Keep, and he walked steadily through the corridors leading to his throne room, with Sir Baran following closely behind. 

When the King entered his throne chambers, he found his children waiting for him—the twins, Lysandra and Lucas, who stood near the throne, having anticipated his return. Lysandra appeared particularly anxious. 

Without approaching his throne seat, Jarius turned slightly toward Baran and whispered urgently, "Have Mumbleton summoned before me immediately." 

Baran nodded, whispering back, "At once, Your Grace," before turning to depart through the great doors. 

Then Jarius walked toward his throne and asked curtly, "Yes, what is it you both?" 

He wished to conclude this business as swiftly as possible, having no time to deal with what he assumed would be childish concerns.

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