Rise of Tyrus

Time passed by at an absurdly fast pace over at Selena's manor. Tyrus spent most of his time cooped up in the library, reading whatever piqued his curiosity.

Though his investigation related to the black tigers ended abruptly because of a lack of information, he didn't let that mishap dampen his mood. Instead, he redirected his attention to absorbing whatever information that could prove useful to him, like the bestiary.

The bestiary was the second thing he searched, which contained more useful information than the book about the Great Lineages. What was great about the bestiary was that whoever wrote the book did a great job of categorizing different creatures. There were spirits, regular beasts, magical beasts, and an unfamiliar section about mythical creatures.

Apparently, the writer noted beforehand that most information was mere speculation, as these creatures were only rumored to exist. Few have seen, let alone knew, that these beings truly existed, so the author took the liberty of adding opinions alongside supposed first-hand accounts. The most common mythical creatures were phoenixes and hydras.

In each category, everything was classified in great detail, and each creature took up an entire page, so the book was a bit heavy. Every beast had a rough sketch of their appearance, and with those sketches came a description of physical appearances, weaknesses, and danger level. If creatures able to manipulate elements were being read, then abilities are added to the list.

As an illustration, a lesser hound had a low danger level and lacked any special abilities. They were slightly larger than adult men and carried more weight. Their fur came in various shades of black, gray, or white, but what remained consistent were their striking red eyes. In terms of their characteristics, they were considered the weakest among canine-related creatures and could be trained for hunting. Apart from that, they typically traveled in packs and exhibited behaviors similar to those of regular wolves.

That was basically the type of information the bestiary contained, and Tyrus had been reading all about the different types of creatures he had already come across, just for future reference.

The rock spider was deemed a magical creature, not due to its ability to use magic like spirits, but because of its stone-like shell and potential of a mana core.

An interesting fact mentioned in the book was that certain spider species possess specialized glands that produce a sticky substance, allowing them to attach minerals to their bodies. This unique ability was only present in these adult spiders, as it requires time for the minerals to harden and become integrated into the spider's protective armor.

Reading the bestiary was a fun experience. There were fish capable of swimming in flames as if it were water, snakes capable of spitting out poisonous fluids, and some weird animal able to take the form of whoever they kill, luring in more victims. Tyrus wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of such a monster.

These creatures captivated his attention, so much so that he hadn't noticed the silver-ring light emanating through the window and onto the table. Tyrus looked up to see the starry-night grace his eyes, along with a half-moon shining brightly.

He rubbed his eyes and said, "It's that late? Time flies when you're having fun, huh?"

Tyrus glanced around the room; everyone else had already left, leaving him the only person there.

He stood up from his seat, stretching his arms and legs as he did. While the chair was comfortable, sitting in one spot for so long did a number on his body. It was also uncomfortable for his tail as well, since it wasn't able to move much. He'd have to give it a good massage afterward.

After a couple more stretches, someone knocked on the library door. In came Fiona, a wisp of amber floating near her head like some sort of night light.

"Hey, you still here?" she asked, walking up to him.

"I was about to leave," Tyrus said. "Do you need something?"

Fiona rested her hand on her hip and gazed intently. "Are you considering leaving this place? It's getting late, and the outer district is quite a long walk away. Why don't you stay here for the night? I've already requested a servant to prepare a bath and a room for you."

Tyrus saw no point in denying the offer. After all, he had no idea how to get back home from where he was. He wasn't mentally jotting down a route back when Igneal and the others were escorting him here. Also, even if he was, he wasn't particularly keen on walking a long distance back to an inn.

"Thank you. I'll stay here, then."

She beamed and said, "Great! I'll take you to your room. It's already late, and I'm sure you're tired from reading all day."

And with that, she spun on her heels and exited the library, and Tyrus followed, the library doors shutting behind him.

The manor, though already quiet when he walked in, was eerily more silent than usual. No nocturnal birds to be heard, no creaks of the wooden floors, or the sound of wind blowing against the glass windows. The only things present were the sounds of their footsteps and a silver shine coming from the moon and stars.

Suddenly, Fiona gasped. "Oh, right! I have to give you the rewards we got from the contract and Captain Kalavan. Can't believe I let it slip my mind."

Tyrus's ears perked up. "What was the reward?"

A smirk stretched across her face. "We got lucky, or would it be unlucky? Well, that doesn't matter. What matters is that since the contract was more complex and took longer than usual, the rewards got beefed up! That means it went from a low-ranked contract to a medium-ranked contract, and a good one, to boot. To put it simply, the rewards given reflect the jobs difficulty. And for the sewer job, we'll be given is 125 sil, plus another hundred from the captain. I don't know whether to thank Scourge or curse them to death!"

Once they turned a corner, Tyrus did the math on his fingers, and his eyes nearly popped out of its sockets. "T-That's 225 sil..."

"I know! And once we split it five ways, it'll be forty-five sil for each person. You can buy fifteen meals with that. I thought of leaving Igneal out of the share since he's rich, but he risked his life alongside us. I might hate my brother, but I'm not some heartless human that'll spit on his effort."

"It's never too late to change your mind," he said jokingly.

Fiona giggled. "I didn't know you had a sense of humor, Tyrus. Usually you're so quiet and serious."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No, it doesn't mean anything bad. It simply means that you're starting to feel more at ease with me, and I'm thrilled about that. I never want you to feel alone or like you don't belong with us. No one should ever be treated that way. It really messes with their mind and can have serious consequences. It makes you lose confidence and everything feels gloomy and hopeless, like being stuck in a dark well, waiting until someone pulls you out."

"That's a... weird view," Tyrus said.

He glanced up to see a miserable look on her face, as if she were lost in her memories. A face so sorrowful it looked like it'd crack at any moment. It was the same expression he'd seen when she spoke a bit about her childhood.

Tyrus opened his mouth, mustering up the courage to ask what was troubling her until the faint sounds of metal clanking against each other could be heard. He halted his steps, focusing on the sound and attempting to determine where it came from.

The clanking didn't come from far away, as Tyrus could tell the source of the sound was somewhere in the manor, or perhaps outside these walls.

"Sounds like Igneal and Sir Wayne are at it again," Fiona grumbled. "Ever since they arrived, Sir Wayne and Igneal would spar every morning and night behind the manor."

"Spar? As in with swords?" Tyrus asked.

"You sound interested. Do you want to watch?"

It didn't take even a second for Tyrus to nod his head furiously. Fiona chuckled and began traveling again, guiding him to the manor's backside. It wasn't that far a walk, given that their conversation allowed time to fly by.

They came across the back of the manor, where a manicured garden awaited. Within this area, Igneal and Sir Wayne were engaged in a full-blown battle in the middle, swinging swords and dodging one another's attacks on top of a spacious platform of stone.

A bead of sweat on Igneal's face glistened under the light, his arms tense as he exerted their maximum effort. Despite Igneal's short stature, his attacks were quick, and Sir Wayne, who was taller and stronger, seemed to be even faster and more precise. The knight's face was calm, and not a drop of sweat was visible on his body.

After being pushed back by a one-handed strike from Sir Wayne, Igneal quickly recovered and inched forward slowly, wiping grime off his face with the back of his free arm. Like a cornered predator, his eyes flashed with an instinctive ferocity. Tyrus watched closely, his gaze fixed on Igneal, observing every movement and detail he could catch.

Is it okay for them to be using real swords?

Sir Wayne swung his sword at Igneal, who allowed the blade to sail past his chest and into empty air. With the opening in Sir Wayne's stance, Igneal slashed upward at his torso, aiming at the abdomen, but the attack was easily evaded when the knight stepped back. Almost immediately, Sir Wayne's sword came sailing back toward Igneal's shoulder, forcing the latter to leap back to avoid the blow.

"Your movement is as sharp as ever," Sir Wayne praised. "It's rare for someone your age to be this adept at swordsmanship."

Igneal scowled. "It's not enough. My brother defeated a knight in a bout when he was sixteen of age. To become the family head, I have to be better than him. As things are now, it'll be Elwin that'll succeed my father."

"Young Master Elwin truly has remarkable talent, and I have witnessed his abilities firsthand. However, the one thing that sets you apart is your unwavering commitment and work ethic. Ever since you began wielding a sword, you have trained diligently every single day without fail. And the results are undeniable. Look at you now, sparring with a knight and holding your own. With your determination, it won't be long before your skills surpass those of Family Head Lockhart."

Igneal stood up straighter, the fatigue that had been weighing his body down vanishing as he smirked. "Before I reach those heights, I must first beat those that stand before him, including you, Sir Wayne. Isn't it about time you fight me using augmentation?"

"In time, Young Master Igneal. You should first focus on defeating me without mana tomorrow. Our spar will have to end a bit early."

Once confirming their fight has ended, Fiona and Tyrus strode down the small steps that led to the platform and stood in front of the two fighters.

"You two look like you're having fun," Fiona said. She took a quick whiff and pinched her nose. "And you smell worse than a pig wallowing in their own filth. Take a bath for our sake, alright?"

"What an untasteful lie," Igneal said. "What are you two doing here? Has my skills captivated you so much that you decided to watch from the sidelines?"

"Tyrus was just curious about what you two were up to and wanted to see for himself."

Igneal locked eyes with Tyrus and gave a nod of acknowledgement. "I understand that my abilities have caught your interest, and I'm not opposed to having an audience. However, you've arrived too late. Our session here has concluded. If you'd like, feel free to return tomorrow and witness a Lockhart at the peak of his prowess. Or—"

With a smile, Igneal walked over to Sir Wayne and grabbed the sword out of his hands. He turned and shuffled over to Tyrus, handing him the heavy blade with an expectant gaze. "How about taking over and fighting me instead? Think of it as us honing our skills, more so for your benefit."

Without hesitation, Fiona blocked Tyrus body with an arm. "Absolutely not. I'll only permit wooden swords. It's far too early for Tyrus to train with real ones."

"Why do you coddle Tyrus as if he were some lamb? He is no stranger to using a sword, and with his natural ability, he won't sustain serious injuries. A scratch or two can be healed with minor light magic."

"You're right, but I still won't allow him to risk hurting himself. If you're his friend as you say, then you won't purposely send him in harm's way."

Tyrus sensed another argument brewing between siblings coming, so he stepped forward. "I'll spar with you, but I won't use actual swords. I don't trust myself yet to control my body when using a sword, so I'll settle for wooden ones. Also, can we start tomorrow? My eyes are feeling heavy from all the reading."

Igneal shrugged, saying, "Well, as long as you're on board, I'm fine with it. Let's meet right here tomorrow before lunchtime. Sir Wayne, will you be overseeing the spar again, I presume?"

Sir Wayne gracefully bowed, assuring Young Master Igneal, "I will handle this effortlessly. If there are any adjustments needed, I will promptly bring them to your attention."

The knight gave Tyrus a side-eye while he rose from his bow. Their eyes locked for a moment, but Sir Wayne looked away immediately. "Now, if you will excuse me, I will take my leave. Good night, young master."

As the knight sauntered away from the group, Igneal took a step forward and patted Tyrus on the shoulder. "I'm looking forward to our rematch, Tyrus. Only this time, we are both prohibited from using our affinities. Don't worry though, I'll make sure to not go easy on you last time."

With those ominous words hanging in the air, Igneal went his separate way and entered the manor, leaving Tyrus and Fiona alone.

"Don't let his words sting, Tyrus. You already know Igneal is a cocky brat and loves to hear himself talk."

Tyrus wasn't the least bit concerned; in fact, he was growing increasingly excited about tomorrow. He had always yearned to enhance his swordsmanship skills, and now another opportunity had emerged. The prospect of practicing with people like Grant and his strong father appeared quite intimidating. It would be smart to begin with something more manageable and glean whatever knowledge he could from Igneal. After all, any learning experience, regardless of its amount, was valuable.

All he needed to worry about was avoiding any lasting damage. There was still that cave he needed to explore over at Wildwood.