The Beginning After The End (New Heights Book 2) (18 page)

“You know… Lucas is going to be attending Xyrus
Academy.
 
You’re not going to leave
me there alone with him are you?” I squeeze him harder this time.

“I agree with Ar…Note.
 
You can always go back to being an
Adventurer later.”
 
Jasmine looks
around to see if anyone heard the mistake she almost slipped out.

“Alright alright!
 
IF you can somehow get me in, I’ll
go!
 
Besides, someone’s going to
have to hold you back from murdering Lucas on the first day of school!”
 
The serious face that Elijah had
lightens up as he smiles.

 
“Good!
 
Jasmine, can you take Elijah back to the
Helstea house?
 
I have something I
need to do first.
 
I’ll catch up to
you guys!”
 
I push them in the
direction to the portal that was still a good distance ahead.

Jasmine nods and leads Elijah away.
 
After they were out of sight, my face
turns serious underneath my mask and both Sylvie and I turn to our left.

“Come out.”
 
I utter calmly.

With a swish, Kaspian appears next to us.
 

“I am glad you took some precautions by sending
the two of them away first.”
 
He
simply nods.

“Thank you for getting the judge to play along
in that act.
 
I’m sure Lucas isn’t
going to be on guard anytime soon.”
 
I say.

“It is my pleasure.
 
I am glad that it was solved without
anyone dying.”
 
He stares at me,
implying the obvious.

I just shrug my shoulders as I walk away.
 
“I advise you to take some more
precautions Mr. Note.
 
You have
gotten over the hardest part but please do not let your guard down.”

Without looking back, I wave at Kaspian,
heading towards the teleportation gate myself.

Elijah attending school won’t draw too much
suspicion.
 
Jasmine was close with
the Helstea family now so having her vouch for Elijah will be natural.
 
I made sure not to draw Dawn’s ballad
whenever I was with Lucas on the journey.
 
The only problem that may arise is from Sylvie.

Lucas has seen the small, feline form of Sylvie
back at Guild Hall.
 
Before I had
the chance to even ask Sylvie, her body begins to glow.

Her pitch black scale turns white as the horns
that she had disappears completely.
 
The lizard-like tail that she had grows as the scales stick out.
 
After the glow died down, I blink to
make sure I wasn’t seeing things.
 
The feline-lizard form that he was in is nowhere in sight as she now
looks exactly like a fox.
 
No scales
at all and when I reach down to feel her, I notice that her fur wasn’t exactly
fur but scales that have been narrowed down and elongated to give the form of a
pelt. Her body was completely snow white except for her nose, the tip of her
ears and tail and her paws, which were the original black that she was.
 

“Kyu!”
 
‘This is better right Papa?’
 
Her size was the same so she jumps up onto my head and makes a bed out
of my hair.

‘The transformation made me tired.
 
I’m going to sleep for a while
Papa.’
 

“Y-yeah…sure Sylv.”
 
I should be used to these things by now
but Sylv continues to baffle me.
 
Did all dragons have the ability to alter their forms so completely?
 
I know that her main form was that of a
dragon, like the one we saw down at the dungeon, but being able to change her
color and size even more wholly than her black- miniature form was astounding.

Well... that conveniently gets rid of that
problem.

I send both a pulse to the ground and a weak
electric current into the air to make sure I was by myself before I reached
town.
 
I take off my mask and coat,
placing it inside my bag.
 

Since we were still on the edge of the Beast
Glades and the Grand Mountains, reaching the small town, I noticed it was
filled with only Adventurers and merchants trying to survive and make a
living.
 
There wasn’t much to look
at so I quickly sold my short sword, leaving me only with my black stick.

My last stop was the artifice.
 
Opening the double doors, my vision is
filled with various artifacts.
 

“Welcome to Ecvius Artifacts! Er…how may I help
you?”
 
A peppy young woman greeted
me with a hint of confusion in her eyes as to why an 11 year old was all the
way out here.

“Hi! I came here with my father who’s a
merchant.
 
He asked me to buy
something for him here.”
 
I flash an
innocent smile.

“How cute!
 
What is that small fox on your head?”
 
She hops out from behind the counter to
get a closer look at us.
 
Sylvie was
still sleeping so I just nonchalantly said that this infant mana beast was my
father’s.

“I see I see.
 
So, what can I help you with?”
 
She clasps her hands eagerly.

“I’m looking for a small dimensional storage
artifact.”
 
Looking at her, I can
tell she was shocked by what I just said.

Something I found while reading various books
was that there is a special mineral located in this world capable of storing a
couple times its size.
 
None of the
books went in depth about how it can do so, which tells me that they don’t
really know either, but it was supposedly extremely rare and valuable.

Quickly gaining her senses, she puts on a smile
and leads me to a room behind the counter.
 
“Here, we have all of our most valuable items.
 
This wall, we have all of our dimensional
items.”

“I just need one big enough to store
this.”
 
I reach for Dawn’s Ballad
that was strapped on my waist.

“Hmmm… if it’s only that, I think this ring
would do it.”
 
She says after
looking through the shelves for a bit.
 
After she picked out a small case, I looked to see it was an extravagant
gold ring with a diamond imbedded into it, alongside other smaller gems.

“Er… do you have any that are less flamboyant?”
I say while giving the ring back to her.
 

“Hmmm… most people ask for the most flashy
jewelry when they ask for a dimensional storage artifact.”
 
Scratching her head, she looks through
more of the shelves in the small back room.

“Aha!
 
How about this?”
 
I open the
small box she hands me and inside was a dull silver band.

“This ring is actually of higher quality than
the gold ring I showed you before, but the smith that forged this insisted on
leaving the ring in this plain state.
 
This ring probably has enough space to fit your stick and a large
luggage bag inside.”
 
She says,
flashing me a very business-like smile.

I didn’t waste any time in my decision.
 
“I’ll take it.”
 

After haggling with the insistent woman, I
managed to buy it for a couple of beast cores that I picked up from the dungeon
and 200 gold.
 
This was only because
that was about all I had left.
 
My
total savings now consisted of a couple of silver and the S class Elderbeast
core that I have partly used.
  
I sighed in depression, reminiscing of the times when I could live
happily with just a couple of copper coins back in Ashber town.
 
The 200 gold I received were from Guild
and from Kaspian who, separately, gave me some to “take precautions with”.
 
After slipping the ring into my right
thumb, since it was too big for any of my other fingers, I willed mana into
both the ring and my sword.
 
Instantly, the black sword glowed and got sucked up into the ring.
 
I did the same with my mask and coat
that was inside my bag and proceeded towards the teleportation gate.

I
could never get used to the teleportation gate no matter how many times I go
through it.
 
The feeling of being
stuck in a space where I had no control just didn’t sit right with me.

Twiddling
the dimension ring stuck on my thumb, I couldn’t help but get a headache at how
careful I would have to be once school started.
 
Even the ring was bought so that I
wouldn’t’ have to carry my sword around.
 
While I never used my teal bladed sword as an Adventurer, I did have it
sheathed on me at all times.
 
Even
Lucas eyed my black walking stick with curiosity while we were in the dungeon
together.

Arriving
at the other side of the gate in Xyrus, I heaved a big breath.
 
I was home.

Catching
a carriage home, I passed by the Academy that I’ll be attending.
 
The premise was enormous and just
looking at it from outside, anyone could tell how much time and resources the
Kingdom put into this place.
 
It
seemed like it’s own little world inside of the city, with various structures and
landscapes changing along the way.

“Sir,
we have arrived at Helstea Manor.”
 
The driver got off the front and opened the door for me, tipping his hat
as I stepped off.

Handing
him a couple of copper coins, I walked up the stairs I was so familiar
with.
 
Sylv was still sleeping.
 
I was getting worried at how much a toll
transforming her body like that took on her, but after prodding her mentally, I
was relieved that she was still just sleeping very heavily.
 

“BOOM!”
The double front doors flung open and the girl that came flying out was a sight
for my sore eyes.
 

“BROTHER
WELCOME BACK!!!” My sister, Ellie, head-butts me in the stomach, almost
knocking the wind out of me as she clings on for dear life.

Rubbing
her face into my shirt, I couldn’t help but chuckle as I patted her head.

“Uuuu…
you’re not leaving anymore right?
 
You’re staying right?”
 
Through teary eyes, my sister’s almond colored iris shimmered in a mix
of emotions.
 

Peeling
myself away from Ellie, I squat down a little so I’m eye level with her.

“Yeah,
I’m back Ellie.”
 
I give her my most
sincere smile.

“EN!”
 
She nods her head vigorously as if to
say that I said the right answer.
 
Ellie should be almost 8 now.
 
Her birthday was a couple of months before mine so there’s always a
period where she’s only 3 years younger than me.
 
For most people, that wouldn’t matter
but for some odd reason, Ellie never fails to mention after her birthday that
she’s only 3 years apart.
 
Looking
at her carefully, I can tell she’s blossoming into a cute young lady.
 
Her puppy eyes became more prominent as
she lost some of the baby fat in her face; her perky nose red from crying.
 

I
started internally panicking a little for the near future when she would start
dating.
 
The day she brings home a
boy would be the day I will unleash the full extent of my goddamn powers.

“Arthur!”
 
My mother comes running forward
alongside my father, both of who have an expression that seemed to smile and
cry at the same time.

My
father, who seemed to be getting more and more muscular, instantly picked me up.
 

“My
boy! HAHA!
 
You’ve grown so
much!”
 
My father’s beard was a bit
longer now and I can see some wrinkles near his eyes and mouth.

My
mother grabs my hand and places it on her cheek, not saying anything except for
a few quiet sobs.
 

“Idiot
son!
 
Do you know how worried I was
when my ring activated?
 
I thought
you were dead!”
 
She looks up at me
and the angry face she tried to put on disappeared and was replaced with a
bright, teary smile.

“Your
mother couldn’t sleep for days after the ring activated.
 
I kept telling her that everything will
be fine and that something just must’ve happened to your ring.
 
I know my son wouldn’t die that easily!”
 
He tried to comfort me, but the guilt
was still just as heavy.

Putting
me down, my father continues, “Thankfully, the status on the masked swordsman,
or Note, was updated at Guild Hall, saying that you and your party arrived at
the branch near the Beast Glades.”

“I’m sorry Mom, Dad, Ellie for worrying you
guys again.
 
I seem to cause nothing
but concerns for you guys haha.”
 
I
scratch my head as my mother continues to hold onto my other hand with Ellie
comforting her.

Shaking her head, my mother looks up at
me.
 
“It’s a parent’s job to worry
about her children, although you seem to do your end of the bargain a little
too well.
 
Ellie was waiting by the
window the whole day since your friend Elijah came with Jasmine.”

“MOM!! That was supposed to be a secret!!”
 
She started pouting while she started
softly hitting our mother on the back, making us all start laughing.

“Arthur!”
 
“Art!”
 
I hear two
voices.
 
I look up at the top of the
stairs and I see Elijah, and Vincent with Tabitha.
 
The friend that I made in the dungeon
came down first and put his arm around my neck, half strangling me as he puts
his weight on top of me. “Took you long enough to get here! Jasmine already
went back with the Twin Horns. Did you decide to go on a touring trip?” We both
chuckled.
 
Elijah seemed a lot more
expressive these days, almost making me forget the nearly robotic face he had
when I first saw him at the testing grounds.

“Arthur Leywin!
 
The prodigious son is back!”
 
Vincent clasps my back as he gives me as
big of a bear hug as he can with his thin body.

“We’re glad you’re back safe, Arthur.” Tabitha
follows behind him and gives me a hug as well.
 
The Helstea couple hasn’t changed much
and was as lively as ever.

“Thank you for taking care of my family Mr.
Helstea, Mrs. Helstea.”
 
I smile and
give a polite bow.

“Now now!
 
You’re going to make me angry if you stay so formal with us!”
 
Vincent shakes his finger while
pretending to be angry.

“He’s right you know.
 
Please, Arthur, your family is a part of
our family.
 
I hope you can just
call us Aunt and Uncle.”
 
Tabitha
gently strokes my head.

I nod and start looking around.
 
There’s one person missing from the
Helstea family.
 
Before I can ask,
Vincent seems to have noticed who I was looking for.

“Hehe.
 
If you’re looking for Lily, she’s not here.”
 
Vincent has a wicked grin on his face
while Tabitha just rolls her eyes at him.
 

“Lily got accepted into Xyrus Academy thanks to
you.
 
She started attending last
fall semester of the Academy after she turned 12.”
 
Tabitha also has a warm smile on her
face.

My eyes widen at the good news.
 
“Wow!
 
My parents did mention it but Wow! Lily
really did it!
 
She’ a student now!”
I smile broadly.

Tabitha nods at this. “Yes.
 
She really wanted to be here when you
came back to tell you herself but unfortunately, spring semester started so
she’s stuck in the dorms until break.”

Vincent laughs urging both our families and
Elijah to the living room.

We discussed about my time as an
Adventurer.
 
There were some things
I left out for my family’s sake.
 
I
eyed Elijah when I skipped the part where Lucas betrayed us.
 
I didn’t want either my family or the
Helstea family getting involved.

My sister was wide eyed the whole time while I
was telling the time while Elijah and I were in the dungeon.
 
She had the expression that I was
telling her a fantasy bedtime story with all of the dungeon monsters and magic
involved.
 
The audience couldn’t believe
it when Elijah continued the story on for me and told them about how I defeated
the Elderwood Guardian.
 
My father
and Vincent’s jaws were slacked when I just shot them a grin and pulled out the
core.
 

“Speaking of which.
 
Dad, what stage are you at?” I asked.

Giving me an embarrassed chuckle, he says,
“I’ve been stuck at the bottleneck of the dark orange stage since you
left.
 
No matter how much I meditate
and purify mana, I can’t seem to break through.”
 

“Perfect.
 
Dad, you should use this then.
 
I had to use a little bit of it while I was healing but there should be
enough in this beast core to help you break through.”
 
Without giving him a chance to decline,
I toss him the dull green core.

“No.
 
Arthur.
 
This is something
you fought for with your life.
 
I
can’t just take this from you.”
 
My
father tries to give me back the core when Vincent stops him.

“Reynolds, the boy must have his reasons.
 
You’re his father for God’s sake.
 
Get stronger, it’ll help me as well
haha!”

Tabitha just chuckled at this. “Alice, your son
brought quite the present.”
 

My mother just sighs helplessly while Ellie
starts studying the dull green core in my father’s hands.

“Dad, please take it and use it.
 
You need to catch up to me.”
 
I look at my dad, trying to make light
of the fact that I gave him something invaluable.
 
After telling everyone that I was at the
light orange stage, I received even more faces of shock, although not as much
as it used to be.
 
I guess they’re
grown accustomed to my abnormal talent.

Reluctantly, my father accepts it and puts it
away in his pocket.
 
The next order
of things was about Elijah.
 
He told
everyone of his background already before I got there but I clarified that he
was both a close friend, and a benefactor who saved both Jasmine’s and my
life.
 
Continuing on, I turned to
Vincent and asked if it was possible to enroll Elijah to Xyrus Academy.
 

After pondering for a bit, Vincent agreed to
sponsor Elijah under the Helstea House to Xyrus Academy.
  
Vincent excused himself first,
saying that he was going to write a letter to Cynthia Goodsky, the Director of
Xyrus Academy.
 
My father went out
into the backyard, saying he was going to start training immediately so it was
just my mother, Ellie, Elijah, Tabitha and I.

My mother and Tabitha took turns asking me
about more details while I was Adventuring and my mother insisted I take a
check up from her to make sure I didn’t have any lasting wounds.
 
I told her I was fine and that I used the
glove she gave me to good use.
 
She
didn’t seem too happy about the fact that I actually had to use it on myself
but was just glad I was still in one piece.