'Are they in debt or something?' Hayden thought.
Henry's question had certainly made Hayden alert but after some thought, he just smiled and replied.
"No… I needed the money for something. Well, Professor Althea's agreed to make me a custom sword, but it's going to cost me 150 gold coins. The 50 I won from Graham is my downpayment."
The two brothers were momentarily surprised and weren't able to react. Apparently, 50 gold coins was a huge amount for them and they could do a lot of things if they had that much money. They didn't expect Hayden to be so decisive. It was as if he had no concept of money…
But that was actually quite understandable since Hayden wasn't really paying anything for himself and he would probably regret his impulsiveness soon.
Well, they weren't really in a position to teach something as they also made a huge mistake in handling money before.
'You will learn from your mistakes. Father mentioned this several times.' Henry thought.
On the other hand, Brody whistled as he heard the total amount he needed to pay.
"150 gold coins? That's a steep price. But if it's from Professor Althea, it'll be worth every coin. Her work is legendary."
Legendary might be an exaggeration but no one in Dawnspire City could equal her skills. It wasn't a bad decision to choose her at all. As a matter of fact, many people would want her to make their weapons but she only accepts commissions for a few selected people.
Henry also nodded in agreement. "True. But still, be careful, Hayden. Graham's not the type to let this go. He's got a big ego, and you just bruised it pretty badly."
Hayden's expression turned serious. "I know. But I'm not afraid of him. If he wants a rematch, I'll be ready."
Brody grinned, clearly proud of his little brother. "That's the spirit. But if he tries anything, just let us know. We've dealt with Graham before, and we're not afraid to do it again."
Henry smirked. "Yeah, remember that time we humiliated him in front of the whole class? Good times."
Hayden shook his head as he sometimes couldn't understand this twin brother.. "I'll keep that in mind. But for now, I think I can handle him."
Some random conversation continued and they were soon about to leave.
However, at this time, Henry suddenly spoke.
"You know, Hayden, you're full of surprises. First, you skip grades, and now you're beating up older students. What's next? Are you going to awaken your Aura before us?"
Hayden smiled. "Who knows? Maybe I will."
Henry chuckled at this reply.
Brody also laughed as he couldn't imagine that happening. However, he liked how confident he was since he also said something similar when he was asked by Roan, their older brother.
So, instead of mocking him, he just repeated what he heard from Roan.
"If anyone can do it, it's you, little brother. Just don't forget about us when you're a famous Knight."
Hayden's smile softened as he heard this. "Of course, You're my brothers, after all."
He didn't have any siblings in his previous life, so having brothers was definitely not something he was used to. Nonetheless, it actually didn't feel bad to have such brothers although they could be unpredictable.
'You guys won't have to wait for long for that to happen. I'll definitely become an Aura User.' Hayden thought to himself.
Henry and Brody then left Hayden's as it was already getting late.
After they left, Hayden finally looked at the books he had obtained from Sir Roland containing various swordsmanship styles within the kingdom.
It was quite difficult to get them since Sir Roland was worried that he might go down the wrong path if he practiced many Sword Styles.
Thankfully, Hayden was able to convince him as he promised that he wouldn't practice them and only read them to get some idea about other Sword Techniques and learn how to deal with them…
'Now… Let's record this.' Hayden muttered as he triggered Ocularis Lens.
***
Almost two years had passed since Hayden's memorable sparring match with Graham.
Now nine years old, Hayden had grown taller and stronger, though he was still small compared to his peers.
Of course, his dedication to his Foundation Breathing Technique, physical training, and studying had paid off, and he was now ready to take the advancement examination to move from the Novice Class to the Apprentice Class.
Normally, he had to wait until he reached 10 years old but since he was special, he was included in the examination as per the Headmaster's arrangement.
The examination consisted of two parts: a written exam and a practical exam.
The written portion tested basic knowledge in subjects like etiquette, Austere Kingdom history, geography, the lineages of noble families, and the principles of Aura.
Hayden had spent countless hours in the library, and his Ocularis Lens had recorded every piece of information he needed.
It was not surprising that he passed the written exam with ease, earning top marks.
No Professors were surprised by this as well since they knew very well how good he was. As a matter of fact, four of his nine subjects are already in Grade 8.
The practical exam, however, was a different story.
It was designed to test a student's combat skills, adaptability, and composure under pressure.
And this year, the examiner was none other than Seraphine Valenford, a renowned Aura Initiate.
Or rather… it was rumored that after two years at the Academy, she had already reached the level of a Knight Candidate, lacking only an official title—one that could only be granted by the royal capital or a noble of at least Earl rank.