"Ryker!" the healer called out, her voice firm but concerned. "You should vet his status properly before pairing him with acolytes. He could have killed them."
Her eyes shifted from me to Ryker and back to me as she spoke, her cold gaze sending shivers down my spine.
"I know that name," Ryker began, his expression darkening. "Harken."
He shifted his attention away from the healer's caution, his eyes fixed on the floor as he tried to remember something.
"The man who almost doomed us all in Karydorg," Ryker continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "You should not speak that name ever if you want to stay in this school. The name reminds us all of the horrors your father wrought on these lands. And all the people who lost their lives because of his greed."
Ryker sneered as he walked past me to take off his training gear. Everyone followed his lead without being told to do so, one by one exiting the training arena while I stood there watching.
"Looks like you're in for a tough time, Harken's son," one of the students whispered as he passed by.
"Yeah, no one wants to be associated with the devil's spawn," another student chimed in.
I gritted my teeth, trying to ignore their taunts. Everyday here, I loathed the seconds ticking down to the hour. I had always thought it would be a great experience to school here with the greatest hunters and mages. Reality was cruel; all my fantasies of being a hunter and the best were squashed because of my father and his deeds.
No one would mentor me. They would if they could actually stand my presence. If they didn't see Ryker, they wouldn't have asked me to retake the test. He seemed to have forgotten. I suspected the purple mist Old Hans Grue threw into the air the other day at the lab. Now, whenever a subject of my strength came up, people would forget whatever feat I pulled in front of their eyes.
The next day, after lunch, I went to the administrative block to get my adventurer's identification card, which was issued to every student upon admission. With this, I could properly go into dungeons and hunt magical beasts. From the access mentioned, I got from the healer during yesterday's practice. I was now above acolytes. Hunting small magical beasts would be a walk in the park.
I stood in a queue for hours while those from the prestigious Backstein family and the Grues filled out their forms and got their cards on the spot. Next in line after the two most powerful were the seven lords of Karydorg. I would have opted for a later date if I knew everyone wanted their cards today.
As I sat there, I watched as the seven lords of Karydorg, wealthy and powerful men who only bowed to the two great houses, depending on which house held more power on any specific matter, chatted and laughed with each other.
"Looks like you're the only one left," one of the attendants said, glancing at me with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. "What's your name?"
"H-Harken's son," I stuttered, trying to keep my head held high.
The attendant's expression turned cold, and he nodded curtly. "Wait here."
The day went swiftly as I watched the royalties match in and out. There was no need to tell any onlooker the nectar of being privileged. My name could barely earn me peace of mind.
I was still lost in thought when I heard my name blast through the sound boxes at the edges of the hall. "Come forward," the attendant announced. All eyes turned towards me, and the lips followed with murmurs. I could hear them well, like a tap of negativity was switched on. The whole room talked about my family.
"[Harken, did he just call Harken?]" "[He is the son of Harken]" "[I heard he has not yet awakened. Poor child]" "[He is paying for the sins of his father]"
My pace increased as I grabbed the ID being stretched out to me and left the hall immediately. There was no time to stand back and listen to all their negativity.
After crossing the dungeon gate, I flashed my mage ID and then showed them my recently acquired adventurer ID. The security at the dungeon entrance shook himself out of shock and asked, "Are you sure you were given a mage ID card and an adventurer ID card?"
"Yes," I replied. "You can see me holding it."
"Yes, I can," he said, still looking shocked. "I am just shocked an unawakened person is registered as a mage and also an adventurer. I don't think I can allow you in, even though this is a school training dungeon. It is still dangerous for someone like you."
"I don't know what their reasons are, but please return to the dormitory for your own safety," he continued.
"I can take care of myself," I said firmly.
"Okay, sign here on this," he said, handing me a form. "I can't lose my job for allowing you into this dungeon."
I signed quickly and hurried along. The eyes of the security guard followed me as I rushed deep into the dungeon and out of his sight. The horror on his face still lingered in my heart.
A million thoughts, I knew, were on his mind. The only fact he knew was I wouldn't be coming out alive.
"I have not used the God-tier core," I thought to myself. "I don't know how to access it, but one thing I was sure of - I wasn't going to die today."
I pulled out the golden coat made from the feathers of the Bastian bird and put it on. The air under my feet made me notice I was hovering above ground. Unlike the last time, moving my body side to side made me grasp the basics of hovering with this coat.
I tried to jump, and with a momentum I had never felt before, I found my body rushing past the clouds.
"Wooooooooooo!" I screamed in excitement as I flew round and round in the sky. I dived through clouds in excitement.
Just as I was about to turn and return to the gate area, a sudden shock gripped and began to pull me down. A wrap-around my body was thread-like wires that seemed to be draining mana from my body. With each squeeze, I grew weaker.
"What's going on?" I shouted, trying to struggle free. But it was too late. Everything went black.