CHAPTER 12 (PART 2): ENTER THE TOURNAMENT

For the entire four days, Arth was trained far more intense than how Chief Gregor had trained him. Most of his practices and exercises had focused on his agility; like fast reactions for evasion, and launching attacks as quickly as possible. While Arth had his training with the boss during the day, he was also practicing his ice materialization at night. Being desperate to master it as soon as possible, he barely had any time for sleep. Good thing, Robert was always there to spar with him to test the strength of his ice weapons.

After how many days of waiting, the tournament was now a day ahead. Arth prepared his bag and packed extra clothes, since he will be staying in the capital for one day and one night with Robert and Alice. Lucas said that the guild had a secret chamber in the Lower Ring of the capital, so they would be staying there.

After lunch, Lucas had called the team to discuss their final plan. Arth arrived in the meeting room, realizing that all of the members had already been gathered. He went beside Robert and tried to catch up with what Lucas was saying.

“Where have you been, bro?” Robert whispered to him. Arth just smiled apologetically.

"…watch him, the two of you," Lucas told Robert and Alice. "If they catch you, then you know what to do, Alice."

Alice nodded. "My Empyreal Ability is ready anytime, boss."

Arth's eyebrows furrowed. "Empyreal ability?" The whole team suddenly looked at him.

"I guess this is the perfect time to explain it to my brother, boss!" Robert said, tapping Arth’s shoulder.

Lucas sighed and just nodded. "As what I’ve mentioned to you before, Arth, Empyreal Abilities are hidden ultimate abilities possessed by Empyreal Weapons," Lucas explained. "What happens basically is that these weapons borrow a portion of our soul energy as a catalyst to unleash their ultimate power. But empyreal abilities are extremely dangerous to those who are untrained."

"Are they like magic spells?" Arth asked.

"Partly, but the difference is that this ability does not use alar," Lucas replied. "It uses our soul energy."

Arth's eyebrows rose in surprise. "So it drains out our own … souls?"

"That's how lethal this ability is," Janshai spoke up, looking at him sharply. "One mistake … and you will die instantly.”

Arth swallowed the lump on his throat, nodding slowly. So if that was a dangerous ability, then why would Alice use it for the mission?

"But once you've mastered it, there won't be any problems," Luna told Arth. "The lethality rate is only high to those who are not careful."

"There are limitations though," Alice said. "The regeneration rate of our soul energy is slower than our alar. So you can only use it once a day. Use it twice and your entire soul will be consumed. You'll be dead before you even know it."

"But how can one discover the ability of an Empyreal Weapon?" Arth asked them.

Janshai snorted. "You actually wanted to try that dangerous ability? Is that how worthless you consider your life is?"

"Janshai," Lucas called, shaking his head.

Janshai shrugged.

"There are several factors that can activate one's empyreal ability, Arth," Lucas explained. "The most common is by calling out the name of the Empyreal Weapon. But there are other factors … it can be time, a place, an event, a memory, or a person. Some can even be activated through emotions."

Arth narrowed his eyes, still confused.

"Anyway, we'll elaborate this further to you in the future," Lucas said. "Now back to our main subject.”

Lucas went to continue discussing about their final plan. Arth listened carefully since he would be the one who would assassinate the councilor. That after, Lucas showed to the team the paper he was holding, with the picture of the High Councilor’s face on it. He had an old, thin hair with sharp, pale eyes, wrinkled forehead, and flat nose.

"High Councilor Rowan," Lucas said, pointing at the old man's face in the paper. "He'd been protecting most of the nobles in the capital for committing countless crimes in return for money. His guards, the two Grand Knights, have known about it but have chosen to keep silent. This also makes them both guilty. Kill those two if you have to, but what I want is the councilor's head.”  Then he crumpled the paper with his big hand.

After their meeting, Lucas ordered the three to prepare for their departure, while Luna and Janshai had stayed with him in the meeting room to discuss another matter.

Arth went back to his room to get his bag and his sword. He washed his face with water and then looked at the mirror. His eyes looked exhausted, since he could not get any sleep last night, thinking about the possibilities that would result in this mission. There would only be two possibilities; success or failure. And Arth had known that the boss would never take failure as an option. But what if he messed up? Would they kick him out of the guild?

Arth sighed and then wore his blue cloak before walking out of his room. He went straight outside the hideout, where he saw Robert and Alice preparing their bags on their horses.

"I'm nervous. Can’t we just kill the councilor in another time?" Arth complained as they were already riding their horses through White Forest.

"Don't be stupid," Alice said. She was on her white cloak with the hood covering her long hair. “You’re such a coward …”

“I just…” Arth looked down. “I just don’t feel like I can do this. Don’t you think it’s too early for me to have the main role in our mission? I think I need more time.”

"This is our only opportunity where the councilor is in the Lower Ring. We will become more troubled if we assassinate him inside the castle or even just in the Upper Ring. That place is already dangerous for anyone attempting to sneak in or out."

Arth sighed, frowning.

Robert chuckled. "Don't be nervous, bro! We will be there to cover you up if something happens!"

"Yeah, but I don’t know. I'm not really sure about this," Arth said, scratching his black hair.

"By the way, how are you in practicing Glacies Materia?" Alice raised a brow while looking at him.

"So far, so good,” Arth said. “I’ve been training every night these past few days. I was able to kill more beasts using it. But still, I don't think it's strong enough to counter high-class weapons."

“Bro, you’re learning fast,” Robert crossed his arms, his voice hinting envy. "I couldn't even create an ice weapon strong enough to stab a boar."

"That's because you're impatient, you stupid big-head," Alice teased. "I've already taught you that for almost a year now and you still haven't mastered it!"

Robert shrugged. "Whatever. Perhaps it's not really for me.”

***

It was already dark when they arrived in the capital, riding down the main road, illuminated by the street lights. Still, many people were filling the cobblestone streets for at night, the Lower Ring would become festive with a lot of night markets and stalls opening. The noisy drunken men, chatting citizens, and instruments playing for entertainment had made the streets lively at night. 

As the three rode, heading towards the block of their hideout, Arth noticed a young man dressed on a cerulean cloak, riding past them. His young face had revealed that he’s still in the age of below twenty, with silver hair and eyebrows. As they passed by each other, Arth’s blue eyes met the young man’s gray eyes. The guy just stared at Arth from head to toe before returning his gaze forward, not giving any expression.

‘What a strong presence he has,’ Arth thought. Then he took notice of the two sheaths forming an X on the guy’s back. ‘A dual blade wielder?’