ACT V
THE GLORY WARS
Vanir’s question had sent Hans into deep thoughts, arranging a perfect answer that did not sound like a brag or filled with narcissism. “ I don’t wanna brag," he spoke, "There is none like me born before, and it probably will never be born either. In plain words, I don’t know anyone more talented than me.” And he miserably failed to control both bragging and Narcism.
Seeing Hans's lax attitude, Vanir thought, "The rumours must be exaggerated, he is just a kid with protagonist syndrome," and commented, testing him, “ Oh, wow, that's some inflated ego, senior.” And as he thought, instead of getting angry or putting him in his place, Hans continued in a lax tone. “There is nothing I can’t do. Try me.”
"Yes, Yes I believe you, senior."
"Ah, look at this cheeky bastard. He wants something for me. This level of inciting is nothing. I've been around Deli. My skin is too thick. But let's just humour him," Coughing and pretending like he was natural in it, he asked agitating, "I said try me, Junior."
“Then," Vanir paused and asked looking down, "Can you let a cripple man walk again?”
"Are the legs intact?" hand asked rubbing his hand on the chin, pretending to be a deep thinker, continuing, "If it's not then I need to go to him or he—" “Yes. they are,” Vanir said in haste, he never thought of getting the answer he searched for but thought that his god might show help in unexpected places.
“Then yes.” Hans nonchalantly responded, but doubting him once again, Vanir asked with some suspicion, “You are not joking, right?”
“I don’t joke,” Hans said with a severe face, sipping his hot coco and adding, “ Except with Deli or Chris or when trying to screw someone, oh and when skipping the classes…”
“That’s practically covering your whole schedule senior.”
“Tsk, whatever," he shrugged off and asked, "So who needs healing, a family member of yours? Can’t afford the treatment? That's easy to solve —” “Please," pushing his chair back, Vanir interrupted, "Yes, the professor said he has a terrifying background. I don't need much, just letting him live a few more years until I find a cure is enough." Thinking hard he knelt, "I’d do anything. Help me.” His eyes begged with utmost sincerity, but it was not something that could win Hans over.
His lax attitude changed, and turned into a dealer's, and taking another sip, he responded, “Your knees are precious, you ought to protect them like your head, idiot.”
“I don’t have the power to protect anything. My dignity is not an exception either, sir.”
“Isn’t that why you came here," Hans placed the empty cup back on the table and staring right into Vanir's eyes, he asked, "For power?”
“You also know my condition, you've seen with ManaVision,” Vanir paused, tapping his chest, “The most I can reach is the fourth circle. That's not enough fo —”
“What a dumb fellow?” Hans interrupted, “I chose you. You ought to become a warlock at least. You seem to have a story, but I won't ask you, and I'm not interested in it either. You probably seek revenge, right?"
"Yes,"
“What a niche setting,” Hans said, shaking his head, “An advice, I sorta got it from my father with some of my own words mixed in it; Hating someone requires a lot of time and emotions. Why waste your good days on something like revenge? Everyone, even enemies has something unique to offer. My sister told me this, make sure you learn everything they can offer and wait for an opportunity that will surely come. Revenge must never be the end goal but a stepping stone, or else you will find nothing but emptiness in the end.” Hans felt like a philosopher, "This is embarrassing. What the heck I'm saying." Meanwhile, Vanir was facing trouble understanding Hans, a moment earlier he had shown a mind full of insight then his childish ego now a wisdom, “Are you sure you are eleven?" he asked wondering, "You certainly look but don’t feel like one.”
“I fidget around intelligent people," Hans said maintaining his intellectual look, continuing, " And I read many books but it's probably in my blood.” These words Vanir recalled Walter's words again, so he asked confirming, “Yes, Housemaster also said; you have a terrifying background. Who are you?”
“For someone who can’t even safeguard a book, he sure babbles a lot” Hans commented, putting his grim face on, “hm... I’ll tell you if I feel like it. But why won’t you sit in the chair? I like looking down on people, but others will complain that I'm bullying a new student.”
“There he goes again, the childish persona,” Vanir thought as he observed Hans. He was not a person that trusted anyone easily but the air that was frequently changing around Hans gave him surety that he was capable of whatever he was claiming. “Can you really let my father walk again?” he asked, sitting right away.
“I can, but why do you think I’ll do it?”
“Cause you feel like a good person.”
“Good person, pft..." he chuckled, "I was called many things, but not even grandma had said this to me. Fine, I’ll do it," Hans agreed, but before Vanir could rejoice in joy, Hans interrupted, “Then this good person wants something in return. You said you’ll do anything, right?”
“Yes, anything.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“I have trust issues, you see my father got betrayed here and there, and then lost his life because he trusted the wrong person.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“No, no, don’t feel sorry, He was pissing people right and left too. This was bound to happen." He dropped his shoulder and relaxed further, continuing, "I never met him. But what I learned from him is not to trust anyone easily. So you’ll have to sign a slave contract. Are you okay with it?” This dragged Vanir down, an elf with a slave crest is what even the commoners looked down upon. He’ll not have free will and unconditionally had to follow Hans’s words. And most of all, it was illegal. Slavery was banished from this era, so Hans proposing it meant he had a way around it. “Can I ask what you need a slave for?” he implored him.
“I’m not trying to do anything, It's just a failsafe, so I won’t die by your hands. However, you know a warlock can break his slave crest, right? Become one and break it yourself.”
“You sure like rubbing salt in the wounds," Vanir said looking down, dejected, "My limit can hardly make me a fourth circle —”
“You seemed to miss my words earlier," Hans stressed, "My things have to be the best. I wasn’t just saying empty words. You’ll become a warlock. I’ll see to it.”
“Things, Haan, Wahtever," Vanir thought and stated, "Then promise me one thing, you’ll never make me do what I don’t want.” But instead of replying directly, Hans asked putting a grin, “And what makes you sure I won’t just back off after enslaving you.”
“You seem like someone who stays true to your words.” His words were sharp as he could see what Hans was thinking, even startling him, “A good person and now a person who keeps promises. You sure say the thing I like.”
“So it is a yes, senior?” Vanir questioned to confirm and got the response he was hoping for, “Yes," Hans answered, "I’ll give you this world’s most effective healing potion, even the dead might rise using, with the contract, junior.”
“Thank you,” Vanir bowed with his utmost sincerity, he thought it would take him an awful amount of time to reach the higher academy and learn the art of alchemy to concoct himself or get some higher alchemist favour to treat his ailing father, but it was just one day, and he almost has the solution in his hand. He was thanking his luck, and this is how Hans met his minion, Vanir.
“So everything is settled, Ally?” Delimira asked the elven princess. To her, this little girl was the only kind person who didn’t despise her for being a half-blood and treated her like a sister. Her pure heart was one thing yet to be tainted by this world, and she wanted it to remain the same for as long as possible, so she added, “Stay away from Hans.”
“He doesn’t seem that bad. You are friends with him, sister, aren’t you?” Allynna asked her in confusion, if he was bad, her sister wouldn't have befriended him, and what he did earlier seemed like a rivalry between houses. So she had no bitter feelings for him. “Yes, Deli,” Chris chimed in, “You seem chummy with Hans, last time I checked, you are at each other’s throats. What happened?”
“I became Lady Sierra’s disciple, haven’t you heard?”
“Yes, it was a surprise, to be honest, but Hans is just from their head knight household, right?” Chris asked with suspicious eyes and got a quick response, “Yeah, yes, but he lived in the same mansion. We became close during the holidays.”
“But it sure is awkward seeing you this close.” His suspicion continued.
“Why?" Delimira replied in the same tone, "Do you think I’d always have one friend all my life?”
“No, no," Chris shook his head fervently, "Don't bite me. I was just surprised.”
Heaving, she explained, “I found out, we are not much different.” she paused and, turning towards Allynna, added, “That’s why I’m telling you not to get close to him, Ally. It would put me in a very tight spot if I had to choose between you two.” One was the person who treated her like a sister and helped her with emotional support and the other was her master’s grandson and the first person who treated her as a rival and friend. It was evident she had to make a choice sometime near future. After all, no matter how much Hans denied the revenge, the enmity between Clandor and Parv was not something that can be solved without another war.
She was in her deep thoughts and didn’t realise her words were misunderstood by the two. Allynna nudged Chris in surprise, “It seems you lost her Chris —” “Oh, man, Hans you are in big trouble.”Chris muttered, all three were thinking different things but Allynna suddenly raised another question, “But how does his magic work? I couldn’t sense an ounce of mana in him.”
“What? I thought you can sense mana from others like your mother," Chris asked confused so Allynna clarified, "I can, that's why I'm asking, why does he not have any mana in him?"
"But he could do massive spells without even breaking a sweat,” Chris questioned, and Deli responded instead of Allynna, diverting the topic, “You will be surprised, how strong he had become, Chris. Just a few days before, he subdued a seventy-grade knight. Many factors played the part but he still brought that knight on his knees.”
“You are kidding, right?” Chris shouted in surprise, and she achieved the diversion, continuing, “I wish I was, But in Lady Sierra’s words; he is a talent that works hard.”
“And here I thought," Chris stated, dejected, "Me reaching grade thirty would be big news.”
Announcement
NEXT : THE LONG AWAITED SECOND YEAR
ACT V
THE GLORY WARS
Vanir’s question had sent Hans into deep thoughts, arranging a perfect answer that did not sound like a brag or filled with narcissism. “ I don’t wanna brag," he spoke, "There is none like me born before, and it probably will never be born either. In plain words, I don’t know anyone more talented than me.” And he miserably failed to control both bragging and Narcism.
Seeing Hans's lax attitude, Vanir thought, "The rumours must be exaggerated, he is just a kid with protagonist syndrome," and commented, testing him, “ Oh, wow, that's some inflated ego, senior.” And as he thought, instead of getting angry or putting him in his place, Hans continued in a lax tone. “There is nothing I can’t do. Try me.”
"Yes, Yes I believe you, senior."
"Ah, look at this cheeky bastard. He wants something for me. This level of inciting is nothing. I've been around Deli. My skin is too thick. But let's just humour him," Coughing and pretending like he was natural in it, he asked agitating, "I said try me, Junior."
“Then," Vanir paused and asked looking down, "Can you let a cripple man walk again?”
"Are the legs intact?" hand asked rubbing his hand on the chin, pretending to be a deep thinker, continuing, "If it's not then I need to go to him or he—" “Yes. they are,” Vanir said in haste, he never thought of getting the answer he searched for but thought that his god might show help in unexpected places.
“Then yes.” Hans nonchalantly responded, but doubting him once again, Vanir asked with some suspicion, “You are not joking, right?”
“I don’t joke,” Hans said with a severe face, sipping his hot coco and adding, “ Except with Deli or Chris or when trying to screw someone, oh and when skipping the classes…”
“That’s practically covering your whole schedule senior.”
“Tsk, whatever," he shrugged off and asked, "So who needs healing, a family member of yours? Can’t afford the treatment? That's easy to solve —” “Please," pushing his chair back, Vanir interrupted, "Yes, the professor said he has a terrifying background. I don't need much, just letting him live a few more years until I find a cure is enough." Thinking hard he knelt, "I’d do anything. Help me.” His eyes begged with utmost sincerity, but it was not something that could win Hans over.
His lax attitude changed, and turned into a dealer's, and taking another sip, he responded, “Your knees are precious, you ought to protect them like your head, idiot.”
“I don’t have the power to protect anything. My dignity is not an exception either, sir.”
“Isn’t that why you came here," Hans placed the empty cup back on the table and staring right into Vanir's eyes, he asked, "For power?”
“You also know my condition, you've seen with ManaVision,” Vanir paused, tapping his chest, “The most I can reach is the fourth circle. That's not enough fo —”
“What a dumb fellow?” Hans interrupted, “I chose you. You ought to become a warlock at least. You seem to have a story, but I won't ask you, and I'm not interested in it either. You probably seek revenge, right?"
"Yes,"
“What a niche setting,” Hans said, shaking his head, “An advice, I sorta got it from my father with some of my own words mixed in it; Hating someone requires a lot of time and emotions. Why waste your good days on something like revenge? Everyone, even enemies has something unique to offer. My sister told me this, make sure you learn everything they can offer and wait for an opportunity that will surely come. Revenge must never be the end goal but a stepping stone, or else you will find nothing but emptiness in the end.” Hans felt like a philosopher, "This is embarrassing. What the heck I'm saying." Meanwhile, Vanir was facing trouble understanding Hans, a moment earlier he had shown a mind full of insight then his childish ego now a wisdom, “Are you sure you are eleven?" he asked wondering, "You certainly look but don’t feel like one.”
“I fidget around intelligent people," Hans said maintaining his intellectual look, continuing, " And I read many books but it's probably in my blood.” These words Vanir recalled Walter's words again, so he asked confirming, “Yes, Housemaster also said; you have a terrifying background. Who are you?”
“For someone who can’t even safeguard a book, he sure babbles a lot” Hans commented, putting his grim face on, “hm... I’ll tell you if I feel like it. But why won’t you sit in the chair? I like looking down on people, but others will complain that I'm bullying a new student.”
“There he goes again, the childish persona,” Vanir thought as he observed Hans. He was not a person that trusted anyone easily but the air that was frequently changing around Hans gave him surety that he was capable of whatever he was claiming. “Can you really let my father walk again?” he asked, sitting right away.
“I can, but why do you think I’ll do it?”
“Cause you feel like a good person.”
“Good person, pft..." he chuckled, "I was called many things, but not even grandma had said this to me. Fine, I’ll do it," Hans agreed, but before Vanir could rejoice in joy, Hans interrupted, “Then this good person wants something in return. You said you’ll do anything, right?”
“Yes, anything.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“I have trust issues, you see my father got betrayed here and there, and then lost his life because he trusted the wrong person.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“No, no, don’t feel sorry, He was pissing people right and left too. This was bound to happen." He dropped his shoulder and relaxed further, continuing, "I never met him. But what I learned from him is not to trust anyone easily. So you’ll have to sign a slave contract. Are you okay with it?” This dragged Vanir down, an elf with a slave crest is what even the commoners looked down upon. He’ll not have free will and unconditionally had to follow Hans’s words. And most of all, it was illegal. Slavery was banished from this era, so Hans proposing it meant he had a way around it. “Can I ask what you need a slave for?” he implored him.
“I’m not trying to do anything, It's just a failsafe, so I won’t die by your hands. However, you know a warlock can break his slave crest, right? Become one and break it yourself.”
“You sure like rubbing salt in the wounds," Vanir said looking down, dejected, "My limit can hardly make me a fourth circle —”
“You seemed to miss my words earlier," Hans stressed, "My things have to be the best. I wasn’t just saying empty words. You’ll become a warlock. I’ll see to it.”
“Things, Haan, Wahtever," Vanir thought and stated, "Then promise me one thing, you’ll never make me do what I don’t want.” But instead of replying directly, Hans asked putting a grin, “And what makes you sure I won’t just back off after enslaving you.”
“You seem like someone who stays true to your words.” His words were sharp as he could see what Hans was thinking, even startling him, “A good person and now a person who keeps promises. You sure say the thing I like.”
“So it is a yes, senior?” Vanir questioned to confirm and got the response he was hoping for, “Yes," Hans answered, "I’ll give you this world’s most effective healing potion, even the dead might rise using, with the contract, junior.”
“Thank you,” Vanir bowed with his utmost sincerity, he thought it would take him an awful amount of time to reach the higher academy and learn the art of alchemy to concoct himself or get some higher alchemist favour to treat his ailing father, but it was just one day, and he almost has the solution in his hand. He was thanking his luck, and this is how Hans met his minion, Vanir.
“So everything is settled, Ally?” Delimira asked the elven princess. To her, this little girl was the only kind person who didn’t despise her for being a half-blood and treated her like a sister. Her pure heart was one thing yet to be tainted by this world, and she wanted it to remain the same for as long as possible, so she added, “Stay away from Hans.”
“He doesn’t seem that bad. You are friends with him, sister, aren’t you?” Allynna asked her in confusion, if he was bad, her sister wouldn't have befriended him, and what he did earlier seemed like a rivalry between houses. So she had no bitter feelings for him. “Yes, Deli,” Chris chimed in, “You seem chummy with Hans, last time I checked, you are at each other’s throats. What happened?”
“I became Lady Sierra’s disciple, haven’t you heard?”
“Yes, it was a surprise, to be honest, but Hans is just from their head knight household, right?” Chris asked with suspicious eyes and got a quick response, “Yeah, yes, but he lived in the same mansion. We became close during the holidays.”
“But it sure is awkward seeing you this close.” His suspicion continued.
“Why?" Delimira replied in the same tone, "Do you think I’d always have one friend all my life?”
“No, no," Chris shook his head fervently, "Don't bite me. I was just surprised.”
Heaving, she explained, “I found out, we are not much different.” she paused and, turning towards Allynna, added, “That’s why I’m telling you not to get close to him, Ally. It would put me in a very tight spot if I had to choose between you two.” One was the person who treated her like a sister and helped her with emotional support and the other was her master’s grandson and the first person who treated her as a rival and friend. It was evident she had to make a choice sometime near future. After all, no matter how much Hans denied the revenge, the enmity between Clandor and Parv was not something that can be solved without another war.
She was in her deep thoughts and didn’t realise her words were misunderstood by the two. Allynna nudged Chris in surprise, “It seems you lost her Chris —” “Oh, man, Hans you are in big trouble.”Chris muttered, all three were thinking different things but Allynna suddenly raised another question, “But how does his magic work? I couldn’t sense an ounce of mana in him.”
“What? I thought you can sense mana from others like your mother," Chris asked confused so Allynna clarified, "I can, that's why I'm asking, why does he not have any mana in him?"
"But he could do massive spells without even breaking a sweat,” Chris questioned, and Deli responded instead of Allynna, diverting the topic, “You will be surprised, how strong he had become, Chris. Just a few days before, he subdued a seventy-grade knight. Many factors played the part but he still brought that knight on his knees.”
“You are kidding, right?” Chris shouted in surprise, and she achieved the diversion, continuing, “I wish I was, But in Lady Sierra’s words; he is a talent that works hard.”
“And here I thought," Chris stated, dejected, "Me reaching grade thirty would be big news.”
Announcement
NEXT : THE LONG AWAITED SECOND YEAR
