Chapter 278 (2/2)

Mayla and I continued to watch from the hallhile the spar soon cairl was about to launch a critical strike on the boy’s open side The aged instructor called out the results and was just about to start on the next pair of children when she saw arded me for a second with her sharp eyes

“Instructor Resbin, this is Ascender Grey,” she said without lifting her head

Her eyes widened for a moment but otherwise kept calies for not welco you sooner, Ascender Grey You hid your mana so well that I didn’t know such a powerful individual had been so close”

I raised a hand in a placating gesture “It’s fine I had no intention of interrupting your class”

By this tiainst the walls were all standing and taking peeks at me Gasps and mutters soon filled the room until Instructor Resbin silenced the into me

“Instructor Resbin was actually once an instructor fro to the aged instructor “Ascender Grey just told ood you were!”

“Thank you, Ascender Grey,” she replied but her eyes continued to assess me

“I simply noted what I saw,” I said with a polite nod “Please continue”

I turned to leave, not particularly having a reason to stay here any longer, when Instructor Resbin called out

“Forgive my insolence, Ascender Grey, but as you know, the annual exhibition is in just two days My students and I would be most honored if an estee back over my shoulders I stared at the woman

“You say pointers, but your eyes say you want blood I have no interest in engaging in a th” I gave her a smile “Now, if you’ll excuse me”

I walked out of the striker school with Mayla following beside me with an uncois re for a show,’

I know you’re bored Just hold on for a few more days

By the time we reached the town proper, the center of the plaza had been redecorated for the bestowment ceremony as a line of twenty or so kids had already fornized

‘Hey, isn’t that the boy that tried to stab you last night?’ Regis asked

It was Belht, but it only seeht how malnourished he was underneath a clean button-up shi+rt that was obviously too big for hied to eat last night and if they were able to sell the leather cropped up in my mind

“Didn’t you say that the cerehts and beratingabout the kid

“Yes, but oftenti nervously as the line grew longer

“Then shouldn’t you be going too?”

Mayla turned to me “Oh no! It’s okay, esteemed ascender It’s et in line once the cereo I’ll be fine”

There was a trace of reluctance in her expression but her i ood kid,’ Regis voiced ‘Too bad she and all the rest of the people in this continent have been brainwashed by Agrona’

Not sure if brainwashed is the right word but, yeah

The cereressed once a man dressed in complete black walked up toward the elevated platforray behind him The most notable part of his wardrobe was an obsidian staff that he carried A slimmered in the colors of not only the elemental attributes but also had a faint trace of aether

Regis noticed it too and I could feel his hunger for it

“Esteemed ascender,” a voice called out faintly from behind

I turned to see Loreni dressed in her work attire, a layer of sweat above her brows “Please forgive ain today”

My brows furrowed “Again? Has Mayla been bestowed before?”

“Ah She’s been trying to get her first mark for the past three years now since children are required to be tested since the age of six,” she explained, her expression tinged in concern “If atoday’s bestowment, I’m afraid she’ll most likely be deean before hurriedly adding, “around here?”

“Being a non-e is always looked down upon but Mayla is well acquainted with everyone in Maerin, so she should be fine,” she said with a slight smile “I was devastated too when I was deemed an unadorned but thankfully, everyone was still very nice towith the rest of the town as the first child scurried up the stairs and knelt before the officiant holding the obsidian staff After nize, the officiant walked around the kneeling boy and placed the tip of his staff just above his tailbone

Blood dripped fro until finally the officiant withdrew his weapon and instructed the boy to turn around and lift up his shi+rt

“Fiorin of Town Maerin has been adorned with thepride to his blood and vanquish all who stand in the way of ourand I could see the boy bea in pride even while tears of pain lined his cheeks After he stepped down and ran into the embrace of his family, the next child came up

The bestow displayed by the child as well as his faer

While the event was interesting and even insightful toward the cultures of Alacrya, I grew bored…until Belmun stepped up onto the podium Anticipation rose as I watched him walk up the stairs to the expressionless officiant

I could hear soust as Belmun knelt silently in front of the officiant However, everyone’s expressions changed as the officiant’s staff grew brighter than norlieround

With the crowd deathly silent, the officiant hurriedly lifted Bel the boy up to his feet

“Belmun of Town Maerin has been adorned with the crest of a striker!” he exclaimed as Belmun looked at the man in utter shock

“A crest?” Loreni sputtered

The entire plaza seerowing in volu while hugging each other Bele and bound tohat looked like his parents and fell into their embrace

“Bel placed in an appropriate acadeained his composure

I watched as the officiant’s hooded assistants escorted Belmun and his family away

“Is Bel me out of my daze

“Huh?” I turned to Loreni “Why do you ask that?”

“Esteeht…” Loreni shook her head “Forgive ”

The bestow aone—until Mayla stepped up onto the platform

Loreni clasped her hands as she looked at her sister kneeling onstage

I didn’t knoould happen since Mayla was one of the oldest kids there, but what I didn’t expect was for the officiant’s staff to grow even brighter than it did for Belmun

“Th-This…” the officiant muttered, completely bewildered this time “Mayla of Town Maerin has been adorned with the… eis let out a whistle as the plaza broke out into cheers The crowd and even the officiant was ecstatic as the black-robed man even went as far as to pat her on the back However, both Mayla and Loreni wore a solemn expression at the turn of the event

“Are you not happy at your sister earning an emblem?” I asked, curious

“Oh n-no, of course I’m happy, esteeaze fell “Please excuse ratulate e, using her sleeve to wipe her face

“A crest and even an embleet a lot of extra resources this year It’s a shah I heard that talented sentries are trained rigorously and sent down the most to the Relictombs”

“Shhh, don’t say that out loud, you idiot Mayla should be proud that she will be able to better serve our sovereigns in finding the relics!” another voice said

So that’s what it was, I thought while staring at Mayla and Loreni The two eht’vethe ache in my chest, I made my way out of the town plaza and back to the house