The Reborn Magus and His Prince

Chapter 3.2 Braun

Only three men left in the study with Yulian facing the guest.

"Now Yulian, you have to take a deep breath for what we are about to tell you," the chief himself inhaled sharply and even signed him to follow him.

Being already used to their chief's antics, he too took a long breath, waiting for his sign to let go.

But the chief seemed to remember something as he quickly exhaled and turned to the amused guest. "Mr. William, will it be okay if I will be the one to say it?"

Braun who'd been watching the duo from the side line, shakes his head. "Please allow me the honor, Mr. Wallice. If not Young Albertine's soul would fly out any moment now." He gestured the young one who obediently followed the chief's order.

"Silly boy!" Mr. Wallice laugh out loud upon seeing his puffy cheeks in trying to hold on to his breath. He signed his hands and finally Yulian breathed again. "Please as you may, Mr. William. I apologize for the interruption."

Braun nodded at him in acknowledgement and had taken an envelope from the inside of his coat and held it out to him. He saw a proud crest on the envelope, a majestic sun cross with two intimidating swords that he knew too well. The symbol of Caereus Military Academy. One of the many organizations who had opposed him in the past.

"Welcome to the academy, Yulian Albertine."

Yulian stared at at the hero of Ruke. He reminded him of a young knight who also once a student of Caereus Military Academy. So Noble and yet so proud. They believe their beloved academy was the most prestigious of all and just a single step inside would bring honor for a hundred of generations to your family.

Caereus Military Academy was founded by the first king of the Caereus Kingdom and had a long history of ever only accepting those which had a noble lineage. Hence, the upturned noses of every students who goes there.

However, a revision had been made within the academy ever since the war against Yulan the Magus. They had lost too many talents and most of them were heirs to upper households and what left in the academy were cowardly young masters of wasted talents.

The council had to break their own tradition for the Caereus to survive and designed for commoners with potentials to be accepted, either they pass the tests or get a recommendation from within the academy.

And the latter was for Yulian.

"This... I'm going to the academy?" Yulian held the envelope in his hand with mix feelings.

For one, he actually do not have a good impression for the academy and they expect him to be a student in there?

Second, Ignis. He had to consult with him first if it was already good to leave this town.

"This is a wonderful news! Mr. William here saw your geat potentials and decided to enroll you to the academy," Mr. Wallice explained. "It's been your dream since you were young."

Yulian forced a smile, "Yes, it was." The old Yulian's dream, not his.

Braun looked deeply and sensed his unenthusiastic mood. "Seems like the news was too surprising for you, Albertine."

Mr. Wallice also took notice of him and became worried and baffled. "What's wrong, Yulian? This... You've been waiting for this since you were a child, even the time you had not develope your core."

Yulian became silent for a few seconds as his brain gears were spinning for an excuse. But before he could come up with one, Braun stood up.

"I thing we need to give the boy some time to think this over, Mr. Wallice. After all this involve his future."

The chief gape afraid that the recommendation would be forfeited but he also realizes that what Braun had said was right. As much as he wanted for Yulian to attend the academy, this still all depends on the young boy. "I understand." He relented.

Yulian breath a secret sigh of relief upon hearing his answer.

"Well, since I already achieved what I came to do, I'm afraid I'll have to bid my goodbye." Braun said after the matter was settled. He turned to the chief for farewell.

"So fast?" Mr. Wallice looked surprise and felt disappointed this infamous healer can't stay long. "Won't you at least stay for lunch, Mr. William?"

The chief who had long stood up the moment his guest turned to him, went around from his table to Braun's side.

"I really want to, Mr. Wallice. It's been long since I tasted the delicacies of Ruke but I was only given a short amount of time and there's somewhere I need to be." He explained, dismay can be heard from his voice.

The chief's face displayed disappointment but not wanting to inconvenient his guest, he put on a apologetic smile."It's a pity but you will always be welcome here anytime, Mr. William. And I would like to apologize for my brazen behavior earlier. I hope I did not cause you any inconveniences."

Seeing the other man's discomfort from his words earlier, Braun wanted to save his host's face. "Goodness no, Mr. Wallice, you didn't. And If anything I would count on your words earlier. You might find yourself a very annoying guest popping up every now and then."

A face of delight bloomed on the chief's face with his response, and recovered his vigor. "Yes, we would be honored, Mr. William! And please allow me to escort you." The chief opened the door for him seeing his guest all ready with his coat and hat on.

Braun nodded and turned to Yulian who also followed them out of courtesy. "The school starts next month and you have to be at the academy a week before. Until then, you have two weeks to think this over." He patted him on the shoulder. "Good luck, Albertine," he added before following the chief.

Yulian stood beside the window watching the two men outside. Braun got on a coach waiting for him. The two conversed for a while before their final bidding.

He sighed and badly needed to talk to Ignis however he saw from the corner of his eye the figure of Mrs. Wallice coming up with a steaming tea. He stopped himself from summoning the light god and met the older lady to halfway.

That same day he spent his time at the Wallice's. The husband and wife talked to him about his plan for the future. Yulian made an excuse that he was a bit reluctant to accept the recommendation for the reason that he's not confident with his ability.

In which the couple comforted him. They stated, although they very much wanted him to attend the academy but in the end they will still respect whatever decision he will emerge.

After that the couple had a tacit understanding to not mention again the recommendation as to let him relax.

It was already night when Yulian left, he also spent his dinner at the Wallice's.

He put his hands on his head while walking towards his own home, nibbling a grass on his lips he picked up somewhere. He looked up and saw the sky was clear with stars scattered on the dark canvass. Moonlight shone and illuminated his path.

He hummed a song, all while feeling that there's something he forgot. Something he had promise last night to do today.

But before he could grasp that forgotten promise, a familiar voice sounded that interrupt him from remembering.

'We are ready. Now's the time to leave and search for Calis.'

"Ignis." A tiny ball of flame spark out in front of him, invisible to the eyes of others except for him.

"I recovered half of my strength and we will start our search in the academy. I am certain Calis would chose a place full of abilities in order to harness his strength." Ignis said as he floated beside him as he continued his walk towards home.

"Hmm... is that so?" Yulian contemplated. The fallen god said he is ready to face his nemesis but the question is, is 'he' ready?

In the past, he might answer yes. A fallen god with depleted and weakened power, he might stood a chance. But right now, all he could ever rely on is his fire ability and simple spells that requires small amount of energy.

Ignis as if reading his thoughts said, "You need not worry, I will lend you my strength."

Yulian wanted to spat the grass on his lips to display his contempt. What kind of assurrance is that? He had an itch to strangle this sorry of excuse of a fireball. Basically, Ignis was saying he will cheer him on on the sideline while he will physically be the one to face the god of darkness. -__-

"Thanks for the kind ges..."

Yulian stopped short. They had reached his house. He felt the enchantment he put in the morning was still there as he unlock his door and entered.

"Something's wrong." Ignis also felt the chilling silent that surrounded his house.

The house only relied on the moon light that seeped from the opened door, other than that it was all dark. But that's not the reason they felt the abnormality.

Sure his enchantment was still there but he knows his work, somebody had already tempered it and manage to get inside.

He clicked his fingers and fires lit the candles in his house. He slowly walked inside followed by the fireball. That's when they heard footsteps coming from above. And the moment the owner of those footsteps realized that he had returned, Yulian had dashed towards one of the bedroom where the sound was coming from.

Fires igniting on his hands, he kicked the door opened and hurled a lasso made of fire to a retreating black figure. But the intruder was quick enough to jump out of the window and escape.

Yulian followed suit, determined to catch the bastard.

The cloak figure had run towards the forest, just behind his house. Luckily his house stood alone in this area of the town. No civilians would come here to interfer.

He had to gave up on the idea of lasso as it was difficult to maneuver in the forest. And using enchantments was not an options, the time had not come to reveal his real strength yet and the cloak figure knows his face while he had not seen his.