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Chapter One: To Gather Funds

Rex, to prepare for his exam, decided to have a little spar with his brother and sister. Although he did have an actual spar with Yvonne, he more or less taught Adrian how to use his new sword. After all, teaching is also a form of practice.

Since Aibelle was the only one in the family who preferred using a staff, she felt left out. At first she wanted to ask if she could have Adrian's old sword so she can practice with them, but when her brother, Rex, glanced at her with gentle eyes, shook his head and smiled, she thought he was against her practising with them.

She was about to leave to go back to her room when, Rex called out to her. "Aibelle, would you like to train with us?"

Aibelle looked at her brother in dismay and shook her head, "Aibelle. Sword. Don't know."

Rex somehow felt Aibelle's discomfort and decided to involve her with their practice, "Aibelle, you don't have to know how to use a sword to practice with us. Come over here, I'll show you how."

"Really?"

"Yes. Come." Rex urged Aibelle with his hands and called out to Yvonne, "Sis, can you practice with Adrian? I'd like to practice with Aibelle."

"Sure. Adrian, come with me. We'll correct your form. Aibelle, be sure to listen well, okay?"

Adrian was excited to learn, so he didn't care who taught him. He picked up his new sword and glanced at Aibelle with gentle eyes. He was also excited his twin sister was being more proactive with her magic training.

Aibelle looked at Yvonne with gleeful eyes and nodded.

"Adrian, let's go!"
"Coming!"

* * *

"Aibelle, start with standing in your attacking form."

Aibelle shook her head from side to side, "Don't have."

"Hmm, I see. Okay. One of the basic stances is to put your staff in front of you. Yes, just like that. Now hold it with your two hands. This is a stance is helpful especially in a party, when you want to support your friends."

Aibelle felt dejected and lowered her head, "Aibelle. No friends."

Rex stroked his sister's hair to cheer her up, "Then to support brother. Can you do that?"

*Nod*

"Good. What brother is going to teach you is a spell called 'Fire Wall'. It's a very strong defensive barrier. Do you know what a barrier is?"

*Nod*

"Now, try to feel your fire attributed mana. Let brother know when you can feel it."

"Feel it."

"Really? Aibelle took less than 10 seconds on her first try. You're a genius!"

*Smile*

"Don't forget the feeling. Now, brother will draw a circle around Aibelle. Try to imagine a ring of fire around you of that size." Rex grabbed a stick and drew a 50 centimetre circle around Aibelle.

In less than 10 seconds, Aibelle was able to cast a ring of fire at the exact same size of the circle Rex drew on the ground. When he said Aibelle was a genius, he was neither being sarcastic nor was he saying so because she was his sister. She really was a genius. She was able to cast a spell she'll only learn in the end on her Beginner's course in the Academy.

Earlier in the day, their parents had asked him to teach Aibelle some fire spells. Although Aibelle was a shy girl, she was strong when it comes to magic. However, because of her shyness and fear of strangers, she was unable to learn from the tutor their parents have provided for her.

Their parents noticed Aibelle had opened up to him even though they were practically strangers; since the last time they saw each other was when Aibelle was only 3, and asked him to tutor her.

"Good job Aibelle. You're almost there. The last step is to have it at the height you want. For now, how about Aibelle's height? Can you try it?"

*Nod*

After about 30 seconds, Aibelle was barely able to get the firewall up to her height. When Rex told her to release her magic, she was disappointed for not being able to reach his expectations.

Rex stroke her hair again to make her feel better, "It's okay Aibelle. Today is the first time you're learning this. All you need is more practice. Brother will stay with you everyday until you're satisfied."

Aibelle apologized with tears welling up in her eyes, "Sorry."

"There's no need to apologise, Aibelle." Rex patted her head and continued stroking her black hair, "But don't give up."

"Understand."

Yvonne, who was practising with Adrian, returned, "Rex, how is it going with Aibelle?"

"I'm teaching her Fire Wall, but she's having problems with its height. Any ideas?"

"I'm stumped as well. Adrian on the other hand, can't get the width of his fortification magic right."

"So you have problems with width, and I have problems with height..." Rex was concerned that his younger siblings will continue to practice, depleting them of their mana. "Aibelle, Adrian, do you guys want to take a break? We've been practising for 3 hours."

"Continue."
"I also want to continue."

Rex looked at Yvonne for support, "They'll tire out all their mana."

Yvonne did nothing but shrugged, "It runs in the family, Rex. Give it up."

1 hour later...

"Would you like to take a break now?"
"No."
"I'm fine brother, I can still continue."

1 hour later...

"I'm sorry guys, but this time we have to call it a day. We'll continue again tomorrow, okay? Now go inside and wash up. Brother will teach you simple magic after dinner."

"Promise?" Aibelle looked at Rex with expectant eyes.
"Yes, I promise."

"Okay..." Aibelle went inside the house and headed for her room to wash up. Adrian on the other hand...

"Adrian, you have to call it a day or else you won't have energy for dinner."
"But, brother..."

"Most magic spells can't be learned within a day, so we'll try again tomorrow."
"Oh, okay..." Adrian slowly dragged his feet towards the house.

Yvonne let out a sigh, "They listened to you more than the listen to me."

"It's probably because they still feel like I'm stranger, so they still don't know how to treat me properly."

"I think they're opening up to you just fine." Yvonne patted his back.

For dinner, although their mother offered to cook, the Duke had insisted against it. His reason being: "Honey, I don't want you to ruin your beautiful hands. Furthermore, we've had a busy day. Let's go out and eat, instead."

However, all their children except Rex, knew the real reason: "Honey, although I love you so, I have yet to recover from my near-death experience with food during lunch time. Please spare my stomach and let's eat out, instead."

And so, the Merrick family, minus two, were relieved of not experiencing the risk of getting food poisoning for a second time that day. They booked a room at a restaurant and finished dinner without a hitch. However, there were many who saw the family dining together, looking like they were celebrating a grand occasion. And thus, a rumour had circulated...

* * *

Later that night, Rex taught the twins simple spells such as 'Light Ball', allowing them to produce light wherever they go, without the help of flash-lights, candles, or matches. However, his reasoning wasn't so simple. When his father taught it to him, he was asked to paint a picture of a meadow with Light Balls. Of course, it included having different colours of light. In the end, he was able to increase his mana exponentially and learned how to manage it properly.

Unlike any other average children who began to feel their mana circulation at the age of 8 or 9, Rex was born with the ability. Albeit quite rare, it was normal for the House of Merrick to have such child each generation. His father was also born with it, so was his grandfather, great-great-grandfather — basically, the majority of the Head of Merrick's House throughout many generations.

When the Duke found out his son also possessed the special ability, he immediately sealed his son's powers until Rex could control it, in an attempt to prevent mana overload.

Thankfully, on Rex's 8th birthday, when he removed the seal on his own, he learned how to control his powers, shocking both his parents. It was also one of the reasons why his parents allowed him to set out into the world at such an early age. Although his sister pleaded him not to go, he still left because he felt something, or someone, was calling out to him to find their existence.

As a child, he had always been very curious. The stories his father told him about the time when he, himself, set out to see the world did not dwindle his curiosity but fuelled it, instead.

All throughout his travels, he had never once asked for money from his parents. He went to various Guilds, such as the Merchant Guilds, in order to complete quests to earn travelling money and living expenses.

At first, the guild attendant would only give him unranked easy quest. After 1 year of his travel, he had already completed at least 25 unranked quests. The guild attendant, who was very pleased with his diligence, suggested he took the Magician's exam. Eventually he passed with a Rank C badge. From then on, he was able to take harder quest for Rank C Magicians or lower, earning him more money.

Magicians were ranked by F, E, D, C, B, A, S, and SS; with F being the lowest.

For people who wanted to take an exam for Rank B or higher, they needed to have someone of the same rank or higher to sponsor them and, it also cost a lot of money. Although he could he could have asked his parents, he didn't think of it then, and was contented in passing the Rank C exam.

The highest rank an average Magician can attain upon their death was Rank B. Since all Magicians have to be registered, the Kingdom has an exact count on how many Magicians there are and their ranks. Currently in the Kingdom of Erath, there were 23 Rank A Magicians, 15 Rank S, and 7 Rank SS.

Without say, the 7 SS ranked Magicians were famous for their magical prowess, and among the 7 were the Duke and Duchess of Merrick, the King, and 4 other Dukes; Ludwig, St Faust, Witten, and Ransol.

* * *

It was four years after he had left home, while he was walking back to the Merchant Guild in the Kingdom of Tyrenas; west of Erath, when he heard voices calling out to him...

[Please, save us...]
[Get us out of here, we beg you.]

When he passed by a Weapon Shop, he saw an exotic looking dual daggers. The daggers were completely black; black blade, black handle, black wing insignia with a crossed silver twin-daggers over it, and a motto written in silver; Ad altiora tendo — "I strive towards higher things".

Rex was naturally drawn to the dual daggers. He knew the daggers were meant for him and, he could sense mysterious powers sealed inside. Without any form of hesitation, he entered the store. The stone owner looked at him in disdained because of his appearance.

Rex had just finished a quest from a nearby village and was on his way to give his report. He wanted to take on another quest to earn money to buy his twin siblings their birthday present, so as a result, he ran his whole way back. Needless to say, he looked like he had seen better days. He wore a sweat-stained top and shorts filled with patches of dried mud. To sum up his appearance in a word — beggar.

"Sir, what is the price of those black dual daggers?"

"You can't afford it, brat. Get out of my store! You'll ruin my business."

Rex had faced similar reception in many different occasions, ergo, was already immune to it. If he gave up with one single rejection, no Guilds would not have given him any job.

Rex persisted, "Kind Sir, my Master is interested in the dagger and has asked me to confirm the price."

"Your Master?" The store owner snorted.
"Yes." Rex nodded and said nothing more

"And who exactly is your Master?"
"I can't tell you, I'll be punished."

With veins popping out of his temple, the store owner yelled, "And you'll be punished even more if you don't get the daggers! Now, tell me who you're working for!"

Rex contemplated and nodded, "I'm working for the House of Merrick."

Then or now, Rex didn't know the value of his family's name. Due to him being home taught, his young age, and his father's request, he wasn't allowed to get involved in politics, thus, he didn't know the weight the name carried. All he knew was his family was part of the nobility.

Whenever he used the excuse of working for a Master in other stores, they didn't really care whom he worked for as long as he had the money to pay for the wares he wanted. In addition, when he went those stores, he looked cleaner and decent, so the store owners believed him willingly.

Since he was impatient and wanted to know the price of the daggers as quickly as possible, he blurted out the first thing that came to his mind — his own family name.

"House of Merrick?!" The store owner's brows went up in disbelief.
"Yes." Rex nodded.
"You liar! Get out!"

"I am not lying!" Technically, he wasn't. All throughout his travel, he wrote reports regarding the economy of the places he visited, to help out with the family business.

The store owner slammed his fist on the counter, "If you want me to believe a brat like you is working for the House of Merrick, you better show me some proof!"

Rex took out the magic identification plate his father had provided for him to help him with his travel visas and handed it to the store owner, "Here's my ID plate."

The store owner stared at it for a while. His face turned white then green, "MISTER Avery, what can I do for you today?"

Rex was startled with the change of attitude in the store owner, but decided not to pursue the matter, "My Master would like to know the price of the black dual daggers."

"It's 50 Gold, Sir."

"FIFTY GOLD?!" 'That's too much; I'm never going to afford it.' Rex thought as he tried to calculate how many months it took him to earn at least a fifth of the price.

"No Sir, I meant 20." At first, the store owner wanted to rip high profit since he knew the House of Merrick had an abundance of money one can only dream about. But when he heard Rex's surprised yell over the price, he abandoned the idea. If he incurred the House of Merrick's wrath, it would be the end of his tiny little shop on the coast, or might even lose his life. Giving his life more priority, he decided to reap no profit.

Rex starting tapping his chin with his index finger, thinking of a way to come up with the funds. "20 Gold... Hmm... Can you keep the daggers on-hold? I have to talk to my Master about it."

"How long should I keep it on-hold, Sir?"
"How long do you usually keep items on-hold for?"

"For normal customers, I keep it for 3 months at most. But for you Sir, I'll keep it for at least 6 months."

Rex nodded in agreement, "I will go back to Erath immediately to procure the money. Please keep it until I come back."

"Yes, Sir. As you wish, Sir."

'Why was he so afraid of our family name?' Rex wondered as he made his way back to the Merchant Guild to find jobs and quests to earn the 20 Gold.

When he asked the guild attendant how he could make quick money, he was referred to Erath's Annual Magic Competition — Youth Division.

Every year, there would be 3 different kinds of Magic Competition. One was for Women, which takes place around the month of Pisces, one for Men, which takes place in the month of Virgo-Libra, and the last one was for Youth ages 13 to 19, which takes place in the month of Gemini. Since he turned 13 that year, he was eligible to participate. The prize money for the winner of that year's competition was... 100 Gold.

Was the amount too little? This author will leave you to be the judge. However, the reason why the majority of the competitors participated in the Magic Competition was for the glory. The grandeur of prevailing over all other Magicians under the public eye. What comes after it, such as the prize money, was nothing but bonus. Nevertheless, Magicians who did well on the Magic Competition, all became well-known, recognized by the King, or became Magicians for the Magic Towers across the land. The same thing can't be said about our main character, Rex, however.

Rex made his way back to Erath with due haste after finding out the closing date to submit an application form was nearing its end. When he arrived at the Marron Magic Tower, they were already packing up for the day. Rex immediately sprinted to the nearest booth. He slammed the counter of the booth, hard, surprising the attendant.

"C-Can I... please get... an application form?" Rex stammered, trying to regain his composure, and slowing down his haggard breathing.

The attendant examined Rex, "You look horrible. You're running a little late kid, did you run into an accident? But since there's still 3 minutes left before closing time, here's a form."

"I'm sorry for coming so late. I've just returned from Tyrenas. Right after landing, I ran all the way here." Rex took the application form held out to him, quickly filled it out, and handed it back to the attendant, "I'm done."

"Ah?... You don't have a sponsor? It might be a little hard if you." The attendant said as he processed Rex's application form through a magic optical scanner and, continued his explanation, "The first stage of the competition is an elimination stage. Since we're always getting more competitors each year from across the Kingdoms, we have to eliminate them down to the last 100 or less. During the elimination stage, you'll need food, water, and various other supplies to maintain your equipment. Without a sponsor, I'm afraid it'll be hard for you to proceed."

Rex wrinkled his brows, "Is the entire competition held inside the arena?"

"Yes, they use magic to turn the inside of the arena into anything. For example, last year, they turned the arena into an Amusement Park, with all the rides and petting zoo. The elimination stage lasted for approximately seven days before the competitors were down to the last 100."

Rex asked in wonder, "Were the rides and animals real?"

The attendant nodded, "But of course. Everything will be real."

"That's amazing. But if that's the case, I don't have to worry about food."

"Haha, you could put it that way." The attendant smirked, "I've finished processing your application. Take a look to see if there's any mistake."

Rex looked at the transparent screen floating in front of his face, looking over the information of his application, "Nope, there's no mistake."

"Good." The attendant nodded, "Now take these: here's a book for you and your magic necklace — your proof of participation. Read up on all the rules to make sure you don't break them and get disqualified."

"Thank you. And could I ask who the favourite to win is?" Rex wanted to know whom he had to defeat in order to claim the prize money.

"Lady Yvonne Merrick, the Duke of Merrick's first daughter." The attendant shrugged and answered without much thought, "Since the Magic Tower of Marron is in the vicinity of the Merrick's land, we're so proud of her achievements when she won the last 2 competition."

Rex almost choked on his own saliva. His sister was the favourite!

"Umm... Can people use alias?"

"If you mean Lady Yvonne Merrick's name is being used, then no, she's the real one. Since she started participating, the Duke and Duchess of Merrick, along with their twins, would always be present to support her. But yes, people can use an alias if they want to."

And that was how Rex Avery became known as the "Phantom" Warrior

* * *

From the Author

Hello again, AnmesicCat here.

Although I've written this chapter together with the Prologue posted approximately two weeks prior, I wasn't contented with how it turned out then. Thus, I've made many minor edits and re-read the chapter at least three times. Nevertheless, I'm not perfect, so please do point out things I might have missed.

I would also like to take this time a clarify this question: "What are the order of the Zodiac months in your story?"

- AnmesicCat

PS: You can also view the chapter here: Fable Wind: Whispers of the Immortal - Chapter 1

* * *

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