11.2a

Ike stared around at the meeting location that had been given by the Adventurer’s Guild attendant. This was the standard hang-out spot of his group. Boulders dotted a semicircle facing target dummies further down the free-sight range. There were two girls and one other boy along with him here. Ike smoothed his purple mage robes embossed with ink-black threads. A quick self-inspection showed all of his Amethyst Rings fully charged, and his Amethyst necklace passively providing mana regeneration. The scent of sand-tinted dirt was kept at bay by the Amethyst earring that granted Ike a minor shield while keeping the air around him clean.

He could recognize all three of his companions at a glance. Each of the other children was equal in age to Ike while being at the same peak of Tier Three. Sitting on the nearby boulders without paying heed to the sun’s heat was Rix Dell. The slightly older boy's clothing was a combination of flaming red silk robes embossed in gold-threaded symbols of heat control that matched the younger man’s casual disregard of the elements. Rix had no issue with displaying rippling chest muscles of steel trained in the forge of his family’s fire body techniques, which was why the robe was left open in front. Contrary to the common myth, the Dell family’s hair was deep black of coal-baked ashes instead of fiery red, although his eyes were a golden hue which many women found quite attractive. Exactly like Ike he had a set of jewelry, rubies instead of amethysts, enchanted by the same master-class Enchanter.

Since he didn’t have any interest in men, Ike turned his gaze to the two girls. Minerva Varen and Chelsea Eltren were two of the most attractive rising female stars in the Adventurer’s Guild, City of Gold, specifically the Southern Branch section. While both girls had the same aristocratic genes, Ike would be forced to admit that Minerva’s assets overwhelmed her opponents. Large bouncy orbs, a tight waistline, and a perfectly padded posterior made almost all-male Guild members susceptible to her charms. Her robes were tight and their cut displayed all the most prominent points of her ample assets. Sky blue silk with a deep V shape at the chest combined with slits on the side to allow for easy leg movement was almost hypnotic. Like the boys, each of the girls was equipped with jewelry of their own. Minerva had sapphires, while Chelsea had milky white quartz instead. The standard set of enchants that he had managed to convince both of them to acquire sparkled in mage sight. Barely managing to keep himself from staring, Ike quickly switched his eyes to Chelsea before he was caught dead to rights looking at Minerva’s cleavage. Chelsea was a more moderate figure, almost like a little sister version of Minerva which probably was why they got along so well. Her clothing was a dedicated white copy of Minerva’s with just enough assets to pull the look off. Ike had heard some of the older Guild members whispering that Chelsea still had plenty of time to surpass her current limits, and he heartily approved of such possibility.

So the Dell, Varen, Eltren, and Malacite families are represented here. Ike thought. Glass, Light, Fire, and Poison users from the four major families of the South. We still haven’t figured out a group name, and I definitely won’t answer to the Four Lordly Brats, even if they try to keep offering that one. However, where is our new babysitter?

There was little doubt someone should be here to watch over them, their parents wouldn’t let them adventure without a babysitter. A searching look around at the grassy area dotted with sculpted trees to the side revealed no one. Another check opposite the greenery revealed only the rising hedges enchanted to split the training location from other duplicate firing ranges. Ike was under no illusion that they would be given free rein. The last several times the group had been allowed to roam about outside the city had ended in disasters of one making or another. Goblin nests, sandworm packs, no less than three undiscovered Dungeons, and the final straw of a ruined ancient city listed among their achievements. At this point, while they were all four acknowledged to be decent descendants of the major families, they were collectively lumped in as brats. Ike felt they just hadn’t found a reasonable enough individual to watch over them. It wasn’t their fault entirely that run-of-the-mill Tier Fives couldn’t handle the minor catastrophes they created.

Walking over to his rival, while watching Minerva out of the corner of his eyes, Ike said, “Do you know where our minder is Torch?” The two boys had enjoyed creating nicknames over the years, but only a single pair managed to pass the test of time for both of them.

Rix rolled his eyes at the nickname before saying, “Nope, can’t sense any body heat except the four of us around, Purple.”

Ike frowned before spreading a light poison out into the air. It wouldn’t affect the plants or girls, but any invisible individual would find themselves vomiting soon enough. He didn’t want to be caught unaware in case the Guild’s new watcher tried to make a point by ambushing them. Rix took notice of his action and raising one eyebrow began to gather the common fireball spell to his right palm keeping the mana emission low. Both of the girls glanced at the boys, and Ike saw the glitter of glass sand whirl into existence around Minerva’s palm. Chelsea followed her best friend’s lead focusing light into her fingertips. There was a tense stand-off for several minutes before everyone looked at each other and surveyed the surroundings with various Skills and Spells.

Maybe the Guild has given up on us? Ike thought bleakly unable to find anything. It wouldn’t be a surprise. Their families were significant but each of the four was currently nothing but diamonds in the rough right now. If the Guild has truly withdrawn support we are so utterly fucked. It will be too expensive to adventure without oversite to save us.

The competition was fierce in the major families, and Ike had no illusions about what would happen if he could no longer climb the gravy train of Guild power ladder leveling. His parents could be encouraged to remove him from the inheritance, or he might suffer a tragic accident cultivating his mana core. At best he would be drawn into one of the existing family factions, at worst he would go to sleep one night and be painlessly executed. Ike knew that it was entirely possible his corpse would be used as pill ingredients, and his dreams of power would melt like butter under the blazing sun.

Before he could decide on a desperate course of action, Ike felt Rix’s gaze turn razor-sharp as the boy’s golden eyes looked towards something behind him. At the same time, there was a reaction to the low-level poison he had been producing to cover the area around them all, and it was centered directly behind him. Dropping into a defensive stance his trainers had drilled into him as a child, Ike whirled around. Instantly he saw a young woman with brown hair, brown eyes, and tanned bronze skin. She held the classic figure of one of the Ten Thousand Tribes, more specifically, one of the finest fighting clans in existence.

What the heck? A Zun? Ike thought confused. What is a Zun doing here? Was this training spot reserved by multiple parties on accident?

Before he could get his thoughts in order the Zun glanced at all four members and said, “Bookworm wants me to watch trash like you? Shit, I should have held out for more.” Ike saw Minerva’s sapphire eyes narrow in anger, as she tossed her fine long blonde hair over her shoulders.

Ike gaped as the Zun caught a book that appeared out of thin air before it opened for her eyes to read. This action made the anger slip from Minerva’s eyes like water down a drain. Chelsea’s silver eyes expressed the same shock that any sane person would have at the action of space manipulation. The book’s pages flipped in rapid succession as silence reigned before stopping somewhere in the middle for the Zun to read. Ike knew that a spatial item, or even more sinister a Skill or Spell of the Space school was worth more than all four families, combined. That this Zun would so casually display it meant one of two things. Either this woman was certifiably insane and detached from reality, or she was a madcap powerhouse equal or greater than the dwarven Guildmaster.

I’m willing to bet the latter. Ike thought with suppressed terror. He based his theory on the same nonchalance she exuded that he had seen in the Malacite family Elders. What kind of favor did that dwarf have to call in for this, and why?

“Right, then. Glass, Light, Fire, Poison affinities, eh? I’m Zun Eve. Here is my sparkly target metal showpiece.” Eve said pulling out her adventurer’s plate. Everyone’s eyes zeroed in on the metal of the plate before heavy breathing could be heard in the silence. Ike felt more than saw the jaws of his group falling as their face muscles loosened in amazement at the Orichalcum Plate their babysitter casually revealed. Ike managed to recover quickly, while Rix’s golden eyes seemed to light with a deep inner fire. Minerva and Chelsea gave squeals of delight as they bounced back at the proof of female superiority over ninety-eight percent of Guild men hanging from their new idol’s neck.

Ike blurted without thinking, “Are we trapped in an illusion, Torch?”

A stunned silence replaced his words and Eve looked at him like she was examining a particularly interesting specimen of bug. Finishing her scathing inspection the Zun woman looked at the other three people and said, “Is he normally this stupid, or is today a special case?”

“Normal,” Minerva said without mercy.

“Normal,” Chelsea said with a giggle.

“Special case?” Rix asked.

“Is that a question or a statement, Mr. Dell?” Eve said with a raised eyebrow.

“Statement!” Rix said firmly.

“Sadly you have been outvoted, Mr. Malacite make sure you use your intellect when interacting with me, and during training, should you accept it,” Eve said firmly.

“Training?”

“Training!”

“T-Training!?”

Ike felt a horrible feeling that the future held unspeakable despair ahead but he still soldiered on, “I’m feeling sick, Zun Eve, can I skip training?”

The Zun looked at him before bursting into laughter which continued until she managed to bring it under control. Eve stared at him as she wiped tears out of her eyes before she then said firmly, “No, skipping training will result in earning my extremely focused attention. This is unhealthy, do not do it. Now gather in front of me please.”

All four of the teenagers gathered in front of their new minder.

Zun Eve started to pace as she recited, “Tier Three, it is garbage. You might think you are impressive, you are not. You might think you can take on the world with guts and teamwork, you cannot. You might think I am going to coddle you, not a chance. I will make you one promise, and one promise only.”

Ike watched the woman pause before she stared straight into the eyes of all four members of his team and said, “If you follow my training, you will reach Tier Five within the next two years. I swear by the System.”

Zun Eve has given a solemn Oath that requires acceptance by both parties to take effect.

Do you agree to the Oath? Y/N

Ike could hear the gulping noises as everyone stared at the same System message. Oaths went in two directions and were generally not something their parents would agree with.

On the other hand, Tier Five would make all four of them instant Heirs.

Their families would bend over backward to cater to their needs. Power leveling to Tier Six would be arranged by the Elders. Ike would be swimming in female companionship begging to have his children. All his hopes, dreams, and nightmares would come true at once. He could barely restrain himself from clicking on the option of yes.

“It could be a trap!” Rix said as Ike and the two girls turned to him in confusion.

Zun Eve snorted and said, “If you follow my training, you will reach Tier Five within the next two years. I swear by the System that this is not a trap, and I can make such a claim reality. Do not insult my honor again, or I will be unhappy.”

Zun Eve has given a solemn Oath that requires acceptance by both parties to take effect. This is not a trap. This offer will expire in thirty seconds. The System reminds those being offered these terms that a Tier Six cannot attack lower Tiers except in self-defense.

Do you agree to the Oath? Y/N

Attack? Oh. Shit. Ike thought his mind clicking yes instantly as the pieces fell into place. Area of effect poison. Shit, shit!

Ike looked down just in time to see Zun Eve’s fingers centimeters from his neck. Sweat beaded his brow before the Zun made a sound of annoyance and dropped her hand before stepping away.

“Lucky. Had you been a second later I would have finished acting in self-defense. The System warned you didn’t it? Most likely because with my training reaching the Sixth Tier is inevitable.” said Zun Eve with the tone of someone discussing the price of beans. The madwoman’s face turned into a polite mask that Ike had seen on others a thousand times or more.

Ike had never seen a more terrifying set of facial features in his life.

Ike’s body shook as he realized only the Oath protected him from his own stupidity. Area of effect attacks was discouraged for the exact reason demonstrated by the Zun. He had made a vital mistake assuming the Guild would send another Tier Five, instead of something higher. Any powerful Tier Six or Seven could take it as justified self-defense to remove the attacker. It was why even the most extreme individuals didn’t use bombs, poison gas, or biological weapons. Things that could strike large portions of the population were banned for sanity’s sake.

The risk of accidentally striking an upper Tier was deterrent enough.

Ike’s mind flashed through all the horror stories he’d heard as a child and they suddenly seemed much more factual. Souls used as torture toys, bloodlines extinguished, enormous families wiped out, and cities gone dark from the anger of powerful men or women being slapped by ants.

“That was a mistake, Teacher.” Ike said as he finished gathering his poison directly into his body before he continued, “It won’t happen again.”

Zun Eve looked at him for a long moment before she said, “See that it doesn’t.” Turning to point at each of them the Zun said, “We’ll start off with codenames for everyone since you have all accepted my offer. Purple for Mr. Malacite. Red for Mr. Dell. White for Mrs. Eltren, and Glitter for Mrs. Varen.”

Ike, or Purple, quickly made the mental adjustment for the codenames. The other three in his group had varying expressions of disbelief or confusion. Purple shrugged, it wasn’t his problem if they couldn’t understand the changes.

“White, what’s the most important thing required for reaching Tier Seven?” Eve asked turning her full attention on the shorter girl. The small teenager’s face scrunched up in thought as she considered the question before replying.

“R-Resources?” White said. She rubbed her milk quartz rings nervously with a thumb while the other hand played with her necklace.

“Are you sure about that?” Eve asked with one eyebrow raised. The wind picked up sending a small breeze through as if the world was questioning along with her own actions.

“Yes!” White said clenching her fist with determination before her hands relaxed at her sides.

“Glitter, do you agree?” Eve asked without looking away from White’s silver eyes.

“Yes.” Glitter replied calmly, her sapphire eyes like clear pools of deep water.

“And you, Mr. Red, do you agree as well?” Eve said in a questioning tone.

“No, I think it is power,” Red replied firmly the golden flame in his eyes lighting with conviction.

“Purple? Give me your thoughts.” Eve said turning to watch him.

“Willpower, without willpower, there will never be enough motivation to pass the hardships and reach the top,” Purple said calmly, his own purple eyes glinting with malice.

“Interesting responses, incorrect, but good attempts.” Eve said starting to pace as she continued, “The most vital component in my own opinion, Luck. A lucky person can easily stumble on hidden treasure troves of resources or be born in the right family. A lucky individual can gain power faster than their compatriots with a single fortunate encounter, some old grandpa or grandma at the end of their life hands over the technique of ultimate awesome. Even better, a lucky being will find miracles striking them left and right. Indeed, luck is the golden finger for most successful powerhouses. So rejoice, you have joined their ranks, for you have agreed to my training.”

Zun Eve turned to face the four teenagers and said, “You got lucky because I need minions for the Deeps. I don’t mind spending a few years learning about common sense so that I can move easier for the next few centuries of vacation. To that end, my first order is simple. Everyone, sign these Contracts.”

Four pieces of paper floated up before Purple, Red, Glitter, and White. After a long bit of reading to make sure there were no unacceptable terms, Purple signed his full name. As four contracts vanished into sparkling motes, Zun Eve nodded with a pleased expression before she said, “Good, let us go traverse the markets, my hands are itchy. I must teach you the most effective method of resource acquisition.”

Ike hazarded a guess, “Buying them?” He watched the widening smile on their new teacher as she replied, “Of course not. Stealing them!”