TBATE - THE PRODIGY

Weakened

Virion Eralith's P.O.V.

I woke up in a bed inside a spacious room, which looked like to be inside the adventurer's guild, I looked around to find Arthur, all I found was an empty bed probably where Arthur should have been, the room was almost luxurious, although nothing compared to the guest rooms in our castle.

I went to the balcony as I saw silhouette of a man through the curtain there, as I opened the window and stepped outside, I saw Arthur was sitting taking in the sun, he was bandaged up a lot, especially his legs, i looked at him for a while thinking that this kid shouldn't have been in such predicament in the first place.

"I guess you are the one who saved my life" I said, while he sat there in silence.

"I understand you must be angry, I wasn't able to protect you, hell I had to be saved by you, so much for the best mentor in Dicathen" I added. He sat for a minute in silence before he said.

"Who was man with the horns" he asked.

"Uh...i honestly have no idea, but he was strong, strongest I have ever seen" I replied.

"Stop lying to me Virion, first you didn't tell me everything you knew about the dragons, you probably knew about the man too, if you could have told me we might have been able to save her!" he said almost shouting but his gaze fixed in the forest where small mana beast roamed around.

"Again, I understand your anger, but I myself wasn't sure that the dragons existed, it was only yesterday that I discovered the truth, I honestly don't know who that man was, probably a deity too..." I replied.

"How strong are these "Deities"" he asked.

"I am not sure but i guess as strong as a white core mage , or more" I estimated.

"Well, we don't have much time to waste, we will continue or dungeon dives as soon as possible, I have to get stronger" he replied.

"Arthur, I know you have a lot of potential, probably you may become the strongest in the future, but there is a reason they are called deities" I replied as he still kept his gaze fixed only shifting a little time to time.

He didn't reply knowing what he thought was an impossible task too, but I could see it in his eyes, he was determined, I don't know how he grew so close to Sylvia to take revenge but I never did really understand this boy. Before I went on to ask my questions, a small scaly black mana beast like creature jumped in our balcony, I didn't realize it immediately but I knew for sure, it was a dragon, I suddenly remembered what Sylvia had given me, I quickly got up to go fetch my pouch from inside before Arthur spoke.

"Calm down, I took the egg out, nothing happened at first but when I activated... Realmheart the egg hatched, and she came out" he explained with a smile on his face as he pet the dragon.

"but there was also-"

"a feather" he said showing me his arm the feather was wrapped around of, he removed it to show me some kind of mark on his arm.

"She bit me after being hatched, we can communicate mentally because of this I guess, she is quite strong too, she can hunt small mana beast before she is even a few days old" he said almost sounding proud of the sylvie who slept in his lap.

"So, you are going to raise a dragon?" I asked.

"I still don't believe that dragons are deities, I think they are just peaceful and powerful mana beasts beyond our comprehension, which is why they are so secluded as us knowing of their existence will only disturb their peace" he replied dodging but answering my question in a way.

" *cough* *cough* very well" I replied, "after a few days of rest we can resume our dungeon dives again"

Arthur leywin's P.O.V.

Virion went inside, I hid it in front of him but I was shocked at his words, beings stronger than white core? I had only seen Virion a mid-silver core, not even at his full strength but I was terrified, what would even a white core mage be like, I didn't know how but I needed to get stronger and fast, I had a dragon along my side too, I will take your revenge Sylvia, I promise. I thought.

I went inside after a couple of minutes to find out Virion was already sleeping like a log, he must be tired and exhausted after fighting such beings back to back, I placed Sylvie on the bed as I sat down on the floor, I knew Sylvia had done something to my core my body, probably shared her knowledge, her strength, I started meditating in hopes finding that something, I meditated for hours, but couldn't find anything, probably I'm not strong enough, of course I wasn't, I was a mere orange core mage, with a few little advantages, I wasn't even strong enough to protect my family from half of the mages in Dicathen, I got up and went to my bed, I decided to take some rest as pushing my body further now will only do more damage than good, I decided as soon as I was healed, I am not going to waste a single second, I was weak, very weak, to get stronger I had to get back to my old ways, only for some time but it was necessary, I guess it is an universal rule, loved ones are a person's greater weakness, I had to get rid of all my feelings and sentiments, at least for now, at least till I could be strong enough to protect my family.

**

I woke up from some chattering noise as I saw Virion talking to some people around the sitting area, they looked like some officials of the adventurers guild, they were probably worried as to how someone like Virion was in this condition, focusing and listening I figured out that they had stopped people from entering for now because of this incident, but Virion went on to explain that it was his foolishness, he decided to go solo in a few dungeons and got ahead of himself, and that the last dungeon was pretty hard, I could tell the officials weren't pleased with this explanation, as I was the one who came out carrying his body, of course they thought a mere kid wont amount to much, anyways after a lengthy discussion they had left and virion let out a huge sigh.

"how long were they here" I asked as I sat on an armchair.

"Way longer than needed" he replied.

"Arthur I again would like to apologize for my in ability to protect you" he extended.

"Gramps, I was never mad at you for not being able to protect me and anything, I was mad at myself, mad at Sylvia, why did she have to sacrifice herself, why was she so kind to us and went on to do that" i asked tensing the mood.

"i see.." he replied.

"And well i think we both knew i would surpass you one day" i smirked trying to lighten the mood

Virion was a bit shocked and mostly relieved on hearing this, "One day kid one day, but if you are just going to sleep all day that day is never going to come" he teased.

"Yeah I know, let's go out to the dungeons tomorrow" I replied.

He nodded and went on to leave the room probably for some tea, Sylvie had also woken up due to all the chatter, she came up to me as she transmitted papa papa, she wasn't able to make whole sentences yet, barely a few words here and there. I sat there as I admired her scaly skin, her wings, especially her small horns, was she going to be as strong as her mother? Will she even surpass me? A lot of questions flooded my mind, but Sylvia's image was there, strong, also that black horned man, I hadn't told Sylvie much yet, but she would find out in time as she would grow more intelligent, I will tell her in time, but she needs to enjoy her time right now, thats's probably what Sylvia would have wanted.