Broken Tower Saga: The First Swordsman

"So, how far have you got?" Anton asked, chewing a piece of meat.

After the initial shock of learning Wrik already entered his trance, Anton calmed down when Wrik leaked out some of the knowledge.

"I got some essence behind the Ancient Axi," Wrik answered as he devoured the food hastily. "Though it's still far away from mastering even the Simplified Elneo scripts."

"Far? How far?"

"Well, about a month away."

"That's not far you know." If it was someone else who heard Wrik other than Anton, they might have choked on the food. Anton continued, raising an eyebrow, "Well, for you, it should be unusually long for learning this."

"It's the Axi script, Ton. Even if it was simplified by a hundred times, it still has its spark," Wrik said. "Moreover, I felt, it's not just a language to converse, there's more to it than I know."

Anton nodded in not understanding. He was usually like this whenever the matter was complicated than he could handle. This sort of thing goes way over his head, so he always made the wise decision to stay as far away as possible.

"There's still Omega codes and Mana applications left," Wrik mused, yet his hand did not stop putting rice into his mouth. "I think Mana applications would be easier, while I have no idea about Omega codes."

"Well, it would take you months if I'm not wrong. As I said before, I am still digesting the knowledge from my class advancement."

Wrik nodded. "How far have you gotten?" he asked.

"About half," Anton said. "No; it's more than half actually. The only things left are the Shadow steps, and about the element.

"Oh, I forgot to mention, Lady Sophia was looking for you. You did not attend the training yesterday, and were absent at the morning training as well," Anton said. "She was leaving today if you don't remember."

"I should visit her before she leaves," Wrik said. Even if Sophia did not call him, he was planning on a visit to Sophia to discuss some important matter. "Are you going?"

"I would like to go, but I don't think my poor heart would be able to see her living," Anton said, rubbing at the right of his chest.

"Ton, don't be melodramatic," Wrik laughed. "And your heart is on the left side."

.. .

Wrik left his quarter after filling his stomach. For some reason, Anton did not come with him, saying he was going to train. While Wrik had some suspicions about this training, he did not question Anton.

It was afternoon, which was good for him. With his problem with directions, it would be quite a bother to find the right way in the dark. Well, it was not like he was totally hopeless. Wrik was here in the sanctuary for about ten days now, and the signs and sidewalk became quite familiar to him in those days.

The place where Sophia lived was quite deeper into the sanctuary. Wrik had visited there once, though that time Tanya brought him over.

After walking a few minutes, Wrik sighted those familiar buildings, most of them one-storey or two, while he remembered Sophia was staying in a two-storey one with her sister. But as far as he remembered, that building was quite far from where he was standing.

With a few turns and walking, Wrik stood bewildered in front of a three-way path.

"I still can't believe myself," he muttered. It was as he had feared, even with all the familiarity, he still miss-matched the path. He was deliberating which way to move when he sensed someone's presence behind him.

It was a tall man with broad shoulders and brown skin. The exterior was not that handsome, but the man looked unusually reliable. Wrik knew him from the summoning room. He was the guide that instructed them, moreover, he was the one that brought them to the sanctuary from the underground dungeon.

The man was surprised for a moment to see an unfamiliar person in the lane, but after a few close-ups, he seemed to recall Wrik as well.

"What brings you here? The participants' quarters are in the main building if I'm not wrong," the tall man said, coming close to him.

"Oh, I was looking for someone," Wrik said hesitantly.

"But you looked lost." the guide eyed him. "Can I help you with something?"

Wrik pondered for a moment before spilling out. "Actually yes," he said. "Do you know the place where Sophia Syfinn lives?"

The guide gave Wrik another look before opening his lips. "You have come a long way, walk back through the left for a minute or two, then turned right. . ."

Wrik repeated what the man said in his head, fearing he might forget it again.

"Thank you for your help, Mister. . ." Wrik said, putting his arm ahead for a shake.

"It's Harakatz Bolvin," the guide said, shaking Wrik's hand.

"Wrik Evernight," he introduced himself as well. "Pleasure meeting you."

Wrik went through the path Harakatz Bolvin mentioned as he came to the right place. With further ado, Wrik pressed the calling bell.

Before even the bell turned off, the entrance opened as a slender figure appeared. "I'm surprised, you actually found your way here," Tanya said. "Come in."

"I had some help," Wrik said, shrugging.

He entered the house as Tanya closed the door after him.

"Where's your elder sister?" he asked. "I heard she wanted to meet me."

Tanya brought him to the couch. "Wait a minute, Sis will be here soon," she said. "Tea or coffee?"

"Water," Wrik said, resting his bottom on the couch. "I had breakfast just a moment ago."

Tanya gave him a usual gaze, as it was already too late for breakfast.

"I was quite busy."

Tanya nodded as she left to bring water.

After a moment later, she came back with a glass of water, and Sophia came behind her as well.

"I was expecting you," the blonde woman said, taking a seat across from him. "I see you have succeeded in your class."

Wrik was astonished. "How do you know?" he asked.

"I can see it," she smiled.

Wrik gave her a peculiar gaze. Was the class like some clothes or something? How could you tell just by looking? Well, Wrik already had enough surprise from Sophia.

"So, an Omega Designer?" Sophia asked. "Can you succeed in this path?"

"Amo no paraguai sarabus," Wrik answered. "Sama ai naaman, Amo no."

Sophia was stunned for a second. "Please don't tell me you learned to speak Elneo only after a couple of days?"

Wrik smiled, but did not answer. His smile was already the answer. What he said to Sophia in that weird tongue was: "I can succeed, all I need is time." Though he did not know how that sounded out.

"Even though it sounded wrong, it's quite an achievement to pronounce even the simplest Elneo," Sophia said as she went past her surprise. Then she grinned, seeing his smile. "By the way, don't try it outside now, it's still quite terrible. What you said is: I am success, time needs me."

__________

There was a mixup in locking the chapter. Apologies for that, I'll make it up with a big discount on the privilege in the next month.

This is the last chapter of Part two, and there are two more parts left for the chapter and volume one.