Alger now had a sword with him... a real sword.
But there was one problem — he didn't know how to use a sword.
In the headmaster's room, mounted above a small bookshelf, was a katana. It rested silently on a wooden stand, collecting dust as if waiting for its time to return. Alger had noticed it once before, when he'd first come to this room as a child. He hadn't thought much of it back then. But now, he knew... the headmaster had once wielded the sword himself.
Should I ask the Headmaster to teach me?
No... I've already asked him for too much.
I'll just buy a book. A katana guide or something.
But if I go that route, I'll never become the strongest.I don't have a choice... I'll have to ask the Headmaster.
The sun still hung high in the sky. It wouldn't set for another few hours... which meant Alger had time.
Time to find a place to train, the real reason he came to the city centre in the first place...
He walked in the direction of the orphanage. With every step he took, the buildings began to thin. Shops and houses became scattered. Fewer people walked these streets.
Eventually, he saw it. A perfect place to train in peace
An open grassy field, calm and untouched... with a single oak tree standing tall in its centre. The tree was about 300 meters from the main road, meaning it was hard to see what was going on near the tree, and the field was about a kilometre from the orphanage. That meant he could walk here every day if he wanted to.
It was perfect. This... would be his training ground for the next four years.
He walked to the tree, sat down beneath its branches, and crossed his legs.
***
Alger had been practicing Tempest for nearly three hours. The sun was still about an hour away from setting, but he figured he had done enough for the day.
It was time to find Ivy.
He had learned something interesting during practice.
Tempest, unlike what the library books said, had far more applications. One, in particular, stood out.
He could fake his location.
He could make the leaves rustle in a spot far from where he stood — a distraction, a decoy... enough to confuse anyone nearby. Human or otherwise.
There were more possibilities, he was sure of it. But at the Awakened level, he was limited. Tempest was mostly utility for now. But that would change.
His goal was to become a Tempest Conjuror by the time he turned fifteen. A Conjuror was a full realm above an Awakened.
Tempest Conjurors could summon wind around their blades... making them as sharp as the wind itself.
Alger had no idea what that even meant, but to find out, he'd have to become one first.
Half an hour of walking later, Alger arrived at Iron Street. The sun was lower now, edging toward the horizon.
He looked around and was shocked to spot Ivy already sitting on a bench... waiting.
Impossible. Since when is this girl punctual?
"Alger! What took you so long? Where were you? Did you do something fun without me?" Ivy asked, her tone filled with concern... except for the last part.
"I was exploring the city," Alger replied calmly. "Looking for interesting places. And no, nothing fun. Unless you count hunting for cheap weapons as fun."
He sat beside her on the wooden bench, one of many scattered throughout the city centre.
"Anyway," Alger said, stretching her legs, "the next carriage to the orphanage is in half an hour, so we've got to wait. You can give me the change from those two coins I gave you."
Ivy glanced at him. "What change?"
Alger blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You haven't bought anything, right? Your hands are empty."
"Exactly! I couldn't buy anything because you didn't give me enough money!" she said, huffing. "All I could afford was a pastry. It cost everything you gave me!"
Wait... what?
Did she just say she spent two coins and five cents... on a pastry?
Back on Earth, Alger had struggled with intrusive thoughts. That's why he used to go to odd yoga sessions and spiritual workshops. Whether they helped or not, he didn't know, but over time, he had mastered the art of self-control....
That's probably why he was able to resist the overwhelming urge to sell Ivy's organs to get his money back.
You know what? This is my fault. I actually gave her two coins.Why? Why didn't I just give her one cent? No, even that's too generous.
He took a breath and asked, "Where did you buy this 'fancy' pastry?"
"Oh! It was from a little shop under the tall tower behind us. And let me tell you everything that happened before that! When I was walking..."
Alger was there... physically. But his mind had left the conversation.
The sun had just begun to touch the horizon when Alger finally stood up.
A carriage came around the corner, pulled by two brown horses this time. It looked almost identical to the one from the morning.
He raised a hand, and the carriage came to a slow stop.
Alger stepped in and offered Ivy a hand, just like he had that morning. But this time, the carriage was more crowded. Half the seats were already taken.
Before sitting, Alger pulled out four cents from his pocket.
The conductor was a different man, but he wore the same pale brown trench coat.
A uniform... maybe?
When the conductor approached, Alger handed him the coins.
"Stronghold Orphanage," he said. "For two."
***
By the time they returned to the orphanage, night had fallen.
The iron gates were still unlocked; it would remain that way until complete darkness, maybe an hour from now.
Alger knocked twice on the main door.
Sister Shard opened it for them.
Just as they were about to head their separate ways, Ivy turned to Alger.
"Thanks for taking me with you today, Alger! I had a lot of fun. Let's do it again sometime. I'm heading to change my clothes. Bye!"
Again? You want to do this again?I'd rather walk into Unknown itself than go anywhere with this girl again.
Finally alone, Alger had one last task before he could call it a day.
Ask the Headmaster.
If he asked him to teach swordsmanship, he'd almost certainly be refused without a second thought.
He was going to ask the Headmaster to teach him the sword instead of the Aqua element.