It took a week for Cliff to return ho. He didn’t co back on so champion stallion either, but riding the wind, flying the entire way from the northern plains.
Ember was playing with mana under his favourite tree and was the first one to notice. He shot towards him imdiately, calling after him. Cliff noticed his figure, swooped down to scoop him into his arms, and took to the air.
“You can fly now!” Ember himself seed more joyous than the person with the actual skill.
“You like my new skill, don’t you?”
Ember nodded vigorously. The wind slapped against his cheeks, yet he yelled, “Faster! Go faster!”
“As you wish.”
Shielding him with a layer of mana, Cliff took him higher into the sky and circled the clan’s territory a couple of tis before finally descending into their yard. The feeling was already so exhilarating that Ember didn't want him to stop, but he also had so many questions.
“Did you get a dedicated Flight skill after achieving silver class?” Ember asked. “How much mana does it cost? What other skills did you get? Wait, what is the na of your new class?”
“Slow down, son. I don't even know the answers to so of your questions. Anyway, you can ask all about it after we find your mother and sister.”
“Rain is currently at the academy,” Ember said.
After his sister’s class ascension, his father had enrolled her in Seynhold Academy, where she’d learn all about her class and be trained in basic and interdiate skills. As for his mother, Ember turned his head to find his mum coming out of the house with a bright smile on her lips.
“You have returned!”
Unfortunately, it wasn’t just her who caught wind of his father’s arrival. Within the week, news of his advancent to silver class had already spread throughout the clan and beyond. Many even saw him flying with Ember and ca swiftly to congratulate him.
Over the last few days, there had been more than a few who ca bearing gifts. The most notable were Brook Blackstone, along with his son Talon. He ca to congratulate and apologise for his son’s unruly behaviour towards Ember. The boy seed far too reluctant for the apology to feel sincere. Ultimately, Brook had to compensate by giving Ember a wand.
It was rely a tier 2 wand, though it ca with an unstructured wind spell. Still, he’d likely get a handso amount of iron crowns by exchanging it. It might even be enough to get him a Tier 3 wand if he added all of his savings.
Anyhow, after the news broke, more and more kids ca to flock around him.
There were only so many Silver Class knights in the entire city, after all. A silver class carried considerable weight anywhere in the world. Not only for its superior abilities and skills, but it also added another lifeti to the ascendant’s lifespan. His father still looked in his late twenties, and Ember presud he’d appear so for the next couple of decades.
As many people dispersed after congratulating him, only Aunt Zephyr remained to remind his father of the ball his grandfather would be throwing in a couple of days.
“Tell Father there is no need for it,” Cliff said.
“Nonsense,” Zephyr said, ruffling her younger brother’s hair, which only earned her a glare. “We only see one or two Silver classes every year, and rarely any who can match your esteem. Not celebrating it will only make it seem like we don’t value you at all. Besides, Father has already invited many well-renowned dignitaries from all three bloodline clans and more. It is too late to go back now.”
Cliff scratched his forehead, feeling a headache coming. “I really should have kept the knowledge to myself.”
Finished entertaining guests, everyone went inside, carrying all the bouquets of flowers and gift boxes.
“That reminds , I brought so gifts as well,” Cliff said. “Let’s wait for Rain before we unpack them.”
It was rather ironic that, despite his father being the reason for the celebration, he was the one to bring presents. Then again, he was the main breadwinner of the house.
By the ti Rain returned, Ember had already learned more about his father’s silver class. It was called Dawn Marshall. Aside from granting him the ability to fly, all his other skills had been significantly enhanced, though the greatest improvents were in his life attunent. At silver rank, he still would not be able to fully restore a completely severed limb, but he could nd it if it were only half-severed.
Rosanna evidently didn't enjoy discussing such grim matters. She was superstitious enough to believe that even talking about them might tempt fate, so she shifted the topic to lighter matters, such as the scuffles between Ember and the other children.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Although Ember hadn’t shared many details, his mother was livid when she learned of it from Rain. His father, on the other hand, was the calst person he knew, though a frown crept onto his brows as he said, “I'll take care of it” in a level tone.
Hopefully, he didn’t an he’d go and beat up whoever was at fault.
Ember swiftly changed the topic to swordsmanship and his other skills when Rain ca bursting in. Judging by her appearance, she had likely sprinted all the way from school. Although they lived at the centre of Seynhold, the academy was still a good distance away.
Cliff began unloading the gifts from his inventory. First was a pair of earrings for Rosanna, enchanted to ward off cold and other ailnts. Rain received a white healer’s robe, though it looked more like an elegant gown suited for a ball. Of course, it had more uses than simply being pretty. The robe would boost 10 points in her Will and Mystic, allowing greater control over her healing and other magical abilities. It ca with fire-resistance.
Seeing such a brilliant enchanted dress, Ember waited eagerly. He would be delighted to have a robe that enhanced his mana skills. His father seed to have a similar thought in mind, though the present he brought for him was vastly different in shape.
It was a bronze ring with a sapphire gem on top. Without the inspection ability, he couldn’t determine its properties, and his father was clearly enjoying the suspense.
“Wear it, and you’ll see.”
Ember already had so suspicions, but the mont he wore the ring, an electric spasm seed to run through his body and mind.
[ 10 Insight, Mystic.]
“Wow,” his voice echoed as he began pouring his mana to sense anything within the bronze ring. “How does this even work?”
“That I can’t answer,” Cliff said, “though there’s another function to this ring.”
Ember perked up.
“I’ll leave it for you to figure it out.”
His brows wrinkled as he peered at the item. “It can store mana, isn’t it?”
“And here I thought you’d take so more minutes to figure it out.”
Ember grinned, still pouring his mana to see how much it could store. Unlike Rain’s gown, it was a genuine tier 5 item, and Ember could easily tell it was more valuable.
“I love it. Thanks, Dad.”
Cliff smiled, pinching his cheek. “Now, that’s not the only thing I brought.”
With a wave of his palm, a small ornate box appeared.
Another piece of jewellery? Ember wondered.
Cliff placed it in the centre of the table. “The reason I had to delay my return is sowhat related to this. Co on, open it.”
Ember took the box, his anticipation already high, but Rain perked up to interject:
“It’s a skill stone, isn’t it?”
Cliff smiled, acknowledging her.
Ember could not help but glare at her, though his excitent shot through the roof. He had heard of skill stones, though he had never had a chance to see one.
“Now,” Cliff said to Rain, “the gem inside might be a little rarer than the Iron healing skill I got you. Don’t be too envious, or spite for it.”
Unable to contain himself, Ember swiftly opened the box, and a silvery flash of light burst across his face. His breath caught in his chest.
“It can’t be!” Rain shouted. “It’s a silver skill. You got him a silver skill!” She shot Ember an envious glare. “You can’t ask not to be envious after giving him sothing so valuable!”
Cliff let out a forlorn sigh. “Back in your ti, I simply didn’t have the ans to get you anything higher than iron rank. The next ti I get sothing as good, it will be yours.”
While they spoke, Ember held up the coin-sized silvery gem in his palm. It exuded a radiant aura and felt cool to the touch. Most surprisingly, a notification appeared before his eyes, dampening his mood.
[You do not et the criteria to acquire the skill.]
Of course I know that. Still, he glared at the ssage.
Skill stones were miraculous items that allowed anyone to learn a skill in re minutes, but they still required skill slots. For a silver-ranked skill, the requirent was still the sa twenty-seven slots.
“I already hired an appraiser, who confird it to be a defensive-type skill stone,” Cliff explained. “Of course, there’s also a high requirent for mana, which makes it perfect for you.”
“A defensive type,” Ember muttered. “How much did this cost?”
Cliff's lips curled up. “Only a few days within a rift.”
Ember made a face. Could the price be too high that he fears to tell ?
“The actual price is hard to determine, because nobody sane would sell a skill of silver rank or above for re coins. In warring tis, or even in so unlawful places, battles have been fought for a skill of this calibre.”
“Now, the requirent for this is a little steep,” his father explained, “but it is perfect for you.”
“Requirents? There are more than just skill slots?” Ember perked up.
“Of course. In addition to the slots, you will need the mana shaping skill, as well as at least tier 4 in mana foundation.”
So, give or take, it would take him a couple of years at the very least to et those requirents. Then there was also the concern of the twenty-seven skill slots. He’d have to be at Tier 5 for that.
Despite all those heavy requirents, Ember had already begun imagining the evolution points he could gain from a silver skill. Even a wait of half a decade would be worth it.
Silver skills took decades to master, but he would not need full mastery. Just acquiring the skill would grant him a thousand evolution points. Reaching 4 would yield ten thousand, which alone was over half of the requirent for tier 7.
There was also unpredictability in the assimilation, but it would still be a silver skill. Just a few levels in it would significantly improve his chances of reaching silver rank before his class ascension.
Yet, as he felt the cold gem in his palm, Ember suppressed his selfish thoughts for a mont and looked at his father. “Wouldn’t it be better if you took the skill?”
He was assigned to the northern plains at all tis, fraught with high-ranking demonic creatures and wild beasts. Among the four of them, he had the greatest need for this skill.
Cliff only smiled warmly, clearly touched by his concern. “There is no need. I already have my Knight’s Mantle and an Aura Shield class skill. Adding more layers of defence does not help much. It may even hinder .” He tousled his hair. “Besides, even if I hadn’t co across this skill stone, I would have searched for a compatible silver skill for you. It is nothing less than what you deserve.”
Ember almost teared up.
“With this, you will have a greater chance at tier 7 before your class ascension,” he said. “In my ti, I fell short by a couple of thousand points. I wouldn’t want that to happen to you, son.”
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