Blood Legacy: New World of Doom

At the same time, the red-haired teenager noticed the bronze badge in Ikaris' hand and grabbing his arm she bombarded him with questions while dancing in place,

"A badge?! Are you by any chance one of these new Lords? How did you get a Stele so young? Which Ruling House are you affiliated with? Since when..."

The slightly older redheaded youth who was inspecting the medicinal herbs next to her interrupted what he was doing and dragged the young lady back by the collar of her shirt.

"Sorry for the inconvenience." This one hastily apologized. "My sister always acts like this when she meets other Lords her age."

With a firm shake she freed herself from her brother's grip and pouted, taking the opportunity to comb her hair back. After having thrown a murderous glance to the latter, she looked away and asked again with more restraint to Ikaris,

"Was I wrong?"

The teen's awkward silence told her his answer. Exultant, she raised an accusing finger to the middle-aged man standing unflappably behind them and shouted,

"See dad! He's barely older than me and he already has his own Stele! That you won't give me one is fine, but my big brother Jamys still hasn't gotten one either! How long will we have to wait before we get one?"

While she was getting her father in trouble, Ikaris finally had time to study the trio in detail. The exuberant little sister was wearing a typical riding outfit, with besides a white shirt and a gray vest, tight pants padded on the inner thighs and a pair of long leather boots. Her curly red hair was tied in a ponytail with a very simple bun. She was the kind of hyperactive tomboy that gave her parents nightmares.

Jamys, her older brother, was the complete opposite of his little sister, his poise and calm demeanor akin to a younger version of his father. His clothes were practical, blending brown and dark green, but he was dressed stylishly enough to attend any aristocratic event.

Their father was the typical charismatic and overbearing nobleman. Calm with a faint smile at the corner of his lips devoid of human warmth and a dispassionate, confident gaze constantly analyzing his surroundings, his aura suffused with a distinct sense of superiority. He appeared amiable and courteous, but Ikaris could guess that this man was not as kind and benevolent as he appeared on the surface.

Yet, around his daughter his character seemed to soften. Putting on a wry smile, the man ignored Ikaris and grabbing his daughter by both shoulders he forced her to look him in the eye and began to lecture her,

"Caitlyn, what makes you think that this badge belongs to him? And even if it does, how do you know that his Stele was given to him? If you're able to get a Stele on your own I promise I'll support you all the way. And it just so happens that the top ranked in each class can get a Stele every year. If you want one, you know what you have to do."

The woman named Caitlyn deflated with a gloomy look upon hearing her father's promise. She knew her talent and the students her age better than anyone and knew how difficult it was to accomplish this feat.

Even her brother Jamys had a slim chance of succeeding and that was because he was aiming for the Steles offered as a reward for the top 3 new graduates. For that you had to be over 30 years old or reach the level of Lord Sorcerer.

Some students who reached the level of Lord Sorcerer before the age of 30 intentionally delayed their graduation precisely for that slim chance of getting one of these Steles. It was that hard.

Seeing that his daughter was unconvinced, her father sighed then casting a quick glance at Ikaris, which made him feel as if he were baring his body, he expanded patiently,

"Even though this boy is not a Novice Sorcerer yet, he is stronger than you. Don't be jealous and keep studying hard. As long as you convince me that you deserve it, I'll give you a Stele personally. That goes for you too, Jamys."

"Thanks, father." The two siblings replied in unison.

Ikaris thought the case was over, but while her father and brother were placing the order the teenager eyeballed him in suspicion, clearly not convinced by her father's plea.

"How can he be stronger than me without being at least a Novice Sorcerer..." He heard her brooding to herself, thinking that no one could hear her.

Danchun stifled a smile, while the three priest recruits became very restless instead. Their Lord was not even a Novice Sorcerer! In that case, where did his trust come from!"

On the way, they had lost sight of Nardor, but Ikaris had seen him heading excitedly to an ore store so he knew where to find him.

Despite Danchun's persistent refusals, Ikaris spent an extra hundred gold coins to buy a few kilograms of various popular Rank 2 Herbs such as the previously mentioned Witch's Licorice, Moon Fenugreek and Wild Sumac.

After secretly watching the father and the two siblings place their huge order, he realized something and also bought ten kilograms of a specific mix of Rank 1 herbs that could be diluted in water to produce a regenerative bath speeding up the healing of wounds and nourishing the body at the same time.

These kinds of medicinal baths were also very popular among young Body Sorcerers frequently abusing their bodies because they were rather cheap while the risk of unwanted side effects was much lower.

"This will be perfect for Body Tempering." Danchun approved as she received the bag of herbs. "Thanks."

"Don't thank me, you won't be the only one using them." Ikaris immediately eased her guilt. "This is for the whole village."

The two twins who still had a decent nest egg didn't feel anything special when they heard this, but Poppy, the priest of Elsisn, almost shed tears of joy. He didn't have a dime!

" I-I could use some too?" He asked nervously.

"As long as you're loyal, work and train hard." Ikaris nodded absently.

"Even if I have no talent?"

Ikaris couldn't help but pause to scan him with his Appraisal Spell. D-Talent...

"Especially if you're untalented." He finally confirmed after a small delay.

The priest of Elsisn quivered with excitement as if he had just been acquitted of a life sentence. If this Lord treated him so well, it was well worth taking a few risks. Black Fog? Tartarus Gate? Can it be eaten?

When Ikaris was about to leave in search of Nardor, he spotted the two twins placing an order as well. His eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw them order several dozen kilos of Rank 3 Herbs. Rank 3 Herbs were for full-fledged Sorcerers and cost at least ten times as much as Rank 2 Herbs.

How rich were these twins... Still, he shook his head to banish his bad thoughts. He couldn't rob his subordinates of their money even if it was for a good cause.

Their group set off again and after visiting a few more stalls they eventually found the dwarf, not in the ore store where Ikaris thought he would be, but in a blacksmith store.

It was not a blacksmith shop selling weapons, but rather a store selling the tools, equipment and materials a blacksmith might need to work in good conditions. Ores and ingots of various metals and alloys were of course part of it, but it was mostly the wide variety of equipment on display that had enthralled Nardor.

Right now, he was drooling over a black sledgehammer and its anvil, alternately staring in disbelief at the object of his desire and at the too few gold coins in his hand. As he walked over, Ikaris saw the price tag and sighed.

3600 gold coins. This hammer and anvil were made from Black Adamantite, a Rank 4 material known for its hardness and used in many Gold and Platinum artifacts. What was truly astonishing was that such a precious object was displayed here for all to see.

And indeed, the reason the dwarf was standing sheepishly outside, licking the display case, was because he had not been allowed in. A huge black orc in matching plate armor stood guard outside the door, intimidating with his yellow eyes any customer who dared to look.

When Ikaris tried his luck, the orc sized him up and after a cursory glance at his bronze badge he growled,

"You're not qualified to enter here. Leave."

When Ikaris and his group were about to comply to find a store more of their standing, a group of aristocrats made their way towards them, one of them shoving Danchun aside with his shoulder. The young man at the head of the group pulled a face of disgust when he saw the many scars lining the young woman's face and arms.

Disregarding her existence, he flashed a badge in the orc's face. A gold badge.