54 Brewed (1/2)

Helial allowed himself to bask in Lumia's hug for a while, then glanced at Snowflake: ”Did you come here too?”

”Tsk, like I got to choose. The green dude took us here in a split second. No chance to rebut. It's two days this Emperor here needs to wait for that shitty girl to grab something to bite. Every fucking time. So, can we go eat now before this Emperor has to shit on you fuckheads?”

As soon as he stopped talking, the cat let a deadly fart that immediately infected the whole room. Helial and Lumia held their nose, disgusted, and gave Snowflake an upset look. The smell was so nauseating it could kill someone instantly.

”That was my heads up.”

It was at that point that Helial realized he wasn't wearing his clothes anymore; a light-blue, white-hemmed tunic had taken their place. He furrowed his eyebrows and gave a sigh, his shoulders curved. The fight had blown his old tunic into pieces.

”Lumia, I…” Helial touched his tunic and began to tell Lumia he was sorry. No sound followed.

Lumia smiled and said: ”No worries. I'll sew up something for you as soon as we come back home from the yard tour!”

Her words made Helial frown. ”Home”? Lumia had already got used to the idea of living there. Helial pondered over the matter for a while before just letting go. That was indeed a safe place for his sister to live in, and for him as well; the two of them would be able to train in peace. All in all, everywhere was ”home” to Helial as long as he had Lumia by his side.

”Let's go eat downstairs.”

The three went and grabbed something to eat. Lumia and Snowflake seized the moment to show Helial the magnificent halls of the Royal Academy. All along the walls were splendid frescos; every room was full of statues and paintings. Who would daredcall the Goblins barbarians? Helial stared at that display of refined artworks with eyes wide open. The marble statues depicted ancient Kings and heroes.

After eating, they reached the yard where the queen was to meet them any moment now. Helial was struck by what he had just seen. He had always thought that Goblins inhabited caves and shacks in the mountains, and now they turned out to have a more refined taste than most humans.

The yard was full of groups of Goblins intent on training by fighting one against the other to improve their melee-combat skills.

Skill Activated:

Perception

Judging by their dense Auras, Helial thought, they're all in the First Phase Intermediate stage. Late stage, actually.

Helial's eyes turned to look at a particularly tall and muscled Goblin. His body size was tyrannical enough to arouse a sort of reverential fear in anyone he loomed over.

Usually, Goblins weren't that huge. He clearly made for an exception.

As soon as Helial, his sister and the cat stepped in the yard, the Goblins turned to stare at them in disdain. After all, Caesar had warned them about that.

”What are they looking at?” Helial asked, baffled.

”Well, two humans and a cat I guess. As the green dude said, they don't like humans here. No race is willing to blend in with the others. There's no written racial profiling in Orma, but humans aren't exactly welcomed here. The only rule in murdering them is to do it according to the will of the big shots in charge,” Snowflake informed him.

”Fantastic,” Helial said gloomily.

The brawny Goblin in the First Phase Late stage exchanged a few words with his companions, who burst into loud laughter. That Goblin's body gave off a tyrannical and suffocating Aura. His eyes betrayed a wild arrogance and defiance.

The veins that bulged visibly along his arms left no doubt on his physical overpower.

Snowflake gave those Goblins a scornful look and remarked: ”That retard probably put all his Stat Points in Strength. Foolish. He's sure he's whizz.”

Helial nodded in response and furrowed his eyebrows slightly. How idiot could one be to sort out his points so recklessly?

On the Dao of Mana, as Vidio had taught him a while ago, every Class should strike its balance. Be it an Elemental, a Warrior or an Archer, besides worry about their Class-related Skills one should avoid a too imbalance Stats sorting. To put all the Points in either Strength or Intelligence would be counter-productive for anyone, regardless of their Class.

And also, Stat Points acquired by levelling up are overrated. We'll go into that during our first class.

Helial listened carefully to the Devil's words and secretly nodded. He knew perfectly well that no one could guide him better than that monster.

The Goblins kept laughing wildly in front of them. Snowflake was all intent on his usual flat-out swearing in response, whereas the taunt didn't seem to affect Helial and Lumia, who were busy talking about what Lumia had done during Helial's coma.

Helial found out that Lumia had already visited Orma. She had been escorted around the city and already got to know it better. A warm smile spread across Helial's face. His sister had finally got to live in a better place than that rat-hole village.

As the talked, the brawny Goblin approached them in all his enormity.

”Hey, boy. You're Caesar's new disciple, aren't you? I'm Maximum. Nice to meet you,” the Goblin sneered.

Helial nodded and went back to chatting with Lumia. He was anxious to know what else she had been doing during the last days, and whether someone treated her bad.

”I'm talking to you! The white cat got your tongue?”

Snowflake, even more annoyed, appeared in front of Maximum. ”Get the fuck out, you slut. This yard already stinks enough and your filth is of no help to these Emperor Cat's nostrils.”

The cat's answer left Maximum baffled. A second later, a great fury was mounting his body.

”Fucking cat, you're talking t-”