11 Third Times The Charm (2/2)

The description of Dash barely gave any information, but Shesmu knew that the skill had many limiting factors. For example, the skill didn't work well at the edge of its radius when the terrain is not even. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Someone probably already knew the specific details regarding this in his past life, but Shesmu couldn't bother at the time looking it up, and for sure won't bother racking his brain for an answer now. As for Empowered Thrust, it was basically Empowered Slash, but with a thrust. Not really that exciting.

”You are now a warrior. A beast in man's skin, a demon on the battlefield. Remember! Your sword is now your limb, and no one ever forgets his limbs! It should always be in your hand, even in your sleep. The woods are cunning, the veil of the night is where the demons sleep! Now, go! Finish your training and become a true warrior of this Great Pliyx Stal Kingdom. A noble's duty is to be the spearhead in face of danger, a protector of the citizens! Never forget that!”

Leonard's aura shifted once he started his speech. No longer was he the amiable middle-aged man, he returned to his steel cold, eyes of the beast Leonard Shesmu saw when he first came into this world.

Understanding the importance of the speech and the severity of the tone, Shesmu respectfully nodded and said, ”Understood. I shall keep those words to heart.”

Leonard's eyes stayed cold and his lips glued together. That was before he brought out the biggest smile Shesmu had ever seen

”Hahaha, good good,” Leonard repeated as he hugged Shesmu. He then let out and looked at him.

”You're now a brother. All warriors of this land are brothers in arms. We care for each other, we help each other in times of need, and we all stand together—both against the viles and vile humans.”

He then showed the way towards the exit of the dojo.

”Come, I shall show you around the place.”

Shesmu was a bit surprised by the whole ordeal, but in the end, he decided to just go with the flow.

As they were leaving the dojo, Shesmu looked around to see the ghosts still practicing. As he looked around, a fleeting thought crossed his mind. Between these hundreds of nameless ghosts, maybe one of his old friends was out there practicing, and he would never know.

However, just as he was about to be engulfed by that train of thought, Leonard's voice snapped him back to reality.

”Hey, Thomas! Come here!”

A scrawny man came running forward. The moment he saw Shesmu, his eyes dilated in shock and he stopped in place. He immediately bowed and greeted in a loud voice.

”Greetings, your grace!”

Shesmu scanned the man with his eyes. He was wearing a green suit coat, black pants, and a red bowtie to compliment his suit. Although his dark hair was balding, it was well combed.

Shesmu's eyebrows wiggled in confusion as he looked at the man. Weird choice of clothes, he thought.

”Hahaha! Thomas! What an exaggerated greeting, you look like you've seen a ghost!”

While Leonard kept laughing obnoxiously, Thomas' fist shook in anger.

”Leonard! How barbaric! How can you talk like that in front of his grace, do you not know any shame?!”

Standing by the sidelines, Shesmu resisted the urge to laugh. Looking at Thomas berating Leonard in a deep British accent while the latter just continued laughing loudly was a moment to remember.

”Anyway, this gentleman here, ehh—” Leonard looked in Shesmu's direction, embarrassed.

”My name is Shesmu.”

”Thanks,” Leonard curtly replied before focusing back on Thomas. ”So, Shesmu still needs to continue his registration process. Can we get done with that already?”

”It's his GRACE Shesmu!” Thomas shouted at Leonard before bowing in the direction of Shesmu. ”I'm deeply sorry, your grace. This brute has no clue about the etiquette of high society.”

”Ah, it's okay, Thomas. I don't mind.” Shesmu paused for a second before continuing, ”But nevermind that, we should start with the registration.”

”Right away, your grace.” Thomas then ran towards his desk to prepare a chair. ”Please, your grace Shesmu, take some rest.”

Shesmu looked at Leonard. The latter just shrugged with his shoulders and smiled, not caring what Shesmu did. In the end, Shesmu accepted Thomas' invitation and sat down.

After Shesmu sat down, Thomas went back to his desk and started rummaging for something. After a few seconds, he finally found what he was looking for. He came in front of Shesmu while holding a golden paper.

”Aha, finally. Here, your grace, this is the paper of light. Only such paper is worthy for someone of your stature.”

Shesmu took hold of the paper and started reading it. It was some kind of birth certificate, but for nobles. While reading, Shesmu found a certain paragraph that piqued his interest.

”Hey, Thomas. It says here ”Prospective High Noble”. What does that mean, exactly?”

Thomas took back the golden paper before responding, ”Yes, your grace. His majesty the king, and milords the highs decided that any man or woman of the golden generation whose hair or eyes are golden would be given the prospective title. For your grace, it means that you shall be respected as a high through the land. However, you aren't granted land until you become a full-fledged noble, which I'm sure you will.”

Listening to Thomas' speech, Shesmu remembered that in his past life there was this event where all noble players gathered. He had a hunch that this thing about the prospective title was related somehow to that event.

”Interesting, tell me more. How do I become a true high noble.”

”Yes, your grace. Once a year, young masters come from far and wide to the capital. Their purpose is one, to prove that they are able to lead their people and be victorious. Every noble that reached the age of adulthood is given a small army and a base. And for a full month, they wage war against each other. Nobles that captured two bases other than their own are the winner. His majesty the king rewards them, and they're declared full-fledged nobles as according to their birthright.”

Shesmu took a few seconds to absorb this deluge of information. The first question that came to his mind was when did this gathering even happen? However, Shesmu forwent to ask this question as it wasn't of interest to him right now. He could always find out later. What was more important for him now was to get done with the registration process and start slashing things.

”That's interesting, I will definitely keep it in mind. Thanks, Thomas.”

Understanding Shesmu's signal to drop the subject, Thomas sat up and said, ”It's my pleasure, your grace. Please wait for a moment as I get the seal. We can then finish with the registration.”

Thomas went back to his desk and rummaged once again. He took out a golden seal from within the pile of papers and random stuff. He kneeled in front of Shesmu before presenting him with the seal.

”Your grace, the seal needs your blood to remember your soul. Please put it on your thumb for a few seconds.”

Shesmu took the seal from within Thomas' hand and put it on his thumb. It stung for a bit, and blood dripped into it for a few seconds before Shesmu took it off.

”Thank you, your grace. You shall now be officially given the title of High Noble. May you guide this land to glory!”

With those words, Thomas stamped the paper of light. It glowed in a thousand different colors before disintegrating into colorful particles.