9 I Can Help You (1/2)

Lionel could tell Darius still didn't quite believe him, so he reached into one of his pockets and took out his cell phone. He raised it up to Darius' eyes and tapped the screen. A light on the phone immediately flashed green and Lionel smirked as he showed the screen to Darius, ”There's your proof.” he said as he handed Darius the phone.

Darius could barely believe what he saw, a set of eyes were displayed right above the word positive. ”It scans your iris to tell if you're noble or not. Apparently there's some kind of difference between our eyes and the average person's. Do you believe me now?

Darius' head nodded slightly as his mouth fell open. All his life he had been a noble and had never even known it.

”Well now that that's been settled, there's something else I should tell you.” Lionel was no longer smiling and his face grew quite serious. ”This test is extremely dangerous, and the higher the position you are taking it for the more dangerous it becomes. Considering that in this particular case you are taking the test for the position of emperor on my behalf this will be without a shadow of a doubt the most dangerous one. I don't want to lie to you when I say that there is a good chance you are going to die. You should also know however, that I am aware you wanted to become a Spiritsmith, and i can help you that. It is why you came here to Sihad is it not?”

Darius felt like he'd just been hit with a brick wall, he could barley construct a full sentence when he said, rather meekly, ”How did you know i came here to become a Spiritsmith?”

”That is irrelevant, but if you must know, the lady you asked directions from earlier told me where you were going, and I also happened to know that they were currently accepting new smiths at the guild thus I was able to put two and two together.”

Darius thought back for a few moments, quickly remembering that this was what had piqued his interest in prince Lionel in the first place, then followed up with another question, ”How exactly can you help me become one?”

”Well it's quite simple really. You see Darius, you want to become a SpiritSmith, now in order to do so you would have to request an interview and then prove yourself to them as being worthy. Assuming you were actually selected you would then be sent to the SpiritSmith guild academy. But the chances of you being chosen are about one in ten thousand. As it is I am in a position of power, If you were to do this for me and succeed, I would then be elevated to a position of even more power, which I would then use to ensure that you be sent to the SpiritSmith academy, no interview needed. Not to mention that there are ranks amongst nobles and your success would both elevate your rank to nobility status instantly as well as grant you a few rewards. I personally am already one of the emperors sons thus my rank could never really increase and i have no need for any of the rewards. Now that you know everything, do you accept?”

The dumbstruck Darius needed a moment to process it all. One part of him wanted to take the offer because of all the potential benefits but the other part of him told him to walk away. Was this really worth his life?

Finally he spoke, ”You never told me what exactly this test would be.”

”Even I don't know what the test is Darius, all anyone knows about it is that it's very dangerous and life threatening. Do you accept Darius?” the prince looked Darius right in the eyes as he spoke. His face was grave and dead serious.

Darius took his time now, desperately trying to make a decision. The conundrum he currently faced was more than he could handle. Lionel noticed this and said, ”You don't have to give me an answer right now, just take a day or two to think about it.”

The two stared at each other for a few seconds, ”Tell me you'll think about it Darius.”

As he said these words Darius breathed a sigh of relief. ”Alright, I'll think about it.”

Lionel's expression became light and happy again. His usual happy grin promptly returning to him. ”Are you going to the guild tomorrow?”

”Yes I am.” Darius replied.