The Tortoise

The last class on Friday ended quicker than usual and I left in a hurry. Walking alongside me was Iris who was talking my ear off about the history lecture we had just got out of.

"I can't believe Daniel rode on a dragon to invade the Zorox Capital! That's so cool! I've never heard of a human taming a dragon!...Well, he didn't really tame it, more like he "hitched a ride" on it."

Iris giggled.

"After the fight, Daniel had to slay that very same dragon because it was running wild. That's kind of a sorrowful end, he basically had to kill his comrade..."

My girlfriend elbowed me on the side of my ribs. Her body did not match her actual strength as it felt like I was rammed through the side by a bull. The pain of the hit brought me out of my deep thoughts and I turned to Iris with an annoyed glare.

"Ouch! The hell Iris!?"

Iris huffed.

"Baxter! Did you hear a single word I said!?"

"Something about riding a dragon?"

"Yes! On how Daniel rode a dragon during the invasion of Zorox Capital! Do you think when we become Holy Knights, we will get the chance to ride on dragons too?"

I shook my head.

"Hell no! We would end up being dragon lunch before we could even get on its back!"

Iris put her arms to her side and said, "I think by the time we graduate we will be strong enough to kill a dragon in one hit!"

I chuckled in response.

"Maybe you will, for me, it will be at least ten or twenty."

"In that case, I'll help you!"

"Nuh-uh! Let me fight some enemies on my own! You can't back me up all the time!"

"Why not!?" Iris shouted as she got in front of me with a pouty face. "You and I will always be together! Doesn't it make sense to always be there for each other?"

I couldn't help but blush as my ears fully absorbed Iris's words and as my eyes were glued to her gorgeous face. I kissed her cheek and caressed the side of her face.

"You're right. I'll keep that in mind."

"Baxter!" Iris's face turned redder than her hair. "Don't kiss me in the middle of the hallway! It's embarrassing!"

Looking around, people who spotted us cringed at the sight of us being lovey-dovey. I brushed them off, and at that point, I learned not to take them on.

I turned to Iris, not being able to contain my smile after seeing her flushed face.

"But I just love it when get all shy! You become as cute as a puppy!"

"D-don't call me that! I hate dogs!" Iris stuttered.

"Now that's the one thing about you I don't love," I said jokingly.

"You jerk!"

Iris playfully kicked my shin while I hopped away in pain. The two of us then proceeded to laugh for a minute before leaving the school.

"I'm going to head back to the dorm," Iris stated. "Are you coming? Maybe we can spend some...quality time together..."

I shyly chuckled and replied, "Maybe later, Iris. There is somewhere I have to be."

"Huh? Where are you going? Has a professor called you in or something?"

"No, I'm just going to the Grand Library down at Amo Street. To get more materials to study for the midterms."

Iris turned to me and stared right into my eyes. Her golden irises were filled with worry which dulled their pretty light.

"Baxter, you know there is such a thing as being over-prepared."

"Come on, Iris! I need to make sure I'm ready-"

"You ARE ready! You and I have been practicing and studying day in and day out! If anyone is ready for the exams it's us!"

"If anyone is ready for the exams it's you!" I stated loudly. "Iris, your magic is one of the strongest I've ever seen I have faith that you will pass with flying colors!"

"Baxter..."

Iris's eyes lit up from my words of praise.

"But me?"

I pointed to myself while trying to keep my voice from cracking.

"I'm a Null. No matter how hard I work, I will always be a hundred steps behind a mage! I need to be better prepared so that I can pass!"

After letting out my woes, Iris walked up to me and put her gentle hand on my shoulder. She then caressed my face and gave me her warm smile which made me feel better in seconds.

"I understand. You know you are the strongest man to me, Baxter. No matter what anyone says, I know you will be the greatest Holy Knight!"

Not being able to contain my love for Iris, I embraced her in my arms. Her hair smelled like fresh strawberries and the strands gently tickled my cheek.

"I love you...you know that?"

We then shared a quick passionate kiss before Iris replied with a big grin.

"Of course! And I love you!"

It was hard letting go of Iris, but I eventually forced my body to obey my mind. After saying my goodbyes, I left the campus of Elendria Academy behind and strolled the streets of Eleiweth.

The capital of the greatest kingdom was a grand place to be. Regardless of what time of the day it was the road was always packed with the citizens. It made the journey to my destination much longer than it should have been but my mood was bright due to the mesmerizing sites of Eleiweth's structures and the exciting sound of music.

After an hour of climbing up the massive stairs of the great city, I finally made it to the area of the nobles. Every single individual wore clothes that cost more than my very house back at Lore and each wielded magic as if they were actors on a stage displaying a show.

For someone like me, there was the only place I wanted to go was the Library of Nicholas. An ancient building that was made since Eleiweth's founding, a place that recorded thousands of years' worth of history and knowledge. Nicholas Oai, a talented scholar from the Era of Growth dedicated his entire short human life to collects much knowledge around the Realm of Ocaleveth as possible. When he died, his disciples carried on his work, turning his personal study into a library for everyone to enter.

Only royals, the richest of nobles, and students of Elendria Academy were allowed to enter and borrow the books within. The reason why is that the King of Eleiweth declared the knowledge within the Library of Nicholas sacred. Nobles were permitted to take books to learn the greatest of spells and the students were also allowed as well because the Headmaster of Elendria Academy deemed it necessary for the mages of the next generation to learn about how powerful magic can be.

For a Null like me, most of the books in the library were useless due to being magic-based, but there was a small section of novels written about swordsmanship that I read religiously.

As I went up to the front gate of the library, waiting for me there was a gnome with a long gray beard with mushrooms growing off of it.

"State your name and business," the gnome said with a deep and raspy voice.

I cleared my throat and spoke in the most polite tone I could muster.

"My name is Baxter Ale. I am a first year at Elendria Academy. I am here to collect books called "The Technique of Swords"."

"ID card please."

I took out a small golden card from my pocket. The information on my card was my name, my year, and my magic affinity (which was nothing).

The gnome took my ID and stared at it for a long time. He then looked up at me with a tired expression.

"So...you're that Null Myrhana keeps ranting about."

I sheepishly chuckled while rubbing the back of my neck.

"Yep, that's me!"

Myrhana was a female gnome who was the usual gatekeeper for the Library of Nicholas whenever I would come. Every time I visited she would not hesitate to say the rudest things to me, simply because I was a Null.

I expected the male gnome to start getting on my case next, but all he did was hand me back my card and open the gate with the pull of a lever.

"You have four hours. Due to maintenance, the library will be closed early today."

"T-thank you!"

I hurried inside, and the smell of maple and honey filled my nostrils. The halls of the Library of Nicholas were so big you would think it was another world. The bookcases were as tall as skyscrapers and some books were floating around like birds moving to other sections of the library. That was due to gravity magic, a spell that consistently tidied up the building and put everything back where it belonged.

I went to the aisle where books about swords were and began reading. Every day I tried to dump as much knowledge I could about the great blade techniques of warriors from the past into my brain in hopes of adopting it. After finishing a chapter of one book I was reading I would try to replicate the style myself by using my sword.

However, each time I did. I was met with nasty glares from the other people who were also reading. I apologized before sitting down and hiding my embarrassed face behind the book.

Hours passed and my head started to hurt from the constant reading. I laid my head on the table and tried to ease the pain. But my peace was disturbed when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

"O-oh! S-sir...um—"

"Ianbis."

"H-huh?"

"My name is Ianbis."

"O-okay, Sir Ianbis did you need anything?"

"Just letting you know that the library is closing."

"O-oh crap! Seriously!?"

"Hmhm. Don't you see that everybody else has left?"

Looking around I realized that the people who were originally sitting or standing around me were gone. As I raised my head, I saw the window shine down an orange tint color which symbolized that it was evening.

"Damn, sorry..."

"It's not a problem lad," Ianbis stated. "Will you be taking some books with yah?"

I replied, "Yes, let me register them with my ID card."

Ianbis nodded as I pulled out my golden card. As I held it out for the gnome to take, he did nothing but stare at it.

"Uh...sir? Is there something wrong?"

"You are a Null correct?"

"Huh? Y-yes I am..."

"I see, so that's why you are only borrowing books about swordsmanship instead of magic..."

"Yep! A book about spells would mean nothing for a Forsaken like me!"

I said those words while letting out a fake laugh. Deep down I felt insignificant and worthless.

Ianbis continued to stare at me with his tired expression.

"...The midterms are coming up. Is that why you are collecting so many books?"

"Yes, I want to showcase that my training in the academy hasn't been for nothing."

"But there is only so much a magical school can do for a Null. Don't you want some tips?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"T-tips?"

The gnome pulled a chair and sat down right next to me.

"Have you ever heard of the Riot of the Scarlet Sin?"

"Yes, it was an event thousands of years ago in Eleiweth. A few years after the death of Philip, a group of individuals who did not agree with the political forces that ran the capital formed a rebellion. That very same rebellion started a riot that nearly destroyed Eleiweth in its entirety. In the end, the Holy Knights arrested all the rebels and they were executed for their crimes."

Ianbis hummed and then started to talk in a more serious tone.

"What else do you know about the event? Like, why a rebellion was formed in the first place?"

"Why the rebellion was formed? Is there a clear reason? History teachers just say that the rebels were bareback individuals who hated the Royal Family."

Ianbis shook his head.

"It wasn't that simple. The rebellion was not made to overthrow the Royal Family but the Council of Chronos."

The words of the old gnome took me aback.

"T-the Council of Chronos? Why?"

Ianbis let out a nasty cackle before leaning closer to me and whispering in my ear.

"The individuals who created the rebel group were twelve powerful warriors who despised the Council of Chronos and their hold on Eleiweth. They were called The Tortoise."

"The Tortoise..."

"And you know what's interesting?"

The gnome hopped out of the chair and stared right into my eyes. His purple eyes looked deep into my soul.

"They were all Nulls, like you..."