Chapter Occultist 240

Nick had been aware that this world had monsters for a while now.Not the creatures that dwelled in the wilds and acted as training targets for many adventurers. They were undoubtedly dangerous, but not as threatening when protected by strong walls and wards.

No, the monsters he was talking about were those beings who lived among everyday people, yet whose very existence represented a threat to entire civilizations.

Prestige was the dividing line between ordinary humans and the truly great, but there was something above even that revered level.

A sparse few were practically gods among men, yet held back to ensure society's survival.

Marthas was one of them. Nick had seen the Prelate’s power in action, had felt the all-consuming heat of his attention, and his ability to break down reality with his mere will.

But he was a man of faith, restrained by the many chains Sashara wrapped around her people.

The being before him right now had no such limitations. It was a mass of pure destruction, forced into a human shape by inhuman willpower. A blade at the jugular of human civilization, which was blissfully unaware of the immense danger it faced.

When he heard his father describe Grandmaster Xander Wolfram as the best swordsman in the kingdom, he expected to see a truly powerful man—a knight devoted to his craft who had reached the peak of what was humanly possible.

This was different. Describing that as a swordsman was like calling a nuclear bomb a rifle. Technically, both caused explosions and damaged their surroundings, but the comparison was absurd.

Then, the blade wrapped in human flesh looked at him, and Nick couldn’t keep himself from reacting.

A dozen layers of formed around him and Sonya, even as he dragged her behind him, much to her surprise.

He vaguely realized he had somehow managed to greatly boost his spell’s output through sheer desperation alone, but he couldn’t focus on that, as he felt its focus sharpen.

Spiritual mana gathered around him as he channeled his primal fear, anger, and frustration at his helplessness into it, transforming the wind mana into a much more solid lattice of magic, seamlessly merging everything into a single, incredibly dense defensive shield.

Yet all that effort was nothing compared to the finger pointed at him. The monster simply directed its will toward him, and Nick felt his magic be

Possibly the greatest shield he had ever summoned shattered upon coming into contact with the pure expression of a sword’s purpose, causing Nick to stagger back.

That shouldn't have been possible. If his spells had failed so easily, his flesh should have split with ease. Yet, he was not only alive but also completely unharmed.

The sheer absurdity of that was finally enough to snap him out of it, and Nick blinked, taking back control of his body from his instincts.

He could still see the existential danger lurking within the man before him, but he was no longer overwhelmed by his presence.

“Hey, that’s not fair, I wanted to be the one to spar with Nick first!” His brother’s familiar, yet different voice called out, close to pouting.

“We aren’t sparring, idiot child,” an aged, perfectly human voice answered. “Your brother saw a little too much and had to be pulled back. I guess you weren’t lying when you said he was a talented mage. It’s been a while since someone noticed.”

A tug on his sleeve made Nick turn, and he realized he was still gripping Sonya’s arm tightly. He let go abruptly, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be that rough.”

Surprisingly, she just smiled, sunny and unbothered. “Oh, don’t worry, I’m made of tough stuff.”

A presence shifted, and Nick whirled back around, only to see that the old man hadn’t moved but was looking at him with a smirk. “You have sharp senses, but you should learn how to control them better. Any properly trained knight could play you like a lute if you keep reacting that way to everything.”o being freaked out by a strong enough presence.

“Hey, you got taller! But you're still a shrimp compared to me,” Devon interrupted, walking up to him, and Nick finally turned his full attention to his brother.

They had both grown over the past few months since they last saw each other. Nick had gone from a kid to a coltish teenager, only kept from stumbling around by his high level and the resulting high dexterity stat.

Devon, on the other hand, had grown into a young man. He was sixteen now, old enough to be considered an adult in most situations, and he’d apparently gone through a growth spurt of his own, now easily reaching six feet in height.

Surprisingly, he wasn’t gangly despite the sudden growth, as he’d gained quite a bit of muscle. Not enough to make him bulky, but his biceps and legs were thick and sturdy enough that Nick knew he wouldn’t win any roughhousing anytime soon.

“And you need to cut your hair. That fringe looks ridiculous.” He hadn’t even intended to say it, but the mocking remark slipped out before he could hold back.

Devon stared at him, stunned, before a giggle broke the silence.

Behind him, Sonya muffled her laughter with her hands. Her shoulders hunched, but the battle was lost soon after, and peals of bright amusement echoed off the training field.

Nick eyed his brother, worried he’d get mad that he had mocked him in front of a pretty girl, but he was surprised to find that wasn’t the case.

In fact, Devon was far from angry. He wore a sappy look, and rosy hues colored his presence, with darker reds and whites hidden beneath, suggesting this wasn’t a recent change.

Their eyes met, and Nick’s realization must have been obvious on his face, because Devon immediately became deathly serious and gave him a look that promised great pain if he said anything.

Nick pressed his lips together to keep from grinning and nodded in acknowledgment. He wouldn’t interfere.

Boots crunched on gravel, and he was forcibly pulled back as he watched Master Xander turn away. Somehow, he had forgotten that the incredibly dangerous man was there, barely a minute after his freak-out.

That he could hide his presence so completely, making himself perfectly unassuming, was perhaps his most terrifying ability.

“Pick an empty room, kid,” the man-shaped sword said as he walked away. “You can stay as long as you don’t interrupt our training.”

Nick didn’t have much trouble claiming a room for himself. He simply entered the closest one near the stairs, glanced questioningly at Sonya, who nodded in encouragement, and took off his cloak, hanging it over a chair.

“I keep most rooms clean, but if you give me a few minutes, I will make it more presentable. Meanwhile, you can set your things over there,” she said, gesturing toward the ornate wooden chest sitting in the corner of the room.

“Do you need help getting your stuff from the caravan? I’ve gotten pretty good at lugging heavy weights,” Devon offered, patting his bulging bicep and eyeing Sonya from the corner of his eye.

The girl, however, wasn’t paying him any attention, already busy opening the windows and letting fresh air into the closed room.

“Ah, I didn’t come with a caravan,” Nick said. He eyed the chest and shrugged. “I also have a spatial item, so I don’t need that. Not that I have more than a couple of changes of clothes anyway..."

“Wait, did you come by yourself?”

“What do you mean, only two changes of clothes?”

Although the questions were completely opposite, the shocked tone both older teens used was exactly the same, and Nick snorted. "Yes, I came alone, but both our parents are aware and approved. I only have two changes of clothes—well, three if you count the formal wear a seamstress in Honeyton made for me for a gala.”

Devon appeared stunned by that. Although neither Eugene nor Elena opposed letting their children face some danger, crossing the grassland alone was a completely different matter.

The last time they had seen each other, Nick had been a wet-behind-the-ears kid who hadn't yet developed any truly dangerous magic.

Hell, he’d barely reached level twenty-four! Back before the dungeon shaped him into a deadly caster who could turn the tide of a battle on his own.

It was understandable that his brother would be surprised that their mother, who was very protective of her sons, would leave him to travel alone.

Yet, he was here, and Devon knew better than to think Nick had sneaked out, which meant Elena had truly given her permission.

A more serious expression crossed his face as he examined Nick closely, as if searching for the hidden strength that had let him cross the grassland unscathed.

Nick just smiled confidently, and his brother quickly caught on, a grin spreading and growing wider on his face.

Before they could go any further, however, Sonya placed her hands on her hips and shot him a very disappointed look. It was surprisingly effective for a girl who wouldn’t be able to make him do anything. “I understand you come from the countryside, but the Crowleys are now nobles! How are you brothers both so unconcerned about how you present yourselves?!”

She then turned on Devon, who looked stunned by the sudden shift. “And you! What kind of example have you been setting for your little brother? I’ve had to drag you by the ears to get you to buy anything other than training clothes, so don’t think you’re not involved in this!”

After a moment during which Nick and Devon exchanged genuinely stupefied looks, she nodded to herself. “Yes, I guess I will have to take this into my hands. Tomorrow, we’ll go on a shopping trip!”

Nick opened and closed his mouth, still stunned by how much things had fallen apart, but Devon quickly shook his head. “I can’t. Master Xander wants me to keep practicing my aura, and tomorrow isn’t my free day anyway.”

Sonya snorted, waving him off as if it didn’t matter at all. “I will talk with Master Xander. You, on the other hand, should start thinking about what else you need to complete your wardrobe, because if I have to do it myself…” She trailed off threateningly, and Devon gulped, nodding like a dog with his tail tucked between his legs.

With a nod to herself, she grabbed the old covers from the bed, and folded them in quick, efficient motions, before turning around and marching off. “I’ll have a bath ready for you in a few minutes, Nick. Set your travel clothes to the side, and I’ll clean them. As much as can be done for those rags anyway.”

And with that, she was gone, leaving a stunned silence in her wake.

Only after he was sure the human-shaped tornado was gone did Nick allow himself a chuckle. “That’s the new Lady Crowley, then? I guess she’s got the spunk for it.”

Devon turned bright red and sputtered, rushing to the door and frantically looking around to make sure she couldn’t have heard. He then slammed the door behind himself and took a threatening step toward Nick. “Oh, you want to play games, huh?”

Not at all worried, Nick grinned back challengingly. “Let’s see if you can put your money where your mouth is.”