Without a second thought, Pip summoned pillars of blinding light, crashing them directly toward the two figures. Slowly, the radiant pillars began to shrink, morphing into a translucent, rectangular cage that locked them within. In an instant, Pip's solemn expression twisted into one of pure rage. He bellowed at the top of his lungs: "ARE YOU TWO TRYING TO OBLITERATE THE ENTIRE FOREST?!"
Yban let out a soft chuckle, musing to himself: "This Upo boy... He's nothing like the other Upos I've encountered in the past. Intriguing..."
Lilit, too, couldn't help but acknowledge his power, begrudgingly thinking: "This brat... Tch, he's surprisingly formidable."
Yban broke the silence, his voice calm: "Very well. You... what was your name again?" "Me? I'm Pip. Why do you care about my name?" Pip asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"Pip... a fine name," Yban noted smoothly. "So, you two—Pip, and your friend hiding over there behind the rocks. Where do you intend to stay? Surely you aren't planning to sleep in the wild and fend for yourselves in this forest indefinitely?"
The atmosphere instantly froze. The fiery rage drained from Pip's face, replaced by a sudden, heavy silence as his head slumped forward. Even from a distance, Kael—who couldn't hear a single word—could sense the gravity of the shift; his heart sank.
Yban spoke again, his tone carrying a respectful yet warning edge: "If you have nowhere to go, wandering around this city openly as an Upo is a dangerous gamble, Lord Pip." "D-Don't call me Lord! It's embarrassing!" Pip stammered, completely caught off guard.
"Then, young Pip, would you care to accompany us to the Sanctuary of the Twelve Divine Emissaries?" Yban offered with a polite, sweeping gesture. "We can really do that?! But we..." Pip hesitated, a wave of self-doubt washing over him.
"Rest assured," Yban reassured warmly. "Since you have proven your immense strength, I can personally grant you entry. Under the protection of Lilit and myself, you and your friend will be entirely safe."
"OF COURSE! HAHAHA! YOU'LL BE UNDER MY ULTIMATE PROTECTION, SO YOU BETTER BOW YOUR HEADS AND THANK ME ALREADY!" Lilit chimed in, her voice dripping with her usual arrogance.
"Uh... then I humbly accept your invitation to the Sanctuary," Pip replied, bowing respectfully to show his gratitude. "Splendid. I'm glad we understand each other," Yban smiled.
With the arrangement settled, Kael finally scrambled out from behind the massive boulder. He dashed over and threw his arms around Pip, beaming with relief that his friend was unscathed.
Suddenly, Yban conjured a pair of majestic wings from his back. Lilit did the same, her wings unfurling with a sharp snap. Pip's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. "How... how do you both have wings like that?!" "These wings," Yban explained, "are divine artifacts reserved exclusively for those of high status."
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Before Pip could process the words, Yban grabbed him firmly by his cloak and hoisted him effortlessly into the air. Lilit, on the other hand, ruthlessly seized Kael by his two horns and yanked him upward.
Kael let out a pitiful yelp: "AAHH! OW, OW, OW! THAT HURTS! PUT ME DOWN!" "Suck it up, you numbskull!" Lilit snapped back, irritation flaring in her eyes.
In the blink of an eye, Pip and Kael were whisked away, soaring high into the sky and piercing through the thick layers of clouds. Pip gasped, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and awe: "Oh... w-we're actually flying."
Looking down, Pip gazed at the sprawling landscape below. He was completely mesmerized; the breathtaking scenery looked like a vibrant painting lifted straight from a long-forgotten fairy tale. But what truly stole his breath away was looming just ahead.
An colossal citadel dominated the horizon, its peaks towering impossibly high into the sky. The massive structure was divided into twelve distinct tiers, ascending from bottom to top, each level symbolizing one of the Twelve Divine Emissaries. Every single tier boasted a grand, sprawling palace that looked fit for an ancient emperor, surrounded by absurdly vast, lush green gardens.
Pip's jaw dropped. "T-This is..." "Exactly what you think, young Pip. This is the dwelling of the Twelve Divine Emissaries," Yban answered gently.
They descended, landing smoothly on the ninth tier, Yban's personal domain. As the dust settled, Yban turned to them, his expression turning business-like: "I forgot to ask you two: what are your plans now that you've arrived in the city?" "Uh... our plan is to pass the entrance exam for Aethelgard within the next two months," Pip stated firmly.
Yban blinked, momentarily stunned, before quickly regaining his stoic, dignified composure. "With your raw talent, Pip, I have no doubt you can make the cut. But as for Kael... I have yet to see what he is capable of."
"My ability?" Kael chimed in eagerly, flexing his chest. "My power allows me to phase into anything that reflects an image!" "Oh?" Yban's brows shot up. "That is indeed a formidable ability with immense potential. However, to truly weaponize it, you both require rigorous training."
"Understood! We will give it everything we've got!" Pip and Kael shouted in unison, their spirits ignited. "By the way..." Yban inquired, curiosity getting the better of him. "Why are you two so deeply determined to enter Aethelgard?"
"Ah, that's because—" Kael blurted out, but Pip instantly cut him off, clapping a hand over his mouth. "Aha... w-we just want to become stronger, you know?!" Pip laughed nervously, cold sweat breaking out down his neck.
"Ah, I see. A noble pursuit," Yban nodded, satisfied.
The moment Yban turned his back, Pip whirled on Kael, hissing in a frantic whisper: "Are you insane?! You absolutely cannot tell him we only signed up for the free food and housing, you blockhead!" "Why not?!" Kael whispered back, his face a mask of pure confusion.
"Because if he thinks we're treating this prestigious exam like a joke, he'll think we're being disrespectful! He might kick our butts straight out of the Sanctuary!" Pip scolded, eyes wide with panic. "Oh..." Kael muttered, his brain finally catching up.
Yban cleared his throat, his commanding voice cutting through their hushed bickering. "Very well then..." He announced firmly, looking down at the two boys with a piercing gaze. "STARTING TODAY, YOU TWO WILL UNDERGO RIGOROUS TRAINING UNDER LILIT AND MYSELF!"
"Huh...?" Pip and Kael froze dead in their tracks, completely speechless.
Lilit raised her chin, her voice dripping with pure mockery: "What's the matter?? Pissed your pants already?? Do you need to go change your diapers or something?"
Kael shrank back in terror, shielding himself behind Pip as he whimpered in a frantic whisper: "Hey Pip, I think we walked into the wrong place. Is it too late to turn back now?"
Pip simply closed his eyes and let out a defeated sigh. He knew, deep down, that there was no running away—their absolute living hell of a training regimen had officially arrived.