Alan replied with a smile, "Because it is the rarest element and the one that everyone dreams of having. There is a catch, of course!"
Kevin still wasn't showing any emotions, but he could already guess what was coming. If this element was as rare as Alan claimed, then it would require a lot of soul force, which he was currently sorely lacking.
Alan continued, "You seem to be a smart guy, Kevin, so you've probably guessed by now that in order to use such an element, you will need a lot of soul force. Don't worry too much, though. As I told you, once you get to the Sun Sect, you will be able to practice to increase your soul force reserve. It is up to you to seize this chance; thanks to this element, you can become a very powerful mage in the future, but you will have to work hard to get there."
Kevin nodded to thank him for all his advice and for the time he had taken to explain everything.
He then said, without hiding his excitement and determination, "I'm going to work hard, Alan. Don't worry about it."
Finally, he asked, "Alan, when will we leave for the Sun Sect, and is it far from here?"
Alan smiled and said, "I need a break. Come with me; I'll help you finish registering. By the way, do you have any money? I saw that you were an orphan, which is why I asked. You'll need 5 gold coins for your registration fees and 15 gold coins to acquire the necessary materials to start your apprenticeship."
Kevin replied without hesitation, "Don't worry, Alan. I have money. Thanks again for your help."
Alan nodded and stood up. If Kevin hadn't had the money, the sect would have offered him a loan; they only did this for new recruits with great potential, and Kevin certainly had that, so it wouldn't have been a problem anyway.
He motioned for Kevin to follow him out of the tent and led him to where the final registration of new recruits was done. On the way, he explained that they were there for two more days for recruiting and that they would leave as soon as it was over; the trip would last only two hours.
So they would arrive in time for dinner, and Alan told him that the day after, they would all have a day off to explore their new surroundings before classes started.
This suited Kevin perfectly; he wanted to sell the jewelry and sword he had taken from that asshole to make some money, and he also wanted to try to open the book he had inherited.
On the way, Kevin stopped to observe a man practicing with a sword. The man was even more handsome than Alan; he had long dark hair that cascaded down to his waist, tied back so as not to be disturbed. He was tall and well-built, with sharp features and deep blue eyes. He wore comfortable sportswear: black jogging pants, a dark red tank top, and black shoes.
He was completely focused on his movements, and he was good—damn good. Kevin had an eye for it; this man was one with his sword. His movements were smooth and quick, and an aura of power emanated from him, more powerful than that of Alan. What an enchanting sight, Kevin thought.
When Alan saw that Kevin had stopped and looked hypnotized by the display, he said, "That's Axel. He is in the same year as me, and if I am considered one of the best mages of my generation, Axel is undoubtedly the best fighter the Sun Sect has known for several generations."
Kevin then asked curiously, "His sword is special, isn't it?"
Alan looked surprised and asked doubtfully, "How did you notice that?"
Kevin stopped observing Axel and replied, "There is a red glow reflecting on the blade."
Alan patted him on the shoulder and said contentedly, "Kevin, believe me, you have a bright future ahead of you. It's very rare to be able to see that kind of thing. The sword Axel is using contains the fire element; this weapon is considered an artifact, and they are very rare. He brought it back from an expedition and made a blood pact with it to become its rightful owner."
Really, this world was getting weirder and weirder. Weapons could contain elements, and what was this blood pact about?
Alan had started walking again, and Kevin followed him, asking about the blood pact. Alan explained that it was the only way Axel could use the power inside the sword. The sword had absorbed a few drops of Axel's blood, and now he had become its master. For anyone else to use the sword's power, Axel would have to be killed first.
Kevin was so engrossed in their conversation that he hadn't realized they had arrived at the check-in desk.
Alan looked at him with a gentle smile and said, "If you have any other questions or need help once we're back at the Sun Sect, please come to see me. It will be my pleasure, okay?"
Kevin nodded and thanked him warmly. This new world was really confusing for him, so if he could have some help at first to adapt, he wouldn't say no.
Alan then left, and when it was Kevin's turn, he handed his registration form that Alan had given back to him.
The man who casually took the registration form suddenly widened his eyes, looking back and forth between it and Kevin several times, as if he couldn't comprehend what he was seeing.
He finally coughed to hide his embarrassment at his inappropriate behavior and said, "Kevin, welcome to the Sun Sect. My name is Douglas, and I am the intendant of the sect. I'm in charge of the registrations here, and when we are at the Sun Sect, I'll be the one taking care of the warehouse. So if you need to buy something, you'll have to go through me."
Kevin nodded and said respectfully, "Got it, Mr. Douglas."
Douglas waved his hand and said, "Just Douglas. No need to add 'Mister.' We're all going to be part of the same family, and we'll be seeing each other quite often, especially at the beginning."