"I can't seem to understand...you need a bodyguard to return home?" The next day, early in the morning, Ariana found her cousin raising an unexpected demand.
She was sipping her coffee when he came in and said he needed a bodyguard.
"No, I need a guard once I reach home." Adrian cleared her misunderstanding.
It wasn't the journey that threatened him, rather, the destination.
Ariana frowned, "I know you don't get along with your mother but suspect her this much..."
Ariana might be the daughter of Count's elder brother, she was well aware of Adrian's family situation.
She has been visiting his house since they were a child, and after Count Lockwood remarried, the family has been divided into two parts.
On one side was the whole family, and on the other side was Adrian. He was disqualified to be called a Lockwood, or so what his stepmother assumes.
Adrian heaved a sigh, as he sat down on the chair and rested his hands on the table.
With his eyes on the table, he said, "You know how my relationship is with her, and this time, I have taken a few steps that she surely won't like."
"What are those few steps?"
Adrian shrugged as he leaned back and rested his arm over the armrest, "Not apologizing to the Princess. Breaking the engagement with Olivia without asking them."
"You broke up?" Ariana seemed surprised.
"Yeah...just liberated her from this burden. But forget about that and tell me, how much will it cost to hire a strong warrior?"
Ariana was in the business before becoming the headmistress, so she must be aware of whom he could contact.
Ariana was shocked about the engagement annulment since she knew that her cousin liked that girl. However, she didn't question him further about it, seeing him being so nonchalant.
Sitting on her chair, she told him, "Any Warden below rank one hundred would be good for you. And to hire them, you would need a thousand gold coins every day."
Adrian shivered, "A-A thousand?" Isn't that too much?
Ariana shrugged, "Although they won't be able to earn that much in a day by hunting when it comes to escorting someone, they feel like lowering their standards. So yeah, the fees are more about dignity."
Adrian clenched his fists, "Damn such dignity."
He recently got three thousand gold from Olivia, and he has around five thousand gold coins in his savings.
Considering how many things he needs to buy for his Runesmithing and to create a perfect weapon for himself, he needs a lot more.
Ariana sighed, "If I had time, I would have accompanied you. But I can't leave school right now."
Adrian smiled, "That thought is enough...well, do you know what the current market value of mithril is?"
Ariana was surprised, "Why would you want to know that?"
Mithril is the most versatile and affordable material to make weapons.
Not only is it lightweight and strong, but it can also absorb runes up to the third Thread easily.
There are other rare materials as well, which are stronger and more versatile than mithril, but mithril can be found easily in mines; as such, its demand is high in the market.
"I want to make a weapon," Adrian confessed without much thought.
Ariana was confused, "Aren't you awfully bad in combat? Why do you need a weapon?"
That was something of the past. Adrian might not be a combatant, but this new him has to learn a few tricks if he wants to survive in this unpredictable world.
"I envisioned a life out of the academy without the support of my family. Turned out, I would become good for nothing. That's why, I want to learn a few things about hunting so I can afford a living even without this job."
Ariana turned gravely silent upon hearing that.
Although what he said was true and she shouldn't feel responsible for it, she felt guilty that he had to worry about his life even though she ensured a comfortable life here in the Academy.
With her thumb rubbing over the back of the other hand, she asked, "Adrian...are you planning on quitting this job?"
The black-haired male raised his brows, "Why would I do that? I like this job and the pay is hefty. However, it was you who taught me to have a backup plan always ready, no?"
The older one couldn't refute that. She, indeed, told him to always have another plan if the primary one fails.
Just like how being a Warden was her secondary plan. She always wanted to be a teacher and if she had failed, she would have continued to hunt.
Heaving a sigh, and after leaning back in her chair, the Headmistress asked, "Do you wanna get taught by me?"
Adrian's brows rose, "Getting taught by the Seventh-ranked Warden? I'd be an idiot to deny that."
Ariana's ears turned a little hot in embarrassment, which she dispelled by coughing.
Getting up from her seat, she said, "What kind of weapon do you prefer?"
Adrian didn't need to think for long to answer, "A spear."
Ariana nodded, "I will have the weapon prepared by the time you return."
Adrian soon asked, "And about the cost?"
Ariana glanced at him over her shoulder, "Pay me by working hard."
Adrian went from disbelief to elation pretty instantly as he got up from his seat and smiled at the woman, "Thanks, Aria. I will definitely repay you one day."
Saying those words, he was about to turn around and leave, when suddenly,
"Uh, Adrian." The said man turned towards his cousin, before he heard her saying, "Two weeks later, the Arcane Anvil Cup would begin. I want you to be the Supervisor of our team."
"....eh? But why me? I am not that good and hold so little experience...." Adrian wasn't underestimating himself, rather, he believed, Ariana was overestimating him
Sure, he has a unique Runesmithing style, but he was still a newbie. While, on the other hand, the other teachers in the same subject have not only passed the AET with excellent grades, but they hold years of experience under their belt.
From any perception, sending the youngest professor who failed his AET was a bad decision.
However, "It's not my decision, Adrian. The Tower Master Albec has requested you to be present during the contest as a Supervisor. It seems, this year, they are going to force the teachers to participate as well."
With a grin, the lady added, "Good luck with that."
"...."
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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Add the book to your collection and drop some PS.