*Clip-Clop-Clip-Clop.*
The horse maintained its steady pace as the sun slowly rose in the east, casting warm rays across the landscape.
The path stretched ahead, gradually leading them away from the Mystic Trees and into a forest of ordinary trees, their branches heavy with lush green leaves.
"I’m no fortune teller," Alucard said with a faint smile, "but I believe you can."
Daniel narrowed his eyes. "And why is that?"
"Because you have a forbidden form — just like me," Alucard replied.
"Like how? I mean, how did you get your forbidden form?" Daniel asked, curiosity evident in his eyes.
Alucard cleared his throat before beginning his story.
"When I was around your age, I couldn’t master the Fourth Form of Lightning. My master was disappointed in me, but giving up was never an option."
His gaze remained fixed on the road ahead.
"So I kept training. Again and again. I pushed myself harder than ever, refusing to stop until I finally reached the Fifth Form."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"But just when I thought I had finally mastered it, something unexpected happened. Another form emerged alongside it."
Daniel’s eyes widened slightly.
"It felt completely different from the other forms. The lightning moved differently, responded differently... almost as if it had a will of its own."
"Cool. Can you show me?" Daniel asked, his voice carrying a spark of excitement.
Alucard let out a soft chuckle.
"I already showed you."
Daniel blinked.
...
As they continued along the road, Daniel spotted a herd of wild boars emerging from the forest. They charged toward the path, heading straight for a man and woman dressed in simple brown tunics.
Several other people were nearby, carrying bundles of chopped wood strapped to their backs as they made their way toward Cinder Town.
"Watch out!" Daniel shouted.
Lightning crackled across his palm as he prepared to strike the approaching boars.
"Stop. Don’t shoot them," Alucard said, his expression suddenly serious.
"What? Why?" Daniel asked, confusion flashing across his face.
Alucard didn’t answer.
Instead, he urged his horse forward.
As they drew closer, the woodcutters spotted the herd of wild boars charging toward them. Panic immediately spread through the group. They threw the bundles of wood from their backs and sprinted down the path, desperately trying to escape the approaching beasts.
The woman’s scream pierced through the morning air.
Daniel instinctively raised his hand, lightning surging across his palm, ready to intervene. But Alucard reached over and firmly pushed his hand down.
"Not now," Alucard said.
Daniel hesitated, his eyes fixed on the fleeing villagers as the crackling lightning danced across his palm.
Then, slowly, he let the lightning fade until his hand fell silent.
"Help!"
"Help!!"
The woodcutters spotted the rider on the white horse and desperately ran toward him. Several of the wild boars broke away from the herd and charged after them, their hooves pounding against the earth.
Alucard brought his horse to a stop and dismounted. "Just don’t kill the animals," he said.
Daniel immediately began channeling lightning into his palm. He waited until the last of the people had rushed past them and taken shelter behind Alucard.
Then Alucard raised his hand.
A web of crackling lightning erupted from his palm, spreading across the path like an electrified barrier and blocking the boars’ advance.
"Now."
Daniel thrust his hand forward.
*CRACK!*
Bolts of lightning shot from his palm one after another, striking the charging boars. The lightning wasn’t nearly as destructive as Daniel’s usual attacks, but it carried enough force to overwhelm the beasts.
The boars convulsed as electricity coursed through their bodies. Their legs buckled beneath them as pained squeals echoed through the forest.
One after another, they collapsed onto the path, stunned and temporarily paralyzed.
Alucard watched the scene, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Such power in such a short time...
His gaze shifted toward Daniel.
And that’s only his First Form of Lightning.
The woodcutters who had witnessed the scene stared at Daniel in awe, relief spreading across their faces as the remaining boars fled back into the forest.
"What’s your name, young man?" a woman in a brown tunic asked with a warm smile.
"Daniel," he replied.
The woodcutters gathered around him, praising him and thanking him for saving them. One of them pressed a silver coin into his hand.
"No, no. It’s alright. It’s my duty to help," Daniel said, trying to return it.
But they insisted. The woman firmly closed his fingers around the coin before turning back toward the bundles of wood.
"Please, take it. You saved our lives."
The group then picked up their bundles and continued along the road toward Cinder Town.
"That’s weird," Daniel murmured.
Alucard heard him. "Why do you think that?"
"It’s just that..." Daniel glanced back at the road behind them. "Never mind."
With that, they continued their journey toward the Eagle Kingdom.
Halfway through the journey, they stopped at a small village to rest. They found a simple roadside eatery and sat down on a wooden bench, where a steaming breakfast was served on a plate before them.
Meanwhile, Daniel pulled out the parchment again and studied it for a moment.
"Tell me, Mr. Alucard. If I’m free to skip the training and classes, then why would anyone apply to the Royal Academy?"
Alucard dipped a piece of flatbread into the chickpea curry and took a bite before turning his attention toward Daniel.
"First of all, just call me Alucard. Second, it’s your loss if you skip your training."
"Hmm, makes sense." Daniel paused. "Another question. You said people would pay thousands of gold coins to get into the academy. So why am I being offered a place for free? That doesn’t make any sense."
Alucard smiled.
"See, whenever a student with enough potential to become a warrior is discovered, the Royal Academy can issue them a special invitation — a Wild Card Entry. The parchment you’re holding right now."
Daniel gave a small nod.
"Now, you might be wondering. Why wouldn’t other parents simply have their children discovered in these towns and send them to the Royal Academy for free, right?"
Daniel nodded again.
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