"....Based on the historical events listed above, we can conclude that the Vestra kingdom follows a complete monarchy, whereas we follow a feudal system."
Azrael nodded in agreement.
The lecture continues for a while longer—
"And this marks the completion of our final lesson. With this, the first part of your training is over, young master Azrael."
Howard said with a smile.
Azrael closes the book in his hands, and looks at Instructor Howard—
"I'm looking forward to the second part, Instructor Howard.
But I would like to make a request."
"Tell me, what is it, young master?"
"I would like a two-day break before we begin the next part of our training."
"Is there something important you need to do, Master Azrael?" Howard asked.
"It is important. I would also like to prepare myself a little for physical training," replied Azrael.
Howard thought for a moment, then said,
"Alright. A two-day break won't change many things. But once our training begins, I hope you won't expect any breaks."
"Absolutely, this will be the first and last time I'll be requesting a leave."
"Very well. I'll see you two days later at the training grounds, young master." Says Howard.
After discussing his daily routine with Instructor Howard, Azrael excused himself.
He is walking down the hallway, and is about to reach his room.
But suddenly—
A tiny menace sprinted towards him, laughter echoing through the corridor and nearly crashed into him. His little sister, Cesia, latched onto him and hid behind his back. She looked up at him, smiling sweetly—as if she hadn't caused any trouble at all.
The maids appeared around the corner—breathless as they have been chasing her for quite a while.
When they saw Azrael, they immediately halted and bowed.
Azrael turned and lifted Cesia into his arms.
"What did you do this time, my cute little devil?"
He smiles as he gently ruffles her hair.
"I didn't do anything, brother.. hehe" she giggled and stuck out her tongue—utterly unapologetic.
"Reporting to the young master," one maid said,
"the young miss broke nearly ten vases while running around the castle."
Azrael looked at Cesia,
"Now isn't that quite a mess you have created Cesia?" He asked, still smiling.
"Hehe..." Cesia just giggles looking at him mischievously.
Azrael sighs,
"Tell the head butler to cover the expenses on my behalf— and don't let mother know about this."
"Yes, young master." The maids replied.
"I saved you this time, my cute devil but don't do it again, alright?" Azrael says to Cesia.
She tries to put up a serious face and nods fervently.
"Haha.." Azrael just laughs at her antics.
"Now go with the maids, I have something important to do. We will play later."
Cesia jumped from his arms and ran to the maids.
"Bye, brother! you have to play with me tomorrow." Cesia said before leaving.
"Okay." Azrael replied .
He then entered his room and closed the door.
******
Azrael's room,
Master White materialized immediately.
"Thankfully, he agreed."
"Otherwise, we would've had to put up a whole drama, just to get two days off." Azrael commented.
Master White nodded.
"Should we start now?" He asked.
"The earlier, the better." Azrael replies
"System." Azrael calls out
"Open the system store."
[System store]
★Skill books
★Items
★Crystals
Azrael opened the items section,
[Items..]
★Layer-1
★Layer-2
★Layer-3
He goes through many items, there are weapons of all kinds, clothes and rings augmented with multiple functions and ornaments which carry mystic elements.
This is not his first time scrolling through the items, so he finds what he is looking for,
34. Bracelet of restraint
"This is it." Azrael exclaims.
His eyes fail to hide the eagerness.
"So I just click on it, system?"
[Yes.]
Azrael selected the item, and a blue window pops up instead of the usual golden panel that is normally present.
[Quest window.]
[Quest - Lock yourself up and abstain from everything—even eating and sleeping for the next twenty-four hours.]
[Reward - Bracelet of restraint.]
[Do you accept the quest?]
[Yes] [No]
Seeing the quest window, both of them felt relieved.
They weren't shocked to see the quest window appear.
The system had already explained to them, to purchase anything from the store you don't need to pay any kind of money but instead, there will be quests assigned based on the thing you purchase from the store.
The stronger the item, the harder the quest.
"Before accepting the quest, let's settle things here first." Master White said.
"Okay."
Azrael called a maid and ordered her to tell everyone not to disturb him, as he would be fasting in his room for the next day.
The maid appeared hesitant, and asks—
"But, young master... why are you doing this?"
Azrael narrowed his eyes coldly.
"You don't need to know."
Hearing him reply like that, the maid immediately bows and asks for forgiveness—
"I'm sorry for interfering, young master. I will inform everyone to not disturb you tomorrow."
Azrael nodded and dismissed the maid.
After she left—
"You could've said that more nicely, White."
Yeah, they had switched places; because it is time for Master White to do the hardwork and Azrael will just laze around.
"It was unnecessary to explain." Replies Master White.
"This is the reason you don't lead the normal life— you are rude to everyone." Azrael mocked.
Master White just glares at him for a moment then—
"Should I accept the quest now?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
[Do you accept the quest?]
[Yes] [No]
"Yes."
They waited—but nothing happened.
"Is that it?" asks Azrael.
[The quest has already begun, simply fulfill the condition.]
[Lock yourself up and do nothing.]
Hearing that, Master White gestures Azrael to stay silent and sat in the centre of the room in a lotus position.
*********
After leaving Azrael's room, the maid goes to the head butler and informs him about Azrael's order, the head butler thinks about it for a while and then replies to the maid,
"Just follow the order."
The maid nods in understanding and leaves
*********
The next day,
[Quest Completed]
[Reward - Bracelet of restraint.]
Master White opens his eyes, vision blurry. He tries to stand, but his legs trembled and nearly gave out —he luckily takes the armchair as a support.
He drags his body to the bed and lay down.
"Hungry..." he muttered.
"Give the body to me now," Azrael said after seeing his condition.
They switched.
Azrael immediately groans as he is feeling sore all over his body and is extremely hungry. He calls for a maid and ordered twice his usual portion.
The maid seeing his condition rushes, and orders for the food to be prepared as soon as possible.
After eating, he instantly falls asleep.
The maid who saw all this is amused, as she never expected this from Azrael.
Seeing him sleep so peacefully, the maid afraid of disturbing him leaves the room.
*******
Azrael suddenly woke up in the middle of the night, his mind didn't let him rest, or to say correctly.. it was Master White.
"We have to test it before the training begins." Master White said.
"I know, but aren't you feeling tired?"
"I mean, we literally didn't move for twenty-four hours straight."
"I'm feeling sore all over the body."
"If you don't want to, then give me the body. I will test it out." Master White replied.
Azrael and Master White continued to argue, if they should test the Bracelet or not.
In the end, Azrael gave in.
They sneaked out of their room and headed to the training grounds, where they have wooden training dummies for practice.
The grounds are isolated and located at the very back of the Vaeloreth castle and it is empty during the night.
They reach the ground and check their surroundings. After confirming that there is no one around,
Master White took over and retrieved the bracelet of restraint from the system space, fastening it on his left wrist.
He then calls out,
"Status."
[Name - Azrael Vaeloreth (Master White)]
[Age - 14]
[Existence - Beginner Layer-1]
[Realm - Blood revitalization]
[Rank - Mediocre]
[Battle power (Restrained) - 50 (5000)]
[Soul power - 0]
[Law (incomplete) - Life and death]
[Affinities - Fire, water, earth, wind, metal...]
[Passive abilities : Super strength, Energy circulation, poison immunity, curse immunity, Elemental overlord...]
[Active ability : Force manipulation, Energy manipulation.]
[Items - The veil(ultimate), Bracelet of restraint (Layer-1)]
[System store] (unlocked)
[Legacies] (locked)
He then focuses on the Bracelet and the system gives him an explanation.
[Bracelet of restraint (upgradable) - restrains the strength of the wearer to a Layer below.]
It is a very simple equipment with only one function, that is to restrain strength or power of the wielder.
Seeing the drastic drop, he nods in approval at the materialized Azrael and moves closer to the training dummy.
Master White stands in front of the dummy and takes a fighting stance, both of his fists pulled back and kept at his waist in a steady lock, then he pulls his right hand back a little more to generate force and then PUNCHES...
Crack..
A low cracking sound can be heard as his fist left an imprint in the centre of the dummy.
Azrael and Master White appear excited, looking into their eyes one can see a glint which is normally hidden but today they are unable to conceal it.
This is their first time experiencing power/strength in a superhuman way, which is something magical, something impossible back on earth.
After calming down, they took turns punching the dummy several more times.
The dummy breaks after a series of punches and they discard it, moving to the next one..
After breaking two more, their excitement finally dies down.
Azrael says,
"This is already more power than we initially expected."
"We have to try controlling it even more to appear as a simple mortal with just a little bit of extra strength."
"Hmm." Master White just nods.
"We will leave now, as we have tested our strength."
"We don't know when someone might show up." Master White looks around cautiously.
"Before that.." Azrael interjected,
"Why don't we test our strength without the bracelet?"
"I really want to know our maximum strength."
Master White thinks about it for a while, and agrees.
He takes off the bracelet and stands before a fresh dummy.
He stands sideways, right foot forward, pulling his right first backward and with full force punches the dummy..
The punch tears the air before it, while the dummy after contact bends forward from the waist and as the full impact is made, it goes flying like a rag doll and hits the wall creating a small crater around it.
Booom..
A thunderous sound echoed through the night.
The entire Vaeloreth Castle stirred awake.