My Son Justin,
Congratulations on graduating from the College. I regret not being able to make it. The campaign increases in intensity. The human nations are pushing back against my invasion, thinking that they will drag me down.
But such tactics do not matter. I have a deep understanding of war and will triumph soon enough. Already the weaker nations tremble at the army I am building and are looking at surrendering.
Perhaps in the next decade I will take up the crown of Emperor and rebuild things with efficiency and care. The world is a dark place. I know you have your own path in front of you. But if you ever need help, use my name. And if you want to learn things, come visit me.
But I know you don't want to get involved in my schemes. Many who seek power, avoid political power. While there is a stigma attached to it, I believe that many hands make light work and that uplifting a society requires everyone, not just a few individuals at the top. Exploring more esoteric skills is required of us as a civilization. Learning to hit things harder will never let us win against stronger opponents.
We need to pursue skills that people don't normally pursue. Unfortunately, change is difficult. But I am not trying to lecture you. I hope the equipment I arranged for you carries you forward safely.
I know you will be in the dungeon and won't be able to write back. But if you come up to the surface, just send me a letter letting me know you are alive. I won't interfere, but a father worries even if he is conquering the world.
With Love,
Your Father
I put the letter away. I wouldn't be sending a reply. There was nothing to send. I will leave the College tomorrow after the graduation ceremony this evening. This morning, I had already submitted my skill status and was confident that I would win, but there might always be a surprise at the last moment.
Making my way out to the main room, I waited for Healer Melon to emerge. He will be my only guest at the graduation ceremony this evening. While the other social events were for networking, this was a celebration of the ten students who had gone all seven years at the College.
Many dignitaries, legends, and other high-ranking guests attended this event. It was a major social event on the continent. My father's absence surprised me for this very reason. He was probably having to wrangle so many people with his social skills.
Well, we weren't on the continent. The College hadn't taken over an island, but an empty peninsula, settling on top of a large hill overlooking several fishing villages. The College received the nearby land and built up the surrounding terrain. They would not keep flying about, even if they still hovered in the air, just above the ground.
The views would be good, but not amazing like they had been before.
"What do you think?" Healer Melon asked when he came out of his personal room.
He was in white and gold robes. The stitching and details were immaculate. Only on formal occasions would someone wear a robe like his, and it wasn't cheap.
"Impressive, like a legendary healer," I replied.
"Well, I can't embarrass the guest of honor," he said.
I smiled slightly at that. There were others I would have liked to have for this occasion. Unfortunately, Damian, my Tutor when I was a kid, had gotten married and settled down in another city with his wife and her family. Healer Castelle had sent a letter congratulating me and wishing me well, but he had retired to the Five Star Institute of Healing.
I wasn't on good terms with my half-siblings. My mother was dead, and my father was engaged in world conquest. That just left Healer Melon to attend with me. I could have invited Judy, but she wasn't that kind of friend. Inviting her would have raised questions I didn't want to deal with.
My teammates for my descent were also graduating and would have their own guests.
I knew Haren's father and grandfather had arrived. They were both legends, a rare living legacy at such ranks. I also knew he had a lot of siblings and half-siblings as his father looked for a worthy successor.
One could teach skills, but one couldn't teach hard work and grit. I didn't know if I was lucky, cursed, or something else that I was following in my mother's footsteps with such determination. Perhaps she had just made that much of an impression on me. Or perhaps the Mana she had influenced me in the womb.
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It was beyond rare for a powerful woman to have a child, so it wasn't something easily studied. But I knew the better I did, the more people would copy me. Pets were already becoming a trend among adventurers, and the College was working to capitalize and monetize on such a trend.
I was in my adventuring gear, cleaned and polished for the event. I could have worn the student uniform, but that was more in line with classes and day-to-day wear at the College. If I wore the College uniform at the graduation, it would imply that I saw the College as my home and base of operations.
Wearing my adventurer gear indicated I saw the dungeon as my home. While I liked the College and had learned much over the years, it wasn't a place I enjoyed. Killing monsters was what I truly enjoyed. The rush from the life-or-death fights. That wasn't something the College could replace, even with sparring and highly knowledgeable Professors.
Ozy flew up and settled on the large left shoulder pauldron I had added to my heavy armor to allow him an easier perch. He didn't have a bow or any kind of nonsense like that on him. He was a pet, a tool, a companion and weapon in one. Putting a bow or something like that on him would have been like overly decorating a sheath.
That would be the action of a noble or someone wanting to show off. Not someone serious about adventuring.
"Did you polish your head?" I asked Healer Melon since the sheen coming from the top of his bald head was brighter than normal.
"A bit of wax to smooth out the wrinkles. A healer needs to be a symbol one can easily spot," he said with a smile.
"Or blind them. You could turn that shine into a weapon."
"A Tier 7 skill like that is beyond even me," he replied.
We left my dorm suite. I would spend one more night there and leave tomorrow with my team towards the nearest surface dungeon passage.
We strolled towards the central tower. They would hold the graduation event on the roof. The College only used or opened the central tower's roof for the graduation ceremony of the final 10 graduates each year.
"This place is calming in its own way. Still too intense though."
"Perhaps. But you have done well here. Better than most."
"True. There is still a long way to go. Looking forward to dealing with students of your own?"
"After you, they will be simple to deal with. Dealing with frustrating children and overly powerful adventurers prepared me well."
"Frustrating children? Who?" I asked, teasing him back.
"Hmm, you know who. The worst part is going to be the magical carriage back to the Five Star Institute of Healing."
"Don't drink too many Murky Tornados."
"No promises. Those contraptions are cursed. Stock up on sweets?"
"I have a couple of stashes in my spatial pouch, don't you worry. Emergency Mana boosters."
"Keep telling yourself that and soon you will want to open a sweet shop in the Last Bastion."
"It would be the highlight of any descent. Get there and enjoy some wonderful sweets before going further into the dungeon."
"Try not to die," he said more seriously.
"I will take appropriate measures," I replied, and he let out a sigh.
"For an adventurer, that means risks. I worry about you, Justin."
"Thanks. I know what I plan to do is incredibly dangerous," I replied.
This would most likely be our last conversation together. After this, there will be graduation and then goodbye. Looking at the tower in front of us, I was going to miss Healer Melon.
He had been stiff at first but had relaxed over the years. He really was a great friend, mentor, and healer.
"At least Ozy will keep you alive when I can't. Right Ozy?" he asked, and my Winged Serpent gave him a slight head nod.
I wasn't entirely sure how intelligent the monster truly was. He wasn't at the level of a human being, but he wasn't as dumb as a newly formed monster in the dungeon.
"It's a shame that he never got into making potions despite being skilled at Alchemy," I said.
"Potion making requires support skills. Alchemy is just mixing Mana and other substances," Healer Melon said.
"I know, I know. But it would have been nice to train him up to make Mega Elixirs."
"You and your ideas. Perhaps in the future you can train him up with more skills."
"Perhaps. I will have to see how he does long term in the dungeon. That will be the true test of our teamwork and fighting style."
"You packed lots of potions?"
"Yes. More than enough and then some. If something happens, I will have potions for weeks if not months at a time," I replied, and Healer Melon nodded. "The biggest headache is the debt I have with the school for Ozy's skills."
"Alchemically extracted skills aren't cheap, especially with the rarity of the ones Ozy got."
"I know, but hopefully I should be able to get enough money in the next year to pay things off. I am hoping we can clear the dungeon at a rapid pace with such a large team."
"I would tell you to be careful not to overextend yourself, but you would know better than me. I was never much of an adventurer."
"If I need to run, I will," I told him quietly, and he gave me a nod.
Better to live than to die, no matter what. My mother should have run from that demon. Instead, she was now dead. I knew her personality; she would never give in or surrender, especially to a monster. She would fight to the bitter end.
Part of me imagined her still fighting in the dungeon like some myth, a true legend out of a story, but that was impossible. She would run out of food and water. Even if she had skills, they would only last her so long. She was dead without a question. I just couldn't help but imagine her last fight. Using skills that would shock anyone watching and never giving up.
If there was nothing else about her, she was tenacious. Now, it was the start of my adventure. I would carry on with her legacy and not disappoint her.
I was going to take first place tonight and graduate at the top of my class. I saw her statue along with the other supreme legends as we got close to the tower.