Ning didn't leave the safe house for the next 5 days. With the possibility of having to meet the beast, he simply didn't want to risk it at all.
He used whatever he could to wash the blade of his and even went as far as to use some other fragrance on it to hopefully mask the scent of the fruit.
However, since he had to drink the fruit regularly, he himself smelled of the fruit now more than his sword.
He was in a room, reading about the world and its powers when someone walked into the room.
"You've gotten stronger in just a week," the person spoke.
Ning turned around with a surprised look on his face. "Oh, hey B— Clara," he spoke. "When did you get here?"
"Just this morning. You can speak your mind," the girl said. "I have concealed the room so no sound will escape."
Ning looked around, but he didn't notice any such possibilities. "How did you do it?" he asked.
"I have my ways," the girl said as she sat down on a chair next to him. She leaned against the table and stared at him openly.
"What are you looking at?" Ning asked.
"Your Essence," she said. "It is so… pure. Have you been using the Twin Moon absorption technique?"
"Every moment I can get," Ning said. He hid the fact that he was also drinking the juices of the fruit he had, but since he had barely enough for a month more, he didn't find the need to explain that.
"Your talent must be truly terrific for you to have improved this quickly," she said.
Ning simply smiled, not wanting to tell her that his talent was barely above average at best. It was the fruit that was helping him more than anything.
"I heard you killed the leader of the bandits on the way here," she said.
"Oh yeah, I did," Ning said. "But these people seem to not trust me, and still think I'm here with some malicious intentions."
"It's hard to trust someone when they arrive just as the attacks begin," Clara said.
"Attacks? There were more?" Ning asked.
"Your group wasn't the only one that was attacked," Clara said. "Three other groups had people that had contacted others to say I was there."
"What do these people actually want from you?" Ning asked. "Are they that desperate to take over the mercenary and merchant business?"
Clara looked at him and hesitated for a second. "There is a reason, although I cannot tell you about it yet," she said. "Some people are trying to kill me because my existence threatens their standings. Fortunately, they think I'm a guy, so I've been safe for now."
"Rich people?" Ning asked.
Clara nodded. "Powerful rich people," she said.
"Let me know if I can help," Ning said. "While I don't have much strength in me right now, I will surely grow stronger with time. I can be of help by then."
Clara smiled. "That's why I am here right now," she said.
"Hmm?" Ning was surprised. "What do you mean?"
"Do you want to get stronger faster?" she asked. "I can help you."
Ning hesitated a bit. "How exactly can you help me?" he asked.
"You have the talent, but you have nowhere to learn. I want to send you someplace where you can learn to become stronger and gain skills. One of the best places in the entire continent," Clara said.
Ning's eyes went wide. "Wait, what do you mean? What place?" he asked.
"The Blackhawk Academy, the biggest school in the entire Blackhawk Dominion, one of the biggest schools in the entire continent, and certainly the place you want to be if you want to grow as an Essence user," Clara said. "That place is dedicated to helping you learn about Essence and its intricacies and I want to help you get in there."
Ning paused for a second. "I get that you think I'm talented, but why me?" he asked. "Surely you have other more trusted subordinates who can make use of that."
"It's easier to get better when you're just starting out, and you are one that belongs in that category," Clara said. "I want to sponsor your study there, to help you grow. In return, I want you to help me in the future when you get stronger."
"Help you with what?" Ning asked.
"I will tell you when the time comes," Clara said. "I just want you to promise that you will help me."
Ning thought for a bit. "I promise I will help you to the best of my ability," he said. "But are you fine with me? Do you even trust me just yet?"
"I trust you a lot more now than I did just a week ago," Clara said. "Of course, I still have some doubts about if you're faking it all, but I can tell that one thing you're not faking is your Essence rank. You've truly only just started your Essence journey and as that, it makes the other implausible things possible."
"Also, this is a leap of faith from me. I am choosing to trust you despite not knowing if it is the correct thing to do or not," Clara said. "I hope, you won't let me fall to my death in the end."
Ning smiled. "Don't worry," he said. "One thing I don't do is betray people who have been nice to me. You have chosen to help me, so I shall go my whole life in this world trying to pay you back a hundredfold. That I can promise you with utmost sincerity."
Clara smiled. "Great," she said. "Then prepare for it. I hear the school's admission starts in a month, so you will have to be there in the next 3 weeks."
"Blackhawk Dominion," Ning thought to himself. "That's quite far. Can I even make it in time?"
"Don't worry about the distance," Clara said. "Travel in the south is much faster than here in the north. You will be there before you even know it."
