ACT II
MONAMI

CHAPTER 55
AGRILANDS AND THE GRIFFIN'S NEST

  Wearing the white mage uniform and hood on top, that was enough to make him look mysterious but a book tied on his hip was adding a researcher look to him. Hans had switched 'Limitless' with another book before coming to SpaceDoor. As he faced the observing looks of the SpaceDoor manager, he showed him the pass along with the permission letter he received from Walter.

  The Manager understood the objective and permitted his travel to Agrilands, the main food production place of the FloatLands (Concordia). Area-wise, it was the biggest island in Concordia, primarily used for crop farming but since it belonged to Concordia it was not some common farmland.

  Several facilities were researching the crops and herbs for increasing efficiency or evolving them into a specific goal in mind. Recently this place developed a herb called Stasis plant, which became popular for hemostasis(stopping the bleeding), no matter how grave the wound was, a potion aided by this herb was able to make the fresh wounds disappear and Hans had already tasted this potion through his wounds without knowing what it was, all due to Delimira.

  The facility that developed it was called the Botanical Garden, where Hans was assigned to. A person was waiting for the recruits for assistants, who were set to arrive this morning. Hans was greeted by this man while feeling queasy because of Space travel.

  The boy looked around and saw he was not alone, there were a total of ten people, much older than him in the recruits and soon he was ordered to follow them. Hans along with the group of recruits started following the mage.

  The place felt too peaceful and calm for Hans, the power of nature was strong in this place as he was breathing the refreshing and clean air along but the regulated temperature warming the place made it more comforting. He felt a gaze on him. It was from none other than the mage whom he was following.

  Hans made a friendly face which the mage replied in kind, For him Hans was a wonder as Walter described in the letter, a mage researching the plants getting a wood mana practitioner was akin to finding a sunstone trove. After they reached the Laboratory, the man excluded Hans from the group and took him to the senior researchers.

  Everyone was looking at Hans like he was some sort of interesting research subject, and Hans was anxiously questioning Walter’s intentions of sending him here. He was frankly intimidated by what these people wanted from him.

  But nothing major happened apart from the people questioning him about many things. After knowing that Hans could create plant life with more efficacy just from mana, he was tasked to record the mana structure of the created seeds assigned to him.

  With this, the Botanical garden got a chance in mass producing the herbs and vegetation after thoroughly researching Hans’s self-created seeds. Hans was also happy since he gets to play with rare and expensive plants. It was rather beneficial to him because once he study those expensive herbs, he could make them as he wishes too.

  But he soon find out, it was hard. The structures of herbs needed for creating potions were more complex than what he was doing till now, and creating a single seed with more efficacy was giving him constant headaches. He was only allowed to work four hours a day but felt that he was doing high-paying work without receiving any gold, which made him think that he was being exploited but had no choice other than to do it.

  After his punishment work was over he went back to the Midlands and left for the lecture hall in hope of being able to attend it but reached after the lecture was over. Soon Delimira found him with Chris following her.

  She was looking at Hans upside down, still having a hard time believing her mother’s words. This shorty was the spawn of the famous evil King Samson. Hans didn't like her objectifying gaze, it was similar to what he experienced in Agrilands but instead of arguing with her the silence was more pleasing for him.

He turned to Chris and asked him,
What did I miss?

Chris was on cloud nine after the lecture since it was his idol’s lecture, he excitingly replied,
A lot, buddy a lot. You can’t believe it…

  Delimira stopped him, she was already tired of listening to Rudolf's achievements through Chris's mouth. She dragged Chris by her hand and asked Hans to follow her. Hans thought they were going to the library but it was a cafe visited by rich people.

  The place was called Griffin's Nest and was as grand as its name. A two-storied cafe of huge capacity, renowned for its desserts and beverages along with its high-class interiors. it was the first choice of any noble to visit in his pastime.

Hans stopped before entering and asked Chris,
Hey, it looks expensive, do we have to go there?

Instead of Chris, Delimira spoke,
You got 500 gold coins yesterday, right?

Hans grabbed his money pouch anxiously and took a step back. Delimira snickered,
Don’t worry I bought the shop this morning, we don’t have to mind ourselves here.

Hans was still hesitating so Delimira added,
And they have killing desserts, FOR FREE.

Hans replied as he took the step inside,
I was taught not to get enticed by free things but, what the hell...

  Chris looked at his pitiful friend who was bought with only a few cakes and followed the two inside. As they entered the staff greeted her very politely, they all were practically fawning at her while escorting the trio upstairs. Hans felt embarrassed because he thought that Delimira was going to make him splurge his measly 500 gold earlier but the reality was something else. He laughed at himself for behaving like this in front of her who could buy a place like this on a whim?

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  Delimira knew that befriending someone might need emotional exchange but when you have a lot of money, you could buy temporary friends. She was in thought and the waitresses escorted them to their private room. It was the grandest room in the establishment which got permanently reserved along with the buying contract this morning. Hans looked around the place that practically breathed luxury.

  Seeing both boys wandering in their thoughts, Delimra took the lead to sit on the lavish couch and took a piece of cookie from the table. Hans was still adjusting while Chris was in some other fantasy of getting a chance to learn from Dean Rudolf.

  As they both sat, Chris started telling him that there will be a selection of elites among the first years specifically to train for Glory Wars. It was similar to what Walter had told him. To get the second book he had to score first place in this event.

Chris elaborated thinking Hans was the one lacking knowledge,

Hans my friend, Glory wars is a Global competition among mages and Knights, previously only third years and fourth years were allowed to partake but from next year second-years are going too.

Delimira added,
There will be three leagues from next year, junior for second years, senior for third and fourth, and Higher for the graduates.

Hans nodded showing he understood what they were telling him, it was definitely more than what Walter had told him. Chris got excited again and added,

And to add to it, Dean Rudolf will pick some people from first years to train them separately next year, isn't it exciting?

Hans nonchalantly said,
I am a mage, Chris. A MAGE. Why should I get excited?

  Chris had forgotten the fact that Hans was a mage after facing him in a sword battle but after realising it he became stiff. Fortunately for him their order came and Hans's mind went blank after smelling the dark scent of chocolates. The food was worth the expensive price and the strong scent justified the belief.

  Hans looked at Delimira with a watering mouth, asking her if it was really okay for him to eat it. She almost giggled at seeing his silly face. Receiving a nod from her, Hans dug his spoon into the brownie and the hot chocolate seeped out from it. As he tasted the first bite Hans said without minding the people,

Mhm, aah, that's it...

Chris stopped him from saying anything further,
Hans, stop making this weird.

M..paht.. Pierd..noice..

Delimira said to Chris,
Let him eat, I don't think there is anything in his head except the brownie right now. I think buying this place was the right decision.

Both left him alone and Delimira asked Chris,
So, will he(Rudolf) really teach you?

  Chris had confidently replied to Hans previously, but when he saw Rudolf looking at him in the lecture, there was neither disdain nor any good feelings in his eyes like he was looking at some ordinary kid. He was the first-year representative and that said something about his skills but Rudolf thoroughly ignored him and after hearing the same question from Delimira, he lost the confidence from before. He was in deep thought but Delimira jolted him out so replied,

I don’t know, why did you ask?

Because if I were him, teaching you was one thing, I won't spare a moment not harassing you.

That's the difference between you and him.

Delimra said while accepting his rude comment,
I hope so.

  She also wanted him to be accepted as Rudolf’s trainee, despite their unfateful relationship Chris practically worshipped him and her uncle Bernard (Chris’s father) sent him here even knowing Rudolf’s appointment. Bernard's confidence in Rudolf meant, the man could distinguish between personal and professional affairs.
  
  She placed herself in Rudolf's shoes and asked, how she will treat a person whose father indirectly caused her child’s death but no matter what, the only answer she could come up with was far worse than simple harassment.

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