First thing I realised when I regained consciousness, was that I was no longer on the mountain steps.
Yet before I could wonder where I was, I was assaulted by a pounding headache. As if some invisible man was stomping on my forehead in a pulsing rhythm.
'Where the hell am I?' Last thing I remembered was climbing those steps, and then.....
And then nothing.
My mind was blank.
'Don't tell me I passed out?'
"How embarrassing," I muttered, slowly getting to my feet.
It took me a moment to realise that I was not back in Fort Lanai. It looked like Syar had carried me to a cave after I passed out.
I could practically imagine the eccentric disappointment in his face as he droned about the lack of value my time had. Or berate endlessly about uneven trades.
Still, I had tried. That mountain... it wasn't normal. The trek was long, sure—but it still didn't make sense that I collapsed just from climbing.
That pressure.
That unyielding pressure I had felt in the seconds before blacking out. As if I was being squashed by the mountain. Like I was nothing more than an ant about to be squashed.
'No' I realised. 'There was definitely something about that mountain Syar didn't tell me.'
Heaving a sigh, I eventually made my way to the mouth of the cave. Outside, it was snowing faintly. Syar sat at the entrance, watching the view with an unreadable expression.
"So, you've finally woken up."
"Look" I replied, deciding to jump the gun. "I already know what you're going to say. That my time's worthless. That I couldn't handle it. That I passed out. I don't need to hear it, just drop me off back at the Fort and we can both forget about this."
"It sounds like you're disappointed" Syar mused, his tone betraying no signs of anger. No signs of anything but faint amusement.
"Don't kid yourself" I grunted. "I'll be happy to be away from you. It's just a shame I failed your test?"
"My test. And what would that be?"
"To climb the mountain."
"Oh? I wasn't aware I was in the presence of a mind reader. Are you a mind reader boy?"
For a moment, I stared at him, stunned by his response. It wasn't at all what I was expecting. "No," I finally admitted. "I'm not."
"I thought so. So then tell me, how would you know what my test is exactly."
I opened my mouth to speak, then I closed it again. Realising, that I might've understood this entire situation wrong.
"So...I didn't fail the test then?"
Syar snorted, finally turning to look at me. "Well, you didn't fail. At the very least you proved your time has some value to it."
"So...I passed?"
"Yeah boy. You passed."
"I see."
"You don't sound too happy about it," Syar remarked.
Scratching my head, I pondered the question. "Well, truthfully I'm not. I've got no idea who you are, why you're doing this. What the hell test I've managed to pass and why the hell I passed out on a mountain" I blurted out. The words came in a rush as they fell over themselves to be spoken.
There was a long silence, and for a moment, it seemed as if Syar was going to explode in anger.
But instead he chuckled. A long hearty chuckle. "I see. Well I guess that's my fault. You see, it's been a while since I've spoken to another human..."
I said nothing as I continued to look at him. The way he spoke, eyes flicking back to caress over the mountain's view, it was almost...wistful. Longing even.
"Perhaps I got the order of this all wrong. Tell me boy, what were the circumstances of your awakening?"
Syar gestured for me to sit next to him, as he asked the question.
"Well" I started, accepting the offer. "It was during battle."
"Is that so?" He asked, his voice betraying a mild surprise.
"Yeah. The trial saved me."
"How so?" he probed.
"A MageKnight. A rebel one. I was trying to save my Officer, trying to bring her back. But he spotted me. I had enough time to hide her under the corpses, but me? Well, I wasn't so lucky. He stabbed me, right through the chest. And I'm pretty sure I died. The trial activated at the last second, saved me."
"Unfortunate thing for a boy to go through."
"Is it?" I asked. "I think those who died there had it worse off."
"Perhaps. Perhaps. People like you are rare, but not unheard of."
"People like me?"
"Blessed. That's what they call you. Not awakened, blessed. You're alive because of the trial, because of mana. That's why they call those like you blessed. Mana, this world, it didn't only change you, it saved you."
"I-I see" I replied, not knowing exactly what to say. "So...what happens now?"
"Now? Now you have a choice. You proved your time well. Well enough that it's convinced me to invest some of my own into you. So I'll offer you this once, so listen well, and know I speak nothing but the truth. I have no need of lies.
Do you wish to become my disciple?"
My mind reeled from the question. 'Disciple?'
On one hand, Syar was definitely someone powerful. Someone strong enough to call Thanason boy. Having such a master would certainly be useful.
But at the same time. Who was Syar? I knew nothing of him.
A master disciple relationship wasn't something someone just walked into blind. It was a lifelong bond. One that could only be made once. Each disciple was only ever allowed to inherit one legacy.
The only person who I'd seen break that rule had been the Mc in the novel. But that wasn't exactly surprising.
After a moment's longer consideration, I finally came to my decision. "Tell me Syar, how did the Knights of old choose their masters?"
Syar smiled. "Well now, much like how I'm choosing you. A Knight was permitted to choose any disciple he wished. It was never about talent, nor skill, it was about mindset. If the Knight saw someone who was worthy to inherit his legacy, that Knight would choose the disciple. The disciple was often expected to say yes, unless they had already been promised to another's tutelage."
"I see, if that's the case. Why did you choose me?"
A small grin flickered across his face. "Good question. Well, because I see someone worthy enough of inheriting my legacy. Someone strong enough for it, designed for it. So much in the same way as those Knights of old, I see the right mindset."
"And what is that?" I asked softly. My voice barely a somber whisper as my gaze traversed the mountainous view.
"That is for you to figure out."
"I see. Well then" I began, turning to him and bowing slightly. "It'll be an honour to inherit that legacy...master.