"Keep monitoring Azazel, especially that house"
"I will contact you the moment if I find something amiss, Lord Lucifer" Azazel bowed his head.
"Where are Aria and Dular?"
"They are both cultivating in their rooms, Lord Lucifer. Do you wish to see them?"
Michael shook his head, "No need. Nightmare, let's go"
He willed the system to activate the runic teleportation. In a few seconds, the space before them twisted as they felt the familiar sensation of being teleported.
***************************
"I never get used to this feeling. '' Nightmare shook his head to calm down his nerves. After being teleported, he felt like he was about to throw up. Fortunately, he learned to control this nasty sensation.
Since Gaya destroyed their home, Michael had to leave a rune on a large oak tree near the construction site where his home used to be. There was no one working at the construction site as it seemed like early morning. The usual golden rays of sun on the horizon were nowhere to be seen. It was a chilly cloudy morning.
On this cloudy morning, there were growing patches of blue, the sort of hue that was soft and bright at the same time. Though beneath the sheet of cloud was a gray that deepens to steel, the leading edge is a brilliant white, as if it were the pages of a new book ready for any curious eye. So, on this day that could bring rain or sunshine, he hoped for heavy rain because rain plus hot coffee always calmed his soul.
In the sky, the clouds were arranged as neatly as child's toys, scattered over blue, content to drift where they fell. The morning sun had the potential to bring a day as hot as yesterday, but those wonderful puffs of white radiated it back out into space. The air was cooler, the colors less vivid and all without a drop of rain.
Nightmare shrunk his size just enough to comfortably sit on Michael's shoulder like a bird. He wrapped his tail around Michael's neck for extra hold as well as comfort. Walking out of the forest, he made his way to Claire's home.
"Good Morning brother Ghost"
"Good Morning Nightmare"
Michael's home was located near a green lush forest at the far end of the sect. It was rather a solitary place just like Michael's preference. Plus, it was built on a small hill so he had to walk the stairs to reach Claire's mansion. While climbing down the hill, he met several disciples in black uniform who greeted them with the utmost respect in their eyes. Besides the disciples, the hill, the surrounding areas, and the staircase were filled with flag poles. They hadn't hoisted the flags yet but it seemed like the disciples were planning a huge celebration before the tournament.
"Good morning" Michael greeted them back with a small smile. He could see they were looking around him for Gaya as she was always used to being near him.
"Brother Ghost, we are betting on you to win"
"The whole sect will be there, make us proud Brother Ghost"
The disciples were extremely excited. They were brimming with smiles. Michael just nodded to their requests along the way to Claire's mansion.
After reaching the most populated area of their sect where the most buildings were, in addition to a long line of carriages hooked to two to four horses, he saw several fancy carriages with pegasi in front.
"One….two….three" He saw Ricky in the distance counting the carriages one by one. He had parchment and a quill in his hand as he marked something on the parchment every time he counted a carriage.
"Young Master Ghost"
"Young Master Ghost"
"Look it's a dragon"
"Such a majestic creature"
"Greetings Young Master Ghost"
Along the way to Ricky, Michael was greeted by several men of various ages. They were the owners or the drivers of the carriages. They all bowed their heads slightly to show their respect to the youngest 5-star alchemist of Elon.
"Oh Master Ghost, welcome back" Ricky stopped counting the carriages to greet Michael.
"What's going on here?" Michael asked,
"Sect Leader Claire hired these carriages for the disciples and the elders, Master Ghost. We are all coming to witness you and sister Aelia kick ass and take the championships" as Ricky speaks with excitement, his eyes searched behind Michael to locate Gaya.
"Is everyone coming to Royal land?"
"You betcha Master Ghost. Oh," Ricky seemed like he had a sudden realization,
"Lord Christopher is staying behind I think"
"Where is Daniel?"
"With Lady Raylene, today they are starting to cultivate the lands near river town" Ricky's eyes sparkled in delight as he was born in River town. If the river town was getting developed into a buzzling city, his family would have an even better life. With the salary he was getting from Ghost, Ricky's family had already become one of the wealthiest families in the river town.
Ricky was not a selfish person. Hence, he wanted the entire river town to become a rich city.
"Carry on" Michael gave a pat on his back before resuming his journey to Claire's manor.
"See you later Nightmare"
"You too Ricky"
Nightmare waved his hand while lying on Michael's shoulder. The duo continued to get greetings from the carriages drivers and owners. When Michael came to Claire's manor, he saw several youngsters in rather raggedy clothes waiting in line before Claire's manor.
"Hey look, it's GHost!"
"Shhh, don't let him hear you"
"Yeah call him brother Ghost like the others"
It didn't take a genius to see they were waiting to join the sect. They were pretty nervous.
"Welcome to the Sunrise sect, my fellow brothers and sisters"
A few words from Michael made them shudder in shock. Soon, their nervousness transformed into unending delight. Their eyes sparkled.
Although he knew Claire was interviewing them, he wanted these poor kids to relax as Claire never rejected anyone. If Michael was not a genius in Alchemy, he would have urged them to come up with a screening process to filter the youngsters according to their talent. Since was a genius, he could provide them with potions and pills to make any mediocre youngster a genius.
At the moment, the sect needed numbers the most if they were to become the best and the biggest in Elon. Moreover, they never expected a famous legend like him to actually talk to them instead of ignoring them. Most of their families spent fearing the nobles while developing an inferiority complex. Therefore, when he talked to them, many couldn't believe what was happening as their minds went blank.
"We'll talk later. Again, welcome to the Sunrise sect"
Michael patted a few youngsters who were standing in front of their shoulders. He then walked into Claire's manor, leaving the youngsters flabbergasted with his presence.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 200 badass points]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 300 badass points]
...
Just interacting with the newbies provided him with almost 3000 badass points. He didn't talk to them for badass points, he did because that felt right at the moment.
Entering Claire's manor, he made his way to the hall where he saw Elder Sandra and Elder Reiner conducting the interview. Elder Sandra nodded when she saw him while Elder Reiner waved at him with a wide grin on his face. The young girl who was being interviewed kept staring at him with her mouth wide open. In her eyes, he was the most handsome guy she had ever seen.
"Sect Leader Claire is in the west study room"
"Thank you Elder '' Michael didn't linger around to raise the young girl's heartbeat.
"Go straight and take the next right" Nightmare guided Michael to the study room. This mansion of Claire had a total of eight rooms not including the two rooms for the indoor garden.
Nightmare spent most of his time with Claire when he was not with Michael. Therefore, he knew the house like the back of his hand. Through the brightly lit corridor, he reached the study room to be welcomed by a rather odd-looking room. In his mind after hearing the word study room, he imagined the room to have dull-looking paint, several book racks filled with books, scrolls as well as large tables. At that moment, he felt like he entered the Barbie world. The walls were painted with a subtle pink paint, that was neither too bright nor too dull. There was a single bed on the corner with two-four feet flower vases on each side. In the center of the room, he saw a round table. Even the book racks were painted in pinkish color. Several books were neatly stacked on top of each other on the table. Claire was reading a book while Olivia was writing something on a parchment.
"Teacher" Olivia was the first to notice Michael standing in the doorway.
"Is this a study room or a girls' room?" Michael dragged a chair before sitting backward on the chair. Seeing Claire, Nightmare bounced off from his shoulder to Claire's shoulder. He nudged his head against Claire's cheek, giving her wet kisses.
"Hiya little guy" Claire stopped reading the book to play with Nightmare.
"Ask Claire. She was the one sleeping here instead of her room" Olivia giggled.
"Where is your other half teacher?" in her jolly mood, Olivia asked. She pretended like she's searching around Michael.
"She's gone" the joyful smile on Olivia's face instantly disappeared after hearing him.
"Not gone gone, she went to take care of something important to her"
"Without you?" Claire frowned. Claire knew the bond between the two of them. They were like joined in the hips, inseparable. Even when Aelia was not with him, she would always talk about him and the fun they had together. Claire couldn't even remember the last time Aelia talked about something that didn't involve Ghost.
Just a few days ago, Aelia even asked questions related to engagement to her and Raylene. Suddenly hearing her leaving Michael stunned Claire.
Claire couldn't care less if Aelia was unable to compete in the tournament, she just didn't want the two of them to break their wonderful relationship.