Zaheer was tall, a little taller than Jacob, he had a lean build and a head full of short brown hair, with brown eyes to match.
He was the sole surviving child of a powerful clan from the East, his mother died at childbirth and the rest of his clan were wiped out, he was a genius from birth, therefore, his life was preserved by the Flying Macabre sect.
He stood at the market-square of the sect compound, Jasmine clutching on to him desperately.
"Three dumplings, please?" He collected the dumplings and paid for them earnestly.
The second he turned around he was halted by one of the sect's older students, who stretched his hand forward to stop him.
"Whoa—Senior Keith?" Zaheer blurted, startled by the sudden appearance, "Sorry, didn't see you there."
"The sect leader wishes to see you immediately." Keith spoke, quite robotically, in a way that almost amused Zaheer.
"Right now?" Zaheer asked, forcing a raised brow from Keith which let him know there was no time to waste.
He bent on one knee to talk to Jasmine, "Take these dumplings, go home and share them with Fatima, okay? I'll be home soon," he said, nudging the little girl slightly so she could run along."Let's go."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
They both entered Savant's office and met the man smoking on a pipe, his back turned to them, studying a painting on the
wall.
"Good to see you again Zaheer." The man spoke without turning back.
"G-Good day sir."
"There is no need for formalities, I have an offer for you boy."
"What is it sir?" Zaheer asked, noticing that Keith had already left the room.
"What else? I need you to kick some ass."
"Huh?"
"There is a boy on the southern part of this continent, he is the heir of the Ironfell clan, a few weeks ago he awakened and people haven't shut up about it since, so I went to request for the boy to be transferred to our sect to train with us, but surprisingly he gave me demands, that insolent brat, so I told him that if he can beat you, then I'll accept his demands," Savant explained in detail for the boy to understand.
"Yes sir I understand but I'm not finished with my trai-" Zaheer started.
"If you win I will personally train you until you reach the pinnacle of your abilities, I will take you under my wing and you will follow me everywhere I go."
"Whaaaa!" He exclaimed, his jaw almost on the floor, the boy couldn't believe his ears, this was a goal he had pursued for years, and now it was being presented to him on a silver platter.
He sat in utter disbelief, unaware of what to do or think, so he said the only word his brain and lips could formulate.
He clenched his fists tightly, this was everything he had worked for.
"Yes."
"Speak up boy!"
"Yes sir, I accept the challenge." Zaheer responded sharply.
"Good, that's what I expected, the fight will take place in the Ironfell training arena, prepare yourself for travels." Savant instructed, he turned to face the boy now, his eyes narrowed.
'Wow, imagine training under Sir Savant! It would be the highest honor,' Zaheer thought to himself as he walked back to his room, his mind racing with all the possibilities, all the adventures they would go on, all the techniques he would learn. He still couldn't wrap his head around it.
Savant sat with his legs stretched over his office desk, staring at the door that Zaheer had just slammed shut in excitement, a wide grin spread across his face, 'I can't wait to crush that little boy, once Zaheer defeats him, the Ironfell clan will have no more leverage,' he mused inwardly.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Far in the southern ends of the continent, in the Ironfell Castle, Jacob had just finished another sparring session with Xenia.
"Good job young master, you are showing signs of clear improvement." She said, sheathing her narrow sword.
"Che! I almost had you on that one." the boy spoke, panting and sweating profusely.
'Sweet.' Jacob mused.
A thought surfaced in his mind, he turned to Xenia quietly, "Xenia?"
"Yes, young master." She responded, turning to face him.
"What do you know about this genius from the Flying Macabre sect?"
"Not very much, young master, he is lauded as a genius, apparently he started cultivating at the age of four, he has grown exponentially since then." She told him with her usual perpetual smile plastered on her face.
"Do you think I can beat him?"
The question made her burst into laughter, Jacob stood befuddled, he had no idea why she was laughing.
"My apologies, young master, this boy might be a genius but he certainly can't compare to the likes of you."
"There you go flattering me again," Jacob frowned, turning his back to Xenia.
"Trust me, young master, I would never lie to you," she said with a warm smile.
He decided to listen to her words, although he never expected this world to be so simple, he also had never heard of any other geniuses up till now, so the thought of facing one excited him immensely.
'If he really is a genius, then this might be interesting.'
He carefully packed up his training gear and arranged them in the Spatial spirit ring, it was more convenient for him to store them that way, if a better method came along, he would be open to consideration.
He left Xenia at the arena and moved through the castle hallways, the sun dipped below the horizon, its dying rays painting the sky in a symphony of red, fiery hues.
He admired it briefly as he strode sharply all the way to his room.
He had never used his full strength against Xenia for she was his trusted servant, so he wasn't tired.
He lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling for a brief moment, then…
"Huh? What is this?" He jumped up from his bed, expecting a reply from the system AI, but all he got was the same message again.