Supreme Hunter

"What happened to you two?" From the looks of Red and Tom they had an even tougher time than him.

"What kind of a stupid question is that?" Tom was obviously in a horrible mood.

"He probably doesn't understand. I mean after all, they just ranked up." Red's head was on the table, he honestly didn't look awake. Strangely, he was covered in more sweat that Alex. They both were.

"What does me ranking up have to do with this." Alex asked.

"We are only Rank 1. So, naturally our mana reserves are pretty shallow. How could we possibly keep up with the demand of these hellish jobs?" Tom's sneer told him enough.

"Not to mention those people." As he said this, Red nodded to another pair of tables far away.

These students were separated into two groups.

The first wore the finery of nobility.

The others were garbed in all different types of clothes. The only commonality would be their function. All of them wore clothes that you could easily be active in. Some even went so far as to wear basic leather armor. All of them carried weapons.

Both groups seemed to have a crest somewhere on their clothing, but Alex could not make it out from here.

"What is going on?" Alex asked. Finally understanding that those two groups and his group had some issues.

"Those are the first years under the employ of Charles and Mason Pheonix." Red clarified.

"As if the horrendous mana requirements weren't enough to be a problem, we have to deal with these assholes at the same time." Tom was seething.

"You see, our jobs actually have an additional rule that was not mentioned in the letter. It was put in place due to the number of applicants." Red was much calmer than Tom, but he was still irritable. "All workers would be ranked based on their ability to contribute useful work. All rewards would be split up based on that ranking."

"Okay, so they are the competition?"

"I wish it was just that." Red gave a defeated chuckle. "They wish to insure that one of their own members gets the majority of the rewards. So, while a select few work, the rest interfere with our work."

Alex was taken aback. "Don't the professors put a stop to it?"

"Ha!" Tom scoffed.

"In fact it almost feels like they encourage it." Red said coolly. "No one has been bothering you?"

"No, no one."

"Who are you working under?" Red asked.

"Blacksmith Gavannon."

Tom and Red s.u.c.k.e.d in a large breath through their teeth. Seeing the surprise in both of their eyes Alex became worried.

"It makes sense that they would not be there." Red said as he thought it through. "Firstly, enchanting weapons takes a large amount of mana, and most first years simply don't have enough. Secondly, Sir Gavannon is a well known and well respected smith. They would not risk irritating him."

"Learn everything you can from him." Tom's face was quickly turning green with jealousy.

At this, Alex remembered the book. He took it out and showed it to the others.

"This was most likely written by Gavannon himself." Tom said after they had both had a chance to look at it.

"Keep it a secret. Some people would definitely resort to violence in order to get that." A fearful shadow passed over Red's face as he thought about what could happen.

Red quickly returned back to the problem at hand.

"At least Charles' men don't interfere physically with my work in the library. But still I need to test any findings I may have and that takes a lot of energy. Not to mention I have another competitor." Red placed his head back onto the table.

"Who is the other competitor?" Alex was confused, how could one more person warrant mentioning.

"Eveline." As he said the name, Alex understood why it was an issue.

With her personality, there was no way she would peaceably allow someone to get in her way.

Alex saw this as an opportunity. "How high are you on the rankings with Jarilo?"

"Last place." Tom sulked.

"Why don't you team up with Red and talk Eveline into working with you as well." Alex was obviously excited by this idea. "That way you can work together on the research. Three people can read much faster than one after all. Not to mention it will solve the mana problem."

The look of disbelief on Tom's face was almost worth more than the possible rewards, almost.

They began talking over the plan, and making contingencies.

The next morning Tom went off to look for Eveline while the others ate.

After a short conversation about the distribution of rewards, Eveline agreed. In truth she had been wondering what to do about the situation as well. She did have one extra request, that she be apart of the sharing of information as well. She was very interested in enchanting.

After breakfast, Alex headed to Gavannon's forge again.

When he was nearing the door, he heard someone speaking.

"Master Smith, please let me learn from you. Please, allow me to accept the job to work under you." The voice was deep, just like Alex's. Alex was sure he had heard it before, but he couldn't place it.

"You are not a first year. I can not allow you to take this job. Take a job that is in accordance with your year." The gruff voice of the Smith responded. Even now, Alex could hear him pounding away on something. "I have no time for you. I will not tell you again, leave my forge." The sternness of his voice left no room for argument.

"As you wish Master Smith." Alex could hear the unwillingness in this persons voice. It was plain to see that this person would not give up so easily.

Alex heard someone walking towards the door. He made sure he was far away before the door opened.

Mason Pheonix opened the door to the forge and walked out. As he did, he saw someone walking down the hallway toward him.

"Are you the first year who works with the Master Smith?" Mason vaguely recognized this person. But he couldn't remember his name or where he had seen him before.

"Yes. I was lucky enough to be accepted yesterday." Alex's tone was respectful, but not deferential.

Mason looked over Alex one more time before his eyes landed on the notebook in Alex's hands.

"What is that." He said, pointing to the notebook.

Alex didn't even look down to his hand. "It is a notebook I use for writing down information that the Master has given me." Alex lied.

"Hm." With a grunt and a nod he walked past Alex. Before Alex could reach the door to the forge, he heard Mason speak again. "What is your name, first year?"

Alex turned to meet Mason's gaze. "Alex Samson."

A flash of recognition registered on Mason's face for a moment. Then, with a final nod, he rounded the corner and left.

Alex had a feeling it wouldn't be the last time they would meet. He took a moment to play the conversation over in his head again. He didn't find anything strange at first, but he kept at it. He followed the conversation again and again in his mind. Then, he remembered what he heard through the door a moment ago.

Realization dawned on him finally. Alex looked to the notebook in his hands, remembering its value and the interest Mason had shown in it. He now realized that this job had some hidden dangers.

Keller had taken the time to warn him, so had the headmaster in the letter. Yet it was not until now that Alex realized, sometimes the danger was not from the job, or even from gaining the reward. Sometimes danger can come from information, or even jealousy over opportunity.

Alex took a deep breath to steady himself. 'If anyone covets my things, they will have to pay the proper price. Whether that price is paid in blood, will be up to them. Even if they are from the Pheonix family.' Cold determination practically oozed from him as he stared down the hall.