The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 406: Competition: Druid Mode (10)

Chapter 406: Competition: Druid Mode (10)

"What’s next?"

"Quite a few things, Mister Mike," the bald judge chortled. "But could we discuss them inside? I feel a bit weird conversing at the gate."

"Is not my place," Hex said, glancing at the old man beside him. The old man was still processing parts of the conversation he was listening to. The poor man. Hex didn’t find the state the old man was in, surprising.

How long had it been that he discovered his granddaughter to be a genius? Not more than a couple of minutes. Yet, two people in power already knew about it. Plus, there was a talk about the culprits who were captured. The attacks weren’t nature’s doing. There were people attacking his friends and neighbors, heck, even he was nearly attacked, AND the powerful people knew about it, yet didn’t do anything to help? Why?

Neither Hex nor the judges interrupted the old man. They all could understand what was going on inside him. Shocking as everything seemed, it was but the way the world worked. Despite not accepting it as correct, Hex had learned to deal with his opinions and emotions...most of the time. The judges were old and experienced. Hex could tell they knew how people reacted to certain things upon discovering those particular things. They knew to be patient. Neither looked embarrassed or felt guilty.

They waited.

...

"Are you serious, sir?" The old man asked with a mixture of happiness and worry hidden in his voice. It was turning out to be a wild night for him. The wolf attack seemed now to be the least exciting part of his day.

They were sitting behind the farm. Hex just sat at the table, listening to the offer of the judges to the old man. He hadn’t interfered. No matter how much he liked the small girl and her family, it was not his place to decide for them.

"I am serious," the judge with hairs – they learned his name was Donnel – said. "We represent the Elder Council and offer the girl full support in her training to become a Druid. In fact, we can even suggest the Elders set aside some financial support for the family as well. You just have to consent to her being admitted in the special program designed to nurture the talents of Wrixia."

The offer seemed great. Hex believed that considering the financial struggles, this would provide the girl and her family with a good alternative. The judges spent some time ironing out some details. Nothing was confirmed but they agreed to make an official offer later in the day.

...

"These are the culprits?" The bald judge – Hex learned he was called Percy – asked, seeing the four people lying on the ground. They were encased in Ice, which Hex didn’t explain. Nor did the judges ask.

"That or they are henchmen of more powerful –." Hex was replying and offering them a warning to perhaps consider it at a deeper level when he suddenly sensed something. He stopped talking and watched the bodies on the ground. They had started to convulse. The judges hurried to take a few steps back.

Both judges were at the Refined Stage. They knew their limits. Only their posts and affiliation with the Elder Council gave them a basis to feel safe when talking to others. But those things wouldn’t help if they encountered a sudden incident. So, they stepped back, hoping that Hex could deal with whatever was happening.

Hex did...nothing.

The bodies convulsed greatly, till froth formed on the captives. The judges, who were urging Hex to do something, fell silent. They, like Hex, recognized the symptoms.

"This–This...They are–" Percy struggled to say his thoughts out loud. Donnel was too scared to even reply. He just stood there, trembling.

"Snakefolk," Hex said, watching the small serpents wriggle out of their behinds. Hex allowed them to break free from the Ice but captured them inside Earth orbs, which he then encased in Ice. The mud prevented much movement while having little energy to sustain the snakes. The Ice was of course the prison to hold them inside.

The Druids stopped convulsing as soon as the snakes were out. They remained alive but whimpered in pain. Small smears of blood could be seen behind them, encased in the Ice.

"Why are they here?" Percy asked finally. As high-ranking natives of Wrixia, they knew many secrets. Snakefolks and Witchkin were two of the most violent and feared hidden groups in the nation. No one knew the true extent of their power nor were the leaders ever discovered. And that scared most of the people. After all, how could they remain hidden from the Old One’s notice? Under His leaves? It was a feat only someone close to the Old One in level and or abilities could achieve. But who?

’Why indeed?’ Hex didn’t reply but he also didn’t ignore it. ’We have been attacked by the Snakefolk, Witchkin, and now again the Snakefolk. It seems like a storm is brewing.’

"Call someone who can deal with this. And make sure to include this in my share of bonus points." Hex instructed the judges. The two oldies were afraid enough to forget their role and just nodded, agreeing to his instructions. Soon after they made the report, a group of Guardians appeared, led by Jonathan.

His disguise helped him avoid too much scrutiny from the man. Jonathan didn’t spend a lot of time questioning or even conversing with them. Once he knew the story, he left. Hex did hear him instruct a few Guardians to comb the area for clues but he took the captured Druids and the snakes with him.

The judges didn’t wish to stay for too long. Hex greeted the old man, after making sure that Erina was alright. The little girl was asleep but out of danger. Before leaving, Jonathan instructed two of his Transformation Stage underlings to keep watch on the farm.

Hex promised the old man to meet once everything had been settled. With that, he left with the judges. It had taken some time, time he enjoyed, but the Druid mode and the competition’s first round had come to an end.