That day, Sol was too terrified to come to the feast until his master called him and acted as if nothing had happened.
Sol's appetite had also increased. He ate more than Zavien and drank a lot of water before he slept like a log.
He had three types of fears. The first was the event that had happened six years ago. He would give anything to forget everything.
The second fear was angering his master. That fat man wasn't the one who had bought him, but his niece . Under her service, Sol was a toy—someone she constantly insult, make fun of, torment, and do all kinds of things to.
She was basically a demon who loved his misery.
All that because she had bought him for his cute face but later found about his disfigured hand.
She hated him for that, saying something about bad luck for her first slave to be handicapped.
Zavien was the one who saved him. He gave him proper training on how to serve, how to clean, and how to greet his master.
Zavien treated him as if he were like any other slave and gave him a name.
Zavien named him Sol—a precious name that was beautiful.
For the three years he had been with Zavien, he never bullied him or insulted him just for the pleasure of it. Of course, Zavien got angry sometimes, and punishment came. But the punishment was never about beating or pain.
This was the first time Zavien had beaten him. And Sol would do all he could to make sure it didn't happen again.
The third thing he feared was the children of nobles—children who came from big houses. They had backing, and their backing would make a slave like him disappear.
That's why he wanted to keep his head down, but... his master thought otherwise.
---
Sol was back at school. The class was full, and Teacher Rabey Salvador was explaining another important thing about Eiros Moulders.
"Bring out your Glass Mould!" They did, and he made them touch it and feel the thickness.
"I know this is second nature to you by now," he chuckled before becoming serious. "If it ever breaks, you lose your Eiros Affinity!"
The students shook. Sol immediately pulled his close to him, his hand trying to cover it. The rest of the student have similar reactions
This was the most horrifying thing they had ever heard in class.
"Good instinct. Though it's very hard to break. But never flaunt your glass just like that. Only in controlled environments. Even in certain situations that require to bring it out, you must be extra careful."
The class continued.
He taught them many things, asked questions, and gave classwork before he left.
The whole time, Sol was silent. He didn't get any Ei, so his body was beyond drained.
He dragged his feet, seeing hazily under the hot sun until he reached home.
Once he was in his room, he fell unconscious.
It was deep in the night that he woke up. Thankfully, food was in his room, but he only devoured a little.
He hadn't had Ei for that day to digest more and make his body develop.
'I can't go on like this,' Sol thought. 'I need more Ei!'
The next day, Sol went early. He was the first in the class. But his mind had been planning how to fight back.
He was never a fighter—he was weak even now. It was just that his malnourished look was fading and he was becoming bigger.
Before the class began as he caressed his iron covered book, Sol had a smile on his face. He had the perfect solution.
He readied his speech device, and the moment Teacher Sabey Salvador began asking questions, he was the first to raise his hand to answer.
Throughout the class, he was vocal until the device was depleted. Yet the harvest was the highest: 45 Ei.
They were angry. Sol was afraid, but he was confident. Today he would fight.
Unfortunately, after class, the orange-haired boy glared at him but said and did nothing.
'That's unexpected!' Sol relaxed. He then walked home.
***
A kick came flying from behind him. It connected with his ribs.
Sol screamed as he was hurled to the ground. His heart race and fear of uncertainty gripped him.
Two men—delinquents—appeared. "You bastard..." The cursed at him and attack again.
There kicks were about to connect when a flash of iron color enveloped Sol. The legs connected with it, and were violently sent back, leaving a trail of blood.
Their legs had broken, flesh torn and bones jutting out.
"AHHH!"
''AHHH''
A heart-wrenching scream escaped their mouths before they passed out from the pain.
Their screams jolted Sol from his coiled position and he looked toward them. The blood, the bones pulled that scene back to him.
He trembled as he forgot about his pain, he turned fast, looking elsewhere but his mind remembered that night and he released a scream.
"AHH!"
His mind overlapped this men with his brothers—the ones who were raised up into the sky and then slammed to the ground repeatedly.
The first slam broke their bones, and they screamed and begged.
The second slam tore their flesh, and their blood sprayed.
The third slam shattered their skulls, and they went silent and limp.
The fourth, the fifth, the sixth, and even the tenth slams came, by then they were mere blown organs and blood.
Sol ran, the stench of blood making the remembrance increase but his face slammed into a steel.
A Knight in steel armour stood before him, his iron glove hand grabbed Sol by the neck. "You broke the rules." With a slight twist, Sol went unconscious. "Using Spell with no permit!"
---
"Ahhhh!"
Sol startled awake with a scream before a commanding voice—Zavien's—reached him. "Sol."
Hw snapped toward the mountain of a man and quickly stood, bowing his head and awaiting his orders.
A second later, he recognized they were not at home but back at the school, and the principal was sitting, staring at him.
"Who taught you how to use Iron Dome?" The principal voice was grating to hear.
Sol's head swiveled to Zavien, and the man gave him a new device with a full charge.
"I learned!" Sol answered.
"How?" The knight was still around. He demanded.
Sol was thoughtful. He had slept yesterday thinking about it, and today when he was in class before everyone arrived, he had studied the iron cover and proceeded to try something.
He had tried to make his Eiros Glass to affect the iron cover, but his stamina went to zero and got some insight.
When Teacher Sabey came, Sol was barely awake, but thanks to the Ei he got, he was back to full stamina.
Sol didn't hide anything. He told them how.
"Knight Roland, thank you for your help. We will take it from here." The principal stood and escorted the man out as they spoke.
"You did great," Zavien said proudly. "You need to steel your heart. You have power, and you must use it to fight those who want to break you!"
Sol smiled. He became proud of himself.
For the first time, he had stood up for himself. No one saved him—he saved himself.
'I'm not weak!' he told himself.
"Don't worry about any big names. I am your shield, and I only want you to grow!"
Sol nodded. He would grow. This opportunity was great. He wouldn't let it slide away.
The principal came back and stood before Sol. And his gaze turned to Zavien. "Interesting cub you found!"
The mountain of flesh smiled with no comment.
"I will send your name to the City Lord. You will undergo Baptism and take the role of Oathbound Guard."
Sol's heart skipped a beat before his head snapped to Zavien, who was frowning.
"It is an honor, you know. A fourteen-year-old who taught himself Iron Dome will be accepted!" the principal reasoned.
"It's fine… when?" Zavien asked.
"Tomorrow. It has to be fast. You know every day neighbors send candidates. Sol can just join. As for school, there won't be class tomorrow because of his absence!"
Sol's eyes widened again. The whole class was being canceled because of him. 'I'm special!'
Excitement and confidence were all he began to feel.
---
Iron Roll City was a mega city that had over 30 million citizens, most of them situated on Iron Mountain—the very mine the kingdom relied on for their source of iron.
Surrounding the mountain was a tall wall—100 meters tall and 10 meters thick.
The wall itself was a district where mostly soldiers' families and some merchants lived.
The city have five level as on scaled the mountain up.
Zavien lived on the third level of the city, where most merchants and the biggest market were situated.
Sol was inside a train, heading to the first level, which was the top level where the City Lord was.
When they came close, another tall wall greeted them—smaller than the first one, but was of mechanical wonder made of pure iron for pure destruction.
Sol had never seen so many cannons in his life. Soldiers patrolled up and down, each of them at least 7 feet tall, in heavy armor, holding dangerous spears that were connected to guns.
Despite the presence of the guards, people went about their ways like nothing. They were used to it, but thieves and troublemakers never got used to it.
"This is the safest district in all of Iron Roll. Unfortunately, too expensive to live here!" an old man said in wonder before the train came to a stop.
Sol went directly toward the wall gate, his hand clutching the letter of recommendation from the principal.
'Stop shaking! All I have to do is show them the paper!' he told himself.
But before he reached them, he saw some youths just pass the guards like nothing.
More people were just going in and out like they owned the place. The gate was wide open.
He went too. Some guards looked at him and then looked away.
'That was easy!'
He expected to be subjected to some investigation just like the first gate.
Zavien was well known, but he had been kept for an hour investigating his stuff and belongings in case he brought illegal things when they came to the first wall.
Nevertheless, Sol went to one of the guards and showed him the paper.
The guard's eyes behind the visor widened, and he asked, "How old are you?"
Sol showed him his ID card.
"Fourteen. Aren't you too young?" Asking that, he guided Sol inside. It was a few steps before they reached the training area where most of the people went to.
The guard shouted, "Young Master Malakai, we have a 14-year-old Iron Dome user here."
All eyes turned toward Sol. He was the youngest here with the same intention.
A young man, not much older than Sol, walked forward.
Just by looking, you could tell he was nobility. His skin was flawless with no blemishes whatsoever. His gaze was soft, and his gait was graceful.
But he has iconic crimson eyes and hair of the Iron Roll Lord's features.
He stood before Sol. "What is your name, little mage?"
"Sol!"
The young master moved fast and snatched the device Sol held in his hand beneath his robe.
"You are mute!" he said before handing it back. "How good are you with Iron Dome?"
"Ahm. I... only used it once!" Sol said.
"Can you do it again?" the young master asked. He was beginning to lose interest.
"I think so!"
"You think so, or you can? This is not a playground. Can you do it again?" he demanded.
"Y-yes!" Sol answered.
"Good. Come with me!" They walked deeper into the field.
The young master took a spear, twirled it in his hand like a master, and said, "Stand there and activate it in three seconds."
He began counting.
Sol stood and held his book and focused. By then, the young master had counted to three. His hand instantly covered with red veins before throwing.
The spear tore the air with a loud sound and reached Sol's horrified face.
Bam!
A flash of iron color covered him, and the spear bent and bounced away as fast as it had come.
"Let's try again after three seconds!" the young master said casually.
A new spear was thrown to him. He caught it and added more power. Deeper crimson veins covered his hand.
Sol was sweating seeing thag, but he really didn't feel a thing. In fact, he felt like he could take four more attacks like that and he brace for more.
Bam!
The spear broke and blasted away upon contact.
"One last time!"
By now, Sol was tired, the iron Dome defense consumed his stamina.
The young master throw with more strength and this time Sol didn't see the spear—it was too fast, and slammed at his defence, no injury but he was sent back as the spear broke.
Bam!
He tumbled and rolled, but his body was unharmed. However, he couldn't stand. He has hit his limit.
'It's like he knew my limit!'
Sol unexpectedly heard clapping.
Clap.
Clap.
"That is great, boy. You are a genius. Congratulations."
Many people began congratulate him.
A rare smile came to his face. He bowed to them in appreciation and followed the young master calling.