He wants to know how the championship affected me

I sit at the big table surrounded by all the book shelves, close to a corner. Aelbrecht is at the table as well, on the other end of the corner, though standing. He looks at me and says, “How would you describe your participation in the tournament?”

“Well, better than I first expected.” I answer. “It was my first time, so I didn’t think I would get far. But I managed to get all the way to the final match. So yeah, I actually did pretty good. Just a shame about the end. In one way I needed the rank upgrade to win. But it also caused me to get disqualified. But all in all, I am an A rank now. in the long run, I feel that is better than a 5 gold coin reward.”

Aelbrecht waits silently and listens to every word I say. It is only when I finish that he starts talking.

“Rank upgrades are indeed the best reward. They make allowance for an extra skill. Or in your case, an extra magic element. Which then also directly translates into you now having the ability to combine 2 basic elements into an advanced one. This will greatly increase your capabilities as an adventurer.”

Aelbrecht then walks to one of the book shelves and looks for something. He pulls out two tomes and lays them gently in front of me.

“Here are some books on air and ice magic.” Aelbrecht says. “You should read the one on air magic first. It is notoriously hard the cast spells in advanced elements if you are inexperienced in one of the basic elements required for it. Ice magic can come after you have mastered wind.”

I pick up the book or air magic and flip through some of the pages. I can see one page on techniques to make air spells require less mana. That will be useful since unlike a mage, I don't have large mana reserves. Another technique to make use of already existing air currents and give them that extra guidance to make your spells even easier to cast. And the spells I see seem fairly easy to learn.

“Thank you, guild master. I am sure this will help a lot.” I say gratefully.

Aelbrecht then pulls out a chair and sits not far from me.

“For winning the S rank championship, I was permitted to have an audience with the queen. I had a casual conversation with them. Not something many people get to have with a member of royalty. As you can expect, the subject of your rank came up.”

Oh man. I hope it wasn’t bad. This is making me nervous.

“The queen has been made aware that this is not your first rank upgrade.” Aelbrecht continues. “That you started from far lower and already had multiple ones. She is both foreseeing and hoping for the next one. Which brings you to rank S.”

I cock my head a little and ask, “She is hoping for it?”

“Indeed. All of the kingdoms prize a large compliment of S ranks. Some of them have only one. Most of them have 2. The human kingdom now has 3. If you get that last rank upgrade, it would cause a power imbalance in the queen’s favor. She can use it as political leverage against the other kingdoms. Which now might be more necessary than in previous years.”

Aelbrecht goes on to explain that the demons to the north have been acting in very unsettling ways. Many in the queen’s court are worried they might start another war. In the last war with the demon’s, at least the kingdoms were united. These days, cooperation between the kingdoms appears rather unlikely. The beastkind kingdom sees itself as humanity’s equal and wants to exert itself. The dwarven kingdom is focused on developing their subterranean cities and the elves are dealing with economic challenges. If my ascension to S rank could help the queen unify the kingdoms again, then I would love to help her out that way.

“After my conversation with the queen, I also had a more private conversation with the princess.” Aelbrecht then says. “She wanted me to let you know that in her opinion, you deserved to win the B rank championship.”

Hearing that someone so high up in society is of the same opinion makes me smile. I then see Aelbrecht reach into his pocket.

“The princess also gave me this with instructions to pass them on to you.”

Aelbrecht bright his hand in front of me, close to the table and left something there. When he pulls his hand back, I see it are five golden coins. The same as the reward handed out to the B rank champion.

“She also wanted to let you know that she is grateful for your help during your stay in the castle, and that she has improved a lot since then. I assume you are aware of what she is talking about?”

She must be talking about those times I helped her study water magic in the library. I am surprised she still thinks of that time.

“Yes, sir. I am aware. It is good to hear she is improving as well.” I say.

I take the coins and stare at them. They remind me of the time Mia got me one. Since then, I developed many feelings for her. First good ones, then bad ones. But in the end, it was that golden coin she got me, which paid for the brigandine I used during the tournament. Now investing that once golden coin the way I did caused it to become five golden coins.

“Are you thinking about what to spend those coins on?” Aelbrecht asks.

I look up and reply, “Uh, no. I-I was thinking of something different. But now that you bring it up, I was thinking of having my sword repaired. Except with this kind of money, I might instead better spend it on something new. I heard orichalcum is a good material to make swords from, but is very expensive. Or maybe get a brigandine made of mithril plates instead of steel ones like what I have now.”

“It is true that these minerals make for high quality equipment.” Aelbrecht tells me. “But these materials are also hard to find. I know of only very few mines which have mithril or orichalcum veins large enough to provide a consistent supply. The great majority of the time they are only found in small amounts like in dungeons. When adventurers bring these ores home, they rarely sell it to other adventurers and have smiths forge them into gear for personal use. It would be better for your finances to collect these minerals while you are out on adventure.”

What Aelbrecht says make sense. The steel brigandine was already so expensive. One made of mithril could easily be 3 gold. Then I would no longer have enough for an orichalcum sword.

“Thank you for the advice, guild master.” I say. “I will be careful on how I spend these.”

After that, Aelbrecht lets me out of his office. I quickly head back to my room and place the book Aelbrecht gave me on a desk. I will read that after I mail the letter to my mother. Then I store 4 of the golden coins safely away. I will first head to the crafters guild and see what they are offering. I will be able to better think on how to spend them once I know my options. Then I open the letter for my mother and add a post scriptum at the end.

PS: So, I just had a conversation with Aelbrecht. He had a conversation with the princess and it seems that she didn’t agree with the judges. So she gave Aelbrecht the B championship reward money who then passed it on to me. Don’t worry, I will be careful on how to spend them. But I at least want to send one coin to you in case you need anything. I love you, mom. Take care.

I then fold the paper together with 1 golden coin inside. I don’t want that coin moving around in the envelope too much. Then I seal the envelope again and finally, I can go to the post office to mail my letter. On my way to the exit, I come across Ari and Sophie. It looks like the two of them also have letters to send to their families. Sophie asks if we could go together. I tell her that I will have to visit the crafters guild after, but that made Sophie reverse the roles and now she wants to join me.

“It would be so lovely to visit the crafters guild. It’ll be like shopping.” She says.

Well, if she’s going to enjoy tagging along, then why not. So, the three of us head out. Yet before we get much further, I come across a servant who draws my attention.

“Mister Darx, I was just looking for you.” She says. “You have a visitor at the gate.”

Good goddess, it’s still this early and there is so much I have to do already. But fine, I’ll see who it is.