Accidental Ascendance

The next morning, the castle was bustling with preparations as Cedric Montclair readied himself for the long journey. His excitement was palpable, but as he was gathering his supplies, he heard a knock at his door.

Opening it, he found his father, Lord Montclair, standing there, a serious expression on his face. "Cedric, I've heard about your plans. I strongly advise against going on this dangerous mission."

Cedric Montclair took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Father, I have to do this. Not only to make up for my mistakes but also to live up to our family name."

Lord Montclair looked torn between worry and pride. "I understand your determination, but as your father, I can't help but be concerned for your safety. This journey could be perilous, and you are still so young."

Cedric Montclair looked into his father's eyes, trying to convey his determination. "I know the risks, Father, but I can't stand idly by when I have the power to help others and protect those I care about."

His father sighed, placing a hand on Cedric Montclair's shoulder. "You have a noble heart, my son, but sometimes bravery needs to be tempered with caution. What if something were to happen to you? Your mother and I would be devastated."

Cedric Montclair's gaze didn't waver as he replied, "I promise to be careful, Father. I won't take unnecessary risks, but I believe this is something I must do."

Lord Montclair sighed again, conflicted by his son's determination. "Very well, Cedric Montclair. If this is truly your decision, I won't stand in your way. Just promise me that you'll stay safe and return home to us."

Cedric Montclair nodded earnestly. "I promise, Father. I'll do everything in my power to come back."

His father gave him a small smile, pride mingling with concern in his eyes. "Alright, my son. Follow me to my study. There's something I want to give you before you leave."

Cedric Montclair followed his father to the study, where Lord Montclair presented him with a black and blue coat adorned with three blue gems. "This is the Remint Of Clair, a treasured family heirloom. It was created by the founder of the Montclair family, Clair Vuris, after her heroic deeds. She was not only a powerful mage but also a skilled warrior. In one fateful battle, she faced a mighty foe known as The Battle Suit Utima, a colossal construct of destruction. She fought valiantly, using her magic to weaken it and her martial prowess to strike at its weaknesses."

Cedric Montclair's eyes widened with awe as he listened to his father's recounting of their family's history. "The Battle Suit Utima was a menace, unstoppable by most, but she found a way to bring it down."

Lord Montclair continued, "In the final moments of the battle, when her mana was nearly depleted and her strength was waning, she delivered a powerful blow with her enchanted staff, piercing the heart of Utima. As the construct fell, it shattered her staff into shards of magical essence."

His father pointed at the three blue gems on the coat. "Those gems you see on the Remint Of Clair represent the three shards of her staff, now infused with the magic of her sacrifice. They offer protection against curses and enhance the wearer's magical abilities."

Cedric Montclair ran his fingers over the gems, feeling the energy emanating from them. "This is incredible, Father. I will wear it with pride and honor our family's legacy."

Lord Montclair placed a reassuring hand on Cedric Montclair's shoulder. "I know you will, my son. May it protect you on your journey and remind you of the strength and courage that run in our bloodline."

As Cedric Montclair donned the Remint Of Clair, Oliver and Lily waited outside the castle. As Cedric Montclair stepped out, they both stared in amazement at his regal appearance.

Lily couldn't resist teasing, "Well, well, well, look who's decided to join us! I must say, Montclair, you clean up rather nicely."

Oliver chimed in, "Indeed, you look like a true noble now. Ready to take on the world, huh?"

Cedric Montclair chuckled, a hint of nervousness in his laughter. "I hope so. It's all a bit overwhelming, to be honest."

With their banter lightening the mood, the trio set off on their journey. As they walked, Cedric couldn't help but wonder. "How do we even find a Night Salamander?"

Lily sensed his curiosity and explained, "The best way to find information about the Night Salamander is to join the Wanderers Guild."

"Wanderers Guild? Lily, what exactly are these Wanderers and the Wanderers Guild?" Cedric asked, genuinely curious.

Lily grinned, ready to share her knowledge. "Wanderers are a group of mages and warriors seeking fame and fortune. They are skilled monster hunters, taking on the most fearsome beasts out there. The guild ranks them from E, being the lowest, to S, the highest. Only about twenty mages hold the prestigious S rank, making them the most powerful in the world. Some even receive the title of Grand Mage."

Cedric's eyes widened at the idea of these powerful hunters. "S rank, huh? That sounds incredible!"

Lily nodded with pride. "It sure is! Now, the Night Salamander we're after is a unique breed, ranked A. These creatures are incredibly dangerous because they can use spells."

"Spells?!" Cedric exclaimed, taken aback.

"Yes," Lily continued. "Due to their diet of Night Shallow Herb over generations, they've developed large mana reserves. This allows them to cast instant spells, making them unpredictable opponents. You never know what spell they know or how many."

Cedric looked intrigued but cautious. "That's quite intimidating. What do these salamanders look like?"

Lily asked, "Have you ever seen a lizard?"

Cedric nodded, remembering.

"Well, imagine that, but a lot bigger. The average Salamander is about 18 feet long. However, the Night Salamander, our target, can grow up to 25 feet! Its scales are black, and it has sharp tendrils on its back," Lily explained.

Cedric nodded, getting the idea. "Alright, I think I've got the gist of it. So, where's the nearest Guild located?"

Lily pointed towards the distant mountain range. "Pass that range is RavenCrest, a large town with a Guild. We'll find all the information we need there."

Cedric Montclair nodded, impressed with Lily's knowledge. "You seem well-versed in all this, Lily. How do you know so much about the Wanderers Guild?"

Lily hesitated for a moment before answering, "I've been attending the Magi Academy. All mages of nobility at the age of 10 must attend the academy, where we develop our magic and learn about the world outside of our noble houses."

Cedric Montclair's eyes widened in surprise. "Magi Academy? Why wasn't I told about this?"

Oliver chimed in to explain, "Your father told us that due to special circumstances, you would be training abroad for the first few years of school."

Cedric Montclair nodded, absorbing the information. "I guess you could say that's what I was doing. I had no idea there was so much more to learn about the world."

Oliver's mind was a whirlwind of questions and doubts as they journeyed towards the Wanderers Guild. He couldn't help but wonder about Cedric's lack of magic. "If everyone has magic, and when that magic is depleted, we end up weakened, what about Cedric? Does that mean he has no soul or something else entirely? And why isn't he always in a weakened state? I've never heard that he's sickly; in fact, he seems healthier than your average person."

His thoughts kept circling back to Cedric's uncanny luck. "And that luck of his... It's beyond anything I've ever seen. When Fluffy threw him the other day, he should've died. Even a normal mage would've been seriously hurt, but somehow, everything went his way. It's like the world is protecting him and ensuring that everything falls into place for him."

Oliver shook his head, unable to find answers to his questions. He didn't dare voice these doubts to Cedric or anyone else. There was something unique and enigmatic about his friend, and Oliver was determined to uncover the truth on his own. As they continued on their path, Oliver resolved to keep observing and searching for clues that might shed light on Cedric's mysterious existence.

As they continued their conversation, Cedric accidentally tripped over a tree stump, but instead of falling, he caught himself, inadvertently knocking a tree over. A dying roar echoed through the woods.

The trio rushed to investigate and discovered a Mana Bear, a large bear with its strength enhanced by mana. Lily was stunned, thinking. "A Mana Bear!? Montclair must've sensed the bear and used magic to bring down the tree and slay the beast."

Oliver marveled at Cedric Montclair's uncanny luck, "SEE! How can a guy be this lucky?" he thought to himself.

Cedric looked at the dead beast and thought to himself. "Opps..."

As they stood together, Cedric Montclair, Lily, and Oliver were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead on their quest to hunt down the elusive Night Salamander.

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