Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1270: Valor Realm

On the Farinas Continent, life was simple but harsh.

Kingdoms rose and fell, villages clung to fertile soil, and mortals fought their wars with iron and steel.

Here, magic existed, but it was not a well‑developed craft that anyone could use.

It was said that only those with rare gifts could master it. In fact, in many places, magic was treated as superstition, since most people had never seen it in their entire lives. For the majority, life was about tending fields, hunting beasts, and praying to unseen deities.

At this time, in one frontier village within the small kingdom of Davai, a call for help had gone out.

A group of one‑horned boars had begun destroying crops, trampling fields, and threatening the livelihood of farmers.

Ordinary hunters could have handled wild boars, but these were different.

The horn marked them as Corrupted Beasts, creatures twisted by mana.

Even at the lowest rank, or one‑horned, they were dangerous.

"I can do this... Just a handful of boars, and I’ll be home again," a young man muttered.

The task of subjugating the one‑horned beasts had fallen to Enkrid, a fifteen‑year‑old squire.

His knightly master had died two weeks ago, leaving him without guidance. That was likely the reason he had been sent instead of others.

Though not yet a knight, Enkrid was confident.

He had trained hard, and he believed he could handle one or two corrupted beasts on his own.

For days, he traveled across the countryside.

His boots wore thin, his cloak gathered dust, but his spirit remained firm.

He carried a steel longsword, a shield, and of course, the determination to prove himself.

Along the way, he practiced his strikes against trees, rehearsed his footwork, and whispered prayers to Hao, the Sword Deity of Farinas.

He imagined the fight ahead... the boars charging with tusks like spears and their horns filled mana should be tough to cut.

He pictured himself standing firm, shield raised, aiming at their eyes...

He would protect the village, earn their respect, and perhaps even draw the eye of a lord.

But when he finally reached the village, his expectations crumbled.

At the entrance, he found not fear or sorrow, but celebration!

Lanterns hung from posts, children laughed and ran through the streets, and music drifted from the square.

It was not what he imagined...

The villagers were not mourning ruined fields... they were feasting.

Enkrid frowned. "Strange... Did they exaggerate the threat?"

He entered the square and saw the truth.

Five adventurers stood proudly near the fountain. They seemed just like any other mercenaries. They were wearing brown coats, with leather armor, and swords...

Enkrid was confused. Even if there was a request made to the Adventurer’s Guild, they shouldn’t be this fast to respond. Furthermore, this village was not that rich to begin with, so the rewards weren’t that great either.

Still, seeing their armor stained with blood, he knew that they had completed the mission that he was supposed to complete...

Soon, he noticed on the other side of the square, lay the carcasses of several massive boars, each with a horn protruding from its forehead.

Indeed, the beasts had already been slain.

***

One of the adventurers, a pale girl with silver‑white hair and a black snake tattoo on her arm, noticed him. Her calm eyes studied him for a moment before she spoke.

"A squire? You’re late. The beasts are already dead."

The villagers noticed his arrival as well and immediately invited him to drink. Just like that, they started raising cups of ale again.

Enkrid watched as children tugged at the adventurers’ cloaks, begging for stories.

He didn’t know what to feel right now.

He had traveled for days, prepared himself for battle, only to arrive after it was over. His mission had been stolen.

Still, he approached, bowing slightly. "I was sent by the village to deal with the beasts. I am Enkrid, squire of the late Sir Halden."

The pale girl tilted her head. "Sir Halden’s squire? I heard he fell near the northern border. You’ve got courage, coming here alone."

Nearby, a tall boy with a knight’s bearing chuckled, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Courage... But you’re green. These beasts would’ve torn you apart if you fought them alone." His tone was teasing, but his eyes were measuring Enkrid’s resolve.

A young woman, who seemed similar in age, stepped forward. "Enkrid, huh... I’m Ruth. I’m the leader of this small adventurer’s group... Don’t be discouraged. There will be more beasts you can hunt tomorrow... We didn’t eliminate all the one-horned beasts roaming around."

Enkrid nodded reluctantly. "I understand."

The villagers continued their celebration, offering food and drink to the adventurers.

Enkrid accepted bread from a kind woman, though his appetite was gone. He sat at the edge of the square, watching, feeling both admiration and envy.

Soon, after talking with other villagers, he realized that the group of adventurers was already Iron Rank.

They all seemed to be about 15 to 17 years old, but they were already Iron Rank. It was above Copper and Bronze Ranks!

His hand tightened around his sword.

It was an impressive achievement, and he couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.

Still, Enkrid did not lose hope.

He knew that once he mastered his Will, the inner force that knights awakened within themselves, he would become far more than a squire.

Will was the essence that separated true knights from ordinary men. It was said that when a knight’s Will was used, his strikes would carry more weight, his body could ignore wounds that would fell others, and his presence alone could inspire allies or terrify foes.

For now, Enkrid had only his training and desire, but once his Will awakened, he would be a force to be reckoned with.

Until then, he would master his sword arts, polish his footwork, and prepare for the day his soul answered his call.

Then, as he was about to ask for an inn where he could rest for the night, Ruth approached him...

"Enkrid... I know you’re a squire but would you consider joining an adventurer group?"