Insect Tamer's Ascension-Chapter 79 /5)

"You never miss surprising me, little brother. I don't know what to think anymore."

Theo was still in his brother's room. They both made conversation about the abilities the mantis could perform now.

"I really wish to see this mantis in a fight now," He muttered again, and soon, his expressions changed to that of realization.

"I know, how about we go to the forest together? When all of this is over?" He asked with a grin.

Theo didn't even need to think about it before he nodded his head. "I am okay with it. Do tell me when this is all over from your side. I will make myself stronger in that time being."

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When Theo said that, Lucien's eyes went to his bandaged hands.

"So you are going that path, huh… can't say it's a bad thing." He stated with a hand on his chin.

"Training my body can be a bad thing?" Theo asked.

"Not entirely. It's nothing for us Merricks, as our father is a renowned knight, but normally, tamers don't train their body. They think that it is barbaric. For them, only the tamed beast's strength matters." He stated while stretching his body.

"But I train my body too. You never know what situation you can be in at any time. Being helpless is a sin."

Theo nodded in agreement. He looked outside the window and noticed the sun was already fully up. It was about time he left and started training.

"Haghh… but it really is a pity. I should have helped you instead of getting in this situation. I have to be in a gate after 6 months." Lucien suddenly spoke with a sigh. It really felt like he was reminiscing.

'Wait…' Theo soon remembered that Clara had stated something about this too.

"Are you talking about the one that will open in the South?" Theo asked with curiosity.

"Oh? So you know about this, huh?" Lucien was surprised, yet he continued with a smile. "Yes, it's in the southern kingdom, Zephyra. All kingdoms are invited as usual, but there are only limited seats for each kingdom."

Theo listened intently. It was more information than he had hoped to get about the gates before he reached the academy.

"So you're already invited, elder brother?"

"Hahahaha, yes! We Merricks are always invited to these things. Although it will be my first time, so will Cedric's."

"Elder brother!!" Theo shouted and got up, his eyes sparkling.

"Wha- What happened?" Lucien's body jerked in surprise, his face showing dumbfoundedness.

"How can I also attend this gate? Merricks are invited, right? I would like to go too!"

Theo stated with shamelessness. It didn't matter how he would go; losing such an opportunity was like a kick in the nards.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, calm down, Theo." Lucien made hand gestures for Theo to settle down first.

Theo quickly sat back and waited for an explanation.

"There are only 100 seats per kingdom, Theo. Out of that 100… about 50 are fixed for prominent beast tamers that are mostly above 30 or 40 years of age, just like father." He stated and continued.

"Another 25 is for the promising academy students. They are children in the age of 10-15, mostly."

"And at last, 25 are left for the promising ones such as me and Cedric, who have graduated the academy and now are on their own. You have to get a recommendation letter from prominent people to get an entry in this."

Lucien explained and stopped, and Theo went on to think.

"So the only way I can join is by being in that 25 people, right?" Theo asked, as if not realizing the reality or refusing it.

"I didn't say anything about you being able to join at all, Theo…" Lucien said with an awkward smile.

"Elder brother, please tell me, how will I be able to join this gate? I know these opportunities are given directly from the benevolent artifact, and it's a place filled with treasures for tamers." Theo asked frantically, and Lucien sighed.

"… Before I tell you anything, do you know anything more than I have told you right now about the gates, Theo?" Lucien asked with a serious expression.

"… It's in 6 months?"

"Correct. But I want to ask you something: how many out of the 100 do you think make it back safely?"

Theo thought about it and finally realized what Lucien was getting at.

"Is it that dangerous?"

Lucien leaned back on the chair and said, "The previous gate was recorded 10 years ago. There were quite a few in between that time, but those are restricted ones… that's something you don't have to deal with right now. But in that gate of 10 years ago, only 44 people from our Kingdom came back from the gate. Many were properly crippled too, and to this day, are recuperating the losses to their soul."

Theo gulped and nodded. If the gate was that fortuitous, it was bound to be dangerous too.

"And it's not just about the treasures that we find in there, which range from artifacts to 1000-year-old herbs and plants. Each gate has always brought something back for humanity's good, but it doesn't stop there…" He stated and made sure Theo was following before he continued.

"What's the main reason tamers go into the gate is the unique kinds of beasts found in the gates. In each gate, there have been special beasts that nobody can find in this world, Theo. Gates are like gateways to small worlds that we still don't understand a lot about."

Lucien finally stopped and looked at Theo with seriousness. Theo was in thought now.

'If he is saying it is dangerous, then the odds are truly against the humans in there…' Theo thought.

"Elder brother…" Theo muttered slowly, his head down.

"Do you finally understand the dangers? That's good, Theo. There will be many opportunities like this in your lifetime, but the main thing is to survive to strive for them, alright?" Lucien stated with a nod.

Theo moved his head up and smiled confidently. "No, please tell me how I can join it too…"