Regeneration System-Chapter 67: : Let the Games began

His next stop was Master Vargos. If anyone knew something about the Blackwoods’ reach, it was the grizzled forging instructor his class was the only one not affected by anything. Kain made his way to the forge, where the clang of metal echoed through the air. He spotted Vargos overseeing a group of first-years, barking instructions as they struggled to hammer molten steel properly.

Kain waited until the master had a free moment before stepping up. "Master Vargos, do you have a minute?"

The older man turned, narrowing his eyes. "Depends on what you need, boy."

"It’s about Thorne Blackwood."

Vargos’s expression darkened slightly, but he gestured for Kain to follow him into a quieter corner of the forge. "Speak."

"He’s gone. His family took him, I think. Do you know where they might have taken him?"

Vargos let out a slow breath. "The Blackwoods are powerful, Kain. They don’t do anything without purpose."

"I know that. But I need to find him."

Vargos studied him for a long moment, then grumbled, "If they took him, it wasn’t to some public estate. They have holdings outside the capital. Private properties, places most wouldn’t think to look. And if they went through the academy to withdraw him, then they wanted it to be official—no loose ends."

"Where?" Kain pressed.

"There’s an estate in the eastern province. It’s secluded and well-guarded. If they were looking to keep him away from prying eyes, that’s where they’d go."

Kain felt a flicker of hope. "How do I get there?"

Vargos frowned. "Listen to me, boy. The Blackwoods don’t play games. If you go after him, you’d better be ready for a fight. And not just against hired guards—against the family itself. You think they’ll just let you walk in and take him?"

Kain’s jaw tightened. "I don’t care. He’s my friend. And I won’t leave him behind."

Vargos let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temple. "Stubborn as a damn anvil. Fine. If you’re set on this, I won’t stop you. But you’ll need supplies. If you want to fight your way in, you need better armor, better weapons. And a plan."

Kain nodded. "I’ll be ready."

Master Vargos grunted. "Then you’d better start forging."

Kain spent the rest of the day preparing. He returned to his dorm, gathering everything he had—his armor, his weapons, his meager supply of healing potions. But Vargos was right. His current gear wasn’t enough. He needed something stronger. So he headed back to the forge.

For hours, he worked tirelessly, shaping a new set of reinforced armor. He used the best ore he had, reforging his chest piece with layered plating, ensuring it could withstand more punishment. He reshaped his hammer, adjusting its balance, making it heavier but still quick enough to swing efficiently.

By the time he was done, exhaustion weighed on his limbs, but he didn’t stop. He moved on to sharpening his weapons, reinforcing his shield, preparing every piece of gear he had to be battle-ready.

When he finally stepped back, sweat dripping down his face, he examined his work. His armor gleamed under the forge’s light, his hammer felt like an extension of his arm, and his shield was sturdy enough to take a direct hit without buckling. He was as ready as he could be.

Now, he just needed a way to get to the Blackwood estate.

Kain considered his options. He could try to find a merchant caravan heading in that direction and travel under the guise of a worker. Or he could sneak out on his own, traveling by foot, though that would be risky and time-consuming.

Before he could decide, a voice interrupted his thoughts. "You look like a man about to do something incredibly stupid."

Kain turned to see Talor leaning against the forge’s entrance, arms crossed.

"I thought you were asleep," Kain said.

Talor snorted. "Hard to sleep when my roommate is storming around, preparing for war. So, are you going to tell me what’s going on?"

Kain hesitated, then sighed. "Thorne’s gone. His family took him. I’m going after him."

Talor stared at him for a moment before shaking his head. "You’re insane."

"Maybe."

Talor pushed off the doorway, stepping closer. "You’re not going alone."

Kain raised an eyebrow. "You’ve never even met him."

Talor smirked. "Doesn’t matter. A friend of yours is a friend of mine, remember?"

Kain felt a small smile tug at his lips. "This isn’t going to be easy."

Talor shrugged. "Good. I was getting bored anyway."

Kain let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He wasn’t alone in this. And that made all the difference.

With Talor by his side, they would find Thorne. No matter what it took.

And if the Blackwoods thought they could take Kain’s friend away without consequence—they were about to learn just how wrong they were.

Kain sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the wall as the weight of the past few days pressed down on him. Thorne was gone. Vanished without a word, without a trace, and no one had any solid answers. It was eating away at him, gnawing at his thoughts. The more he tried to ignore it, the stronger the feeling became—something wasn’t right.

He needed to leave the academy.

But walking out of the gates wasn’t an option. The academy had strict rules regarding student departures, and with everything going on, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone was actively watching him. He needed a legitimate reason to leave, something that wouldn’t raise suspicions. That’s when the idea struck him—the mission hall.

The academy regularly posted quests for students to take on. Some were simple, like gathering herbs or escorting merchants, while others involved hunting dangerous monsters. If he could find a mission that would take him off-campus, he could use it as a cover to start his search for Thorne.

Without wasting another second, he grabbed his gear and made his way to the mission hall. The large stone building stood near the center of the academy, its entrance bustling with students looking for assignments. The inside was lined with wooden boards covered in parchment, each listing different requests from nearby towns, merchants, and even the academy itself.

Kain walked through the rows of quests, scanning each one carefully. Most of them were short-distance tasks—hunting nearby beasts, retrieving lost items, or delivering messages. None of them would take him far enough.

Then, he spotted it.

Escort Mission: Eastern Province

A merchant caravan heading toward the Eastern Province required capable fighters for protection. Bandit activity had increased along the trade route, and the merchants were willing to pay well for a few skilled hands.

Perfect.

Not only would this take him out of the academy, but it would also provide a solid cover for his departure. Even better, it wasn’t uncommon for students to take on escort jobs as part of their training. If anyone asked, he was just gaining experience.

He tore the parchment from the board and turned to leave but hesitated. If he was going on this journey, he’d need backup. Someone he could trust.

Talor.

His roommate had been a steadfast ally, always willing to back him up. While they weren’t as close as he and Thorne had been, Talor had proven time and again that he was reliable. And if Kain was walking into unknown territory, he needed someone who wouldn’t question him too much.

He found Talor in their shared dorm, lounging on his bed with a book in hand. The moment Kain walked in with purpose, Talor raised an eyebrow.

"What’s up? You’ve got that ’I’m about to do something crazy’ look again."

Kain tossed the parchment onto his bed. "I’m taking this escort job."

Talor sat up, eyeing the mission details. "Eastern Province? That’s way off from where we usually go. You planning on coming back?"

Kain exhaled sharply. "Not until I find out what happened to Thorne."

Talor set the book aside and stood. "Alright, I’m in."

Kain blinked. "Just like that?"

"Like I said, a friend of yours is a friend of mine." Talor smirked. "Besides, this sounds more interesting than another week of lectures."

They spent the rest of the day preparing. Kain checked his weapons, ensuring his hammer was in prime condition, while Talor stocked up on rations and medical supplies. By nightfall, they were packed and ready.

The next morning, they reported to the mission hall, where the merchant caravan was waiting. A row of wagons loaded with goods stretched down the road, with hired guards checking their weapons. The caravan leader, a stout man with a thick beard, glanced up as Kain and Talor approached.

"You’re the academy boys?" he asked, eyeing them.

"That’s us," Kain confirmed.

The merchant grunted. "Good. You’ll ride with the second wagon. Keep your eyes open and your weapons ready."

With that, they were off.

The journey started smoothly. The first day was uneventful, with nothing but open roads and idle chatter among the guards. Kain kept his focus, scanning the trees lining the road for any signs of trouble. Talor, on the other hand, seemed more relaxed, taking in the scenery as if this were just another training exercise.

As night fell, they made camp by the roadside. The merchants set up their tents while the guards took shifts keeping watch. Kain and Talor sat by the fire, eating their rations in silence.

"You really think Thorne was taken?" Talor asked after a while.

Kain stared into the flames. "I don’t know. But I do know that he wouldn’t just leave without telling me. Something’s off."

Talor nodded. "Then we’ll find out the truth."

The night passed without incident, and by morning, they were back on the road. But as they neared the halfway point of their journey, Kain couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. The trees felt too still, the air too quiet.

Then, the attack came.

Bandits poured from the treeline, weapons drawn, eyes gleaming with greed. The guards sprang into action, steel clashing against steel. Kain and Talor moved fast, positioning themselves between the wagons and the attackers.

Kain swung his hammer, catching one bandit in the chest and sending him sprawling. Talor danced between enemies, his sword flashing as he cut down any who came too close. The battle was chaotic, shouts and screams filling the air.

But the bandits hadn’t expected resistance. Within minutes, their forces wavered, and the survivors fled into the forest.

Breathing heavily, Kain wiped blood from his brow. Talor sheathed his blade, scanning the battlefield. "That wasn’t just some random attack," he muttered. "They were waiting for us."

Kain’s stomach twisted. He had thought he was using the mission as a cover—but what if someone had been waiting for him to make this move? 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Someone who didn’t want him to leave the academy.

He exchanged a glance with Talor. "We need to be ready for whatever comes next."

Talor nodded. "Agreed. Let’s get to the Eastern Province and figure this out."

Kain clenched his fists. He had set out looking for answers, but now, it seemed he had stepped into something much bigger than he had expected. And he was more determined than ever to see it through.