A promise

The sky was dark, making the afternoon even more gloomy. On the road leading to a village from Blackthorn forest, a horse was running. Riding atop that horse was a boy eho had black hair, purple eyes and an average build. He was wearing leather boots, white trousers on his lower body whereas a brown leather armour over his white shirt on his upper body. The boy had a leather bag tied to his waist. This boy was none other than Aren who left the cave two hours ago.

After surviving that ordeal, he had immediately left the site in forest. Aren knew that as a rank 2 lesser mage, William was an important person in his organisation. When they find William dead, they will surely send an investigation team. So he decisively left. He was now heading towards the village where Mr. Cowen was. As a rank 4 lesser mage, Cowen will be a sufficient deterrence for the investigators should they ever find him.

After riding for another hour, he arrived at the village. He then went straight to his room when he reached Cowen's house. He needed to rest for a while. The journey this time was extremely stressful making him tired both mentally and physically.

pik! pak! pik!

A while later, rain drops fell down from the skies. Cowen, who was in the living room gazed at the ceiling. Right above living room was Aren's room which he had chosen for himself.

'Strange, Why is there an aura of death magic lingering around him. It isn't a curse nor it is a spectre.' Cowen thought but he didn't realize the changes that happened on Aren's body. It was like Aren's runes never activated when Cowen looked at him.

...

Next day, Aren woke up early. He was now in much better condition than yesterday. Coming downstairs, he greeted Cowen who was watering some unknown flowers planted in a flower vase.

"Good morning sir."

"Hmm Good morning. It seems like you had some interesting adventures. Would you mind telling me about them?" Cowen asked having the same gentle smile on his face. This smile, however, seemed like the biggest trouble to Aren.

He was startled at first thinking that master Cowen knew everything about his little secrets. However, he suddenly realised that Cowen didn't seem to notice that rusty ring he was wearing. It made sense though. No matter how impressive Cowen was in his spells he was still a lesser mage. He couldn't find a ring made by a greater necromancer even if the said caster was already dead.

Finding about this difference, Aren was confident that he could fool Cowen easily. Aren then told him everthing except for William's commission and his name as an adventurer. He also added some lies to make it sound real.

Cowen listened carefully raising questions from time to time. After Aren told him everything, he seemed to be convinced and let Aren go telling him to pack things up. Unbeknownst to Aren, however, he had secretly used many spells on him while questioning him. The strange thing was the response given by the spells to him.

Everything that Aren told him was true!

So true that even Cowen didn't believe it. But he had no choice but to believe because if Aren could counter his spells without him even realising, then that would be more unbelievable.

Aren met Tina after having his breakfast to inform her that he would be going with master to the capital today.

Yes, The capital. It was the only place where the entrance to the academy was located. According to Cowen, Only one academy that taught magic would be located in a kingdom and Clementine academy was in Ashlar Kingdom.

When she heard the news, she turned away and oddly didn't say anything as if it didn't matter if he went or not. But the next moment she faced him, tears had already reached her pinkish cheeks. He noticed that her hands were shaking and when she spoke her voice, her voice was softer than usual.

"So the time came huh? I know you wouldn't stay in this village for long but never had I expected you to go this early."

Aren didn't know what to say. Although he and Tina had only met less than two years ago, she had always been together with him since he came to this village. There were times when he would be troubled about his condition in this world but there was a sister who always soothed him.

Even in this village, there were some elves who discriminated him as a human but Tina never left his side. For that, he was extremely grateful to her.

As she was about to tear up once more, he quickly held her hands and said. "But don't worry, I'll write letters to you from time to time. Its only a matter of five years. Then I'll come here again."

She didn't give any response but only the same look.

He knew what she wanted him to say.

"It's a Promise by me, big sister."

As he said that, a smile bloomed on her face. Then suddenly, she pulled him in her embrace and said,

"You better remember this, little brother."

Bidding Tina farewell, he arrived outside the village. Master Cowen was there, staring at the village gate. He wasn't alone though. Lots of villagers were there who came to see Cowen and Aren.

Seeing him walking over, Cowen raised his left hand and beckoned him to come faster. Aren ran and came beside him. Cowen was having short talks with the villagers who were giving him some gifts and saying goodbye.

He then raised his head and looked towards the horizon. Aren also followed his suit and looked but didn't see anything. After a while, a dot came into his view which rapidly expanded into a black crow like bird. However, it was bigger than any crow he had ever seen. It landed a distance away from Cowen, its black wings blowing huge gusts of wind. Cowen went towards it and said to Aren while he tried to sit on its back.

"This is a Mountain Raven. Its a rank three creature and Headmaster's familiar. Come, sit on its back."

"A familiar?" Aren asked.

"Yes. Its a spirit which accompanies a greater and above rank mage. Our headmaster is a rank 5 greater mage and this raven is one of his familiar. Honestly, if I wasn't needed in the academy urgently, even I wouldn't have a chance to board one of headmaster's familiar." Cowen explained as he pulled Aren and made him sit behind him on the back of mountain raven.

Cowen then gave a spiritual signal to the Raven and it gave a sharp cry. It then started flapping its wings and soon Aren and Cowen started flying with the familiar. Aren looked back at Green leaves village where he had lived for one and half years from above. He saw many villagers waving their hands towards them and became a little nostalgic.

He then retracted his gaze and looked ahead. His eyes were filled with anticipation and curiosity.

'I'll come here someday.' he made a secret vow to himself while withstanding the cold air currents passing by him.

-----End of the first arc-----