050 | Speculate

Lisha and I woke up early today. The sun was barely coming up from the horizon. Emily was kind enough to give us horses for free.

"Of course! It's for the future of Yanalia after all, I'm sure the manager wouldn't mind a few horses.", Emily says.

Typically, something like this would require the approval of the manager as what's being lent to us is under the AU's possession. Though, Pen is currently still recovering in the clinic. Liang Hai's water spell only healed wounds, everyone that participated in fighting against the Grim Reaper or Lord of Darkness is severely depleted of mana.

Especially the poor Sorcerer. It's a miracle he didn't fall into Mana Instability, otherwise, he could have lost his ability to utilize magic ever again.

The one exception is Bridgette who was the only person that stayed conscious until Liang Hai arrived to help us.

I wondered when she would come to ask questions and interrogate me but it seems she chooses to turn a blind eye to this incident.

"However..."

I glanced around the corners of the buildings around us. Lisha and I were up early so I could teach her how to ride a horse.

There were a few faint magic signatures that kept their distance while following us.

Lisha noticed as well, to my surprise, "Who are they?"

"Irrelevant people. Probably to ensure we don't cause any trouble, especially after our role in the war."

"I hope this place gets better," Lisha says as we walked through the city and we saw that some buildings were broken.

I wonder how that happened. I find it improbable that mere skeletons were able to push back the Yanalian army all the way here.

My eyes tracked a shadow that rushed into the alleyway, "It seems I can easily get an answer," I said with a grin.

I followed the shadow quickly without it noticing my presence. I appeared behind a slender girl that was only a head taller than me.

"Hello there, missy."

"OH MY GOD-", the scout dressed in full black cleared her throat, "H-how did you find out?"

I smirked, "You think your clumsy actions can deceive me? I would like to ask you a question."

The scout was calm, Bridgette trained them nicely to keep cool in every situation.

"Yes? What would you like to know? Why we're following you?? If it's that, I'm afraid I can't-"

"-No," I interrupted, "I want to know how the inside of the city got wrecked. The Grim Reaper's army should not have breached us."

As expected from the scout, she gave me an answer to my satisfaction.

"Riots. Some Yanalians believed all hope was lost despite the massive meteor spell that decimated a majority of the enemy. Many banded together and committed outlandish acts, we ended having to handle two different problems simultaneously."

I nodded, "Thanks. I'll be on my way now."

I felt the stare on my back as I turned around and walked back to Lisha.

"Where did you go?", Lisha asked.

"Hm? Let's just say I was looking for some answers."

Lisha gave me a look of confusion but she ignored it.

* * *

We got outside of the city faster than expected. There were virtually no guards to inspect anyone coming in or out at the gates.

Lisha and I around the walls of the kingdom until we got to our destination where Emily had already prepared two horses. They were of the same breed. Both are brown with white dots and a dark oak-like mane.

There's nothing interesting to talk about giving lessons about how to ride a horse. Lisha learned quickly, as expected. It didn't take long at all for her to fully grasp the fundamentals.

"Do you think you're ready now?", I ask as Lisha reins her horse in next to Rudif's and mine.

"Mhm," Lisha nods, "I'm confident I can do this!"

"Great," I grinned, "Let's have a race."

My horse neighed and we bolted off, Rudif and Lisha following behind.

* * *

When I regained consciousness, I was lying on a white bed. I remember this scene, not that I've been here very often but, from this grand ceiling, I'm guessing this is one of the guest rooms in the royal castle.

I'm Felix, part of the Sorcerer's Guild, ranked as a Veteran Sorcerer.

"Ah!", I bounced up and grabbed my left arm and right arm, "Phew, having your limbs torn apart is certainly not fun."

The door clicked open and, as I expected, the three captains entered. I didn't bother getting up, this bed is extremely comfortable. I'm sure they don't mind.

"Greetings, captains."

Waryun came over and pinched the side of my arm, "Hm, looks fine?"

I slapped his hand, "Ow! That hurts! What are you doing?!"

Bridgette and Haydon also eyed me up carefully. Although the latter spoke instead.

"Haha! You were close to falling into Mana Instability!", Haydon looked to the side, facing Bridgette, "I hear that it was a paladin from the Royal Water Temple that aided us?"

She nodded as she added, "It wasn't just him that saved us. That mercenary that Pen hired played the most important role."

Everyone nodded their heads. We all agreed. That young boy and his party members managed to conjure a meteor, albeit an inferior version, which decimated most of the Grim Reaper's army.

Not only that, apparently the boy clashed with the Grim Reaper by himself, stalling time until the paladin arrived.

"I was unconscious during the boy's battle. Anything worth mentioning, Bridgette?"

She sighed, "Everything? Such keen and sharpened battle senses can't be becoming from that young boy."

"Is what you first thought."

Bridgette nodded, "Yeah, but I changed my mind after witnessing it in person. Although the paladin from the Water Temple was also amazing, the boy is simply abnormal."

Now hold on, Pen suddenly found this mercenary kid that miraculously has the skill to combat the Grim Reaper- no, Lord of Darkness, and there's not a single thing that arouses suspicion?

"Just me or it seems too good to be true?"

Waryun seemed a bit offended, "He essentially saved all our lives. It's not false that he destroyed most of the Grim Reaper's army and bought enough time for the paladin to arrive."

"But...how did he know that the paladin would arrive? Bridgette, did you even sense the paladin?"

"I did not."

"Don't you guys think it's a bit...staged? Fake, perhaps?"

"Haha, I can not agree nor disagree. It is true that the boy saved us but so is his suspicious amount of power."

Waryun stayed silent. He was obviously perplexed. I heard from Pen that the boy also helped with catching the slave traders but what if everything that the boy is showing us is simply a farce?

I had to continue this conversation, regardless of how discomforting it is, especially to my savior. I need to figure out the boy's true intentions and identity. Is he truly on our side?

"What if the boy simply pretended to help us? With that much power, it would be safe to assume that perhaps the Lord of Darkness granted him the strength he-"

"Impossible," Waryun interrupted, "My eyes did not deceive me when I witnessed his technique. Such perfect form and stances can't simply be granted. It must be learned."

"Alright, fine, let's assume that it was learned. Then don't you think it's also plausible that the Lord of Darkness raised him since he was a child? We can have Pen bring in his mercenary identity documents to verify ourselves."

This time it was Haydon that defended the boy, "Haha, I simply feel there is no need to dwell on this matter. Why would the boy go through such lengths and even risk his life just to save us?"

Haydon was a former priest so his personality is generally more forgiving to children. Now is not the time to be generous, mister Priest.

"Look, I don't want to be the bad guy here but I don't want something to happen to Yanalia again. We were lucky nothing else happened. If the boy has goodwill, then so be it. Though, it's completely different if he has bad intentions. If we allow him to grow, in a few years, I would bet that he can easily overwhelm all of us."

Another voice I never heard of laughed at the door.

We all turned our heads to see a Draco leaning against the doorframe. He has blue scaly skin and two black horns protruding out at the sides of his forehead. He brushed his wavy white hair back and gave us a condescending look with his golden reptilian eyes.

"Draconian..."

The Draco was more...profane than any of us would have thought.

"I have a f*cking name you dumb*ss."

I couldn't help but stutter, "W-what? P-pardon me??", the Draconian is young as well, judging from his horns.

"Y'all are SURPRISINGLY idiots. Why are you suspicious of the only reason you're alive right now? Are you f*cking mental?"

Waryun muttered so only we could hear him, "That's the Draconian that was being enslaved before."

I sighed, "You. Draconian from the Turquoise Lineage, what business do you have with us? No- how did you even get in here?"

Haydon raised his hand, "Haha, I allowed him entry!"

"WHY?!"

The Draconian smirked, "Uh oh, sounds like someone's grumpy. I'll f*ck off then. Catch you later, and take a shower, you smell like sh*t."

The Draco's giggles echoed throughout the hallway outside until he could no longer be heard.

Finally, he's gone.

"Alright...I'll leave this matter be for now, but I'll investigate later on my own."

Everyone else seemed fine with that and issued no complaints.

"Where is he now?"

"Delivering a treaty of alliance to Barbari," Waryun says.

I can't believe it. The crown prince really issued out an order to a random mercenary party that only appeared a while ago? Where's the credibility? Where's the identity verification?

"Maybe being in the Sorcerer's Guild for too long has got me too anxious..."

Everyone nodded. I told them all to leave and that I would be fine after a few days of rest. It took some time since they kept clinging and insisting but I shouldn't be what they're worried about right now.

I mean, I have no problems if they deliver the treaty well and on time. Truthfully, I don't know what's bothering me about that child. He's a prodigy, a genius among geniuses, but there's just something...off that I can't put my mind around.

I slapped my face, "Whatever! Going to sleep."

Things should be done one step at a time. The first one is recovering. A Sorcerer without their magic becomes a nobody.