Chapter 20: City

The day is Saturday. Josh got out of the academy to roam the city outside in search of a forest.

On Thursday, they had their training. Krizel did not talk at all to Josh, she only replied with a nod and shake of her head. However, her ears get red every time Josh talked to her. Josh did not think much of it since it was cold. He also thought that she must have felt awkward after showing a disgusting sight of her to him.

Josh did not do any training at all during that day. He just watched Krizel control her spells. He is still afraid of his spells malfunctioning and inadvertently causing someone harm.

Today, Josh roams the city to find a place. An isolated place where he can use his spells freely.

'I'm sure that I said 'Erase' on that day… What if I mistakenly focused my spell on Krizel? Oh God, I almost killed someone on the first day of classes.' Josh thought with a shiver running through his whole body.

'Also, the 'Drain' spell. I'm half sure that I accidentally focused my spell on Krizel…'

'The dorms should have been fine, but the arrays… what if I accidentally activated or erased them…'

'I haven't told anyone about my element; they didn't even give me the chance to do so… at the worst case, I might get expelled…'

"Haaaaaaa…" Josh sighed worriedly as many thoughts come to his mind.

...

Josh did not know what city he is. As far as he knows, it was the capital of this country. The streets are spacious. And he would pass by someone every three minutes or so, making the place look not so crowded.

...

"Good Morning Uncle! How much for this Takoyaki?"

"Ohh! A kind and handsome one! It's 10 bronze coins, but, just for you, 8 bronze coins is fine."

"Ohh! What a cool and handsome uncle! I'll take that offer! Thank you!" Josh said before paying.

With a stick of Takoyaki in his right hand, Josh continued talking to the uncle.

"Uncle, do you know any forest here? I'm just new in the area, and I'm kinda missing the trees of my country."

"A new student of the advanced academy? You're a genius too? Whoaa! You're impressing this uncle more and more. Actually, I know of a place, but it's unguarded, so beasts might show up in there. But, the peripheries should be fine. I myself go there to chill with the chirping birds sometimes."

"That's great! Where is it, uncle?"

With his hand pointing straight ahead on a road, the uncle said,

"Just go straight there, and after that, go left then left again. It should be about two kilometers from here. If you ride a cab, just say your destination is the Zaroa mansion. It's a pretty common landmark since it's too big. From there, just go straight ahead of the road. It's a dead-end road. At the end of it is the forest."

"It has no name, so we, townsfolk, just call it Zaroa's forest because it's near them."

"I will remind you again, don't go deep inside. There's a rumored 10-start gravity element beast in the center of that forest. That's why no organization dares to clear it."

Josh repeatedly nods his head while listening to the uncle. But deep inside, he's already forgetting some details and Polar Panda is already dancing to a chill lofi music. That's why,

'Good thing I always have my recorder set in 'quick navigation' in my cellphone.'

"Thank you, uncle! See you again next time. Ah! The Takoyaki taste good. I'll buy again next time!"

"Come back again, young one!"

...

After Josh got farther away from the shop, he used his earphones and listened to the recorded file.

'Okay. Cab. Zaroa Mansion.'

Josh waved his hands when he saw a taxi. He entered it and said to the driver,

"Good Morning! Please take me to Zaroa Mansion."

"Where sir? The inside or the outside?"

'Inside or outside?'

"Uhh… Is the middle fine?"

"…"

"…" They had a stare off for a good five seconds.

The driver realized that his passenger is a newcomer in the country. He then said,

"Is your final destination near it?"

"Uhm. Yes. The Zaroa's forest."

"Okay. Then, I'll take you to the road leading to it."