Unexpected Friend

-----Yui's POV

Unlike the journey between Inasdale and Maemont, Clesbridge was quite a ways away in comparison. All our caravans had just left Maemont, leaving us in the clear to head straight to Clesbridge. However-

Kaede: "Someone is approaching this caravan, fast."

Iris: "We won't be stopping."

Kaede: "I... don't think we need to."

In the next few moments, a man came running up by the side of the caravan, adjusting his speed to match us. It didn't take me long to realize who it was.

Yui: "Marcus?"

Marcus: "Hey."

Shouldn't he be in the academy? Why is he all the way out here? Better yet, why is he giving us aid and not trying to stop us? Alice however immediately becomes defensive, drawing her rapier.

Marcus: "Woah woah woah-"

Alice: "I won't let you hinder us."

Marcus: "What? No, I came to help. When I saw those soldiers ride on horses through the streets, I just felt something was up. When I followed them, I was curious what was happening, but when I saw you guys fighting, I just knew this was a rebellion."

Alice: "What?"

Iris: "This isn't a rebellion."

I'm assuming he must've picked up on the rumors left behind by my father, but surprisingly, he seems to be on board with it.

Marcus: "Really? I thought it was strange for you guys to be running away."

Yui: "Marcus."

Marcus: "Yes?"

I'm not going to sit here keeping everyone here on edge. I'll just cut right to the point.

Yui: "Are you going to join us? Or are you going to stop us?"

Marcus: "I still don't know what's going on. But if you'll be fighting against Inasdale, then... I'll join you."

Sure, Marcus is quite full of himself and quite intimidating, but he doesn't come across as the person to lie; at least not from the time when we talked in the tournament. Not to mention, he never once made it known about my ability to control other's magic after all this time. I look to mom for guidance since this is her plan after all. If she doesn't want Marcus to join us, then so be it.

Iris: "Hah~ If my daughter trusts you enough... Then you may join."

At mom's words, Alice sheathes her rapier before sitting back down beside mom.

Marcus: "Thank you, lady Leinhart."

Yui: "Now hop in! It's a waste to use your mana like that."

Without saying anything, Marcus propped himself up and into our caravan before taking a seat towards the back of caravan. Kaede looked to not be phased at all from this sudden development as she just watches silently. Thank god she drunk the rest of that blood ball, otherwise Marcus would sure to have a lot of questions. Actually, maybe that's why Kaede is silent? Now that someone is now here that doesn't know of her being a vampire, she can no longer be open about it? Maybe.

Iris: "Now. You're Marcus Keller, correct?"

Marcus: "Yes."

Iris: "I heard about you. Your family isn't nobility, yet you managed to obtain a barony."

Marcus: "That is correct, my lady."

Iris: "Why would you throw that away and join us?"

Marcus: "I never asked for the title of a baron. I don't really care about that stuff."

Iris: "What about your family?"

Marcus: "I never knew my mother, and my father passed away when I was young. I became an adventurer in order to feed myself. I guess that might've been the reason why I caught the king's interest."

Interesting. So in other words, Marcus has no family? Like at all? Maybe that's why he was so stern and unpleasant during the tournament. Sort of makes sense with this new found information.

Iris: "I'm sorry."

Marcus: "It's okay, my lady. I don't mind."

Iris: "Well, if you do join us, you will be back to being a commoner."

Marcus: "Perfect!"

Iris: "Pfft. Then, thank you for joining us, Marcus."

Quite a powerful ally at that, at least from the students. I do think back to my fight with that teacher. Compared to Marcus, his techniques with the sword were damn near perfect, not to mention his height advantage and the fact that he didn't use magic throughout the majority of our fight. I can't help but wonder how Marcus would do against someone like that.

Alice: "But just to make it clear, we're not rebelling against Inasdale. We're simply moving."

Marcus: "Where to?"

Iris: "To the Yarene Kingdom."

Marcus: "Yeah, I don't know where that is."

Natalie: "It's a different country that borders Inasdale."

While they're talking, I hold onto Kaede's hand, just in case if she's feeling a little nervous with Marcus now with us. Mom still seems to be weary of Marcus, but I would like to think that his story was genuine and that we can trust him. Worst case scenario, Kaede will just kill him if he makes a single hostile action towards us.

-----Kaede's POV

I'm thankful that I managed to store the blood into those wine bottles when I did, as with Marcus now with us, it'll be difficult to harvest more blood when we do come across more guards. And thanks to wine having a similar color to blood, I can probably get away with drinking the blood right in front of Marcus.

Mai: "Soldier's are now exiting Inasdale."

I had sent Mai to watch the outside of Inasdale just so that I'm aware how far we are away from them.

Kaede: "How many?"

Mai: "It's... a lot. A few thousand at least."

That many soldiers just to hunt Iris? I'm not sure just how much soldiers are in the city, but surely a few thousand would make up quite a chunk of the army.

Kaede: "What's their speed looking like?"

Mai: "They appear to be moving quite quickly with support of mages, making them move faster."

So just like Marcus... I don't expect them to be moving just as fast as Marcus, but I wouldn't be surprised that they're moving at the same speed as our caravans. If we plan to stop at the next few towns, then they'll most certainly catch up.

Kaede: "A few thousand soldiers have now exited the Inasdale gates."

Iris: "Already?"

I now relay the information to Iris just as she asked of me. I'm not much of a strategist, but from what I've seen of Iris, she makes for quite a great one. Especially with the timing of us escaping like we did with this many people.

Iris: "If they're using magic to enhance their movement, they'll catch us if we make unnecessary stops."

My heart sinks at the though of Iris abandoning the idea of stopping in Azalea. There's no way I'm leaving my family behind.

Iris: "...Change of plans. We'll skip Clesbridge and head straight for Oakvale."

Driver: "Yes, milady."

Yui: "Mom?"

Iris: "I'm not risking it. If they're already in pursuit of us, continuing south to Clesbridge would mark the end for us."

True. Clesbridge is quite isolated compared to the other towns. We'd need to head back up north which would risk encountering the Inasdale army.

Iris: "I'm certain that they can't retain much speed for long, same with us. But we should have enough time to stop at both Oakvale and Azalea before leaving the borders."

I wave of relief washed over me as she says that. I have no problem with skipping Clesbridge as the only thing I remember from that place is... Well, "that" incident.

Alice: "Agreed. Clesbridge is far too risky now."

Natalie: "Were there many people there that would join you, my lady?"

Iris: "Not really. Maybe like 20 or so people, so thinking logically, it's certainly better to just leave them... But it's still painful... Not being able to free them."

She looks quite dejected after saying that. I can clearly see that she really did want to save as many people as she could. I think even if it was just 1 person in Clesbridge, Iris would still like to stop there just for that person alone.

Alice: "You've done as good of a job as you could, Iris."

It was Alice who comforted Iris, laying a hand on her lap as Iris immediately grabs hold of her hand.

Mai: "...I recommend not stopping."

But Mai's words in my head sends anxiety through my body."

Kaede: "What?"

Mai: "I'm not sure if I have this right, but I think the army is matching your speed."

Kaede: "With that big of a force? How?"

Mai: "Might be due to a certain man. His aura sure stands out from the rest."

Could she be talking about Headmaster Lucien? I can't confirm with mana-sense since we're quite far away from Maemont now, but my mind just can't think of anyone else but him. Leon wouldn't make sense since I don't think Mai would even think of Leon as someone to worry about, which leaves just one person; Lucien.