Chapter: Rain of hope (2)

It was early, but the desert Sun was merciless. Tidlen was the last to wake up. The others had already washed their face and were about to leave to train.

As a mage, his focus was not physique. Though his body was well toned, his primary concern was his mana. Due to the haphazard mana in the village, it took more time to recover mana.

After washing his face, he sat in a meditative posture and slowly circulated his mana. From the body's core, the spine, to his stomach then throughout the body. By doing so, he allowed his body to accumulate the surrounding mana and circulate it. It was very slow process, yet very tiring.

Kyle and the rest were practicing in the inn's back yard. They had previously asked for permission, and it was granted provided they do not destroy anything.

The back yard was not very spacious but was enough for the three. Yes, three. Ray was not with them. Kyle had woken up to find Ray's room door open. A maid was cleaning it. When she asked, the maid told her that Ray had already left more than half an hour ago.

Swinging her daggers with extraordinary precision and swiftness, her focus was immense. Each of her movements were quick and precise. She could imagine and replicate all the different attacks possible and how to counter it. As her elegant movements combined with her looks, it was a sight to watch.

Matt also trained beside Kyle. Though his body was not in top condition, he tirelessly practiced. With complete focus and determination, he repeatedly trained his reflexes. With his shield in his hand, he would concentrate on each sound in the proximity. The slashing sounds of Kyle's dagger. The swoosh of Lily's arrows, the talking of people inside, and more. Of all the sounds he picked a few ones which he pretended as attacks. For each sound he heard, he tried to place his shield opposite to it.

Towards the edge, Lily raised her bow. With each arrow more accurate than the previous, she consciously targeted her previous arrows. Her precise and fast arrows pierced each other. Each arrow pierced the previous before getting split by another!

 Any bystander would marvel at the three's strength.

At the other end of the city, at a place where very few passed by, Ray stood, holding his sword. He was already drenched in sweat. He picked up a few small stones from the ground and threw it high.

And just as they came falling, he unsheathed his sword. Then, his sword movements became a blur. The stones, now falling slowly. Next his body also a became a blur, as he moved with precision and speed. The falling stones had come to a halt as Ray's sword held them in place, all the while, not touching them a single time.

This stalemate continued for 10 minutes. A feat achieved by pure swordsmanship. Not magic, not levitation, not mana either. Just pure swordsmanship.

---

It was 8 in the morning. The elf siblings, had finished their morning routine. They descended the steps of the 'chief's mansion' to a delicious breakfast.

After which, Artina started her work, approving budgets, bills, and paperwork.

Meanwhile Aelar, went to guide the people.

He was the on-ground supervisor, while Artina usually stayed at chief's mansion to complete the paperwork. They would switch sometimes, many times ensuring that they both had the competence of a chief.

Today, especially, they had been very excited. The reason was simple… Their Uncle (Ray) was in town.

Besides their belonging feelings; He was the only one who could remove the curse upon their land…as the one who cursed it in the first place.

They knew that he was expecting them to do something, fulfil a condition. But whenever they had asked him about it, even just for hints, he had refused to say.

So… when he had come, they were both excited. He may have insisted that it was a coincidence, but they both knew his cunning nature. No such thing as fate could bind him.

Aelar was greeted just as he left his house, by an elf, wearing luxurious clothes.

The brown-haired elf called. He was dressed in neatly tailored blue suit. A stark contrast to the desert environment. He looked completely out of place.

Aelar, recognising the individual,

"Greetings, it's a pleasant surprise to be visited by the Mayor of Silia."

"Really? Now, is it? Aelar"

The brown-haired elf in the suit asked sarcastically.

"Well, that depends on your purpose."

"Marvelous! What change in tone."

"Come inside''

Aelar, who had previously greeted politely, changed his tone to carelessness in the next second.

Seeing the visitor, Artina greeted him. The three went to the 'conference room.'

"So why have you come here, Celos?"

Celos, looked at them seriously

"A great number of refugees have been coming to Bani. You know, the refugee town.

But even the refugee town is greatly short on funds. The chief of Bani is a friend of mine. So, I have come here on his behalf, asking for aid."

"Then is, Silas officially declaring support for Bani?"

"I can not do that. Doing that will cause huge political pressure from all sides. Not only my territory, our nation will be affected. That is why I am asking for support from you. Yours is a town, that supports no faction. "

'Honestly it is a surprise, how you guys haven't fallen from attacks yet' Celos thought.

Aelar had become completely serious. His presence was imposing. From his posture and body language to his mana presence. Anyone could tell, his strength, as the chief.

Artina was also no different. Her usual calming attitude had vanished, though not hostile, her eyes were cold.

The proposal yielded no benefit to them. The man who had come, had not said anything about their interests and a deal.

Seeing their change in attitude, Celos continued

"You can discuss the terms of the deal directly with Bani's mayor"

He said, placing a rectangular crystal on the table.