Chapter 32: Chalu’s Journey (8)

Era of Arcane 600 CE - Month of Jono, 5th Day

Chalu, Raro, and Gori finally arrived in the heart of the Magux Kingdom. The kingdom unfolded before their eyes, revealing a breathtaking blend of architecture and magic. Chalu stood in awe, his eyes wide with wonder.

"Whoa," Chalu murmured, captivated by the kingdom's grandeur. The streets were full of life. Some carriages moved smoothly, powered by magic, while others were drawn by horses equipped with magical enhancements. Tall buildings made of stone and reinforced with magical materials rose high into the sky. The streets were paved with cobblestones, and magical lamps lit up the city, casting a warm, welcoming glow even during the day.

Merchants lined the streets, their stalls filled with all kinds of goods—exotic foods, finely crafted armor, enchanted tools, and interesting trinkets. The air buzzed with the sounds of people bargaining, laughing, and the occasional burst of magic. Street performers showed off their magical talents, drawing crowds of curious onlookers. In the town square, a fountain spouted water that danced in mid-air, controlled by invisible magic.

Raro gulped, his yellow-orange eyes wide with amazement. "Is this what a kingdom looks like?"

Gori, despite his powerful presence, couldn't hide a hint of surprise. "Tsk, to think they're so advanced compared to us."

"Hey, quiet! What if someone hears you?" Raro hissed, his fur bristling slightly.

"Whatever," Gori muttered, though his gaze lingered on the magical wonders around them.

Colerio watched them with his usual calm expression. He glanced at his pocket watch, which glowed faintly with magic. "I need to go to school now. You can go wherever you want," he said, turning to leave.

"Wait!" Chalu called out, his voice tinged with desperation.

Colerio stopped and turned, raising an eyebrow. "Now what?"

"Um, we don't know anything about this place. Can we come to your school?" Chalu asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Raro quickly leaned in and whispered in Chalu's ear, "Are you crazy? A magic school is full of wizards and mages. They'll figure out we're beastfolk. We're doomed if we go there!"

"I understand," Chalu whispered back. "But we don't know anything about this kingdom. If we're left alone here, we'll be lost."

Raro sighed, his whiskers twitching with anxiety. "But if we go there, we're just sending ourselves to our deaths."

Gori stood silently, watching the exchange, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.

Colerio, growing impatient, asked, "What are you two blubbering about?"

"Nothing, hahaha," Chalu replied nervously, trying to mask his fear with a shaky laugh.

Colerio sighed deeply. "Do you even have mana?"

Chalu shook his head. "No, we don't."

Colerio raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "You don't have it, or no one taught you?"

Chalu laughed awkwardly. "No one taught us."

Colerio sighed again, this time more heavily. "Follow me."

Chalu glanced at Raro and Gori. They exchanged nervous looks but nodded, sharing a silent understanding. Together, they followed Colerio, hoping their disguises would hold and they could learn more about the Eldoan ways.

As they walked, Raro leaned in close to Chalu, his voice a nervous whisper. "You've gotta be kidding me, Chalu. What if they scan us there and discover our disguises?"

Chalu chuckled softly and glanced at Raro. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out."

Raro shook his head, a mixture of disbelief and concern on his face. "You're crazy, really crazy."

then Raro continued whispering in Chalu's ear, "And do us beastfolk even have the potential to become mages?"

Chalu's expression turned thoughtful. "We'll figure that out too, hehehe."

Gori interjected, drawing their attention. "Hey, look, we're already here."

Colerio gestured toward the imposing structure before them, and here they stood in the gate. "Welcome to the Magux School, where swordsmanship and magic are honed to perfection. Here, students learn the art of both swordsmanship and magic, making it a comprehensive education."

Chalu observed the school with awe, murmuring to himself, "Their school is different from ours. This is big."

Raro's eyes widened in amazement. "Whoa!"

Colerio spoke mysteriously, adding to the intrigue. "If you have an affinity for magic, you can pursue the magical arts. If not, you'll focus on mastering swordsmanship."

Raro gulped nervously and turned to Colerio. "Sir, is there a security check like the one at the gate?"

Colerio met Raro's gaze, his expression unreadable. "No, there's no security check here. The school authorities are confident that no one, not even beastfolk, could pass through the gate undetected."

Then Colerio's eyes, though seemingly indifferent, held a subtle trace of pain as he looked at Raro. "Have you heard of someone named Helena?" he asked, his tone almost casual.

Raro furrowed his brow, puzzled. "Helena? I'm sorry, sir, I don't recall anyone by that name."

Colerio shrugged casually. "Never mind then.

Then, shifting the topic, Colerio suggested, "Before we proceed beyond the gate, allow me to scan your affinity to determine if you have a connection to magic."

As Colerio proposed to scan their magic affinity, a wave of apprehension swept over the group. What if Colerio uncovered their true nature?

Colerio reassured them, sensing their unease. "Don't worry. I'll only be checking your affinity."

A collective sigh of relief filled the air as the group relaxed slightly.

Chalu stepped forward bravely, offering himself up for examination. Despite the skepticism and uncertainty he felt, he knew he had to step up for the group. There was something about Colerio's demeanor that made him feel like he could trust him. "You can check me first, sir," he said confidently.

Colerio nodded and focused his attention on Chalu's affinity. Minutes passed, each one feeling like an eternity, until Colerio finally looked up.

"You don't have an affinity for magic," he announced calmly. "It seems your only path is the art of swordsmanship, not the art of magic."

Upon learning that Colerio didn't detect any magical affinity within him, Chalu felt a twinge of disappointment. However, he quickly reminded himself of the gift he possessed from Jesus—a power called aura. With a deep breath and a resilient spirit, he brushed aside his disappointment. After all, he still had his unique ability to rely on.

Then Despite a twinge of disappointment, Chalu maintained a positive outlook. "It's okay if I don't have magical affinity. I'll simply focus on mastering these so called art of swordsmanship."

Then Colerio turned his gaze to Gori, his expression unreadable. "Do you want me to check your affinity?"

Gori declined, pledging to follow Chalu's path. He shook his head firmly and said "No need. I'll join Chalu and focus on these so called swordsmanship." he scoffed "Magic is for weaklings."

Chalu couldn't help but intervene, covering Gori's mouth with his hand. "This idiot," he muttered, shooting a glance at Colerio. "He didn't mean it, hahaha." His smile was awkward, an attempt to diffuse the tension.

Colerio observed them both with a nonchalant demeanor, unaffected by Gori's dismissive remark. He simply continued to watch, his silence speaking volumes.

Then Colerio's gaze shifted to Raro, his tone softening slightly compared to his interaction with Chalu and Gori. "You? Do you want me to check your affinity?"

Raro gulped nervously but curious, he nodded. "Yes, please."

Colerio nodded and began to examine Raro's hands. After a few tense minutes, Colerio's expression shifted to one of surprise, though his nonchalant demeanor remained. "You have two affinities: Air and Water," he stated matter-of-factly.

Raro's eyes widened in disbelief. "Really?!" he exclaimed, his excitement evident.

Chalu and Gori exchanged shocked glances, amazed by Raro's potential to become a mage despite being a beastfolk.

Colerio, though still nonchalant, muttered to himself, "You're just like her."

Didn't heard what Colerio said, Raro asked, "What do you mean, sir?"

Colerio waved off the question. "Nothing important."Then he offered Raro the chance to pursue magic. "Would you like to learn the art of magic?"

Raro's face lit up with a cute, eager smile. "Of course, sir! It has always been my dream to learn about magic."

Ever since he was a child in the beastfolk community, Raro had been fascinated by stories of magic, particularly how the Eldoans wielded it. Despite the ongoing war between the Eldoans and beastfolk, Raro's desire to learn about magic never waned.

Colerio nodded, his expression still nonchalant but with a hint of warmth. "Good."

Chalu glanced at Colerio, noticing a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. He shrugged off the thought, dismissing it as a figment of his imagination. After all, Colerio's expression was typically nonchalant.

Meanwhile, Raro grinned mischievously at Chalu and Gori. "I have an affinity for magic," he announced, his smile both cute and mischievous.

Chalu's eyes widened in shock. "Wow, that's wonderful, Raro!"

Gori rolled his eyes at Raro's smirk. "This guy, smirking like that..."

...

Outside the universe

Colerio's kindness towards Raro despite knowing his true identity as a beastfolk spoke volumes about his character. It was clear that Colerio's past experiences had shaped his perspective, allowing him to see beyond stereotypes and prejudices. His decision to discreetly check their affinities, while pretending not to know their secret as beastfolk, further highlighted his kindness and understanding.

As I observed Chalu and his comrades, I couldn't help but share in their concern about the possibility of being discovered. The tension of keeping their true identities hidden added an extra layer of complexity to their journey. They had to navigate their way through unfamiliar territory, all while concealing a truth that could potentially endanger them.

 To the Eldoans, they see them as fellow Eldoans due to their shape-shifting Transformation, but to me, I see them as beastfolk.

Also It was quite surprising to discover that Beastfolk could harness magic.

"Host," the creation system chimed in, its tone carrying a weight of authority, "it's crucial to understand that elemental magic is typically beyond the grasp of most Beastfolk due to their lineage, which traces back to Aurathos, the calamity beast."

"Makes sense," I acknowledged, intrigued by this revelation. "But why is it that Aurathos can wield dark magic?"

"Ah, that's a matter of defying the natural order," the system clarified. "Ordinarily, monsters like Aurathos shouldn't possess the ability to wield magic. However, he's an exception. He defied the rules, creating his own form of magic—dark magic."

"Got it," I said, taking it all in. "So, Aurathos basically created his own type of magic because he was special, even though normally creatures like him aren't supposed to use magic."

"Indeed Host," the system confirmed. "But it's important to note that the ability for Beastfolk to wield magic is exceedingly rare. Those who do possess such an affinity, like that individual in Colerio's story, often have shorter lifespans, typically living up to 110 years."

I expressed my frustration to the system, "Damn, it's so complicated. So, if Beastfolk have an affinity for magic, their lifespan is capped at 110 years, instead of their usual 250?"

The system's confirmation only deepened my sympathy. "Yes, host."

Feeling a pang of sympathy, I sighed, and muttered "I feel sorry for them. They didn't ask to become descendants of Aurathos."

As I thought about their situation, I couldn't shake the feeling of empathy for Chalu and his companions. They were born into circumstances they had no control over, carrying the weight of a lineage that brought both challenges and limitations. It wasn't fair that they were burdened with a heritage they didn't choose.

With a renewed sense of curiosity, I turned my attention back to Chalu's Journey.

To be continued