Zhao Wei found it much easier this time to form a new Trap mold as last time he had to greatly control, gather and compress mana from a stream of mana flow that was still quite thin at the time. Now he was basically swimming in a pool of material which was already compressed to a certain extent from being in too small a space. Taking a big chunk of the overflowing mana he directly forced it into the shape he wanted without much trouble.
It took him about 2 hours in total and he had to return back to reality anyway as he heard someone knocking at his carriage door. He could already tell it was Kitsi without opening the door as he very easily memorized her movement and breathing after meeting her so many times.
She'd been a good friend to him, checking up on him everyday and making sure he was okay. And he was a lot more easy going with her as well as he felt that he didn't need to worry about her, despite looking meek when she was around him she was a top class silver rank warrior who few in Dracas could face right now.
Up to this point he hadn't even met Sola again, he wasn't sure he ever could, he was the cause of her parents death. What if he selfishly came around but hurt her as well, even if he died he couldn't explain himself to Solith and Rona how he let their little girl get hurt.
Although Eyisha was kind to him, he knew that her position made it difficult to get anything beyond an amicable acquaintance to her, they couldn't really be friends as that would compromise her choices and make a target for her enemies especially on the fact that he wasn't part of their race.
Guru Pitka was very close to him at this point, and he was quite spry and energetic despite his old age. Then again, his looks and actual age made it difficult for Zhao Wei to see him as anything beyond a grandfather figure.
The only one he could talk with casually was Kitsi as she was very receptive towards him and somehow always smiled with him despite his awkwardness in communicating. And at some point, they shared little stories with each other of life before the change, imagining how they'd be if they took on each other's roles.
She was enlisted to train when she was 11 due to her exceptional talents, finishing her training when she was just 19, 2 years faster than any of her peers. Her family was obviously quite proud of her achievements, but here was a wall now. She didn't really have a life to talk about from when she was inside the training compound for 8 years, they told her stories from the neighbors or current happenings but she couldn't really relate to them as she hadn't experienced such a life for so long. Fighting, the one thing she knew well enough to talk, she wasn't allowed to talk about lest all of them be silenced.
She lived in that awkwardness for less than 2 months before she was called upon to be the royal guard, set as a guard and aid to the princess herself. But it tore her away even more, it was a 24/7 job 365 days a year, the only time she met any family and friends it was when the princess was visiting a certain street or if she was in a parade or festival.
With her sills she could easily spot them in the crowd, and many a time they responded, but that was it... an exchange of warm and empty smiles. The princess treated her well, but it was still under the title of master and servant. Ever since she could remember until she was now 28, she lived that life of isolation from any meaningful interaction.
She was always in the midst of important company but as a guard every body had a reason to hurt her liege so she would always keep a certain distance from anyone emotionally. Zhao Wei was new for her, she'd never experienced such a feeling before.
Maybe it was that he was absolutely straight forward and honest. He didn't speak as much as she thought normal people did, but when he did, there was never a lie, a meaning she had to dissect. It was just him and it calmed her to be next to him.
As soon as she saw that he was fine, a wave of euphoria washed over her. "Where have you been!!"
"Well here an obviously...." he replied.
"Do you know that I've been searching for you for two days!!" She spread two of her dainty in front of his face. His eyes went wide, it'd only felt like yesterday since he moved, then again, the perception of time while immersed in mana may be different than the outside world.
"Sorry..." he really felt bad about not informing her, she was such a good friend.
Seeing him apologize sincerely, she could only sigh helplessly, "It's okay... by the way I sent a team to pick you up yesterday, there's something going on in the council and we thought it'd be best if you were brought in to stay with under our protection," She continued on not noticing that Zhao Wei had come to a sudden realization and begun to sweat.
"Umm... I met a few guys before I moved...."