Aeon was not processing what he was seeing.
Suri and Korona?!
Was he dreaming?
Aeon was still in a daze when the two descended their own horses.
Suri approached Aeon and said, "Can you count us in?"
Behind him, Korona nodded.
Aeon snapped back to reality. He chuckled then hugged Suri tightly. "Yo, hahaha! How did you two get here?"
"Well, you told us in your letter that we could request one thing from the empire. So we asked them to take us to you."
Korona giggled. She was the one who answered Aeon's question.
"Come on," Aeon scratched his cheek with a finger, "I meant to improve your standing. You know, it was hard to get the Emperor's seal on that special request letter."
"It's okay," Suri replied, "the Principal didn't want anything more from the Empire anyway. He said it'd be us who will pay you back from now on."
Aeon frowned. To be honest, he didn't approve of how the Florentinians offered to be "cannon fodders". The special request letter Aeon gave was to break that specific part of the contract. The letter he sent was purposely addressed to Solare Samo too so he would be the one to use it.
So they chose not to break their agreement?
Weird.
Regardless, it was another person's decision, so Aeon could only respect it.
"Aeon, who are these two?" Leona asked with an annoyed tone. Then she waved a hand at the soldier who brought the strangers to dismiss him.
Aeon happily turned towards Leona to introduce them, "Leona, these are my friends, Suri and Korona."
"Huh. Strange. I didn't know you had friends outside Mistfa—" Leona paused, having realized something.
"Wait, are you from the Florentine Empire?"
Aeon cut in between Leona and his friends. He was afraid that she would suddenly turn violent. "Yeah, they are."
Leona clicked her tongue. She was obviously not pleased. "It's okay as long as they're not tagging along."
"They are," Aeon answered with a crooked smile.
Hearing this, Suri and Korona beamed with joy. Leona, on the other hand, felt the complete opposite.
"What?!" Leona hiccuped, and she felt like screaming in frustration. But because it was already the middle of the night, she couldn't. She had to respect the people who were sleeping. Instead, she reached out towards Aeon, pulling his collar. She then whispered in front of his face, "What are you doing? You want to bring them with us?"
Aeon nodded helplessly in Leona's grasp.
Leona stared at him with shock on her face for a good two seconds. She was thinking how the idiot, Aeon, could trust people from the Florentine Empire in the midst of their own Empire's crisis. But looking at him, she knew that she couldn't sway him to change his mind. Leona could only groan.
"Fine! But if these two are going to be a burden, they're going to 'mysteriously' disappear."
Leona pushed Aeon back, making him stumble towards Suri.
Aeon sighed as Suri helped him up. He still couldn't understand Leona's temper. Come to think of it, she wasn't like that before. She had always been sweet.
She only started being grumpy after she told Aeon something.
What did she tell me again?
Aeon couldn't remember.
"By the way," Aeon turned around, "where's Levi, Selena, and Samuel?"
Hearing this, Suri shook his head then said, "Samuel said he wanted to help fight against the enemies. Levi and Selena were just not interested."
Korona bit her lip lightly. It sounded like those people felt no attachment to Aeon or anything.
"But they wished us our safety and are glad that you're alive, hehe" Korona blurted out seeing Aeon's long face.
"Move out! Bring your horses along. Aeon and I will get ours at the northern exit," Leona commanded.
Suri and Korona complied.
"Why is this person so strict?" Korona leaned over at Aeon to gossip.
"Ah, she's the daughter of the Emperor. She's cocky, but deep down, she's a good person," Aeon said.
Out loud.
Leona ground her teeth and balled a fist.
Korona regretted asking Aeon.
Needless to say, the man took a beating.
As they walked over to the northern gate, Aeon briefed Suri and Korona about what they were going to do. He had been vague about it in his letter, only saying that he would be leaving the Empire to go on a mission, so there was quite a lot to talk about.
Aeon slipped up and called the Emperor uncle many times, so the two were able to catch up on the info. Although they were surprised, they didn't think it was impossible. The Marshall for sure would be close to the Emperor.
When they finally reached the exit, they encountered people who gave Aeon and Leona horses suitable for traveling long distances. Those horses carried the pair's weapons—Aeon's twin swords and Leona's scythe.
The people didn't forget to give the kids passes for all the other Empires in the form of the Emperor's seal as well. They would be needing that to be exempt from trespassing.
The four left after thanking the helpers.
….
Two days later.
Lefa Empire's Anemone City.
"Do you think there'll be any info about Meredith on the news?"
"Che. They won't do that. If they suddenly stop publishing normal news then that means things got messed up."
"You do have a point."
Aeon stretched his arms and continued eating his brunch inside the inn they slept in. It was already noon, but he just woke up because they only arrived earlier in the city before dawn.
It was their final stop before checking on the two areas marked on their map. According to it, those areas had buildings. They couldn't understand the labels, but it was something they should check out anyway, regardless.
"How did your father got a hold of this thing anyway," Korona asked as she surveyed the map. They hadn't talked much during their travels so she asked while she had the opportunity.
Aeon shrugged. He didn't know too. "Beats me. Even uncle was mad that he didn't share it."
"Enough chit chat! Eat your meals so we could go!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The door of the inn swung wide open and four people walked out while thanking the owner. They hopped onto their horses and left.
The group didn't know that, after they finished their meal, one person inside the inn also rushed to finish his and exited the building.
He rode his own horse and left in a hurry.
….
Their first destination was northwest, an area near the sea.
They have already made their research and knew that that area had no structures around or whatsoever. There weren't even any ruins.
But this information wouldn't disappoint them.
If it was that easy to find, then everyone in the Lefa Empire would've known about it long ago. It hadn't been long before the coasts became dangerous so people used to wander around that area quite a lot.
Along the way, they could see that anywhere… literally anywhere, there were beautiful flowers.
Maybe those flowers were the reason why their cities and towns were named after flowers.
No wonder Lefa Empire was known as the most beautiful.
Compared to the past two days where they were simply rushing, now, they were able to appreciate the scenery more.
After three hours, they reached their destination.
In that area which was slightly elevated, they could clearly see the sea. Farther on the horizon, they could even witness gigantic magical sea creatures frolicking around, and jumping.
Being people who lived away from the coasts, they were naturally amazed. Even Leona.
This time, it was Aeon who reminded everyone to begin searching for clues which made Leona harrumph.
Although they were relatively closer to the waters, the area wasn't really suitable for amphibians and reptiles to live in so they rarely encountered any magical beasts.
The search mostly consisted of trying to find hidden caves or any kind of entrance. They had no Earth mage around so they had Suri blow things up left and right.
If the Lefa Empire knew what they were doing, for sure, they would be kicked out of the Empire or jailed.
Luckily, there weren't any people around and Suri could do his thing without any worries.
Or so they thought.
"Here, here! Destroy this rock too!"
"Can you please wait?!"
"Hey! This one! Do your best! Come on!"
"It's okay Suri, just follow your own pace."
"What did you say?! What pace? We don't have all day!"
"I'm sorry!"
"Hey. Yo, yo! Stop, stop! Someone's coming. And he's coming fast!"
"Shit, have we been found out?!"
Suri immediately began kicking back the dirt he just gathered to the side. He was the one sweating the most, not only because it was he who did the dirty work, but because he was truly nervous.
Shit! Am I going to be jailed in this empire?!
Suri suddenly saw Aeon drag a dead magical beast's body and laid it on the ground. They were standing on elevated ground, so the person approaching them didn't see this action.
Suri's dreaded face finally eased up.
Quick thinking!
Now, they could at least give an excuse as to why the area looked like a storm just passed by. But… it really looked stupid!
Even the trail of the beast they dragged was not covered up.
Fuck! Only idiots would fall for this.
But they at least had to try!
The person riding on a horse finally arrived in front of the group pretending to be exhausted from killing a magical beast.
Up close, they all noticed that the newcomer was fairly young. He didn't seem to be a patrol or a guard. He looked just like a passerby, but he should still be a resident of the empire.
"Man, I'm glad we're all safe," Aeon said as loud as he could as he wiped his imaginary sweat away. He then turned towards Suri to wink.
Suri shook his head.
This is hopeless.
The stranger remained silent as he surveyed the area. He didn't seem to believe what Aeon said because his eyebrows started to furrow and his forehead started to wrinkle.
"What on earth were you doing here?" the stranger yelled. Based on the mess, it simply looked like the group was just kicking up flowers and dirt all around the place. There was even a huge pit! And what the heck was up with the beast? Isn't that a trail? It's been dead for quite some time too.
Were they digging up some treasure or something?!
If not, were they planning to farm there?
The land 200 meters around him was literally turned upside down!
The stranger boiled with rage and he looked extremely pissed.
"You fuckers! Tell me your last names or I'll report you for ravaging this area! You think I'll fall for this beast trick?! Huh? You think I'm stupid?"
The stranger began spitting out facts after facts about their misdemeanor, making their heads sink deeper into their necks with every word.
"...Even though not many people come here anymore, this area still belongs to—Mama mia!"
The four were looking down towards the ground, regretful. They were already regretting not bringing an Earth mage along to help out.
We're fucking guilty. We're sorry about damaging your land. We knew it belongs to Mama Mia.
Wait.
Mama what?
The four realized that the man's last sentence was rather weird, so their heads shot up.
When their eyes settled on the blonde stranger, his mouth hung wide open, and he was drooling.
He seemed to be looking at…
Aeon turned his head.
Suri turned his head.
Korona turned her head.
Eh?!
The stranger was looking at Leona!
The three were still dazed when the man suddenly rushed towards Leona and bowed in front of her while holding her right hand.
Shocked, Leona forgot to move.
The stranger then flicked his wrist to emphasize on Leona's face.
"Oh, that beautiful white skin! Those mesmerizing green eyes. That smooth blonde hair! And…" the stranger's hands fell a bit lower, "those plump brea—"
"Pervert!"
"Oompf!"
The figure of the weird man came rolling down the hill like a cart's wheel that was on the loose.
….
"Eym sowwy," the stranger said, his face swollen. He was now back at the top of the hill with Aeon and others, bowing, his face planted on the ground.
"You disgusting cretin!" Leona cursed.
How did it come to this?
Earlier, they were the ones in the wrong.
By the side, Aeon and the others didn't know whether to be relieved or to be worried. If things continued to play, they would be charged with more than just damaging the land.
They might be charged with murder…
Leona stop.
Aeon wanted to reach out his hand, but Suri stopped him.
"You fucker! Who the fuck are you?" Leona asked.
The stranger suddenly stopped trembling. It seemed as if he was frozen in time.
Then, he slowly straightened his body.
What is this guy doing? Aeon and the others wondered. Nevertheless, they found their attention glued to the stranger.
Because the air around him suddenly changed.
The stranger looked at Leona straight in the eyes. His expression: serious.
Leona flinched from the firm gaze.
"Since you asked, I should tell you," the man combed his hair with a hand, "I'm Rhyme Velron."
The stranger struck a pose and bit his lip.
He looked like the prince charming in operas attempting to seduce the leading lady. Or he at least thought he did.
Everyone felt their minds suddenly go blank.
…
This weirdo!
Fists after fists landed on the stranger's face.
….