Elsar, a very unique city of mages. It is located on the western side of Esperia, with a population of about 500 000 people.
The city may not be as big as the capital or Aseid, but very beautiful in aspects of architecture. Many people live here with their old traditions, therefore, most of the places are not that technically advanced than in the other cities.
One hour before, Sun and Shira used the portal and Shira directed them to this city.
Sun hasn't visited many cities, he only knew the capital and Aseid well enough. Seeing this traditional city, he felt a bit nostalgic.
He remembered the moments when he was on vacation in Europe, sightseeing the churches and old buildings.
The memories were a bit fuzzy because he was only five back then, but he could see some of the images as clear as the sky.
He wondered about how humanity is doing on the other side. The world is covered with a big barrier and around Esperia is a second defense barrier just in case of an invasion by the Demons.
This defense mechanism may be very reassuring, but it also blocks the communications between the two races.
If the humans want to make contact with Espers, they'll need to visit the 'Gate'.
The 'Gate' is the only normal way in and out of Esperia.
"Hey! Why do you look so gloomy?", Shira noticed the stern look on Sun's face.
"Really? Do I? I make a serious face when I'm thinking about something.", he answered.
"Hmmm. I'm bored...", Shira complained after walking for a while.
"Well, we came here without a plan. What do you expect?",Sun said.
"Yeah, I know.", she answered.
Her red cheeks stood out as she pouted. Sun secretly looked at her and thought how lucky he was to walk with such a beautiful lady.
Then he thought that she is basically a stranger to him and found his situation it bizarre.
It is strange. Why would a stranger ask Sun to go somewhere?
"It is either she has madly fallen in love with me or she is running away from something.", he thought but quickly decided on the second choice.
"Hm. These guys attacked her. She is walking in an unknown city with nearly a stranger of the opposite sex.", Sun thought.
Sun decided not to ask her since he knew she would avoid personal questions, so he decided to ask her something else.
"Hey, since you're a freshman at Esperia Magic School, then your magic skills must be amazing, right?", he asked.
Shira looked a bit surprised by that question and then grinned.
"Yes, my Soul Origin is quite exquisite, you know?", she gestured a peace-sign with her right hand.
"Gosh, she's cute.", Sun thought at that moment.
"Yeah? Then what's your Soul Origin?"
"Vela, the lady of the sky."
"Hm. Never heard.", Sun scratched his head.
"Hm. It humanoid, you know."
"Really? That's OP."
"See. I told you. Hehe.", she laughed. It sounded like a singing bird.
But it vanished from her face as quickly as it came after she saw a man in a black coat in a small alley on the right.
Sun did not notice that guy, but he felt something was not right.
The man stepped out of his hideout and confronted the two.
"Miss. It's time to go.", he said with a hoarse voice.
"Why is his voice so strange?", Sun thought.
After seeing this man, Shira's face went pale and her cheerful self turned to stone.
"Is something wrong?", he asked out of concern.
"Hey, Sun.", she said in a depressive tone.
"Yeah?"
"Could you do me a favor?"
"Of course."
"... Please forget about me and everything you saw today, okay?"
"Huh?! Why?", Sun looked surprised.
"Please. I don't want to involve you further into this matter."
"I can't just forget about everything.", he said.
"Please. You must... You know, I really had fun with you. I've never felt better in my life. You saved me earlier and looked like a prince of my dreams. Hehe.", she said.
"If its the same guys from before. I can beat them to a pulp.", Sun patted his chest.
"No. Please, don't. You can't defeat them. This time is different from the good-for-nothing guys from before."
"Miss. We don't have time.", the man got impatient and grabbed Shira by her left arm.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?", Sun got furious.
"My job. Go home kid. This is not the right place for you.", he said.
Sun got a closer look of the mysterious man. He had cold eyes, the eyes of a murder.
He had battle experience and probably killed thousands of men.
He would definitely not hesitate to kill Sun if he tries to interfere with him.
...
The man pulled out an orb from his pocket and chanted relocation spell.
"Hey! I-"
"Stop!", Shira interfered before Sun could speak out.
"Don't.", she said.
"But you-"
"I'm fine. Thank you for everything.", Shira interrupted Sun again.
"Please forget about today. It is the best for all of us. Sorry, I got carried away and brought you to this place. I just wanted to have some fun for a bit before going back.", she said. Her voice was trembling when she said that.
"Soul Origin: activate", Sun said in the calm voice.
"I need to save her! She obviously doesn't want to go with this black dude.", he thought.
"This trick won't work on me, boy.", the man said calmly.
*Swoosh*
Before Sun could even make a move, he was knocked down from behind.
"What?"
"You are no match for me. Give it up.", he said and his cold eyes stared at Sun.
"Please. Malzar, don't kill him.", Shira shouted.
"Hm. It's not even worth to kill trash like him.", he said.
"Relocation: activate"
...
Shira disappeared along with the black man, leaving Sun lying on the ground.
"**** was that?!", Sun smashed his fist into the ground making a deep hole.
"Is this the skill difference between an experienced Esper and me?", he thought.
"No, it can't be. Arcas should've traced his movements, so how? How did he knock me down from my blindspot? And even while holding a person with his other hand."
"He must have used some kind of technique or he is a Master or higher.", Sun thought after analyzing the fight.
"I really need to advance in my Class Cultivation.", he thought.
"The skill gap between the Cultivation Ranks are too wide. Everything in the world of Ethers is based on power, influence and merit.", he reminded himself.
"But the most concerning thing is the case of Shira Yao. Why would she say that? Who is she?"
Judging from the man's abilities and acts, he figured the man must've been a butler of some sorts. Meaning Shira Yao must be from a noble family.
She also mentioned something about 'Vela' . Maybe he could find something about this Soul Origin in the capital library.
In any case, he felt a connection to her. Something about her just attracted Sun. He doesn't know what it was, but he knew that he needed to help her.
"Tsk. How can I let this sit there when she looked at me with those puppy-eyes.", Sun stood up in on go, looked up to the orange colored sky and sighted.
"It's getting late. In any case, I should head back and rethink about this matter.", he thought and asked a resident for directions to the portal here.
On the way to the portal, he thought about using his connections to gain some information about Shira Yao.
He was after all a member of the Spring Gang, a very large organization with many links.
"He... hehe... I may need to contact my scary teacher again.", he trembled with that thought.