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"What's this guy's problem with you, master?" asked Sprigg telepathically. I shrugged my shoulders.
"Again, Brion. I trust this kid. Whatever happened at the forest twenty Luners prior to this incident is not relevant. You are accusing openly."
I understand why he's not showing any trustful behaviour towards me. As an outsider who portrayed magical power who let the attacker escape. Let alone a strong assailant. It must've put him to the edge and be alert. I don't even know how powerful I was when finally faced with another wizard. Sprigg told me that my magical power may perhaps be higher than the common magic wielder since I have the Origin Magic but that was because of it and not because I earned it the normal way. I merely stumbled upon it and then things happened. That's it. Then finally Sprigg came up with an idea as an alibi to stop them from asking me.
"First of all, I am not an archmage or something of the sort." I paused, "on the day that I was lost I accidentally came across numerous fairies who cared for me for the past twenty Luners and they established a pact with me.
"That's preposterous, kid! We all know spirits are elusive, let alone a bunch of them! You are making this up." Cole barged in who sounds sceptical. I wouldn't believe that lie too but I have to continue making this up.
"Just let the kid go ahead of the rest with all of his story, Cole. You're not the one to disregard it. How can you fully understand the behavior if you're not approached and asked by one!" Rad retorted, not letting Sir Cole interrupt again.
I totally don't have the idea why he would refuse that idea. I mean, what's wrong with being contacted with a bunch of fairies? I thought and asked Sprigg telepathically and as I looked at Sir Lyol, he had this shocked look that didn't move a muscle. I began worrying about the made-up story that Sprigg instructed me to tell them. Is it a mistake to use that as an excuse? Sprigg still hasn't given me any reasons and until Sir Brion stood up and gathered mana on his hand as he summoned lower-tier fire magic.
"This is a meagre class fire magic activated when I was a child on a pact with a fire fairy. It bestowed me this magic when I helped my father put out a fire rage.," he sighed, "You see, kid. A magic pact is not easy to be obtained by a mere meeting. It is earned if you are worthy or if you are a talented descendant of a wizard. You understand that, right?"
"Sprigg," I called out to her.
"If you are the boy that Lyol trained before he became a knight. Then, I should know that your lineage did not show any sign of magic as he thought of getting you as his squire prior to when he was granted the honour of becoming the man he became. After the incident, you are the only person he grieved. He did not even cry when his parents were murdered." he added.
"What he's trying to say is, establishing a pact is only done once in exchange for your courageous deed. This is an impossible feat for a mere human with limited source of mana around" she finally answered haughtily and added, "Telling them that you are contacted with multiple fairies saves you the trouble of explaining why you are an extraordinarily strong wizard."
I looked at Sir Lyol's direction who looked away as if he recounted the past. He continued explaining that a chosen knight-to-be is sent to an academy for his training and will need his own squire. Also, any kid that shows magic wielder is immediately sent to the same academy wherever you are in this kingdom as they are limited, whether you are a commoner. They will then work either at the rear end supporting the warriors of the war or an espionage officer.
After a short while, the door opened and they stood straight with their hands at their swords and as I kneeled one leg down to show respect to the new lord. He has a lot of bruises on his face and bandages all over his body. He waved his hand suggesting that he wants me to stand up. His attendees are helping him to sit on his extravagant bronze chair. He is really hurt but wants to thank me personally. Since I achieved my first goal, I might as well ask for my siblings' whereabouts.
"I heard that you want an audience with me to ask for a favour?" he said really slowly but sounded really sincere. "Whatever it is. I will grant you that wish in exchange for a favour." he paused, and added. "Work as my loyal retainer."
Everyone in the room was startled and no one expressed any refusal to the new Lord's offer because it only means one thing, to rise from the ranks. Being a retainer means not only I will be granted my freedom, but I will also directly work under the new Lord's lineup of knights. Increasing a rank is beyond comprehension for us as a slave. However, that would also mean that I will be sent to the academy to learn a lot of things to grow as a person and learn Knighthood ethics.
"Yes, my lord. It will be my honour." I instantly answered. I don't have the time to think about one single moment for this offer. I need to see them again. I want to reunite with them.
"Splendid!" he coughed and touched his temple, "What a brilliant child! Your tenacity and bravery are admirable. Hence, I want to employ you. Tell me, who taught you magic? Is it the arrogant archmage Varthos from the Kingdom of Ardun or the undying beauty, archmage Selenia from the Kingdom of Corithia?" he asked inquisitively.
"Neither, my lord." I promptly answered.
"I see. You will be summoned in three days time. For the meantime, go home and get ready for your journey to the academy. There, you will meet my daughter and protect her in my stead for the meantime."
"Yes." I bent my knee and bowed my head to show I agreed to the duties he gave me and after a moment he waved his hand to let me leave. I was escorted with the four knights that interrogated me earlier and everyone was not saying anything until we left from the main hall.
"Guess being a squire is not meant for you, huh." The knight with the jet-black hair uttered that while swinging his swords and added, "I am glad that I am yet to welcome you to the brotherhood, lad."
"Don't mess things up when you arrive at the academy or you'll be dead." said the knight with the lustrous golden hair that remained intact.
"I am just happy that you're here, kid." Sir Lyol said it while messing my long blonde hair.
I've been escorted to my old house with Sir Lyol and said he wants me to stay in his room since he seldom uses it but I refused. I want to check the Forest of Kane's dungeon of monsters once more before I leave this town. I know I have been away for too long, but in my mind, it was only a couple of weeks. Although it is the reason why I had to suffer, it is the only reason I was alive and not sent to slavery. I made up my mind and Sprigg agrees to the idea of checking it again. Thus, we hurriedly ran to the dungeons in the middle of the night where no one can catch us.
When we arrived at the entrance of the dungeon, the same fresh fragrance of the flowers greeted me with a hint of a pungent smell. I looked around to see any decayed beasts near the area but there wasn't, however, I can see a silhouette of a tall man wearing a robe leaning on the boulder. It is the same man who tried to abduct the new lord. I quickly clutched my hand to gather the mana, preparing for a fight but the man just gestured his two hands showing that it was empty.
"W-wait, Archmage!" he paused while picking something from his satchel, "I am not here to pick a fight. I have a parchment from my elder, Archmage Varthos."
"Master," Sprigg ascertained and I received the parchment. I looked at him to see if he would explain what it says in the parchment but rather, he waited for me to open it first and knelt instead.
"What's this?" still alert, I asked.
"It's a formal message to ask an audience with another high ranking Archmage. It came from the current Royal Sage of the Kingdom of Ardun." he raised his one hand facing its palm below while kneeling and added, "Forgive me, but your immediate response is necessary for three days' time."
"What is he doing, master?" asked Sprigg who, like me, doesn't have an inkling of what this man is trying to do. The culture of this world is unknown to Sprigg, that's why she is observing how we communicate. And as for me, I don't have any idea when it's outside our town's practises. I mean, it's only understandable that I also don't know anything, much less than another Kingdom's knowledge.
"Uh. Hm." I cleared my throat and added, " What are you doing, wizard?" I didn't reply to Sprigg's inquisition and asked the man instead of with a courageous demeanour.
"I want to apologize for crossing paths with such a powerful being prior to this meeting. I regret that I have to act that way." he then looked at me in the eyes and said, "Please help us!"
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