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Imperial scholar
How can the mob be so ignorant when we show them our magic on a daily basis. The very magic we weave is it that enables their peace and still instead of revering us, there are even people who are dumb enough not to believe in ghosts. Sometimes I can not help but think that the ideas of the purists do hold a certain truth..
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As we walked back, the forest was allot more quiet probably a result of whatever the worship done. Even the many small animals I was already so used to see did not scuttle around.
The way back was quite a chore, I was already tired and the injured leg did not do me any favour.
As we were walking we eventually regrouped with the other hunters who were waiting at the city's entrance, allot of them were injured or at least tired.
"be quiet and don't do anything unnecessary"
Before approaching I quickly warned the little kid, I hope he wont make too much troubles.
And it was probably for the better. When we arrived we were imminently spotted by the boss, This time he still wore a brigandee, but he also had a long and ornamented spear at his side.
Maybe a Relic from the Empire? He was drenched in blood, but he still seemed lively. It was probably not his own.
"Thanks for the great work" He took a small glance at my leg and arm, the fabric of the cloak was still torn." I expected more injuries, but it seems it was not out of luck that you survived your way from the highlands."
Leonard only looked back with his usual stoic gaze.
"When can we depart."
The man looked a bit disheartened at the response, and gestured us to follow him. Just as we were a bit farther away from the resting hunters, he abruptly turned around.
"I thought there were only two of you, who or rather what is he?"
Instantly my hand reached towards my remaining grenades, although a little but away, his alleys could still see and reach us. By taking the initiative we should be able to flee, although I would rather avoid having to fight.
"I don't know why this should be of any concern to you. At no point in time did we specified that we were only two people"
He laughed out loud, "I was only joking with you, you are correct that child has nothing to do with me. But I have a word of advise, this world is already dark and complicated enough, do not believe that you can shoulder too many burden and get away without losing something dear to you. You are no Hero only a men."
Later we arrived at the meeting spot. Standing next to the street, we walked on to arrive at the loggers rest for the first time, was a troupe of merchants. They were about 50 people, 30 of them were bearing weapons, probably meant to protect the caravan from unexpected encounters, after all even the streets were not hundred percent safe. They stood around three great carriages filled with goods, and bound to a strange ox like creature that was probably meant to drag the wares.
Luckily once we arrived our remaining luggage, which we left in the care of the village, was already prepared so we could depart immediately.
"Hey there so you are the people the dean has spoken about I am Jack. And don't worry, although I have heard you are pretty capable yourself we will be taking care of you, meal included."
Walking towards us was a lean but strong man, who belonged to the caravan. His appearance was weathered, as was the appearance of the other men. But his skin was pale, really pale. Although the people on this land were not as tanned as the one my teacher came from, obviously because of the sun, that did not mean they were like the man in front of me. Now that I think about it, his whole demenor was different than that of the villagers, while they were battle hardened but seclusive folk which kept to themself, every interruption of their daily life's seen as a personal attack, he seemed more open. Which made him suspicious in his own right.
"That's good to hear." Leonard replied same as always. He seemed to expect the situation, the people.
"We will probably stay to our self most of the time, if you have any questions just ask."
With these words the man left again. Anticlimactic.
Walking towards the caravans my friend gave me a small nudge.
„they seem quite trustworthy from what I have seen, but I can not tell for sure. At least they won't kill rob us outright."
I must agree, although they looked shabby with their worn weapons and washed out clothes, it meant that we could trust them. Rather it would be suspicious of them to wear clean clothes and new weapons marking either their inexperience or indicating their wealth. And a caravan of human merchants never grew rich without some shady businesses. The trust the boss put in them was another positive, we may not no him for long but I am pretty sure he is trustworthy.
So as we joined them on the journey it was rather peaceful, the monsters scared by our number. Sadly we were not able to socialize with the others at all. They mostly took to themself, and rarely spoke. The exception was Jack, the only actual merchant as we learned. The others were mostly guards or short workers who had stuck to him after he gave them a stable job.
"hey I am curious where exactly do you come from, Leonardo does look like a highlander to me, but your skin is way to pale for that. Maybe you were born in the eastern forest, but that is such a long journey away, that you would not get here in a lifetime. And in that lifetime your skin would have weathered"
Jack, like he did the last two days ate with us. I do not know why but he showed an unusual interest in our small group of three.
Leonard shot him an annoyed glance, his tactic was to apparently ignore Jack completely. He was allot more focused on looking at his maps and comparing it to the stone tablet in hopes of finding the spot. Luckily the only one who could make sense of them the gibberish was him, so it was relatively safe.
I instead was more inclined to talk. Not because I had even a slither of intention to let the other party know something about us, but because I was quite interested in him myself. As he had shown some peculiar traits, manly being a strength greater than average, no according to my knowledge of biology greater than what he should be capable of extorting.
"Wow you know allot about foreign coutures, considering how you have remind in this place your whole life."
He smiled slightly.
"well, different than your friend here, most travelling merchants talk about their stories, and considering that I am living in a cultural Hotpot, it is not surprising to know something about the world."
Shaking his head slightly he continued
"Anyway let us not talk about your background any more, after all you travelling merchants are a peculiar bunch, well excuse me for my bluntness, but everybody who leaves what he is familiar to, just so he can earn enough to barley survive can be considered either a nut job, or has some kind of tragic backstory. I am far more interested in your capability, what the boss told me was quit interesting, with no runic equipment you are still able to deal with a dozen monsters."
"Well, we would definitely be willing to work with you, under one small tiny but overall unimportant condition.
It would be best if we could sign a written contract to seal the deal. Don't worry they are just formality's, quite long to read thou, so just skim through them."
I could not help but smile, if everything worked we would have a guide for our next destination.