Ragne's request was not a modest one; in truth, it was beyond the bounds of propriety, and he was not happy about it. However, to miss the opportunity to get into the abode of the masters is real idiocy, which is much more critical in comparison with arrogance.
Elin's brown eyes flashed green again, and he felt a slight tingle in his head. Mind masters of the highest level could control the minds of thousands of beings, a twenty-year-old girl had just set foot on the thorny path of mentalism. However, even at the initial levels, it was not difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
- He's not lying… We'll need the money shortly, but if you promise to return three times as much… We can borrow thirty gold pieces for the advance payment to the Halls of Issa. For one month of training, you'll have to get another thirty to pay for the second one, as well as return us a hundred and twenty to us, okay?
The girl held out a hand that exuded a nondescript light green light. Without thinking, Ragne returned the handshake, and at the same time, an unpleasant coolness washed over his head. The physical manifestation of the interference of an alien aura meant that the deal was sealed, and the violation of its terms promised severe consequences for the unscrupulous party.
— Now come, we must cross the gates of the halls of Issus."
Elin was the leader of the Seductress sisterhood. Ragne didn't ask any questions and followed.
The girls preferred small alleys to crowded avenues. After almost forty minutes, six young people came out to the shopping street, which was not possible to get around. The second-largest avenue ended right at the walls of the masters ' fiefdom. On both sides of the twenty-meter road were all sorts of shops and small shops, mostly representing the sales outlets of trade organizations. Many fought for the opportunity to display goods here, as the students of the Halls of Issa always had money and needed products of various kinds.
Pretending to be out for a walk, the fugitives entered the busy street and made their way to the golden gate of the Halls of Issus.
From step to step, the giant gate drew closer. No one noticed the group of teenagers going about their business, when suddenly, near one of the shops where a homeless man was sitting and begging for alms, an angry exclamation was heard.
"The murderer!! That little bastard is a killer!
Pointing at Ragne, the tramp continued to shout, drawing the attention of many people. Unfortunately for him, there were no guards posted outside the halls of Issa, the sovereign part of the city.
"Use your strength and shut him up, we don't want any trouble…
Ragne's whisper should have made Elin act, but she didn't move a finger.
— I can't use my abilities until I become a Hall disciple. If I do this, we'll die before we get through the gate, and you can handle your problems.
Whether there were actually prohibitions on the use of powers by unofficial aura masters, or whether the girl simply did not want to help the intrusive young man, is no longer important. Ragne Kol was faced with the task of getting to the walls of the academy by any means, the otherwise-the death penalty.
Fortunately, the contingent of buyers is represented by craftsmen who cared little about human lives, but entertainment is still like that. And now something interesting was brewing…
Ragne ran towards the homeless man in the crossfire of their eyes, while other tramps came running from different parts of the street. With a slight change of direction, Ragne arrived at the butcher shop, knocking the carving knife out of the stunned salesman's hands with a casual movement.
"I'll borrow it for a while."
Before the butcher could protest, the brute's figure darted off in the direction of the tramps. Just a couple of seconds and the icy stroke of a carving tool cut off the hand of a loud idiot, who put his right hand to protect his head. The perfect cut missed the bone, which required incredible skill.
A plaintive cry should have broken the silence that reigned in the area, but the blade, which opened five unwashed necks with subtle strokes, kept the background noise at the same level. The homeless lay on their bloody heels, wheezing hoarsely, while the others clapped impressively.
— You're pretty good for a common man."
A steely clang of applause announced the arrival of the armored knight. He was standing right in the middle of the road, blocking the path to the golden gate, transparent bands of energy fluttering around him, visible only because of the slight distortion of the air.
"The leader of the squad that came for the soul of Myrrh… It seems that he is a master of the aura, even if only at the stage of Formation (1), this is already far beyond human capabilities…"