Narrator: Grey Zoria
I'm now standing in front of the mayor with Gerrard on my right and Nuri behind our backs.
The atmosphere gets tense as we stare at each other's for a moment, before the mayor broke the silence "You are indeed strong, kid, unlike your appearance."
I could feel my blood boil from this insulation, but unlike Tom or Adelphia, I can't attack the mayor without thinking especially with that hooded guy around. So, I decided to stay silent.
"I think Grey has shown you enough to prove his worthiness. Now is your turn to let us leave." Gerrard said as he pointed with his finger to the mayor.
"Who said anything about letting you leave? I said I will spare your lives." The mayor said as his smirk grew wider.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked while staring at the mayor with a threatening look.
"Your island was attacked, and the attacker brought you here by accident, right?" The mayor said, "That means you can't return home, nor can you survive out there with your injury alone."
"Get to the point." Gerrard said with an impatient tone.
"We will treat your injuries, shelter you, and train you. What do you think of it?" The mayor offered.
"And why will you do all of that? I don't think you are kind enough to do all of that for free." Gerrard replied instantly.
I think I understand Gerrard. The mayor's offer is too suspicious. For doing all of this he must have a hidden intention.
"Of course, it's not for free. In exchange for all of this, you will help us in the upcoming war."
"WAR?!" Both me and Gerrard shouted at the same time.
He wants us to participate in a war? I am certain there's a huge number of teenagers the same age as us in the village, then, why us? I don't think they are hopeless to the point they force teenagers into a war never mind asking three stranger teenagers to participate.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Gerrard asked with a bit of hesitation in his tone.
"Looks like I wasn't clear enough." The mayor said, "I will provide you with shelter, treatment, and training, in exchange you will provide us with help in the upcoming war."
We looked at each other hesitantly not knowing what to do or say.
"You will be escorted to one of the small manors for now. I will wait for your answer tomorrow." The mayor continued, before switching his gaze to somewhere behind us "Adelphia, take them to guests manor number 3."
I looked behind me immediately to find Adelphia cleaning her clothes from dust, before looking at the mayor with her weird smile "You can leave it to me."
Why her from all people that have to escort us? She is a weirdo and she even tried to kill Gerrard and Nuri! Why not…. Ohh. Actually, that I think about it she is the least weird one from the guards. Tom is short-tempered, and he is even angry with me right now and the mysterious hooded guy is mysterious.
Adelphia suddenly wraps her arm around my neck and squeezes it hard. I struggle to breathe as I try to free myself from her grasp.
It only takes me a couple of seconds before freeing myself since I still am using Bo's mana to strengthen my body.
I pushed her away immediately as I shouted at her "What the hell are you doing?"
"Why the big fuss? I was just embracing you." Adelphia said nonchalantly as if what she did was normal.
"Embrace?" My face turns a little red, causing Adelphia to chuckle at me, which makes me angry "What the hell are you saying? And why are you treating me so casually?"
"Oh, do you want to know?" Adelphia leaned with her head until her lips were next to my ears, "Because I have taken an interest in you."
I instantly put my palm on her face and push it away, "Just lead the way." I mumble as my face turns red.
"What did you say? I couldn't hear well." Adelphia said as she put her hand on her ear.
"I said just lean the FREAKING way," I shouted while resisting the eagerness to punch her in the face.
"Okay ok, I will, just don't cry," Adelphia said in a humiliating tone.
"Oho, finally someone who can defeat Grey in a humiliation battle." Bo was very happy while he was talking.
"Cry? What do you mean cry? My tears to you are like jewels to commoners. They can dream of it, but they will never have it because of their low financial level" I countered," But of course, for you, the low level is not for financial, but mental health. Okay, the lack of ladyship plays a role too, but the mental health is the main reason."
"And I thought Grey finally lost," Bo said as he let out a sigh.
Adelphia holds me from the collar of my shirt "You are quite good at it, kid, but you better take that back." Adelphia asked me with a forced smile.
I pointed to my shoes and said only one-word "Beg."
"Adelphia, enough" The mayor interfered.
Adelphia let go of my shirt now and turns to the magic circle we used on our way here. "Follow me." She said while giving us her back.
I look back at Gerrard and Nuri and nod. They both nod back.
We follow Adelphia into the magical circle. When I enter, I get the same feeling as the last time. The feeling of power flowing through my body and the feeling of something pushing me from my back, but this time there's no pain. I think it's because my body is being strengthened by Bo's mana.
When we got out of the magical circle, we found ourselves in the throne room again. The mayor, the hooded guy, and Tom entered after us, but I couldn't care less.
Adelphia continues to lead our way, passing by the green room full of portraits, the half-circle-like stairs, the empty room after the stairs, and finally the entrance room.
After we got out of the mansion we started to walk in the street. The houses were big and decorated here unlike the simple, small houses on the corner of the village.
People keep looking at us with different expressions of disgust, fear, suspicion, and many other, but I ignore all of them.
*
After about a 10 minutes-walk we arrive at another mansion. It relatively likes the mayor's mansion from the outside, but it is much smaller.
The mansion's structure from the inside is simple. The first floor is full of doors in three directions and huge wide stairs in the middle that is branched into two other smaller stairs leading to the second floor.
The second floor on the other hand is different from the first. The stairs to going downward not upward. That's pretty much the only difference.
A man with a suit meets us on the first floor and bows deeply "Lady Adelphia Brand, I'm honored to meet you personally." The man surprised me with his respectful tone "Please, let me show them their rooms."
"Okay, I will leave them to you," Adelphia said before leaving.