It was as Arya feared. The light mage, Arcem, had taken an interest in his possessions.
"I got the Ryen pelt and tooth by chance. I was hunting with a group and we happened to find a lone Ryen. Once we took it down I was lucky enough to be able to share a part of the spoils. As for the book, I found it in a random shed." replied Arya.
He knew he couldn't tell him the truth about the Ryen without raising suspicion. It was more likely for him to have had help killing it than for him to have gotten lucky enough to witness two Ryens fight and steal such a prize.
As for the journal, Arya couldn't think of any plausible lie. If he lied he found it in a library he would be asked which library. And if he lied he got it from someone he would be asked who that someone was.
"Hmm, I suppose a group of 2-star mages could hunt a Ryen alone. But I don't believe that you got this journal in a shed," replied Arcem as he pulled out the journal and placed it on the table.
"If you don't tell me what organization you're a part of I will tell the Lord of the town that you were indeed the one turning people into beasts," replied Arcem with a dark look on his face.
"Kukk. This guy." thought Arya as he realized what was going on. It seemed as if the journal was more valuable than he thought, if he was going to make it out of this alive he had to act fast or he would be framed for something he didn't do.
Arya thought of a lie to help him escape this predicament when he finally had an idea.
"We don't have only one name. But yes I am part of an organization, though I'm only a low-rank member," replied Arya with a straight face. Clearly lying had become second nature to him now.
"Hmm, I knew it. Wait did you say you were a low-rank member? Does that mean you don't know what the contents of the book are?" asked Arcem with a questioning look on his face.
"I have to prove my worth." thought Arya. "I understand it is a valuable book. That's why my group and I were tasked with bringing it to one of the higher-ups in Belgard. But I got separated from the group during the fight with the beast and I ended up here." replied Arya.
"Hmm. Who is the higher up in Belgard you were told to meet? Perhaps I know him." asked Arcem, lowering his suspicious gaze.
"I wasn't told his name, but we were told to give it to a 5-star tier 4 mage. We were told we would know who it was when we arrived there," replied Arya, making up lies on the wind.
"5-star tier 4 you say, then it has to be Asphomel. He is the only tier 4 5-star mage in Belgard," said Arcem. "Perhaps stealing this book will get me in more trouble than I can handle. Asphomel seems to be doing something interesting, maybe I should pay him a visit for old times sake." continued Arcem.
"No! No! No!" thought Arya as all his lies began to bite him on the ass. "It's settled midget, I will accompany you to Asphomel. But I will hold on to the book. I was able to decipher a few parts of it, but the rest of it seems to be written in an ancient text. It's too valuable for a lowly scrub like you to be carrying." said Arcem as he stood up and shouted for the guards.
"Yes, Mage Arcem?" responded one of the guards who had entered the room.
"Release this man. I've done a thorough check and I've confirmed he wasn't the culprit," said Arcem as he left the room.
"Excuse me Mage Arcem. But which man are you referring to?" asked the guard rather confused by Arcem's words.
"The midget sitting on the chair right there. Don't tell me you are so incompetent that you can't even differentiate between a midget and a boy," said Arcem as he walked up the flight of stairs outside the room.
Arya didn't actually look anything like a midget. He looked exactly like a child, but Arcem was illusioned due to the fact Arya could use magic. Like many other mages, it was easier for them to accept that he was a midget with the power to use magic than for them to believe he was a child with magical powers.
If they knew of Arya's true age they would probably die from shock. The world's greatest mage had unlocked his power at the age of 4, however, no one else even came close. Geniuses were said to unlock their magic at the age of 9, while most people unlocked their magic at 13. Ff the world knew of the anomalies that were Luca and Arya there would be a storm.
The confused guards led Arya up the stairs, where his stuff was waiting for him. Of course the journal was not amongst them, but Arya was already making a plan to get it back.
"Well at least now I can travel to Belgard with some protection." thought Arya as he looked at Arcem talking to an elderly man.
Arya was lead out to what looked like the palace gardens, where Arcem spoke to an old man next to a fountain. There were many plants and flowers of different colors giving off a vibrant atmosphere. Children ran around the old man as Arcem spoke to him.
After they were down talking the old man gave a relieved expression. However, he still looked a bit sad about something.
Arcem gestured for Arya to approach.