Layn was sweating. He was getting nervous. All night he was thinking what to tell these guys about his strength, but couldn't come up with anything. Why? because Layn, does not know any of his prowess.
"What's wrong Layn? Is it something you cant show here?"
"Well, I- uh, you see-"
Layn replied while stuttering to Assen. Now the whole group thought Layn had something amazing that he could not just show, to which the truth is quite hilariously opposite.
Then Gen looks towards Layn's right hand, and stares at the symbols which still confused him. In fact Layn was not the only one awake the whole night yesterday, Gen Gueson, he too was working at night. Ever since Gen met Layn and saw those evocation symbols, he has been trying to find out about it.
"Wanna tell us about that on your hand Layn?"
Asks Gen without hesitation. Layn could sense not only Gen but even Assen, Mallen and Kisa giving intriguing looks. But what could Layn tell them, he himself wants to know about it, and then-
"What are you all doing here? its already late and dinner has been served, go back to your rooms."
Miss Flauros came in, saving Layn from the explanation he owed to his friends. Layn gives out a sigh of relief but others went "tsk". Everyone was leaving the class but Flauros stopped Layn and took him aside.
"I have something to talk to this boy, you all can leave"
Everyone looked at Layn and he just shrugged his shoulders, telling them he does not know anything. Gen and Assen then turned their eyes towards Miss Flauros, and left.
"Phew, thank you Miss Flauros, you saved me there."
"I told you to keep this topic low, I swear kids these days are too reluctant."
Layn chuckles while scratching the back of his head, while Flauros had a tired look. Flauros then tells Layn that she might know what's up with this crest on his hand, to which Layn says "Really!?"
"Only four people in this school knows about your situation, including me and you. We are gathering clues but you may be needed to be called upon in the future, so till that time you better not mess up."
"Yes mam!"
Layn with full spirit reverts back. Finally Layn might know what he can do, what he is good for. The reason he got enrolled in this school was by mere luck or something. He did average on the entrance test, and did not particularly have much magical talent to show off. Most he could do was starter-tier fire magic, until he met Flauros and all those incidents happened with the orbs.
"..."
The next morning~
"I wonder if my friends will starting disliking me.."
Layn was awake, but not off his bed yet. He was worried because of what happened yesterday, his group will start to be cautious of him and treat him differently. He didn't want that, he wanted to stay friends with everyone. What could he do to amend things?
And then someone started beating his door loudly-
"Wake up Layn! Assen and Gen are going to fight again!"
"Mallen...?"
And there was Mallen. Waking up Layn like always. Gen and Assen arguing again, and Kisa chuckling from behind while entertaining herself with the everyday scene. Everything was normal.
Layn felt such relief upon seeing this sight, he thought of how dumb he is for thinking they would abandon him for such a reason. After all even the others didn't tell their true prowess, so it was completely normal for Layn to hide his strength too.
Th rest of the day went completely normal. Studies, homework, gossips, like always.
"Hey guys tomorrow is a holiday, so how about we go out and look around the city tomorrow?"
"sure.."
"Hell yeah!"
"mhm"
Everyone agrees to Assen's proposal, and all 5 of them decided to go out tomorrow and have fun. This was the first time Layn visited the capital city Thiva. It was a wonderful, huge settlement, with lots of things to see and discover. It would take 1 whole day to move around the city and even still they wont be able to completely enjoy every facility this city has to offer. Layn was truly excited for this moment.
Everyone ate dinner and went to their rooms. After bidding goodnight to each other, Layn goes to his room and slam opens his wardrobe.
"Oh god what to wear! This is the first time ill be going to fancy places!"
And Layn was acting like a girl pondering over which set of clothes to wear on her first date. He scattered clothes all over his room, throwing whatever he is dissatisfied with behind himself.
The next morning~
"Hey Layn you awake?"
Layn opens the door and was surprised to see Gen this time waking him up. When Layn asked where everyone is, he got to know that Mallen was wearing his traditional Berithus family uniform, to which Assen disagreed with saying that it would catch a lot of attention, so they both went to change his clothes. And Kisa is still searching what to wear.
"Huh, so everyone is the same.."
"Yeahhhh, so don't tell me you gonna wear those boxers?"
When Layn looked at what he was wearing, he quickly gets all red. He then notices Gen's clothes. They were fancy but not something mind-blowing. Black shoes and pants, a nice cherry red shirt with his sleeves button up till elbow, and his usual spectacles.
"Fine, I guess ill have to wear this."
And then everyone left the school. Layn wore his Thieven Sins school uniform and when everyone saw him, they just didn't have words to say. Kisa wore a simple skirt and green blouse and her round spectacles. Assen and Mallen too wore simple casual clothes, but Mallen did have a dissatisfied look on his face.
".."
"Woah.."
Exiting the school, Layn's whole mouth was open in amazement. The road was so lively, carriages, fruit sellers, vendors, people with their family and couples, children, huge fancy restaurants and inns. Layn did come and see the city before but it was inside a carriage, outside is a completely different feeling.
"Ah right it must be the first time for you to see the capital city.."
says Gen. Layn laughs at himself and apologizes for acting indecent, but everyone disagreed with Layn and told him it was completely fine. Kisa said it was better this way as, if everyone had visited the places before and there wont be much reaction, it would have been a boring outing. So they all decided to give Layn a tour.
They showed him around some shops, Mallen showed him the best weapon smith, Assen took him to the spell item shop, Kisa wanted to see some jewellery so she took him there. Gen well, didn't do much but he did accompany them. But even Layn showed everyone how to bargain at the stalls. Overall it was a fun day.
On their way to the restaurant where they would have lunch, Layn was stopped by a homeless man in robes, who was sitting in front of the pedestal.
"Oh, you want some money? wait I got some spare-"
"thank.. you ..young.. boy.."
Layn leans down to hand over 3 beels coin. He could not see the man's face clearly because of the robe, but something felt off about him, and then the man grabs Layn's right hand and says-
"So you.. are.. the.. boy.."
Layn backed away immediately, and before Layn could say something his attention was drawn by Mallen, who called for him as they were moving ahead. When Layn looked back towards the man, he was gone.
"Whats wrong Layn?"
"Nothing..."
Layn did not ponder for long, and just thought the homeless man needed some help. After that the group had some delicious lunch at a fancy restaurant, to which Layn could not pay his own meal. After walking awhile and chatting, they returned back to their school.