Tanka whined like a child to come with me. Her whining makes me dizzy. How not, she screamed in my ear asking that he could come along.
"Just take Tanka, Mister Akion." Tanka's face turned happy, Levian defended her. Her face depicted that she had allies who supported her wishes.
"Wouldn't Tanka be better off staying here and guarding this treasure?"
"Come on Master Akion, even Berk mountain itself, won't be able to be entered by just anyone." Tanka's face was sullen.
"I've been cooped up here for four hundred years. I also want to breathe other air," she added.
"Can you lock the entrance again?"
"That is a very easy thing, Lord Knight." Her fingers were moved in a circle in a trivial manner.
"Levian, my name is"
"Yes, Levi." Her smile.
"Master Akion, this treasure remains protected. Doesn't Master Akion feel sorry for Tanka?" I looked straight at Levian. For a few seconds his expression turned stiff.
"Okay ...." The two of them were not aware that they had become Allies. Adding one more person on the way might be good.
"But you have to hide well."
"That is such an easy thing!" Tanka flies very high. Her wings glowed brighter, even around her, I saw like flying gold dust.
"No one will be able to see me unless I allow it." She blinked coquettishly. I shouldn't have doubted her magic.
**
After our meeting with Tanka a few days ago, we finally arrived at the entrance of the Invit territory. A knight came to me.
My face is covered by the hood they can't see clearly.
"Identity." An uninspired voice.
I did see a lot of merchant carriages going in and out of Invit. A different area to Sanktessy.
I took my family ID that was previously stuck to the shirt, and was covered by a cloak. I showed it. From under the hood of my cloak, he put on a doubtful face that repeatedly looked at the hooded me.
I took off my hood, looked at him from atop the horse which I think I saw as pressing.
"Ah, Young Master Sanktessy. Please come in." He let me in with a panicked look on his face.
"Isn't that the youngest swordmaster in our history?" Another knight whispered to him.
"Yes, he is an extraordinary figure. Too bad he had to be born into a poor Baron family with a lot of debt." Her voice sounded like a pitiful moan. I smiled a little without looking at them.
It's just an old story I'll decide soon. Our horse walked quickly to my uncle's house. The most luxurious house here, a Count Invit. My uncle owns several trading businesses.
Good produce, and beautiful seas make the region quite prosperous. He was always ambitious, even for something he couldn't possibly have.
We were ushered in by the waiter. There was no warm welcome, as if blood relations meant nothing. Again I feel amused myself, I should be the one who really understands that, right?
I have experienced it. I sat in my uncle's study. Even a cup of drink, Count Invit did not ask his servant to serve it to me.
As if what came was a parasite. He's still ignoring me, he's busy with his notes.
I stayed silent, watching what he was doing. It looks like it's his cash book. His brow furrowed, his hand touching his forehead as if it would ease his thoughts.
"If only there weren't any parasites stuck to me." He looked at me with a very annoyed face.
The look in his eyes, as if disgusted with me.
The parasite he meant must be my family. I kept quiet.
"Where's your Father?" His voice was loud, there was no friendliness in it.
"Forgive my father, Count Invit. Father couldn't leave Sanktessy and sent me here." I still speak in a friendly manner.
"He sold you?" The grin grew wider, it seemed that he had misunderstood. Although my father seems to be incompetent, he is a good father who takes care of his family.
"Okay. Even though the payment he gave was not worth it. But as your kind-hearted distant relative, I accept it." He smiled slyly.
His round face with a thin mustache made the cunning even more disgusting.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding here, Count."
"You mean?"
"I wasn't sent here to pay off the debt the Sanktessy family owed Count Invit," I explained.
"How arrogant of you," he snorted, now his eyes filled with emotion.
"So what are you here for? Can your poor family afford to pay a debt of fifteen hundred gold pieces?"
"Look at your poor area and its people who are in trouble. It's because it's being led by an incompetent person!" He continued to ramble on.
"And you, arrogantly coming here, seem capable of paying your debts. Think about those beggar-like residents of Sanktessy!"
"Even though I am generous, I have provided the best way for you. You become my subordinate. Then the debt will be paid off." His expression was cold filled with disdain.
I realized Levian who was standing at the side was holding back his anger. Meanwhile Tanka had approached Count Invit's face with an expression asking for my permission to kick him in the face.
I nodded slowly.
"Hahahaha, no no." Count invite misunderstood again
"I mean, we were able to pay off our debt."
Count Invit's eyes couldn't believe it, he was about to spit abusive words at me, when I took out a bag full of gold coins. His mouth hung open as if his soul had stopped in his throat.
"You stole it?" He rebuked me. His face is full of intimidation.
"Your words are truly impolite, Count Invit!" Levian held his sword.
Seeing the look in his eyes that sharpened, I could tell he was slowly losing his temper.
"You impolite! How dare you interrupt me to speak!" Count Invit rebuked Levian, his stout hand pointed at Levian roughly.
"See! This insolent soldier!" His voice grew louder and louder, "No wonder that poor families are uneducated!" He kept on mocking.
"Let me cut off his tongue, Master Akion." Levian asked my permission.
I shook my head. "This insolent soldier!" Count invit threw a book from his desk on Levian.
"Guard!" He shouted loudly for his guards. The guards entered quickly. Three knights in full armor drew their swords.
"Catch them!" Invit count command. This tension was really interesting, given his haughty demeanor who always thought he had the upper hand.
"Uhm!" I coughed once not caring about his emotions. The three Soldiers backed away to see me.
They were indeed well-trained Soldiers with good equipment. But they won't forget who I am, their rank is way below mine. So their instincts warn to back off and be careful.
"Count Invit, I'm here to pay off Sanktessy's debt. But you were the first to insult."
"Idiot.'" He came closer to me, a book in his hand he was about to throw at me. When he was about to throw me, I still casually told him.
"If I wanted to, I could kill you, Count." He was stunned to see the boy who had been silent all this time.
Now I pay off the debt. I am not attached to it, my people will suffer no more. Gradually, I got what they thought they didn't.
"Even if I wanted to, I can conquer the Invit territory now." I boasted. He had to remember who I was, who was the strongest swordsman on this continent.
His face stiffened, turning white as he didn't expect me to threaten him. Intimidation always worked in the presence of someone like him. I stood past the three Soldiers blocking the door.
Their legs trembled and they fell. This tension. You must like it, right, uncle?
"Let's go."
Levian moves. He still looked annoyed.
"Oh yes, my uncle. Thanks for the previous loan, I assure you that Sanktessy will never borrow from you again." I smiled at him.
The smile made him back away, the corners of his lips lifted up as if to curse at me.
I love to see it, and leave the Count's house which I can still hear cursing while destroying his furniture.
Luckily he was still able to think. If he dares to point his sword at me, I guarantee that he will lose his life right then and there.
**
"Why doesn't Master Akion just kill him?" Tanka's lips moved forward. He still seems annoyed.
"I think killing the city pig is very easy." She stopped flapping her wings in front of my face, making me stop walking. I chuckled ignoring him.
"Master Akion!"
"Master Akion!" she moved annoyed following me who walked away ignoring his scolding.
"Just call Akion." I let her call me that.
Honestly, I'm not very comfortable being called master, especially when I want to be close to someone. Levian who is a teacher and my knight refuses firmly to call me Akion.
"Is that so, Mi
Aster Akion?" She glanced doubtfully, her wings even moving erratically.
For me, Tanka would have no problem just calling me by name. Not everyone can see her, and he's not my knight.
"Sure," I replied softly. My answer elicited an unexpected response from Tanka.
Her smile was bright, she looked like he had received a gift she liked so much.
"Oh Akion, I did want it for a long time. But we just met." She shook his head several times. Maybe it's because I'm of Sanktessy descent, which is actually his master.
"It's good that you like it."
"Of course I like it. It's like we have no barriers. Caesar and I called each other names."
I nodded in agreement. Apparently, my ancestors—Caesar and Tanka were very close, and Tanka had great admiration.
Her eyes will be full of enthusiasm when it comes to Caesar.
"Are we going home, Master Akion?"
"No. There are still places to visit."
Just then the bell rang clearly. Our footsteps had led us swiftly toward my destination. The towering white building, its existence is slightly away from densely populated areas. The place where they pray, the place where they give their faith, the sacred temple in the Invit area. There's something I'm looking for there. At least it opened the eyes of my knowledge which is still a lot of blindness.
Continue.....