" Bushes?"
" Yes, I'll be gone now." The knight then went back on patrol.
" What does he mean by bushes?" Alex turned to Xavier." Who even lives in the bushes?"
Xavier narrowed his eyes," Dumbass, we live in the bushes!"
" Oh really? I forgot." Alex said as he scratched the back of his head.
" Lord Loy is a noble but why would he live in the bushes with his family?" Alex asked himself.
" Maybe, he went there from distractions, maybe, it's more peaceful for his family there." Xavier thought of multiple reasons why." But we're not here to think or talk about that guy, we're here to meet Wayne."
" Owyne's probably gonna be there," Alex said.
" Uh, I hate that guy." The moment he heard his name, Xavier looked as if he swallowed something sour.
" Well, we both do," Alex replied.
" Let's get out of here."
Xavier and Alex then left for the city gates. Passing the city gates meant going through the slums, they had a high chance of being rubbed there. As they walked by the slums, the air was contaminated from pollution, apparently, it was okay to litter if it was the slums. As they passed through, people looked at them, some even begging them when they were even more bankrupt. The people there were treated worse than animals, they wore torn rags for clothing. They even looked dirty and smelled as flies flew past. To think such a prosperous town would have such a dreadful side of it. As they passed, someone placed their hands on Alex's shoulder, Xavier noticing this was ready to strike.
" Alex." The man said.
The man was bald, had big round eyes, a mustache, a rounded face shape, and no eyebrows. He looked around his fifties. He wore a simple white tunic which was dirty. He looked as if his eyes were protruding through his head and he walked like a penguin. This man was definitely drunk as he smelled like strong alcohol. The man then smiled revealing his missing front teeth. The man couldn't even focus probably as his pupils spun around his eyes crazily.' Yet another boozer.' Xavier sighed.
" Oh..."
" Yes, it's me, Cinthia." The man smiled as he said this.
' Disgusting, who would give that a child's name.' Xavier loathed the man.
" Oh, Cinthia, it's been a while."
" Far too long, how are they treating you." The man said as he looked at Xavier.
" Quite well," Alex replied.
" I'll tell everyone that you're well." The man smiled again revealing his missing teeth as his eyes spun around again and again.
Alex had to be two meters away from the man as his breath smelled like sour alcohol, even Xavier retreated.' This guy looks like he's friends with Alex. I mean they're all from the slums aren't they?'
" So where are you going?" He asked.
" Somewhere." Alex immediately replied.
" Somewhere where?"
" To seek my trainer."
' Wow, Alex is quite confident Wayne would just train him the moment he saw him.' Xavier thought.
" To train you what?" The man asked.
" Magic."
" Oh ho! You've finally awakened, I thought it was just a pipe dream for people like us, guess I was wrong!" The man loudly shouted." So who's your teacher?"
" No one you need to know about."
" Oh come on! Don't be like that, just tell me!" The man's voice changed," A noble ain't he?"
" So you've been prying into all our conversations, should have known you better. So what, are you going to steal from him?" Alex asked.
" Nice suggestion." The man said," How about we go together?"
" You're gonna get your pretty drunk ass killed one of these days and I would gladly be there to see it."
" You hate me that much, I said I was sorry."
" After you ratted on me and got your ass arrested, of course, you're sorry because you're sorry for yourself." Alex snapped.
" Don't be like that."
" Shut up!"
' Feels like I'm listening to a lover's quarrel.' Xavier said with a poker face.
" See you never, Cinthia." Alex stormed off grabbing Xavier," Let's go."
" Who was that guy and why did you get so angry?"
" You see a long time ago, when I was way younger, I didn't get to eat good foods, enjoy life with family, or sleep on a bed so I wanted to steal from people who already had enough things. That's when Cinthia came in, we sneaked into a nobleman's mansion and stole some things. But Cinthia wasn't there, instead, he told the noble that I was stealing from him so that he could get some kind of reward but the nobleman wasn't dumb so he beat me to a pulp until I was bloody, even with a whip then he sent Cinthia for arrest. I hate that guy."
Xavier then laughed," You, stealing!"
" What's wrong with that?"
" At least you have all the things you didn't have before right now."
" You're right."
They then left the city gates. There was a pathway leading to a bridge and a dark forest surrounded Třekov, it was the same forest Xavier had gone to twice. There was nothing outside, it was empty. They were expecting people to be walking the roads but sometimes your imagination differs from reality as there was not a soul to be seen. Xavier felt great amounts of mana activity coming from the forest.
" Wait here, I gotta kill whatever's in there before it enters the town."
" You can't even use your magic."
" It should be easy, I'll be back."
***
After a while of waiting, Xavier came back drenched in blood except, he had not a scratch. It was probably the monster's blood. Makes one wonder which was the real monster. He was going to Lord Loy's manor looking like a lunatic.
" Took you long enough, and wipe that blood away."
" Fine, fine. You're arguing as if you're my mother."
As they passed the bridge, they looked around.
" I don't see anything," Alex complained.
" Over there." Xavier then pointed out, there was a huge manor on a hill east of them.