From the eastern region of the forest, Fanny runs down from the hill to Gardania, to confront his mentor and senpai, Zyun.
"That gigantic barrier over there...it must be that four sigils of something that Fyo talked about," Fanny said as he runs through the forest.
"I better hurry-EEEEKKKKKK" Fanny suddenly falls to the ground after getting an electric shock from nowhere.
"ahh..ahh...that hurts..." Roasted Fanny cried out in pain.
After dusting him off, he gets up and tries to run once again.
"I better hurry or else-" the strange characters on the ground activate as Fanny tries to pass through it. They glow in yellow color and zap Fanny again, making him crash on the ground with a loud thumping sound.
"Ha-ha-ha, ah haha. That was hilarious"
On the top of a tree, a mysterious kid is found sitting on a branch while swinging his legs casually.
He then jumps down on the ground and lands in front of Fanny.
"You...You aren't a really capable mage, aren't you? I mean who will run again and again through a stasis trap." The kid who seems to be younger than Fanny starts to make fun of him. "Let me guess...C class or a D class wizard."
"Uhm...who might you be?" Fanny asked in a confused as he tries to get up slowly from the ground.
"Oh me? My name is Dan. An S class wizard, also the vice commander of the Northern light's regime. I'm a Royal knight." The boy introduces.
Hearing those words, Fanny bulges his eyes in surprise.
Dan has the appearance of a cute boy, with short brown hair and bright blue eyes. His height seems to be 5 feet and his age is probably close to Fanny.
He wears a gold-trimmed white color vest buttoned in, with two pieces of blue color clothes attached from his collar to the arms.
A silver badge in the shape of a star is attached to his left chest representing which side of the royal army he serves in. He also wears short white pants and long white leather boots to enhance his childish appearance.
"Ehh..really?? a real bonafide royal knight?? That's super cool!"
"Hehehe" Dan chuckles softly.
"I mean damn, that is super cool. You seem to be younger than me but you are in S- class already. Ah, I envy you."
Dan watches in awe seeing the honest reaction coming out from Fanny. Because people will usually laugh out at him, seeing his childish appearance and thinking he is just bluffing.
"Hey, hey, can we be friends?"
Fanny was startled back hearing that response coming from Dan.
"Friends??? with me?? Really?? I mean sure! Your laugh like me too, Hehehe."
"Yipee." Dan pulls out his pinky finger and shakes with Fanny's left pinky finger in excitement. "We are friends now" Dan cherished it with a bright smile.
"Sir Dan, we have secured the surroundings as you asked but we have not found traces of any villagers."
Sergeant Erik comes in to report the survey along with with his troops.
" Hi, Erik! Welcome back." Dan waves to Erik with a bright smile.
"By the way, Sir Dan, who is that shabby-looking boy would be?"
Dan turns his face to Fanny and smiles. "Oh him? He is my new friend."
"Ugh..what?" Sergeant Erik startles in surprise after hearing that.
"Hey, hey, you came down from that hill, right? Others are hiding there, right? Can you please show us where they are?" Dan said as he looked into Fanny's eyes.
"Don't worry we are here to protect you guys, so please show us to everyone. okay?" Dan then tries to assure Fanny with a smile.
"But-Uhmm..okay..sure.." For some reason, Fanny complies with Dan's request.
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Zyun is startled back as he sees the figure approaching him. Under his calm smile, the person carries an enormous intimidating aura.
"This guy...I know him." Zyun said as he tenses up. "I have seen his face a couple of times when I was in the capital. He is an Echelon. Sir Louis of the northern nights. An upper-class echelon."
Abyss watches with a non-interest look at the guy who just blocked his path.
Like Dan, Sir Louis also wears the same royal knight uniform with long pants. But there is a star sigil on two sides of his shoulders. He is a tall lean man with violet hair and carries a charismatic aura.
"It seems you have been doing well, Kuro." Sir Louis greets Kuro with a smile ignoring the two males beside her.
Zyun immediately jumps down from the carriage to confront him.
"Umm... mister. Can you kindly take out your annoying spells from the way? My little horses have been obstructed thanks to them."
"Abyss don't!"
"Haha, sorry good sir. I'm afraid I can't do that. You and your half-elf friend over here are coming with me to the council. But could you please give us a moment, I am having a recon with my former comrade here." Louis speaks out as he casually approaches Kuro.
Wait..did he just mention Kuro as his former comrade. Does this mean Kuro was part of the royal knights?
"Kuro is time for you to come back. I have missed you."
Kuro stands silently without saying anything.
Seeing her face hung down. Zyun jumps in to interfere.
"Wait..you just can't force someone to come back. Look at Kuro, she clearly doesn't-"
"You...Can you please be quiet? I am trying to have a conversation with my girl."
His girl??? Is he really serious about it? Damn! and why I am starting to get angry after hearing that. What is this annoying sensation?
"Kuro...You have made me wait for long enough. Is time you come back to me." Sir Louis starts throwing out these flirty words casually as he breathes them.
Kuro with her head hung down slowly started walking towards Sir Louis.
"Atta girl." Louis claps in happiness as Kuro walks toward him. "You have become more obedient, unlike last time Kuro. You know how painful it is to deal with your stubbornness sometimes, haha."
Zyun watches with grief as Kuro walks away from him.
"Kuro are you serious about this!? I thought you were really looking forward to joining a guild with me..."
"It seems you have mistaken something here, little half-elf. I dispatch Kuro here on a mission. She infiltrated the guild, just like I told her. Do you understand what it means? She has successfully tricked everyone including you making everyone believe that she is searching for a guild. "
Zyun clutches his fist in response and starts to get furious.
"Kuro...is he saying the truth... Is it true that all this time you were faking everything up to me?"
Kuro doesn't reply. She stands there silently near Sir Louis.
"Or was I too late...." Zyun mutters softly.
"Alright then gentleman. I would like you to come with me without showing any signs of violence~ You see I am in a very good mood so much as possible I would like to avoid a one-sided fight." Saying that Sir Louis starts stepping towards Zyun and Abyss.
What should I do? There is no way I can win a fight against him. Should we surrender? But if we do there is no telling if we will come out innocent from the royal verdict. Wait what about Abyss-
"Sighs...That is why I hate interacting with humans..." Abyss exasperated while holding a murky dark orb in his palm.
"Abyss what are you doing!?"
"Sorry, Mr. Casanova. I am in a bit hurry to have my dinner. If I don't show up in time my little wolf will come howling here to look out for me."
Saying that Abyss expands out of the orb and engulfs everyone in that area with a murky dark cloud. A stream of dark waves elongates from the cloud and propels into the band of aurora borealis.
Breaking out from the Aurora Borealis, it also successfully pierces the barrier and then shoots out in the air.
From the dark wave, Abyss comes out holding the reins of the black horses while Zyun is on top of the carriage.
Zyun opens his eyes and sees he is already departing away from Gardania.
"Wait Abyss, Kuro is-"
"You know Zyun what I have been thinking for some time now?" Abyss said without turning his back.
"That I should have put a sleeping pill in the food I gave you earlier. You are really annoying."
"Ehhh..." Zyun then turns his back for one last time and softly mutters "Kuro..."
At the ground, the smoke screen left by Abyss fades out and Sir Louis and Kuro come out shielded by an Aurora barrier.
"My my...it seems I have encountered the most troubling one. it is better I avoid reporting this incident to him, otherwise he will not spare me out from his clutches." Sir Louis mutters. "Let's go, Kuro."
Kuro silently walks alongside Louis and heads out from Gardania.