A sweaty man, who seemed more like a servant than a well-positioned person, rushed behind another, tapping his temples and forehead with a red-pink silk handkerchief. Although he was well-dressed himself, wearing a thigh-long red coat over an apricot-colored buttoned shirt and matching shoes.
The other man's attire, though not as flashy, could run laps around the servant's. Wearing midnight-blue buttoned shirt and pants, they made the man melt in shadows whenever he passed them by.
Or that would've probably happened if not for his snow-white coat that almost reached the ground.
"Your Majesty, surely we must do something about the nobles. This is getting ridiculous."
The counselor, the man almost running behind the King, said with a flushed expression.
"Theodos, calm down. You'll pop a vein with all that blood pressure." The King of Blackwater said with a smile after glancing over his shoulder at the councilor.
Theodos, hearing his liege's words, exploded even more strongly, his already red face filling with so much blood it looked more like an overripe tomato than anything resembling skin. "How could you say that, your Majesty? These wet dogs who dare call themselves nobles are actively planning against my liege, and Your Majesty isn't even fazed by that?"
Acrisios laughed, yet his steps didn't even falter, much less stop. He rounded a corner and turned his gaze on the massive wooden double doors built into the wall that ended the corridor.
"I'm well aware of their schemes, so how could I be fazed? I know each step they make and even the steps they plan on making, so how could I worry?"
Theodos didn't relax even after hearing this. After all, it was a councilor's job to worry about even the minute-most details and prepare countermeasures for them.
Although thousands of thoughts and worries crossed his mind, Theodos could only sigh and say nothing. It didn't matter how or what will he say. Acrisios would wave Theodos' worries aside as though the former could deal with anything coming his way.
Reaching the doors, the King pushed them aside, barely slowing the man down.
The doors' hinges creaked loudly under their strain, vibrating the air so loudly it could be felt on bare skin, but even this didn't faze the King nor his counselor.
With a loud thud, the wooden doors slammed onto the bare rock walls to the side, allowing the two humans to glance into the narrow cave tunnel that stretched downward beyond their vision.
A dark fog flowed outward, closely hugging the ground and barely reaching the two's knees. The fog moved slowly, rolling over itself as if its density was like that of lava.
Half-turning to Theodos, the King said in a not-quite-calm tone.
"It seems that the mana formations are breaking down at an increasing rate. Inform the Silver Division about this."
Theodos bowed slightly. "Right away, Your Majesty!"
"Don't go right away. I still need you to help me with something."
Theodos, who was in the process of turning around, stopped in his tracks and glanced at the King but said nothing. Bowing again, he followed behind, his whole demeanor morphing and hardening. From a seemingly soft and anxious man to something more cold and calculating.
***
Alex and Ezek stood amidst a growing crowd of citizens in the middle of the largest square in this city, the Central Square, which was also the most protected part of this city, but that was beside the point.
Besides the two young men, a third man in his late forties stood upright with the help of a wooden cane, shifting glances between this unusual duo and the clear noble in the middle of the square, surrounded by guards and mages.
This man was the one that filled in Alex and Ezek with this situation and decided to lead these two youths to the square as well. He didn't need to, but since he was heading here, he might just as well go with them.
"Everyone, everyone." The noble standing atop a wooden platform - an execution platform previously reworked for today's announcement. It didn't look the best, and you could see spots of darkened wood here and there from all that dried blood.
The noble atop the platform didn't seem to mind it that much, and if he did, he hid his disgust well. Dressed in clothes much too expensive for an occasion such as a "mere announcement," which raised a few eyebrows here and there, but the noble didn't even notice these people. His nose was raised far too high to see such lowly people.
The crowd quieted down soon, and the man ran his eyes over, looking more at the size of said crowd than the people gathered there.
"As a citizen of Blackwater Kingdom and a noble under the rule of Acrisios El Valtiere, His Majesty, the King of all Blackwater," The noble started but soon paused, glancing at each individual.
Alex saw through the bullshit at a single glance. He, plus anyone worth half a brain, could see that this noble wasn't looking at them, more like through them, as though they were made from glass. Not that they minded.
"As someone fortunate to lead citizens such as yourself, I am also bound by obligations I must fulfill."
Clearing his throat, the noble flipped a side of his knee-long brown robe and took out a rolled-out parchment gilded with silver.
"My name is Kimiv Gart of House Gart. By Royal pronounce, I, Kimiv Gart of Baron House Gart, am to publicly announce the recent unearthing of a previously unexplored Ruin City. A joyous occasion for nobles and citizens alike, as vast riches and untold opportunities, are unearthed with each Ruin City. By my word, as your King, I hereby declare that all taxes are lifted for all citizens for the next half a year.
"Young and old, citizens of all cities and regions are invited to join me, Acrisios El Valtiere, and the Golden Division in exploring Wailmastaba. Riches and opportunities await all of us."
The noble closed the parchment and quickly dismissed the crowd, turned to his guard, and motioned with his head to one of the carriages nearby.
"Wait..." Ezek grabbed Alex by his forearm as the latter turned to walk away.
"What?"
Pointing ahead with his nose, Ezek looked over the carriages one by one, paying close attention to the steel beams that barred the carriages' small windows.
Alex looked over and then back at Ezek, confused. "Those carriages? They're for transporting sheep."
Ezek slapped Alex on the back of his head, his expression cold.
"These nobles are carrying children inside."
Alex's expression turned cold. Several thoughts crossed his mind, but some he dismissed, while others seemed more grounded.
"Orphans for Enrilth Keep." He mouthed slowly.
Ezek took a deep breath. "I believe so."
Alex shook his head and turned around, taking Ezek by surprise. "Let's go."
"Now? Aren't we gonna do something about that?" He said, still pointing at the carriages.
"There's little we can do. Since that Gart guy dares haul them in daytime, it means that's a direct order from the King. Unless we're ready to fight all those guards only to get to that noble, there's nothing else we can do.
"Besides, even if we can talk with that noble, what next? It isn't as though we can place ourselves against the King's order. Those kids will arrive at Enrilth Keep whether we like it or not."
"Then what are you going to do next?"
Alex slowed down a bit, allowing Ezek to catch up with him before looking at the Recen fortress in the distance.
"You said you're leaving tomorrow morning?"
His friend nodded.
"See you then."
"You're coming as well?" Ezek whipped his head around, looking at Alex wide-eyed. "Didn't you say you wanted to stay at Enrilth to train and learn magic? Besides..." He took a peek at Alex's crutch.
"Are you able to keep up with that?"
Alex shook his head internally and threw the piece of wood into a dark alley.
"I won't be staying at Enrilth anymore. There's no need to. I won't be learning magic either way. And don't worry about keeping up, either. I'm starting to regain my balance."
"*Sigh* If you say so. Wait..." The young human stopped in his tracks. "What about Vaesa?"
Alex waved his hand dismissively. "Won't I be journeying with you two? She'll have all the time in the world to meet me. Besides, I must ask Elder Pyrus to share what he knows about magic before I leave."
Ezek raised his hand. "Vaesa can also teach you that."
Alex stopped in his tracks and bore Ezek with a long look, his expression flat and unmoving. "Can't you tell I'm doing my best to avoid her?"
"Oh..."
"Oh..." Alex imitated his friend, running a hand through his hair. "You're hopeless, you know that? Pray that Vaesa knows this and still decided to hook up with your sorry ass."
Saying goodbye to his friend, Alex made his way to the keep, arriving at the fortress before Gart's convoy.