- My name is Trey, stufon of the Suga Tina Academy, I own the magic of darkness, a melee mage, I fight with a sword. - I introduced myself in a calm voice, feeling the pressure in the card began to rise
Shifting my gazes from one to the other who was sitting at the table, I saw how the dark elf narrowed his eyes and wanted to pounce on me.
- What kind of children's fairy tales are you telling half-Elf? Or have you decided that your servant is more talented than you and imagined to yourself that you own a vanished magic fool? - The dark elf said angrily, getting up from his chair.
I understood his disbelief, like others sitting at the table, there was anger and condescension in their eyes, they thought that I was lying, sighing, raising my hand high so that everyone sitting at the table could see it, I used the magic of darkness, on my palm lay a dark ball that did not shimmer with other colors.
Seeing the ball, many recoiled from the table and pointed their weapons at me. Oteu was shocked already by the fact that such a talented magician as Keirin accompanies the caravan and not really expecting anything ordinary from a half-elf, but this half-elf turned out to be something that he did not foresee even in his wildest dreams. The dark elf looked at the darkness in my hand as a child looks at his parent whom he missed.
- Impossible. - The dark elf spoke in a low voice, without controlling his actions, he stretched out his hand to the darkness.
Watching the behavior of those sitting at the table, I just shook my head, why did I have darkness out of all the magic? Watching the dark elf reach for the ball of darkness, I dispelled the darkness, the dark elf's clouded gaze began to change from misunderstanding to anger.
- If I hadn't dispelled the darkness, your hand would have been destroyed. - Explaining to the dark elf, I said in a calm voice, I didn't care what happened to this dark elf, but I didn't have the desire to create a conflict.
With a look of complete disbelief, the dark elf looked down at the whole hand, then back at me. I saw how his emotions began to calm down, I don't know if my words influenced him or if he really didn't know about the destructive power of darkness.
- Thank you, I was affected by emotions that I could not control. - The dark elf thanked me without doubting my words.
Nodding to the dark elf, I turned my gaze to the others, Oteu who continued to look at the place where the ball of darkness was. There was silence in the carriage, everyone was lost in their thoughts after seeing the magic of darkness so close.
- What are our tasks? - I asked, trying to change the subject.
There was silence, everyone was immersed in their thoughts about what they had just seen, they had all heard fairy tales about the magic that had disappeared, but now that they saw it, they could not remember how they imagined as a child how they possessed this magic. But now there was a representative of the vanished magic in front of them, everyone began to get jealous of Trey. The first to recover was Oteu, who heard Trey's question, carefully looking at him, memorizing his face.
- Your task is to guard the center of the caravan together with your servant, the way to the city will take a week, so you will change with each other who is on duty when you decide for yourself and now you are free. - Said Oteu without taking his eyes off me.
Nodding to him and saying goodbye to the rest, we got up from the table and got out of the carriage and headed to the central part of the caravan, I saw their looks and the fact that they could be up to something. Shaking his head, greed for power just led to the fact that the gods left this world.
Watching the strange half-elf and no less strange elf leave, Oteu looked around at everyone. The guards' eyes were filled with pure envy as the dark elf shifted his gaze from the chair to the door.
- Do not touch this half-elf, even if you want to get his power, he is now under the protection of the academy. - Oteu cautiously addressed the magicians sitting with stone faces.
They could still recover from what they saw, but the dark elf continued to look at the place where Trey was sitting. He needed to contact the capital and report what he saw. Hearing the words of Oteu's words, everyone reluctantly nodded at his words, seeing that everyone agreed with his point of view, he relaxed and continued to drink ale.
In the direction of the same house where Trey and Keirin entered, a group of young people approached, there were light elves, dark elves and one girl whom Trey and Keirin encountered in a tavern.
Like Trey, she took assignments at her academy along with her friends who were now walking next to her. Unlike her, they were not freshmen, so she was allowed to take on this assignment. Approaching the house, Fel looked around, not understanding where the entrance was, she looked at her companions, the light elf who was talking to Trey was called Olu'nier, he was from a not particularly rich family, but his talent for magic was amazing, he possessed a rare dual magic of water and fire. If usually light elves not from a noble family had wind magic and a talent for summoning creatures for their protection, then Olu'nier was not like his level, many joked that he was the illegitimate son of the king of light elves.
- I don't understand how to get inside? - Fel said in a tired voice, looking at the house.
Her friends started looking at the house and then a dark elf named Kier offered to go around the house and look there. Having agreed, the company began to walk around the house in a circle, Kier's assumption was correct, they saw a gate that was slightly open. Not seeing the guards who would guard the entrance, the group went inside.
After exchanging glances, the friends went through the gate, finding themselves in a large courtyard and seeing a caravan that was already almost ready, they began to look for where they could find the owner of the caravan.
Ask the merchants who supervised the loading, they sent them inside the task, going the same way as Trey, they found themselves at the door leading to the hall.
Fel, looking around the corridors, could not feel that the owner of this house was trying to demonstrate that he was rich by the standards of this city.
But for her it was just a stupid attempt to throw dust in the eyes of the guests. She might have noticed that her friends, like her, had a similar opinion, looking at each other and asking who would knock on the door. Fed up with the indecision of her friends, Fel went to the door and knocked loudly.
- Who else has brought there? - An exasperated voice came from behind the door.
She was surprised by this treatment, everything in the house said that the owner of the house sees himself as a local nobility. But his behavior now was difficult to assess as the behavior of the nobility.
- I Fel with my companions from Ni'shao Academy have arrived to complete the task. - She introduced herself looking at the door, which remained also closed.
Footsteps were heard from the other side approaching the door, the door began to open slowly and the owner of the caravan appeared to her, he was middle-aged for a man, it was clear that he was full and if Fel was told on the street that he was a merchant, she would not believe he looked like a mortal who robbed a magician. But in the world, you can't judge only by appearance.
- Yes, I remember I received a message that someone took my task, my name is Duhane. - The owner of the caravan introduced himself, extending his hand to them without a brush.
Looking down at his hand, he could not help but grimace in disgust, Fel noticing this was surprised.
- Please tell us about yourself. - Duhane turned to Fel and her companions.
Uncomprehendingly looking at Duhain, who was afraid of provoking someone else, decided to first find out more about his guests.
- My name is Fel, Princess of the kingdom of Haig, stufon of the Ni'shao Academy, I am a first-year master of wind magic. - Fel said in a calm voice, she didn't understand why she had to tell everything about herself.
After her, her friends began to introduce themselves, unlike her, they performed similar tasks, but each merchant had his own quirks, so they did not betray the value.
- Well, you can go to the head of security, he will tell you where you will perform your task. - Duhane spoke kindly.
Not understanding what caused such a strange behavior of the caravan owner, Fel and her friends left the hall where Duhane was sitting. Watching the door close, he relaxed in his chair, first this damned half-elf and now the princess, it's good that he decided to find out who she is. Duhane began to fear that the world was against him.
Leaving the hall in which Duhane was sitting, it seemed to the girl that he behaved strangely communicating with them after looking at friends who were looking at paintings along the way, Fel thought that she was imagining herself and followed her friends.
After leaving the house and finding themselves on the street, they noticed that the caravan was almost ready to depart, having learned again from the merchants where to look for the head of the guard, they went to the carriage that was located at the end of the caravan. Approaching the carriage, they noticed a man dressed in trousers and in a half-crown, holding his hands at his sides, he carefully examined the caravan, then seeing that a group of young representatives of the races were approaching him, he grinned.
- Good afternoon, we stufons from the Ni'shao Academy have arrived to complete the task of escorting the caravan, my name is Fel. - Fel introduced herself, looking at the man standing opposite her.
After carefully examining them, opening the door to the map and inviting them to go inside with a hand gesture. After going inside, they noticed that it was bigger inside than outside, the table and seats were free. Going to one of the chairs and sitting on it, Fel and her friends realized that they needed to sit down, sitting in a semicircle in front of the man.
- Since you arrived at the end of the caravan gathering, I don't have time to call everyone else here. My name is Oteu, the head of the caravan guard. Oteu introduced himself in a gruff voice.
Fel did not like that she was pointed out that they were late for a meeting with other caravan guards on the way they would have to interact and need to know who owns what and who looks like.
- Tell me about yourself besides you stufon Fel. - Turned to the remaining Oteu.
Her friends introduced themselves in turn, there was no super-strong among her friends, Oteu sighed calming down, he had not yet recovered from the demonstration of Trey's magic.
- Thank you, and now I'm distributing you throughout the caravan who will be responsible for which section. - Said Oteu thoughtfully glancing from one to the other of Fel's friends.
She didn't understand, did he want to separate them? But why did they come together, wouldn't it be better to let them be together for a better construction of protection.
- And why do you want to separate us? - Fel asked, not hiding her misunderstanding of the actions of the head of the guard.
Hearing the girl's question, Oteu sighed and looked at her, he did not like to explain simple things.
- Stufon Fel, what happens if a group of four magicians guard the same section of the caravan? - Oteu asked, waving his hand around her and his friends.
She looked at her friends and thought about his words, it was strategically advantageous not to separate them, but on the other hand, she came here in order to learn and not be under the care of friends.
- Okay, I partially understood you. - Admitting her wrongness, Fel said.
Oteu saw that she understood what she wanted to see, but he didn't have time to explain all the problems of protecting the caravan.
- You Olu'nier and the Kier of the beginning of the caravan will guard with you there will be other guards so don't worry. - Oteu spoke to the light and dark elf.
The two elves exchanged glances, they were not good acquaintances, they were only interested in Fel, so they tried to maintain neutrality between each other. Nodding to the remaining dark elf and Fel, they got out of the carriage and headed to the beginning of the caravan.
- You Naur stay with me as a support magician, you may be useful to me, you will go to the center of the caravan where you will meet with another stufon and you will protect the central carriages together. - Said Oteu casting a glance at the dark elf and Fel.
Fel exchanged glances with Naur with uncomprehending glances was there someone else from another academy? If it wasn't a tournament, then the stufons maintained friendly communication with each other. Therefore, they became interested in which academy this stufon was from.
- Do you know which academy he was from? - Asked Fel, clenching her hands into a fist, she would like to talk to someone where her future husband studied, whom she did not even see.
Listening to the interest in the girl's voice, he just shook his head and chuckled.
- He's from Suga Tin Academy and before I forget, have you been to the caravan master? - Asked Oteu, rubbing his hands in anticipation of what the two stufons would tell him.
Surprised by his question, Fel nodded, confirming that they were with the owner of the caravan, which seemed strange to her.
- Did you notice he had two hands or one? - Asked Oteu looking at the girl.
Thinking about the question, she saw only one hand and when he held out an empty one to her.
- Well, there was a brush in one hand and it was missing on the other. - Fel said, puzzled.
Smiling at what he heard, Oteu let go of the uncomprehending Fel, left alone with Oteu, the dark elf wondered why he was interested in this.
- And why are you interested in the caravan owner's illness? - Naur asked, he understood that Oteu might not answer, but he wanted to try to find out.
Looking at Naur and grinning at him, he looked towards the door of the carriage.
- Stufon Naur, if you had a servant and this fat hog decided to take her for himself, what would you do? - Naur asked without answering the dark elf's question.
Naur, not expecting such specifics, thought about the question of Oteu if he had a servant and the owner of the caravan would want her for himself during the journey, would he give her away or not? As a proud dark elf, he wanted to say no. But realizing in what world he lives and the fact that his family will abandon him if this merchant's connections are more extensive than those of the Naura family, he saw only one answer that did not endanger his family.
- I would have given the servant to him. - Naur confessed after considering all the consequences.
Agreeing with the words of Naur, the head of the caravan guard chuckled, he also came to the conclusion that the servant does not mean anything like that.
- And this stufon refused and cut off Duhain's brush, at first I didn't believe it, but you just confirmed it to me. - Continuing to grin, Oteu said.
Naur could only sympathize with the parents of this stufon and him, he foresaw how all the acquaintances of this merchant would fall on him and his family, and this thought made him shiver.
- Perhaps you imagined how the merchant begins to take revenge on him? - Asked Oteu, watching the change in Naur's face.
Oteu's voice pulled Naur out of his ideas of what would happen to stufon, nodding to the question of the head of the caravan guard.
- Duhane won't do anything to this stufon, and do you know why? This stufon is not easy, I saw it in his eyes, and I have seen many different personalities. - Oteu said thoughtfully, indulging in memories.
Naur only looked at Oteu in surprise, he could not imagine that this stufon had impressed the head of the caravan's security.
Heading to the central carts, Fel tried to think about how to make friends with this stufon. He certainly might not know Prince Alurik, but she hoped that he would be able to find out about him that thread, of course there was another question who this stufon was. What if this stufon is Prince Alurik?
Having come to such a thought, Fel stopped her thoughts began to run like horses, trying to calm down after taking a couple of breaths, she pushed these thoughts away and headed towards a similar carriage in which they were received by Oteu. Looking around, she saw no one, shrugging her shoulders, she opened the carriage door and went in.
The carriage presented a similar structure inside as the one where she was recently, when she saw two figures sitting at a table with their backs to her, she tried to restrain her nerves and slowly began to approach them, Fel did not know why they did not react to the fact that the door opened and someone entered. Coming closer, she saw slightly pointed ears sticking out from behind the hair of both, mentally exhaling, making sure that it was not Prince Alurik.
- Do you have a culture of considering someone without introducing yourself? - The voice of the guy sitting with his back to her was heard.
By the voice she realized that a dark elf was sitting in front of her, but his companion was a light elf, Fel could not help but note that this was a rather strange company.
- I apologize, my name is Fel, I, like you, am a stufon of the academy, arrived to complete the task of escorting this caravan. - She introduced herself in a warm voice.
When she heard her name, she saw him tense up and then relax. Fel was surprised by his behavior, but she did not betray the significance of it, waiting for him to introduce himself.
- My name is Trey, and this is my servant Keirin. We are from Suga Tina Academy. I will be glad to work with you stufon Fel. - Turning to face her, Trey introduced himself.
Two pairs of black eyes were looking at her, she could understand from his appearance that he was a half-elf, but then it was unclear why a light elf was traveling with him who was also looking at her. The half-elf had a pretty face in his gaze, she did not feel any obscene intentions to which she had already become accustomed in her life.
- You can call me by my first name without a stufon. - Fel turned to him, carefully looking at his face.
Smiling, Trey got up from his chair and headed in her direction, not knowing why she was not afraid, but stood waiting for him to approach her.
- Well, Fel hope for our cooperation along the way. - He said, smiling, holding out his hand to her.
Looking at Trey and at his outstretched hand to her, she did not see any ulterior motives, so she extended her hand to him, sealing their acquaintance with a handshake.
- As I hope for a productive cooperation with you Trey. - Fel smiled in agreement.
After a while, they felt the carriage begin to move back and forth, their first escort of the caravan began.