Book 2.
Volume 2: Getting Stronger
Chapter Two: Disciples
*****
The twenty minutes that the man gave Miyazaki and Kai passed, and, as is customary in such cases, the deal must be kept. The boys have come to the entrance and are waiting, but the military man is still missing. It's worth noting that they managed to book the cheapest room in the hotel and get along there, but there's a problem with the money, so they booked a room and will stay there for three days, and then that's it. But what comfort! They bring you your things, you don't have to do anything, they serve food, wash clothes, make beds, and clean the rooms. Miyazaki liked the hotel, it was so modern, not like her country house, where she didn't even have normal clothes.
- Where the hell is he? We've been standing here for ten minutes! - She's starting to lose her temper, and it's bad luck for the military man if Miyazaki is going to sneak out at all.
- He made the appointment and he's late for it. Listen," he says to his friend. - Maybe he's not coming at all.
- I could see in his eyes that he's not the kind of guy who likes to cheat. Let's wait ten more minutes, remember he talked about some conversation with a criminal. - and she just shrugged and waited for the soldier.
They're already drinking water over there. On the first floor, just to the left of the room ordering counter, there is a kind of café or restaurant, whoever wants to call it, that's where the delicious things are cooked, the smell as it reached Kai, and took him to his place. And only Miyazaki stopped her friend, firmly grasped his hand and sternly looked into the captured scent of delicious steak eyes.
- Hey, don't be silly! We don't have enough money as it is, do you still want to eat here?
- Miyazaki, I'm just looking at the food... - drooling from my mouth, and my feet want to run to the source of such a juicy smell.
- Fool, you're acting like a wild man!
- Come on, I'm just looking!
Miyazaki put up with Kai's stubbornness and let him go, but then that man in the red cloak comes up to them, he finally finished with the business, and judging by the expression on his face everything ended well. A bright smile beckoned the local ladies, and the cavaliers envied the strict and confident gait of the military man, you can see that he is not just some Warrior Rifleman, he must be a commander or something.
- What took you so long?! - But whatever the man's rank was, and Miyazaki didn't care at all. She's been standing at the door like an idiot for ten minutes, staring at passersby and looking around, and now Kai's acting like an uncivilized savage.
- I'm sorry, this conversation has gone on a little long. But I'm glad you waited for me. - The man adjusted his luxurious hat and left the hotel, calling the boys to follow him.
- Why did we leave the hotel? - Miyazaki asked. Well, in general, she did the right thing. The guys are already two hundred meters away from their room, walking down a street surrounded by all sorts of stores, sparks flying from the blacksmith shop, three blacksmiths sloppily hitting metal with hammers and almost injuring the locals. The locals are used to it, but they are not afraid of it. They know that their blacksmiths are not that stupid, but Miyazaki is new here, and she thinks everyone is wild.
- Because there are too many ears in the hotel, and we don't need that, do we? - With a smile on his face the soldier interjected.
- Let's get to the point, we still have to look for a job. - The girl was in a hurry. And what else is she to do? They'll evict her in three days, and then she won't be able to walk down the streets knowing there's a warm room in the hotel.
- When Kai wanted to steal the vase, I sensed a faint aura from him, it came out of his body all by itself the moment he felt fear for the possibility of being caught.
- What? What aura are you talking about? - The guy didn't get it. He walked beside the man and scratched the back of his head. He was sweating from the heat.
- Kai, tell me, are your parents Warriors?
- Yes, why?
- I see. - At this point, the military officer seemed to lose interest in the guy and turned his attention to the girl. - What about you, Miyazaki, didn't I call you correctly? I purposely let the weak aura out of me, to see if any of you have the ability to sense other people's energy or not, and it turned out that you felt it. Miyazaki, are your parents Warriors too?
- Well... I don't know much about them, but they died at the front defending the Land of Flowers from Titania. - With sadness in her eyes she answered. Poor, lowered her eyes and still remembers those burning pictures of her parents in the ruined house, when she and Toda were still rescuing her grandmother.
- Died at the front, it turns out they knew how to fight. Then it all makes sense. It has already come to my attention that Titania has taken over the capital of the Land of Flowers, I am sorry... However, you have a chance to avenge that defeat. - The man stopped at the blacksmith's shop and watched as the stout blacksmith pounded his hammer on his sword. The military man wasn't afraid of the sparks that flew at him at all, he stood and watched the work in progress.
The blacksmith didn't pay attention at first, but then he looked at the man beside him and saluted him.
- Officer Toshio, nice to meet you!
Hoshi Toshio, thirty years old, is an officer in the army of the Fire Country, one of the very respected people, in fact he can live in the capital, but is always scurrying around the outskirts in search of young talent. He seems to have had a lot of luck with that.
- Blacksmith, would you mind giving me that sword? - The officer held out his hand.
- N-but Officer Toshio, the sword is newly made, it's very hot! - The man flatly refused. Of course, if you give him a hot sword now, the officer will hurt his hand, and then send him to jail. I don't need it.
- Don't be afraid, just put the weapon in my palm. - Hoshi said in cold blood.
- Officer? I knew he was someone important, the way everyone greeted him. But what does he want to do? The sword is really very hot. Is he a masochist?] - I didn't understand why Hoshi Toshio wanted to take the sword in her hand. You can get burned that way.
The blacksmith has nothing left, not to refuse the officer. He grasps the weapon with his special gloves and places it in the officer's palm. After what they saw, the guys were so shocked that Kai actually wondered if Officer Toshio was really human. Or an alien of some sort. The man had no problem clenching his sword in his fist and bringing the point to his face.
- Are you out of your mind?! The sword is hot! - Miyazaki was shaking with fear, the first time she saw a man holding something hot without pain. She usually got burned, especially when she helped her grandmother bake cakes. I mean, who knew you had to take them out of the oven with gloves on?
- Surprised? And someday you, too, will be able to touch hot objects without the risk of burns. That is, of course, if you become my students. - The officer looked down at the astonished lads and put his sword on the anvil.
The blacksmith continued working, and the three of them just started walking down the street. The officer didn't even need gloves, he grabbed the hot hilt of the sword with his bare hands and held it for exactly five minutes, after that there was not even any redness on his palm, here of course Kai's theory about the existence of aliens makes sense.
- Tell me honestly, how did you manage to grab it without burning yourself on the sword? Are you some kind of magician? - Kai decided to find out, he's got a new theory about tricks already. Just make sure he doesn't end up thinking the officer is really a Titan.
- Is it a trick? No, it's a skill. You've probably heard of Hikari.
- Of course, the magical energy that many people on the planet have. - Kai answered. He was so good at magical energy back in high school, even though it didn't do him much good because the curriculum was all about math, which was a nightmare for any student.
- That's true. And I felt a little hint of that energy inside your bodies.
- Excuse me? - Miyazaki couldn't believe her ears and decided to ask again. How could she possibly have Hikari? She can't even run away properly, the poor thing is suffocating.
- Your parents were Warriors, and as you know, Hikari can be inherited, or it can appear by itself. In your case, it was passed down from your parents, though there is very little of it. Why do you think an officer like me would wander the outskirts of the country? I'm looking for men like you and I want to train them. If you become my apprentices, you'll learn a lot.
- No, I refuse! I have a grandmother and a younger brother to take care of! - Miyazaki shouted. A girl is very worried about her relatives, so you have to leave them in exchange for training? What the hell is the point of that?
- What about you? - The officer asked Kai, and he blushed.
- I'd go with you, but I can't leave Miyazaki alone. - Or maybe the other way around?
- Well, that's your choice, I won't insist on mine. - Turns his back to them. - Just wanted to finish my words. If you become my students, you won't have to work at all, everything will be paid for you by the academy you'll be studying at. Miyazaki, you don't have to worry about your grandmother and brother, they'll be given the best hotel in the capital city of the Fire Country, and of course the state will pay for it.
Well, even a rich man wouldn't refuse such a thing. Very sweet terms, said in a sweet man's tone. Kai agreed; he dragged Miyazaki behind him, but she refused. The girl looked down and wondered if she should even go to the academy, on the one hand it could be a typical scam, like they promise you all the coolest stuff now, but once you get to the academy you have to pay. Although on the other hand it will be very difficult for her to work in a foreign country, not an easy decision.
- Do you want to teach us to be strong? - She asked the officer sternly.
- Yes, I will make warriors out of you, and which country you will decide for yourselves. You can serve the Fire, or you can return to the Flowers, the choice is yours.
- Miyazaki, please, please agree, I beg you! - Kai was jumping for joy, this is the first time he'll be paid for, what the heck.
- Fine, but I'll talk to my grandma and my brother first, we have to talk about it. - We should convince Granny, which shouldn't be a problem at all, and promise Toda a mountain of candy if he moves to the capital of the Fire Country, the guys are one step away from becoming Warriors already.
- Okay. I'll stop by your place tonight. Nine o'clock, okay?
- All right. - The girl made a deal with the man.
Officer Toshio smiled one last time and went somewhere to do business, well, either to a beer house, or really have things to do, and the guys, being unaware of the area, went to the hotel. Oh, and it would be hard for them to choose, in fact no. Kai from the free accommodation in the capital of the Fire Country for sure will not turn out, and Miyazaki in principle too, here all depends on the grandmother and Toda more.
It's nine o'clock in the evening, the sun has set below the horizon, and fewer and fewer residents are walking the streets. The important carriage with the symbol of the Fire Country came right up to the entrance of the hotel, and Officer Toshio walked proudly out of it and went inside. Miyazaki and his family were waiting for him right there. The man was even surprised to see the grandmother and the little boy beside them. So that's who the girl was telling him about at the time.
- We agree. - She said confidently, which pleased the officer.
- In that case, please get into the carriage. Our next stop is the Fire Capital, Phoenix.
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Author: Youn Ji-min
Cycle: Madness
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