Waiting on the queue wasn't a problem because we knew the moment we got inside, things would be much easier.
"Well what do we have here! If it isn't a bunch of filthy Endlavians"
A voice from one of the two lowlives who came from behind us.
They had scarified faces that made them share a similar look to those NPCs at the start of a roleplaying game that may pick on you because you're at the novice level.
The only mistake they made here was their approach, it wouldn't easily set me into a bad mood but I didn't plan on letting their criticism slide either.
It's hard to believe people still thought with so little effort.
No one needed to tell me they were morons, that much was obvious simply by looking at them. It's no surprise that most continents didn't quite get along, but at least everyone had to make an effort to coexist.
With their daggers drawn, a few merchants on the queue were already trembling in their boots.
As for me, the pinky finger of my right hand did some digging within the confines of my nostrils. Their empty threats meant nothing, I stood there, unfazed.
Even Gallus didn't gratify their presence with the smallest of attentions. He stood in the same position he did on getting to the queue, with my bags in his hands.
He wore such a cold and intimidating look. Had his long hair not danced in the wind you'd believe he was a statue.
"You pigs better stop ignoring us or it's downhill for you!" said one of the two.
"Still, they might have some money on them, and since they aren't in the town yet... they're fair game." the other replied.
Sincerely, they were as weak as their personalities.
Were the bandits in Zestria this lame? it'd be an insult to the actual bandits to call them such.
These two were a couple of schmucks who didn't know the first thing about being fierce. They were verbally regurgitating themselves from my point of view.
Bothered still, why had Gallus not even moved an inch? His personality was chill and any other day I'd encourage it but he should've attempted to back me up.
In a battle against these two, half of me would be too much for them to handle but still, I'd appreciate the gesture to aid.
Weren't knights supposed to be more extroverted? The ones I'd heard of in stories that saved princess' definitely were.
But this guy, he was like me waiting for Alaric to finish his early morning poop so I could have mine.
"Sooo, you guys done?" I had to know when the cutscenes would end. In my head I simulated the entire scenario like the usual old-school board games we played.
Sigh, I always got the weak elf.
"Enough of this, I'm gonna roast this kid and his butler!" the dumber one stated, they were both equally dumb so it didn't matter who said this exactly.
Their companions arrived, one with an axe, another had a low tier magic staff and the last had what looked like one of those outdated elemental magic technology.
Adding the two buffoons would make them five in all. I'd prefer not to use pejoratives but for them I made an exception.
The five charged for both Gallus and I. The merchants and potential semicitizens dispersed to keep themselves safe.
Did anyone not have a shred of selflessness here? A child was about to be attacked and no one showed concern, then again it wasn't like I needed their help.
With all five attacking at once, all I needed to do was to cast my defensive offense magic that used kinetic energy to its advantage.
It'd only take the flinch of a brow to cast.
"Huh?" the perplexity that followed my utterance wasn't enough to emphasize the confused expression my countenance harbored.
"White dragon style! Forest breaker!"
With a clean draw of his blade, Gallus sequentially swung it upward with a swift, broad, cutting stroke that tore into the air.
There was a moment of silence that was enough for one to hear the rustling trees move back and forth.
This, just before a violent upsurge of wind that decimated the ground around him and swept up the five attackers. An imposing howling of the wind and a rapidly rotating funnel of wind that dispersed them 20 to 25 meters from their initial location.
The only reason I wasn't blown away was because I was able to erect a force-bubble around myself [--Ultra wall formation--] before impact was due.
This guy had monstrous strength. Even after the attackers were comically dispatched of, the violent winds from his bladeʼs stroke was still present.
But the moment he sheathed his sword, the intense wind currents settled down. One moment it was there and the next it wasn't.
If anyone told me Gallus was this awesome prior, I'd have never believed.
Still, 'He wasted a good number of them... even the merchants and those visiting...' I had my face in my palm.
It wasn't so cool after Scentia gave me a good briefing on what happened after he'd used such a wide scale attack.
[>> Attack aftermath: 8 people fled, 10 in shock, 22 safe, 6 fainted and 25 had their minds blown. <<]
"Are you okay, Sir Nyx?" he knelt on one knee and bowed his head in servitude, for some reason my protection seemed very important to him that he'd act like I was the one paying him.
The way he caught me off-guard with that impressive attack and then this show of respect held me by surprise, I was at a loss for words.
What would be the best response here, one that sounded friendly and at the same time not so casual that it'd appear like what he'd done was commonplace. Maybe a simple "thank you" would be the best alternative.
The soldiers rushed out of their posts, in their hands auto magic-rifles.
It looked like they were ready to neutralize any external threat. About five came our way just as Gallus was rising to his feet.
"What happened here?!" Bajin assertively asked, he looked like he was the one in charge, that is of the twelve soldiers I'd seen.
"Uh... they went that way?" I pointed in a random direction facing the forest and as hard a pill as it was to swallow they fell for it.
Four of the twelve had gone into the forest in search for what caused all this trouble, too bad they weren't as smart as they were strong.
Bajin looked at Gallus and could immediately tell he was a knight of Endlave, which explained how the party of five could instantly pick us out as Endlavians.
I didnʼt wear my uniform on coming here so there was no way they'd have been able to pick me out, then again those idiots wouldn't know a school attire if they were born in it.
Another way people could tell one was from Endlave were from the colour of our eyes, we were the only continent that had people with bright blue eyes. I was in that category.
"It's an honor to meet a fellow man who protects.." Bajin; the captain of security extended his arm for a handshake. And Gallus was much obliged but still quiet.
I extended my arm and withdrew it some seconds later after seeing Bajin didn't acknowledge it, instead he pat my head. Just great, my height had yet again belittled me in the presence of others, literally and figuratively.
.
.
.
Thanks to the quick bonding of Bajin and Gallus we were allowed to make our way into the country.
Gallus barely said ten words to this guy and all of a sudden they were buddies? That's almost more than what he'd said to me in two days which somewhat annoyed me but not to a degree that was serious.
Where exactly did the headmaster get this knight from, his eccentricities were becoming a mouthful. It was hard to predict what he'd do next to surprise me.
.
.
.
The capital city of Elgard; Ionia was where the continentʼs only magic academy resides.
Given the difficulty that comes with mastering True magic, not many individuals focused on the practice of magic, rather they devoted their time to development of magical technology to compensate for this.
Here, their mages were called Magic Cavaliers. Seeing as they weren't as much as the soldiers, the continent had about 100,000 to 150,000 that could practice Zestrian magic.
Veloa Gidez was the most influential man in Zestria, rivaling the two Magic Emperors and the seven Grand Sorcerers of Endlave in strength.
His army was vast, encompassing many nations that had willingly submitted to his rule. This submission also ensured that these nations were under his protection, which was great comfort.
Right now, Gallus and I were trying to find our way around Ionia.
"Okay, who did Headmaster say I should ask around for again?" I remembered the name, but before I could pursue it any further Gallus swiftly placed a letter before me.
It had the House Besimios stamp which was my noble family.
"Hm?" questions would arise later as to how he had this in his possession but first I opened up the letter and the first thing I recognized was mother's writing.
In a nutshell, she had a cousin here and I was to stay with said cousin and her family.
Apparently, I was going to have two teachers one was their daughter who was supposedly a genius and the other was the person Polpe (or rather Lord Spriggan) had recommended as the finest teacher I could possibly have.
Onward, we had the location of the house which already solved more than half of our problems since arriving here.
.
.
.
They lived at the arse end of nowhere. Just outside the borders of the capital city. But maybe this wasn't so bad, living just outside the capital city meant there was some level of privacy.
Given how large a land they lived on it was enough proof that these distant relatives of mine were affluent. Who knew they'd be so high status.
We were nearing the fanciful home of the Wymarcs.
Gallus deserved good boy points, he may not socialize with me much but his strength was admirable.
It almost made me want to learn Endlavian sword styles from him, I'd been planning to make a weapon for myself but I hadn't found a way to break out a piece from Persesʼ gargantuan sword to do that.
One of the few things on my to-do list.
Right in front of the door I was ready to push the bell but preparing myself comes first.
I had to make a good first impression. I dressed my hair and adjusted my clothing, I even took a whiff of my mouth to see if it had any unpleasant smells.
Deep breaths after deep breaths, I gathered enough morale. Nothing could go wrong.
The wide grin on my face was literally washed off by a large flying ball of water.
It forced its way through the door completely shattering it and directly hitting and propelling me several meters across the fields.
Just my luck.