"The traces end here," Hazog said pointing at the prints on the sand. He looked at the front, just a few metres away and saw a human boot imprinted on the sand. "Humans, they took him." He said turning to face Parish.
"How do you know?" Parish asked. Hazog simply pointed at the boot prints on the sand,
"Those belong to humans." And come to think of it, he had seen Parish wear nothing on his feet. Hell, how did he even survive? The scorching hot sand must have roasted his skin! His gaze instantly shifted to Parish's feet and wait… Not even a single scratch on his fair skin! It's as if he continuously seemed to be glowing! How was that even possible?
"Where is the track leading to?" Parish asked, unaware that Hazog was looking at his feet, disbelief written all over his face. A frown settled on his face when Hazog said nothing, prompting Parish to shift his gaze to him. And what was he looking at? He followed his line of sight, his gaze resting on his newly acquired pair of legs. And what was with them? Didn't they look like those of a human or something?
"What's the matter with my legs?" He asked, raising a brow. Hazog instantly shifted his gaze avoiding Parish's all the while.
"Nothing My Lord," he said, biting his lower lip between his teeth. Parish found it disgusting, coupled with his green teeth, he would scare the life out of a child, instantly! Smiling was a thing he ought to avoid if he was close to humans or any other species.
"Woa!" Hazog exclaimed. "Look! They took him to the human city," he added pointing at the other direction. Parish turned, instantly freezing at the sight that welcomed him. Magnificence might be an understatement to describe what he was seeing. Never in his entire life had he imagined he would come across such a place.
"If he was really taken there, chances of survival are slim," Hazog said, shaking his head as if Mike was as good as dead. But Parish was determined. Despite rescuing Mike, there was this gut feeling he had, it was like a siren's call, pulling him, enticing him to enter this human city.
"I have to go. Who knows he might be alive?" He said, narrowing his gaze.
"Then I'm afraid this might be the end of my journey. I can go no further," Hazog said, shading his eyes with the back of his hand. Parish just looked at him and nodded,
"Take it," he said handing the dagger to Hazog. He took it, disbelief written all over his face. He never thought Parish would be this kind. In fact, he had expected to be killed at the end of it. But this…
"Thank you My Lord." Parish just smiled at him. He knew he could have gotten no information at all had he killed this guy. Nevertheless, Hazog had been of great help.
"Those are class three mages," Hazog took the initiative to warn Parish, pointing at beings clad in white hovering the sky, some on a beast's back while others sat cross legged.
"Take care," he added.
Parish smiled once more before he started walking towards the city. His feet carried with it the hot sand but surprisingly, he couldn't feel the heat. His gaze shifted to the beings soaring in the skies just above the city. Class three mages? He still couldn't understand how the human system worked. He would learn that later but first, he needed to rescue Mike before it was too late.
The city grew larger as he walked closer, some of the features now coming into view. The gate, made of iron, was the first on sight. The tall metal stood firm, beside it standing two men with smug looks on their faces. They were holding a a long spear at their sides, clamoured from head to toe in armours. He swallowed nervously at the thought. On top of the iron gate stood a lady, all clad in black, her veiled face giving nothing more but her shiny blue eyes that exuded imminent danger. She was holding two disc shaped plate-like weapons that shone brightly under the scorching sun.
Was he scared? A bit. He slowly approached the gate but the two men blocked his entrance.
"What's your business here young man? Show your identity card." Asked a female voice. Parish lifted his head to look at the blue eyes of the lady on top of the gate.
"I-l'm new here and this is my first time visiting a city, I don't have a card yet. I want to enroll as a student in the academy," he answered. For a moment, the lady just stared at him as if assessing if what he had said was true.
"A gold coin to register for an identification card." one guard at the side stated his voice cold and dangerous.
Parish blushed with embarrassment, where was he going to get a gold coin when he was without even a copper coin! "I-I-I don't have money on me, so can I pay later. I promise to work hard and pay in a few days time."
The guard sneered to his words. "How are you going to get a gold coin in just a few days time? Get out of here before I slay you!" he threatened making Parish shivered in fright. Humans are really scary and had long case a shadow on him!
Parish had a very complicated look on his childish and innocent face, in other's view it was as if he was bullied to cry.
Suddenly a gold coin flew into one of the guard's hand who caught it decisively, all three raises their heads to the lady in black at the top.
"Let him in, I'll pay for his registration" she told the guards blankly. The guard nodded and took out a kind of stamp, and grabbing Parish's hand and harshly stamp on his wrist. It glowed white and subsided leaving a black ink scribbled with words he couldn't read. Parish let out a sigh he didn't know he was holding all the while and looked to the lady in black with gratitude.
"I will make sure to pay you back for the gold coin!" he boldly stated but he received silence in return. He was disheartened, for his promise of returning the gold coin he will fulfill.
One of the guards pressed a button and the iron gate moved, it's creaking sound filling in the air. Seems it might have been a long time before someone from the outside came here.
Throwing the thoughts at the back of his mind, Parish stepped in, his eyes instantly widening at the sight that welcomed him. Now that he could see the city up close, he was simply stupefied.
Buildings stood tall in the city, the different lights inviting Parish to take a step forward. Never in his life had he thought something like this ever existed. The humans were truly innovative! He took another step but this time, mesmerized in the beauty of the human city. Looking to the left and right he walked aimlessly with no where in mind to go just instinctively walking around.
After Parish had long disappeared from their sights the guard raised his head up to look at the lady in black.
"Why did the guild master of black rose guild, the only 8th class magician in Humbria and the head mistress of Gretia choose to pay for that peasant?"
He was curious, because he couldn't see anything worth seeing in that boy. Just a country bumpkin that boy was.
"What I see, there's no way you can see it. He's bathed in mana, very pure mana...." she turned to look in the direction Parish walked, on the back of her dress was print of black rose.... "He'll one day become a very high magician. That's what I believe."
"Why do you think so? Even if he's blessed with mana, without any support he'll at most be a 5th or 6th class magician." The guard said.
"Captain of the City Lord's Knight, you know I, Black Rose am a gambler. And I'm betting my gold on him.... Well there's nothing more to see here, I'd better head back to the academy, those mischievous brats will run wild if I keave them for long."
As soon as her words came to halt, she leaped into the sky. And with the blessing of the wind she fly freely like a bird, beautiful and graceful.
Author's Words:
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