In the Sun Dorm, everyone is sitting down, chatting and gossiping together casually.
It only took a moment for Amy to realize herself that she is dreaming before realizing again that she is seeing though Ramiro's eyes. It seems that he missed her if she were seeing through his eyes in her dreams.
Ramiro is a smart bird and it seems that the conversation in front of him made Amy understand why Ramiro wanted to show her this.
Leon collapsed on the chair and slouched down looking bored. "I saw why Mother pulled me out of school for a while. The Hekaton delegate came by a couple days ago. And guess what, one of their princes have come as the ambassador."
Everyone perked up with interest. "That's weird, Hekaton never usually comes in person. When was the last time one of their royalties came to Solin?" Theseus asked out of curiosity.
"Seventy year give or take." Melissa waved it off while reading a book.
"Well spill the beans! Which side, left or right?" Sabina asked after slapping her leg.
"Right," he replied.
Sabina appeared confused. "I thought someone on the left side would be coming."
"This is probably one of their expendable princes. Send him here to die as if they think we're going to be violent and kill one of them then use it as an excuse to declare war. You know how they view us," Leon said in a bored tone, "He has q-quite the stutter too." his expression turned mischievous, "I called him out for it. He looked like he was gonna cry at every sentence."
Viola glared at Leon, "Don't make fun of him for that. That's outright bullying."
"Yeah, don't bully kids." Melissa agreed.
"The guys like twenty." Leon protest before moving on. "Unfortunately, it looks like Hekaton is quite jealous that there are two people born in Solin with purification powers. They asked if one of the twins could transfer to their academy instead." Leon said.
"What did they say about that?" Theseus asked.
"No, obviously," Viola said in protest, "Both of us are born in Solin, not Hekaton. WE don't belong there."
"Well, it is of no surprise," Rufus commented. "Their founder Hekaton had purification powers too. That kind of power hasn't appeared in over four hundred years and all its ability users are also from Hekaton."
"And for the first time, an ability user with a purification ability is born in a different country. Do you have any idea how badly they reacted to that?"
"Terribly, no doubt. They always take pride in the legend of their founder." Nathaniel commented while reading a book.
"Worst case scenario is that they make you guys marry into the Hekaton royal family. Ryllis at the left and you at the right." Leon teased making Viola extremely angry.
"We're not marrying into their families, you pig!" She yelled.
Amy watched this with clarity and saw Boris and Alabaster by her side.
*
"So that's why the Hekaton delegation came." Boris said. "I remember during my employment for the royal family that they weren't happy that someone who is not Hekaton is born with the same power as their founder and even worse that there are two of them. Marriage isn't a stretch if they could get their hands on it again."
Amy rolled her eyes. When Violet's purification power were discussed, people are reluctant to send Aron as a member of the delegation because Hekaton will not take kindly to them. He was given an ultimatum by Hekaton to defect his country which resulted in him teleporting himself out of there as a response after they tried to trap him.
"Getel is taking advantage of the chaos to acquire the power themselves. They are known to employ all ability users with strong defense and offensive abilities no matter the background because they are that desperate. This bandit leader is one of them." Alabaster said.
"Reinforcements are coming in fast. They'll reach you guys before the night." Boris assures her.
"I'll take care of the leader myself."
"Bad idea." Alabaster said after sternly staring at her, "He took out more than twenty guards and fourteen of them are the queens guard."
"He didn't kill them nor steal their armor because he is cautious. I saw what he could do. His power is not an ability he could conjure up but one where he could weaponize his hair. He has no magic in him. I am confident that I could trap him. His goal was to capture me. He won't harm me unless he believes the money isn't worth it. Before the men you sent to my rescue arrive, I will eliminate him."
*
Amy squirmed as she quickly went into a spasm. Anna quickly administers the medicine. That didn't go unnoticed by the leader who looked stern.
"She's sick?"
"Yes, she's ill. The reason we headed to Fiore is for her recuperation. She is slowly getting worse over the year."
Amy felt like throwing up upon waking up but held it back as a showcase of strength. She cannot show anyone that she is vulnerable.
"Fer a noble like yourself, you sure aren't whiny." Amy turned to the bandit leader who is on horseback watching the back of the wagon.
Amy looked hostile at him. "You got a lot of gold on me?"
He shrugged. "Money makes the world go round."
She noticed a young boy accompanying them. "Is he yours?"
"Orphan," he replied. "One of many in Getel. Monsters constantly raid and pillage human settlements, take our food and valuables, eat up our families, steal our children, the list goes on. If we don't get killed by the monsters, we starve or freeze to death. As someone from a more peaceful land, even your commoners are living the high life compared to Getel."
"You sound like you hate Solin."
"I remember when yer soldiers came to our lands and deal with the monsters. Your folks only deal with ones with great rewards, not smaller ones that affect its small villages. I don't hate Solin. I hate nobles. All of them."
Amy's expression softened. "Your slave trade was your country's reimbursement. Now that the barbarians ruined that, the common people suffer."
"You know more than I'd expect."
"I am educated, not sheltered." she told him. "I would be lying if I said that I look down on you for being a bandit. Getel's nobilities are more corrupt than any other nation on the continent."
"I envy your land. There are barely any monsters there."
"I heard of bandits in Solin but you never attacked us." Amy then leaned forward. "Why don't you live here? Solin can gain you and your men sanctuary."
"Can't" he shake his head. "People are counting on me. I may be employed by the state but I work for the people, not the country."
Amy remembered Alina and the despair she went through. She is still in the process of going to other lands to buy back her people and they keep track of each other.
"Have you heard of the Barbarian Chief Alina?"
"Aye, I've seen her. Fer someone so young, she is a good leader."
"I met her when I was a little kid. It's been seven years since I've met her, and she took my advice on growing wheat to sell to buy back her people."
He appears visibly confused then asked softly, "Who are you?"
"A friend. I can help you, but you have to trust me and listen." she said. "In a couple years, there are predictions of an arising food crisis. I do not know the cause although your king made some terrible reforms that won't solve the problem. Go buy some seeds from Damat that would grow in arid lands, and it should fertilize your fields. Monsters do not like to eat them either, so they are safe enough for humans to eat."
"Getel doesn't know much about agriculture."
"Getel has plenty of land but cannot gain access to them because of the monsters."
What he doesn't know is that Amy is conjuring up some magic inside her cloak.
"What is your name?"
"Ethan,"