Gentle breezes were blowing. The boy's hair danced in the air. There was no expression on the boy's face. He completed a 138-kilometer journey by leaping and running through the air, covering the distance in just half an hour.
When the town came into view, approximately 700 meters away, he paused, adjusted his clothes, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and then started walking towards the town.
As he approached Kaspi, he observed a crowd of people at the main gate, and there were four guards standing there, scrutinizing everyone. After checking them, they allowed entry into the town.
The boy joined the line of people. If he wished, he could easily walk in using his abilities without anyone noticing or stopping him.
"Oh, now we have to give credits to them too," a traveler remarked.
"What can we do? If we want to do business in the market of this town, we have to deal with the Bhutan. Besides, it's the same everywhere else," another traveler replied.
"Is this fair? This is too much. In Rock Dragon City, only 60% of the work was done with credits," the first traveler expressed with slight irritation.
Hearing the conversation with his companions, the boy remained silent, knowing the reality.
"Here, they are looting us. Every traveler is demanded credits to enter Bhutan," another traveler said with enthusiasm.
"Hey, speak softly. If the soldiers find out, we're in trouble," the first traveler tried to calm the third traveler.
"Looks like a commotion is going on there. Can't you stand quietly in line?" a soldier shouted.
Hearing the soldier's voice, the three travelers became alert. When they looked ahead, all eyes were on them.
Alright, we'll stay quiet," the second traveler said in a low voice, and then they looked down and waited for their turn.
There was silence for a while, and gradually, the line diminished. When their turn came, a person seated in a chair, wearing different clothes from the soldiers, approached them and pointed his sword towards all three.
"Have you come here to create a disturbance?" the soldier asked with a devilish smile.
"You are misunderstanding," the second traveler said, laughing.
"Oh, do you want to say that my ears are not working, and I have no right to perform duty here? Is that what you want to say?" he said with annoyance, and then a faint fear appeared in his eyes. The pressure of Aura was so much that he couldn't bear it. While the other three ranked travelers were standing.
The pressure from auru was so intense that they couldn't bear it, even though all three were C-rank travelers.
"If there's a mistake, there's a mistake... please let us go," the first traveler begged, and after that, he took a deep breath.
Suddenly, the soldier became alert, took two steps back, and a wall of ice formed, made of crystals. The soldier began sweating, and a hint of fear was visible in his eyes. The other soldiers were also surprised.
"Who came here to create a disturbance?" a soldier shouted.
The boy and other travelers became alert, and when they looked ahead, all eyes were on them.
"Okay, we'll keep quiet," the second traveler said in a hushed voice. The fear and anxiety were evident on his face, as if he had reached his limit of endurance. Seeing his condition, the other soldiers laughed.
The soldier, recovering from shock, took two steps back, and an ice wall appeared. He started sweating, fear in his eyes, while the other soldiers were also bewildered. Jyoti was the traveler who caused this. Feeling the soldier's pressure relieved, they all took a deep breath, quite exhausted.
When the soldier recovered from his shock and stepped back, the ice wall disappeared. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and addressed the three travelers with a wicked smile.
"What audacity to interrupt my duty!"
What audacity to interrupt my duty!"
"We misunderstood, you're just a B-rank guard. Stay in your place," a person with a heavy voice announced, and the soldier sat down on his knees, seemingly compelled by an ideal force to kneel. His condition was deteriorating with each passing moment.
Seeing the soldier in distress, the other soldiers became alert and looked in one direction. A person from the town approached, and upon seeing him, the other soldiers stepped aside, giving him a respectful gaze.
"Ah, Captain," the soldier greeted him.
" I will inform you of your punishment later," the captain said sternly.
Afterwards, he looks at the three C-rank Traveller and says, "You can leave from here. And due to our soldier's behavior, I am deducting 30% from your credit."
Upon hearing the captain's words, the three notetravelers become pleased. "Thank you very much," they express gratitude collectively, bid farewell to the captain, and quickly deposit their credit. They proceed to enter the town together.
Observing the commotion for a while, the boy's face remains impassive as he enters. The captain stops him, but the boy silently takes out a card from his pocket. After scrutinizing the card, the captain allows him to pass.
This is the town resident card. Whoever possesses this card can enter the town anytime. No soldier can take credit; only those with the town's role can collect taxes directly," explains the boy.
As he walks away, he hears a voice in his ears. Captain speaks seriously, "You all waste your time here, while on the other side, Shadow Seeker has control ullu Z15. They removed the Shadow Seeker Art Traveler and eight travelers now belong to the Water Nation, earning billions."
"Did they attack again? I have stationed my soldiers everywhere; if Shadow Seeker is found, arrest him," the B-rank soldier says. His words reflect surprise.
The captain was about to say more when his attention is drawn to something. The boy, without wasting time, moves forward, and the captain stops him. Without a word, the boy takes out a card from his pocket, and after a careful examination, the captain lets him go.
The boy's card is a resident card, allowing him access to the town. Soldiers cannot take this credit; only those with the gear taxes can collect directly from the town.
As the boy moves forward, he enters the market area of the town. There is a considerable crowd, with residents and outsiders. Various shops sell different products: some sell meat, others weapons, and some offer red and black-colored armor known as gears.
Moving ahead, the boy takes a turn into a narrow alley. After a short walk, he reaches a small alley with several houses visible. Some were intact, while others showed signs of damage.
As he continues, he notices a boy playing in a stadium with many children. Initiates and Maneuvers are clearly visible, playing with enthusiasm.
"Brother, come forward," a girl with a slight smile on her face approaches the boy, running towards him.
"Hey, Roma, have you had your meal?" the boy asks with a light smile on his face.
She shakes her head. The boy teases her gently, "Nah, I moved my head. Your brother will come, but he might not eat until your brother arrives."
"Hmmm," the boy's light smile returns, and he glances at his sister.
"Roma, how many times have I told you to eat when your brother comes? But she insists on waiting until my brother arrives to eat together," the woman, presumably their sister, says, smiling lightly.
"Hmmm," the boy mimics a sigh and looks towards his sister.
Will there be food at home?" the woman asked.
The girl had no answer to the woman's question because she knew that there was no food at home. Seeing her silence, the woman understood. Then, with a light smile on her face, the woman said, "Both of you go and have your meal. I won't listen."
Then, the brother and sister looked at each other, and a slight smile appeared on their faces. After that, they headed inside the house.
Inside the house, there was brown bread and meat soup, along with a salad.
As the boy was eating, he observed his sister who was eating with great affection. Their situation was not easy.
Both of them were residents of Fishy Bell City. Their father held a good position in the military, and their mother was an officer who handled caste-related matters. Suddenly, an attack occurred in Fishy Bell City. That day was a horrifying sight where more than a lakh people lost their lives. It was believed that there was a group responsible for such actions.
At that time, the boy was 12 years old, and his sister was 5 years old. Their mother had created a secret path in their house that led out to another jungle. She sent them there, but during the attack, their parents lost their lives.
The government took care of the losses suffered by Fishy Bell City. The children who became orphans were sent to different places, provided with a home, a job, or education. The government covered all their expenses.
"What happened, Arjun? Why aren't you eating?" the woman asked.
Nothing happened," the boy said. After that, he began to eat, and about 10 minutes later, both had finished their meal. Roma helped the woman with washing the dishes.
Arjun was sitting there when the woman approached him and said, "Have you found any job? By the way, you're not too old to look for a good academy and take admission. But do you have any elemental power?"
Upon hearing the woman's words, Arjun slowly replied, "No, I don't have."
Don't refuse; I have some credit. You can take admission in any academy. I also have a coupon, so you can go to a government office and do elemental availing," the woman said. After that, she went out to find something, and after a while, she came back with a card and a coupon from a Steel rectangular shape purple and red color
"No, I can't take this," Arjun said, returning the credit card and coupon.
"Look, dear, don't refuse me. Anyway, I'm not that old. You also have a sister to take care of, and when you have nothing, how will you take care of your sister?" the woman said, putting a hand on his shoulder, and then a faint smile appeared on her face.
Looking at his sister, Arjun, despite his hesitation, had to take the credit card and coupon from the woman.
"Alright, I'll go somewhere and do elemental awakening from a government office," Arjun said confidently, and there was a faint smile on his face.
When Arjun has such abilities, why is he living like an ordinary person?