The royal capital
[scene : Colt descends from the wagon, stands next to Alexander, they are both looking at something]
Alexander : "We're here."
It took almost a year but we've finally made it
*The view expands to show a majestic giant open gate, through it, there were stores and houses made of stone and far in the distance, castle walls come into view*
Alexander : "The royal capital."
The richest city, or in this world, town, where all the fat cats reside.
It was a long and arduous journey, one that was definitely worth it.
*Scene fades like water hit by a stone to introduce a series of flashbacks*
[scene : Alexander, Colt and the three adventurers are on the road at night, a campfire is lit, and soup is being cooked, the three adventurers seem on edge, they're standing in a triangular shape around the fire and Colt and Alexander, Theo is holding his sword, Owen is holding the bow, his other hand is ready to draw from his quiver]
Theo : "Though we're grateful to you sir Alexander, this is unwise."
Alexander : "I know monsters are attracted to the smell, but our journey is still long and the rations you usually eat won't be enough to keep you in good condition."
Interesting..
*They hear a sound like a roaring lion mixed with a screaming hawk.*
Theo : "WAGON , NOW !!"
*Alexander takes Colt and they jump into the wagon.*
Alexander [Holding Colt's shoulders, looking him in the eyes, speaking fast yet calmly] : "Listen to me, those are just goblins, they're the weakest monsters.. don't be scared, we're alright, this always happens."
I don't know if I should act scared or not.
*Colt opens his mouth, but before he can say anything..*
Alexander : "We're safe here, we can watch what they do."
Perfect! A chance to observe adventurers at work.
[In the void the flickers of yellow flame increase in number and brightness]
*Colt activates magic sight, peers to see what's happening.*
*Goblins walk into view, green creatures, about 1.4 meters tall, yellow eyes without pupils, just one yellow part, they're carrying bludgeons, Colt notices they're surrounded by a dark red aura.*
Very interesting..
*Colt shifts his sight to the adventurers, Theo backs down a few steps*
Theo [with a smile on his face, without looking at his friends] : "Six of them, two for each?"
Owen[drawing his bow] : "Works for me."
Abby : "Me too."
*Owen fires the first shot, the arrow hits a goblin straight in the eye, the rest of the goblins rush them.*
*Theo blocks a goblin from the front with his sword, two other goblins try to attack from the side.*
Abby : "…FIRE BULLET"
*Her aura flickers with orange color*
*The fire is launched to burn one of the two goblins, the other looks at Abby and decides to attack her instead.*
*Theo swings his sword to create an opening then stabs the goblin through the chest.*
*Turns around to look at Abby.*
*The goblin approaches Abby swinging his bludgeon.*
Abby : "…WIND BARRIER."
*Her aura flickers with green, then a wind current rises to block the goblin's path, the goblin is pushed back, Theo backstabs it, the sword appears through its chest.*
Owen : "BEHIND YOU!!"
*Shoots an arrow that passes Abby and hits a goblin that was trying to sneak up on her from behind right between the eyes.*
*Abby's lips move as fast as they can.*
Abby : "…WATER CUTTER"
*Her aura flickers with blue, a water cutter is launched to slice a goblin behind Owen in half.*
Owen [looking back] : "And now we're even."
Theo [smiling] : "Well done you two."
Owen : "You too."
*Abby heads to the wagon, puts her head inside.*
Abby : "We're safe now *puts her hand on Colt's head* That must've been scary for you."
Scary ?! A real life isekai battle.. Even I can't help but get excited.. and I thought that could no longer happen !
Colt : "I'm okay"
Abby : "It's okay to be scared.. you don't have to hide it."
Aaaaand the excitement's gone.
[In the void the flickers of yellow decrease in number though there are more than what they originally were]
*Alexander steps out of the wagon*
Alexander : "Thank you."
Theo : "Our pleasure, now let's eat."
[scene : They all sit around the fire to eat, the scene fades again, to reveal Colt in a room with Alexander, Colt's holding a quill to write with, the sun is shining through the window]
Colt : "We're running low on leather, we'll need to restock soon."
Alexander : "I know we've been together for months, but you learned to manage the inventory and do sales in a very short time"
Colt : "Ms. Clara taught us well."
Alexander : "That's not school, you're just so talented, usually apprentices observe for months before getting to the real work, it only took you a few weeks. I'll say it again: you're talented Colt."
Colt : "You're just a great teacher."
Alexander : "Here *hands Colt three copper coins* your payment for today."
Colt : "We're done? No paperwork?"
Alexander : "Not today, and as we agreed you can do what you want as long as you're back at sunset."
Colt : "Thank you."
*Leaves*
[scene : Colt walking around town towards the gate, thinking]
It's been like this for a while now.
Gotta say Alexander is a good man, he makes sure I sleep and eat well.
He says it's because I'm (profitable) good thing I'm not dense enough to fall for it.
Though I did lighten his workload a lot.
When he took me in as an apprentice, I don't think he saw this coming.
After work he would pay 3 copper coins a day, which means 90 copper a month or 9 Large Copper.
I mean father used to make 15 L.C, and mom 7.
We didn't live in luxury ,but we endured the hunger that pig caused without any of us being malnourished.
Since I'm a kid, I don't need to worry about taxes.
And yet, he didn't use me because I'm a kid.
That was my test.
And he passed with flying colors.
And I think ,I earned his trust ,and he earned mine.
It's important to gather allies you can trust.
*Colt reaches the gate, becomes invisible, passes by the guards*
*He walks for a while, then stops and gathers wood to light a fire, uses fire flower ,roasts a piece of meat on a stick over the fire*
Where are you?
*He hears the goblin call*
I've been dying to try this for a while now.
*Three goblins appear, they rush towards Colt with murderous intent*
"static"
*A green circle expands fast with Colt in the center, and a white glow surrounds Colt*
*The second the green circle touches a goblin, it freezes in its position unable to move a muscle*
*Colt gets very close to a goblin*
Colt [waving] : "Wow your breath stinks, guess you're still alive, which means it didn't stop your heart."
*The goblin's eyes move*
Colt : "So, you can move your eyes as well, interesting."
I made a new spell called "static" it makes the velocity of anything around me in a certain radius 0.
Basically , another OP skill.
No arrows, blades, fire bullets, and the like can get to me now.
Thing is, I am currently the only one not affected so…
Also, anything that enters stays frozen in the air like time had stopped.
So its effect is actually quite terrifying.
*Colt takes out a small knife, puts it under the goblin's neck, and calmly slices through*
I've been experimenting on goblins for a while now.
Even though I'm a powerhouse, I'm not the type to rush head first into battle.
*Heads to the other two*
Besides, an 8.5-year old taking down an ogre or an earth dragon will draw attention.
*Slices one*
Best to do it when I'm 15 and then show the spoils to the teachers in order to gain some influence.
*Slices the other with a smile*
[The blood stained knife reflects Colt's smile, scene fades to show Colt, Alexander and another party of adventurers on the road, one of them is hurt, his arm, hanging lifeless, unable to move, another is gently placing his hands on his shoulder, Colt is using magic sight]
*His aura flickers with white, the man's arm regains some mobility, the other breathes heavily, his skin turns pale*
Man2 [the healer] : "That's the best I've got, I'm sorry."
Man1 [the injured] : "I'm just glad it wasn't severed.. at least it can be healed now."
So regular healing magic can't regrow limbs.. but there is no impossible when it comes to me.
But I need a living test subject first.
I'm not going to try it on myself, you know.
[scene fades, we're back to the present, Colt and Alexander are staying at an inn, the scene shows Colt in his room]
now then , the royal capital… it's naturally much bigger than my little town in every way .
population, houses, shops, in my town these were just stalls ,here, there are actually shops, which will make this fun .
[ internal evil grin]
*Colt gets up, leaves his room*
Turns out there are elves in this world..
There were beast folk but they were driven to extinction.
*Walks to Alexander's room*
Humans will be humans I guess..
The elves are widespread but their population is a few thousand total.
One elf settlement is 500 elves at most.
Understandably, they hate humans.
Turns out there are some living in a forest nearby.
Catch is, you never know whether you'll encounter an elf or an ogre.
*Knocks on the door*
But I gotta say.. knowing there were elves ! who in their right mind wouldn't be excited ?!
This world just keeps getting better and better
[ internal evil grin ]
*Alexander opens the door, steps aside, Colt walks in*
Show time!
Colt: " [ opening his item box ] : " Alexander, I have something I'd like to sell, can you do it and take a commission fee?"
Alexander [surprised] : "That's strange ! You've learned to sell by now, and even saw me do it, what could be so valuable that you need me?
Colt [taking out two relatively big diamonds] : "These."
Alexander [ shocked and confused] : "What in the??!! Not even I could obtain a diamond this big… how in the world did you get these??!!
I made them with magic..
Colt [ winks ] : "Lesson one: a merchant never reveals his sources."
Alexander [laughing hard] : "Guess I taught you too well, you win this round, but you'll be there to see how it's done."
This proves he's a good man, he wanted me there not only to learn, but to verify the selling price.
Alexander : "First, let's get these appraised."
[scene : Alexander and Colt standing in front of a shop]
Alexander : "After your apprenticeship is over, you'll be on your own. And with someone with your talents, you need the right people.
Remember this place well, before you sell any jewelry ,come appraise it here"
This guy..
*They walk in to find a group of people with lenses on their eyes*
*They all looked at Alexander with awe*
A man [tall, brown hair and eyes]: " Hello , sir Alexander , what golden opportunity brings you here today??"
Alexander [smiles] : "Hello Jerry, cheerful as usual, call the boss for us; we need his eyes."
Jerry : "The old man himself!! This should be good."
*They are led to a room with a big window and right there was sitting an old man like any other, but his brown eyes were so full of life as if he was a kid*
The old man [standing and moving towards Alexander ] : "Little Alex ! are you still scamming people?"
[Colt keeping a straight face but laughing hard internally]
Ahahahaha, forgive the pun but this is gold.
Alexander[ hugging the old man ]: " Din, you old fossil, are you not dead yet?"
Oh, man, I can barely contain myself.
Din [ smiling and tapping on Alexander's shoulder] : " I won't die 'till I've buried you myself… and who's this? Your kid?"
Alexander [smiling] : " No, this is Colt my apprentice , way to go Colt ,keeping a straight face through all of this… didn't think you'd make it."
Now let's start hitting back.
Colt : "You've taught me well sir Alexander."
*Turns to face Din.*
*Slight bow*
Colt : " How do you do sir Din… my name is Colt and I have the great honor of being sir Alexander's apprentice, it's an honor and a pleasure to meet you."
[ Alexander not knowing how to respond ]
Ah ,this reaction gets me every time.
Din [fast recovering from surprise ] : "He has a silver tongue too!! Now I know he's not your kid, nicely done Colt. You are a fine merchant."
He recovered fast.
Now to deal the finishing blow.
Colt [looking Din dead in the eyes]: "Not at all sir Din, I have not yet reached even half of what sir Alexander is."
Din [ looking at Alexander] : "This young man respects you this much?!! Looks like you've grown Alex."
He said young man, that means he acknowledges me, perfect..
Din [ heading back to where he was sitting ] : "Enough with the formalities, what brings you here today?"
Alexander : " Colt has something he wants to sell and we came to get it appraised."
Din : "Ooh??, what could that be ??"
Alexander : "Show him Colt."
[Colt recites the incantation, opens item box and takes out the 2 diamonds]
Din : "Are those… bring 'em here so that I can see."
*Colt looks at Alexander.*
*Alexander nods.*
[ a while later]
Din [with awe looking at Alexander] : "These are genuine pure diamonds, one of them sells for at least 1 Large Gold !! where in the world did you find such a thing??"
Alexander [ with pride and disappointment] : " Actually, Colt here is the one who found 'em"
*Din looks at Colt*
Colt : "Lesson one: " a merchant never reveals his sources""
Din : " Damn , you're his apprentice alright."
Alexander [ laughing with pride] : " I know , right?!"