Zahir spared no resources in treating the injured. He was deeply grateful to have survived this ordeal, which was the closest he had ever come to death. Encounters like this were normal for caravans, but this one had shaken him to his core.
The descent from the mountain was relatively smooth this time, thanks to Eliya. She took it upon herself to act whenever a horde of beasts approached their route. Her method was simple but effective: she openly killed a few beasts to intimidate the rest.
Ardiel spent the rest of the journey either riding a horse, practicing his Light Step, or staying inside Zahir's carriage. Zahir had willingly offered him a spot since their own carriage had been damaged during the fenrox attack. Fixing it was too much of a hassle, so they left it behind to collect moss and dust.
"You've gotten faster," Lance commented as he arrived first in the town at the base of Mount Avalon.
"It's thanks to my mana core," Ardiel replied, catching his breath. "It boosted my speed and perfectly complimented my Light Step spell."
With his mana core, Ardiel could now amplify his speed while using Light Step. If he could previously reduce gravity's pull on him by 25%, now he could reduce it by 34%. This brought significant changes for him, as his speed could now match even Rank 2 Aurors or those who used Rank 2 Wind Magic.
"Anyway, this is Homer Town, the first outpost below Mount Avalon," Lance introduced, pointing out the dozens of bronze-scale knights patrolling the town.
Ardiel saw a few wyverns gliding around the vicinity, then drakes mounted by knights roaming the roads.
They waited for Zahir's crew to arrive at the town's entrance, as this would be where they would part ways, heading to their target destinations.
Zahir approached Lance, his eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and relief. "I've already submitted the feedback to the Mission Pub. Thank you, Sir Lance, for escorting us. You're brave despite being so young," he said, bowing sincerely.
Lance blushed slightly, clearly not accustomed to such formal thanks. "It was my duty, and besides, your southern dishes were a real treat for us. I should be thanking you," he replied, bowing in return.
Zahir smiled warmly, his demeanor easing. "I hope you'll be safe on your journey. I believe this young boy is headed towards the academy, am I right?"
Ardiel stepped forward, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension about the path ahead. "Yes, I am. Thank you for your kindness and for allowing me to travel with you," he said earnestly.
Zahir placed a reassuring hand on Ardiel's shoulder. "May your journey be as smooth as your agile bravery, young one. The world needs more courageous hearts like yours."
With final farewells exchanged, Ardiel watched as Zahir and his crew moved on, feeling a deep sense of gratitude and a renewed determination to face whatever lay ahead at the academy.
"He's nice," Ardiel said, revealing his impression of the merchant.
"I heard he wasn't gentle at all back in his days as an active magister," Lance commented, both of them watching the merchant's wagons pass through the bustling road of the town.
"Let's go, Vice Captain is waiting for us in the Town Hall," the knight led the boy.
"You both don't look alike though to be siblings," Ardiel commented, noting the stark difference between the two siblings.
"Vice Captain Eliya is my half-sister, but we're closer than you think, we just don't show it," Lance chuckled, finding it funny how Ardiel took an interest in their relationship.
Ardiel was used to siblings being affectionate with each other because that's the kind of family he was raised in. He remembered playing with Yuran before, and even Erick and Eileen, but due to them growing up and taking on bigger roles in the family, things had changed quite a bit.
The streets were bustling with life. Merchants shouted their wares from colorful stalls, the scents of exotic spices and freshly baked bread mingling in the air. Children ran past, playing games and laughing. Rankers, with their imposing armor and confident strides, moved purposefully through the crowd.
Ardiel followed Lance through the throng, taking in the vibrant scene. The town hall loomed ahead, a sturdy building of stone and wood that seemed to pulse with history and authority. As they approached, the sounds of the busy street faded, replaced by the silence of discipline.
They entered through a wide door and were immediately met with the sight of people wearing somber expressions. The walls were adorned with banners and portraits, echoing the town's storied past.
"Lance, why are you here?" a man asked as he exited a room, his tone curt but curious.
"Good morning, William. I'm currently on a mission," Lance replied, his demeanor shifting to one of formality.
"Who's this young man? You look rich," William said, ruffling Ardiel's hair with a rough hand. He thought that Ardiel, with his blonde hair, blue eyes, and a face that seemed to be molded after angels, has always been a headturner.
Lance swiftly brushed William's hand away. "Yeah, he is, so better not touch him."
"Whoa, whoa, take it easy. Is he your brother or something?" the brown-haired man asked, raising his arms in mock surrender.
"Hello, Sir William. I'm Ardiel," Ardiel introduced himself with a polite smile.
"Oooh, Young Master Ardiel?" William furrowed his brows, expecting Lance to confirm his firm guess. As far as he knows, the Ardiel he knows matches the boy smiling in front of him.
"What's taking you so long?" a voice interjected, it was Eliya, who appeared as imposing as ever.
William hurriedly saluted at the sight of Eliya, cold sweats beading on his forehead. He thought why of all times did he encounter this woman.
"We just got here," Lance reasoned.
"Follow me, we'll leave after breakfast," Eliya said before turning around, leaving them.
"I guess that's it for now," Lance said before following Eliya.
"Goodbye Sir William," Ardiel smiled before following the two.
In the dining room, a gray-haired middle-aged man with sharp lazy eyes was already seated at the head of the table, waiting for them.
"It's nice to meet you, Young Master Ardiel," the man greeted.
"Ah, hello, sir," Ardiel shyly responded, unused to being called Young Master. He felt he hadn't done anything to deserve it.
"I'm Platoon Leader France Hedron of Sky Piercers," the man proudly introduced himself.
"Sit down, you two, let's have breakfast," he said, clapping in excitement. His lively behavior contrasted with his imposing appearance.
Ardiel quietly sat beside Lance, who reluctantly took the seat on the right side of the table, while Eliya sat opposite him.
"I heard your journey here was quite tough," the man said as they started eating.
"There were some unexpected things, but Vice Captain significantly reduced the variables, so we had a much easier route," Lance responded.
"As expected of Eliya, whether it's vanguard or recon. Ah, I'm so jealous of that bastard Clark. Tell me, how did he recruit you?"
"I personally approached Platoon Leader Clark to transfer me to Stormwings since I thought my skills fit there the most," Eliya answered plainly.
"I agree with that too. It's just frustrating losing such a talented sprout to that bastard. If your mind ever changes, the vanguards will always welcome you. You too, Sir Ardiel."
The man remained talkative throughout breakfast, making it harder for Ardiel to respond to each of his questions.
"By the way, I heard the other scouts also encountered packs of Strigers and Wild Griffins. It seems there's quite a chaos in the Avalon Mountain Range," the man's voice suddenly turned serious.
"That seems to be the case. Senior Clark has sent an order to other squad leaders to increase the frequency of recon missions around the mountain and to find out the reason for the irregular beast migration."
"I received many requests this time too, which is why the town hall was busy last night."
"Senior Clark told me this happened before too," Eliya said.
"It did happen 30 years ago," France recalled. "I was as young as Sir Ardiel back then. A beast tide attacked the other outposts, leading to many casualties. I heard it was the Grand Elder who resolved the problem by flipping the whole forest to find the culprit. I'm not sure how true that is, but I don't think the reason now is the same as back then," France said, looking conflicted.
"Well, it's not our place to think that far. I'm sure the high rankers will do something. After all, Sir Ardiel's father, the Patriarch of Dragonhearts, is a very capable man."
Breakfast soon ended with Ardiel deeply thinking about the details he had heard. It was discussed that from there, he would be traveling on a Wyvern with Eliya, as the roads connecting to other towns and cities were being ambushed or surrounded by beasts.
"I guess we'll take the easier way compared to the intended route," Eliya said with a smile, clearly satisfied with the new arrangement. It wasn't her usual style to personally escort someone, so after hearing that they can ride Leera, she instantly agreed to it.
"How long will it take for us to reach the academy if we fly from here?" Ardiel asked.
"About a day if we keep the momentum steady,"
"I'll just pack some things before we go. You stay here with Lance and Senior France," Eliya said, turning on her heel and leaving with swift steps.
"Looks like Sir Lance won't be coming with us?" Ardiel asked, turning to the man.
"Apparently not, but you're in good hands. She's more reliable than I am anyway," France said reassuringly.
"While you're waiting, allow me to share some stories about your father," France began, his enthusiasm was back at its peak. Ardiel and Lance exchanged knowing glances, both of them understanding the other's unspoken thoughts.