Zaphyris Quaramis extends its influence within international politics and is of vital importance within the foreign relations of this kingdom. I now understand the gravity of the matter when I burst within the walls of the City of Qars and found myself walking near the domain of Zaphyris, where the princesses of all the continents live and protect...
Zaphyris's magnanimity knows no bounds and the fact that I am still alive at this moment is all thanks to her greatness. The Northern Quaramis Palace is a much more important place than I imagined. I could even say that it is the most significant place in the world.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, my name is Lucius and I am an apprentice of Zaphyris-sama" I said as I shook her hand in return. It's nice to meet other humans like me and share some closeness.
I don't know the Imperial Continent, so it would probably be the same as being surrounded by humans. It's comforting to know that you don't feel like the weakest link in the food chain when you're in a place full of people of your own kind.
Will each continent have different information about the origins of the planet and about the First Great War? I will surely find interesting things within the libraries of the Divine Empire Kingdom.
When I get out of here, I should plan to pay a visit to the Imperial Continent. Perhaps humans will be more affectionate towards their own kind.
With the brief introductions over, Hilda showed me her intriguing artifacts. Perhaps because I am a human being and it is part of my nature to be interested in inventions, technology and complex mechanisms, my genuine curiosity was aroused and I began to analyze everything I saw.
Thanks to the knowledge of my time, I even dared to give them some advice, of which Hilda looked at me in surprise as if she did not believe such things were possible. She felt frustrated and began to analyze her plans while listening to me carefully while her eyes shone with excitement and admiration.
The inventions of this era are very advanced. For a mere coincidence, it is astonishing how capable and potential the mechanisms have by merging with the spiritual power of the world.
"You are a genius, Lucius-sama!" She said, jumping in surprise as if a God had descended before her eyes. "These ideas are perfect! I am a prodigious engineer and I have never been surprised by such details."
As I didn't respond, she continued to exaggerate. "Let's work together, Lucius-sama! You and I could revolutionize mechanical technology!"
I'm not a genius, such ideas can easily be creative if you come from my time... a place where all these topics are much more advanced.
"I'm sorry to reject you, but I have a sacred duty to fulfill." When he heard my reply, his face clouded over as if his heart had broken into a thousand pieces.
"I understand…" she said in a disappointed voice. "But I won't give up! I'm a very successful genius!"
With a fresh face and a triumphant posture, he looked at me with fierce determination. "Participate in my experiments! I promise that our greatness will be shared between the two of us and we will revolutionize the world of human technology."
After those words, which sounded like an order, she suddenly leaned in front of me. She was begging me to be part of her experiments.
"Please, Lucius-sama!"
Is there any benefit to this? It's all very rushed, but if I have her on my side, it would add another member to my ranks for the future.
Then it wouldn't hurt to participate and give her some advice while I learn in the process. It seems to me that Hilda is a famous woman and that might benefit me a bit; and I could also learn about the mechanical technology of the Divine Empire Kingdom. There's no doubt about it, this is an opportunity.
"Well, Hilda, I'd be happy to participate with you in future projects." When I said that, she smiled and jumped on me with a hug.
I'd be grateful if she didn't... she's a woman and I'm a man. And besides, her breasts are touching me...
Her soft breasts are touching me!
This is dangerous, if she continues like this my War Soldier might wake up...
"From today onwards I will serve your councils, please be kind to me Lucius-sama" He said with another bow.
She really is an over-the-top woman... but some of her cheerful energy is contagious. We could make a good team.
***
There are many other places, but I won't have enough time... the day is still long and won't end soon, but my energy is a different matter.
I'll leave the visits for now.
"Well, I'm satisfied," I said to myself.
Just as I was thinking of turning back, I noticed a nice little lake peeking out from between the trees in an area a bit nearby. I'm currently in the middle of the main path and to my right there seems to be a private place to rest.
Should I rest and contemplate the place? There are no signs prohibiting entry...
Following the same logic as my previous movements, I proceeded to walk along the path of small rocks that covered the ground. The entrance is pretty, and the path is made in a very elegant way, that means that the public has the right to enter... Right?
While I was thinking that, I came to the lake that was within the circle of trees. At its bottom was a high wall of rocks, and from the top the water fell into the lake. It was an ordinary waterfall but seeing it in the middle of this place so suddenly was worthy of being called beautiful.
When I walked over to a large rock that was on the shore, I climbed up to the top and sat down.
I like the pastime of contemplating landscapes in the midst of silence.
The wild nature of this place is interesting. Right in front of me is a bird that was not unlike an Eagle, but its feathers are silver and emerald in color. It was perched on a tree and launched itself at incredible speed towards a fish swimming near the surface of the large pool of water. Before it leapt up and caught it with its claws, its spiritual circuits lit up forming a pattern that caused a sort of whirlpool of water to envelop its body, increasing its natural speed unrealistically. It was a remarkable attack coming from an animal.
Humans use more complex and complicated to perceive spiritual patterns to use unbelievable powers. Although animals in nature use simpler and more basic patterns, that does not mean that they are effective and efficient in the situations they see fit; as long as you implement them at the right time, you could be victorious.
It was an interesting demonstration.
While thinking that, I began to observe all the animals and study their every movement.
***
Aphril
It's been a while since the meeting ended and I'm currently walking alongside Farys, Galystia, and Ryujinzhu. All of us have spent most of our time preparing for the entrance exam for the opening of the first semester of the eighth school year at Qars University.
Ryujinzhu trains us and teaches us many advanced tricks to improve and perfect our spiritual control.
There are still three months left until the start of classes and we are all confident in our abilities.
We have trained hard for this moment.
When we left the meeting, we were practicing a bit. But it was just going over the basics from last week. Since it was a quick meeting between us at the Practice Field, we now find ourselves aimlessly walking around while talking about anything unimportant. After all, we've been friends for years so I don't mind meeting up with them for things like this. There are also times when my mom Zaphyris guides us to improve.
Although she has been devoting more time to that guest who has been living in the Palace for a month now. It doesn't bother me either, but I don't understand her insistence and her sudden decision to make Lucius her apprentice.
She doesn't take disciples lightly and is usually very demanding, even rejecting many people who ask her personally. My mom is an enigma, I admit that I don't often understand her very well, but her intentions are always noble and beneficial in the long term. She always thinks about the future.
She must have something in mind to do everything she does so far...
"I'm bored," Farys complained. "Why don't we go somewhere fun?"
"Do you still have energy after training with Ryujinzhu? I can barely keep up with you guys." Galystia complained with a bit of fatigue.
"That's why I want to have fun..."
Having fun to dispel fatigue? That must be another of the peculiar customs of the beast people.
"Why don't we go to that place surrounded by trees?" Farys asked as we walked past the large stone waterfall.
"Do you want to go to the waterfall?" I asked in bewilderment. It wouldn't be strange to go there if you want to relax, but there are better choices.
"It's just a random choice... but it's also true that being surrounded by nature is refreshing for our species, like a waterfall which is also a perfect place!"
Since no one was particularly opposed to the idea, we headed towards the waterfall with plans to take a bath to wash off the sweat.
But there was something unusual about the waterfall. When we arrived, we noticed that we were not the only ones in the middle of this place, but that there was someone else sitting on a big rock while looking in all directions.
"Oh? Isn't that Lucius, Zaphyris-sama's guest?" The first to say it was Farys.
"What are you doing in a place like this?" Galystia then asked.
"Did he think the same as me and come to rest at the waterfall?"
"I don't think that's the case, Farys," Ryujinzhu said and then continued. "Lucius seems to be enjoying looking around."
"What does that mean, Ryujinzhu?" Farys asked in bewilderment.
"I think the same as Farys" Galystia said and I agreed with her.
"If you look at Lucius closely, you'll notice that he's looking at the surrounding animals… as if he's studying them." When Ryujinzhu said those words, Farys, Galystia, and I all looked at Lucius carefully.
And it turned out to be just as she said, Lucius seems to examine the surrounding things.
That's the strangest thing I've seen so far, why does someone seem to be sneaking around looking at everything around them? Even animals of all kinds are being studied as if they were discovering some kind of life in this world.
Is he an amateur on the subject? Because if that is the case, then it wouldn't be so different.
The four of us walked towards Lucius who was deep in thought. After we got a little closer, he quickly noticed our presence and looked at us in bewilderment.
"You seem to be having fun," was the first thing Ryujinzhu said.
After that, he thought about it for a moment and then replied, "Is that so?"
"I have never seen someone having fun while analyzing the surrounding animals so deeply. That is something completely new."
"I'm sorry," he said, a little embarrassed. "It's just that… the nature of things is a little interesting."
He said he found it interesting? That sounds like something my three younger brothers, Zaliph, Ephtos and Junk, would say.
I don't understand your words...
Did they teach him that? If that's the case, I feel embarrassed by it. The idea of my little brothers teaching other people strange things is... almost unthinkable. But Lucius seems to genuinely enjoy it.
When I thought that, I found myself smiling a little at the thought. Lucius looks a bit like my little brothers and that thought struck me as a somewhat humorous idea. So I couldn't help but smile slightly.
Ryujinzhu began to show him the different types of animals that he had been watching all this time. Now the two of them were talking about their qualities.
It seems that he is unusually interested in knowing about each species.
At least Lucius isn't as unpleasant as I first thought. Maybe I misjudged his appearance.
But still, he remains an outsider...