"Finally!" Olivia threw her arm into the air. "Dry land! Let's get off this ship!"
"At least wait till we dock." Davi leaned on the railing, his blank look staring out at the town that was quickly approaching.
Olivia just laughed and practically hung over the ship's side as it made for the dock. "Three days on this boat was way too rough. Not to mention all those rations we had to eat were nasty! A sailor girl, I am not."
Three days was how long they had been stuck on the ship—three solid days of rocking back and forth, fighting off various sea monsters, and chowing down on military rations. It had been hell for her. Davi seemed right at home, though. He had done similar things in the past, at least he claimed he did, so he was a natural on the ship. Though after what had happened during her 'demonstration', most of the crew avoided interacting with her or Davi, except whenever it was strictly necessary.
Olis seemed to still get along with Davi, but Olivia couldn't help noticing the mage's awkward glances at her, looks that she knew were tinged with a mix of pity, apprehension, and concern.
The dock they were heading to was connected to a town called Gladiolus. It served as a trade hub, taking supplies dropped off from ships and sending them to other towns and cities throughout the land.
"So, I guess this will be goodbye?" Olis asked, a bit sad, as he stood next to Davi and watched as they approached closer to the dock. "It was nice having an Arcane Knight like you around." Olis chuckled and nudged Davi in the side with his elbow. "Still, it does make me wonder, why didn't you just show your guild symbol from the start when we first met?"
Davi shrugged. "Didn't know I needed one."
"You didn't know?" Olis made a face.
"He's a bit of an oddball, that's for sure." Olivia chimed in from the side. "He showed up and gave my village a ton of free supplies, yet he is apparently always broke. Maybe Arcane Knights are just weird."
"I guess they'd have to be a little crazy to make a living out of slaying monsters and exploring dungeons." Olis chuckled awkwardly. "Still, I'm glad I was wrong about you, and for what it's worth, thanks for helping us out." The boy held his hand out to Davi.
Davi looked down at the hand numbly for a moment before he took it. "You know, she and I didn't really do a lot." Davi gestured to Olivia, who had gotten off the boat at the first chance she could, the moment it reached the dock. "You did most of the work, so you should be the one getting congratulated."
Olis shook his head. "No, I really couldn't have done it without you. I was scared and cowardly—everything you aren't. You really are an Arcane Knight, just like the stories always talk about. Thank Haru, you were here."
"Since you are thanking us and being grateful for the help, there is one thing I wanted to ask you," Olivia said sheepishly.
Olis raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? What is it?"
"Could you pay for us to stay at a hotel, or inn, or whatever it's called at this place?"
Olis looked at his captain, who nodded. The rest of the crew was busy unloading the ship's cargo and placing it onto the docks, where several workers were waiting for them. With the captain's blessing, Olis left the vessel and escorted the two of them into Gladiolus.
Gladiolus wasn't a village, so it was much bigger than Fri had been. It had a great big dock, where several ships were coming and going, and past that was the town itself. It was made up of hundreds of different buildings, all forged from brick and stone, stacked atop one another, and it was extremely spacious. There wasn't a wall around Gladiolus like Lotus had, showing off a vast field that the town was placed in. The town life thrived with tons of farmers hitting the fields, dozens of dock workers unloading the many ships, and many kids playing around in the street. A food stand was on every corner, and mages walked about casting all manner of spells. Heavy farming trucks, delivery vans, and motorbikes either drove down the bustling road or were parked at the end of every block.
"This place is nice!" Olivia said giddily as she walked the streets. "This is my first time seeing another town besides Lotus! It's so big!"
Davi looked around, taking in the different buildings and land. He had his typical blank look as he watched Olivia run around. She kept looking at everything and seemed hyper today. "I guess this is your first time seeing a place like this, right? Come to think of it, I bet I acted the same way as you when I first left my village." He muttered, mostly to himself.
"Oh, you grew up in a village?" Olis asked, raising an eyebrow.
Davi's eye twitched slightly. "Yeah. I did." He turned and followed a group of farmers with his eyes, watching them collect boxes of corn. "I lived in a fishing village. My dad taught me everything I know."
"Why'd you leave your village?" Olivia asked, casually spinning around. She walked backward and had a grin on her face. "You're looking for a dragon, right? Did you see one when you were a kid or something?"
"You're looking for a dragon?" Olis let out a snort. "Davi, you know dragons are extinct, right?"
Davi absentmindedly rubbed at the scar that ran along the left side of his face. "I still have to try." Davi never showed a lot of emotion, but there was a look in his eye now. "It's all I can do."
Olivia glanced at him and wanted to say more, but she felt herself trip over her feet as she ran into a cart behind her. "Ow." She winced. "Guess I shouldn't walk backwards."
Olis went to help her up but stopped, his hands barely moving from his side as he looked everywhere but at her as she got to her feet. She turned back to Davi, but he hadn't stopped. He kept walking through the town, and they had to hurry to keep up with him. He headed straight for the inn. It had been sunset by the time they arrived at the dock, and the townspeople were all starting to clear the street.
The inn was a tiny little tavern that had the symbol of a duck plastered on top. Most cities used hotels, but some places kept the old-timey feel due to the Knights that existed.
The inside of the inn had dozens of tables all scattered about and a set of stairs that led up to where the rooms were. A bar was all the way in the back, and the man who stood behind it was tall and rough-looking, with dozens of scars across his face. He held a wand, and as he twirled it through the air, stone slabs lifted off the ground, having dozens of drinks, which floated over to the various men who were seated at the table. Loud music blared from some speakers, and the people were cheering and seemingly having a good time as they watched a game of blitzball up on the flat-screen TV that hung near the back.
Olivia felt a slight pang in her chest. She had spent three days on the boat and was mainly seasick for that time, but now that she was on dry land, seeing a town full of so much life began to make her a bit homesick. She had left so quickly, not even saying goodbye. Hopefully, the village would understand. Her phone had finally stopped buzzing once she blocked everyone that kept trying to call her. She'd just have to remember to unblock them and give them a call back once she became a Knight.
"Let's get you two those rooms I owe you." Olis offered as he led her over to the bar, but Davi stayed behind and instead chose to watch the sporting match that was on TV.
It involved a metal ball and lightning. The players were all flying through the air, using electricity to rapidly shoot the ball back and forth, attempting to slam it through hoops that were on either side of the field. Some of the players also had large and heavy-looking metal shields, which they were using to block the ball and stop the other team from scoring a point.
It was a very strange and dangerous-looking sport.
Davi liked it.
Davi shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and made his way over to Olis and Olivia. "What can I do for you?" The man behind the bar grunted out.
"Two rooms." Olis reached into his pouch, pulled out a couple of silver coins, and slid them over the counter. "One for her and that guy over there," Olis said, gesturing to Olivia and Davi.
The scarred man eyed Davi up for a moment, and his eyes narrowed as he sized Davi up before he finally nodded. He pulled out two keys and slid them over to Olivia. "Don't cause any trouble." His eyes went back to Davi. "You especially."
"Sure thing, big guy." Davi gave an emotionless thumbs-up, and the man growled, so he shifted his hand to the side and raised up his middle finger.
"Okay!" Olis grabbed Davi's shoulder and began to guide him upstairs. "I promise he'll behave, sir!"
"That was a little odd?" Olivia glanced at Davi. "He didn't seem to like you. You do something to him?"
"Never met him before," Davi said, unconcerned.
"Then why didn't he like you?" Olivia wondered, looking her companion up and down. Davi's armor was a bit scary. His helmet covered his face, and his eyes seemed to glow out of it, but he wasn't in his armor at the moment. He was dressed like a normal person, wearing a black hoodie and pants. His sword wasn't on him, and he didn't even seem to carry a wand like she did. "You don't look that scary. I mean, I guess there's the scar, but it's not that bad, and that guy had way more than you!"
"It's his mana," Olis said, after seemingly debating if he should bring it up or not.
"His mana?"
Olis gave a nod and poked at Davi's arms. "Olivia, you said you grew up in a village, so I guess you wouldn't know this unless you get around often, but the way we mages tell each other apart is from each other's mana. You know how everyone has a unique fingerprint? Well, mages also have a unique mana feel, and that mana sort of spills out of them as they move and stuff, fueling their bodies. It's why mages seem superhuman. If you have a keen sense, you can feel another person's mana as they do stuff and get a feel for who they are as a person."
"Whoa, really?" Davi cocked his head to the side and still sounded detached. "Far out."
"You didn't know that!" Olis sounded almost annoyed at Davi's naivety. "How does an Arcane Knight not know that? It's the basics!" Davi's shrug only ticked Olis off more.
"Wait, so you're saying that guy doesn't like Davi because of his mana?" Olivia asked. "I don't think anyone in my village ever used mana to tell people apart; we just looked at them and stuff. And wait, does that mean you can read mine also?"
Olis nodded his head and glanced back at Davi. "Well, they say you can tell who a person really is based on their mana. People's lives are what shape the flow of mana they have, just like how a person's life determines what spells they have and can cast. Olivia, yours isn't really anything special or noteworthy; it's a bit sharp and constricting. Like it's trying to squeeze me sometimes. Davi's, though, is… Well, no offense, sir, but I found it so hard to believe you were a Knight because of how your mana feels. A Knight is supposed to be kind and reassuring, the type of person you can view as a hero, but your mana is so dark and cold. Like I'm standing in a blizzard or looking into the ocean's depths. It seriously gives me the creeps! I was certain you were a Magical Mutant when I first felt it."
Davi glanced down at his hand and let out a hum. "I never knew that. I guess that's why most mages I've met always gave me the side-eye. I just assumed they hated me because of my handsome face." He seemed unbothered by the reveal.
Olivia felt a frown tug onto her face. She had gotten to know Davi for only three days; he seemed to be genuinely kind, though a bit weird. Sometimes he would do strange things or respond in a flat way to something, but that didn't mean he was a bad or cold person. He also helped her multiple times already, along with her village and all of Olis's people. He was kind of a big sweetheart. It seemed unfair that people would dislike him because of something he couldn't control. Gently, she reached out and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
He didn't squeeze back or look at her.
When they reached the top floor, several doors were on either side of the wall. Davi opened his room and poked his head in. It wasn't that impressive looking, only having a small bed, a counter, and a desk. It didn't even have a chair. Olivia's room was basically the same as well. It wasn't anything impressive, but it'd get the job done.
"I guess this is where we'll be parting ways," Olis spoke up.
"Leaving already?" Olivia asked.
The brown-haired boy nodded. "I only had enough to get two rooms. Besides, my ship is likely about to finish up with the cargo and will be heading out. We need to head back to our city to get her fixed up properly." The boy chuckled. "But hey, if you two are ever near Oleander while I'm not on the clock, hit me up!"
"Why don't I walk you back to the ship?" She offered.
"You don't have to do that."
"Come on, we can get one last conversation in."
Olis looked uncomfortable, and she suddenly remembered what happened on the ship once again. "D-Davi can walk you back."
'Me?' Davi thought and felt himself being pushed to Olis as Olivia shoved him a little. 'Sure, not like I wanted to go to bed. I'll just walk this grown-ass man back to his boat, I guess.' He wisely kept his thoughts to himself and didn't complain out loud.
Olis nodded curtly with an awkward smile and turned to leave. Davi followed the flower mage downstairs. He made sure to poke his tongue out at the bartender, who growled at him again.
He and Olis didn't say anything else. They walked in silence and made their way back to the ship, which, just like Olis stated, was about to leave. The two of them stopped when they reached the docks, and Davi noticed the side of the ship that was made out of flowers.
"You'll do good, Olis." Davi finally spoke and caused the flower mage to jump a bit. "If there's any sea monster that attacks, I'm sure you can handle it."
Olis sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck and clasped his staff closely to his chest. "Thanks. That means a lot coming from an Arcane Knight."
Davi's blank look finally changed slightly as a frown found its way onto his face. "Hey, Olis."
"Yeah?"
"What's a guild symbol?"
Olis shot him a confused look. "What do you mean? Obviously, it's a symbol of what guild you're part of. Like, whatever guild you're in, it has a symbol. Wait, what guild are you in anyway?"
Davi rubbed his chin. "Can you be an Arcane Knight if you never took the entrance exam?"
Olis shook his head. "I mean, I guess there's a very rare circumstance of someone being passed without taking the test, but that only happens with the daughters of the king. Everyone else has to take the exam because the exam decides what guild you go into. How do you not know this?"
Davi nodded and hummed. "Yeah, so, turns out I'm not an Arcane Knight." He said apathetically. "My bad."
"What!" Olis did a double-take and quietly gasped. He spun around, his eyes wide. "But the armor? You looked just like a Knight."
"So, does that mean I'm an Arcane Knight?" Davi asked, cocking his head to the side once more. "Like, couldn't you go buy armor or make flower armor? I bet people would confuse you for an Arcane Knight."
"N-no, it takes more than having armor and magic to be an Arcane Knight. You have to be able to slay monsters and enter dungeons and stuff." Olis shook his head, his face paling.
"You beat those two armored whales, though?" Davi noted. "So if someone saw you do that while you were wearing armor, they'd think you were a Knight."
Olis's face went from white to green. "D-Davi, it's not illegal to wear armor, and it's not illegal to kill monsters, but it is illegal to pretend to be an Arcane Knight!" The boy grabbed Davi and tugged him down, glaring into his eyes. "Look, stop telling people you're a Knight. I'm sure they got confused because of how strong you are and the armor you wear, but unless you have permission from the guilds to be a Knight, then you're not one, and you're going to get your ass thrown in prison!"
"Why is it illegal to pretend to be a Knight?"
"I don't know; it just is, just like how you can't pretend to be a cop or a doctor." Olis hissed. "Seriously! Don't tell anyone else that you were calling yourself a Knight and doing the duty of one, okay!"
"Sure? I guess?" Davi still looked unbothered. "I got a bit suspicious I wasn't one when I learned more about them from Olivia. I just assumed I was one after some people asked me about it. I mean, I look like a Knight, and I have magic, so it checked out."
Olis face-palmed and groaned quietly. "Oh, my Haru. Davi, don't do that anymore. Look, I gotta go, but seriously, take care of yourself, man. Stay out of trouble."
Davi gave Olis a thumbs-up, and he watched Olis climb up the ramp to his ship. It didn't take long for the ship to start to leave the dock. The crew waved out at him, but he didn't wave back since waving was for suckers. He stood there for a bit longer, enjoying the silence before finally turning and making his way back into Gladiolus. He went back to the inn, flipped the owner off again, and climbed up the steps.
It didn't take long for sleep to claim him once he was back in his bed. That night, Davi dreamed the same dream he always had. He was a kid again, carrying his brother through a blizzard. Just when all hope seemed lost, and he was sure he'd freeze to death, he found himself meeting a massive beast covered in jagged red scales.