"Good job Linnie! I knew you could do it."
"Uh, you did?"
I sure didn't...
"Nya!"
"I can't believe Mari was the masked girl the entire time... I thought she was with the prince all day."
"Seriously... not to mention her skill. I didn't realize at all that she was a trained fighter..."
"I have to ask her all about it when we get back," she sighed.
We were eating dinner, the three of us.
"We should've gone and seen what Aliza was up to. Maybe she would've liked to eat dinner with us..." she said.
I remembered what I'd seen in that one tavern the previous night.
"Ehh... I think she's enjoying her time alone..."
Dinner was a drag. Nothing exciting happened. Liora and I returned to the manor. Marielle was either asleep or not home, and we decided to just go to bed.
Well, Liora decided to go to bed. I had other things to do.
I leapt from the window, now back in my wizard attire. I slipped my mask into the hat. I was sure it would find some use again sometime.
Did they think I wouldn't notice them following us all the way back to the estate? There were like, twenty of them...
While Liora and I were walking home, a group of people were watching us from the alleys and shadows. It creeped me out, but they didn't make a move the entire time.
I assumed they were waiting for me to be alone, so I dropped Liora off and immediately returned to the streets.
They were obviously the cultists, and if I could get them to reveal themselves, I'd hoped I could find out more about Pischt.
I deliberately walked into an isolated alley. Like I'd expected, I felt a hand on my shoulder.
I swung around, sword in hand.
"Woah! Calm down!"
"The prince?"
The younger prince was standing in the alley with me, hands raised in surrender. He gave an awkward laugh and pushed the sword away from his neck.
Though, the sword was closer to his shoulder than his neck... I wasn't the best at maneuvering the thing.
"You carry a sword around? That's interesting for an apprentice."
"Why're you sneaking up on me? There's no way you're with them..."
"With who?"
"Them."
The prince turned around to see what I was staring at. At the end of the alleyway was a group of eight men. They were concealed by the shadow, but it was obvious they weren't friendly.
"Oh... well, who are they?" he frowned at me.
"My assailants. Get back, prince."
I shoved past him and stood in the alley. I feigned confidence. In truth, I was quite frightened.
These are on the level of the people from the games. Can I take all of them while protecting the prince?
"You're planning to fight them? Wouldn't it be better to just surrender? It's not like we've any chance at winning."
"They're out for my head, surrendering would just get us killed."
"...'Us'? Aren't they after you?"
"What, you plan on running away? That's probably for the better, anyway. I doubt they would put hands on a prince."
"Calm down, I'm just kidding!" he patted my back. "Let us make quick work of these thugs."
The unearned confidence of a noble... great.
"Please just stand back and let me handle it."
The men haven't moved from their positions. Are they waiting for something...?
Not wanting to let them make the first move, I jumped and swung the sword down on the man closest to me.
The man punched my gut. He had a much farther reach than I did, even with the sword, and I slid back into the alley. But he didn't continue.
So they really are stalling... but why? If they just want to kill me, then what's the point?
"It looks like you can't do it, can you? They're very big men, after all..."
"You're awful brash for the situation we're in right now. Don't you realize we're in real danger?"
...Real danger! The pearl!
"Danger? You haven't been in danger since I stepped into the alley with you," he laughed.
"What?"
"Caretaker! Where are you!?" he shouted, giving a few small claps.
Suddenly, all of the eight men were swept into the air, crumpling on the concrete.
"Young Master, you called?"
"Thanks for that, Thalia. That was almost dangerous!"
What a powerful servant... is that his guardian? She got rid of them all in an instant. Unarmed, too...
"Dangerous? Are you serious, Young Master? Those measly thugs? Certainly—"
"No, of course I couldn't take care of them. It's not as if I've trained in any art, like you or Lin over here."
I'm not really trained in anything either...
"Well, thanks for the help," I said. "I'll be on my way now."
I gave a bow, but the prince stopped me.
"Well, Lin, I was hoping you'd accompany me throughout the town. I haven't a single acquaintance in this city, after all."
"Well... I kind of have things to do," I awkwardly explained.
"No matter, I'll help you in whatever task you may have! Is it related to those assailants? I'm sure Thalia could be of some help."
"No, well—actually, you might be right. I do feel bad using you two, though..."
"Don't! I have nothing to do, I'm ready for the excitement!"
Ahh... I really do want to use that servant, but how can I avoid letting them know too much?
"Hmmm... alright then, I'll be in your care. But I can't let you know the details. It's a secret misson... given to me by Alwyn!"
"Wow! I get to help you with a mission given by The Everflame Wizard..."
He's so enthused. Maybe this was a bad idea, after all...
"Caretaker, could you buy me some of those... whatever that is?"
"They're frog legs, Young Master."
"Nevermind then..."
The two were following me through the streets. They seemed to believe I knew where I was going. I didn't, but I was hoping I'd get a clue soon.
The shadow said I'd learn more if I focused on the festival, but that was about the captain. How do I find out about these damned stalkers?
I heard the two behind me whispering about something, and it piqued my interest.
"What's that?" I asked.
"Well, Thalia wanted to point out all the people watching us, but I told her you were already aware," he whispered to me.
The hell!? Does he think I'm a full-fledged wizard or something!?
"Ahem, who do you take me for!?" I turned to the servant, Thalia. "Please, point them out."
"I'll do as you ask, but it may be a little difficult. There's too many to really count, after all."
What? We're surrounded?
"How long has it been like this?"
"Since we stepped out from the alleyway, sir."
"Are we in danger?"
"They're mostly normal civilians, so you don't have to worry as long as I'm here."
"If you had to guess, what would be the percent of people watching us versus the ones not...?"
"No less than seventy percent of everyone around us. We're completely surrounded."
Ah... that's strange. That would mean nearly everyone's out for my head. That can't be, can it? Is this new, or did Alwyn simply not notice? No, there's no way he wouldn't have.
Did he not tell me on purpose? Is that why he left me with the pearl? Is he testing me? Testing me on what? He's barely taught me anything!? Or is he testing me on something else...
An involuntary grin stretched across my face.
"Let's keep moving, then. Nothing we can do about it, is there?" I said.
I purposely ventured into darker and more secluded areas. By then, even I could notice all the eyes on us.
"Is your plan to have them ambush us? Thalia is quite strong for a caretaker, but that's quite the brutish method, isn't it?"
"Don't worry, I don't want to get into a big fight."
"Whatever you say, pal!" he draped his arm over my shoulder.
Who's your pal...? Me? I thought we were acquaintances.
"Well, it's fine now, isn't it? We're all secluded, you can stop the act now!" I shouted into the open air.
We were in a run down and dark area. I could hear the light footsteps of dozens of people around us.
One confident person came forwards, alone.
"Hello, wizard's apprentice. Clearly, you've caught on, so there's no need to continue this farce, is there? Not that it matters... time's up, after all."
"Huh? 'Time's up'? I'm afraid I don't understand. Care to enlighten me?" I asked.
"You've continued to evade our capture, haven't you? So we got one of our more impressive assets to free up some time. Just. For. You! Isn't that great?"
An familiar feeling washed over me. I felt the need to shrink into the ground. It was much, much duller than the first time I'd felt it, but it was there nonetheless.
A killing intent! Someone powerful is coming!
It resembled the night Alwyn had snatched me away. The feeling when I looked into that knight's helmet...
"Get down!" the servant shoved both the prince and I down.
A large crash sounded above us, and I rolled to the side.
The servant's sword was now drawn, a thin rapier. It was pressed against large iron claws. Attached to the claws was a lean, frightful masked man.
"I apologize for calling in such a cruel piece to the board, but we can't afford to dilly-dally any longer."
Where have I seen this guy before...? That's right! The bounty board from before! What was his name? Valric, right? Valric... The Ripper?
The man was Valric The Ripper. A murderous mercenary who's bounty was set at a whopping twelve golden turns. He was a powerful man who used two clawed iron gauntlets.
"Oops, almost clipped ya there...! Careful now, wouldn't want you to end the fun so soon!" The Ripper growled.
I watched as he and Thalia fought. It was intense and I was far too inexperienced to judge who was winning. I had more pressing matters, anyway.
The dozens of people surrounding us were now closing in, ready to take the prince and I out while Thalia was busy.
"Caretaker, how long will that thug take?"
"I'll be done in no more than three minutes, Young Master. I'm assuming you can hold out for that long?"
"Ahem, I'll certainly try!" he rolled up his sleeves.
I watched as the prince ran at one of the men. His fist was humiliatingly caught mid-swing.
I thought he was about to reveal his true strength or something... he's just useless!?
There wasn't very much power behind his strikes, he was practically the same age as I was, after all, even if he was much taller. Not to mention sheltered...
"Get back, prince."
I considered drawing my sword from my hat, but it hadn't been of much use recently. The people in this city weren't like the traveling fodder criminals Alwyn had made me fight in the woods...
They were, on average, a lot more difficult!
I guess that leaves me no choice. But I've never cast a spell on another person. Well, not on purpose, I mean.
It was the first time I'd chanted that spell from my dream in its entirety. I hadn't even remembered the full thing until that moment. No, conveniently, it popped into my head as I stared down the crowd of people.
"Tân y diwedd, gwaedd y sêr...!"
I didn't know what the words meant. Of course I didn't, they were in some strange language I didn't even know how to write on paper correctly.
"Ffrwydrad o'r gwagle..." I continued
I knew what the chant as a whole meant, though, because as I was saying it, a large and complex glowing circle appeared above the people.
"boed i bopeth—"
I felt a massive amount of mana gathering inside of me. For a moment, I thought I could see it in the air, like Alwyn had described to me before.
"What the hell is he thinking!? Stop that!" I heard Thalia shout, speeding towards me.
Before I could finish, I was forcefully planted face-first into the dirt. The servant had her foot on the back of my head. A sharp pain shot through my chest.
"What're you doing!? I was going to—"
"I know what you were going to do! Boy, are you insane!?"
"Get off me!"
"CARETAKER, BEHIND YOU!"
The servant was knocked off from my back by The Ripper.
"Come on, I'm giving you my full attention! Can't you reciprocate?!"
The man had sunk one of his gauntlets into her side. A large red stain was forming. The two returned to their vicious fighting.
"Lin, what the hell are you doing casting a spell like that!? Actually, why would you even know such a spell!?"
The crowd, who had been petrified by the spell, were regaining their bearings. They were but civilians, after all. It was surely their first time seeing such a spectacle, especially one aimed at them.
"I don't get it? What's so bad about that spell!?"
"Bad? You were about to kill them all!"
I know that! That was the point!? Damn it, I feel all sick now...
I wondered if this was because of the spell.
Is it because it was my first time handling so much mana? Or is it because the spell was cancelled...?
I fell to one knee. I clutched my chest, hyperventilating.
"Are you okay? Are you having a heart attack or something!?" The prince asked, shaking me.
Damn it... do I really need to use the pearl? Already? I don't even know what it does. There has to be another option.
"Prince, don't you have any other guards!? Why do you have only one attendant?"
"She's strong, I don't need any other guards," he said nonchalantly.
Except, we were about to die.
"Ahhh, wizard's apprentice, I didn't know you knew such powerful magic. But what's the use in knowing anything if you can't use it?"
The supposed ringleader approached us. He didn't bear any weapon or visible hostility. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying the fight between the servant and The Ripper.
"What do you want? What's the point in all this? I haven't even done anything to you people..."
"Not yet you haven't. But our oracle... she's said some pre-tty nasty things about you. You're searching for her, aren't you? Our Saint Pischt, that is."
"So? What does it matter to you?"
"HA! The audacity. That in itself is a crime, yet you ask 'why does it matter'? Our Saint! And you wish to meet her!"
"But I've already met her? What's the difference if I meet her again?"
"...What?"
"I said, I've already met her!"
"What kind of foolish lie—"
The man was sent flying through the air by collision with The Ripper. The two of them were passed out on the ground, intertwined with each other.
"Caretaker, that was nearly four minutes!"
"Sorry, Young Master. He was quite the powerhouse."
"Seriously? He was only a low class thug. I'm sure he's not even in the top fifty strongest people in Corvailles. What happens if I get attacked by one of them?"
"You're right, it seems I'm always annoying you about your training when I could've been training more myself."
"Don't worry about it, Caretaker. We've succeeded!"
We looked around at the crowd of people. They were scattering now after seeing the two men defeated.
"I assume you'll need to exchange further with the leader? Considering you're Alwyn's apprentice, I'll allow it. But I'm taking the mercenary with me to the jail," the servant said.
She didn't seem to like me. Especially not since I tried casting that spell. It seemed as if she were weary.
"That's alright with me. Thanks a lot, I would've died tonight if it weren't for you two."
Well... mostly Thalia, but still.
"See you later, Lin!" the prince waved, following the servant.
But if you guys leave me here alone, won't all those guys just jump me?
I sighed, looking at the unconscious man.
"Aur y goedwig, cod fi'n uchel; Cysgod a gwynt, agor y nef," I muttered.
The man started to float. The enchantment obviously didn't apply to the man himself. It was his clothes that carried him through the air.
Or should I say, carried us. I climbed onto his back and flew him back to the estate like a magic broom.
I've become quite adept at using this enchant now, haven't I?