After getting to the other side of the river, they continued their journey to the Academy. The group would occasionally stop at different cities and towns so the horses could rest.
One week later.
Grey, Alice, Klaus, and Reynolds could be seen riding towards the huge compound of the Lunar Academy.
It surprisingly took them a week to get here, even though according to Grey’s calculations, they were supposed to reach here three days ago.
“If only you agreed to us taking the route Reynolds suggested, we would’ve been here sooner.” Grey said turning around to face Klaus.
“I knew that route was longer, that was why I picked it in the first place.” Klaus said not admitting he was wrong.
“Bullshit! The only reason we took the route was that you said we should take it since it was shorter.” Reynolds said, imitating Klaus when saying the last part of his statement.
“Your route was boring, mine was great.” Klaus didn’t back down.
“How is being almost robbed great?” asked Reynolds.
“By people who just broke through to the Origin Plane. Didn’t you enjoy whooping their asses? Cause I sure did. Also, when we saved that small village from being destroyed by a horde of magical beasts, didn’t you feel like a hero?” Klaus said putting a heroic posture as they rode closer to the Academy.
“I get the part where we were almost robbed, but since when did killing the last beast make you the hero of the village?” Grey looked at Klaus with raised eyebrows.
When they defeated the bandits who tried to rob them, they took them to the city close to where the bandits’ hideout was located. After they dropped the bandits off to the guards there, they continued their journey only to see multiple dead bodies of people and magical beasts on a path.
They followed the trail and saw that a village was being attacked by a horde of beasts, but the villagers were already close to victory with only a few beasts still alive. Before they got to the village, there was only one beast left alive, and the warriors of the village had no problem in killing it since it wasn’t the strongest beast anyway. But before anyone could attack it, Klaus created a huge ice shard that he used to stab it.
The villagers naturally were grateful, although Klaus killed only a single beast, it showed he was trying to be helpful since the villagers noticed that they only just arrived.
“Grey my friend, let me tell you something you still don’t know, it’s not about the journey, it’s about the beginning, and the ending.” Klaus said putting on the air of an otherworldly wise old man.
“What do you mean not about the journey? What if you die on the journey?” Grey felt like using a boulder to smack Klaus’ head, maybe he would start thinking properly then.
“If you die in the journey, then technically, that’s the end of your journey. Everything has an end, that why you should make the most out of your life, like me.” Klaus said thoughtfully.
“Where do you hear all this?” Grey couldn’t help but ask.
“From a wise old man.” Klaus said respectfully.
“You mean the crazy old drunk who sits by the side of the road close to The Garland tavern in the city?” Grey easily guessed the identity of the wise old man Klaus was speaking about.
In Lunar City, Klaus loved going to two places whenever he wants to drink and have fun. One was The Cony tavern, and the other which Grey personally prefers going was The Garland tavern.
“You see, it’s all about perspective when we view things. From your perspective, he’s a crazy old drunk, but from my perspective, he’s a wise old man. It’s amazing how two people see the same thing in different ways.” Klaus didn’t try to deny that the wise old man was the same person Grey was talking about.
“Where did you hear this as well? No wait don’t answer that, it’s also from the wise old man.” Grey asked but answered the question himself since he knew Klaus was going to give him the same answer.
“You should take some life lessons from him, two silver coins could make you a whole lot wiser. Rey, I don’t think he can help your case though, I brought your issue up to him some time back, and he was flabbergasted by how your head works.” Klaus said to Grey, before patting Reynolds’ shoulder sympathetically.
“I under… Wait, what?!” Reynolds almost jumped out of his horse to attack Klaus.
Other than being stronger than Klaus, Klaus defeats him in every other aspect, especially when it came to cursing. Sometimes he wonders how great Klaus would be if he actually decides to spend the time he uses in annoying someone in thinking of something good.
Klaus’ quick-wittedness when it came to annoying a person was insane, it makes him wonder about the purpose of life sometimes.
“Nothing.” Klaus refused to speak on the issue any further.
Grey looked at the duo and smiled softly, Klaus seems to always think of ways to annoy Reynolds.
“Does this mean you’re going to end up like a ‘wise old man’ as well?” Grey asked with a smirk.
“Yes.” Klaus nodded, but his expression soon changed when Alice and Reynolds started chuckling, “Wait, no, no. We don’t know what the world has in store for us.”
“But you said to make the most out of your life, the wise old man sure is doing it. He does what he loves doing, that is drinking, you on the other hand are not far from that.” Grey continued with a smile.
He had finally gotten a chance to win Klaus in a war of words, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, how could he dare waste it?
“Well played Grey, well played.” Klaus said with squinted eyes while nodding.
Grey and the others burst into laughter when they realized Klaus admitted defeat.
‘Reynolds should be happy, Grey just took the baton from him without him asking.’ Klaus thought.
The baton in this case was who he would naturally annoy.
