As Michael ventured deeper into the inner city, he noticed a subtle change in the atmosphere.
He saw nobles and their attendants hurrying about, their fine clothes and jewelry a stark contrast to the more modest attire of the commoners in the outer city.
Michael’s eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for the large houses with insignia flags.
He had seen a few during his last visit, and he hoped to find one now.
After a few minutes of walking, he spotted a grand estate in the distance.
The house was massive, with tall spires and intricate stonework.
A flag bearing the insignia of a golden sword fluttered in the breeze.
Michael’s gaze locked onto the estate, and he quickened his pace.
He approached the entrance, where two guards stood at attention.
They eyed Michael warily, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords.
“Halt,” one of the guards said. “State your business.”
Michael held out the token, and the guards’ expressions changed.
Though he appeared calm on the surface, Michael couldn’t help but feel nervous as his mind was all over the place about what to do.
To this moment, he still had his doubts about the token Mage Lian had handed him.
With his experience, he knew it was very valuable, but it also showed that it was only those who could recognize it who knew of its importance.
When they didn’t know, it seemed worthless.
However, Michael didn’t expect that the token seemed to be useful even inside the inner city.
The guards of the house he chose on random actually recognised the token.
The guards exchanged a brief glance, and then one of them nodded.
“Welcome, Sit,” he said, his voice filled with a newfound respect. “We’ve been expecting you. Please, follow me.”
Michael’s eyes narrowed slightly, his mind racing with questions. Expecting him?
How did they know he was coming?
Michael didn’t have time to think as the guard led him through the estate, navigating a series of opulent corridors and chambers.
The guard led Michael through the estate, navigating a series of opulent corridors and chambers. They finally arrived at a large wooden door, adorned with intricate carvings.
The guard knocked twice, and a voice from within bade them enter. The guard pushed open the door, revealing a lavish study.
*****
A few days ago, a wave of curiosity swept through the inner city.
The attendant of Grand Mage Lian had visited several noble houses, delivering a message that sparked whispers and speculation.
The attendant’s words were brief but intriguing: a young man would soon arrive, carrying a token that would grant him an audience with Grand Mage Lian.
The noble houses were instructed to receive the young man with respect and arrange for him to meet with the Grand Mage immediately.
Most of the nobles who received the message, was particularly intrigued.
They had no idea what to expect from this young man or what made him so important to Grand Mage Lian.
The lack of information only added to the mystery, and they found themselves wondering if he would be the one to receive the young man.
As the days passed, the initial excitement began to wane, replaced by confusion and skepticism.
Some nobles started to wonder if the young man would ever arrive, while others speculated that he might have already visited another noble house, and they had chosen to keep it a secret.
However Michael, the cause of the matter knew nothing of this and was currently staring at the old man in front of him.
*******
Ace and Lia.
Ace and Lia stepped out of the inn, the morning air crisp against their skin. The streets were already bustling with activity, merchants setting up their stalls and travelers passing through. Despite the familiar scene, neither of them felt entirely at ease.
Michael’s attitude toward them was… strange. He wasn’t like the nobles they had grown up fearing—those who sneered at commoners or saw them as disposable. But that didn’t mean they could trust him.
Ace adjusted the strap of his bag, glancing sideways at Lia. “He’s different, huh?” he muttered under his breath.
Lia exhaled sharply. “Yeah… I don’t know if that makes it better or worse.”
Ace hummed in agreement. They couldn’t deny that Michael’s presence was starting to change their impression of nobles, and that was unsettling in its own way.
After a moment of silence, Lia finally asked, “How much silver do we have now?”
Ace reached into his pocket and pulled out a few coins. “Three,” he said simply.
“He gave us one last night, but we never spent it.”
Lia pressed his lips together, conflicted.
He let out a slow breath, rubbing his temple. “I hope he gets bored of us soon and lets us go.” His words were firm, but there was hesitation in his voice.
Because deep down, a part of him wondered… Could they actually make enough coin by staying with Michael? Enough to enroll in a dojo and finally gain supernatural powers?
Lia shook his head, forcing the thought away. He couldn’t afford to entertain that kind of hope.
Especially when it came from working for a noble.
A group he wanted to destroy.
Though he had planned to use their money to gain power to destroy them, he didn’t exactly like how it was currently going.
Ace tucked the coins back into his pocket and gave Lia a sideways glance. “You think he’d really just let us go?” His voice was lighter, but the weight of the question lingered between them.
Lia didn’t answer right away. Instead, he focused on the path ahead, leading them toward the outer city’s wealthier districts.
The streets were wide and lined with more permanent shops rather than the temporary market stalls they were used to.
The closer they got to their destination, the more refined the architecture became—nothing like the cramped alleys they had grown up in.
“I don’t know,” Lia finally admitted. “He’s not like the others, but that doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous.”
Ace smirked. “Yeah, but I get the feeling he’s not planning to kill us in our sleep or anything. If anything, he might be the type who actually keeps his word.”
Lia frowned but didn’t argue.
They reached the Silver District first, where the homes were neat, well-maintained, and clearly meant for wealthy who wanted comfort without excess.
Ace whistled as he looked around. “Not bad. If I had a pile of gold, I’d live here.”
Lia gave him a sharp look. “You’re getting too comfortable with this,” he muttered.
Ace shrugged. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just thinking ahead. If we play this right, we could set ourselves up for something better than running and hiding all the time.”
Lia didn’t respond. He wanted to argue, but the truth was, Ace had a point.
They had survived by scraping by, taking whatever they could to make it another day. But working for Michael, even in the short time they’d known him, had already given them more than they’d ever had before.
And that terrified Lia more than anything.
“Come on,” he said, pushing forward. “Let’s find the best place we can. If we’re going to do this, we might as well do it right.”
Ace grinned, falling into step beside him. “Now that’s the spirit.”
With that, the two of them set off to complete their task, though each carried their own thoughts about what it truly meant for their future.