The Reborn Magus and His Prince

Chapter 4: A Short Journey

Realizing Yulian's persistence in pursuing him, the cloaked figure put together a hand seal and a magic circle appeared on the ground. Inside the circle, a creature had risen.

A summoner!

Yulian’s feet skidded to a stop as the creature stood in front, blocking his way from its owner.

The summoned creature resembled a black wolf but twice larger than a normal one. It had blood-red eyes and sported double rows of sharp teeth when it growled and bare at him.

The black wolf lunged in his direction. He had nowhere to escape the incoming attack, he was surrounded by trees.

Yulian quickly formed his two hands to create a fire barrier to protect him.

Each summoned had at least one special ability and one of them is being resistant to any element type.

Yulian cursed. Just his luck. The creature banged right to his barrier, not a tiny bit bothered by the flames. His back hit the tree behind him with a thud. His hand formation went undone.

The cloaked figure seeing him down with one attack, flip his cloak and flew deep into the darkness of the forest.

Yulian gritted his teeth, he had to give up going after his house's intruder and had to flee to another direction before the black wolf could attack again.

He resided in this part of the town for years so he knows the area and used it to his advantage. He put his one foot on a tree trunk and propelled himself upward, he grabbed a solid branch with both hands. Not a second later, the wolf slammed on the tree where his foot was.

He swung and lurched his body to land on top of the branch.

A level D summoned creature. Unintelligent one, all it knew was to attack head-on, in a literal sense. He examined the wolf from above, it snarled at him saliva trickling from its mouth.

He formed two small fires that resembled pointed blades. With a flick of his finger, the fires with a swish came down simultaneously unto the creature. It dodged to the side and attempted to jump to reach him. With its height, it could almost reach him. The wolf opened its jaw, sharp fangs about to clamp his foot however the fires that attacked it, changed direction and went back to its target.

 The first fire embedded deep itself into the wolf's neck, it had no chance to cry out in pain as the second one like a magnet followed the first one and entirely decapitated its head.

The body and head simultaneously dropped to the ground and instantly the magic circle emerged swallowing the entire being of the summoned creature.

 *****

Yulian returned to his house after the fiasco. The intruder disappeared and he failed to identify him.

Was he a robber? But what could he possibly want in an old dilapidated house?

"He could only summon a level D, must be a robber among the tourists," Ignis said mirroring his thoughts as they try to analyze the cause of the event.

They went back to the bedroom where the intruder was first seen, the master bedroom. Sure enough, blankets and pillows were toppled, cabinets and drawers pulled open, its contents strewed all over. His mother's jewelry box had been turned upside down. But nothing to be dismayed over, the only thing valuable in this house were the counterfeit jewels given to him days ago which lain safely on his drawer in his room.

After all that was done, he could almost laugh at the poor robber. Imagine robbing someone poorer than him.

Ah, what a day this was. He yawned and stretch. Time for sleep. He'll just clean all these messes tomorrow. 

*****

The given two weeks shortly arrived with the robber incident faded away from his worry.  As he and Ignis we're occupied formulating their plan once they'll reach the capital.

In between of those days, he had announced his decision to accept the recommendation from Braun.

The news hence traveled in all corners of the town the very next day after his announcement. All sorts of goods though nothing fancy and the usual fruits and common crops came to his door from his fellow townsmen, expressing their good wishes and hopes for him.  Even the Wallice couple had given him new clothes and spare pockets in preparation for his new life at the capital.

According to Braun, he did not need to worry about anything as all will be free including his living and food expenses. The Wallice still insisted to gave him some for a future unexpected event.

Yulian accepted all those given sincerities with open arms, after all, he needed those given things.

*****

On the day of his departure, Arthur wailed like a dog being abandoned. And not because his beloved friend is leaving but he begged him to write constantly and send him an autograph of his more beloved hero which he failed to get last time.

He pulled his leg from his clinging friend to avoid the incoming snot.

"Alright, I'll do it," he said to his kneeling friend, feeling exasperated but already used to his antics. After all, an apple does not fall far from the tree.

"Really?!"

"Yeah," he crossed his fingers behind his back. There's no way he's going to ask Braun for an autograph. That would be too humiliating.

Arthur got up in full vigor, face mixed with tears and snot altogether, and pounced his friend who had no time to escape. "You're the best bud! I will be expecting it in a week!"

Yulian jabs him on the ribs to free himself. Arthur laughed. "Just kidding! Seriously though, good luck, Yul. Don't let anyone bully you. Show them what you got."

Yulian grinned at him. "Who's going to bully who?"

The two made their fist bump. There's no need for a goodbye for both of them. Each had a clear goal in their minds.

Arthur knew from long ago his friend would eventually leave their town to chase his dream. No need for heartfelt goodbye, they're all tough men here, and not like Yulian will be gone forever.

Moreover, Arthur had likewise a clear goal, though it's nothing compared to Yulian's grand dream. He wanted to follow in his father's footsteps even surpass him. Their town may be small but he had a deep affection for the Ruke that leaving it was not an option for him.

Yulian bowed at the entrance of the town of Ruke where the Wallice's and the rest of the town stood together to see him off. This might be the last time he would see any of them.

He dawned the black old coach owned by the Wallice that will bring him to the capital.  He leaned on the window to watch the growing smaller figures of the people of Ruke who waved their hands at him.

This is it, another chapter of his new life. He wonder if he could go back again to that peaceful life in the humble town of Ruke.

He sighed.

He had to focus right now. There's no telling of what the future holds for him.

He pulled the envelope given by Braun. It had the recommendation of the academy that he needed to present to be accepted inside. Everything was already taken care of by him and the chief, including this coach that will be delivering him directly to the front gate of the academy.

Though it is a pity he could not explore the Caelim City, Caereus capital. He wanted to see its current state. The last time he visited that city was the time before the war broke out.

Maybe another time, he thought and leaned back to prepare himself for sleep, not caring the constant shaking of the small squared box vehicle.

It had taken almost three days for the small coach to reach the capital when normally it would only be two days travel from Ruke to Caelim. So to speak, his travel was an uneventful one with only the coachman as his speaking mate and sometimes Ignis when the god had the mood to converse with him.

Caelim City had two massive entry gates, the size that could fit fifty regular carriages. Dozens of guards with pointed spears stood at the entrance with stoic faces.

Several coaches had lined up before his at the gate. Each vehicle is inspected by two to three guards. On the other side of the entrance, stood another line meant for people on foot who wanted to enter the city gates. Some camped on the edges of the tall wall, scanning the people lining up. Either they were thieves or small-time merchants scouting for some easy target. This kind of scene was common in all entry gates of big cities, the guards took no heed of them as long as they do not cross the gates.

Same with Yulian sentiments, he won't bother with them and their operations as long as they don't think of approaching him and his coach. He closed his eyes as he waits for the guards to check his vehicle, not caring about the affairs outside his comfort. 

Not long after, his vehicle moves forward at a slow pace signaling his turn for inspection.

The guards took one glance at the emblem of the academy on the letter he presented before being ushered directly inside. No queries and scrutiny are needed, that's how highly influential the academy is in Caereus.

Instead of taking the usual route that everyone was following, his coach took another path where only one or two vehicles can be seen. Though the two much grander than his, he's guessing that inside those coaches were students like him being accepted in the academy. As the path, they were taking leads only to one place, the Caereus Military Academy exclusive for the students and professors.

Yulian once had taken this path long ago but not as its student but as a representative for another academy in a neighboring kingdom.

Yes, he's not a native of this kingdom but he will not look back to that memory for longer. Too many painful events.

 His coach halted.

"We are here, Mr. Albertine," the coachman's voice came from the front.

"Alright," Yulian arranged his clothes, tidied his hair, and even cleared his throat. He rolled his shoulders before entirely disembarking.

A looming dark gate greeted him. Just seeing it left a sour taste in his mouth.