Volume One: Departure from Kingdom of Athea
Chapter Three: Outside of the castle
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"By the way, I didn't saw nor heard about the existence of any princes and princesses, where are they?"
I don't remember they even mentioned them on any of their conversation. She tell me why.
"About that, the current king doesn't have any wife, only a fiancé this year."
She's answer through a brief history telling.
"The previous lineage have around 5 child; 2 sons and 3 daughters. But their reputation flocked down due to their rotten way of ruling on their faction, turning the life of the kingdom worse than a slave.
People can't endured it any longer and a massive revolts emerged all over the Athea and the neighboring kingdoms took this chance and tried to expand their territory. But they did not know, almost all of the population of kingdom were united as one and king Philip led the whole revolt under a single banner in the shadow.
So in the end, their military suffered a huge lost while King Philip and his people got their victory at 12 years prior to this date.
A new dawn entered the kingdom. All of them then decided that he must took the crown and show them the path on this new ages.
He accepted this and that's how the country turned quite peaceful. He doesn't have a single child because of him busy fixing the whole kingdom and only achieved economic stabilization 2 years ago."
She is not look tired after telling that straight. We're now passing the inner garden of the castle where few gardener are cutting some excessive grass growth while the other were taking care of the flowers and fixing some decorations. Amaze by the beauty of the garden, I commented their hard work before and now.
"The people of this kingdom were much stronger than what everyone could probably think of. Their unity achieved such great feat despite passing that hellish days. If my memories serves right, in the middle of the kingdom reconstruction they even fought the demon lord his forces, isn't it?"
I recalled the king also said it was around 10 years ago that the demon lord successfully defeated. She nodded confirming what I heard was right.
"That time, the Kingdom of Athea was still in the midst of reconstruction due to the massive revolt. However of the neighbor kingdoms suggest that we, four kingdom summoned a hero to help us pushing the demon race out of human border. Then the first hero of that era came into this world. We also managed to not just 1 but summoned 4 heroes. Through helping, and supporting each other. Human rise along side of the 4 heroes. Thus, ended that darkness loomed above the continent.
For your knowledge, that also the time I got the recognitions due to my great contribution towards winning the war. I can proudly say to my dear student that pushing myself at that time to my limits."
She's now mesmerized while imagining her young self on that battlefield.
"Hmm..."
We walk around a small and huge corridors until the cool breeze from the outside blew and hit my cheek. It made my mind at peace and said to her.
"Anyway, let's stop that topic for now and focus on that."
I pointed at the end of our path. The area at the front of the castle had some people waiting for her to be seen one last time before the departure.
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On the way outside of the castle, everyone were saying their goodbyes to Lady Livia. Even the king were waiting along with his knights and maids.
Some of the people were crying, laughing and being thankful for her help on their daily needs inside this kingdom. She happily chat with them till we left the area when sun almost at the top of our head.
Then, the knights lineup and salutes unison as we both passed by at the gate.
They were all shows what they really feel for her so I say to Livia.
"You're quite popular for a librarian."
"For your knowledge, I do have some social circles within the kingdom too. If I found someone who need some help, I hastily help them. And lastly, I never forget to treat any of them like my own family...erm... A-Anyway, Just don't mind them."
So she said while being bashful. She look forward at the new journey ahead of us, though, you can take a glimpse the corner of her lips curving slightly upwards.
"I see"
I only said so while we walked away from the castle gates down to the noble section.
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*Paka, paka* *cluk-tak*
*Crowd bustling*
Lots of people with different species are walking at the side of the road while a different beautiful carriages keeps passing us.
"We were at the inner most part of the capital where people who hold peerages lives in. Aren't the building here were look glamorous "
she said monotonously. Livia doesn't look happy seeing this scenery. I'm playing as if I do not notice her mood and ask her.
"My lady, Is there any problem? You look so seriously all of a sudden."
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She was startled to my sudden question. Livia quickly shook herself before answering.
"No, not really...*sigh* I simply do not had any favor for the people living in this area. The one that lives here were the nobles who always gave an headache to my father."
In the midst of crowd, we saw some commotion; a noble kicking the lying person on the sidewalk. Based on the words passed through, the victim came from the outermost section and have some business with certain noble but he apparently brushed each other by their shoulder and that's the cause of this scene .
Some crowd only watch while the other whispering to each other and calling some guards. However, I peek at my side to see her reaction. Livia only look at them; is what I thought first. But a small light came out of her right hand and feet which then vanished in a second.
Suddenly, a rock formation create on the ground behind him and then shoot at the back of the noble. It knock the noble out of his consciousness. Livia seems like cast another type of magic as a dim light cover his head for a few second. Finally, the guard came in to assess and control the situation.
Her face change into satisfaction and simple talk.
"The guards can handle it, let's go."
I only nod after seeing the blissful expression on her face. She then shift her focus on our first goal.
"Our first destination were the outermost part of this capital. There, we will buy the rest of item we need for the journey. Another thing I want you to do is to buy your own sword and armor."
She next handed me a few platinum coins.
"-!"
I quickly look around but it seems like there's no one notice the coins. If I recall my memories for another world story with similar era, platinum coin can be considered the highest coins they can get.
'isn't this too much for pocket money?'
She give me a smile and tell me why that much.
"You're from another world so it is common that you didn't know the exchange rate here, so I will let you learn from this. Just beware of thieves lurking in the outermost part of the capital.
A few walks and turned, we saw another huge gate. From here and on out there, the difference can be seen.
It seem like the normal people lives there separately.
"Hm, everyone can literally see the great difference between this side and that side."
She only look at the front.
"Ahh, this is always the case because most people lives here hold a peerage and the other empty pieces of land were for the future to be bestown upon the people who might get a great achievement or something along with it. This wall was also erected to protect them and their family. However, one can say that this is also to divide the people into two; one who holds power and the one beneath them. At the very least, king Philip allow anyone to get a permit to go in and out of inner wall. Be he is a normal citizens, merchants, unregistered person, or anyone that can fulfill the requirements."
I nod after hearing the situation.
'it is normal scenario with feudal system.'
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*Thud*
"Move, hiyah!"
*Neigh!*
"Please move over there for inspection."
"Anyone have some delicious fresh fruit here!"
"*Flute song*"
After we passed through that huge gate, the bustling of people shook my ears.
"The city looks much livelier over here."
The place in front of us is a huge plaza where at the center have a huge fountain and everyone can drink, rest and can be a meet up location. Right now, huge crowd, stalls and passing carriage almost fill the entirety of empty space available.
Different races contain the whole plaza in front of us. There's some dwarves, elves, half-beasts, and people with horn and scales can also be seen. I'm amazed seeing this newly races which you normally can't see on earth but now here, interacting as if it was the natural thing over here. A brand new scenery compared to that time I first summoned inside the castle, where every single person looks grim except the king himself.
People doing business here and there while carriages keep moving onward despite this thick crowds passing the road. Guards can be spotted patrolling everywhere to maintain the order and be vigilant over sudden crimes.
"Let's go"
Livia said as she start moving over the crowds. I follow her. In the midst of it, she say another important matter that she need to attend all of a sudden.
"Zero, I need to go meet a certain alchemist first to prepare for my items, and another person who specializes in creating my specific request item. I'll leave you for the meantime. Remember, don't forget to buy your equipment and other necessities you might see and think you needed for the journey. The rest, you can do wander or do whatever you want on it."
'sword and some armor.... Right, why did she not get some armor for me from the castle armory or treasury?'
I thought to myself but it seems like she reads my mind and then spoke about it.
"I intentionally did not get any equipment for you from the castle because all of the armor and sword stored there were at its highest quality. And I don't want you to only rely on your equipment. This will also be part of your learning. Of course, you can rest assured. As your personal mentor and partner, I will not going to let you fail the task but even support and guide you until the end."
Her caring smile burned within my mind. This also remind me of that message so I let it go and follow her.
After we reached the large intersection, she took a temporary farewell to me.
"Let's parted here for now and meet up at the huge fountain of plaza in the afternoon after the fourth sound of bell, got it?"
"Okay."
I shortly answer her.
"Take your time and tour some places you might find interesting. If you found yourself lost, just look at your map."
She pointed her finger above herself
"...But my map does not working."
I faintly said to her since I remember the map on my top-right corner of vision was offline.
Or so I thought.
When my eyes moves over, I saw a lots of white dot moving while a blue dot where closer at the middle.
'It's already working!'
"Huh, what did you say?"
Looks like she didn't heard words, so I use the [Party whisper] I caught a glimpse at my side. It is a function available for anyone whose inside of my party.
>[Party whisper]"I said you're beautiful."
She ended up blushing but still confused so I urged her to leave already.
"--it's nothing. You can go now, see you later~"
I give her a faint smile and wave at her. She walked away with a cute confused expression.
When she left my field of vision, I look over my map and think what should I do first.
"Now then, how about I check the blacksmith first for some sword and armor?"
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-End of Chapter Three