It's so weird. People worship spirits. Why are they doing this? Does it really improve the chances or is it just a superstition? After we go into the city, I should ask the people there.
Nick and I went into the city. They didn't check us and let us pass without thinking. So. Now, what should we do? We have no money. Due to our age, they won't take us seriously. Maybe we should bring an adult here? But before that, need to find a way to infect the reservoir.
While I was thinking about what to do next, the whole crowd slowly began to move away from the road. I looked in the direction where the others were looking. The carriage. A flag was flying near the carriage window. We moved out of the way. When it was already at a distance of 5 meters, it suddenly stopped. A man in a blue robe came out. He scanned the crowd and focused his gaze on us. He began to approach us slowly.
Danger! Who is he? Just in case, I stepped forward and looked this person straight in the eyes.
When he was at a distance of 2 meters, I felt an unimaginable pain inside. I was confused. This feeling is like the soul was torn out of me. The body lost its strength and fell. All I feel is emptiness.
-Can't ... connect...?
It's a sense of loss. Communication losses. I can't contact with the head! Why!? My confusion quickly turned into anger.
K͍̺͙̳̟̣ͨ̀̄̽ͥͥ̚͞ḭ͚̓ͣ̇̎͒̌́ḻ̳͇̣̣͚̮ͩ̏̿͊͆̆ͬ̕͘͜ͅl̖̬̊ͣͨ!̡͓͓̺ͯ̒ͫ̌̂̍̑̉͝ͅ ̩͚̳̬̒͐̉̎̒͢Ȁñͤ̅̐̑ͦn̷͔͈̗̹̬͇͛̅̇͡i̛̥̹͎̟̦͍̘̩̘̿ͩͪ͌ͦh̞̪̭͔̘͚͕̓̒̈i͖͓͎͓ͣ͑l͖̬̹̥͆ͯͪ͞ǎ͉̝̼͓̜̲̜̣͟ţ̦̜̫͔̹̘̏ͭ̌̾̿͑ͭ̕͡ẻ͈͔̙̟̼͓͐ͤ̔͊͆̂̒!̡͖̣͙͕̦̳͌̂̓ͯ ̅̂̓͋̿̔̄҉̤̼̀͞Ŕ̢̧̠̠̗̺͎̘ͬͫ̍͌̓ͧ̓́ę̛͚̳̻̩͎̣͓̋̑̊̈́̿̈́̆ͩs̶̺̰͎̲̮̿̆̒ͣ͑̎ͩ̃ͅẗ̷̛̼͎̠̞͚̥͖̘͛o͕̅̒ͨ͊̂̌̾͐́̀r̂͂̑̏͑͏̭̞̠̜͕ͅë̳̹́̂͑̀ ̤̳͎̩͑ͣ̾̏ͥͥ͋t̢̩̘̼ͩͦ̍ͧ̈͑̀h͚̝͔̞͓̟̩͇͆͆̈́ͦ̃͐́͊͊́ȇ͇͇ͥ͗͐͋̚͡ ̩̠̰̗͚̼̲̲͛ͪc͉͖̮͔̿̇̏ͤo̗̲̳͖ͫ̈̒̓̆͟͞ͅn̡̺͔͈͕̘͚ͫ̽͐͒̂̏̃͘n̜͉̪̳̜̹̼͓̙ͯ̈̂̀̃ͭ̆e̎̾c͑̃̓ͫ̾̐͗̍ti̱̙͆̽͛̆̊ͪͮ͞ȏ̷̶̜̝̲̳ͥ̈́͐ͧ̌̍̚n̷̲̩͈͇̺̳̙̝̯̓̏̍͢!̛̻̹͇͕̉ͮ͐͐̏ͯ̏ͧ͘͟
T̮̯̊̑̾͋̀͘͘h͌҉͎̹̫̹͙e̴̠̻͈ͨͧͥs̶̛̟͎̲̫͉̩̭͙̫̈̓́̚eͯ̾̉ͣ̇͑̓ͭ͏͙͚͓̮̲͎͖ ̥̠͚̜͉̪͙̺͑ͅt͚̻̮͇̋̋̏͑͂̎̆͗̎ͅͅḩ̤͔̳̟͚̖̝̩͌̃̎ͬ̄ͬͯ̀͛ȯ̬͉͕͎̞͓̰̺͛̀̏͐ṵ̽ͣͩ̈ͣ̓́͜g͕̞͕̀ͨ̈́͒͋̕ͅh̛͍̯̆̊̕ͅtͯͦ̌̂̀ͤ͝͏͕̘̜̟̼͓͕s̤̯̠̥͙̣͙̖̉̕͝ ̵̱̯̰̭̠̟̻̞͎ͭ̊̀͛f̸̺̭͚̰ͨ̀͊̎̕i̖͖̲͕̺̘̩͇̒̍͞ḽ̴̦͋̽͂ͣ̿̓̑̊ͬ͝l͙̗̦̳̦̤̒̽̍̾͞e̴̷̻̹̥̣̮͓̬͎ͪ̂̈́͒͐̚d̹͈̳͉̿̃ ̵̗͕̖͍͖͕̙ͤ̿̈́̅̓ͭͪm̦͍̮͖̝̣͂͊͢͞y h̵͚̼͉̜̲̱̙̠̝̓̃ͨ͐ͩͨ͛ͬ̊͌̆̓ͫ͋ͫ̓̋̌ͯ̀͟e͋̆͌ͥͨ͊̒ͨ̓ͬͯ̚͘͠ȁ̸͇̫̞̣͓͕̲̝͓̺͕̻̫̤̦́̏̑̎̈̀̚͘̕ͅͅͅͅd̴ͬ͌ͭͭͣ̑ͮ̿͒̎ͪ͏̬̥͈̠̭̙̩͕̺͈̰͈͇̤ͅͅ
B͈̟̥̜̳̪̂ͦ̌ͧǔ̡̻̈͒́ͧt̰̣̎̄͋̽̿͟ ͚ͥͭͅn̜̥̳̳ͤͫ͒̈̔o̵̞̝̻̖̞͓̥̎ ̵͖̖̍ͦ̅ͬ̉m͑ͧ̋̑a͙͚͒t̶̞͍̝̾̇t͟e̼͍͙̮͖͑̈́̆̄r̷̖̖̼̪ͬ̿̾̃̈ͦͬ ̸̤͍̙̪ͨh̫̒̌̌̂͛̓o͉̟̱̦̠̐͋̽͋w̺̒̈̀̽̅͘ ͭ̀̾ͭ̿I̱̣̳̘̫̬̥͟ ͪ̽ͥ͏͖t͔̪̬͋̐̾͌̊r̺̱̪̰̓̈́ͨ̔ͫ̇y̤̞̝̤̖͕,̱͇̱̳̓ͨ̈ͥ̑ ͙̗̬̄̓̐ͮ̂ͤ̂I͎̔̊͋ ̵͐ͧc̤̗̲̼̎ͪa̰͕̺̭n̯̜̬͊͑ͥ͐̔ͩ'̸͚̖̞̪̣͈͌͋͑̔t̽̀͛ͧ ̦̯̖͉͎͍ͯͩͫ̆͟s̜̱̻̲t̖̗̲͉̰ͧ̔ä̤̺̪͎͔̹́ͪ̓̽ͯ̐̚͠ͅń̮̬̭̉ͧ͂͋d̠͙̞͙̯̥͓ͭ͞ ̞̦͖̼͍̏̒͌̓͜ȕ̪͖̌͛͠ͅp̖̈.͍̯͗̈ͯ͛̊ͧ̋́ ̝̥̯̅̑ͧͥ͌̂̿͟ͅI̙̙̫̝̩̫ͦ̈́ͩ ̡͔̟̙͕̺̫ͦ̃̍͌́c̺͗͒̔̿ån̤̱ͩ̎̾ͫ͝'̯͎̋ͭ̒t̸̻̖̖͈̃͑̔̔͐̍ͨ ̱̺̥͑ͪ͝k͈ͥ̇í̛̬͕͈͍ͤͪḽ̘̹̘͛͂ͫ͞l̏̒̚ ͕̣̤̫̇́ͧ̓ͦ͊ͩi̩̫̟͚͐́̂̊͝t̖̰̥͚̫͛͗̃̉͊͝.͈̬̩̓͌͌ͤͪ̓ ̟̖̻̟̐̃̂͑̓İ̽̇̎ͫ̚ d̷ͥ̅ͦͧo̳̟͙ͪͥ̈́n̰'̧͍̘͎͎̳̝ͬ̒͐͛̈͋t̸͈̻̦̄ͧ̇ͥ̚ ̹ͯͥ̀ͨͭͮh̙͓̱͖͚̯a̔͆vͦe̵͉̥̓̇̂͆ͫͮ͂ ̛̹̐̅͊̓̾ t̲͍̞̳͑ͤ́̿ͧh̨͓̜̻̙̙̹̗̾ͧ̀e͚̳͖ͪ̄̂̈́́ ̷͇ͥ̏́͆̈ͣ̒ c͗͑o̮͇͒͌̈͑̋́ͯn͙̫̱͕̪͋ͬ̀n̥̦̟̺̲̰̒ͮ͋͆ͩ̃̉e̤̙̟̳̝̰͇̋ͮ̅c̭̰̆ͩ̚t̹̑͆ͬ͑̓͡i͒ͦ̆͑̏̽ͧ͏̲oͥ͐͛̾̓ͨ̃͏̠̬n̡͕̬̪.̍̎͏̰̝̲̲ ̳̖͚̩̦ͪ̈́́͐̀ ̶̻̭̅̂ͤ̾W̟̟ͨ̋͒î̖͇̫̼̠ͭ̀͛͂͠t̬̖͉̋̄ͣ͐͒͢h͖̩̪̞̙̤͔o̸̮͇̪̗̘͍̒͂̿̔̚u͈͚̬͆̈́̈t̥̅ͪ́ͭ͊̏ ͓̗̎͌ț̪̜̞̫̊ͤ͋ͩ̈̽ͦḧ̬̏̐̌ẹ͕͔̫͍͚̲̾̍̓ͬ̀ͯͩ͜ ̝̘ͥͪͥ̇ͧc͖̱͖͛͌ͨ̅̌̚ͅō̯̟͍̠͙͔̉̍̓͛n̘̑͘n̗̈ͯͮ͐e͆͋͏͕͎̪̼c̝̪̦̲̟t̖͓̗ͮ̇͠i̴̭̦͓̦͈͒o̸̭̐̏̄͌n̏͑͆ͤ̽ͬͮ ̐̾ͫͩ̚Ḯ̹͕̣̣̒̈́͂̿͢'̗͙̺̤̮̭͒ͨ͆̆̾̄͠ͅm̓ͣ͏̯̪̠̮͍ͅ ̵̲̖͈̩ͯ̔ͣ̐n̤̟̻͢ő̻ͧ̂̋t̝͛ͥ̇ͯ͌̇͊̕h̸̫i͓͉̩͚͖͙ņ̦̭̠̹ͮ̐̃ͣͫͫ̂g͉̪̯̖̞̩͆ͥͥͩͭ̄.̻̣͚̜͙͖̣̏̎̚W̖̞̙͍̝̯̼ͩ̅i̱̖̿̿̄̐̂̏t̤̳̣̙h̡͕͔̳ͨ̚o̦̥̊ͫŭ͎̠̜͇ͭͧ͠t͉̞͚̤̠͎͛ ͖̹͚͑̀t̲̰͋͋ͪ̽͝ͅḧ̟̮͚̮̦̳̃͑̑ͤe͉̟̪̳̓̊ͮ̃ͦ͐̃͢ ̳̥̫͙̭̥ͨ̾̄ͪͪ͛̚͝cͪo̱͓n̤̩̍̽̉͒͢ͅn͖͑ͣͦ́̉̕e̸̟̩̮̼͍̘c̭̠̙͖͚ͥ̓̌t̛̗͚͎̗͚̫͂i̶͚͚̘͉̭͖͆̿̊ͧö̧͙̪͕͈̺͍͓̊̋̚n̲̭ ̲̮͉̩ͩ̇̌̃̍͝I̳̺͚̦̦͓̪ͫ̂͒'̤͔͍͕ͦ̅̌ͪm̜̱̾ͫ̓̈͑ ̘͖̖͈̘ͧ̃̊ṇͥ͑̏o̷̹ͫͣ̇͒ͯ̒tͫͤͮ̕ ̟ͪa̱̺̥̲̘͗ͣ͂l̛̲̊i̪̗͓̍̍̂ͬ͌̒v̶̞̋͑͐̍̏̂̏ẹ̷͕̱̘ͮ̋̑ͤͦ̒̆.̃̆ ̟̖̻̟̐̃̂͑̓ ̳̖͚̩̦ͪ̈́́͐̀ W̳͗̓h̭̝̬͍͔͉̖ͯ̒̈a̬̦̳̺͕͎͆̈̈́ͧ͂́t̗̜̗̦̄ͫ̿̂̎͋͠ ̗̟̞̟̈̚I̢̱͈͕̯͔̼̼ͫ͌͊ ̸͖͔͎̙̦͉̎͌͊ͤw͎̰͇̞ͥ̎͑̄̉ͩ́͟å̱͎̔ͭ̒̈ͦͬͅs̭̤̰͈̦̝ͩ ͋̍́̀͒̅͏̲͓w̛ͨ̒͊i̸̗͈̩̘͇ͨ͊ͮ̔̉ͮţ̲h̢͖͚̪o̡̞̝͚ȗ̜̜͇̘̖̘͍̌̈́ͫͯͪ͛t̝̫̫͑̈͛̏ ͚̖̯͈̥͊͒͗̏̔ͬͭ͟ͅi̝̫̻̗̮̊̾͒t̹͖̪͖̖̒̾ͣ̕ͅ?̝͈̀ͨ͂ͫͦ
But unexpectedly. I felt a connection. It's ahead. I raised my head. It's... a Nick. He is standing face to face with that person. I still have a connection. I'm still alive.
…
PoV Andre
I went by carriage with my secretary.
-My lord. How do you plan to respond to Count Muller's request?
-Tell him that he can go far away with this request. Of course, I knew that he did not understand spirits, but so much? Tell him this: If he brings up this topic again, or if he tries to assemble a squad to carry out this terrible idea, he will have to face me and the Marquis.
-Alright. What about the development of your territory?
-That backwater village? Do what you want with it, it's under your care. I just need to develop myself. -Having said that, I lazily looked at the window. The crowd of commoners usually backs away at the sight of the carriage with my flag.
My eyes slowly lowered and when I was about to enter the world of dreams, I was woken up by weak energy. This is…
-Stop the carriage!
- As you wish, sir. -The coachman stopped his horse.
I opened the door and scanned the crowd. From whom did I feel this energy? I didn't have time to identify the energy before it disappeared. This means that the source is still weak because even if a person controls his power very well, he cannot hide it at a distance of 10 meters.
My gaze stopped at the boys of 12 years old. It is from one of them the energy comes. I began to approach them slowly, trying to feel what kind of energy it was.
One of them stepped forward. He looked stubbornly into my eyes and seemed to be preparing to fight. How cute. Like a barking puppy. However, at a distance of 2 meters, the boy lost his balance and grabbed his head. Hm? Is he so sensitive to mana? Such a gift can be considered a curse.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
While I was looking at the man lying down, the second boy stood in front of him and spread his arms out to the sides, as if protecting him from me. Seeing this, I couldn't help but laugh. These two are... too hilarious.
I was laughing nonstop and had already raised my hand with a wand of a sleep spell, but I suddenly felt the energy. I immediately pulled myself together and looked at them. This energy. It can't be!
-I hit the jackpot!
...
PoV Nick
Murad is lying on the ground. And here is a strange man in a blue robe. The situation is already out of my understanding. How did everything come to this?
No! Now is not the time to thinking! I need to help Murad!
After taking a couple of steps, I stood in front of the man in blue and spread my hands to the side. I won't let him hurt Murad!
The man started laughing. He slowly raised his hand with a wand, still laughing. Danger! Perhaps he is a magician and wants to use magic! What should I do! What should I do!
But suddenly... The landscape in front of me has changed. I was in a deserted plain. Nothing grew here. There was no even grass. The ground was very hard, like steel. I hit the ground with all my might. A metallic sound rang out. While I thought what the hell had happened, the voice spoke to me.
-To who do you serve? What do you want to protect?
A voice came out of nowhere. I looked around, but I didn't find anyone.
-Answer me, child. To who do you serve? What do you want to protect?
The voice came again. It looks like the owner of the voice won't reveal himself until I answer.
Who do I serve? I had only one answer.
-I want to serve my family. A family with whom I am connected not by blood ties, but by soul. I want to help my family. To be a part of this family. And die for them.
-Good answer. Sincere. I called many people here, but few were outspoken. I like you. You are worthy of my blessing.
-Who are you?
- Do you want to know who I am? So be it.
A huge hole hundreds of meters wide opened up in the ground. A pillar rose from the hole. No, a gigantic hand, then another. Then the head slowly rose. The giant's body looked like it was made of some kind of metal. Although it came out only up to the chest, it was already incredibly huge and almost fitted to the hole.
-I am the personification of the elements of the earth. Mortals call me The Overlord of the Earth. I am the one who decides whether a person gifted in this can become an elemental warrior. Without my blessing, it is impossible to become a warrior of the earth. I've been watching you since your beliefs get stronger. Continue to serve, do not betray your beliefs and I will never turn away from you. You will receive my power. Will you accept it?
-Can I protect my family with this power?
- Yeah. The element of earth is the element of protection. Your body will become a strong shield against the enemies of your family.
-Then, please, give me the strength to protect myself. -I got down on my knees. If I can get the strength to protect, I can burn my soul without a doubt.
-So be it. -The golem raised a finger and touched my chest. Immediately after that, I felt something appear inside. This something was combined and became... a rock?
The landscape in front of me changed again. Murad is behind and the Man in blue is in front. Putting aside my thoughts, I looked at the man. He had already stopped laughing and was looking at me intently.
- I hit the jackpot! -The man smiled. But there was something about that smile that made me uneasy. -Boy. Would you like to serve me? If you agree, you will get riches that you could only dream of.
-No
-Hm? Ahem. Good. -To my surprise, the man quickly accepted it. He looked from me to Murad, then back to me and said. -How about this. I will give you a job in my domain and take care of you and your friend.
-No.
- Wait a minute. Let me introduce myself. I am Count Andre of the Lu Altin family. I am also a level 6 magician. I'm not some bandit like you might think.
-Why are you so eager to hire me?
-This is not a place for talking. -The man said, looking at the crowd. -Come with me to the carriage. Don't be afraid, I won't do any harm. I swear.
I contacted Murad. Even though I can't contact with the head right now, I can still feel Murad who is with me.
*What do you think we should do?*
*I have already come to my senses. We can try, if he does something, You'll run away, I'll detain him.*
*Can you? *
*No one will expect that I will have a poisonous snake.*
-Okay. Let's go. - I helped Murad to get up and we got into the carriage.
When the door closed, Andre started talking.
-You see, I felt this power in you. First I felt the observation of the element, and you have already received the blessing. This means that you already have the potential to become an elemental warrior. To become a warrior, you need to have not only talent but also have certain faith. You had them since you received the blessing.
- And?
-It means I can't get complete loyalty from you. -Andre said regretfully. -But anyway, I need a warrior. So I have to compromise. I will provide you with housing, salary, take care of training and will fulfill not too difficult wishes. In return, I demand that you carry out my orders.
- If they do not contradict my interests.
- Don't worry, everything will be fine. You can see for yourself. Do you know how to fight?
-No...
- I can-Murad replied.
-Well, then, I'll hire a martial arts master to train you. He will also instruct you in the path of the elemental warrior. By the way, what have you formed?
-What?
-You can feel something inside, right? The energy that represents your power. For example, my is a book. It represents my knowledge and experience. Although at first, it was have been just a piece of paper.
- Um... - I was embarrassed to talk about it. -It's a rock.
-A rock? Do you mean? Just a rock?
-Yes.
- Okay... - Andre thought about it. -I don't know what it can represent, but at least it is clear that you are definitely an elemental warrior.
-Why?
- It is formed by ordinary only at level 4. The only exception is the warriors of the elements. You will understand what it represents when you reach level 4.
-Got it.
The carriage stopped.
-We're here. - As Andre said it, the servant who had been sitting quietly in the carriage, got up and opened the door for us. -This is my family's estate. Make yourself comfortable. From this day on, it will be your home.
...
PoV Andre
After I had placed these kids, my secretary came up to me.
-My lord. Why did you make such concessions to these children? Wouldn't it be easier to just get them to work for you?
I looked coldly at the secretary, which made him shiver.
-You don't know anything, do you? If he just had the talent of a warrior, I would have thought about it, but he is an elemental warrior. They're not my level.
-But you are a level 6 magician! How can he be dangerous?
-Even if I'd been level 10, I'm still a mortal. We will not survive without heads, we will not survive without a heart. Even though our bodies are stronger, this does not mean that we have infinite endurance. But the warriors of the elements are different. They easily surpass the strength of ordinary warriors of the same level. Although they are also mortal, their power is terrifying. They also have a wayward character. In no case, we should become their enemies. It is preferable to be on good terms with them and form a strong friendship. -I looked at the secretary again -If you were not so skilled, you would have already been hanged for such words. If you bring up this topic again, I'll kill you. Is everything clear?
- Y-yes. Please forgive your stupid servant, my Lord.