Goldoni, the Magic Academy City dedicated to teaching the proper way to use magic received from becoming possessed with Origin Essence. It is also where every Religious Groups, different races and species, diverge and is considered to be a Neutral Territory of every country surrounding it.
It is a popular school amongst the noble and commoners alike because it accepts everyone no matter the status and origin. However, there is one condition: One has to be “Baptized” before entering.
And, I, Arty, just received my baptism.
It goes without saying that I’m aiming to enter Goldoni!
“Hey kid, are you sure you want to enter Goldoni?”
“Everyone’s been asking me that in the previous town. Why is everyone scared?”
Currently, I’m hitching a ride to the next town that’s just outside Goldoni. It’s quite far so it would be tiring to do it on foot. Especially with a large hammer that’s twice my size.
“You got balls kid. Or maybe it should be expected of a Half-Mino?”
“Seriously, why is everyone scared?”
Beside be is an old coachman who just happens to be returning back to his home. He’s kind enough to let me hitch a ride for free. Lucky for me, he has Ruby Rhinos pulling his wagon or else it would have a hard time pulling the weight of my hammer.
“The Churches received an oracle that apparently there would be a great dawn of darkness within the Ivory Walls.”
“That sounds like a hoax.”
“I can’t say I disagree with you. After all, Goldoni is full of strong Origin Users. It’s been standing even before my own great grandfather has lived.”
While I was talking to him, I noticed something shining from behind the mountain we’re heading. The old man seemed to notice it as well.
“That’s the ivory walls of Goldoni. From here, it could easily be seen on a sunny day like this.”
“Whoa, that’s amazing.”
While looking at it, the gentle breeze of the wind caressed my face. It was really calming.
“I’m going to take a nap.”
The old man’s hometown has still quite some distance. Rather than talking too much, I decided to go on the back of the wagon and lied down on the haystack. Since they’re still freshly harvested, I could smell the scent of grass which makes me feel at ease.
“This smells like home.”
***
Apparently, I fell asleep. Because when I opened my eyes, I noticed that the surroundings have changed.
The sun has become orange and the shaking of the wagon has lessened. When I sat up straight, I noticed that there are a lot of people around.
“Oh, kid, you’re finally awake.”
Without looking, it seems that the old man noticed me waking up.
“You’re trying to cross the gates right, you and that girl beside you.”
Only after he pointed it out, I noticed that there’s a girl sitting quietly on the side of the wagon reading a book.
Her hair was green and she wore thin glasses. She was a pretty one, but her body is too slender for my preference. Well, everything’s small except for her thighs though.
But despite being pretty, her face was like a blank slate. No emotion or whatsoever.
“Are we close?”
“Yes, but if you want to enter the town, you’ll have to pay up for the toll fee. But if you only want to go to the gate immediately, you can just go the longer way around the town. It’s through that forest though.”
“I see. Then this is my stop then.”
After I said that, I toss out my hammer from the wagon. When it landed, the ground shook and it sunk a bit into the ground from the impact.
“Thanks for the ride, old man.”
As I jump out of the moving wagon, the whole vehicle shook. But I was careful enough not to break it.
“Is the other side of the town far?”
“It’s not too far, but I wouldn’t really recommend going through the darkness in these parts.”
“Thanks for the heads up.”
Pulling out my hammer from the ground and put it on my shoulder, I walk into the forest as my shortcut.
As I was treading through the forest in the darkness, I noticed a presence behind me.
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“Uh…why are you following me?”
“I’ve never seen a real Half-Mino before. I got curious and followed you.”
When I turned, it was the girl that was on the same wagon. She was looking up to me as she was quite shorter than I am. She’s only barely up to my chest, very small…
“You’re quite brave to follow me into the forest alone.”
“I don’t need to be scared. You’re here.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Though I’m trying to tell her to go away, she doesn’t seem to understand. Rather, she’s just looking at me blankly like waiting to answer whatever I’m going to say.
I don’t really want to waste time here. So instead, I ignore her and continued walking through the forest.
Still, she followed me while pulling out a pencil and a book then started writing silently.
“Where did you come from? Why did you come here?”
Out of nowhere, she suddenly started asking questions.
Though she might not realize that she’s being quite rude, it doesn’t seem she means any harm.
“I’m from Spiked Cliff Valley. I came here to become a blacksmith.”
“Spiked Cliff Valley, the land of the Minotaur Race?”
“Not really, there are other races there as well. But there is lots of Minotaur there.”
As I answered her question, she continued to write rapidly on her book, like she was writing down my answers.
“Why did you want to become a blacksmith? Aren’t the Minotaur supposed to be warriors in the frontline?”
“It’s a personal thing.”
“What personal thing?”
Because she was getting a bit into my nerves, I couldn’t help but look back and give her a glare. When I did, she stopped writing and stared back into my eyes unfazed, and unwavering.
It seems she didn’t understand what the glare meant. I couldn’t help but let out a sigh and just continued walking.
Surprisingly enough, she stopped asking questions.
Peace and quiet came back.
But it’s too quiet…
As we continued walking through the forest, not a single word was ever uttered again. Rather, the only things I could hear are the critters and animals, the sound of the wind brushing through the leaves of the tall trees around me, and my heavy footsteps.
Because I have someone with me, having this silence feels kind of heavy.
But when I turned around, I saw her face planted on the ground. I think she tripped flat.
“Are you okay?”
“I just tripped, it’s nothing of importance.”
While saying that, she slowly stands up on her own while brushing off the dirt that got on her clothes.
However, it immediately caught my attention that her leg got a bad cut. It seems that she got her leg caught by something.
“You’re bleeding. Does it hurt?”
“Slightly, but nothing unbearable, I won’t die from this.”
“But that’s still a nasty cut.”
Despite being emotionless, she’s quite stubborn herself.
Even though she said it’s bearable, she’s limping while following my steps. Of course, it’s unbearable to look at.
“Hold it.”
I dropped my hammer to block her path.
After blocking her, I unravel the cloth on the handle of my hammer and ripped off a part of it. Next, I picked up a common medicinal plant nearby and crushed it the cloth with my bare hand.
“Don’t worry. This will help heal the wound. You wouldn’t want your leg to rot off.”
Without waiting for her to say anything, I went and kneeled and removed her shoe and sock. Because it was sudden, she had to hold my head to maintain balance.
The cut was deeper than I thought. It’s actually bleeding profusely. There’s even a piece of splinter left in it. And judging by the plant, it’s a Blade Weed.
I guess it grows here as well.
“This will sting a bit.”
Immediately, I pull out the splinter and applied the medicine on the wound. When I did, I could feel her shiver from the pain.
She’s probably shocked by the pain because she’s gripping my hair really hard.
After tying it on her leg, she barely had any strength left to stand and just leaned her body on my head.
“Don’t act tough if you don’t want to look pitiful. Just be honest.”
When I said that, she gives me a nod while entrusting her weight on me. It feels a little awkward.
“Can you walk?”
“I don’t know if I can match your pace.”
“Yeah, I can see that happening. And it would leave a bad taste on my mouth to leave a girl in the forest alone.”
While I said that, I put my hammer horizontally on the ground. After that, I pick her up and put her on the hammer.
“Find something to hold on, I’ll just carry you instead. It’ll be faster.”
Seeing her seated properly on the hammer, I grab the handle and carried her on the hammer on my shoulder.
“Am I adding to the weight?”
“I can’t tell the difference actually.”
Once again, we continue our walk through the forest.
After hours of walking through the forest, I could finally see some torchlight from the distance. It’s probably the lights from the main road.
During those hours of walking, it was dead quiet. But unlike before, it was a peaceful silence and not something unbearable.
“I’m sorry, and thank you.”
Out of nowhere, she suddenly apologizes to me. But thanks to that, it made me realize that I never got her name.
“Call me Arty.”
“I’m sorry, Arty.”
“I’ll apologize as well. I was quite rude back there too. So, what’s your name?”
“Lena Ruthberg…”
Ruthberg… it sounds like she’s a human noble.
“You’re going to Goldoni as well, right?”
“I’m just going back. I’m a Goldoni resident.”
“Hmm… I didn’t know this is what the Goldoni residents look like.”
When I looked back at her, it seems that when I pointed out her clothing, she got curious and checked herself. After that, she looks at me with a confused expression.
“Ignore it, you don’t look weird. It’s just my first time seeing an actual Goldoni resident.”
“It’s my first time seeing a Half-Elf Minotaur. At a glance, you look human.”
Huh?
“How did you know that?”
“No, calling you half of each would be wrong. You’re a quarter Mino, a quarter elven, and the rest is human.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
As I pried, Lena just tilts her head in confusion. Then after that, she makes an expression like she just realized something.
“I forgot that you don’t know me.”
You don’t say.
I guess she’s quite an airhead herself.
She then removes her glasses and rubs her eyes. Then slowly, she opens her eyes and looked at me straight into my eyes.
To my surprise, her eyes suddenly had magic lines and circles appearing on her retina. It was as if her green eyes were laced with golden ornaments that sparkle like the night sky above us.
“I was born with the gift from the God of Truth, and these eyes are called <
I’ve heard of these gifts. They say that whoever wields these gifts are granted immense powers that even a baptized person wouldn’t even be able to hold a candle against them. They are favored by the Gods themselves.
To think I’d meet one on the way to Goldoni.
“These eyes allow me to know anything from truth to secrets for certain conditions.”
“That’s interesting.”
“…you’re not scared?”
When she said that, I stopped on my tracks and looked at her once again. I couldn’t help but pause hearing her sound genuinely surprised.
“Why would I be?”
“…people are scared to have their secrets revealed. So my existence is everyone’s greatest fear.”
Despite her eyes sparkling with magic, I could see at the very edge the sadness those eyes held. In contrast to those lively eyes of hers, her real self was lonely.
“Look into my eyes.”
“…no, if I do, I’ll learn more about you.”
“Is there anything more to learn about me?”
“…I—I don’t know.”
“Then look at me.”
Slowly, she turns her gaze and looks straight into my eyes. There, I could feel her eyes’ influence invading my very core.
“Then, what do you see?”
“You…”
After she gave her reply, I took her glasses and put it on her myself. Then after that, I give her a light pat on the head.
“Well, let’s go.”
-End of Chapter-