CHAPTER 7
THE MYSTERIOUS YOUNG MAN I
Peace is an illusion. A rainbow that forms between the light and the storm, I was a fool not to notice, it was necessary a shout, a shout of attention to understand it ... When I reached the East Hill, I heard the shout that will echoes in my mind for the rest of my days ...
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On a day like any other, I woke up before sunrise, washed my face and did my morning exercises, then carefully put on my light armor and left for the warding post.
I am a city guard. On my way people greet me when they see me pass by. They respect me, they appreciate me for my work and some children even admire me. When I pass by the baker's house, his youngest son always greets me and swings his wooden sword from top to bottom, which moves me every time.
Two years ago, the eldest daughter of the baker, the boy's sister, was surprised by a wild wolf - apparently driven out of his pack - who was wandering hungry. Fortunately, I was able to arrive on time to save her, since then her little brother decided to take me as his role model.
"One day I will be a city guard and protect my sister and everyone!" I feel that one day he will come to me to train him. I look forward to that day.
As I approach my post I see that two of my subordinates talk about something, one of them somewhat confused approaches me when he sees me arrive.
"Captain! We were talking about you. We expected you to arrive at this time, there's something you should see".
I nod in approval and we begin to walk towards the wooden shed that serves as a guard post. Of course, there are also some turrets with archers a short distance from here, but this is the base of the southern entrance of the city.
Upon arriving at the door, a man wearing light clothes and some pieces of leather on top as a defense, with a dagger at the waist and a bow and arrows behind him turns to see me. He is one of the hunters who likes to hunt near here, probably the one who made the discovery that causes all this shock.
"What's it about? Any dangerous animals round the area?"
"No, although I don't know if it's dangerous, it's not an animal".
"The hunter claims to have found an unconscious young man south of here. When he arrived carrying him, we decided to stay in the house waiting for you".
"A young man?"
"He isn't conscious yet. For now he is sleeping in bed, doesn't seem to be hurt... He carried this with him".
My most loyal subordinate, Andreu, hands me a sheathed sword.
In all my years as an adventurer or as a city guard, I had never seen such a weapon. Possessing a shine of precious gems, the edge of a metal that I'm not able to recognize is incredible. If I dropped it to the ground, it would probably go through it with its own weight and stay stuck there.
As a swordsman, when I see it I feel that's like the crystallization of a childish dream, an object out of the wildest fantasies. Even the sheath is dazzling, a wonderful piece of art made of red scales that I never dreamed.
What kind of person would carry a weapon out of the fantasies of swordsmen?
Without wasting time talking, I entered the cabin to see him with my own eyes. Lying on the bed was a boy young enough to call him a brat, with brown hair covered by a white bandana, and over his blue clothes a piece of armor so bright that it would shame the silver dishes that I once saw at the mayor's house. Even so, what draws my attention the most from his outfit are his white shoes with an engraved emblem... Maybe a tiger? Does it means something?
"Eto ... Can I go now? I prefer not to get involved more than necessary".
"You can leave. You have already done your duty by bringing him here, the men of the guard will take care from here".
"I leave it to you".
There's no reason to retain the hunter any longer. Any question I could ask was probably already asked by Andreu or someone else, everyone is very competent.
"Have you tried to wake him up?"
"As I said before, we thought it was better to wait for you before taking any action".
"All right. He doesn't seem hurt, I guess there will be no problem waking him up".
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
That said, Andreu approaches the bed and holding the boy's shoulder shakes him.
"Oe! Wake up!"
"Mm. *****".
The boy opens his eyes and speaks in a language I don't know. This could be a problem.
"******."
"Hey calm, we won't hurt you." Andreu says when he sees that the boy looks disturbed. Without wasting time he let go and with his bare hands in front, try to calm him.
"He seems to have understood, although I'm not sure if it was because of your words or your gesture".
"*****".
"My name is Rad, I am the captain of the guard assigned to the south of this city. You are currently at our lookout".
"*****".
The boy tilts his head to the side and shows an expression of confusion ... he definitely doesn't understand what we say. Surely a problem.
"Andreu, can you go to the mayor's office and bring an interpreter here? Preferably the one who speaks the languages west of Parshel".
"Got it".
"Good. In the meantime I will try to communicate with him and find out what I can".
Fixing my gaze on the young man, I take a chair and sit near the bed.
"I hope it doesn't bother you, but I'd like to check your status".
I reach out with the inspection glove. The young man thinks for a moment, seems to understand what I am trying and shakes my hand. Now I can see his status and get some information ...
<
A-A noble... This boy has a family name...
This is now serious. A noble foreigner, with those clothes and that dreamlike sword...
Now it's clear, he is a noble foreigner. The question is how should I proceed?
Should I let the mayor's office take over? It might have been a better idea to take him there instead of asking Andreu to bring the interpreter.
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Neither the interpreter that Andreu brought nor any other in the city was able to speak with the boy. I was not mistaken, I had never heard his language before.
Discussing with the mayor's office it was decided to request help from the wise director of the AS Academy in Galia. While we waited for his response, it was decided for the young man to remain in the mayor's guest room.
To avoid temptations, I handed him his sword before saying goodbye. Although he did't look very convinced, he nodded with force and showed me a strong gaze. Although only level 1, the boy is also a swordsman. While in the case of a nobleman he may have paid some expert swordsman or several to help him become one, his gaze tells me otherwise.
Every morning on my way to my post, the boy joins me when I pass by his residence and accompanies me to the city gates. He plays with the baker's boy every day in the morning. Although they can't talk to each other, they share the passion for swords, every time he shows his sword, the little boy's eyes shine like stars. Honestly my eyes also shine when I see that wonder, I think I'm also a passionate child yet.
Thus the days passed in our peaceful town.
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"CAPTAIN!"
Suddenly one of my men comes running from outside the city, he looks very disturbed.
"Calm down and tell me what happens".
"I went to check the place where the mysterious young man was found on Andreu's orders. From there I heard a strange sound and climbed the hill to check... An armed contingent comes from the south, they seem to be from Iren".
"How many?"
"I don't know, but from what I saw, probably about 3,000 soldiers".
"Mm. Perhaps they march towards Jagheb's border, after all a few months ago the war broke out and hostilities began between the two countries. Inform the mayor and be sure to spread the word about their arrival to everyone. That they prepare food, water and lodging, the officers probably want to take the opportunity to sleep in beds".
"I-Is that the procedure?"
"Well, now that I remember you came to town only four years ago. For 200 years the troops of various armies used this city as a resting point, since we have a neutral stance towards all the governments of the region and the city has nothing of any particular value. We are more useful as we're now.
Our city earns a lot from the merchants that come and go, but when an army passes through it causes a great economic boost, so we must prepare to receive them and sell everything we can".
"I-I see. And about the boy?"
HOW DIDN'T I NOTICED BEFORE!?
"Tell me what helmets the soldiers wore?"
"Emm I think one with two horns".
The Demon general? He already had two great victories since the war began.
Iren's men receive military training from youth and are prepared for war all their lives. If you compare them with soldiers from other countries, a soldier from Iren is worth three. If there are 3,000, you would need about 10,000 men to face them, since their generals are specialists, capable of leading an army to victory even with numerical disadvantage. Having only 9,000 would lead you to defeat.
The general known as << Demon of Two Horns >> won a victory even surpassed 5 to 1. He is a cunning and dangerous man. I can't let him know about the boy.
"I'll go find him, there's no option, we have to get him out of the city".
Upon reaching the mayor's office, while the men transmit the message to the citizens, I explain the situation to the mayor. We agree that it's not a good idea to let the demon general find a noble foreigner in the city, he would certainly fix his eyes on the sword he carries, not to mention the questions he would ask. He could even demand that we deliver him.
Everyone on the continent has great respect and appreciation for noble families. But the people of Iren are different, the only nobles they recognize are those of Iren and the families of the heroes of the era of legend. They are not able to see that all noble families descend from heroes, that's something I don't like about Iren, but it isn't as if I could object to them in their face.
We decided that is best to take the boy to a nearby city, one that isn't on the way to Jagheb or they could find him later. After all it's best to take him to Galia, even if we still have no answer from the academy director, once there he will have to help us.
We chose two men to serve as escorts.
"Boy you're going to Galia. Andreu, you and I will accompany them to the east hill".
"Got it".
"Brother is already leaving?"
To my surprise, while we were talking the mysterious young man and the baker's son were playing nearby, so they listened us.
That's right, we'll take him to see the wise man who runs the AS academy in Galia. He's a man who's on par with the elite of the Bombasta Academy, surely he knows his language. It's possible that when you meet again, we can count on their help to talk to him. Until then be a good kid and go help your family, they must be busy with the bakery now that an army from Iren visits us.
"I understand, I will be good and help with the bread, I will look forward to seeing each other again little brother!"
And with a smile we say goodbye to the kid and our city of Galatea.