Olivia and I stayed in the village for a few days after the cave incident. I needed to wait for my robe to be patched, and it would not hurt to rest for a few more days. We reached the night before I intended to leave and I went to the tailor’s shop to pick up my clothes.

“Hello, Mr. Hero!” Arya greets me with a bright smile.

She runs up to me, picks me up, and tries to pull me closer to her face. However, she struggles to keep my body in the air and is forced to set me down.

“Wow, you are deceptively heavy.” She says out of breath.

I sigh a little bit at this comment. How can an adult woman be such an airhead? Well, I guess I am an example of an adult failure as well. In that sense, perhaps we are alike in some way.

“Are my clothes ready?” I ask her.

“Yep, I got them even better than when they were new.”

Even better?

I try them on and find out she re-sized them. The sleeves used to completely cover up my hands and pants would drag around my ankles. Now, everything is a snug fit, she sewed the extra fabric into spots I could easily get cold at for storage purposes, and now it can be resized by another tailor when I grow some more.

“I wasn’t expecting this… thank you, Arya, you really went above and beyond.”

“Anything for the hero. Only the highest quality service for a brave boy like you.”

“I’m not brave.”

She walks up to me after hearing this, bends over, and pokes my nose.

“Then, you’re even more impressive.”

After thanking Arya for all that she’s done for me, I notify her that we are leaving town. We exchange final farewells and walk off back to the tavern. On the way back, I find myself thinking,

‘I’m glad I met her.’

We purchase some food supplies from the butcher we met earlier and get lunch. I had Olivia help me gather information around the village about the surrounding towns. I had an idea of where I wanted to go, but more knowledge about the various towns in the region could help.

Dusk arrives and we go back to our inn. We would eat dinner at the tavern before bed. I open the door and am greeted by the typical scent of a tavern. Packed bodies create odor, alcohol is spilled on the floor, while freshly cooked food gives a conflictingly good smell compared to the others.

Immediately after entering, the tavern keep approaches me. She got close and whispered into my ear.

“That lady at the back corner wants to speak with you… be careful around her Cassius. I can tell when someone has power, and she gives all the signs.”

“I understand, thank you,” I respond.

I look into the back corner of the tavern and see a woman dressed like a commoner. She has black hair and golden eyes. Her skin radiated, even from afar. She appeared around the age of 18-19 years old.

I know I should heed the tavern keeps words, but a part of me inside wonders how harmful this girl can be. She doesn’t have much mana, and by her demeanor, I can tell she is lacking in physical strength.

I let my guard down a bit and approach with loose shoulders.

The words I am greeted with make me regret this decision.

“Hello, my name is Seraphina. You are Cassius Scipio, are you not?”

Huh, how does she know my last name? I have been careful not to reveal it, and I have taken precautions to prevent myself from being followed beyond the border.

Are there bounties out there already in this country? I didn’t think I had attracted enough attention from outsiders… ah, the cave incident. But did news really travel outside of the village that quickly? And enough details were revealed for someone to track me?

“If you were wondering how I found you… let’s just call it a stroke of fortune, shall we?”

Instinctively, I put myself between Olivia and this woman.

“Please remain calm Mr. Scipio. I am not here to bring you harm.”

“Then perhaps quit saying that name out loud.” I request.

“Then Cassius, please take a seat and hear my plea.”

I sit down across from her, while Olivia takes a seat by my side. The tension in the air could be cut by a dagger. She took charge of the conversation once more with pleasantries,

“Shall I order you some food, as the host of this meeting it is only natural that I treat you to dinner.”

“...”

My mind was racing. Being lost in my thoughts, I forgot to respond. For some reason, Olivia stayed out of the conversation this time. The woman takes the lead in the conversation once more.

“I see, I shall get right to the chase… please, protect me and escort me to the Magic Kingdom. In doing so, you will be doing a great service to the people of Carthigus in the fight for democracy.”

Hm? I was expecting some threat, instead, she is asking for assistance.

“Why are you asking me?”

“The Amidonian peasants speak of the hero who killed the monarch invading their republic. You have a new nickname among them, ‘Cassius of Tyrannicide’. I believe that if you hear my story, you may be sympathetic to my cause.”

Hm? It seems many among the people from Amidonia seem to believe that my murder of the king was an ideological act. While this couldn’t be further from the truth… I should hear her out.

“What is your story?” I ask.

She begins by ordering the food she mentioned before, signaling this might take a while.

“I guess I should start by saying, I am the daughter of Julius Catalina, the tyrant who has taken control of Carthigean politics.”

“I am not familiar with the Republic of Carthigus, let alone its politics.”

“It’s understandable, we are quite far from my home… Carthigus is a republic, much like Amidonia. What makes it unique is its rich history. It was the first republic formed in this world 500 years ago and served as an example for many of the other republics that have emerged since.

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The lands are fertile and abundant in natural resources. This prosperity led to an active and informed voter base, every citizen has not only an opinion regarding politics, but a strong belief in liberty and the rule of law.

Carthigus was a land of revolutionary philosophy, art, ideals, liberty, and freedom, it was the most beautiful land on this planet. Then about 60 years ago it began to deteriorate. First-”

“Here is your food, enjoy.”

She was cut off by the waitress, but I can imagine what comes next. It is a tale as old as democracy. She confirmed my suspicions once she continued.

“It all started with a famine. Mega farm owners had been collecting all the land in the most fertile provinces for many years and used slaves to work the farms. This worked out well at first, but a long period of peace left slaves scarce, and farmland went unused.

The people knew what was happening, politicians allowed these plantation owners to buy out all the land from the poorest Carthiginians and then once they had this land, let it go to waste. All along it was the people who suffered.

When a populist senator promised to buy back the land and redistribute it to the poor, the masses rallied behind him, attacking the political opposition that stood against him. He bullied his way to the top, and just as he was about to pass his reforms and become the most popular and powerful man in the country, he was beaten to death on the floor of the Senate.

When the people heard what happened, riots ensued, and no one was safe.

The senate turned to a man named Seras, a general in the provinces who wielded an army of 60,000 men, all personally loyal to him.

Seras was a politically active man, though he lacked any beliefs or convictions. To put it as simply as one could, he was power-hungry. After failing multiple times to reach a higher office or build meaningful connections, he turned to military conquest.

He used his only connection he had to get appointed to an important province with a decent military. His conquests were extremely successful. He increased the size of the republic greatly, built a massive personal fortune from plunder, and flooded Carthigus with slaves.

While the poor in the country were relatively unaffected by his conquest. He became beloved among the wealthy and the aristocracy. When the senate turned to him for aid, he saw an opportunity.

He knew that once he had saved the republic from a mob, he would be cast aside with some minor rewards. If he wanted true, lasting power, he would have to make more drastic maneuvers.

So he marched into the city like he was asked, but once he had restored order, he refused to leave. With his army in the city, he forced the results of elections to get himself and his lackeys in charge, then gave himself dictatorial powers.

With these powers, he massacred his political rivals and became the sole ruler of Carthigus.

This reign continued until he died 20 years later, he made no effort to pass his powers onto a successor.

The status quo was restored and fair elections continued. But among the young upcoming class of senators, there was a thought that lingered in the back of their minds,

‘I could do that too,’”

We finished our dinner a while ago, still we sat at the table together. The way she spoke naturally captivated me, and I found myself focused on every word she spoke, it must be her charisma.

The atmosphere in the tavern turned rowdy. Dinner time had passed, and it was now time for drinking. People bumped into each other, and overflowing mugs were brought all over the tavern. Men and women formed groups and were forced to communicate by shouting over the ever-louder background noises.

We moved outdoors to get away from this noise. We went to the creek I ran through a few days ago and talked by the water.

“One of those senators was my father Julius Catalina. He, like Seras, was a successful general on the frontier. However, he was also extremely politically successful as well.

He managed to work the senate and get the right to command a massive army. He grew this army further using his personal fortune. Eventually, he was commanding an army of 85,000 men. Unlike Seras, he had a powerful rival in the Senate.

Claudius Magnus was an equally powerful conservative senator, commanding an army of 110,000 men. While my father was away from the capital, he took charge of the city and put out a warrant for my fathers arrest, as well as orders for his army to stand down. They did not.

My father responded by marching on the capital city, and a civil war began in the Carthigus Republic.

I was 14 at the time the war began, but I was already politically engaged. After meeting him at a party, a man named Cicero became my mentor. He wasn’t a member of either the conservative or populist faction, but in hopes of influencing Claudius’ regime once the war was over, he sided with him.

I left alongside my mentor and joined the war against my father. I took command of a small unit of cavalry and won some minor successes. At one point my unit almost claimed my father's head, but an unlucky stray arrow killed my strongest soldier's horse.

After 3 and a half years of fighting, Claudius’ army was defeated, and my father became the dictator of the Carthigus republic. While he is certainly an evil man and a tyrant, he detested the political purges of Seras’ regime. He chose to grant amnesty to all those that fought against him and invite them back into the senate he controlled.

My mentor Cicero took up that offer, and I… couldn’t.”

For the first time tonight, her expression turned somber. Ah, even if she sided against him in a war, she was still talking about her father.

“My father couldn’t forgive me for turning a blade against him. A warrant for my arrest was issued just days after the Civil War ended. I was to be captured or killed for the crime of attempted patricide.”

“I’m sorry.” Were the only words I could offer.

As someone who was loved unconditionally by their parents, I couldn’t relate to her. It must feel awful to be abandoned like that.

“It’s alright, I was prepared for this… it just hurts…”

“How did you escape the country?” I asked.

“There were four men from my cavalry unit who were willing to guard me as I fled. While I was a commander in a war, I led my men from a safe distance. I am no warrior.

Two of them died while in the republic, fending off my father’s assassins. The other two died just a week ago fighting off assassins while I escaped across this border. This was the first city I came to because of its position and relative seclusion. That was when I heard a rumor about a boy that matched a certain description. But…”

“He wasn’t what you expected him to be.”

“That’s right…”

I am no revolutionary. Perhaps if I were, I would find some kinship with her and help her get back to her country. It was a good bet on her part, but she had bad information.

“Where is it that you need to go again?”

“The University of Magical Arts in Enkantia.”

After hearing this, I was left deep in thought. It would be at least 9 months of traveling. Unlike the southern part of the continent, the terrain is hilly and mountainous in all locations. There are no flatlands in between the mountain ranges.

Even if I escorted her there, what would I do in the Magic Kingdom? I know what Cassius wants me to do next… but I can’t go and see her like this. I don’t think I should see her at all anyway. It will likely be years before I’m ready to face her.

I need to think about this some more.

“Just… wait in this village for the night… I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Thank you for hearing me out.” She spoke, bowing her head to me as I walked back to the inn.

Usually, Olivia would go straight to her room at this hour, but she chose to join me as I entered. I don’t bother to acknowledge this, instead, I throw myself onto my bed and stare at the ceiling in thought.

After 20 minutes of sitting on my floor, she chimes up,

“I think it’s a good idea.”

This statement perplexes me. I thought she would be against it.

“You would be putting yourself in danger, you know?” I respond.

“Still, I think it’s a good idea. I think going to the magic university would be good for you. Why not go with her?”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because I have heard about schools. You meet a ton of new people and learn all sorts of fascinating things, the grounds are safe and everyone is treated fairly. I believe in such an environment, you might find something you are looking for.”

The upsides are extremely vague, and the downsides are as clear as could be. In exchange for making enemies of assassins hand-picked by one of the most powerful people, I could be given a chance to ‘maybe find something I’m looking for’.

Even considering it is ridiculous. By any metric, joining up with this girl is a bad idea. If I were able to fight, that would be one thing, but in this pathetic state…

“Do you really think this is a good idea?”

“I’m not sure… but things can’t just remain like this.”

Her words passed through my flesh and affected me in my core. I can’t just make her follow alongside me as I wander around aimlessly, depressed and traumatized, hoping to come across some… any reason to continue living. If she thinks that this university can bring about some change… any change at all, then I will go. I trust her judgment, even if it’s based on nothing.

“Alright, Octavia, go to bed… tomorrow, we will depart to Enkantia, and we will bring Seraphina with us.”