Chapter 8: He Might Be a Mage

The next day, Eizo noticed the curious stares directed at him as he ate his breakfast at the inn. In just one day, his name has gotten around with news regarding a successful subjugation of a Forest Troll. He decided to ignore the gossiping crowd and went about his day like nothing happened.

But, when he got to the Adventurers Guild that morning, the murmurs of the crowd just got louder, loud enough for him to understand some of what their saying.

“Is that really the guy?”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Must be someone else.”

“They say, he might be a mage, of all things.”

“Maybe that’s a magic staff he’s carrying after all.”

“Didn’t he take the head from someone else?”

“If that guy can kill a Forest Troll, then I can kill a dragon.”

(I don’t mind them talking badly about me, but, can’t they show a little consideration and do it where I can’t hear them?)

He sighed to himself, then, continued his walk toward the bulletin board. The adventurers there before him cleared a path for him, as if they’d rather have nothing to do with him.

(I don’t have the flu, you guys.)

When he was looking at the available quest, the people behind him were watching him and were curious to see what kind of quest he was going to pick. After looking at the postings, he picked a herb gathering quest. The same one he had taken before.

Unlike herb gathering, subjugation quests tend to show up after multiple sighting of monsters.Because goblin sightings and attacks were finally becoming less frequent, there are no more request at the moment for their subjugation. It seemed Eizo picked the last request concerning goblins.

“pfft. Gathering herbs? I guess it really was just a rumour.”

The other adventurers laughed after finding out what quest he decided to take. They were expecting him to take a subjugation quest, but, Eizo was only ranked E after all.

(What’s wrong with herb gathering? I bet everybody had to do it when they started.)

He waited in line again to talk to Anna.

“Hello, Anna. This is what I picked for today.” -Eizo

“Hm.. No ferocious monsters to kill today, sir mage?” -Anna

“I can’t be killing trolls everyday, you know?” -Eizo

“hehehe. So, you’re not denying you’re a mage. Interesting.” -Anna

“I guess I have to live up to the expectations, right? hehe” -Eizo

“I’m just teasing you. I’m not telling you to hunt monster everyday. In my opinion, herb gathering is the best kind of quest.” -Anna

“Right. hehehe. I’ve been getting this weird look from everybody. It seems they expect me to hunt a dragon or something.” -Eizo

“I can see you doing just that. In any case, what happened yesterday surprised everyone, you know? We don’t get many exciting news around here, so, forgive them for being a little too excited on your expense, m’kay?” -Anna

“Yeah, yeah. I get it.”  -Eizo

“Good. You’re all set here. Try being a little more careful from now on. Don’t go fighting every monster you meet.” -Anna

“I got it already. See you later.” -Eizo

Before setting off to the forest, Eizo visited the horse merchant. It was located in the Commercial district around the Merchants Guild. There he found a building with a big stable and a yard where horses are free to roam during the day. Beside it was the wagon maker’s shop, but, Eizo was only looking for a horse that day.

He spoke to the middle aged man in charge of the shop.

“Hello mister, I’d like a horse.” -Eizo

“What kind of horse?” -Horse Merchant

“Um… I don’t really know a lot about horses.” -Eizo

“Well, what do you intend to use it for?” -Horse Merchant

“I want a horse that can pull a wagon, but, I don’t have a wagon yet, so I’d be riding the horse for now. One with good stamina would be nice as well.” -Eizo

“Walk with me. … How about this stallion here. It’s an Aloshan draught horse. It has plenty of stamina, and it’s not as big as other draught horse, so, it’s great for riding as well. It’s pretty docile and it’s easy to ride, but don’t expect to win any races with it.” -Horse Merchant

The horse merchant showed him a chestnut horse that stood around 1.7m tall on its shoulders. It has a broad forehead and big muzzle, so it had a gentle yet strong look about it. It was well muscled and it had an arched neck.

(It’s a pretty big horse, yet it seems very mobile.)

“What else can you tell me about this horse?” -Eizo

“Well, it’s a lively one. You can see how light and tall its gait is as it walks about. And you see those big hooves, they are ideal in pulling carriages. This horse can pull a wagon weighing about the same as itself.” -Horse Merchant

“Hmm… How much do you like for it?” -Eizo

“I can give it to you for 2,000 Gil.” -Horse Merchant

“Hmm.. Are the hooves with shoes? How about a saddle?” -Eizo

“I can have it shoed for 50 Gil. And, a fitted saddle for an additional 100 Gil. How about it?” Horse Merchant

“How everything for 1,700 Gil? Shoe and saddle included?” -Eizo

“What? That’s too little. I’ll hardly make a profit.” -Horse Merchant

“2,000 Gil.” -Eizo

“That’s better. Deal. So, I’ll have my boys take the horse for fitting. You’re gonna have to wait a little bit.” -Horse Merchant

Eizo handed the man 2 gold coins. This was the price that he wanted to pay in the first place. He just had a feeling that if he haggled lower, the merchant would be happy to meet him halfway.

“That’s fine. In the meantime, can I borrow a horse so I can learn how to ride one?”

“What? You don’t know how to ride? Hahaha, Let’s go to the yard.” Horse Merchant

Eizo and the horse merchant walked to the yard and approached a saddled horse. It was a black horse smaller than the one he bought.

“You can ride this one.” -Horse Merchant

“Okay.” -Eizo

He was standing on the left side of the horse. He grabbed both girth of the saddle, put his left foot into the stirrup, and pulled himself up lifting over his right leg over the horse. He managed to sit properly on the saddle. He’d seen how to get on a horse on TV before. Good thing it came in handy.

The horse merchant taught him the basic of horse riding. First, how to send the horse to a walk, how to stop, turn, how to make the horse trot and canter. And finally, how to make the horse gallop. Eizo had a hard time picking up the lessons from the old merchant, but, after sticking it out he finally had a hold on the basics. 

After practicing for about an hour more, the horse he just bought was taken in the yard. Eizo walked over to greet it.

“Hello there, horsie. Hmm..  I should give you name. What kind of a name do you want? How about Ripples!? No? Daisy? Wait you’re a guy. Black Star! No. Lightning! Not quite. hmmm. How about Porthos! One of the musketeers? Right, you look like a Porthos. Porthos it is!” -Eizo

The horse looked happy enough about its name. Eizo climbed Porthos and rode him around the yard so they can both get used to one another. Porthos was bigger from the horse earlier, and, Eizo can feel the difference in the strength of the two. Porthos had a more determined feel in each step he took while still being so light gaited for a horse his size. After getting comfortable with each other, they went out the yard and into the streets.

The sight of a man on a horse was not uncommon among the people of Frostfield, but there were some puzzled look as to why a man would choose such a horse like Porthos as a riding horse, but, the sight of a horse his size on a casual trot on the streets in the middle of the day was something that still impressed a lot of people.

After exiting the city, he rode on his horse at a steady canter (a natural pace of a horse between a trot and a gallop).

(With this pace, I can reach the forest in a little more than an hour. I should be able to finish this quest in one day.)

And, he was right. In only about 80 minutes, he was entering the forest. Eizo, as always, had his ‘Air Perception’ spell on. He gave it a 50 meter radius of detection range. Not only was he able to sense living creatures in the area, he was also sensing anything that has a particularly high amount of mana, like the healing herbs he was there to look for.

Eizo dismounted and walked around the forest while leading his horse. Along the path, he picked up the herbs he came across with. He made sure to go to the parts of the forest that he hasn’t been to before. After an hour of collecting herbs, he sensed a small group of goblins 40 meters in front of him and Porthos.

He tied the horse’s reins on a nearby tree, then he began to close in on the goblins in stealth with the help of his ‘Shadow Veil’ spell. After carefully taking the path that kept him from direct line of sight of the goblins, moving behind one tree to another, he managed to approached them as close as 15 meters without being noticed.

There were three of the goblins. Based on their position, Eizo thought about what spell that can kill all the goblins at once that would be most appropriate. He decided on a spell and chanted an intermediate air spell while hidden behind a tree. Even without seeing the goblins directly, he knew exactly their position with the use of ‘Air Perception’.

After completing the incantation, three rotating disks of wind appear in front of him. He felt his control over the disks as if they’re an extension of his body. He stepped into view which startle the goblins momentarily. Without losing his beat, Eizo pointed his staff toward the goblins and shouted, “Wind Spinning Edge!”. The three disks of wind accelerated, each one having their own target.

Before the goblins realized that their about to die, the disks flew in and out of them like cutting through paper. Two of the goblins tried running away only to be hit by the projectile wind spell on their backs. One was unable to react at all and its head got cut off its body. But in actuality, there was no escaping from the attack. Each disk’s trajectory was controlled precisely by Eizo.

All of the goblins were dead. Eizo proceeded to collect the proof of subjugation from the goblins. Then, he burned the corpses as always.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

He went back to where Porthos was waiting and continued his search for more healing herbs. After spending a total of three hours in the forest, Eizo was able to collect a total of 25 bundles of herbs. 

He got on his horse again, then head back to town on a relaxed pace. On the way to town not far from the forest, he saw two men standing in the middle of the road blocking his path.

--- Earlier ---

“Grant, maybe we shouldn’t do this after all.” -Nelso

“We have to do this. Everyone in town are being lied to! We have to reveal his lies.” -Grant

Grant and Nelson followed Eizo on foot after hearing that he was headed into the western forest. 

“But, they say he’s a mage, you know?” -Nelson

“Just because he has a staff, doesn’t mean he’s a mage. A lot people use it as a melee weapon.” -Grant

“Well his staff seems just like a normal staff. But, what if it’s true?” -Nelson

“That’s what he wants you to believe. Haven’t you heard of schemes like this. Someone pretending to be a mage for a chance to get peerage. He probably has a bunch of mercenaries helping him with his deception.” -Grant

“That sounds like a very expensive way to do it.” -Nelson

“You know how it is, even if you’re the son of a rich merchant, when it matters, you can’t be treated the same way as a noble.” -Grant

“Really? I wouldn’t know something like that. Anyway, what’s the plan here exactly?” -Nelson

“Relax, we’ll just scare him a little. Teach him the error of his ways. Can’t be helped if we have to hurt him a bit,” -Grant

“So… You don’t have a plan?” -Nelson

“Shush! Someones coming this way on a horse. This might be him. I heard he was riding a big horse out of town.” -Grant

--- Back to Eizo ---

(What’s this about? Oh, it’s that guy from yesterday. This can’t be good.)

“Ho there! Eizo! We’ve been waiting for you. You know, I’ve been asking about you in town.” -Grant

Eizo dismounted, then walked a little to the front. He didn’t want Porthos to get in the mix of what’s about to happen. Eizo and Grant were standing around 15 meters apart with Nelson behind Grant.

“You did? What did you learn?” -Eizo

“Not much, to be honest. That’s what makes you suspicious! Nobody knows you. You stay in the inn alone. You even managed to be friends with the guildmaster! Everyone’s eating up your lies!” -Grant

“I’m sorry for being suspicious and not having any friends, okay? Can you let me go, um, Frank and friend.”

“It’s Grant and Nelson! You bastard!”

Eizo really did not remember their names. But, he also knew it would get this man angrier and make him stupider. Grant was fuming with rage after finding out that the very target of his anger did not even remember his name properly. The usually calm Nelson was also annoyed for not being remembered at all. After all, this duo was considered skilled adventurers around this parts.

“Okay, Grant and Nelson, what exactly do you want from me?” -Eizo

“We are here to stop your lies! We all know you didn’t defeat that troll by yourself! Where are your goons, huh?” -Grant

“Well, I don’t have them here with me. But, I did kill that troll by myself.” -Eizo

“Y-you lie! How could someone like you do it?!” -Grant

“With traps. I thought I said that before.” -Eizo

“Traps, my ass! You know nothing about traps!” -Grant

“I meant magical traps. Haven’t you heard? I’m sort of a mage.” -Eizo

“Mage? ha! You can’t cast a spell if you’re life depended on it. Don’t think we don’t know what you’re trying to do here.” -Grant

“Oh? What do you think I’m trying to do?” -Eizo

A smile was forming on Eizo’s face. He was never a sadistic man, but he just couldn’t help it.

“Grant, let’s just forget about it, okay?” -Nelson

“No man, we have to stop him right here. We know what you’re after, Eizo. You’re only pretending to be a mage for a chance to receive peerage! Don’t think it hasn’t been attempted before! You’re not that clever!” -Grant

“Pretend as a mage to become a noble? Do people really do that? hahaha!” -Eizo

Eizo was only laughing on the outside. All this time, he was thinking about what would be his strategy when they attack him.

(I can’t fight them at the same time. I also have to take into account the casting time of my spells. I don’t really want to reveal I can cast some spells chantless.)

“That’s it! You’re gonna regret this!” -Grant

Grant unsheathed his sword and charged at Eizo, while Nelson stayed behind. Eizo was expecting him to do this. He quickly recited a spell and using his right hand he casted ‘Air Shield’ as Grant closed on him. An elongated oval shaped wind wall was created between the two men. Grant’s sword got caught in the rotating torrent that formed the shield in front of him. With the force of the wind on his sword, he could not hold on to it and he was disarmed. His right wrist was twisted as a result and would need resetting later on. Grant was blown back falling on his behind.

“Argh!! Nelson! Kill him! Kill him or we get killed!” -Grant

Realizing the mistake they just committed, Nelson was stunned for a moment. All mages in the kingdom are noble and attacking a noble is punishable by death. Beads of sweat were fast forming on his forehead. Understanding the meaning in Grant’s panicked words that if they were found out attacking a noble, they’d be executed later on. He thought Grant was right. That they have to kill Eizo to survive. They couldn’t simply teach him a lesson now.

Nelson also unsheathed his weapon this time. Unlike Grant who used a single handed longsword, Nelson was equipped with a sword and a shield. He charges at Eizo with his shield raised up, anticipating to encounter the same spell.

But, Eizo used a different spell this time. He had taken notice of their equipment before and suspected that ‘Air Shield’ would not be as effective in repelling a person hiding behind his shield. Eizo took his staff and recited a short dark element spell. He aimed his staff at Nelson’s face, then he said “Dark Shroud!”. It was a spell that every dark element apprentice mage knew. A cloud devoid of light surrounded Nelson’s face which robbed him of his sight.

Nelson continued his charge toward Eizo, but he was already somewhere else. Eizo sprinted to the left going around Nelson. He had a clear shot at Nelson from behind as he watched him swing his sword blindly. Eizo recited another spell aimed at nelson. Grant was still unable to get up as he watch his friend being completely vulnerable.

“Nelson, behind you!” -Grant

Nelson turned around with his shield raised up again. But, the spell that Eizo used was something you couldn’t block with a shield. “Move Earth!”, shouted Eizo. The ground around Nelson suddenly fell creating a pit 4 meters in depth. There was no way the blind Nelson could climb out of it.

“Nelson!! You bastard, how could you!” -Grant

Grant gathered his strength and managed to stand up. He pointed his sword toward Eizo, showing his intention to fight until the end. Eizo watched him calmly as he recited another spell. He pointed his staff at Grant and casted an ‘Air Punch’ spell. The ball of air shot toward Grant with a spiral wake of wind trailing behind it.

Grant was hit in the abdomen and was knocked back flying with the air taken out from him.

“Gugh!” -Grant

He landed about 4 meters from his standing location, unconscious but breathing. Eizo fought without the intention to kill them. But, he couldn’t just leave them like this.

(There has to be some sort of consequence for attacking me. hmmm. I wonder what should I do.)

Nelson was still trapped in the pit shouting who knows what, while, Eizo walked toward the unconscious Grant, kicked away the sword, and search the pockets of the sleeping man. He found Grant’s purse and checked how much was in there. He emptied the contents on his palm and counted the money. There were 2 gold coins, 14 silver coins, and 22 copper coins, a total value of 3,620 Gil. Of course, Eizo took everything.

He raised the pit where nelson was trapped and canceled the blinding spell on him. Nelson saw Grant on the ground but he had a feeling he was still alive. Then, he turned his eyes on Eizo with fear. Being trapped blind in a pit was the scariest thing he had ever experience.

“P-please forgive us. W-we won’t do it again, promise!” -Nelson

“Relax. I won’t do more than this as long as you don’t bother me anymore.” -Eizo

“We won’t. We won’t. I swear!” -Nelson

“Good. I’m leaving you to take care of your friend over there. He should be alive at least.” -Eizo

“I got it, I’ll take him to town. Thank you for showing mercy on us!” Nelson

Nelson was bowing on his knees. Frankly, Eizo was uncomfortable, so he just left without saying anything more. He climbed back on Porthos, who was quietly watching the battle from a distance, then head straight back to town.

After Eizo reported back in the guild that evening, he received 1,250 for the 25 bundles of herbs he collected and 150 Gil from the three goblin ears he had. Combined with his remaining funds and the money he took from Grant, his remaining money, after paying for a meal and a bath that night, was 9,975 Gil. Porthos was also happy, well fed, kept in the inn’s stables. All things considered, it was a productive day for Eizo. He slept satisfied that night.

-End of Chapter-

AN: I’d like to thank ‘mt4k’ for reminding me of something I forgot in the last chapter. I made some minor changes in the previous chapter about some people suspecting the MC of being a mage. Reread it if you want some clarification but you won’t be missing much if you don’t.

Once again, please leave any comment you might have. I don’t really have a concrete plan on what I’m writing. I keep everything in my head until I have to write it, so, I tend to forget certain things.

PS: Edited for grammar corrections. No change in story.

Next chapters might take a little time. Chapter 9 and 10 will probably be the end of the first arc.