Chapter 11 – By my hand…

The brigade looking after the protection of 3rd bridge was called “Band of Elas“ and it’s commander was my father’s first cousin, Ule. He taller than my father. You could see scars on his arms and a deep one on his face beginning at forehead up his right eye and ending just after his cheek. Ule, told me that I looked like my father when he was young. Nuve changed his opinion after he saw Ule being friendly with me but insisted on a checkup by a mage so that to verify if I was who I argued to be. Ricat reached BoE headquarters in soon.

[Ricat]: Dear you are alive. I thought you were killed after being thrown to Devil’s Canyon.

[Me]: I’ll be in your care, until we reach Mehn.

[Ricat]: I always respect contracts signed by me, written or verbal. We should sent a mail to your family about your story. They would be worried as I had earlier sent them a letter regarding your ‘death’.

[Me]: I’ll.

[Ricat]: You being alive will reach their ears before the mail though. I do not know whether you are aware of it but you are a legend now. First man. No. no. First human being to survive the Devil’s Canyon. Kid I’ll give you 5 gold a month as a scholarship as much as you study in Mehn Academy.

[Me]: Thank you.

[Ricat]: Alright, let’s go. We have to eat and sleep. Early tomorrow we are leaving to Mehn. I’ll personally take you to Academy.

[Nuve]: Where the hell do you think you are taking him?

[Ule]: Warrior Nuve who gave you permission to talk?

Nuve stayed silent.

[Ule]: He should eat his meal with me, afterwards I’ll send him to you.

Ricat nodded. (Later on, I learned that all this 5 gold a month scholarship and stuff like sucking up to me on the 1st bridge was Ricat’s methodology as he saw me as a spring-board in getting close relationship with warriors, or so I felt)

We had a meal together. Ule asked me about my sword. I didn’t lie to him but avoided telling the truth. He questioned me about everything. Igdes and Nuve were present all the time. A mage came into the room. He asked me to put my hands on a crystal ball to check if I was possessed by some kind of demon. I came clean out of everything.

[Ule]: Mage tells that you have big mana capacity.

[Me]: I know. Physically, I’m very strong too. But I’m inexperienced art of war and magic. Having something and being able to use it are totally different things. I’m doing my best to avoid any kind of attention seeking. (Lesson learnt)

[Ule]: Hahaa. You are total opposite of your father. He was a show off. Womanizer.

[Me]: He has instructed me properly in those matters. I do not have enough experience yet.

All three of them laughed.

Igdes made a proposition that left me in shock.

[Igdes]: In old times there was no academy. You made an achievement, and you got your reward. I propose, Aslan to be tattooed on his right arm for the bravery shown in defense of 1st bridge with a reference to killing a wolf and on his left hand for getting out of Devil’s Canyon alive.

Ule looked at Nuve.

[Nuve]: I second that! Kid deserves it!

[Ule]: I accept the proposal as worthy of his achievements. Nuve take Aslan and make sure he gets what he deserves.

Inside part of my right forearm was tattooed with picture of sword, wings and wolf. Meaning bravery took over fear of death.

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On top of my left hand a sword cutting a devil’s face into two showing her true self and human form was drawn. There was a proverb from old language called “Dictum factum” written near the hilt of sword. Meaning what is said is done. Referring to my courage.

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In the morning we left for Mehn. By the end of Levi we were supposed to arrive at Mehn city. It was fun till Mehn. I got to see different villages, learnt of different customs. This part of journey taught me more than anything.

Mehn was amazing. It wasn’t like any other place that I had been to. Multicultural city. King Dar, was a wise man indeed. He had built the city near the lake and built a harbor that made the city into a transit point between east and west. At any point, there were 150 warriors who have proved themselves in different battles stationed in city for protection. Mehn Academy was built to increase the defending potential in case of potential problems in future.

I am not going to argue that Dar was the greatest or wisest tribe elder. Because there were ones before him who were much smarter and stronger than him but none had done what he did. They all could do it, why didn’t they? Kali was a legend who has killed a dragon, he could conquer whole continent but didn’t. I did not know the exact answer but there had to be a reason. I didn’t want to fill my head with unimportant questions such as those, so began to enjoy the beauty of Mehn.

Ricat toured me around Mehn. He showed me to his house which was bigger than Taham’s. He had a small family. Beautiful wife. Two daughters. One of them was around my age, second one around 4 or 5 years old. Saye was few years younger than Ricat, but much kinder than him. Elise was a lot smaller than me in height but she would be a bomb in future. White hair, blue eyes, beautiful face. She was going to join Mehn Academy this year. She wanted to be a mage.

He told me to stay in his house for next 2 days. He was going to have a banquet tomorrow night. He had maids and servants running around. He was checking out if all the invitation cards were delivered. Next morning, after breakfast, he left us all to visit the city and to invite some big shots.

City life was attractive. I saw the beautiful part of it from first moment. I enjoyed it. The good life I mean.

I left Saye and Elise, went to the yard. Backside of the house had a lounge for parties. You could have 300 guest and still have enough place to move around easily. The main yard was located besides the lounge. Trees were packed at the end of the yard before that walls. It gave a feeling of a forest. The rest was lawn. Very well trimmed lawn. Elegantly cut stones were put on lawn to give the authentic look.

I stepped on stones, went all the way to the forest. Sat there in lotus position. Began to meditate. I felt at peace again. I opened my eyes. Elise was standing in front of me.

[Elise]: What were you doing?

[Me]: Meditating.

[Elise]: Is it fun?

[Me]: I enjoy it; I get satisfaction.

[Elise]: Would you teach me?

[Me]: I would love to, but I’m not sure if I can. Next months you would be taught about it in Mehn Academy.

[Elise]: We were…

Saye called out to her. She made a sorry face, turned and left.

Though Ricat was a stingy man, he was very well respected person in Mehn. He lost his parents when he was young. Got into street trade at an early age. Learnt tricks and shenanigans of trade in a fast pace. By 20 years of age, he owned two shops in Mehn city. Married Saye when he was 26. He was 40 now, had lots of properties in Mehn. He was friend of Halim. Nobody knew how they had met, but in case Halim gets to be the next king, he was the only candidate be the Minister of Trade and Finance. For a well-connected and rich person, he had a flaw. Every year, he would travel to the king’s birth village and back to be able to trade in the streets again. He felt alive that way.

Elise came back and took me by my hand…

Next: Chapter 12 - Guild of Elas