The Journey Back Home

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The silence that hung in the air was intense, hence, Mikhail didn't dare say a thing. The man also kept quiet as if observing something he had never seen before.

The two stared at each other for a long while before the otherworldly man decided to break the silence. "You... is this your first time here?" the man asked, making Mikhail snap out of his trance.

"Whe-... Oh! Ye-yes. Yes! It is!" Mikhail fumbled on his words as his face flushed from embarrassment. The man continued to stare at Mikhail in silence.

"I see... Then... I presume you do not know me." the man said as he smiled at Mikhail, cocking his head to one side inquisitively.

"Er... no... I don't..." Mikhail replied. Confused at this question. Am I supposed to know him...? But I can tell he is a big shot from the way he holds himself and controls such a big army... Mikhail thought to himself as he stared at the man with curious eyes.

"May I know your name, young lad." the man asked, snapping Mikhail back to the present. 

"P-pardon?! Me? My name? Oh, um... I'm Mikhail Orvielle." Mikhail replied, flustered from the sudden question.

"Orvielle... Hmm... Looks like I'm not mistaken after all... It's a pleasure to meet you. I suggest... you keep your hood on in the future when you leave any premise." the man said after pulling his handsome face out of a thinking position and lifting the corners of his lips as he smiled at Mikhail.

"O-oh... Oh! Of course!" Mikhail replied in a daze as the man walked off. He quickly threw on the hood of his cape, chasing after the man. 

"W-wait! What... what's your name?" Mikhail yelled out as he chased after the man who started sprinting.

For such a person... he moves like an assassin... Well... maybe assassin isn't the right word but... He's fast! Mikhail thought to himself as he struggled running after the man. "Heh. You'll find out soon." the man called out before disappearing around a corner.

"Whoa~ He's so fast! Hah... Hah... How even..." Mikhail panted as he leaned his body in an A-pose, catching his breath. What does he mean... that I'll find out soon?

***

Embarrassingly... I have to go back home. It was so troublesome last night. I have to go back home and earn back the money... Mikhail sighed as he walked back to the archway he and his friends passed through coming to the city.

I'm broke and hungry... I couldn't even eat last night because of the commotion that happened in the tavern... Mikhail sighed to himself as he heard his stomach grumble.

"Here." a sudden voice said, causing Mikhail to jump.

"Huh?! What?" Mikhail exclaimed as he noticed a loaf of bread being pushed into his hands. Mikhail's eyes trailed the owner of the pair of hand offering the bread only to notice it was the boy he rescued yesterday.

"Consider this my repayment for yesterday. And... it's not a lot of money but... Here... Thank you for yesterday." the boy Mikhail helped yesterday said.

"O-oh... Thank you... But the money..." Mikhail said, about to return the money when the boy shook his head.

"You helped me out plenty yesterday. Take it. It's a token of my appreciation." the boy replied, smiling as he pressed the bag of money into Mikhail's palms.

"... Then... I'll be sure to spend it wisely." Mikhail said smiling back at the boy.

After the transaction with the boy, Mikhail stared into the bag of money the boy gave him. It was enough for spending another night in the city, so, Mikhail hurriedly re-rented the room he slept in for another night and kept some spare coins in his bag. Trying not to waste his experience, Mikhail left the inn to explore the town.

***

Bricks were laid as they paved the roads of the city. Carriages zoomed past the street Mikhail was in; heading straight for the upper town, a street renown to be frequented by the nobles and those with power.

Street performers and vendors lined the street. It seems the celebration is still ongoing. That's nice. Mikhail thought as he bought a corn on the cob, grilled over a fire.

After rows and rows of vendors, Mikhail unknowingly reached a dead end. He stared ahead of him and turned around ready to leave when he noticed the street he originally came from was different.

Huh...? How... Wasn't there a vendor selling clothes there just a while ago? Mikhail stared inquisitively at the empty street before and behind him.

"Are you lost?" a soft voice asked Mikhail as he turned towards the source of the voice, calming himself from his momentary panic.

A girl with wavy blonde hair and bright round green eyes stared at him. Mikhail stared at her for a moment too long when she grinned at him.

"What? Are you taken by my beauty or something?" the girl boasted, flattering herself. 

"... Yeah." Mikhail replied making the girl flush red. 

"H-hey. You aren't supposed to agree. Now it makes me seem so vain." the girl replied in a hurry as she fanned her face with her hands.

"I mean... with golden hair so silky and smooth and eyes that sparkle such a beautiful hue of green... it's just really rare in my village." Mikhail said whilst smiling.

The sentence did not help much in the girl's case because her face turned all the more redder as she turned away saying it was too hot in the alley.

"... I'll help you get out of this alley as thanks for the compliment." the girl said coyly.

"Oh, that would be great! Thank you!" Mikhail beamed at her, making her take a step back.

***

"What are you doing here anyways?" the girl who introduced herself as Aria asked.

"Me? I came to explore the city. I've always dreamed of it... Finally, I arrived but... I have to leave tomorrow." Mikhail said, sighing as he thought of the few coins he had left.

"I see. Then, let's make today worth it!" Aria grinned as she ran ahead of him, asking Mikhail to hurry after her.

***

"How... how much... further...? Hah... Hah..." Mikhail panted as he held onto his knees, panting, trying to stabilise himself and to catch his breath at the same time.

"We're almost there! For a village boy, you seem rather weak." Aria giggled as she stared at Mikhail gasping for air on the long flight of stairs they were on.

"You... didn't... say there were this many... steps!" Mikhail gasped exasperated as he calmed himself by breathing in heaps of fresh air.

"Hahaha! Well, if I did, you wouldn't have followed me!" Aria laughed as she watched Mikhail follow after her slowly.

I can't see his face that well because of his hood but... his violet eyes... are really pretty... and the way his sweat trickles down his... ... Woah! What am I thinking?! Aria thought as she shook her head, clearing the thoughts from her mind as Mikhail stared at her confused.

"Are you alright?" Mikhail asked as he finally reached the step Aria was on; wiping the sweat from his brows.

"H-huh? Me? Of course! You worry about yourself!" Aria responded in a hurry, as she swiftly swiveled. Looking forward as she marched ahead.

"Whoa!" Mikhail exclaimed as his eyes widened. As if it were trying to gobble down the scenery.

Clouds of white and skies of orange expanded across a vast landscape dyed in the evening sun. The hustle and bustle of the city below could be heard as vendors called out to promising consumers.

Further to the North, a noble man's estate could be seen. It was quite a distance from the marketplace but with all the carriages about it seemed to be not much of an issue.

"... The... nobleman house... there's only one?" Mikhail asked, not bothering to avert his gaze from the view of the city. Of course, his eyes never leaving from the palace located in the heart of the city.

"... Well. There are multiple noble houses. That one you're looking at belongs to the house of Richart. Their family belongs in the highest tier of the dukedom which is right below the power of the kingdom." Aria said as she stared at the house with a gaze that seemed as if she were lost in thoughts.

"That makes them quite strong, yes?" Mikhail asked as he leaned on the steel railing.

"Well, you're not wrong. But not exactly right either. The Richart family has been in the aid to the kingdom for centuries and acts as the final line of defense before the crown. That means they are a really strong force that is on par with the kingdom." Aria continued as she turned to face Mikhail, her expression unclear from the ray of light that casted a shadow upon her visage.

"I'm saying. If they were to turn their backs on the kingdom. A purge of the holy kingdom won't be too far off.... But then again. This kingdom is way too peaceful at the moment." Aria said with a sigh as she turned to Mikhail and smiled.

"That..." Mikhail started but was cut short when Aria pointed out towards the setting sun. 

"Look! It's starting!"

"Huh? What is... Woah." Mikhail asked as he turned. His eyes widening as he sees flares and explosion of colours light up the now darkening sky.

"Those are fireworks! Aren't they gorgeous? It's not the capital city without it in a celebration. " Aria yelled above the sounds of explosion, grinning at Mikhail.

"Fire what?" Mikhail yelled back, turning to look at Aria. 

"Fireworks! Spherical light balls used by magicians by casting certain fire magic to create a variety of shapes and colours!" Aria said as she leaned close to Mikhail.

"O-oh! I see!" Mikhail replied flabbergasted as he took a few steps back, flustered.

***

"It's been a lovely experience. Enjoying the festival and the... umm... spherical balls of light? With you.... Are you sure I don't need to walk you home?" Mikhail asked as he cocked his head quizzically whilst looking at Aria.

"Hehe...It's funny how you remember the long definition instead of just the word fireworks. ... And, yeah. You don't need to. I live nearby... I... had fun as well today. I hope we'll meet again, Mikhail." Aria said as she smiled gently at Mikhail, waving goodbye before running down an alley.

"... Well... now it's off to pack up." Mikhail sighed as he slowly walked back to his inn.

***

"Ahh... I can just imagine the look on those two's faces! Even mom's! ...Uuuggghhhhh~ I don't want to go backkkk...." Mikhail groaned as he finally shuts his suitcase after folding and tossing in his last shirt into it.

"That guy especially! Tsk! Well look who came crawling back with his tail wrapped round his legs? Mikhail, Mikhail." Mikhail said as he shrugged and shook his head in disagreement, acting out a roleplay of what Lucas would say as he would surely tease Mikhail for returning so soon.

"Oh well. Nothing I can do now. There is an age limit to when we can work and they prefer people with prior knowledge so living here is out of the question." Mikhail sighed as he flopped onto his bed, shutting his eyes as he soon found himself drifting off to sleep.