Chapter 19: What the hell is going on? (1/2)
”Get your filthy, peasant hands away from me!” Uttering through his lips as soon as Layn got close, Kerren could only throw a look filled with hate at the approaching archmage.
”I don't really care what your circumstances are, ” stopping in the man's track, Layn rose on his knees and looked coldly at the man sprawled on the ground, ”but I dare you to call me a peasant ever again.”
Just for this moment, Layn invoked all the bloodlust that remained in his psyche after his years in the hero party. All those bottled-up feelings of disgust, anxiety, wrath and despisal. All those feelings got him through the toughest of times, earning him the unfaithful wife and life in the most comfortable prison in the world.
For the moment, the old Layn, the sole cause of the hecatomb of the city of Karrieta, returned.
”I…” Even if the techniques and ways of killing each other have changed over the vast millennials that spanned between their respective times, one thing remained the same. Not even noticing, but more like feeling the aura that the archmage surrounded himself with was more than enough for the acclaimed ace of the soaring dragon group to remain on the ground.
Layn knew very little about the society of the ancients. But from what Kerren said himself, it was easy to assume that since a peasant could be used as an insult, class awareness was pretty high in this age. As such, flying into a rage when one's status was to be challenged, was something that Layn deemed to be the most reasonable way out of the situation.
'This is bad…' With his emotions calming down, Layn finally noticed what a mess did he put himself into. Right in the middle of a foreign city, going against someone of a potential high status…
But there was an excuse for his rashness. After years and years of life as one of the most respected members of the entire human society, having this kind of low-life act arrogant in his face crossed Layn's bottom line. And with how the archmage was starting to figure out the entire ancient magic thingy, the danger that those people posed for Layn was diminishing at a steady rate.
”What's the hell is going on here?” Before the situation could turn any worse, a loud, deep voice broke through the commotion. Akin to a sea parting its waves to let the chosen tribe pass through, the crowd opened the path for a small group of guards.
Even though they didn't wear the same type of uniform, just the coat of arms, exactly the same as the one on all the flags around, was enough of a giveaway of their profession.
”Layn! Come here…” Shouting archmage's name only to turn silent and order him to go back in a calm voice, Irea managed to achieve what her shouts alone wouldn't be able to. While there was a factor of Layn's unwillingness to stand against the guards of the city, it was still the girl's call that pushed him into making the decision.
”It's okay, I'm not doing anything.” Raising his arms to the level of his head, Layn backed out a few paces before standing down beside the girl. Seeing his willingness to cooperate, the guards only threw him an angered glance before directing their sights towards the pummeled Kerren on the ground.