3 Prologue 2 : To the capital (1/2)

Prologue (2): To the capital

”Sorry kid, but you can't join unless you are strong enough. I see you carry a staff, meaning you're probably a mage, so you could try to join the magician's guild, but... that's about it for your options, I think. We don't let children who need babysitting here, the magician's guild might take you if they see you have talent though. Alternatively, you could join the adventurer's training school, but that's hard to get into” (Man)

That answers the question of ”why not?”, I think.

”I guess I could join the training school, I'm pretty confident in my skills, and I don't have any particular need to become an adventurer as soon as possible, if my food and room are paid for by the school” (Ryuu)

”They are, if you really impress them. In other words, the top 25% of those who make it in get a full scholarship, including things such as meals and room. Otherwise, you'll need to pay for that yourself, and those in the bottom 25% have to pay the tuition fees too. If you want to enroll, you'll have to get to the capital soon. I think you'd need to get going in the next few days to make it, unless you want to wait half a year for next time” (Man)

”Well then, I'd better get going, I guess. Thanks for your help!” (Ryuu)

With that, I left the building and started on my journey to the capital, though it wasn't entirely uneventful. After a few days, I had killed a few weak magical beasts and gathered some herbs that I came across, and then...

”Hmm? I hear screaming in the distance. I guess someone is being attacked by some magical beasts” (Ryuu)

I was right, as I found out a few minutes later, when I came across a few covered wagons being surrounded by some mere horned wolves. They're monsters that, on their own, could be taken out by a small group of men armed with things like clubs, bows, spears, or even simple farming equipment, but they get much harder to take out in groups. This is a group of about a dozen, so I'm impressed that their four guards and a mage in back could last this long... no, wait, it's a group that was a dozen and is now eight or so that a group of six frontline fighters was fighting against, and is now reduced to four. I'd better help them. Hm... if I use any of my weapons, I'd out myself as abnormally powerful for a young half-elf girl due to my aura increasing suddenly. That's the main drawback of my being a walking armory, in that I'm practically incapable of using any of my weapons near others. I ought to get another one to use for situations like this. As it is now, I'll use magic, but what kind? Lightning magic, I guess, as it uses Wind, which is common for elves.

***** Merchant Guard's PoV *****

I've been an adventurer for twelve years, and never have I felt my life be in this much danger. At this rate, we won't be able to kill them all, or if we do, the merchant we've been hired to guard won't have enough guards for the rest of the trip, and so we'd have to turn back. If only someone would come and help us... I'm almost out of knives to use, and I'm not good at fighting multiple enemies at once. Our lone mage is low enough on mana that he is focusing on healing the injured and taking out anything that is about to seriously hurt us.

”Lightning Strike!” (Unknown Female)

My prayers have been answered, maybe... one of the horned wolves I was fighting was hit by a bolt of lightning, and then another one that one of my partners, a swordswoman, was dealing with got hit by the same bolt. Looks like we can fight more easily with just that. We might win this thing!

”Lightning Strike!” (Same Female)

”What the hell? Thanks, whoever you are!” (Bradley, a spearman)

Sounds like she cast it again, and either reduced the workload on my partner, or she killed all of his foes so that he could help someone else. I still have to keep my eyes on my opponent, so I don't know what she looks like. The wolf jumped at me, and I ducked under it and sliced its belly open as it raked its claws along my back.

”Lightning Strike!” (Female)

”Thanks! I think that's the last of them!” (Irene, our swordswoman)

”No, I still need help with my two!” (Van, our other spearman and party leader)

”Lightning Strike!” (Female)

”Not anymore! Ninya, go and heal everyone!” (Van)

”Will do!” (Ninya, our mage and healer)

I drank a potion, which stopped the bleeding, but it couldn't completely close the wounds on my back, so I was still lying facedown on the ground as I waited for Ninya to heal me or someone to apply a potion directly to the wounds. In the worst case, I would have to be carried on the cart until Ninya could recover enough mana to heal me, but I'll live.

***** Normal PoV *****

Well, I managed to kill those horned wolves, or rather, six of them, with lightning magic, so I guess I'll go and talk to them. I don't need the credit for the kills, though I would like some money or a ride, if they're going in the direction of the capital.