Chapter 299- Sightseeing Children (Patreon)

Sightseeing children

Even in the early morning, the entrance into Limerock City from the western gate remained crowded. Long lines of wagons loaded with items from towering bales of hay to crates of fruits stretched along the open road. Merchants stood bickering at the side of their caravans while in heated negotiations with the tax collectors. Adventurers and Mercenaries argued with the patrolling guards at the long delays.

"What's with this long delay? I have herbs to deliver to the Alchemist Guild!"

"Then you should have arrived sooner. You're lucky you did not have to enter through the south gate. Since the Governor and Guilds began constructing those huge smithies and storehouses, its been chaos down there."

Rumor has it, that it's all for producing the amazing product called glass. The Blue Eatery in Limerock has an entire window made out of it. Apparently, the Governor wants Limerock to become the epicenter in creating and distributing the new product."

"Hey, how come those children are on that lane? Don't they know the punishment for riding on it?"

Of the three lanes heading into the open maw of the towering walls, one remained vacant except for three horses. The hooded riders of two of the horses allowed their mounts to clip slowly towards the waiting guards. The onlookers quickly perceived their speed operated at a snail-like pace only to facilitate the two gawking young children sharing the third horse.

"Look, Yin. That wagon also has baskets of melons like the ones Brother Clod planted last year. Too bad we left before he harvested them this year from the fields."

"Where? Yes, you're right, Brother Clod grows the best vegetables though. But look at the adventuring party over there. That man has a bow so long, it is even taller than himself."

"Wow! Do you think he can probably shoot an arrow over this wall?"

"Never, watch how tall this is. The guard we spotted appeared like an ant standing on top of it. Remember how splendid it looked from the hill when we first saw the wall and towers of the city?"

"Ah! Look, Yin, that troop of riders exiting from the gate must be from the Military. The men riding in the middle are wearing the same robe Mr. Tye wore when he visited us."

The Captain leading the small departing Military troop apparently arrived at the same conclusion of the onlookers on seeing the approaching party. With a skillful show of horsemanship, he galloped away from his group followed by two escorts. Cutting into the lane of the children, he achieved his desired result as the three horses stopped. Displaying the aura of authority, he waited as his subordinate rode forward while shouting.

"This lane is used for the sole purpose of the Tower Mage and Military. Dismount from your horses and head over to that field. There is a stiff fine and also a heavy punishment for riding here."

The soldier had barely spoken when his mount stalled and neighed. The domesticated animal that trained to face demon beasts suddenly pricked its ears while its eyes became alert. Unseen by its rider, its widening pupils froze on the information spewing from its brain. The smell emanating from the smaller of the hooded figures screamed of danger.

A sigh escaped from the rider focused on by the horse as both the hooded figures revealed themselves. Green eyes ignored the muttering crowded lines as firey hair slipped down her shoulders. Her companion garnered second looks from the nearby lanes as glossy black hair disappeared into her cloak behind a face of beauty.

What ignited the sweeping chatter lay in the gender of this party.

The few female servants and family members on the road gazed upon the group with amazement and then dropped their eyes on knowing the consequences. The merchants and adventurers snorted in disapproval, especially on seeing the weapons hanging from the strange saddles.

Maybe a few tribes far from the fringes of civilization possessed women who wielded weapons. Here, within the advanced Empire, such uncouth behavior garnered scowls. The Empire left those barbaric cultures behind, years ago.

The revelation, however, produced a shock of a different nature to two men within the Military troop. The first one belonged to the stalwart Captain bearing the cloak embroidered with a silvery threaded horseman skewering a boar with an exaggerated long tusk. The crisp blue eyes blinked and opened wide on recognition. His stoic face of Military seriousness cleared as one of heartfelt admiration and respect replaced it.

"Have you girls lost your minds? Dismount those horses at once! No matter your nobility, your house will disown you for disrespecting..."

"Stop, Firis! Before you shame our calvary further."

The soldier barely finished his sentence when the long-haired Captain rode beside him and administered a scolding. Clasping his hand across his chest in a Military greeting, his eyes verified the redhead sitting lazily upon a horse. His eyes then swept across the two little girls sitting on what could only be a large thoroughbred of superior lineage. Reigning in both his curiosity and horse, he turned towards the older raven-haired girl.

"Miss Dyna, General... I mean Miss Miki. Captain Nobb greets and welcomes you both on behalf of the Military."

"Lady Miki greets Captain Nobb and sends greetings and victory to the Military."

Miki replied from her horse. Viewing the actions of the Captain before her in scolding his subordinate so only they could hear, indicated this man possessed the virtues of a leader. Similar to how he greeted her, she also returned a proper greeting of respect. All the while, her mind raced to place a name to the Captain addressing them.

She forgot, however, that her companion had long lax from the etiquette training of Mrs. Thomas and had begun to run wild.

"Which Captain Nobb? Does this one know you?"

The experienced eyes of the man twitched before replying from under a wry smile.

"Miss Dyna might not recall me, but I belonged to the calvary group you accompanied to the town of Karst. At that time I was the vice-captain of that troop when we were ambushed near the bridge. During the battle, the biggest one of Miss Dyna's wolves saved me by killing a Bitzer. You also saved my cousin by pulling him from the river."

"Wow, so Amarok saved your life, Military Uncle? See, Yin, I told you he knows how to be a hero when you said he only uses his brains to beg."

Hope said while looking with prideful eyes at Yin sharing the saddle. Her face molded into an expression of 'I told you so'.

Captain Nobb nodded on seeing the innocent blue eyes turn towards him for confirmation. He shifted his head to look at Miki. Back then, this dark-haired beauty defended with remarkable efficiency their perch from on top of the strange caged wagon. Even he and his Captain had no alternative but to follow her crisp orders.

Only when they returned to Limerock City did the serving troop members learn of the true identity of their traveling companions. The titles heaped onto these children seemed so unbelievable that presently he could only use 'miss' as a formality.

By now the troop paused alongside them as the words of the Captain raised eyebrows and birthed curiosity. While Dyna conversed with the Captain, the raven-haired girl's eyes locked onto a face trying to shift behind the fellow troops. The scarlet robes of the man indicated he had surpassed the rank of apprentice and achieve the respected rank of a mage.

"Greetings Mage Hud. I hope you have been well since we left the Academy... Haaa! It is so sad we will have to pay a fine for using this lane..."

***

Five days later, a little golden-haired girl slid down the side of a horse with the help from her companion. Together they bounded across the deserted grassland to the lone wagon parked beside a doused campfire. Forgetting their travel companions surrounded by three large wolves, they headed to the chatting trio sitting on a weathered log.

"Brother Chu, Sister Lucy! You won't believe how famous Sister Dyna and Sister Miki are in Limerock City."

"That's right. We got to walk all over the famous Mage Academy because Sister Dyna requested it. There was even this Guild... The Alchemist Guild who even provided a carriage and Sersens for us to tour the City. Of course, none of them can't even compare to Sister Lucy!"

"Yin, don't forget, we also had to fend off a lot of young men who came looking for Sister Miki when they heard we were staying in a small house at the Academy. Brother Chu, you should have seen how much of them came looking for us. Brother Chu, I don't want anyone to take away Sister Miki from us."

"Oh, and we ate nearly every meal at a place called the Blue Eatery. They had these frosty windows that you could see outside. But did you know that the owner personally came and served us every day? He said Sister Sakura is a big shot in the City, a very big shot. He had to keep lots of nobles and rich people from bothering us daily. Do you know that some young men even sent letters wanting to marry me?"

"Ahhh! Amarok, come here. I always said you were a hero! Dod you know he saved a Captain from the Military? The old Uncle said so himself!"

Hope said while burying her little hands into the thick neck of the giant wolf. She continued her chattering as she shared her recent experience and time in the city. Her companions here had opted to camp half a day away from the city, away from curious eyes.

"Where is Sister Ishara, I brought back a few fruits we never had on the farm for her to try."

"She is up on the hill under that oak tree reading."

Chu answered. He learned quite early that Ishara conveyed the impression of an honorable warrior but possessed the streak of a bookworm. During the journey, she spent just as much time reading books he brought from the ruins as riding and observing human life. She had selected a few books on her own while saying they contained lost history.

"Let's go Yin."

Chu watched them scamper away while carrying a small basket between them. Sharing a smile with Lucy, he turned towards the two late arrivals.

"Well? I take it they had an enjoyable visit?"

"More than you know."

Miki replied as she slumped and dropped her head onto Lucy's lap. She sighed while twisting her eyes to look at Lucy.

"Trust me, Lucy. You don't want to have children in the future. I think we should just adopt a few and call it a day. Preferably ones in their twenties..."

****