The alley was dark and silent, save for the heavy breaths of two boys who had just barely escaped danger. Emil wiped the sweat off his eyebrow, his heart was still pounding befause of the chase. He turned toward the kid he had just saved, and now he finally got a proper look at him
The boy was thin and frail, his body was appearing as though it had never seen a decent meal. He was shorter than Emil, about 162 cm tall, and his clothes were tattered, they were torn in spots. His silver hair was unkempt, hanging over his bright violet eyes, which were filled with fear and confusion
But what caught Emil's attention the most was the Empire Academy admission letter sticking out from the boy's pocket
His breath hitched
"Another student?"
His mind started racing because of this
"Who is this kid? Why was he being hunted by them in the first place ?"
"And most importantly was he important in the original story?"
Emil stepped forward and snatched the letter from the boy's pocket before he could react. The kid flinched but didn't resist and let Emil do whatever he wanted to
Emil unfolded the letter, and started scanning the words quickly
•Imperial Academy Admission Notice•
His fingers clenched onto the parchment. This couldn't be right. This boy had truly been selected too, it was a proper admission and invitation for the kid to join the acqdemy
Emil raised his eyes slowly, his dark irises snapping to the boy's face
"Who in the hell are you?" His voice was harsh, demanding. "Why do you have this letter? Why did they invite you?"
The boy hesitated, his lips parting slightly as if he was unsure whether to answer or not. His fingers started curling into fists, and he seemed to shrink under Emil's intense stare but he finally spoke
"I… I was selected by the academy, but i dont know why did they select me" he finally whispered. His voice was soft, almost timid. "And my name, My name is Luin Ascard."
Emil's entire body froze
He said while being shocked "Luin Ascard?"
His mind exploded with memories
Back when he was still Ethan, back when he had read 'Gods' Final Requiem', there was this boy named Luin Ascard and he was one of the key characters of thr novel and he was
A boy who would go on to be the greatest mage of the Empire
The very first mage ever to have attained the 9th Circle
The man who would sit at the very height of magic, a legend amidst legends
Emil's heart skipped a beat
Emil said to himself "Holy shit, god damn it. I just hit the jackpot"
A feral smile nearly creased his face, but he forced it back, keeping himself under control
This was enormous
Luin Ascard was born to be great. In the book, he had come from nothing, fought his way up to the top, and emerged an unbeatable power. But it had not been simple he had endured,he had been betrayed, and fought alone for years before he hit his prime and became thr best among thr all
"But now, I am here. And I know exactly what kind of person he will become in upcoming future"
Emil had one thought.
I can't lose this guy
If he could get Luin on his side now, before he became the monster he was destined to be, then Emil's future would change drastically and he can even survive in this cursed world
"But how do I do it?"
Luin was still watching him carefully, hr was unsure of Emil's intentions. He had the same look of distrust and wariness that most abandoned kids had in this cruel world
Emil let out a breath and softened his expression
"Well, if that's the case, you don't have to worry anymore"
Luin blinked and said in shock "What?"
"I'm heading to the capital too. I got accepted into the academy, just like you" Emil said, flashing his own letter. "So, why don't we travel together?"
Luin's eyes widened slightly, his expression started shifting. He didn't answer immediately
Emil could tell that he was conflicted and eas taking his time thinking
"Of course he's hesitant. He doesn't trust me. Hell, I wouldn't trust some random guy either, but i want him to because if he does, iam damn sure that i can make my thiughts and plans progress faster"
But Emil wasn't going to let this chance slip away.
He let out a heavy breath and leaned back ever so slightly. "Listen, I don't know what those guys were after, but it isn't a good idea for you to travel alone. You saw what just went down"
Luin hung his head
Emil went on and elaborated his thoughts, "If you travel with me, you'll have at least one person with your back"
Luin nibbled on his lip. "You. don't even know me. Why would you help me?"
Emil said to himself "Because I know exactly who you'll become, and I need you on my side"
Of course, Emil couldn't say that out loud. Instead, he shrugged. "Because we're in the same boat. And besides, you're just a kid and you are injured too, it should be better if you travel with me"
"You're a kid too," Luin muttered
Emil paused
Right. He kept forgetting that he was also in a young body
"That's not the point" Emil coughed awkwardly "Point is, it will be safer for both of us"
Luin didn't answer immediately. He was clearly debating something in his mind
Finally, after a long silence, he nodded. "Alright, I will go with you"
Emil let out a breath of relief
He thought "Good. Step one: complete"
Now, they just needed to find a way to the capital
The Journey Begins
Emil and Luin left the alley and started making their way toward the town's main road
The best way to travel to the Imperial Capital was by carriage. Walking was out of the question it would take weeks, and neither of them had the endurance for that
They needed to find a merchant caravan or a public carriage heading toward the capital
"Got any money? Or just a free fodder huh?" Emil asked as they walked.
Luin shook his head
"Figures" Emil sighed. "Well, we will just have to figure something out"
After about twenty minutes of searching, they finally found a carriage parked near an inn
It was a merchant's transport, and it looked like it was about to leave. The coachman was already securing the last of the cargo onto the back
Emil immediately approached
"Hey, old man!" He waved
The coachman, a grizzled man with a thick beard, glanced at him lazily. "What do ya want, brat?"
We're going to the capital. Think we could catch a ride?"
The coachman snorted. "You got money?"
Emil hesitated. "Uh"
"If you got No money, then there will be no ride"
Shit
Emil was going to argue when someone else chimed in
"I'll cover for them, dont worry about the money and let them be"
Both Emil and Luin turned to watch as a tall, stylishly dressed man walked over
He was well-dressed with neatly combed blond hair and he had piercing blue eyes, which was giving him an air of nobility. His uniform indicated that he was somebody important
Emil's instincts were screaming "Danger"
"Why?" Emil asked warily
The man grinned, yet there was something unsettling about the way it reached his eyes
"Oh, no reason why in particular," he said smoothly. "I just find it interesting that two children are traveling alone."
Emil and Luin stilled
The noble chuckled. "Easy there. I mean no harm, You can travel with uf with ease"
Emil tightened his grip
Something about this guy felt off. He was way too suspicious
But he couldn't refuse a free ride
After a tense moment, Emil finally forced a smile. "Alright then. Thanks, I guess"
The noble's smile widened
"Thwre is no need to thank me. After all, I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more of each other"
As the carriage began to move, Emil sat beside Luin, his mind started spinning
"Who was that noble?"
"And most importantly why did he get the impression like he knew something he should not?"
Somehow, Emil got this dreadful feeling
This trip wouldn't be so easy as he believed it will