บท 22: Returning Home
Days passed and the final lesson for the week was over.
Thus, the weekend for students started and at the same time the deadline for forming teams was over.
The first-year students were all able to form teams.
They were either friends with other students or they were unable to make contact with others, thus remaining alone and being forced into teams with kindred spirits. Or the team consisted of people, who wanted to learn from each other in earnest to grow stronger.
Mika viewed his teammates as somewhat friends and as well as people who wanted to learn from one another.
"Have you checked everything before we depart?
Said team assembled in front of the gates separating the academy grounds from the city itself.
As their guide, Ophelia made sure that nothing was missing for their journey and explained to the carriage driver the route.
"The destination is the Great Jungle, huh...?" Mika muttered.
"Yes. I went there once for training with my family. And I can confirm that the jungle is as dangerous as the people make it out to be." Sylvia remarked.
The Great Jungle of Malnor. It was a jungle- or rather, a den for dangerous and strong monsters.
The monsters, who resided there, were all high-ranking, therefore only B ranks and higher were permitted to enter the jungle.
It was located southeast of Loogam.
Normally a trip from Loogam to the Great Jungle would take at least five days with a horse, however, due to the carriage being pulled by tamed monster horses instead of normal horses, it would take only approximately one day.
"Everyone, go inside. We're going to depart now!" Ophelia declared after she finished talking with the driver.
After everyone sat down in the carriage, they started to move.
They started off slowly, but in mere minutes, the speed increased.
"S-so this is what it feels like to ride monster horses..." Mika commented stunned as he looked out from the window.
But it seemed like Mika was the only one taken aback.
His other three companions remained unfazed by it.
Silence dominated the atmosphere until Ophelia took out a map.
"We didn't have the opportunity yet, but let's discuss where we will camp for tonight." she said.
Then, Mika raised his eyebrows as he was reminded of something.
"Ms. Ross, could I have a look at the map?"
"Hm? Sure."
He scanned the map and confirmed his thoughts.
"How about this..." Mika began to explain his plan.
Hours passed since then and it was dawn.
"Is this the place, young lady?" the driver spoke to them through the small window, which was directly behind him.
Ophelia looked at Mika, who nodded to her.
"Yes." she answered to the driver.
The carriage stopped and the group stepped outside.
"I see, this is..."
Ophelia analyzed her surroundings.
Everywhere she looked, there were only old buildings. Some were made of stones, some of wood and some looked a bit more modern than the rest.
Some kids were still outside playing while some adults talked to each other. They all wore simple clothes whereas most boys and men wore clothes appropriate for farming.
Animals, especially cows, sheep and horses, were seen on the grass field, which took in a lot of space from the place.
The breeze was fresh and pleasant adding to the overall peaceful and warm atmosphere.
"Welcome to my village, everyone!" Mika announced proudly.
Lily and Sylvia, two girls growing up in places incomparable to a village, took in the beautiful scenery of the remote village.
"So this is the place you grew up..." Sylvia said impressed by the calm scenery.
"..."
Lily, agape, looked at the village and the surrounding field even more thoroughly than the rest.
"What's wrong, Lily?" Sylvia asked.
At that moment, someone from the village approached them.
"Mika... Is that you?"
Mika turned to the person calling him.
"Ain..."
The petite girl with braided brown hair and brown eyes was his friend from the village. Ain Sacra.
Her eyes widened more and without a warning she jumped at him.
"Uff..."
Taken by surprise, he managed to catch her barely.
While hugging him tightly, tears started to flow down her soft cheeks.
"You idiot..."
"..."
"How could you leave without saying anything..."
Mika had no excuse.
Thus, he let her vent out her frustration on him without saying anything back.
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"Heh, it doesn't surprise me that you're such a womanizer."
"To make her cry like this..."
Everyone chimed in, even the quiet Lily.
"Y-you got it all wrong!"
He tried to defend himself, but then another one joined the fray.
"Hey, what's up with all the ruckus?"
Coming from the same direction was a boy, who resembled Ain.
He, too, had brown eyes, and his equally brown hair was slicked back.
"Huh? Mika?"
His previous confusion quickly turned into shock.
"E-Eric, nice timing... Come and help me get your sister off me!"
His name was Eric Sacra and he was Ain's twin brother.
In contrast to her body, he was more on the bulky side.
Eric sighed.
"Hey, Ain... I think that's enough. He'll suffocate, you know?"
"..."
With a small pout, she slowly let go of Mika.
"So? Care to explain the situation?" Eric asked with a genuine smile directed at Mika.
"Sure." Mika returned the smile.
He proceeded to explain that he spontaneously decided to enter Loogam, which was the reason why he had no time to say his farewells in the village.
Forgetting the time and the people behind him, he told him about the exams and the people he met there.
"And now let me introduce you to my team."
With his hand, he showed Ophelia.
"This is Ophelia Ross. She is my teacher, even though she always wants to fight me."
"Hey, w-"
"And this is Sylvia Pyril. She is an S-rank student, who rather likes to fight than to talk."
"Is that s-"
"Last but not least, she is Lily Hayth. She is a B-rank student, who once turned me into crisps."
"..."
"I-I see... They're quite interesting..." Eric commented with a wry smile.
"Y-yeah..." Ain agreed.
While the others from his group pinched his cheeks, he continued.
"L-let me introduce those two as well... These are Eric and Ain Sacra. They are twins and both are my friends in this village."
"Hello, there!"
"Nice to meet you!"
But one thing was still left out.
"What brings you back to the village, Mika?" Eric asked.
"Well... We're currently on our way for a quest and because the village was in the vicinity, I thought that we could stay here for the night before we continue our trip."
"Ah, I see! That's a good idea! Your parents will be happy to see you again!" Ain added.
Mika smirked.
"Yeah..."
He turned to his team.
"Let's go now, shall we?"
With those words, they followed Mika, who was walking in front of them with the Sacra twins on his side.
"So you're now a student at Loogam, huh..."
"Yes... I'm sorry..."
Mika smiled but it did not reach his eyes.
"Why are you apologizing?"
Eric looked to the front with a stern expression.
"Because... When we were kids, we promised that we would stay here and become the village's protectors... But now I broke that promise..."
"Pfft!"
Eric tried to hold his laughter back.
"You still remember that?" he asked while he burst into laughter.
"S-shut up!"
Eric could not help but laugh for minutes.
It was a promise made between two boys.
One boy was able to use magic and one boy was born without magic.
Still, the two wanted to become their village's heroes.
"Don't worry about that and enjoy your time in the academy!"
With a smile, he patted Mika's back.
"But-"
"What? Do you think I can't protect the village without you? Don't underestimate me!"
"No, that-"
"I can wield a lance pretty well now!" Eric stated proudly as he crossed his arms.
Mika's mouth was open but closed it again.
Even as kids, he could not argue back.
"Thanks..." he muttered with a faint smile.
Eric always wanted the best for Mika. As someone born with magic and in a village, he knew that Mika was destined to achieve something greater.
He could not forgive himself if Mika decided to stay in the village just for their sake.
Then, Ain, who let her brother and Mika catch up, joined their conversation.
"I'm sure that you're all tired, so the two of us will let you rest! Let's talk again when you have time!" she said with a bright smile.
"See you later, Mika. And good luck explaining this to your parents..." Eric whispered the last part into his ear with a mischievous expression.
"What do you mean?"
"Rest well!"
Waving their hands at them, the two walked in another direction.
Now, it was only those four again.
The three followed Mika, who led them to his house.
When they arrived, Mika was about to knock on the door until he realized it.
He nervously turned his neck around.
One. Two. Three.
How would his parents react to this sight? The sight of their son coming home without a warning with three women in his company.
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