บท 3: 3. Cait Shelter
Ben find a lot of glowing blue crystals in the cave that mesmerized him.
"What are these crystals?"-Ben
[Lacrima Crystals, a type of mineral that used widely for many things on Earthland. Formed in a place with high magical density.]
"So this place is dense with Ethernano, huh? Did that mean this place is a good place to train?"-Ben
[Yes, you can recover your lost magic power faster in this area.]
"Ooh, that's a tempting thing, but i won't do that, i still need to find a civilization. Maybe i'll return in the future when i want to focus on training."-Ben
Ben can't stay here just because this place will hasten his training. He need to find a civilization first to know this world. Life isn't just about training to get stronger. He also want to rest after years of hard life in military, and the case of his family.
Ben just take a piece of Lacrima crystal as a souvenir. Then he leave the area, and return to his tent. He ask A.I Chip to mark this cave, so he can return easily in the future.
"I'll certainly return here."-Ben
The storm keep going for one full night, before it stop at morning. Ben resume his journey, and walk slowly because of the dangerous ground. The ground is wet because of the storm yesterday, and it's very slippery now.
After walking for some hours, Ben finally see a civilization. He see a small village beside a lake, near the mountain. Ben immediately go there through the forest and arrive after half an hour.
Ben keep his vigilance while approaching the village. He need to be wary in a new place, even if it looks like a peaceful village. He see some people in the village that dressed like native American tribe. Ben frown, but keep walking to the village, until suddenly, someone call him from behind.
"Who are you, boy?"-Old man
Ben get surprised and immediately jump forward then turn back while holding his knife, ready to strike anytime.
'When did he get on my back? I didn't sense him at all.'-Ben
"Ooh, that's a nice reflex there. Sorry to surprised you like that, but i just saw you walking suspiciously, so i decide to greet you."-Old man
"Ah, sorry for that, i'm just being vigilant. My name is Ben, can i ask where is this place, uuh, grandpa?"-Ben still in his stance
"This is Cait Shelter Guild, and i am the guildmaster, Roubaul."-Roubaul
"A guild? I thought it is a village."-Ben
"It is a village, and it's also a guild at the same time. Can i ask why are you here, little boy?"-Roubaul
"Ah, i came from the forest. 4 days ago, i suddenly found myself in the forest. I walk through the mountains foot, and eventually reach this place."-Ben
"Hmm, is this a coincidence?"-Roubaul rub his beard
"What is?"-Ben
"Boy, what's your magic?"-Roubaul
"Huh? I'm sorry, but i can't tell you that. We've just met and i still can't fully trust you to the point where i'll tell you my magic."-Ben
"Hmm, you're right. But if you want to hide it, that means your magic is unique, maybe some kind of lost magic. I'll guess it, your magic must be a Dragon Slayer Magic."-Roubaul
Ben didn't have any change in expression, but he's getting more serious right now. This old man can guess his magic correctly in one try.
"As i thought, you have Dragon Slayer Magic."-Roubaul
"How can you be so sure? I didn't tell you anything."-Ben
"I can feel it. Your magic fluctuated just now, indicating you're panicking a little. I also hear your heart beat faster, confirming my suspicion."-Roubaul
Ben widen his eyes and take a step back, he's getting very serious now.
"Don't be too worked up, boy! I mean no harm to you."-Roubaul
"Like i'll believe someone who pry into other person's secret."-Ben
"Well, i'm sorry about that, i didn't mean it that way. Even so, pointing a weapon on someone is dangerous. When you do it, you need to be ready to die!"-Roubaul
Ben suddenly feel a strong invisible pressure that fall upon him. He didn't have good magic sense currently, but he can feel it, this is Roubaul's magic power. The old man's magic power is so big & vast like an ocean for Ben.
To say that Ben get scared is an underestimation, he is terrified. Ben has an urge to kneel and sh*t himself right now, but he held it in. Ben grit his teeth and force himself to not fall even when his body is trembling hard.
"Did i go overboard?"-Roubaul
Suddenly the pressure gone, and Ben's clothes are drenched in cold sweat. His body is shaking and he pant hard, but he still stand and hold his knife. He look at Roubaul with scared eyes, but he is determined to keep fighting till the end.
"What a strong willed boy, but you need to relax a little! Getting too serious isn't good for your health."-Roubaul
Ben suddenly feel himself getting sleepy. He try to resist it, but it's hard, the urge to sleep is really strong. Ben almost stab his hand to resist the feeling, but Roubaul catch his hand to stop it. He finally can't resist it, and he fall asleep there.
"Good grief, this boy is really stubborn, he still hold his knife tightly even now."-Roubaul
Roubaul then call some mens to carry Ben inside a house. Then some womens change his clothes and they place him on a bed. They cover him and leave him to sleep quietly on the bed.
Ben wake up the next morning and he get alerted. He raise his knife that he held tightly in his hand all night and look around warily. He still remember what happen yesterday and can't get calm. He look around and didn't know where he is.
Ben then walk out from the room slowly while keeping his vigilance. He look around outside and surprised to see many people there. However, those people are just minding their business and behave like normal villagers.
"So you've woken up."-Roubaul suddenly appear behind Ben again
Ben is surprised, but now he immediately turn around and swing his knife to Roubaul. His knife can't hit Roubaul, it pass through Roubaul's body.
"You can't do that, little boy! If i'm a normal person, i will be dead by now."-Roubaul
"But you certainly aren't a normal person."-Ben jump back
"That's true, and you'll never beat me just with your strength."-Roubaul
"You, why did you let me live?"-Ben
"Did you think that i would kill you?"-Roubaul
"Aren't you? I lost the fight, and you caught me, so i am your captive now. You won't get anything from me, so it will be better to kill me."-Ben
"Boy, you sound like a soldier that ready to die anytime in a war."-Roubaul
"I was trained that way."-Ben
Ben forget that he is a 10 y.o currently, so his words really surprised Roubaul. A 10 y.o being trained like a soldier is unusual. Now Roubaul can understand why Ben behave like that yesterday. And Roubaul is really impressed by Ben, because Ben can resist his magic power pressure just with sheer will.
"Boy, how if we have a talk for a moment?"-Roubaul
"I told you i won't tell you anything."-Ben
"It's fine, you just need to listen to me."-Roubaul
Roubaul take Ben to the main building that shaped like a cat head. There are some people inside, that have waited for them.
"Sit, boy!"-Roubaul
"No."-Ben
"Whatever then."-Roubaul
Roubaul sit on the chief's chair, and someone give him a gourd of wine.
"Then, let me tell you again, i am Roubaul, the Guildmaster of Cait Shelter. We are just a small guild in Fiore, but we are a proper guild. Some guilds have acknowledged our guild, and we're not dark guild so you don't need to worry."-Roubaul
"Did you have any documents that can proof the authenticity of your statement? I prefer documents from Kingdom or Country with high credibility."-Ben
Roubaul then take some papers with Kingdom of Fiore's stamp. Ben take them and read through the papers fast.
"How can you proof that these documents aren't forged?"-Ben
".... You sure are troublesome and irritate me slowly."-Roubaul
"I need to be careful."-Ben
"Sigh, then if documents can't proof it to you, how about an action?"-Roubaul
"What do you mean?"-Ben
"I'll show you why i can guess your magic yesterday. Call Wendy!"-Roubaul
A man come out from the building and get out. After sometime, he return with a little girl that have blue hair. Ben didn't understand, but he feel a familiarity from the girl, especially her smell. The girl, Wendy also feel the same and look at Ben.
""Smell of a Dragon!""-Ben & Wendy
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