Aziel was enjoying his walk in the forest, thinking that he was going to leave the forest after spending most of his year in it. He came across some beast along his way, but decided not to pay attention to any of them.
When he finally came out of the forest he found a destroyed carriage full of goods, the chauffeur of the carriage was unconscious laying on the ground. Aziel hurriedly went towards the man and cast his healing magic to the man. When the man finally regained his consciousness and found
Aziel still healing his remaining wounds, he beg Aziel to help the people in his village.
"Please, good sir. Help the people in my village, they were in great trouble. I promise to pay you anything." The man pleaded Aziel while kneeling.
"Why? What actually happened here, Mister?" Aziel asked the man.
"I was on my way to deliver this goods to the Capital because it was the taxation week, when a basilisk came out of the woods and destroy my carriage. Before I lose my consciousness, I saw it moving towards my village. My good sir, please help me. All my villagers were consist of either kids or adults with weak magical power, and I know they can't protect the village against that Basilisk." The man cried for help.
"A Basilisk? Alright, show me the way, but I won't promise anything. I know a Basilisk was a huge beast and has a very hard skin, right?" Aziel asked the man on their way towards the village.
"You're right Sir. Even if you could only chase it out of the village, I will still pay you. Just help them, my family and my villagers together with our livelihood was there." The man explained.
"Okay. Mister?" Aziel asked the man his name.
"It's Von, Von Rayshik, good sir." Von replied.
Aziel didn't know how but fate had actually did him a favor this time as he met the Viscount of the domain on his way to the Capital. When they reach the Village, most of the houses were destroyed, many men were lying on the ground unconscious, the Basilisk was still in the village destroying everything on its way, and was about to chomp a woman protecting her child.
Aziel launched himself towards the Basilisk head, when it felt Aziel's presence and its eyes rolled towards him.
The Basilisk sway its body to the side, destroying another house on the process as it evaded Aziel's attack.
Aziel landed in front of the beast.
He run towards the Basilisk as he launched another attack, but this time Aziel used his spear, extending it as he jumped. The attack was so fast that the beast couldn't avoid the attack. The beast was hit in its chin, the spear continued to extend hitting the beast's brain on the process and killing it.
The beast fall to the ground dead. Aziel retracted his spear and walk towards the woman and her child. He cast his healing magic towards the two, and went to the wounded men lying on the path afterwards and healed them. Luckily he wasn't too late as everyone was still alive and was only unconscious. The villagers thanked him for saving their lives, and gave him gifts such as food and water for his journey.
"Where are you going good sir? I know you weren't from here because I have only seen your face here today." Von asked Aziel.
"My name is Aziel Mateo, but you can just call me Aziel." Aziel smiled to everyone.
"I was actually on my way to the Capital, to enroll on the Magic Academy. May I know how far the Capital from here was?" Aziel responded.
"Oh, really? That's great, I know that will do great things, you have a talent for that. To answer your question on how far the Capital was, it will take you seven to eight days walking from here, but if you have a ride, it will take three days on a carriage and two days riding a horse." Von answered.
So, the real question is. How do you like to be paid? However, I cannot offer you much really, as you can see our situation right now." Von said as he bowed his head.
"Can I talk to you in private, Mr. Von?" Aziel asked Von.
"What? Oh yes of course. My house wasn't destroyed, we can talk there." Von initiated by walking ahead of Aziel.
When they reached Von's house, they went inside to talk.
"What is it that you wanted to talk about, Aziel?" Von asked.
"As you already know, I was on my way to the Capital to enroll in the Academy. But I know it will be a long way by walking. Can you give me a ride, instead? In exchange, I can use my magic to rebuild the houses in your village and build a wall around it." Azied asked.
"Are you sure that's all you need? I can do it for free, aside from your payment." Von replied, but he understood that there is a hidden message behind Aziel's request and that is to make him a temporary resident of the village.
"Thank you for understanding Mr.Von, that's all I need." Aziel bowed in appreciation.
"Since most of the goods in the carriage wasn't destroyed, why don't we start our travel after you finish building the village?" Von asked.
"That would be great, Mr.Von." Aziel affirmed the proposal.
"Alright Aziel, I'll tell everyone about your plan, and prepare the carriage as you do your magic." Von said.
"Okay Sir." Aziel replied.
The two of them head outside Von's house, and Aziel starts to rebuild the village using his earth magic. The rebuilding didn't take too much time as Aziel was already proficient in his Earth magic.
He cast a huge magical spell to rebuild the village in one go. Although the magic was a strong one, the villagers didn't find it weird or out of this world as they saw many magic powers stronger than what Aziel had showed them, which made him felt relieve.
After he completed the rebuilding of the village, Aziel and Von started to go on their travel. The villager sent them out and wave Aziel goodbye.
"You're villagers are really joyful bunch, Mr.Von. You must be a really good leader to have a villagers that could give smiles like that." Aziel spoke his mind towards Von which made him blushed a little.
"You really think so?" Von felt proud as he played with his nose.
"Yes. And I can see it that you really are." Aziel replied while smiling at Von.
"Hehehe. Thank you for your kind words, Aziel. The truth is, all of the villagers here where an outcasts." Von revealed in a melancholic voice.
"They were, or should I say we were all an outcasts. The Capital couldn't give us home to live anymore, so they kick us out of the Capital and sent us here in the outskirts of the Kingdom." Von said, his face was full of sadness.
"But thanks to that, we were able to live happily without the worries of being trampled by those bastard nobles. And we get to sleep in our bed under the roof of our home, right?" Von just laughed the issue aside.
Aziel who also experienced something similar, felt the same as Von, and vowed to also change the system of the world. He vowed that anyone from any status must coexist, and discrimination must be abolished.
"You're right, Mr.Von." Aziel just agreed to Von's statement.
A few miles in their travel, it was already dusk when they decided to stopped beside a river along the road so that the horses can drink fresh water, Von also give them food and let them rest for the night.
They started a bonfire, Aziel decided not to use his fire magic as he didn't know what reactions Von would make. Instead he made a fire in a normal way using wooden sticks.
Aziel went into the river to catch some fish for them to eat for dinner.
Von grilled the fishes, and the fish was cooked, they both eat their dinner.
After eating dinner, both of them sleep beside the fire that Aziel made to keep them warm for the night.
The next day, Von and Aziel started their day with a breakfast.
Aziel cooked the food that the villagers gifted him. When the food was cooked they began to eat and Von found Aziel's cooking delicious.
"You also had a thing for cooking, young Aziel. It's good!" Von praised Aziel
"Thank you, Mr.Von." Aziel just smiled and ate his food.
After they eat their breakfast, they continued with their travel towards the Capital.
Another day has passed and Aziel could finally see the Castle of the Capital enclosed by a massive wall.
"We're almost there, young Aziel. Are you ready?" Von asked Aziel.
"Yes Mr.Von." Aziel replied.
They arrived at the gate the next day, and Von's carriage was halted by the guards, asking for the permit. They also wanted to ask Von about Aziel so they talked to Von privately, but Aziel could hear everything.
"Mr.Von, your permit checks out, but your companion hasn't shown his identifications yet. May I know who he is and how is he related to you?"
"Oh that? He is the son of my third uncle's granddaughter. His name is Aziel Mateo I brought him to enroll him in the Academy. You see he just received his blessing recently so I decided to just bring him in." Von replied.
The guard was in a puzzle after what Von's statement, so he take Von's words for it and let Aziel in.
"You are to go to the clerk's office and get evaluated before entering the Academy, kid! The cleck's office is in the first building after you made a detour on that route. The further instructions will be given by the clerk herself, you got it?" The guard instructed Aziel pointing towards the left side of the Capital.
"Yes, Sir. Thank you very much." Aziel bowed to the guard.
"Hmmp. That kid has manners, I see. Not like any other kids admitted to the Academy recently. I wish you good luck, kid." The guard's thought as he watch Aziel talking to Von.
"Mr.Von, I really appreciate what you did. Thank you very much Sir. I will forever think of this as a favor. I will definitely pay you back for this Mr.Von." Aziel said as he bowed to Von.
"Don't worry about it, young Aziel. I can't even thank you enough for helping my village. It's the least I could do, so don't worry about it." Von replied bowing towards Aziel.
"Thank you again Sir. I'll go ahead." Aziel waved his hand to Von before going to the clerk's office.
"I wish you good luck, kid. May you prosper on your journey!" Von waved back.
With that words of goodbyes, they've took their different paths.
Aziel went inside the clerk's office where he saw another huge crystal ball that measures magical powers. He talked to the clerk and was told to wait in the lobby as they were going to measure his magical powers after a few preparations.
Aziel doesn't know why but he feels a little bit anxious when looking towards the crystal. Maybe he was still distressed about the past. His heart was beating loud when he was called by the clerk.
"Alright Mr. Aziel Mateo, we can now start. And please do everything as I say. I don't want any repetitions because I don't have all day. Got it?" The clerk was a bit strict on her instruction.
"Alright. Whenever you're ready, place you right hand on the crystal ball!" The clerk instructed in a loud voice.
"And now for the Results!"
-End of Chapter-