Solar Mage

Chapter 55: Martha

I sit on the ground, with my legs extended and my arms holding me up, I move my feet around as a way to pass the time.

"WE WILL BE ARRIVING AT THE MINT VISCOUNTY ESTATE IN THREE,"

Finally, that was so slow and boring, I wasn't even counting but it just felt so slow. Being able to think at faster speeds and see the world move slower than it actually does is a terrible downside to it.

I slightly contract my elbows before pushing off the ground and standing perfectly upright.

Still, it does have its perks.

"TWO,"

After getting up, I lower myself down again, and pick Rachel up, rising back up and holding her without struggling, like she wasn't even there.

Okay, so after I drop Rachel off at the Mint Estate Clinic, I just need to head to the church as quickly as possible and get the phoenix feather, and holy water from the holy grail. How will I get it? I don't know, but I'll worry about it once I get to it.

I suddenly feel a weakness in my legs and almost fail to react to it, my knees dropping slightly before I quickly take a strong step forward and scoop Rachel up.

Ugh– I might have to visit the Mint Clinic soon, as well after this is all over. Please just hold on for a little longer Dustin, and my legs; I'll fix it all soon. Though, Pyro's healing is a lot worse than I originally thought– but it's probably because the vessel she used was too weak to contain even a fraction of her power. I saw her mana before, and if I were to convert it to magic circles, she would be considered a third circled mage, like Isabella. If that theory is correct–

My mouth widens, turning into a devious grin, completely forgetting about my fatigue weakness, while my eyes stare intently at her as I start exhaling like a man who is unable to contain his desires.

–that means I'll just have to make her stronger so that she can heal me and cast blessings onto me whenever I get into a fight. Haha– since Pyro decided to give the blessing of healing to her instead of me, I'll make sure to make good use of her blessing!

I wipe the drool off my face as I continue to stare intensely at her and the new orange symbol of Pyro on her forehead.

It'll be fine since we're going to be spending a lot of time together anyway due to being apostles of the goddess! What's wrong with her being a little stronger and having the ability to assist me–I mean the church, better, if it's an option?

My extremely weird and downright creepy behavior is forcefully ended as Sagey shouts:

"ZERO, WE HAVE ARRIVED AT DESTINATION!"

What? But it didn't even say one–

The tunnel of Green light and black void ends as we plop out of a Warp Gate, my legs giving out before I quickly turn, rotating Rachel's body around me as I land on the hard rock floor on my back. While I stare up at the bright sun and sky without clouds, Rachel's still motionless body lies on top of mine.

Seriously, I understand that she's tired from all of that, since I experienced it as well, and I know that I have a mental fortitude stronger than most, but how could she sleep through all of that? All those loud noises and explosions, the constant movement, and the blinding lights, honestly, it's quite impressive. Since we arrived here already, maybe it'd be fine to just– relax a little...

I start to drift off, but just a second later, I awake again, to the sound of loud marching and metal clanging.

Shit, did I really almost just fall asleep, even after I said all that about having a strong mental fortitude? How embarrassing. I guess intelligence and mental fortitude are different things, just like... Tin said.

The stomping gets louder, as I sense people forming around me like what happened after I exited the Zidden Dungeon. Still, I don't turn my head.

Am I getting deja vu? I feel like I've been in this situation before, haha... we're in the Mint Viscounty Estate, so these people wearing metal armor should just be guards. I hope there is someone there that can recognize me and bring me inside but even in the worst case scenario, they won't kill me though.

I start to close my eyes in a calm and relaxed state, before suddenly stopping just before they shit and opening them widely.

Wait, how did they form here so quickly? They aren't a military household, so they shouldn't have people patrolling around the estate. Are they soldiers from another noble or worse, an enemy? Don't tell me– are they knights from the Corrupt faction?

I swing my head backwards to get a look at the soldiers and just see a few soldiers wearing standard mass produced iron armor without any noble's insignia on it that stumble backward, almost scared after seeing me turn my head and look at them.

I was wrong? What could it have been then?

I tilt my head forward and see the Green Warp gate, still open.

Could it have been that they saw the warp gate? Even still, it would be impossible to react within twenty seconds when there are no guards patrolling–

Arthur puts his thoughts on pause as he comes to a realization.

Right– this was my fault... I took my sweet time going inside the warp gate when it was already opened...

I drop my head back, once again looking up at the sky.

"Sagey, you can close the warp gate now."

The portal closes, slowly getting smaller and smaller, until it disappears, all without making a sound.

"Don–Don't move, state your identity, or we-we'll stab you!"

I hear one of the guards standing behind me say.

Is he seriously being wary of a kid whose clothes are in tatters? Come on man, I put a lot of effort into this appearance, I would've rather you been arrogant than afraid. He's not cut out to be a soldier, his parents probably forced him to.

"You won't know me, but my name is Arthur Ventrike, I'm a student at Wolkan Academy, I'm not an enemy, I'm a former patient here and as you can see, me and my friend here need medical attention–"

The guard abruptly cuts me off.

"Art-arthur Ventrike? I've never heard of tha-that name! Are you trying to lie to me and trick me because you think I'm scared of you? W-well, I'm not, so don't you lie to me! You kids and your silly games, guess what? Adults have jobs to do and no time for your pranks!"

What the hell did he just say to me?

Hearing his words, I immediately turn my head, with a seriously annoyed and angry face, back and see a frail looking man, shaking heavily as he, the only one pointing his spear at me, holds his spear.

I've just been in a dungeon for the past 4 days and fought through life or death situations, by myself, and watching my friend die, right in front of me. But you– a mere guard who can't even hold his weapon properly, dares to say that to me? I am the only one who can blame myself for that incident, but this guard has the nerve to ridicule me on things he knows nothing about?!!!

I should really just kill him right now. Even if I'm not in prime condition, it's still enough to take care of a sorry, corrupt excuse of a guard like you.

I begin to feel a dark flame, full of rage, ignite in my chest as I slowly move Rachel off of me while a tiny flame emerges in the pupils of my eye, slowly beginning to increase in size, simultaneously as many small orange particles begin to emit from my hair. When I start to turn around and get up, the guard who said that, drops his spear and falls to the ground, slowly crawling back, while the other guards start retreating backwards.

Just before I fully rise, ready to pounce at the guard, and my hair along with my eyes set ablaze, I feel a hand grab onto my shoulder.

What? I didn't even feel their presence! Who are they?!

"Excuse me patron, please forgive this lowly guard for his words, he does not have high enough clearance to be given your precious information. I plead with you to calm down so you do not cause any trouble for yourself and the young mistress."

My emotions come to a halt as I see her, a tall, serious looking woman with stern glasses and a welcoming smile on her face, and professionally kept black hair, styled in a braided bun.

It's the receptionist at the desk when I was leaving the clinic after I recovered from that poison! I couldn't sense any mana from her before, but it looks like it was because she didn't want me to. For her to be able to get through my Heightened Senses, she's at least a Royal Ranked Swordsman!

"You and your... partner here seem to be injured, we'll take care of your injuries for free if you would please allow me to take you inside."

Yes, if it's her, I can leave Rachel in her care. From what I've seen from Lillian, she may be clumsy, but she has a good heart. This person must be one of the famous retainters of the Mint Viscounty I've heard so much about: Martha.

I politely remove her hand from my shoulder and move down to pick up Rachel, relinquishing the fire fueled by rage, both externally, and internally.

"Thank you, but I can't receive treatment right now, I still have unfinished business. Instead, please take good care of her, she's a very important person to me."

Martha's face becomes troubled, losing her stern demeanor for a second as she looks down at Rachel in my arms, and back at me, with a face of confusion, and slightly that of terror.

"I–"

I interrupt her before she gets the chance to speak, placing Rachel in her arms as I turn away.

"Sagey, open a warp gate to the Temple of Pyro."

"COMMAND RECEIVED. DESTINATION CONFIRMED. PLEASE STEP IN WHEN YOU'RE READY."

A green portal appears and I walk inside seemingly, without turning back or saying anything.

"Sagey, make sure you close the gate after I walk in this time. If you understand, don't respond."

I walk through, and the portal instantly begins to close after I step in.

I really wanted to take her offer and finally be able to relax!

I cry silently inside as I stand in the dark warp tunnel, split by green light.

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