***
We arrived in the early morning when we first stepped back on Soldat. The sky was clean of any clouds and it looked like it would a great day ahead of us. The Sky division let me off after I had originally joined them temporarily as everyone had to undergo inspection and maintenance of the fleet.
Walking further into the silent city that was empty of people it was obvious most of the travelers who came here for the grand tournament had already disappeared. After all it had been exactly 4 days ago since the tournament was finalized.
Coincidently there was a carriage with a tent above waiting to escort anyone who would pay a good price. The older gentleman was sitting there biting on a stick which I could fast presume was a tobacco stick judging by it's color and the fact no coachman.
I shoved my hand into my pocket to look for a certain piece of authority and once I revealed a small badge made purely out of gold with a lighting engraving on it the coachman realized fast what was of my status.
"...Will this do it?" I asked, knowing the answer already.
The golden badge I held in hand were made by the smithies and given to people with higher authority than the usual soldier or commander. Though I could only show it in Soldat since the locals lived with the marines side by side knowing the structure of the marine rankings.
You'd have to be lucky outside of Soldat for anyone to recognize the badge.
"Where do you want to go?" the coachman asked, preparing the leash on hand.
"Can you make your way towards the admiral's Kesak's manor?" I asked. If there was one thing I wanted it was resting and sleeping on my soft bed. Nothing was better than coming 'home' from a mission where'd you have to sleep on flat wooden surfaces with you'd barely can call a mattress.
"The one located west, close to the edge of the island?" The coachman asked, curious.
"Yeah".
"I can drive you towards the closest streets, anymore than that you'll have to walk the rest". What he was saying was understandable. Sarah's manor was located in isolation west for the island where nobody were allowed to go except for higher up's or personal carriages.
"Yes, I understand".
***
Shortly after jumping on I could feel the carriage rustling against the slightly uneven brick ground. It was still quiet around the street corner's that we passed by and there were a few sounds of the locals readying their vendors already preparing to make sell.
"...Excuse me sir...". the sudden silence broke down once the coachman started speaking to me, intervening with the silence. "By any chance, are you Solan the Leviathan hunter?".
I was slightly surprised by the sudden question but it wouldn't be too surprising knowing I always wore a mask which was significant to me.
"I am, did my mask point that out?"
"Yeah It did. A tall marine soldier who wear's a mask all the time. Your quite famous you know". The coachman explained, his head still facing the way ahead of him.
"Fame don't really matter does it? I'm just doing what I'm being ordered to do". I said amusingly.
"To some extent fame can change how people perceive a person, stories and rumors play a crucial part too". The elder man continued, making his way through all the rustling beneath.
"Most kid's nowadays dreams of becoming anax hunters or marines to gain fame and wealth... To some extent it can work if you manage to stay alive by then". He's right, if there was one thing most people dreamt of was becoming hunters who fought against Leviathans, a life full of adventure and travelling that many wished for. Yet the reality was different.
In one moment everything could change and by the time you knew it your fleet would be consumed by the sea beneath while the Leviathan you faced was eating onto the ship's hull or even worse, witnessing your comrade being eaten alive. The same way I presume my father died.
"What about you sir? have you ever had such dream?" Solan asked, curious to know the man's thoughts
"I used to be an soldier myself" The coachman huffed, like it was a nostalgic past of his.
"You were in the marines?" Solan asked, his brow's arching, intrigued by the revelation. The old man sitting Infront did have trained muscles beneath his plain navy-blue shirt which required at least a few years.
"Not in the marines no. I was part of the royal knight's on the mainland".
'The royal knights I muttered to myself?' I'd read about them in the past. They were the group of elite soldiers tasked with protecting the castle that the emperor lived in. They underwent at least 5 years of dedicated training and education before finally being admitted to the position — though the requirements to join the significant profession was unfair and absurd.
"Your of noble descent?" I asked curious. The only way to get in was having noble blood. It was crucial idea that the 6th emperor made after several assassination attempt's on his life. Only noble families that held close connections with the royal family could be admitted as they'd swear a oath of loyalty, obedience and servitude.
"Yes, I still am, after retiring when my age isn't considered battle-ready in the mainland terms I was basically free". The coachman said thinking about the day he finally left.
"...How come your here in Soldat if you were of pure noble blood?" It was weird thinking about it. If you were of pure blood then that meant you could live a leisure life within the walls, eating delicious meat raised on the massive land and vegetables grown without a worry. In other words you could live a life without worrying about the leviathans.
"...At first I was unsure of my decision, it's no doubt Daimon is a beautiful country but the people there are too judgmental and are pain in our asses if we piss them off". The coachman said, The hand which was held onto the leash showing a visible vain as he got pissed just by thinking about. "I had relatives in Soldat so I decided to to move here... A life of peace".
Peace and Soldat in the same sentence were amusing. Yes, it was peaceful unless you were the hundreds of marines who lose their life serving the grandmaster every year.
"But I presume you were rich? or your family at least?" Solan said.
"I was the youngest of 4 siblings, so inheriting my family wealth was out of reach. Living in Soldat has generally made my mind calmer and the stories that comes in and out all the time always amuses me". What he said wasn't a lie.
"An example is you sir.Solan. You slayed an leviathan at the age of 8. That's something straight out of a fairy tale" The man laughed a bit imagining himself the scene of a 8 year old boy facing a big sea monster in the midst of the sea.
Solan couldn't help but smile seeing the laughing man. His story was well famous across Endeia already and thinking back at the memory he couldn't help but chuckle himself.
"I must say sir.Solan, your destined for great things... They say the first 20 years of your life will be deciding factor of what you will become".
***
We had conversed for a while and after making our way towards the final street corner in the west we arrived by a forest which served as a border between the city and admiral Sarah's estate. The sun's sphere was already above the sea and it's light reflected the close house window's in the close distant.
Stepping out of the transport vehicle my foot was fully planted on the brick-layered ground.
"It was good talking with you Sir.Solan, I expect that you make more stories for me and my family to hear in the future". The man mused to himself.
"I'll try my best" Waving the coachman off Solan walked to the open plain track covered by it's tall green grass. Walking with a pace slightly above normal for about 10 minutes he'd arrive Infront of the manor's entrance.
"Home". Was Solan's first thought. He would wonder how Sarah would react to his return after having suddenly disappeared during the festival. It had been about 1 and a half week ago since he left for Komod with Benedict. One thing was sure enough, he felt happy to be back.