We left the city gates and went on our way. After a little while, I quietly asked,"...So how far away is Arden?"
He stopped and looked back at me."Around two weeks by walking. But don't worry, kid — we won't be walking—"
He opened his arms toward me."Come on, don't be shy, kid." He smiled."Jump into my arms."
Why would I do that now?.. What is he doing? Is he some kind of pervert?..
"Oh come on, kid — I WON'T ASK AGAIN!" he said with a silly smile.
"...Fine."
I got closer to him. He took me into his arms."Alright kid, now hold tight to me, will you?"
Why? What are yo—
Before I could finish my sentence, a HUGE BLAST of air shoved my whole body back, forcing me to hold even tighter to him.
He started running at an unbelievably FAST speed I had never seen before.
"HAHA! Told you to hold tighter, kid!"
He was running so fast, dodging trees and stones.
"SO... HO-... HOW LONG..." I tried to speak but it was so hard because of the air smashing into my face.
"One day. That's all it will take to get to Arden, the capital of Valyros," he said.
As I heard what he said, I started fading out.I haven't slept for two days... all because of that golem mission we took. I'm just gonna close my—
"Hey kid!"Bam. Bam.I could feel someone gently slapping my face.
"And? Did you have a good nap?"
"Ehm... yeah..."He placed me down on the ground.
As I turned around—
"WHOA..."
It was such a sight... A HUGE CITY. This must be the capital. Fully covered with walls. So many huge buildings...
"Alright now kid, follow me. Let's head to the gate."
I nodded.
"Ehm, wait... did I sleep for a whole day?.."
"HAHA... yes kid, you did. You seemed so tired, also you slept like a baby, you know..."
I fully ignored him.How did I just sleep like that, and for so long?! It's like... I felt safe while being with him. That feeling... I've never had it before.
As we got closer, the walls grew BIGGER and BIGGER. Such HUGE walls...
The two guards at the gate immediately saluted the man.
"Welcome back, Sir Grade 1 Commander Ron Botham."
Then we entered the gate—
Hmm... Commander, he said, huh?.. This guy must be something special...
We went deeper into the City of Arden, then we reached what Ron called The Warden Hall.
Everyone in there saluted Ron with FULL FEAR.There were people training, fighting, holding all kinds of weapons, doing paperwork. It was like a controlled mess...
These Wardens must be kinda like the police of my world...
The commander took me into an empty room with black walls and a single light hanging from the ceiling. Two chairs with a table in the middle.
"Sit down and wait, kid," he said calmly.
I sat down and waited for about fifteen minutes.
The door opened.An older man — maybe fifty — with gray short hair and a beard entered slowly, walking with perfect posture, holding a metal stick in his left hand.
He closed the door behind him.
Commander Ron saluted the old man immediately.
He must be an even higher rank..
"Hold him!" the old man said, which made Ron directly grab me by the arms, holding me still.
I could pull my sword from the inventory... but I'll wait and see what happens.
The old man walked closer, still holding the metal stick. Then he lifted it—
PAM! PAM! From the right and left, he struck me with the stick.
AND PAM. PAM.
I wasn't feeling any pain at all, but I bit my tongue, made it bleed, and spat blood on the ground while faking noises of being in FULL PAIN.
"NO, NO PLEASE! IT HURTS SO MUCH! I BEG YOU, STOP!" I begged.
AND PAM PAM."Ah... oh... ah..."
"Look at that, kid, you made me catch my breath... ah... ah..." he said while trying to get some air. Then he stopped and placed the stick on the table.
All that happened while the commander just watched without showing any emotion at all.
Good that I faked being in pain.
"Alright NOW, KID — tell me everything you know without lying. Did you meet a Silencer?!"
A what now?.. What the hell is that?.. Wait — a Silencer... does he mean that fully covered-in-black guy who wanted to kill me on my first day?..
I nodded.
"Alright, good, you're doing good kid. Don't lie. Now what happened between you and him?"
"I went into a motel and booked a room. While asleep, he attacked me, pushed his knife a little into my neck, then fully disappeared from my sight."
"Alright... and did he tell you anything?" the old man asked, serious.
"Yes. He said something about me not being the guy he was supposed to take out."
"Argh... okay. Commander."
"Yes, sir," Ron answered.
"This kid doesn't know anything. I can tell he isn't lying. Let him go."
"Yes, sir!"
The old man turned to leave."Thanks, kid. And also... don't pretend again to be inpain," he said calmly and left the room.
"Alright kid, you did well," Ron said as he took me outside the room.
"You're free to leave, kid. And sorry for taking you all this way here. You know when the boss commands, I gotta obey," Ron said with a silly smile.
I suppose I'm free to leave now.
So that's it... they just asked me some questions.I headed outside The Warden Hall.
And went directly to a shop to buy some food.I haven't eaten in so long now. I'm so hungry.
"Argh NOO! All my money is in the inventory, and I can't take it out here... alright, never mind, let's just head back to Edrin."
And what's this dumb act? How dumb do they think I am? I can literally sense the Wardens they sent to follow and watch me.
Wardens and Silencers, huh?..
What a world I got into...
NOW I GOTTA TAKE CARE OF THESE WARDENS!-