Dawn arouse from the lakeside village of Rebelbub
The glimmer of the moon was fading rapidly, it's light being siphoned by the sun rising to the east. Elias, Catherine and Patricia were ready to depart. The three of them were standing outside the Silver Diamond Inn, their packs filled with breads for the road.
Despite the extremely early hour. The server of the inn prepared breakfast for them without complaint.
"Truly a five-star inn." Elias muttered silently while gripping his revolver tightly. Always one to give credit for the bread, Elias thanked the server profusely for the warm bread and the service.
They quickly left for the northern gate of Rebelbub Village, the morning mist still clinging to the ground. The path beyond the gate stretched toward the mountains. The foot of the mountain was a hard day's ride on horseback, so it would take approximately an hour trip
Today would mark the third day since Cassius Calico's party disappeared in the mountains. Chances that they are long dead. Elias doubted he'd found anyone alive, but there was always the possibility they'd survived against all odds. If he did bring them back alive, that make the boy's father like Elias all the more, since he was an Luminous Knight
The sound of a village waking up could be heard as they headed down the main street, it was foggy. After a few minutes, Elias's party reached the northern gate.
As they approached, Elias sensed a few people standing by the exit and narrowed its eye. He immediately recognized it's scenery
"I think I can guess what you're here for, but I'll ask just in case. Eirene" Elias glared through me
As the morning mist cleared, he saw the Yellow Flower Guild, including his little sister, me.
I faltered under his withering gaze, but I stood to my ground. A few feet away the members were stroking their horses and talking about something. I noticed my big brother and walked to him.
"We're coming with you. You're looking for a missing person, right? It's better to have more people looking, then." I asked with a expressionless face
"No thanks. If you want to come, you're welcome to, but we're not going together "
"Wh-why not?"
"I told you yesterday, that going to that mountain range is dangerous, it's definitely suicide"
Despite numerous attempts from my brother, it still wasn't enough. I made desperate excuses to join my brother's side. Then, Elias lend one of his excuses again.
Elias stared pointedly at the horses behind Natalie. From the looks of them hw doubted they could even handle having people ride them, but he didn't say anything.
"Your saying the horses in the village we're too slow, but… hey, Brother. You're not going to say something crazy like you can run faster than these horses or anything, right? Honestly, that crazy pressure you released yesterday was like that too, it's like you've stopped being human."
Elias was taken aback from my response. Though he couldn't deny that he could probably could ourrun a horse just by running. In a sense, he really has stopped being human. Realizing explaining would be too much pain, Elias wordlessly raised it's hand in the air.
"Shadow Horse… activate"
As he chanted the word silently, Everyone's jaw dropped open as they saw a black horse appear in thin air
"Get it yet? Hell, I probably could run faster than those horses. I'm not trying to mock you guys. There literally is that much of a difference in our travel speed."
Everyone was still to shocked by the black horse sudden apperance and its otherworldly, at least as far as this world was concerned, nature to say anything
I was shocked my Elias immense power, he can summon black horses in thin air, while dark magic was seeping through his body. I spoke up, a quiver excitement in my voice.
"D-Did you make this yourself, Elias?" I said
"Yeah. It is part of my dark magic, I can summon horses freely. This is my main part of my transportation, it feeds on mana on prolonged use."
"So, can I join in, Elias?"
""If you're willing to go that far from Cassius, I guess I might be willing to do it… but I have three conditions"
"Conditions?"
Elias crossed his arms once again, I held my head in anguish. They were threw conditions I must follow, otherwise, I will forbid for joining Elias party
"Yeah. They're nothing huge. First, I will protect you, in exchange for leaving one of your members behind. Second, you will give me half of your rewards through me. Five gold to be exact, excluding the promotion. Third, regardless of whether they're part of the guild or not, I want access to all of your connections. Those are the three conditions, Eirene" Elias said calmly
"You're asking quite a lot…"
"If you can't do it, then the deal's off. We'll be continuing on our way, without you."
Elias face dotted in seriousness, despite being a luminous knight, my brother has quite some taste from his identity. The first and second condition wasn't a big deal, but the third one would effectively turn my reputation as a vice-leader lackey. Considering his position, it wasn't a request he could easily known well.
"What exactly would you ask for using my connections?" I said in confusion
"Well, your relationship from the Yellow Flower Guild, I'm maintaining an incognito, Eirene"
Seeing Elias's tone lend out a whisper, I can clearly tell that he was more of an luminous knight, more of a cocky, secretive type of people who angusihes over everything, Elias was part of that people
"Well, our leader, White Flower, is currently in Caria City, she was invited by the meeting about her position as Capital Knight, that my one connections so far"
"White Flower? I've known little of her. I suppose that is your known connections? As if?"
Elias was maintaining his incognito journey so far, knowing his little sister connections from other guild made Elias barely trusts me more than anything.
"Okay Eirene, all things settled. Little sis, welcome to the party."
For his part, I sensed that Elias admired his dedication from his party, too. Even if Elias he no longer considered himself as a regular human, or his former peers from his family. He still believed I was the one of the few people who deserves respect
Then, Elias attached a wooden wagon behind his black horse and proceeds to left the village. The members were left behind at Rebelbub because of Elias's past connection from my guild. I alone, was sitting inside the wagon, while Elias sat in the driver's seat.
"Woah, this road is clattery as expected, are we going to the right direction, Elias?" Catherine asks
"Definitely, I know my path. I've been in these roads before"
Much as Elias can tell, he is definitely an experienced knight. With lot of training and hardwork finally pays off during those eight years of service, even experienced that mine.
One of Elias's original members, Patricia, saw me as her master's little sister, despite she is two years older than me, I was fascinated that she was a high-ranked adventurer. Even surpassing it's skills than mine.
"I guess it's fine." Elias said in a rare display of tolerance
"Elias, your nice to Eirene."
"Well, she has down a lot for me."
"Hmmm."
"Patricia?"
"Come on Patricia, don't ignore me. Please?"
"Let me sleep on your lap next time."
"Sure… Patricia."
The two were soon flirting openly each other, despite the fact that I was the main target from his party, In the back of the wagon were Catherine watching the spectacle up front in great interest, she stared out of the window pretending not to care, but stealing glances every now and then. Behind me were two couples flirting, and one girl stood in jealous eyes
Elias is living a harem of beautiful girls who stood at his side… I wonder what the heck happened for that meek brother of mine just to end up like this..
It was hard to believe this party was headed into dangerous territory where one highly skilled adventurer party had gone missing.
"Ladies, we arrived at our destination. Welcome to Rebelbub Mountain"