Free Web NovelChapter 181: New Nation, New Conflict
A few moments before Yarjak and Sara stepped outside the palace.
Mika and the others from the white class were standing outside the palace, which was the biggest and most eye-catching building in Youra. The white palace, whose roof was dome-shaped, was surrounded by several golden pillars. The building itself had a simple layout and did not appear as lavish as other palaces in other nations. In addition, there was only one big entrance, whose height was approximately 20 feet.
Being in the center of the capital, it was natural that many people would pass by.
"..."
Mika was staring at the people while leaning against a nearby wall.
The other people from their group had already gone back to the inns, awaiting further information.
Elsa, who came out not too long ago and who was covered up by her robe, notified them that she would wander around the city for the time being. It seemed like she and Sylvia were exchanging some words but Mika was not able to perceive them.
"It really feels like they are staring daggers at me..." Mika muttered, feeling pressured.
The whole group was sticking out due to them not being from Grat. The people were avoiding them and only gave them a disgusted gaze. However, soon a certain group laid their eyes on Mika’s group.
"Harik... Is that you...?"
A boy, who was walking in front of his group, approached Harik, who in turn, appeared uneasy as he took a step back. That person wore just like the others in his group a uniform, consisting of black pants paired with black boots, which covered half of their shins, and a skin-tight sleeveless yellow shirt with a black engraved logo on the right chest. His black hair was almost completely shaved off and his narrow eyes were green, indicating that he was a wind mage.
"Asak..." Harik muttered nervously.
"Still wearing your shades, huh?"
The boy wore a wide sinister smile as he kept getting closer to Harik.
"Who’s that Harik?" Belian wondered.
"H-he is-"
"My name is Asak Jun. He and I were once classmates." Asak introduced himself politely as he offered Belian a handshake.
"..."
Belian hesitated for a moment before he took his hand.
"I see. I’m Belian Ziva, his current classmate."
"Oh, I guess you must be close to him now, right?"
Asak did not stop grinning and Mika and Belian noticed that something did not sit right with them.
"Then, I assume that you know about that, right? About his secret?"
"What are you talking about?" Belian said sternly.
"I’m talking about the reason why he’s wearing shades all the time." Asak whispered.
And before Belian or Harik could react, Mika stepped in.
"I know about it. So what?" Mika asked, grabbing his shoulder from behind.
"..."
Asak turned his head to Mika, looking both calm and angry at the same time.
"Are you perhaps also his classmate?"
He slapped Mika’s hand away and tried to maintain his polite speech.
"For the time being, yes."
"And you know about his secret with his eyes?"
"Yes. Now, what do you want?"
"..."
Asak seemed taken aback. But then he began to clap his hands, applauding Mika. It was at that moment that the group gathered everyone’s attention.
"What’s going on?" Lily wondered after she chatted with Sylvia.
He could not stop clapping his hands.
"You’re really tough, you know? I don’t know if I had the guts to share the same space as that monster." Asak remarked, chuckling slightly.
"..."
Now, Harik was standing behind him, throwing his shadow at him.
"What?"
Asak’s expression and voice turned grim.
"Stop that." Harik stated with his fists clenched.
"You want me to stop? Seriously... Do I have to remind you who I am? Do I have to beat you up just like in the good old days?"
"..."
Harik did not reply. His fists were shaking.
"What a joke." Asak huffed.
"A soft heart but the looks of a dem-"
"!"
Everyone was surprised.
Before he could finish his sentence, Mika hit Asak with a backhand to the nose, sending him to the ground.
"A-Asak!"
His friends walked over to him in worry.
Meanwhile, passengers assembled around Mika and the rest, looking at Mika with scorn.
"Sorry, I thought I saw a monster, so I reflexively launched an attack. But in the end, I just mistook you for one." Mika stated, looking down at Asak, who was bleeding from the nose.
He cracked his knuckles and slowly walked up to Asak.
And around that time, Yarjak and Sara appeared.
"Mika, stop it!" Lily shouted concerned.
"H-how dare you do this to me...?!" Asak yelled irritated.
"Maybe I should knock you out for good." Mika muttered menacingly.
Asak shot up from the ground with wind slowly gathering around his right hand.
"Now you’ve done it!"
[You have a knack for provoking wind mages.]
"..."
Mika heaved a small and exhausted sigh. But he could not waste any time anymore or else, he could not fend off the incoming attack.
Lightning sparks engulfed Mika’s right fist.
He retracted his arm but was held back by Harik.
"Please stop..." he murmured shakingly.
"..."
Mika looked at Harik for a moment before he ceased his attack.
"Enough!"
It was Yarjak, who stopped him with a shout.
"I won’t tolerate you making a scene in front of the palace any longer. I have to ask you to leave this place today!"
He shifted his gaze to Mika.
"The same applies to you." he added sternly.
Mika averted his gaze from him but internally accepted his words.
"Tch. It’s the Tiam siblings..." Asak complained quietly.
Not wanting any trouble, he also stopped his movements and decided to walk away with his friends. But of course, he took one last look at Mika.
And soon, the crowd dispersed.
"..."
Yarjak heaved a sigh.
"Just what were you thinking...?" he asked drained.
"I’m not regretting it." Mika replied sternly.
Meanwhile, Sara could not hold her laughter back.
"We were already told that you were always in the center of trouble back in Loogam but I wouldn’t have expected for you to cause a scene this soon!" Sara said with tears dwelling in her eyes from laughing hard.
"Asak Jun is a student and probably will be your classmate here. I was hoping for you to not get involved with him but I guess it’s too late..." Yarjak stated, shaking his head.
"You’re free to roam around here but consider moving in groups or pairs. And Mika, you will stay with us in the inn." he added.
Mika was about to argue why he had to stay back, however, he quickly realized why when he noticed the stares directed at him.
"Fine..." Mika sighed.
Thus, he accompanied Sara and Yarjak to the inn.
"..."
Harik’s nervousness did not fade away yet as Mika walked away.
"Who was that person?" Belian asked Harik quietly.
"Just an old acquaintance..." he responded softly before heading into the city.
In the meantime, Asak and his group of friends hung out in a dark and tight alley near the palace.
"Who’re these guys...?" he muttered with suspicion.
"It’s been a long time since foreigners came to Grat. I wonder if they’re here because of a request." one of his friends speculated.
"But aren’t they also just students? I mean, they were with Harik." another one said.
The group continued putting up theories without Asak ever joining their conversation.
"?"
Then, he noticed a person emerging from the depths of the alley.
Everyone else also began to notice the presence and stiffened up.
"Did you just say foreigners...?"
The deep and rough voice belonged to a young man.
"Greetings, boss!" the entire group yelled vigorously as they bowed their upper bodies.
It was a tall young man approximately a few years older than the others. He had long braided hair, tied into a knot with a few strands hanging down his forehead. He was toned as one could see with his upper body not being covered. The person wore the same pants and boots as the others and his shirt was tugged inside his pants.
"So what is all the ruckus involving foreigners about?" he asked with a menacing grin.
Asak was the first one to open his mouth and therefore, began to explain the situation.
And after finishing up, the man’s grin widened.
"Now this is getting interesting...! Where are they?"
"We assume that they are currently in the city but the Tiam family is monitoring them."
He sighed.
"The Tiams..."
He was about to step outside the dark alley.
"Where are you going, boss?"
"Just taking a short stroll here." he replied indifferently.
He looked up to the sky with his beige eyes before he disappeared from their sight.
"..."
Asak still stared in the direction of Payl Krun, a student at Youra, who was repeating his third and last year.
"Go and observe him." Asak ordered two people from his group.
"Y-yes!"
In a hurry, the two followed after Payl.
"This could get troublesome with the Tiams involved..." Asak muttered strained. freёwebnovel.com
Payl was known for his bad reputation and the fact that he wielded a relic did not help his case at all.
