Mark let out a hearty laugh before finally settling down in his seat.
The wagon continued to roll steadily along the dirt road, its wooden wheels creaking rhythmically while the afternoon breeze drifted through the open countryside.
“Young master.”
“Yes?” Solomon turned his attention toward Mark, resting one arm against the carriage window.
“You said that you would be attending the Royal Academy, right?”
“Indeed I did.”
“Then we’ll be neighbors for a while!” Mark beamed, pointing ahead as though the academy was already within sight.
Solomon stared at the man for a moment.
On Earth, there was no problem with a grown man going back to school, but he had never imagined such a thing to exist in a fantasy setting.
“Oh, is merchant life not, umm…
working out…
anymore?” he asked cautiously.
Mark tilted his head.
“What do you mean, young master?”
“Well, you said that we’d be neighbors.”
“…Yes,” Mark replied hesitantly.
“And I’m heading to the academy,” Solomon said, placing extra emphasis on academy.
“Correct.”
“So how are we neighbors?”
Mark blinked before a look of realization crossed his face.
He chuckled softly and rubbed the back of his neck.
“You misunderstood, young master.
I own a small property near the academy.
That’s what I meant by neighbors.
Merchants need places to stay while doing business, after all.”
“That makes sense.”
“Do you enjoy being a merchant?” Solomon asked curiously.
“Well, it has its good points.”
“Was it your first choice?”
“Not exactly.” Mark’s smile softened as his gaze drifted toward the passing fields outside the wagon.
“I wanted to be a scholar.”
“What changed your mind?”
“Life…
I think,” Mark answered quietly, lowering his head.
For a brief moment, only the steady rumble of the wagon filled the silence.
“Young master, that’s enough depressing talk,” Wilfred chastised with a small smile, attempting to lighten the mood.
Solomon scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“My apologies if my questions ruined your mood.”
Mark waved a hand dismissively.
“It’s fine.
Curiosity is good for young ones.”
“You don’t even look like you’re in your late twenties, so what are you saying?” Solomon smiled.
“Well, I am twenty-two, though.”
“Interesting.”
“Hey, young master!
Guess my age,” Marvin asked suddenly, leaning forward with a huge smile on his face.
For a minute, Solomon swore he could see a wagging tail and a pair of puppy ears behind him.
“You’re sixteen?”
Marvin’s smile immediately wilted.
“You really did lose your memory, huh?” he said dejectedly.
“Anyway, it was a wrong guess.”
Solomon fell silent.
He had been in the world of Elaria for a whole month, and yet higher forces still seemed to enjoy watching him lose his mind.
“Young master, we’ll need accommodation immediately after we get to the academy,” Jessica informed him, folding her notebook shut after making another list.
“It would be best that we find one before your entrance ceremony.”
“Competent as always.”
Jessica gave a small, satisfied nod before tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“This is the basics, young master.”
“I see.” Solomon folded his arms thoughtfully.
“I heard they have dorms.”
“I can’t protect you in a dorm, young master,” Wilfred sighed, resting a hand on the hilt of the sword hanging at his waist.
“That’s true.”
“And we can’t serve you either,” Marvin spoke up, clasping his hands together.
“Wait, then isn’t this a bad situation?” Solomon held onto his face dramatically.
“If you’re searching for a house after arriving, I know the academy district better than most.”
Mark’s words immediately stopped Solomon from spiraling.
He slowly raised his head, and for a brief moment, he could swear there was a glowing halo floating above Mark’s head with a pair of angel wings spread behind him.
“Your…
an angel.”
Mark blinked several times.
“Is he okay?” he asked Jessica quietly.
Jessica covered her mouth as she giggled.
“I ask myself the same question every day, so don’t worry.”
“Rude.”
“You have to live with it, young master.” She casually rearranged her hair before smiling.
“You’re a weird but amazingly talented young man.”
“How nice.
I’m not completely hopeless.”
“Indeed.”
Solomon simply looked away, pretending not to hear her.
Instead, he accepted Mark’s offer with a grateful nod.
Not long afterward, the afternoon sun gradually sank toward the horizon, painting the endless grasslands in shades of orange and gold.
Long shadows stretched across the road as the air became pleasantly cooler.
“Guess we won’t be reaching the capital today,” Marvin sighed, sounding genuinely disappointed as he looked toward the distant horizon.
“You get to experience the great outdoors though, Marvin.” Solomon smiled.
“I hope you have a good experience.”
“Thank you.”
The two of them stared at each other for a while.
Solomon slowly raised an eyebrow.
“Aren’t we having a staring contest?” Marvin asked.
“No.” Solomon smirked.
“I don’t recall planning such.”
“Too bad.” Marvin smiled proudly.
“I have amazing skill.”
“I’m sure you do, Marvin.”
“That sounded sarcastic.”
“Ooooooh, he found me out.”
Mark burst into laughter.
Wilfred chuckled quietly.
Jessica shook her head with an amused smile.
Marvin puffed out his cheeks into a pout.
Solomon couldn’t help smiling as well.
The playful atmosphere lingered long after the conversation ended.
Eventually, they found a suitable clearing beside the road and began setting up camp for the night beneath the fading evening sky.
Was dinner.
Mark wandered off to catch fish from a nearby stream, the tall grass swaying softly around his legs as the evening breeze rolled over the campsite.
“I want to cook.” Marvin stepped forward eagerly, his eyes bright with anticipation.
Solomon, Wilfred, and Jessica simultaneously shuddered.
“We can’t feed the young master your cooking yet,” Jessica pointed out, folding her arms.
“Just keep practicing.”
Solomon placed his hand on Marvin’s shoulder.
“I asked Father to increase my allowance so that we could buy ingredients for you to practice with twice a month.” He looked into Marvin’s eyes.
“Can you wait till then?”
He remained calm as Marvin searched his face for sincerity.
When Marvin finally smiled, the corners of his eyes softening, Solomon felt like his heart was at peace.
Another strange occurrence that he couldn’t explain.
“As you wish, young master.” Marvin beamed.
“Well, you handled that quite nicely.” Wilfred walked up to him with an approving nod.
“I just want him to be encouraged.”
“Or you’re spoiling him.”
“I prefer the term, nurturing talent.”
“Let’s go with that.” Wilfred chuckled.
Jessica prepared them a simple meal.
She roasted the fish Mark had caught, which, to Solomon’s surprise, was a lot.
Mark also brought out some meat.
Everyone enjoyed a hearty dinner beneath the fading orange sky before retiring to bed.
The crackling campfire slowly died down as the sounds of chirping crickets and rustling leaves filled the quiet night.
THE NEXT DAY
They had only journeyed for another hour before the Royal Capital came into view.
Massive white walls stretched across the horizon, while countless banners fluttered above elegant buildings, dancing in the afternoon breeze.
Even from that distance, they could feel that the city was alive.
Marvin’s jaw dropped.
Jessica quietly admired the architecture, her eyes wandering across the towering walls.
Wilfred smiled faintly.
“Welcome to the heart of the kingdom.” Mark chuckled after noticing their bewildered expressions.
They arrived outside the city gates just before sunset.
After completing the entry inspection, Mark turned toward Solomon.
“Rest well tonight.” Mark tapped his back lightly.
“Tomorrow, I’ll help you find a proper home before your entrance ceremony.”
Solomon nodded gratefully.
The members of the Ashbourne household found an inn to spend the night since Solomon didn’t want to inconvenience Mark.
Solomon sat by the window in his room.
As he looked toward the distant silhouette of the Royal Academy towering over the capital, a familiar blue screen flickered into existence.
Location Reached: Royal Capital
Main Mission Updated
Proceed to the Royal Academy.
The screen faded, but Solomon didn’t mind.
He glanced toward the academy once more, the last rays of sunlight reflecting off its distant towers.
“Finally, my journey can begin.”
.
.
Far, far away, within the academy walls, someone opened their eyes.
“It’s here.”
END OF ARC 1 – THE WORLD OF SILENT MEN
New Cover for Arc 2 will drop soon