"I see..."

Dieter's voice spilled out of the train station's communication device.

Aaron was currently standing in the sunny part of the station's platform. He had bid farewell to Dalila and joined Jaron in calling Administrator Dieter.

He glanced over to Jaron.

After connecting the device, Jaron had slipped into the shade. Aaron figured he did so because his snow-like skin easily burned.

What a strange fellow. He had skin as a pampered prince, but his hands were covered with calluses and scars. He also joined a mercenary group and seemed to be taking it seriously.

Aaron half smiled. He typically didn't like aristocrats, so he didn’t know how he felt about the young nobleman. But at the very least having him around to use the communication devices was convenient.

Aaron looked back to the image of Dieter. Dieter looked to be finishing digesting what he told him.

"Aaron, are you sure they were Eldritch?"

Aaron nodded.

"I had never felt such sickening mana. If it wasn't an Eldritch, then what could it be?"

Dieter tapped his finger on his desk.

"How concerning."

Aaron's ears twitched at Dieter's tone of voice. He knew something.

"They were working in a group. Do you know any organization that welcomes Eldritch?" Aaron pressed.

Dieter's brow scrunched.

"Dieter?"

" That is Brigadier or Administrator Dieter. You know, for a kid who tries to speak politely, you are very rude."

" Fine, Administrator?" He rolled his eyes.

" You punk." Dieter shook his head in disbelief. "I only have a hunch. I want to look more into it before making any claims."

" Any information would help. Come on, don't hold back on me."

Aaron stressed his voice to show he wasn't going to take no as an answer.

Dieter and Viltautas had withheld information from him for too long. This time Dieter would not be able to slither out of telling him.

Dieter hesitated for a moment before sighing.

" You won't accept a promise to tell you later, right?"

"Nope."

" Fine. The only organization I know filled with Eldritch is the one called The Court of Lich."

" The Court of Lich?" Jaron spoke up from the shade. " Aren't Lich boogeymen for children? Why would anyone name their organization after a myth?"

"Private Jaron, that isn't the issue."

" No, Jaron is right? Why isn't it the Court of Eldritch? There's more to it than simply sounding cool."

Aaron met Jaron's gaze and they both nodded. It was the first time they met eye to eye.

Dieter simply shook his head and sighed.

" Let's put the matter to the side for now. I have something else to talk to Aaron about."

"Wait? Why? We haven't finished discussing the issue. Who is the Court of the Lich?"

" No, it is not 'we'. I will take it up with Viltautas later. You have to focus on continuing your important research. You know, The one you said, only you can do?"

Aaron glared at him, but held his tongue.

Dieter met his glare and nodded.

"Moving on then. Aaron, do you know about a wizard named Gillian?"

" Old Gillian?"

" Yes, She recently earned the title Grand Mage. She is now the highest ranking mage in her country."

"So she finally reached it. Good for her."

Old woman Gillian. Aaron first met her when she visited The Trebizond's capital. Aaron had helped her study the eastern method of rune crafting. In return she taught Aaron a lot about the western style. Aaron smiled. He truly was glad Old Gillian's efforts paid off.

"Well to celebrate, she is inviting people to help explore an old sealed mage's tower. The tower was owned by an Archmage named Elvira. 500 years ago she was a friend to the Sorcerer King who ruled over the kingdom of Arles. Grand mage Gillian had asked if you wanted to participate."

" It would be nice to visit old Gillian. But," Aaron closed his eyes, "No. The time period is too off. It wouldn't help with my research."

"Are you sure? Arch-mage Elvira's tower is supposed to have a famous library. It wouldn't hurt to look."

" You're not trying to send me on a wild goose chase again?"

" No, of course not."

Aaron eyed him. Dieter smiled the same way as when Aaron tried to make people think he was innocent.

" Fine, I will go."

"Great."

Aaron crossed his arms. He didn't like how Dieter sounded a little too happy.

"Oh and by the way, Private Jaron, your squad is still on standby at Navarre kingdom. There won't be any more jobs or training for you until they return. So I will be assigning you to guard Adjutant Aaron on his visit to Grand mage Gillian."

"Understood, sir." Jaron saluted.

" Wait a minute." Aaron's voice filled with unease. "I can go alone."

" Aaron, don't be a pain and ditch Jaron. He will know where you are going."

Dieter grinned.

"Blasted it. I knew you were up to something."

"I thought you were working on how you speak." Dieter took a sip from the tea on his desk.

Aaron turned to Jaron with pleading eyes.

"Jaron, aren't you injured? Shouldn't you go back and rest."

Jaron closed his eyes.

".....No. I'm fine."

Dieter snicker as he placed his tea down.

"You should be able to reach the country of Cracow from your station. Have a nice trip."

"Wait."

The communication device shut off.

"Blasted it."

Aaron bit his thumb. Dieter had once again kept him out of the loop and worst yet, he looked over to Jaron. He was already buying their tickets to the City of Cracow. Dieter managed to place a chaperon. He had planned to go off and check more into the Court of Lich. But he would not be able to convince a person like Jaron to go along with him and not report back to the guard.

Aaron rubbed the back of his neck. He started to regret joining the Varangian guards. They were tying him more and more down. But If he quit he would break the compromise with his parents. He barely got them to agree last time, so there's no way he can make a new one. Accepting his fate he slumped down, dangling his legs over the edge of the station's platform.

Jaron returned, handing over his ticket.

" Our train is after the next one."

Aaron looked up to Jaron, nodded, and shifted his attention to under the station's platform.

" Yo, you can stop hiding now?"

" How?" a taken back voice rang from underneath.

Aaron snickered.

" It isn't hard, if you are not even trying to hide your mana."

Jaron crossed his arm.

" Suspicious, I'm getting the guard. "

" Hold on, I'm not suspicious."

A flash of green appeared from the shadows as the man scurried onto the platform.

"See, I'm harmless." The man quickly waved his hand.

Aaron's pupil shook.

On it's own the man's green hair would be enough to surprise him, but he was wearing an Ao Dai. An article of clothing he didn't expect to see on this continent. Aaron narrowed his eyes.

"You, what is your name?"

"Thanh, Anh Thanh Vương."

"Vương?"

Thanh stood up dusting his clothes with one hand.

"Yes I know it's a strange sounding name,"

" No, not all."

Thanh's hand froze.

Aaron smiled and offered his hand.

" My name is Aaron Xenolane. Nice to meet you."

Thanh hesitated for a moment, but a grin spread across his face.

" Likewise." He shook his hand.

Vương. Aaron had heard the name before. Thanh should be innocent enough. He released Thanh's hand and pointed behind him.

" The silent person behind me is Jaron."

Thanh reached his hand out for a handshake.

" Jaron who?"

" Just Jaron." He nodded, keeping his arm crossed. "Why were you under the platform?"

Thanh awkwardly put his unshaken hand down.

" I was trying to catch this little fellow." He moved his other arm revealing a small fox.

Jaron peered at it, nodded, then sat down on a bench. He pulled out his guns to clean as if he lost interest in talking with them. Thanh looked between him and Aaron with a confused expression.

" Ignore him. So why were you chasing a fox?"

"Wait a moment." Thanh reached over the edge and lifted up a medicine chest. "The little fellow was limping, so I thought I could give him treatment."

"You're a doctor?" Aaron's eyes lit up.

"No, no. " Thanh scratched his cheek. "I'm nowhere close to being called a doctor."

"Even so, a person who can heal is cool."

Aaron meant it. Healing magic was a form of magic Aaron never could figure out. Aaron looked toward the fox.

The fox started to fuss within Thanh's arm. Thanh readjusted his hold.

" Calm down, little fellow. I will get you fixed and on your way soon enough."

Thanh searched through his medicine drawers, pulling out a set of herbs. He wrapped the herb around the fox's legs. Thanh moved his hands pulling out the natural mana of the plant. A green light appeared as the herb crumbled into dust.

"Done."

Thanh let go of the fox. The fox realizing it was free dashed away disappearing into the forest.

Aaron touched the dust of the herb. " Impressive."

"No, not at all. It wasn't anything special."

"But you didn't use any of your own mana."

Aaron saw Thanh stiffened at his words.

"Sorry," Aaron hurried to explain. "I meant it's rare to see a human being able to control natural mana without using their own magic as a medium."

" That is what you mean." Thanh's shoulder relaxed.

Aaron firmly nodded his head.

" Yes, It shows your mastery over mana control. "

Thanh shook his head.

"I still have a long way to go before I call myself a master. Honestly I think it is more impressive that you were able to perceive it. Nobody noticed before."

This time Aaron flinched at Thanh's words.

" It was nothing. I'm just more sensitive to mana than most." Aaron scratched his cheek.

"If you say so. Oh," Thanh stared at Aaron's arm. " Are you injured?"

" This?" Aaron raised his arm. "It was bitten by a Faileas wolf."

" Ah yes, what vicious creatures." Thanh pulled out his medical drawers.

" I wouldn't bother. It's been cursed."

" I know, but for A true doctor to have any worth they should be able to treat a patient even without magic." Thanh pulled out a case of ointment. "Today's doctors rely too much on mana."

Aaron's ears twitched. A wave of nostalgia rushed him. The face of the person who grumbled those exact words appeared in his mind. He burst out laughing.

" Did I say something funny?"

"No, I'm sorry." Aaron wiped a tear from his eye. " What you said reminded me of someone. Anything he said being spoken so seriously is hilarious. Let's just say he was a weird one."

" A weird one?" Thanh half smiled. " No it couldn't be."

The train's whistle blew and pulled up alongside them.

Thanh handed Aaron the ointment.

" It looks like my train is here. Make sure to apply this twice a day and wrap your arm in a clean bandage."

" Thanks."

Thanh swung his medical chest onto his back. He boarded the train and waved goodbye.

Aaron waved back and Jaron nodded. When the train disappeared from view Aaron formed a serious expression.

"I wonder…"

"Wonder what?" Jaron stood up from his bench.

"How do I explain? The weird doctor I mentioned told me he had an apprentice once. Who ran away and disappeared almost as if he went to another continent."

"Another continent? Maybe you are right about the doctor. You shouldn't worry about it. "

Aaron shook his head and smiled.

" You're right. Forget I said anything."

* * *

Later that night, a candle light could be seen in the library. A girl in deep thought was reading a book from a shelf.

" Did you find the information you were looking for, Soraya?"

Soraya snapped her book shut.

" Back from collecting herbs."

Thanh smiled and walked around a tan foreigner sleeping under a pile of papers.

" The mountain was a treasure trove. After selling the herbs we should have enough money to travel for a month."

" Good. We are checking out of the inn tomorrow morning."

" So soon. Where are we going?"

Soraya smiled wide.

"The Cracow kingdom."