There was a soft smile hanging onto the mages lips,his eyes were still very cold and disdainful observing me,amusement flashing through his eyes,he was hard to read and his entrance was also very rude the way he used magic was very arrogant and prideful which the air around him was already very full of,the smile he had was only there for a split second other then scar and me no-one must have noticed either way they way he looked at us was making me feel alert,I doubted that he was suddenly going to start something unexpected without a reason just like that.

-Ahhh Lord sherman ! We have been expecting you,but we didn't anticipate you to come through the main door,sorry for the waut...if you may please follow me as your lordship you won't need to identify yourself the city council is awaiting you...

A man suddenly appearing wearing some kind of official clothing as he identified the aquamarine mage inviting him in respectfully while showing him a pleased look on his face,behind him a small troop of knights closely followed along.

The aquamarine mage didn't say anything and just averted his eyes from me,looking at the official with his eyes as if looking through this person knowing his existence,but also disregarding it which looked incredibly confusing as he nodded his head in acknowledgement,walking forward by himself as he started to pass us by.

The magic he was circulating was fast and getting stronger every second the closer he got to us also enhancing this force field which still had not a single effect on me nor scar through my power which negated its effects.

-I'll see you in the tournament brat...

My eyes got wide listening to the auqamarine mages ice cold voice as he passed us by in a second,a bad premonition started to crawl up my back...I didn't look back to see the mage and simply stood still until I didn't feel the forcefield anymore letting go off scar and giving out a light breath.

-Whats his problem ? Weirdo...do you know him or something ?

Scar asked pissed off from the mage just now looking back as she tried to find his trace glaring angrily.

-No,I don't,but it seems like he'll be my opponent inside the tournament...either way forget about it and lets go

I suggested making scar quickly remember our current task we had as I quickly gave the two silver coins to the guard finally letting us into the city,the capital of bahan,while going inside I momentarily thought about that strange mage,his words were disturbing as if he predicted he would meet me again,but I tried to not think about it any further and simply followed scar as she seemed to have a very good idea of where this tournament was going to take place.

The inside of the city was impressive even more so then the previous cities the people here were just a bit too energetic running,laughing and even fighting in the middle of the streets sometimes their chatter was like a sea of waves sometimes getting louder the more you listen or suddenly more quieter.I wasn't sure if it always was like this or it was just because the tournament was about to begin either way scar and I didn't have a very hard time going through this crowd it was very spacey big enough for everyone to move and the roads almost seemed endless with hundreds of small shops and buildings present selling all sorts of stuff ranging from consumables to equipment and other necessities,looking around I could see that the "inns" were the most sought after and numerous establishments in this city with the number of people living here it wasn't surprising that it was the case.

The types of different people that lived here were also numerous humans to be the majority,but there were also other numerous races the empire itself was made from different races jumbled together so it wasn't a surprise,still though it was sort of fascinating to see alien people walking around in my opinion.

-Where are we going ?

I asked,I had zero experience with this city,but I knew very well that scar lived here before and she also informed me about a few things concerning the city,its lay out in specific.

The city was huge the outer walls weren't the only walls that reinforced the security of the city the inner part of the city had even more walls which was not only for defensive measures,but also served as a mean of separation between the different ranks of citizenship in this city.

There were a total of 3 ordinary ranks and with each rank you could pass further into the inner parts of the city to enjoy their living conditions or have a better job to gain that privilege you had to either pay money or have a position that enables you to go inside.There were also another extra 2 ranks that weren't accessible for ordinary people or "commoners" is what they call it,the forth rank which was only reserved towards nobility and people with high military rank or achievements and finally the fifth rank which was the inner most part of the city the core that was the home of the imperial family the heart of the city the castle.

Personally,I could just go right now and storm into the castle and meet the emperor right now,but the reason I wasn't doing so was because I didn't feel like doing so would bring me into a brighter light either way I didn't want to cause any commotion too early,I was also thinking about scar and the crown prince which sort of reminded me that I still didn't know the names of the other imperial family members even the emperor himself...for some reason scar hadn't talked about the emperors name just calling him the emperor and thinking about it,the people who I had met so far had also only called him the emperor of bahan and nothing else...does he even have a name ?

I wondered,that brief thought racing through my head while scar turned towards me answering my question her steps getting faster the more we moved...probably because the sun was soon going down.

-Even though the city is divided into different ranks there is one building in the first rank of the city that all rankings of citizens visit which is the city arena the tournament is probably going to take place in that place when I was small my father used to secretly bring me to the arena every week and let me watch the fights that would happen there it was very exciting and it isn't very far either,look you can even see the edge of the building there !

She said pointing to the left side a round building which size really stood over the other buildings,looking at the people around us I could also see that most of them were heading that way meaning that scar's reasoning was indeed correct...

I felt increasingly excited to finally get to that place,not that I felt I wanted to go there,but that it was a bit surreal since the reason I would attend this tournament wasn't for gaining sera's hand in marriage.

But,rather understanding what is going on and ask the emperor whether or not he could bring me back home,the journey had lead me here and only a few more steps would reach my goal.

-alright lead the way

I said,a spark of resolve igniting in my eyes as scar nodded to me and lead the way towards the arena,looking at the sun,I only ever hoped that we would make it for the registration,but it wasn't a big deal even if we didn't make it since we still had tomorrow it seemed like only scar wanted me to register as fast as possible,she felt partially guilty for stalling us for so long because of the incident which I didn't really mind up to this point,but didn't say anything to it since I knew it wouldn't work either way.

Ironically enough through scar's hasty and hurried movements she didn't notice the bulge of the brick that came out of the paved ground her foot hitting the edge of the brick immediately tripping on it as her body started to lose its balance in front of my eyes slowly falling down onto the ground.

-Wahhhh !

Scar squealed,I didn't hesitate my thoughts were clear and so were my intentions as my hands and legs started to once again move on their own stepping towards the falling scar as I embraced her once again touching her soft hips first and then over her back gripping onto her shoulder gallantly as I was caressing her with utmost importance.

Scar's eyes were shut,she seemed to have anticipated the impact and predicted to see the dirty ground,but when she realized that it wasn't going to be the case and instead felt something soft supporting her from behind,her eyes slowly started to open up hesitantly and when she finally opened her eyes she was surprised meeting my own smiling face that also immediately her flush red as she realized the situation we were in once again.

-Aren't you a bit too clumsy lately ? How about we just go and find a inn instead and then register tomorrow ? We still have time and its not like the arena is going to run away don't you think ?

I asked keeping my voice gentle as scar started to get even more shier the more she stared at my enchanting smile,her lips moved,but even through my own enhanced hearing I could only make out faintly mumbles instead of words.

-My my...kids these days doing all sorts of things without shame

-Doing it in the middle of the streets...how daring

-Pretty brave for youngsters,but isn't that woman a bit too old for the handsome youth?

Chatter began,the crowd that was surrounding us was also starting to gossip our staring at us from all angles with their judging gazes and quiet words our current display could be seen in many ways to misunderstand,but I didn't bother to clear that misunderstanding since I didn't need to in the first place,I didn't feel shame either and only looked at this as something natural a friend helping another friend.

-Hahh...

Scar squealed again this time her voice was a bit too desperate and oddly erotic,I felt that we were stuck like this for far too long as so I quickly proceeded and pulled scar back up to her legs she was already red as a tomato or as her name points at "scarlet".

After getting her back to her feet,I immediately wanted to say something to get the mood back up so she wouldn't be embarrassed anymore,but just as I was about to do that a very hard feeling familiar feeling started to well inside my heart.

Someone was staring at us...no,at me...that gaze...

I knew what it was my hands immediately started trembling as I turned serious turning my golden eyes around us to find the owner of the gaze that I just felt and sure enough I found it...her to be specific.

She was standing in the middle of the crowd,with a gray long cloak and a hood that covered her entire head her statue was petite and small she looked like a teenager and had a slender figure almost perfect for someone as old as her,her hands on top of each other gripping tightly to each other as she gazed at me once again.

Her eyes were hidden behind a pair of glasses and even though I couldn't see her face because of that,I knew exactly who she was just by the form of those glasses.

Opaque glasses.

-SERA !

I shouted out,almost roaring even scar and the crowd evenly was surprised by sudden shout jumping from fright and getting away slowly scar touched my shoulder she was puzzled and looked at the direction I was looking at only to discover nothing wrong,but a gray cloaked person walking away hastily...she didn't see the expression that person made before walking away so quickly.

It was shock.

I finally found you.

I thought to myself immediately jumping into action as I excused myself from scar,instantly stopping time at the very moment feeling the sound and vibration everyone come to a stand still and sera disappearing into the crowd.

I was a bit confused while running through the crowd searching sera was actually avoiding me right now...why was she doing that ?!

From her expression she showed just now I was sure that she knew who I was without a doubt,but why was she running then ?

Wasn't she happy to see me ?

Weren't we friends ?

There were a lot of questions I needed answers to,but for now I needed to first catch this lying dragoness before I strip the answers out of her.

My mind once again resolved itself concentrating on this one task as I pushed away the people in front of me searching for sera's gray cloak inside the crowd,but no matter how much I searched...for some reason she wasn't here anymore ?!

I felt confused,not knowing where to search anymore as I knew that she couldn't have gone far,but at the same time I shouldn't underestimate her either she was a dragon after all her physical prowess were way above that of a normal human,caine and verdath already showed me the strength that a dragon can pull of there was no reason to belittle her just because I hadn't see her full strength yet I even know that she was capable enough to throw verdath out of her room with extreme strength that shattered the floor.

I needed to be more observative...if she isn't in the crowd anymore I needed to way to find her again,running everywhere searching wasn't going to help,but how ?

I thought to myself trying to find an answer finally a light bulb appearing over my head as I started time again,the people who I had pushed away quickly starting to fall down creating a small ruckus as people started to get a bit rowdy scar was behind with me gone she was incredibly confused a bit panicked as she called out my name,but at the moment I couldn't respond.

I needed to find sera first and get my answers.

Immediately I took in a large amount of air into my lungs through my nose the distinctive whiff of all different kinds of smells entered my nostrils giving me all kinds of ideas of what they were and where they came from,I was raising my smelling sense searching for one very specific smell in this area a smell that I knew well enough to recognize...

Found her.

I mumbled to myself turning to my right as I started running speedily towards sera's position.

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