The carriage rattled along the paved roads as we went past the city gate again.

I could only smile and meet the stares of everyone in the carriage.

The silence was indicative of some tension in the air.

I didn’t know what else to say, until . . .

“So, you know I’m Arthur Corland, better known as the hero. But what is your name

exactly?”

I hesitated a little, usually I would give my name.

But I had been through here before.

Granted it was over 70 years ago, surely no one remember me.

Hopefully. . .

“You can call me Gia”

Arthur cocked his head to the side a little.

“Is that your real name?”

“Well I originally came from an island nation, and in our language my name means earth. So, I’m known as Gia from ‘Gaia’”

“Interesting, what was this nation called?”

“Nemestia”

“I’ve never heard of it, how about you Greer?”

Arthur turned to his side and looked at Greer.

Greer was also puzzled at the name I said.

“Nope doesn’t ring a bell”

“Oh, it was cursed when I was a child and the island has disappeared. I’ve been searching for strong people who can help me break the spell”

“And you think I can help?”

“Hopefully”

Arthur stroked his chin while deep in thought.

“But why not a magician or an academic. Why me?”

“Aren’t heroes supposed to break curses? I heard you were blessed by the goddess of light?”

“Hmm, true but I can’t just take off from Foren to go with you. I’m a pillar of the king’s power here. Without me here, the

cities are more likely to rebel”

This country didn’t exist when I was here.

But I learned after recently coming here again was that the king changed things.

King Julius grew from a strong warrior to a conqueror and then a monarch.

The capitals of the countries surrounding us were taken by him.

They were forced in to being vassals after he showed them his might.

The former rulers still lead their people but talks of rebellion still go around.

Julius was a fierce warrior in his prime years but his age was a problem now.

And Arthur helped Julius to hold legitimacy through the church.

As well as through being a physical deterrent.

I don’t think rebellion will happen while I’m here.

But that’s as long as the King doesn’t past away.

“It’s alright, it’s something I need to do myself. But learning from you and access to the royal library wouldn’t hurt, would it?”

Arthur threw me a questioning look this time.

“Only royalty and higher nobility may access the records there”

“Darn”

Well, it’s not like they’ll stop me from seeing them one way or another.

“But, I am allowed in due to my status. I can provide you as long as you do good work for me”

I nodded.

“No problem”

Soon, we pulled up to a large gate.

It was your typical noble’s house.

The road was lined up with nicely trimmed bushes on the side.

There were people all around, going about their business.

Supplies were being delivered, gardeners working, and guards were patrolling.

In fact, this road was large enough to be mistaken for the main one that ran through the city.

This all lead up to a large three story mansion that probably equaled six or seven regular houses in the other districts.

All I could think of was how much space this wasted.

Although, I was later told that this was the second largest estate in the city, after the king’s palace of course.

The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the ornately carved wooden doors of the mansion.

Our door was opened by a butler and every stepped out.

The guards went back to work and left us there.

Arthur spoke to his butler quickly and soon lead us in.

“Please come in Gia, this is my home. I can let you stay for a night. But I already thought of a good assignment for you.

You’ll need to start tomorrow, is that clear?”

“Yes”

“For now, Frederick will show you your room”

Arthur and Greer went off in to an office and I was left with his butler.

He was an old man who seemed diligent enough at his job.

“Milady if you would please come with me”

I followed him up the main staircase that had branched off to each floor.

He led me to the second floor and we walked for a bit until we were nearly at one of the corners of the mansion.

He took out a key, unlocked the door and gestured me in.

I thanked him and was told that dinner would be ready in an hour.

I was expected to make an appearance to the head of the house, Arthur’s father.

The room was simple enough.

There was a bed, a desk next to it, and a dresser.

There was even a closet and a bathroom in the room.

It was a guest room but for the nobles, any of their rooms would be better than what most people lived in.

I walked in to the bath room and saw the controls for the magitech installed in the bathtub.

This created water and controlled its temperature as well.

I slipped out of my clothes and went in to the tub.

The warm water felt distant to me as a result of my illusion spell.

It allowed me to maintain a human form while storing my real body in a schism between worlds.

And at the same time, it used my mana continuously to create a human body that I controlled.

Part spacial and part illusion, it was the perfect wasteful magic.

It used up so much my mana, I had to continuously find new sources of energy.

Like for example, the mana of a powerful demon.

Not only that, there were certain people who could see through my disguise.

Usually they would sense that I was a solid body of mana.

This was so that I could emulate the weaknesses of a human.

It seems as though Arthur and Greer didn’t notice yet.

But it’s too risky, I’ll have to switch to my back up ability soon.