Nathan

Year 2850 | Month 4 | Day 6

After making sure that none of the nobles are talking amongst themselves, I quicken my pace towards the Undying Caverns. And by the time I get there, I find everyone in a frenzy for some reason.

As soon as one of the guards sees me, they rush over while shouting, “Undying Magician, sir! You’re back!”

“What’s going on?” I ask without beating around the bush, before the guard even reaches me. And without giving the first guard a chance to say anything, another one rushes forwards with a smile on his face and exclaims, “We got another group of refugees! And this one is massive!”

I frown at that.

More refugees? All of this commotion just because of another group of refugees?

Must be enormous for them to act like this.

“But…” another guard says, the man armed with an older rifle held in his arms pointed at the ground.

“But?” I ask, prompting him to continue.

“I apologize sir, but there isn’t enough space for everyone in the Caverns,” he says while shooting a worried glance back at the throng of people frenzying about the building outside of the Caverns. “And we would need an earth magician to stabilize the Caverns in order to dig out enough space.”

Well this is annoying.

“There aren’t any magicians amongst the new refugees? And have you made sure to vet them all?” I ask, crossing my arms and tapping my finger on my elbow in the process.

Another guard answers me, “We have vetted most of them, and there is an earth magician amongst the new refugees.”

“Are they too young or inexperienced to do the job?” I ask, quickly finding them all to nod their heads with surprise visible on their faces. “Then build some temporary housing outside of the Caverns to handle situations like these in the future. We can stick them in there and only let those who have been vetted thoroughly and have earned our trust inside of the Caverns themselves. And for now get someone to teach the kid so that they can help in excavating in the future. Let all the new refugees camp outside until the expansion.”

“As you wish, Undying Magician,” the guards all exclaim before rushing off to go carry out my orders.

This certainly wasn’t what I was hoping to come home to.

Where did my peace and quiet go?

I shake my head at that thought while walking into the base past everyone, many of whom – especially the new faces – are staring at me. Mostly at my crimson eyes. A rather obvious sign as to who I am, since crimson eyes aren’t natural.

The only people who have ‘red’ eyes at all in the world are albinos, and even they only have a more pinkish red.

My two swords at my hips also help in recognizing me though, because they’re obviously high quality. Even if you can’t clearly tell that they’re made of Arcadian Metal just at a glance.

Plus no one else here uses swords. At all.

The only purpose of swords in combat over guns or a knife is if the swords are Arcadian Metal. Otherwise they’re rather useless in a magic and gun fight.

If they’re Arcadian Metal though then you can cut through spells with them.

Although my case is different since I don’t care about getting hurt anymore. Might as well just charge in and slice through my enemy to save mana.

I pat the pommel of my sword as I walk through the barrier and enter the Caverns. Then I continue walking into the base, passing by quite a few people I recognize along with some I don’t. Because I don’t plan on remembering every last face in the base.

That’s Claire’s, Benjamin’s, and Ryan’s jobs.

Speaking of Claire, I find her after reaching the woman’s office and finding her neck deep in paperwork.

“Sir, is there anything you needed?” Claire quickly asks after seeing me, the woman wearing business attire. The same business attire from the Republic. A clear sign that she is used to business as a whole, since most regular people in the Kingdom of the Fallen don’t seem to know much about formal attire. At least, not in the inner ring. Most are just scraping by or trying not to be killed by magicians.

“Yes, I was just contacted by the Barons,” I tell her, making her stiffen up right away. “They’ll be sending a delegate in a fortnight. Be ready for that please.”

She stares at me in stunned silence for several seconds before snapping out of it and answering with a nod of her head, “Understood, Undying Magician.”

I narrow my eyes slightly at her with a frown, pondering over the constant overuse of that title. Something that’s getting a little annoying.

At this rate I’m going to forget my own name if no one ever uses it. Not even the skeleton uses it. He just calls me child or some other stupid thing like that.

“Just call me Nathan,” I eventually decide to tell her before turning around right as she shows surprise on her face and leaving the room.

I stop right at the door though and turn around, finding her still staring at my back.

“Tell Benjamin and Ryan to do the same,” I tell her, making her numbly nod her head in silence. “And do tell me when the Barons’ delegates get here. I want to watch over the proceedings even if I won’t be negotiating myself.”

“Yes, sir!” Claire exclaims after that, finally snapping out of her stupor. Then she blinks and immediately says, “Nathan. Sorry.”

I raise a brow at that before turning around and waving at her as I leave the room.

Old habits are hard to break I guess.

And speaking of old habits, time to go find the cafeteria for some of that mint ice cream.

Then I can get to working on those death magic spells.