Searing pain engulfed Arthur, as he held onto the caravan bench with all of his strength, a small spider web of cracks appeared on the wood, but it went unnoticed.
[Name: Arthur Collins]
[Pathways: Knight Apprentice II (0/40)]*
[Spiritual Energy: 60]
[Physique: 6.8]*
[Vitality: 4.1]*
[Spirit: 0.5]*
[Elements: Fire and Darkness]
Arthur took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling like a lion, as he released the air through his nostrils, the whole caravan felt like it shook. "I.. I feel like a god!!"
He looked at the Status on the golden paper, and decided against raising the knight pathway's level any more. "The rulers of this world are Wizards, not knights, I don't know how valuable that potion was, and if I will be able to get another one anytime soon, so just to be careful, I should save the last 60 points for now"
He looked at himself, his clothes, once slightly too large on him, now hugged his body gently, as some muscles can even be seen through the fiber.
"I think I know how i'll get my hands on some Spiritual stones" Arthur swung his fists, practicing his boxing skills from his previous life, with every punch, the air hummed, and with every move, the caravan shook as if it was as light as a feather. "Maybe I should hold back a bit… The strongest amongst them is probably only an initial Knight apprentice" He smiled.
At the moment, it was the middle of the night, but Arthur, with all of the energy from his breakthroughs, did not have an ounce of sleep, so he decided to leave the caravan and take a look around.
The night sky was filled with stars, unlike the view in the city from earth. He jumped onto the roof of the caravan, sat there, gazing into the sky as he relaxed himself. The rough wood of the caravan's roof did not bother him in the slightest, since after his breakthrough, he felt like he could tear this wood apart with his bare hands, so laying on it like this did not bother him in the slightest due to his strong physique.
"What are they doing up?" Arthur heard some noise, so he looked up, seeing the same group of 4 kids whispering to themselves. One of them, Finn, held a small pouch in his hand. "What are they doing?" Arthur frowned, as he focused onto the pouch a bit, seeing a faint glow from it. "Are those Spirit stones?" Arthur muttered to himself.
He continued to watch, and when he saw one of them pointing towards the caravan, he had a small idea of what they were thinking. "Are they planning on framing me?" Arthur chuckled, then as he saw them starting to approach, he jumped off the carriage, wore a frightened expression, then ran towards the wooded area.
"He was awake"
"The idiot is running towards a secluded place, haha"
"Probably too scared to think with his donkey brain"
The kids laughed, then Finn tucked the pouch in his clothes and they all started running after him.
"What is their problem with me?" Arthur thought as he slowed down a bit, trying not to put too much distance between them. "I get that the previous Arthur tried to steal from that girl, but their reaction at the time was too much, and they keep targeting me even after that… why?"
Arthur ran, then stopped near a river, the same one he bathed in last time. He noticed at the time that the river went around, kind of like a small dead end. "Are they watching?" Arthur muttered, looking at the trees and nearby dark spots. He was talking about the knights, after all, they were there to protect the kids, but they didn't meddle in anything unless it was life threatening.
"Haha, you can't run anywhere now" Finn said, grabbing a stick from the ground, while the others did the same.
Arthur, on the other hand, didn't answer, and just stood there, waiting. 'So those knights are not going to stop this… Do they not care for fights? How far would they allow it to go?' Arthur thought to himself.
Wosh!
As he was thinking, one of the kids swung the stick at him, he saw it coming his way, and for some reason, thought their movements were too slow. 'They're not aiming for the head, so I guess I'll show some leniency too' Arthur then moved, his footwork might be basic to a professional boxer from earth, but to the kids in front of him, he was a blur.
He sidestepped the swing, and like a python, he threw a straight punch, aiming at the kid's nose. Bones cracked, and the kid groaned, instantly dropping the stick and holding his face, but Arthur didn't stop, and moved to the next one.
Argh!
AAGH!
STOP!!
They screamed, each holding their faces with broken noses as blood trickled down.
"Arthur, you dare hit me? My father is Baren's nephew, a noble, I can end you!" Finn and the others yelled all sorts of threats, each one special, and each made no difference to Arthur as he moved from one to the other, taking away whatever they had on them, including the spirit stone pouches.
"You dirty thief!!" Finn yelled, as he stood up and rushed him, just to be knocked out with a right hook.
"Anyone else want to try me?" Arthur said, looking at the kids. He found some gold coins, tokens of their noble households, and pouches with spirit stones in them.
"What about the rest of you, where are the rest of your Spirit stones?" Arthur asked, he noticed Finn's pouch was heavier than theirs, so he asked.
"You dare steal in broad daylight? Are you stupid?" A boy yelled back, and what he received was a sharp slap onto his face, printing a red palm on his cheek.
"My father will fucking ruin your life!!" the same kid yelled again, anger and hatred covering his face.
"And why don't you tell me, how would your father know of this?" Arthur asked with a smile. "We've been on the road for months now, passed many kingdoms" Arthur walked around the kid and smiled. "Don't forget we are riding on enchanted caravans, with Wizards, a trip that usually takes months would take us merely a week" Arthur explained with amusement. "Now, explain to me, how would your father learn of this? And why do you think your background still matters here? In a week we will be going by ship to a different continent, so even if your parents heard of what happened, what can they do?"
As the last sentence fell, it got quiet. The kids, as if in a trance, sat there.
"Do not worry, although you've wronged me, I am a forgiving person." Arthur spoke again. "Little Finn here, targeted me non-stop, the first who tells me why can leave"
The kids looked at each other, then one of them quickly spoke. "It's because of Corina" Jack quickly explained. "He has a crush on her, and apparently she keeps hinting that she wants you beaten again, so he complies, hoping to get in her good books"
"Hmm.. Alright, you may go" Arthur waved his hand, and looked at the others. "Now, another question, are there any more spirit stones?"
The kids looked at him with confusion, why would they share that with him? But what he said next made them realise something. "The knights are probably watching us now, and they didn't do anything when I robbed and beat you, now, riddle me this.." Arthur said with a grin. "If I search your belongings right now, and take what I want, who would stop me? You? The other kids?"
"I only have 3 spirit stones hidden in case of losing my pouch or getting robbed, Please, I won't have enough for the entrance fee" One of the kids spoke, and Arthur nodded.
"Alright, the honest one may leave" Arthur spoke, then turned to the others, "Now, hand over your spirit stones or I'm breaking your legs" he said with a smile.
"Please, I only have 3 for the entrance fee hidden"
"Yeah, me too"
"Shhhh!" Arthur shushed them. "There were only a couple of chances to get away, and they were smart enough to seize them" he said, pointing at the 2 leaving. "Now, where are they hidden, and I won't make it painful"
***
Morning came, Arthur sat on the carriage's roof, counting his loot.
"I got 35 spirit stones, some minor healing pills and over a 100 gold coins" He recounted, smiled, then looked at the distance, where the same kids were now sitting down, but this time, they don't seem to be as close as they used to.. After all, most got robbed of everything, even one of their legs were broken, while the other two were fine, even kept the spirit stones they needed to pay the entrance fee. "I wonder how long it would take before they turn on each other, would it be when we're close to the Academy, or before that!" He laughed to himself, then looked in the direction of the caravan where the wizards resided.
He jumped off his caravan, and walked towards the wizards, but before he reached them, a voice spoke from inside. "I thought I told you not to come here again" The witch's voice spoke.
"I am aware, my lady" Arthur bowed slightly. "I came to inquire about something"
The voice didn't answer straight away, then spoke. "What is it?"
"How many spirit stones would be needed to purchase some wizard knowledge, and the small potion you gave me last time" Arthur asked without hesitation.
"You can't afford even the basic wizard knowledge, kid" The voice of an old man spoke this time. "But I don't mind giving you some basic information for 10 spirit stones"
"Deal!" Arthur agreed instantly, knowing full well that information, no matter how basic, might light up his path slightly, no matter how dim the light might be.
"Alright, come over" The lady spoke this time, and the door of the caravan opened, where she stepped out, took the spirit stones from Arthur, then handed him a small book. "For the Minor Spiritual Potion, it is 5 spirit stones for one, I have 2 potions, You want them?" She asked.
"Yes, my lady" Arthur instantly agreed again, and handed over another 10 spirit stones.
"Here, I don't know why you want them, but as your future senior apprentice, I'll advise you to save as many spirit stones as you can" She spoke.
"For the entrance fee? I already have three saved up"
"No, that's unrelated" The witch, not wanting to elaborate further, stepped back into the caravan and closed the door.
Arthur, although confused by her words, still managed to sneak a peek inside the caravan, and what he saw stunned him. 'It looks like a whole house!' He thought to himself, remembering the vast area inside, the decorations and chairs. 'Being a wizard is awesome'
Arthur, on his way back, started contemplating her words, 'Save as many as I can? Why? Is there another fee we don't know about?' He thought, but then shook his head. 'I should listen to her for now, and I'll find out later'