“Morning,” greeted a middle aged woman with a thick makeup to Cain.

Cain was descending the stairs from the second floor, Beil followed him around his feet. He just smiled to the woman. Cain stayed at one of the inns. The inn that usually used by those pleasure seekers.

“You’re the first customer in this line of work that spent the night alone in my place,” said the woman.

“I was tricked,” Cain scratched his head.

“Meh, even though you’re tricked into coming here, shouldn’t you be tempted by those women out there?” the woman cleaned her counter.

“They’re very tempting,” said Cain.

“Then? Ah, not my business, you paid your room, I won't judge.”

Cain just shrugged. “Hey, do you know where I can buy a set of potion-brewing tools?” asked Cain.

“What? Are you an alchemist? Ah, again, not my business,” said the woman, then she told him where to get those tools.

“Thanks,” Cain nodded.

“Yeah, come again sometimes.”

…

Cain went to a market called Bivili Market. On his way, he noticed there were lots of people in the street. “(It’s so lively, quite different when the sun goes down.)” thought he.

He arrived at the market after ten minutes of walk. The market wasn't as big as Pama Market. He looked at the structure of the buildings, mostly the two stories building, they were slightly different from the buildings in Arozora or Farferis, every wall of the buildings had a wave-like sculpting, it was cascading one another. Some roof of the buildings had large statues, the statues of the Goddess of Nazula and the Dragon Tyrant Rex.

What was more surprising in Cain’s eyes were the people. He was like in the sea of people.

“What is this? Is there a celebration or something?” he said.

When he asked a merchant in a fruit stall, the merchant laughed.

“You’re not from around here, huh?” asked the merchant, “this is the daily bustle in Havelvaih! This market is indeed the most crowded area, but you will find the other areas are no less crowded!” he said enthusiastically.

“The whole city is crowded like this?” asked Cain. He was surprised.

“Yeah, like I told you, it’s a daily bustle in Havelvaih. Well, except the area near the Hunter Guild, Mear Street, where the red-light district of Havelhaih is. Because you know, they do it inside those inns, besides, it’s in the corner of the city, so it gives no access to other areas. No one comes there except for the pleasure.”

“(Except me!… hmm, that’s why that place is not that crowded compared to this area.)” thought Cain. He nodded in response and continued his walk, to the sea of people. Beil climbed to his shoulder and stayed there. Attracting some eyes and giggles. After a few minutes, he stopped in front of a small shop and made sure it was the shop the inn owner mentioned. He opened the wooden door that had a rectangle blurry glass on its center.

When he entered the shop, the fragrance of herbs extract was dancing in the air. It induced a relaxing atmosphere. Cain looked around the shop. Even though the shop was small, the owner managed to make it looked spacious with his/her well-placed furnitures and tools. Hanging potted plants also decorated the ceiling, making the shop looked fresh. Beil jumped down from Cain’s shoulder and followed him.

There were some people in there, enough to make a queue, but not enough to make the place cramped. Three shop clerks were serving the people, Cain just waited while looking at daily equipment for alchemists inside the glass cases around the shop.

When he was looking at the potion-brewing tools, a short old man with a cane came to him.

“Are you interested in that?” said the old man.

“Ah, yeah, I want to buy a set of it,” Cain replied.

“Hmm, are you an alchemist, young man?” asked the old man.

“Uhh… not really, I just know a thing or two.”

“I see,” grumbled the old man. Cain could see a bit of disappointment in the old man’s eyes.

“Well, if you’re a traveler, you should buy a portable one, ask for the Greansmith product to the clerk, it’s the most compact, and very durable,” said the old man. Then he walked away with a limp, helped by his cane, to behind one of the counters.

Cain just looked to the old man until he’s gone from Cain’s view. After that, Cain bought the potion-brewing tools, from the Greansmith product. The old man was the owner of the shop according to the shop clerk when Cain asked about him. Cain also bought some herbs from the shop.

He surfed the sea of people once again, looking for tasty food, for breakfast. Tempted by the smells, he bought some skewered fish meatballs with peanut sauce by the side of the street, still in the market area. He ate the meatballs with Beil while sitting on the high stool in front of the stall.

“Hmm, this is good,” said Cain as he ate the meatballs, “you like it, Beil?”

Beil did not answer him, he was too distracted by the taste of the meatballs. He was munching them happily. Cain just smiled and rubbed Beil’s head. “What a good taste to start the day,” said Cain.

Then, they went out from Havelvaih. He wanted to enjoy the lake because he did not get the chance yesterday. They strolled around the shore. With its white sand and warm breeze, it was a picturesque morning.

Cain saw some teens were practicing water magic there. Dozen teens, not more than 17 years old, supervised by two women and one old man with a long beard, the old man was observing the students while sitting cross-legged on a huge rock. From their uniform, Cain could tell they were students, as the other three were the teachers. Cain sat casually on the sand while watching them. Beil ran to the lake and swam cheerfully.

“Water magic, huh?...” mumbled Cain, “I bet Lexa cou-...” Cain stopped his words.

“Hmm… I need a distraction.” Cain stood up and went to the teachers, he asked one of the teachers if he could swim in the lake.

“As long as you don't try to cross. I’ll drown you before the mages on the watchtower could see you coming,” sneered the woman.

Cain did not question the teacher’s attitude, probably she just had a bad mood, thought Cain. He just nodded and left them.

With that, Cain swam in the lake with Beil after he buried his stuff with earth magic and left his trousers on him. He had a well-built physique, with some scars across his body. The biggest one was a four-claw scar from his left shoulder to his chest, others were just simple scars.

He swam with Beil and dived into the well-lit bottom of Olren Lake, looking at the vibrant aquatic plants on the lake bed. When he had enough, he rested on the shore, sitting on the white sand, still with just trousers.

Beil got out from the lake after a while and walked towards Cain.

Suddenly, a water ball almost hit Beil. It exploded on the sand near his feet. Beil was startled and quickly ran towards Cain.

“Meip! Meip!” cried Beil on his run. More water balls shot out and exploded on his trail.

Then, a stone wall was erected at Beil’s side, protecting him from the water balls. The stone wall was a long one, long enough to gave him a safe passage towards Cain.

It was Cain’s wall, he was already standing, looking at where the water balls came from. He looked over the students, two of them had water balls floating around their hands.

Cain glared at them with piercing eyes. “You okay, Beil?”

“Meip!” Beil cowered and peeked at the students from behind Cain’s right foot.

“Yo, man, that’s out target practice.” said one of the students. He stood in front of the others, he’s like their leader or something.

Cain looked to their teachers, they were chatting with each other, then he looked at the students. “He’s not a target practice, he’s my little friend,” said Cain.

“Hahah! You hear that?” the leader was laughing, followed by other students. “I said it’s our target practice!” he shot another water ball at Beil that showed his head from Cain’s foot

Cain moved his right foot slightly and took the water ball in the shin. His right lower trousers were torn up to the knee, leaving a bruise on his right shin. Beil was shocked and moved to Cain’s left foot.

“Now you’ve done it,” said Cain calmly, he stomped the sand lightly with his right foot. Then, the sand was surging towards the students. When it reached them, the sand threw them with its wave-like forces.

The students were thrown a bit far, with cries and moans, they quickly got their teacher's attention.

“What is this!?” yelled one of the teachers. She walked to the students, her hands were on her hip. Imposing an arrogant gesture.

“He attacked us!” said the leader while pointing at Cain.

She shifted her gaze towards Cain. “You attacked my students!?” the woman angrily shouted at Cain.

“They are the ones who started it,” said Cain.

“Did you just say my students are bunch of delinquents?”

“Yes, they have no manners, just like you,” Cain replied. He was getting annoyed.

The other teachers just stood watch.

“You! How dare you!” the woman casted a water magic, a long whip made of water appeared from her hands.

“What’s their problem??” Cain frowned, then he sighed. “Take cover, Beil.”

“Meip!” Beil took a position a bit far from Cain, behind a rock.

The woman whipped the water to Cain.

“(What!? This attack!? She is serious!)” thought Cain as he did a side step to dodge the whip.

The water whipped the sand, and quickly retracted.

“Yeah! Kick his ass, teacher!” said the students.

“(What the freaking heck is wrong with water mages in this Kingdom!? They’re so easy not to listen to other people’s explanation! I don't understand, are they really that arrogant!? And why is she using an elemental creation magic with all this water around?)” thought Cain.

The elemental creation magic was indeed more useful than the elemental manipulation magic, if the said element was not around. But it was a stupid move to use a water creation magic over the manipulation magic with a lake just literally next to them. There were always pros and cons regarding the elemental magic. The elemental manipulation magic used less energy to cast, but harder to control. While the elemental creation magic hogged the caster’s energy with high consumption, but easier to control.

All those who were blessed with elemental creation magic were also capable of doing elemental manipulation magic, because it was from the manipulation magic the caster learned how to control their summoned elements. And those who weren’t, could only dream to cast the element out of thin air, but they were no less powerful than the elemental creation magic casters.

“(Is she showing off? Impressing her students? Or, she’s teaching her students right now on how to use the water creation magic properly rather than just firing a water ball? Or maybe she lacks the grip of controlling the element with the manipulation magic? That can’t be.)” Cain was assessing the situation he couldn't understand. The students, the teachers, all of that while dodging the water whip.

Then, a water ball shot out from the lake direction, hitting the teacher in the temple, instantly knocked her out.

“Teacher!?” the students were startled. Their teacher just suddenly knocked out by an outta-nowhere water ball.

The other teachers also got surprised.

“Who!?” the students were puzzled. They were looking at the lake, but no one was there.

“That was me, don't worry, it’s just a mild concussion.” said Cain, “and that is how you shoot a water ball properly,” Cain gave them an intimidating glare.

Then the old teacher walked forward. “Who are you, young man?” he asked. He looked at Cain with curious eyes.

“No one, just a man who’s pissed because his little friend was treated as a target practice by your mannerless students,” Cain replied.

The old teacher looked at his students, then to the unconscious teacher.

“Isore is one of the top water mages in Krevias, I taught her myself decades ago,” said the old teacher, “We, the water mages, are the proud protector of Krevias Kingdom. And you, who suddenly showed up and knocked off one of our best easily… hmm, with this, I, Tirkogara, one of the Five Water Saints, declare you as a dangerous man towards Krevias,” he stroked his beard while saying that.

Cain sighed. “Look, I don't want any trouble, but your students are the ones who started it.”

“Nonsense, my students did nothing wrong, it’s you who got too close to our training area.” said the old teacher.

“(Aah, now it all makes sense, where their arrogance came from. They are the important part of Krevias as the protector of the capital city. So they think it’s alright to act like they are superior to others. Besides, this elder ignores, perhaps even encourages arrogance to his students. And did he just say he is one of the Five Water Saints?)” thought Cain.

Igo once told him that the Water Saints were the governors of Krevias Kingdom. As Krevias did not have one sole ruler for the Kingdom, like a King a or a Lord, the Water Saints ruled the Kingdom instead. They voted among themselves to solve any problems regarding the Kingdom’s well being. There were five Water Saints, each of them was a powerful mage with incredible ability. But Cain never knew they had such bad attitude.

“Hmm…” Cain rubbed his chin.

“You seem to understand what will happen to you, huh?” said the female teacher.

“What will happen to me?” asked Cain.

“You will bow down to us, and beg for forgiveness,” scoffed the old teacher.

“Oh boy, Ziraf could’ve told me not to step on these water mages,” mumbled Cain, “any other option?” he asked.

The old teacher laughed. “Of course, You’re young, maybe you’ll foolishly challenge me, but what you don’t not know is, this world isn't as good as you think. I’ll beat you and force you on your knees, then, I will hear you, begging, for me to stop,” said the old teacher with a smug smile, “so, what will you choose?”

Cain scratched his forehead with eyes closed. He looked like he was thinking hard. Then, he smiled and chuckled.

“Who would’ve thought this beautiful lake is protected by a bunch of prideful and rotten protectors,” said Cain, “and I’m actually itching for a good fight after that Horde Brawl,” followed by a grin on his face.

“Come!” Cain shouted confidently.