But as the four of them commented on the event, Levis was looking at his surroundings dumbly, as though unsure of what that sudden cold sensation was.

[What was that?]

[---Well, I did not think you could sense it, but I guess I underestimate your perceptive sense, which is derived from your new state as a living being.]

[---.]

[What. Was. That??]

[That is something you can not do anything about, as you stand right now. But since you want to know, I will tell you. What you sense, was a cultivator passing through, though it seemed in a hurry as it was flying at the tree lines as though it was trying to hide, so my guess is that it is escaping from someone or something not far from here. That's about, all I can tell you.]

[You said flying?]

[Yes, I said flying. What?]

[Can I fly to?]

[No.]

[What? But you now said that cultivators can fly, why can I not fly?]

[Agrh—, kid it is not like you can not fly, but more that you can not now. Once you’ll have enough energy you can propel yourself and, well “fly”, in a sense. You are not interested in the cultivator that put his eyes on you with killing intent, but more interested in flying, we sure are going the right direction.]

[---.]

“You awake? We are almost to the bend of the River as we are nearing your village. You sure have slept, as you had been out essentially all the journey.”

But as Levis had begun to move from the ruckus, Hubert started to talk with him. Though as Levis was observing his surrounding, he could see in the distance the point where the river was going northwards, into the Border mountains. But as he was ignoring the last statement that the voice in his head had made, he looked to the north of his position, where he had first felt the existence of the dangerous being that had looked back.

“Yes, it seemed that I had been tired. Although this is not good, I did not feel it well the first time, however, riding a horse hurts my buttocks more than I had assumed.”

“AHAAH, you brat, the first time we took you, all you have done was to fell asleep as soon as you were on the horse, and awake only by the time we had arrived at the camp.”

“That is indeed true, you did not last a moment before you fell asleep.”

However, as the light cloth man began to laugh at Levis's situation, and Adrian concuring with him, causing the boy to glare at him, the bend of the river was approaching ever closer, as before long they made the turn and began to follow the nearly non-existing road as it was not heavily used, leaving patches of grass here and there. But just as they took the bend, the sun was finely going over the horizon, flashing his last light before darkness begin to cover everything, leaving the moon and the stars to illuminate light over them. But as they triggered the stones below the necks of the horses, light that could illuminate dozens of meters ahead and in the surrounding follow their movements, as they continue their fast galloping pace.

“We certainly did not make it to the Down River village before the last of the day's light. At this rate, if we make a stop, to rest in the village, and begin to ride in the morning will arrive at the bandit hold by nightfall again, and will have to camp outside again, before we can investigate their stronghold.”

“More or less what we aspected, even with the constant speed of horses it will take time anyway. We will act accordingly, the worst that could happen is to be ambushed while tired and with the horses out of breath.”

But as Adrian and the light cloth man were speaking about their route, the sight of houses like shapes could be seen up the midpoint of a hill, shown by the light of the sky, into the not too far distance.

“My village!”

“Yes, we are almost there.”

Though just as there was, it did not take long to arrive a the base of the hill and go up, towards the dozen or so poorly made houses, before arriving at the center of the village to the largest structure of the village.

Nevertheless, as they were going down of the horses, Levis that had been put to the ground by Hubert, was looking at the north part of the village where a more clear path could be seen. However, what he was looking at was a place before the beginning of that route, where brown spots could be seen from the light of the stones.

As he was looking at the place, his fists clenched unconsciously, as he became fixed on it, not blinking once, as memories of his grandpa, grandma, and old village chief were playing in his head.

“Levis!”-[Kid!]

“Let’s move inside to eat, after which we’ll be sleeping here.”-[Kid, don’t lose your marbles again you won’t like how I will bring you back.]

However, he could not stay much inside his own memories, as Adrian, as well as the voice in his head, were pulling him back to the present reality.

As Hubbert and the light cloth man were settling the horses, Adrian together with the fourth man were preparing for the stay of the night in the village, as they began to take some light camping gear for sleeping, as well as some of the food, they had prepared beforehand for their journey.

“Levis, take that small cloth, we’ll use it to eat on it, put it on the ground in the middle of the hall.”

As Adrian gave Levis a small and thin but resistant rug to extend on the floor of the hall, he was immediately followed by Adrian putting portions of the food in five different directions, as well as the other guard bringing a jug of water and five cups for each of them.

“Let’s sit.”

As the three of them sit, next to the squarish white cloth, that they were using it as a ground table, Levis became a little confused, at the strange behavior, as there were not one but four tables, at the back of the hall. However sensing the confusion on Levis's part, the fourth man that had not spoken much, began to converse with him.

“If you are curious as to why we are eating like this, you could ask the vice-captain. However it is not a good idea as it wil—”

But before he could end his phrase, the man had to stop as he was glared at by Adrian, as though he had stabbed him in an old wound.

“Well—, the gist of it is to be ready for anything that might happen, as for now, we are essentially on enemy lines, chairs and tables could be said to be an obstacle to our on-the-spot movement, in case we are attacked. This is what the military course will teach you if you apply to it.”

But his words made Levis even more confused as he was sure that everyone here was a guard and not a soldier as he had never heard anyone mention that word.

However, his confusion was to be left to himself, as the doors of the hall were open by the light cloth man and Hubert.

“The horses are all set nearby.”

“I have searched the surroundings, and there are no recent tracks, and put a rudimentary alarm, in case anything approaches.

“Good, sit and eat.”

But as the two men sat next to them, Hubert could not but do a long face, at the perfect rationed food that they had for each and one of them.

“So little?”

“Don’t complain, this is far from little. It is not like you are just eating bread and drinking water.”

But as he was looking at his piece of bread and water, his eyelid began to twitch. But thankfully they were accompanied by two pieces of dry meat, some cheese, and two strange round yellow fruits.

“Well, it is better than just bread and water, but just this it is a little—, “sigh”, if I could have a space stone I would have stuffed it with food and wine to the brim for occasions like this.”

“If you could have a space stone you would not be here, but in some important position with the other Captains and real Vice-Captains.”

“Before that, you should become an immortal, as you can never afford one with your salary from being just a rank 3 Guard.”

“Phuu—AHHAAHahhaah, that will more likely take me hundreds of years, on what I earn from being a guard right now.”

“Thats true, AHAHHhahaha.”

However, as the talk between the three men continued from the food to other pieces of knowledge that Levis had no idea of, he looked at the silent Adrian, that was eating without entering the conversation. As he was the strongest of them all and in charge of the whole group, yet, he did not make any comment, in fact, he had never spoken out of his own interest.

“What? Is there something on my face?”

“N-No!”

But as his stare had lasted for too long, the man had sensed the boy's gaze and preemptively spoken to him.

“Adrian, the only thing on your face is your bullheadedness, you can relax now that the Captain is not here, you seemed even more stressed them in the camp!?”

But as Hubert took the attention from Levis and express his opinion forgoing any title, a wrinkle appeared on Adrian's forehead as he gave him a hard gaze before sighing as he knew that the man before him gave no respect to the ranks, as being somewhat of a peculiar exception among the guards.

“It ming not look like there is much danger, but you are all forgetting that the leaders of the bandits are still at large, I know that it is highly unbelievable to encounter them here, however, this is part of my responsibility as I have all under my protection.”

“You might say that, but the truth is, that you are more afraid, than anyone here?”

“You—, “sigh”. If being afraid for your safety, then yes, I am, the one whose most afraid.”

“Don’t try to spin it on you as a good thing. You might have fooled these fools but not me.”

“In that case since I am the scared one and you the courageous one, I will leave you only bread and water for tomorrow.”

“Wait, wait, wait, I did not mean that, yes it is as you say, I can see it now, It is evident that you the mighty vice-captain, a kind soul man will warry for his subordinates, it is all too obvious now, as I see my mistake and give you a bow in gratitude— ouch!”

But before Hubert could continue with his flattery, a small object came and collided whit his head in the midst of his bow.

“Are you trying to flatter me or mock, chose one already?”

“Ahahah, Hub, it is better if you don’t try, you won’t win against him.”

“Hmph, do you think I don’t know? I have known this fool, since when we had entered the examination to become guards.”

“Ahahah, and yet he had become a vice-captain before you.”

“What vice-captain, he was selected at random because he is a rank 4, this blockhead, his aptitude is just as poor as mine, yet all he does is training all day and all night, leaving me behind.”

“That's because you are fooling around, while you could improve your cultivation.--- Now that we had all eaten, it is time to have our talk.”

While the five of them had finished consuming their meals, Adrian took the cloth and shook it, as it began to glow slightly, after which it became clean as though it had never been used. Making Levis widen his eyes, at the magical fabric that could clean itself.

“Levis!"

However, Adrian directed his gaze toward the boy as a stern look appeared on his face, making Levis wonder, if he had done something to upset him."

“Yes?”

“Tomorrow, I will leave at first light so here are the words that the captain wanted to say to you but could not at that moment. Ahum, “Levis, you are not to follow Adrian by any means, you are to stay with Hubert at your village and return as soon as possible, don’t make any trouble.” That is all, now you can all sleep.”

“Aaa, does your captain really think I will just go and create problems?”

“Are you not?”

“Even you?”

[Aahaha, these little boys really understand you, kid.]

[Ahahaha, maybe we should keep them, so we can keep him in check?]

[It might not be a bad idea.]

However, the voices were not the only ones to be stunned, as even the three men were looking dumbly at the scene, as though they were seeing a new side of Adrian while making a seemingly straightforward joke.

“You three, stop staring and begin to sleep as we have to move at the earliest.”

“Y-Yes.”

“You truly have no humor in you.”

It did not take long before the four men and one child, begin resting with their backs on the thin camping mats. But while the men were resting, the boy was restarting his training as he was beginning to refine his consciousness and absorb energy, before falling to sleep.

However, all of a sudden, he opened his eyes while staring at the ceiling of the village hall, after which he begins to look at his surroundings only to see only one other mat left next to him while all the others alongside the owners were nowhere to be found.

As he was slightly alarmed, he jumped to his feet while dashing outside, looking around and seeing only one other horse, not too far from him.

“You awake?”

“Hubert?”

But as he was looking for the voice, he could not see the person in question anywhere, as he was looking left and right.

“Look up. If all you can see are your sides, then you don’t look at the whole world.”

However, as he turned to look he could see the man standing while cultivating on the roof of the big hall.

“What are you doing there? And wher—?”

“The others have already left, and as for what am I doing here? I am obviously cultivating while looking at your village and keeping an eye on you. I have been told by that stone head to make sure you don’t follow them.”

But with a “thud” he made himself fall from the roof of the hall, as he had jumped from almost five meters as his knees bend distributing the energy of the fall.

“Well, now that you are here, my job is halfway done, all I have to do is relax while we are here.”

However, as the word relax was through into the conversations, Levis lowered his head and balled his fists.

“Has Adrian told you something else?”

“Ah, Yes. ---“Go to the front of the village graveyard.” ---was it?.”

“Alright, thank you.”

As he ended his short conversation with Huber, Levis turned around and begin to walk out of the village down to the river after which taking to the left, at the halfway point between the village and the river, going north for some time, before arriving at some low but thick dried up bushes with an opening where he could see many mounds, however, thirteen freshly new earth mounds were right in front of him, outside of the enclosure that was made out of the bushes.

“So, this is what he was talking about.”