-Hey dawn ? Are you there ? Cukuuk !

Kashmar said moving his hand in front of me,trying to get me back to reality as I continued to stare at the poster my mind connecting towards a few things and what verdath mentioned about a "Empress" which I slowly started to understand.

-Kashmar what is the name of the princess ?

Kashmar was surprised by the sudden question,but thought about it anyways and answered quickly.

-Thats easy she is serath bahan,the princess of the bahan empire and also the next empress of the nation,on the topic there is soon going to be a tournament for the princesses hand for marriage the emperor decided to give his daughter to the strongest man or woman in this nation...

I was surprised for a moment hearing his words,I turned to him meeting his eyes just to be sure,kashmar saw my bafflement and quickly answered shrugging his shoulders.

-Don't ask me man,our nation isn't discriminate against woman like the others,in this nation every person has equal rights and opportunities we also don't judge anyones agenda as long as they strong or influential enough to protect it that is...

I sighed...it wasn't my problem,but the tournament thing he just mentioned just bothered me even more...Sera was going to be sold in marriage in this tournament,I don't know if she consented to this,but seeing that sera doesn't have any ties towards this nation or its people,I am confident enough to say that she is most likely forced into it.

I closed my eyes for a few moments and asked kashmar once again.

-Where will this tournament take place ?

-The capital of course which will take place in a few days...wait a moment,why do you...

I sighed and told him straight.

-I want to participate in that tournament you understand ?

My answer seemed to have been unexpected towards kashmar,but he wasn't anyone to judge since he didn't know me one bit we only met each other a few minutes ago !

Right now the only real way I had was to go to this tournament meet sera and try talking to her and then convince the emperor to open the transportation circle and get home,all of these tasks seemed incredibly ludicrous if I think about it,but at the same time they weren't impossible not for me that is.

kashmar quickly shook his head for a moment snapping back to himself as he spoke.

-You...I advise you not to do that...from what I heard the tournament is a death match you will fight until you opponent dies or admits defeat and even if you admit defeat he has still the right to kill you without a question...

He spoke clearly pale from the prospect of dying and honestly his words made me think of the situation some more,but I still stuck at myself and asked him again.

-How do I get to the capital ?

Kashmar face palmed seeing my stubborn attitude,for some reason he seemed to care about me quite a bit which I couldn't understand since we only met each other a few minutes ago...

-As I said not only is the tournament dangerous,but the way to the capital from here is far you would need a runner lizard or at least a flying beast to reach there in time and that is not mentioning the amount of bandits or other beasts you might encounter so...huh?

Just as he was about to finish his sentence someone grabbed his shoulder from behind,I could see the smooth white hand the moment it touched him on top of that I only noticed that person 5 seconds ago and at the time it was still a foggy presence not something I can put attention towards.

-There you are...kashmar you slacking brat if you finished your job then come back no,reason for you to laze around...

Someone spoke and as I raised my head to see who it was,I met with a woman with blond pink hair and green eyes she had a pretty annoyed look on her face while staring at kashmar who in turn seemed really startled by this womans sudden appearance.

-Maa...master ! I wasn't slacking...I was just helping a friend ! I swear !

He said trying to find an excuse to the woman he called master who didn't seem to be convinced,looking closer at her I could see that the robe she was wearing was similar to that of kashmar just a different color which was green and blue combined,judging from the exchange these two had,I assumed that she was also working for the magicians association in a more higher position then kashmar as a teacher most probably.

-And you ? What was kashmar helping you at brat ?

The woman said finally turning her attention to me narrowing her eyes at me while crossing her arms impatiently I could feel a flow of magical energy go through her body,I could tell that she wasn't doing this because she wanted to take some kind of action rather it seemed to be a habit of hers her even fluttered up for a moment because of the wild flow she was emitting...I wonder if it was alright to use her mana like that ?

-Kashmar and I aren't really friends I just asked a few questions thats all,well I be going now it was nice to have met you kashmar...

I said quickly turning my body into the other direction,I could feel that staying any longer was simply calling for more trouble,that woman was obviously not someone who you would want to mess with and it wasn't that I was scared or anything it was just that I couldn't afford getting messed up in other peoples business.

-huh...from what I understand you need to get to the capital don't you the tournament will begin after 3 days and a half even with the fastest beast to ride on you wouldn't be able to make it brat...but I may be able to help you with that issue..

The woman said hearing her words made me involuntarily stop in my tracks,kashmar was also very surprised that his master knew about all of this,it could only mean that she had been listening into us at some point it might be even be at the very beginning.

I turned my body once again looking towards the pink haired woman who pulled her hair to the side with a natural flick of her finger she was smiling at me almost mockingly as we locked eyes.

-How can you help me ? And what is in it for you ?

-First of all let me introduce myself dawn...my name is harlin vankhiv I am a grand mage working for the magicians association and I am also this brats teacher first of all I want to say thank you that you helped this idiot for delivering the potion and secondly I also have an offer for you if you do this right I promise you that I will send you to the capital in no time...

I narrowed my eyes for a moment feeling slightly suspicious about this womans intent and also figuring out since when she was listening onto us.

-I listening...

I said making the woman smile for a moment as she pulled out a potion from her breast pocket the potion looked awfully similar to the one kashmar brought to the alchemist kashmar also seemed to have recognized it proofing the fact that it was indeed the same potion.

The woman looked a bit eager as she gestured me to take the potion I was still a bit confused,but decided to give it a shot since I didn't have any better idea on what to do,I walked forward and took the purple potion into my hand observing it.

-I saw that you have these kinds of potions if you can get more or make me more and then sell them to me I and the association would be incredibly thankful towards your work I will even consider letting you use one of our transportation circles for free...

She said staring me down with a very appraising look in her eyes studying me really.Her words made me confused since kashmar just explained to me that the transportation circles were all locked by the emperor.

-Didn't the emperor lock all of the transportation circles ? How come yours are working ?

I asked,the woman just smiled hearing my question as if expecting it to be questioned.

-Yes,the transportation circles are all indeed locked,but only locked towards the other realms not in our own we can still use it and travel through our own world with ease,but using it on itself is a privilege only bestowed towards the high ranking mages such as myself...

She said her way of talking sounded very arrogant and self centered,but I ignored it and just continued listening,she had succeeded in pulling my attention and if it was really true then I could go there in a matter of seconds still though there was one point in this offer that bothered me slightly.

I looked at the purple potion in my hand and wondered asking the woman at the same time.

-What is this ?

The woman stopped worshiping herself and looked at me confused for a moment she probably expected me to know what the potion was,but now that I asked such a question she looked as if she wasn't sure what to say to me...

Her conflicted look immediately told me that this potion had some kind of trouble following it,I wanted to just drop this issue and use the transportation circle with or without the consent of these people,but at the same time I didn't know the location of the capital you need to know the place you have to go to transport to it through the transportation circle...well at least thats how I know it to work,I don't know if its different here or not,but I should rather keep myself low without trouble if I want to participate in that tournament.

-Are you going to tell me or not ?

I prompted her my raised tone seemed to have made the woman slightly displeased,but she didn't comment on it and instead shoved her hair back with a proud look on her face while facing me.

-It is a very strong strength amplifier potion it gives you the strength of 5 tons for 8 hours the backlash on this potion is minor which is a small headache and possible vomiting...I have you know that you can't disclose this information to anyone in this city if you do so then know that our deal is gone and another thing I want to know...can you provide us or not ?

She said glaring at me almost threatening,but I wasn't fazed and instead returned the stare evenly.

-I can,but can you transport me to the capital is a better question and trust me if you try to cheat me then you won't like what will happen after...

I told her coldly making her flinch for a moment as my words sank into the atmosphere she didn't want to make herself look weak and tried to act tough which inevitably back fired on her making her look like a clown instead.

Kashmar who observed the whole exchange smiled quietly giggling to himself the woman noticed obviously and angered by it pulling her student away grabbing him on his collar and chocking him.

-I want 30 of these potions and I will take them for 45 silver a bottle if you give me that amount then I will let you use the transportation circle to travel to the capital,you have time until the tournament begins brat so use it well and remember don't tell anyone that you are making these or that I had called you for them...if you are ready you can call on this idiot in the association to bring me out to do the exchange I will see you..

The woman said quickly making her way back towards the association with her struggling student in tow.

I watched them leave holding onto the purple potion in hand not even sure what I might have put myself into...

-Drug dealing ? I can handle that...

I laughed at myself looking at the bottle very curious of its ingredients and what not and also thinking about some place to stay...

=====================================================

I edit and write other stories !

https://kakemonoko.wordpress.com/