38 Diary 38: The Magical Stratum

After a few stops, they will arrive at their destination which is the Capital City of Arkhansas. The source of all trading and business. David explained to Min Soo before that Arkhansas is a neighboring City of Artosis, which is the city of Art. Not far from Arkhansas City would be Artosis.

Arkhansas City silhouette could be seen from the distance, whenever they make a few stops along the way. The sound of bustling merchants, the sights of passerby adventurers, and merchants alike are around them. Min Soo is somewhat excited to see what Arkhansas looks like, the City itself wasn't that pretty but lots of famous people live in Arkhansas.

Mainly the government's officials, merchants, and traders reside in Arkhansas City. Min Soo's curiosity is piqued, he wants to know more of the city that David describes; his bronze eyes shine in excitement. David's navy eyes gaze upon the excited Idol who sits behind the fat merchant.

His smiles soon faded away when he notices the merchant's eyes leers toward Min Soo's body, possibly flushed and bothered by his presence behind him. David clicks his tongue as he walks next to the merchant cart, while Crow himself is oblivious toward why David is having a bad day in front of him.

"David, you've been clicking your tongue all day" Crow taps his shoulder. "What's up?".

David's eyes leer toward the merchant who makes a small banter with the Idol, Min Soo either is a dumb person for not knowing the merchant's intention, or perhaps he pretends not to know. Still, David can't help but feels extremely annoyed with the fact that the merchant is trying to make a pass on Min Soo.

Ten hours have passed since their first journey, they're about to take another stop near a riverbed. A large gate can be seen from a distance, quite different from Arachnosia who cover their city with tall walls, Arkhansas City doesn't have any barriers nor walls covering their city. It's free real estate, but the city gate is crowded with Knights.

In exchange for not having walls around their city, their security personnel is tighter than in other cities.

"David, is Arkhansas safe without the walls?" Min Soo's bronze orbs stare at David in curiosity.

"When it comes to walls, they have inner walls but it only safeguards the government officials, rich merchant, and the influential people" David explains. "As the outer layer, I can assure you that the Knights are trying their best to protect the civilians".

The knights in Arkhansas are on a whole new different level than the one in Arachnosia, they're more expert in what they do. Most of them are veteran knights that got employed by the officials and the riches, an expert knight would probably place on Arkhansas. Min Soo asks the expert explorer of the name.

"Say, does the Knights Association have a name?" Min Soo asks the explorer curiously.

"Well, they changed their name REGULARLY," David said sarcastically. "But they go with the name Illuminae".

The Illuminae Knights Association has always been protecting Sanctus Luminera from many dangers, including the invasion of the demons from Lucis Infernum. However, Min Soo feels as if David had a certain hatred toward the Knights Association, a slight grumble can be seen from his mouth.

The party takes a break while chatting lightly in regards to Sanctus Luminera, Crow's golden orbs slowly warming up to Min Soo's cutesy look. David fills Min Soo's curiosity with Sanctus Luminera's past with Lucis Infernum. About the war between the two worlds, the man has been repeating the tales like a broken cassette.

The moment David opens his mouth to explain the story, Crow already rolls his eyes as he goes away to another place. The reason for the war is territorial, but there's also another reason which is the usage of humans as livestock. As the hellish creatures, they're in need of living livestock, a creature that they can predate upon.

In this case humans, especially the non-visioners; thus setting the Visioners and the rare Visioners on a higher social stratum. The Visioners can get a job more easily than the non-Visioners, which itself already made the non-Visioners is already at disadvantages.

"So how can the non-Visioners live on his own?" Min Soo asks a critical question.

David gives it some thought before giving an answer to Min Soo. After a while, David speaks the answer in a polite demeanor.

"There are non-Visioners that can thrive, they're usually diligent scholars" David adds. "It depends on the person whether they can catch up".

It appears that the Visioners are truly gifted, more people look up to Visioners more than normal people. In the social stratum, they're viewed in a higher status than the others. As they continue their idle banter, Crow calls David out of the blue. The man then follows Crow, since Crow said something about bandits.

"Alright, I'll be off" David smiles. "I'll secure the perimeter, keep the merchant safe while Crow and I on the lookout".

Min Soo nods, the Idol sees the two warriors off into the forest depth; possibly to check the perimeter whether the sights about the bandit are correct.

Min Soo's bronze orbs go to the fat merchant who's been glancing at him nonstop, the Idol had a bad feeling about the merchant's lustful desire showing up. He prepares his grimoire just in case something happens, the bandit might be after the merchant lives but he's afraid of letting the merchant goes near him.

Just when he thought the worst could happen, suddenly there's a hunting dog sight near the cart. The grey dog barks at the cart, accompanied by two strangers with an ugly hoodie behind it.

The brown cloak cover half of their face but the knives on their hands speaks volume. They're here to steal the merchandise, the merchant is unaware of their presence.

"Should I warn him?" Min Soo thought to himself hard as his mind circulates.

Min Soo cast a protective spell on the merchant, veiling him in a body of water surprising the merchant himself.

"Wait, what-".

"Run! The bandits are here!" Min Soo yells at the puzzled merchant, cutting him in-between.