CHAPTER I: Courage

I'm currently packing some clothes in my bag that I would be using for my travel today. I woke up a little bit gloomy still cannot stop crying from last night's news. It was busy in the inn last night, so no one heard me from sobbing my pain away.

Is this really enough? A bunch of ragged clothes and pocket money for the travel to Apollon. I look outside of the window and the sky was bright as ever, but it contrasts with what I feel today. The death of my grandfather makes me realize that I need to do something and stop relying on them.

I heard a soft knock on the door. ''Who is it?'' I immediately ask.

''Marvis your breakfast is ready. Eat it before it gets cold'' I could hear the enthusiasm of Ms. Dansel's voice. I guess she happy for having a lot of customers last night at the inn.

''A minute!'' I replied back. I heard her say 'okay~' before walking away.

Will Old man Yop even allow me to leave in the country? I really hope so.

I let out a sigh and grab the bag and head down to the dining hall. When I reached the dining hall, I already saw my food on the table it was bread and a warm soup? A Carrot soup, perhaps?

''Good morning, Marvis~'' Ms. Dansel greeted me with a smile on her face. I smiled back at her and greet her while smiling too.

I sat down on the barrel. We use this as an extra chair in the inn. As I grab the bread on the plate, I could already tell the taste of the bread, it was a little bit warm too. I took a bite and keep eating while drinking some soup using the wooden spoon, and I was right it was a carrot soup.

''Ms. Dansel, would Old man Yop allow me to travel outside of the kingdom?'' I suddenly asked her while taking a bite on the bread. She looked at me dead serious in the eye.

''Why? and for what reason?''

''I need to go to Apollon to learn more about healing class.'' As I said those words, I already finished eating my bread.

''Yeomman! We need to talk about something!'' she shouted.

Delilah Dansel was the only maid in this inn, she was one of the comrades of my grandparents. She looks very young, but her age was 3 times older than mine. Her body was not aging accordingly to her age was because of her mixed blood and magic. Suddenly, I heard a footstep coming from upstairs and I saw Old man Yop walking down.

''What seems to be a problem?'' He asked.

''Marvis-''

''I want to travel outside of the kingdom,'' I said those things as fast as I can. ''Please, allow me!'' Then bow my head.

''What could be the reason for your 'wanting' to go travel outside?''

I sigh and begin telling them about last night about the letters and my new ambition. Both were shocked about the news of my grandfather dying Ms. Dansel even cover her mouth stopping herself to cry in from me and Old man Yop.

Mr. Yop grab my shoulder then he patted my head. ''Condolences to your grandfather and to our leader, Arvin.'' the sadness on his voice is enough to show their affection for my grandpa. ''Is he your reason?'' he suddenly looked at me in the eye.

Is he really my reason? of wanting to be strong.

''Y..Yes.'' I stuttered. ''I want to travel to Apollon to learn about my class.''

''Apollon...?'' he looked at Ms. Dansel who is wiping her tears with her handkerchief.

''The Hold Kingdom of the Western continent.'' She looked at me. "Do you even know the relationship between your birthplace and that kingdom?''

I nodded as an answer.

In the last great war, the former King of the kingdom of Aresian was brutally murdered during the war. The one who killed him was the current king of the Holy Kingdom of Apollon a knight that blessed by the gods, that was the rumored say to him. After that defeat, the kingdom hatred on the Healer class appeared. They started torturing, killing, and casting the class out of the system in the kingdom.

I am really lucky that my parents did not reveal my class and instead they cast me out on the household disowning me. The only people who knew about my class were my grandparents and their party, my family, and my two friends which is Gwendlyn and Roi.

''Yeomman. I would not allow it.'' She said then looked at me. ''You will place yourself in danger!''

''N-no I am not!'' I defended myself. Even if they didn't allow me, I will leave this place.

''No, your not your ass. Have you even killed a monster, eh?!'' she was a little bit mad that even her accent change. I just looked at her and did not even answer her question. ''See I was right!''

Yes, it is true that I never killed a monster since I never tried. I'm a little bit afraid since my class is not considered as a combatant, I always think that I might get killed by a monster.

''I will allow it.''

I and Ms. Dansel looked at him. I cannot stop smiling ''r-really?'' I asked then he nodded.

''ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND YEOMMAN!!'' She really shouted this time. ''Fi ecille sdnif tuo taht saw gnittel reh nosdnarg og ot taht ecalp ehs lliw llik su!'' She started speaking in her mother tongue, I did not even understand a thing, but I could tell that she was really against my idea.

''Follow me upstairs on my room.'' Old man Yop just turned his back and started walking back upstairs. I grab my bag and follow him upstairs.

''I still wouldn't allow it.'' I saw Ms. Dansel walking beside me. ''I don't like to see you leave and hurt yourself.''

Is she worried about me?

I stopped walking.

''Delilah.'' I called her name. She looked at me her eyes were a little bit shock since I never called her using her given name. ''I want to be strong, strong enough to change the kingdom.''

''M-Marvis...''

''I had enough of hiding and staying weak all the time. If I stay here, I'm just accepting my fate that I do not have any future of who I am. I know that you were worried about me you're like my big sister in this Inn.'' I just looked at her trying not to cry. ''This new ambition of mind of wanting to be strong. I- I really want to leave and start learning on my own.''

''Very well.'' She fixed herself and turned her back and start walking upstairs. ''As your guardian and Sister-- I will support you on your new ambition, Marvis.'' She looked back at me and I saw her smiling.

''Thank you.''

We reached the room of Mr. Yop and I could feel the concentration of the mana inside. Perhaps he's using his magic? This would not be my first time seeing it, but it was a unique type of magic.

Yeomman Oppal was a mage class that specialized in Teleportation magic. A magic that could be only use as transportation yet the way my grandfather told me a story about their adventure. Old man Yop specialized in killing people while utilizing his teleportation magic. I remember that my grandfather said that that his portal was so special that only the people he trusts can only walk through it.

''I hope you are ready...'' Ms. Dansel whispered before grabbing the doorknob and opening the door. As the door opened the condensed mana was floating in the air, they were forming a big circle.

Old man Yop using the point of his finger to guide the mana to form a perfect circle. I just looked at him with awe. His entire right-hand releases blue mana indicating that the portal was almost finished. He placed his right palm on the flattened circle ''Mark of The Navigator: Border'' as he said those words the middle of the portal turns gray.

''Are you ready on your journey?'' He looked at me with his eyes glowing in blue. I'm still a little bit amazed at his magic and now he's rushing me to leave?!

''W-wait is it too early to leave?!''

''This is your calling Marvis.'' I looked back at Ms. Dansel she's holding a pocket that full of money. ''Take this on your journey. I got a lot of customers last night and this money will help you in a meantime.''

I grabbed the money it was a little bit heavy. ''T-thank you...this will help me a lot...'' I put it inside of the bag so I wouldn't lose it.

''Marvis also take this.'' Mr. Yop was holding a wooden staff there was a weird carving on the staff. ''This staff enhances your healing properties.''

A Staff that can increase healing magic?! This must cost a-a lot of gold!

''S-sorry! I think this gift is a little bit too much!'' his face suddenly saddened.

''This is not a competition, Yeomman.'' She glared at him.

''Okay...'' He put down the staff and he grabbed another one. ''Then take this normal staff.'' He said to me then winked. It is a normal wooden staff I cannot sense anything from it unlike from before that wand aura was a little bit eye-catching, unlike this one.

I grabbed the wand ''Thank you so much, Old man Yop''

''Please, from now on drop the formalities. You can call me Yeomman.''

I walk closer to the portal and looked back at them for the last time. "I will come back. I promised that you will know me as a renowned healer--''

''Farewell, Marvis''

''tnod eid dik lliw eb gnitiaw rof uoy...''

I smiled ''--Yeomman and Delilah. Thank you for all the years of taking care of me. I wouldn't forget it as a matter of fact both of you I consider as my family. Do not worry about me I got the lucky necklace that grandpa Arvin gave to me...'' I grab the necklace on my neck both of them look at me smiling, I waved goodbye then walk through the portal.

I closed my eyes since the portal was so bright when I walk through it, I suddenly feel the warmth of the sun hitting my skin. I squinted my eyes and look around this was the forest side of the Kingdom which means I'm at the borders... If I did not use a portal, it will take me 2 days to arrive at the border.

The woodlands of Talem this is the southern border of the kingdom... This is quite far away from my destination which is the Apollon, I need a map for my journey.

''Fall in line!'' I heared a voice it was a manly one. I followed it and I saw a two merchants caravan, which is perfect! I could get a ride!

When one of the guards of the border saw me, they gestured to 'get in the line' I just follow and walk and head over to one of the caravans. They were three people inside of the caravan a woman with a kid and a guy sleeping.

I looked at the woman ''May I ask where the rider of the caravan?''

She looked at me and pointed to the left side of the caravan ''The owner was taking a break at the side of the caravan. You should check out in that direction.'' She replied. I smiled and thanked her.

I take a few steps towards the left side of the caravan and I saw a man sitting on the dirt road. He saw me and looked at me like 'what-do-you-want' and raised his eyebrow.

''H-how much for the ride?'' I asked.

''1 gold for a 1-day trip to the Border of the Poseidus Kingdom.''

I open my bag and I saw the pocket money that Ms. Dansel gave to me. I did not open the pocket money that she gave to me, I'll use it later. I pick 1 gold on the pocket of mine and gave it to the rider.

''Ey kid are ye an adventurer?'' He asked.

I remember that I was a registered adventurer. I nodded as an answer.

''You should come with them,'' he said then point his finger at the group of people at the front of the gate. ''Those young lads are adventurers they were heading to the cave of Talem as a shortcut.''

They were five people at the party, three young men and two women. Four of them using weapons one spear, two swords, and an ax while the other one was holding an expensive staff must be a noble mage in the kingdom. My grandparents told me to avoid joining a party like this since people from my kingdom abhorred my class and the right thing to do to avoid danger is to avoid joining, but I did break their rule by joining a party with Gwen and Roi but those two were different people. They do not care about my class, yet they found it strange that I survive living in the kingdom. They keep my secret to themselves and they just never told anyone about my class.

''I'm a weak mage, Sir. Thank you for the suggestion.'' He just looked at me like I was a weird person.

''Are you a visitor or do you live in this kingdom?'' He stood up. ''Come sit beside me at the front.''

''OPEN THE GATES!!'' one of the guards shouted. The huge metallic wall that builds by the family of Roi this wall could even defend a powerful magic attack. The sound of the gate caught my attention, it was opening slowly due to its enormous size. The rider of my caravan already mounted on his horse. I already seated at the front of the caravan.

''Hiyah!'' He whipped then the horse started moving. As the caravan move, we passed by the party some of them looked at me. I just looked away and enjoy the moment since this is my first time stepping out of my own country.

''You did not answer my question, kid.'' He looked back at me.

Oh, I suddenly remember his question about me. ''S-sorry. Yes, I lived in the Kingdom of Aresian.''

''Well, you don't act like one.'' He suddenly said.

''W-what do you mean sir?''

''The adventurer, No-- Even the people in that kingdom always act like they are mightier than other people who live in a different kingdom.''

I knew what he was talking about the people in my kingdom wherein they always act as if they are better human beings than the other people in different kingdoms. As always, they always find a way to look down on someone.

''David is my name.'' He greeted.

''You can call me, Marvis.'' I smiled. "Where are you from? It feels like you're not from here too.''

''I was born in Herasia but I grew up in the Kingdom of Poseidus'' He replied.

Herasia?? Isn't that another continent? How did he get here?

''The great war that is the answer you were looking for Marvis.''

Did he? Is my face really obvious that he manages to answer my question without even asking it?

both of us start talking to each other and telling different stories.

He even told me that because of the war his family moved to Poseidus since the Herasia was taken over by the Aresian. At that time his family needs a safer place to live in and the only near country that accepts refugees was the Poseidus Kingdom.

The last war which is the great war was when the kingdom of Aresian decided to conquer the world. Of course, some kingdoms did not take this seriously as a threat until they manage to capture half of the countries. The power of the Military of the Aresian at that time was superb no one could contest them and Yet they did not expect that they would be defeated by the newly build Kingdom -- Apollon. The death of the Tyrant King was enough to stop the advancing army of the Aresian.

The Caravan suddenly stopped.

''What's the matter --'' I stopped from talking when I saw another caravan was raided by the orcs. They are dismembering the body of a human I force myself to stop from puking.

''Marvis, we need to run--'' before he finished his word a giant ax pierced his head his blood splashed through my face.

''A- AHHH!!'' I screamed I immediately head down to caravan and dock my head to avoid any projectile weapon. I run towards the deeper part of the woods and hid behind the rock.

''Buerghhh...'' I puked on the ground. My hands and feet were shaking in fear the moment that ax hid his head-- I don't know what to do...

''AHHHHH!! HELP MEE MAMA!!'' I peeked and I saw one of the orcs grab the little kid from her mother. The kid keeps screaming and I just covered my ears and closed my eyes for a moment.

My body won't move because I knew if those monsters realized that I'm still here they will kill me... Suddenly a much bigger orc appeared it was wearing a plated armor and holding a big iron club. ''Za ul kid agh drepa kilgjas ig''

orchis language? they can communicate?? The other two orcs nodded as if they understood each other.

''AARRRR!'' The other orc smashed the body of the kid's mother and the other guy. The orc keeps smashing the body of the two until they turned into a clump of flesh on the grounds. The other orc who's carrying the kid starts walking away to the deeper part of the woods while the others orc followed it.

''Oh god have mercy on me...'' My feet are still shaking, and I cannot even properly think!

Should I report this, or should I save the kid?!

I puked again from the stench of the flesh and the blood in the air. I can't stand this kind of thing...

Can I even save that kid?? Those orcs can communicate I- I have never seen such a thing like that! It's rare to see monsters that could communicate with each other!

I wiped out the vomit on the side of my mouth I started running--

--towards the direction where the orcs headed.

''Here goes nothing...'' I said to myself.