Trouble Follows Those Who Avoid It

While WeiZhe went to a quiet place to ask Rick about something, Sophia who had been lining up was a bit relieved and ecstatic since the queue was way too long and it was soon her turn; she couldn't wait to get her hands on some grub.

Although she wasn't a foodie and also kept a strict diet, Sophia liked to eat stall foods after missions often and she liked eating a bit unhealthy but tasty food once in a while.

Sophia comes from a prominent magician family and because of this she has a lot of pressure from parents, relatives and peers due to which she has a very strict schedule where she can't waste time on activities that should be enjoyable for people of her age and mind you she isn't even 20 yet.

Due to this the only time she can get a break from the strict schedule is when she is on a mission from the army and by using the time she can get from a mission; Sophia uses it on enjoyable activities that is if there is a chance for it.

At the one of the entry points of the city.

WeiZhe, Rick and his buddies were all looking up, since the city walls entry point had a huge hole which was like a vertical rectangle with a curved top almost half sphere like but not quite.

All of them looked surprised as they couldn't see this open gate a moment ago.

The reason WeiZhe looked surprised was because he didn't realize the city was covered in a large scale defensive magic array that also seemed to have some illusion traits on it, albeit he was so only for a second and that too in his eyes as his face remained calm and tranquil.

WeiZhe would have noticed this if he had done a closeup thorough investigation on the entry point, but he only looked from afar with his spirit form.

As for the others, well there's no better word besides 'interesting' to explain their facial expression.

"...cough cough... Alright young ones can you stop gawking and drooling at the gate like you are looking at a beautiful woman!", WeiZhe coughed a couple of times lightly as he reminded them how foolish they looked like currently.

All of them came back to their senses immediately after WeiZhe reminded them as they made a loud gulping sound and exchanged dismayed glances with each other while noticing each others embarrassment.

"Elder WeiZhe you... you seem to be a local, right?", Rick asked after noticing that WeiZhe seemed to be unaffected by the change of scenery.

After all they only saw some guards at the gates before while the gate itself was only ten grown male adults size if they were stacked up together, but now the gate looked so massive and wide that even a fifty meter giant could waltz through it while jumping up and down.

"Haha... Me a local? I was like you too when I first saw something like this but it has already been very long.", WeiZhe laughed and answered while he sighed at the end of his sentence.

Rick and his buddies seemed to understand something from WeiZhez way of ending his sentence. "The old man is getting old and very few things could surprise him for him to see it and live through it."

"After all he would die of shock if it was too exciting.", so thought Rick and his buddies as they shot sympathizing gazes towards WeiZhe.

WeiZhe who was alert and observing his surroundings also noticed those sympathetic gazes as he felt like throwing up his old blood.

"Damn it! What's with those pitying and sympathetic looks you are giving me! I don't need them; keep it for yourselves!", WeiZhe inwardly cursed at them and was so angry at these young ones for looking down at him, but he couldn't do anything about it if he didn't want to scare everyone and expose his mage rank to others.

Although WeiZhe was angry he didn't show it on his face and acted like he didn't notice their sympathizing gazes at him.

"Let's go. It's our turn.", said WeiZhe to break the awkwardness in the air.

"Yeah, yeah let's go. The sooner we get in the sooner Elder WeiZhe can rest.", Rick was the first to respond as he secretly winked at the others.

"Uh. Okay let's hurry up, those behind us look a tad bit displeased.", one of Rick's friends said quickly as if trying to hurry everyone to move forward.

Although Rick tried to wink at others secretly, how could WeiZhe not notice it. WeiZhe just rolled his eyes at him and decided to ignore this fellas since Rick did do it out of his goodwill.

As the group kept walking towards the checking point of the entry point in the city walls, WeiZhe who was looking observing how the checking happens noticed that there wasn't any difference to what he observed in his spirit form so he relaxed and kept looking around.

Although WeiZhe is too old to even know his own age anymore and the amount of knowledge he possesses is comparable to a heavenly library but he has only read or memorized those knowledge and lacks practical experience on most of his obtained knowledge.

However, his knowledge has reached to such a degree of perfection in other people's view that he could pick up basically anything even if he has zero practical experience on it.

Even then new things are constantly being created and invented, and now that his tower got self-destructed he can't gather knowledge of newly invented and created stuff.

That's right his tower that was upside down underwater wasn't only his seclusion abode and place where he could conduct magical experiments but also a huge library that was stuffed inside a pocket dimension which was spread out towards the entire known world like a spider web.

And some of the places this pocket dimensions spider net was cast on wasn't even explored by any magicians so he got many interesting and unheard-of, which he loved to crack in his free time.

As Rick's friends got checked one by one of their identifications or made themselves guest or tourist passes by filling in the application form that was overwatched by a miniature truth fairy who could detect lies through its inborn abilities, so lying on the form wasn't an option.

WeiZhe who was behind one of Rick's friends slightly moved his right wrist in a vibrating motion as a identification to enter the city appeared in his hands all of a sudden. The movement was subtle and no one noticed it.

Since there wasn't much more for WeiZhe to do he shifted his gaze on the miniature truth fairy with a peculiar glow in his eyes which was like a predatorial beast eyeing its prey.

The miniature truth fairy who was observing the applicants so they don't lie on the form suddenly turned stiff as her face drained of all color and blood.

"!!!"

"B-BEAST!! ANCIENT BEAST! H-h-HELP!", the miniature truth fairy named Fana screamed at the top of her lungs and even used wind magic to amplify her voice albeit a bit shakingly as she almost lost her flight inborn ability; even though she was overwhelmed by fear and dread.

The battlemage who was in charge of this northwest entry point, heard the shout and immediately wielded his wand that was leaning on the desk to burst out of the office he was in with a emergency one-time short distance teleportation rune paper that would take him to the top of the city walls or in front of the entry points gates.

Sophia who was inside the city walls and enjoying her meat-salad filled bread which was three out of a quarter eaten already turned stiff with disbelief shining through her eyes.

"It couldn't be the beast we observed in the Bilder Mountain, right?", inwardly thought sophia so, but soon she realized that it might actually be the case so she burned the bread in her hands with fire magic albeit a bit reluctantly and hurried to run-float toward the city walls with wind magic.

"Damn how could I have forgotten," WeiZhe cursed himself inwardly as he remembered that fairies are extremely sensitive toward magic and any kind of hostile intentions.

As for Rick and his friends they were petrified by the shout as it nearly blasted their eardrums open.

They were very clear between the distinction of beasts and Ancient beasts as they lived of by hunting beasts and selling their furs, skin, meat, bones and cores.

Ordinary beasts were easy to deal with as they were just stronger than ordinary animals and pets, but Ancient beasts were a totally different subject, those were beasts which the army hunted and that too with a huge price.

Not only were Ancient beasts as intelligent as humans, but they were extremely ruthless and cunning too as beasts can't survive long enough to become Ancient beasts if they can't survive in the jungle.

And the rule in the jungle was; survival of the fittest without any regulations as it was pure a massacre to see who would rule and whom would everyone serve and obey.

And WeiZhe who lived most of his life in the center of a area were no race dared to inhabit in a ten thousand kilometers of radius because of the sheer density of Ancient beasts of different ranks started to have his aura changed to that of a apex Ancient beast which no magician could and dared hunt down alone.

Afterall beasts and Ancient beasts used their mana to pour it into their cores to strengthen and grow their physical bodies to an extent where they could slash a mountain like tofu with their paws or fangs.

It was nothing but a nightmare to face these beasts without preparation and sufficient manpower.

WeiZhe forced a smile as he noticed that some battlemages were coming towards the city's northwest entry point, he could only brace himself if someone suspected him or cook up a plan to bluff them again with his vast experience in life.

"So troublesome, even when I was staying low-key and staying far away from trouble it still found me," WeiZhe sighed as he started to ruminate how-when you are not looking for something you will find it and when you are trying to escape from something it will find you.

As seconds ticked by the battle-mage who was in charge of the northwest entry point flew down from top of the wall with wind magic to ease his fall, he looked around and said with anger and deep voice, "Who was the one that said there's a Ancient beast!"

Fana who was startled looked up and noticed the Chief of the northwest entry point and said with a fear stricken and meek voice, "I-it-it was... me.", quickly closing her eyes as she was not only scared by the Ancient beasts stare, she also was afraid of the Chief as he was known to have a short temper especially in such a sensitive time.

As the Chief of the northwest entry point, Laurel Reynolds who was barely in his mid thirties was respected and feared by many people because of his prominent family as the background, The Reynolds and his Count mage rank he was able to become a famous Major of the army.

With sleek jet black hair that was pulled to the back, looking like it was carefully done in the morning with gel to look shiny throughout the entire day, there was no beard on his face and also no mustache; he had a fairly handsome face to go with it.

Laurel Reynolds was donning an office military uniform in blue grayish color with his achievements on his left chest and name on his right chest.

His name was glowing with a deadly blood red color that fitted his angry and alarmed expression while his achievements were shimmering in myriads of colors; blue, red, yellow and orange.

Laurel looked toward where the voice was coming from and was dazed for a very short second as he never thought the miniature truth fairy Fana would be the one to shout for help, after all he had a good impression of this little fairy; hardworking, never slacks and also because the fairy race was under the protection of a powerful magician with renowned fame for couple of centuries already.

"What happened Fana, where's the Ancient beast you shouted about?", with knitted brows Laurel asked Fana what he wanted to know right away.

While pointing a trembling finger Fana kept her eyes closed and said,"There. I sensed the aura from there and somewhere in that direction the stare came from."

Laurel shifted his gaze towards the sky as he was floating very close to ground he muttered under his breath that everyone could hear as it was deathly quiet,"The sky? Could it be a passing flying Ancient beast? No way! The detection array system would have picked it up even before the beast reached near the city walls."

As Fana heard that she opened her eyes wide and shouted,"No it wasn't! It wasn't far away! It felt like it was already grasping me in it's hands ready to devour!"

Laurel startled by the revelation, instantly turned very serious as he solemnly said,"If it's not a flying beast then...", Laurel didn't get to finish his words as a rumbling wind came blowing toward him from inside the city.

It wasn't only him who felt the blowing wind as everyone felt it and immediately looked toward the city gates, there they saw a sandy wind coming towards them at high speeds; seemingly using earth and wind magic to move at high speeds towards them.

WeiZhe also looked towards it and with his amazing perception he noticed something amusing, "Isn't that the gal who was part of that thirty-to-forty group of battlemages? I thought they went to report to their superiors. Interesting... this might be entertaining!", WeiZhe thought inwardly as he smiled for a flash and then started acting again like a fearful ordinary old man.

Sophia who was coming toward the northwest entry point in high speed used her wand to cancel her earth magic and slowly calmed down her wind magic so that she was similarly like Laurel; floating very close to the ground.

Laurel Reynolds who knew many prominent youths of the big families was startled as he remembered this voluptuous beauty who had stolen many men's hearts without giving her own back.

"You are Sophia... Merlin, right?", asked Laurel with a hint of doubtfulness, although he was eighty percent sure it was her, he still wasn't sure as there could be people who look similar.

Sophia who just came to a halt was startled and flustered for being recognized and said staggeringly,"Ugh... Yes I'm Sophia Merlin and you're... Laurel Reynolds?"

Laurel who got recognized wasn't startled or flustered but puffed his chest and proudly said,"Yes I Am. What about it? What are you doing here?"

"Nothing. I was just a bit surprised for you to be in front of the gate. Anyway I heard a shout saying something about Ancient beasts here, is it true?", asked Sophia after calming down and getting to the point.

"Yes and no. Yes because of the person who told me about it. And no... Because I can't find any beasts here I've already spread out my many but I can't sense any beasts anywhere let alone an Ancient beast.", said Laurel with a bit of hesitation as if trying to justify his reasoning.

"Who is this said 'person'?", asked Sophia after hearing Laurel's explanation.

Pointing with his wand toward Fana, Laurel said,"Her. The northwest entry points miniature truth fairy; Fana.", shaking his head Laurel continued,"She has been here for many years before I took office and what I've seen and heard from my previous superior, Fana hasn't made trouble all these years."

Sophia who was listening to Laurel was a bit startled since she has gone through extensive schooling in a famous Magic Academy and knows for a fact that not only can Truth Fairies detect lies but they also abhor lying and never do it as they will get cursed for lying.

Albeit Fana was only miniature version of a Truth Fairy and much weaker too, she wouldn't dare to lie as the curse adjusts its power depending on its victim.

"Your name is Fana, right? You can call me Sophia. Can you tell me in detail calmly what happened here?", blurted out Sophia in a blitz couple of questions.

"I... There was a Ancient beast like aura over there and... I felt it was trying to grapple me in its paws and devour me hole.", while pointing toward the sky said Fana while trying to remember what happened and calm down constantly as she was afraid of the situation just remembering it, all her hair on her skin rose up like straight pine trees when she tried to remember the scene of a suffocating sea like Ancient beast aura.

"Close to her, huh? I think I know what you're talking about. Major Laurel Reynolds I have to tell about something via mind transmission.", said Sophia seriously while shifting her gaze from Fana to Laurel.

"Mind transmission? Alright tell me I'll drop my mind defenses.", said Laurel without hesitation as he knew that Sophia wouldn't hurt him as she also was a battle-mage and his attainment in magic was higher than Sophia's.