Chapter 17 -- Friendly merchant 

"Are you sure you are going to be okay my baby ?" Olivia said. She was clearly worried.

Zane and his parents where standing at the gate of their farm. They had been there for ten minutes and Zane was starting to get frustrated, his mother was not good with goodbyes.

"Mother, I am now 15!" he complained with a smile.

"You will always be my baby Zane. Do you really have to go ?" tears began rolling down her face.

"Don't cry mother. And we already talked about this, i can't stay here anymore, but I promise to come back one day okay ?" Zane consoled.

"One year, promise me you will come and visit after exactly one year!" 

Zane sighed "I promise to visit for one month every year mother. Can i go now ?"Olivia just nodded as more years rolled down.

Zane turned towards Owen. "Father."

"Son."

"Take care of mother"

"I always have." Owen smiled " and make sure to bring a girlfriend when you come visit"

Zane smiled and walked away, he wanted to say something to mother but didn't want to risk being held back for 10 more minutes.

Owen had told Zane that the next town was 10 kilometers west of their farm, and that's where Zane was headed.

As soon as he was out of his parent's sight, the bow on his back and the sword on his waist disappeared as he put them into his inventory. Zane hadn't used this skill because it would cause questions he didn't want to answer.

<Name : Zane>

<Exst realm : None>

<Mana 4690 :>

These days Zane has had no trouble getting mana. The hunts he did with his father were enough. However he noticed that his gains where too low. On average, per hunt Zane would use 500 mana to kill an animal, and gain about 600. That was a measly profit of only 100 points.

Normal animals where too weak and didn't give Zane enough mana for the hunt to actually be worth it. Zane needed to start hunting mana beasts but he was too weak for them.

It must be noted that Zane was not even a mage yet. He didn't even know how he would become one. His father also didn't know. Owen might have went to hunting school but he had to drop out before he could be taught how to 'cultivate'.

'Father said there should be a road straight ahead, where i could catch a ride to Willow city' Zane thought. Willow was the name of the city he was headed to.

Unlike the farming village Zane had grew up in. Willow city was way bigger and had instead of farming, it was more centered around hunting and had a lot of merchant shops. 

Zane suddenly heard horses galloping in front of him 'I must be close to the road' he thought as he started jogging while blowing air through his mouth. This wasn't because Zane was out of breath, instead it was so that he could spread his mana dust further in front of him.

With normal breathing, he could only see a meter in front of him. However when actively blowing the mana dust out, he could see 3 meters ahead. A few seconds later and Zane arrived at the road.

He decided to wait at the side for another carriage, he could walk there but his mother had made him promise to get a ride. Apparently she worried he might get lost....and she was kinda right.

A few minutes later and Zane heard another carriage approaching. He then stood in the middle of the path as he blew his mana dust in the direction of the carriage, he had used 500 points for this.

<Mana 4090 :>

"Wooh!!" The man in control of the carriage stopped his vehicle as the man who was standing by the side of the road suddenly blocked his path.

The man in the carriage was a merchant on his way to sell some wares in Willow city. The had been startled to see the man blocking the path as his mind immediately thought that he was being robbed.

However when he took a closer look at the 'bandit' he realized he didn't at all look like the normal bandits he has had the unfortunate luck of meeting.

This man wore clean white robes, instead of black. And clearly wasn't carrying a weapon. However he didn't let that distract him, this might be a clean bandit who's element was so powerful he didn't need a weapon.

The merchant was about to open his mouth to threaten the man with the name of the noble household he worked for. However before he could, the man spoke.

"Hello, i apologize for blocking your way but i really need to get to Willow city. I have 5 gold coins as payment. I hope it is enough" Zane respectfully said.

The merchant narrowed his eyes 'Five gold coins for a ten kilometer ride ?. Interesting, this guy is obviously not a bandit. It's either he is very rich or very stupid, or both' he thought.

"Five gold coins for a ten kilometer ride, are you sure about that" The merchant nonchalantly asked.

"Okay how about 8 gold coins, but I'm sorry I can't go any higher than that" Zane said.

The merchant smiled as dollar signs appeared in his eyes. However he didn't show his happiness as he sighed "Fine i will take your eight gold coins"

Zane smiled as he walked to the carriage and removed his gold from a pouch. For some reason he couldn't put gold into his inventory. 'This is great !. I got a ride for eight coins. Mother had given me 10 so i now have two Gold left over. Not counting all my other coins' Zane was happy that he hadn't forgotten his skills as a businessman.

The merchant smiled even wider as he received the coins 'This guy really is stupid' he thought in glee.

"Very good new friend, you may enter" He pointed at the door on the side.

"Thank you" Zane entered the carriage.

"My name is Wyatt. May I ask yours ?" The merchant shouted as the carriage started moving.

'Fuck doesn't this thing have any suspension springs' Zane complained as he bounced around in the carriage.

"My name is Zane. It's nice to meet you Wyatt." Zane said. The merchant could only smile further at that 'He used only one name so he is not a noble. Nobles are too proud of their names to not announce them'

"It's nice to meet you too Zane" he said "So is your family at Willow ?" he conversed.

"No my family lives back in Nok village. I left home today to just experience life on my own you know ?" Zane explained.

"So you have no relatives or people who know you in Willow ?" Wyatt asked suspiciously.

"Nope this is actually the first time i am being away from home on my own" Zane replied. It felt good to speak to someone other than his parents.

"Im sorry to pry but i can't help but notice your eyes are covered ?" Wyatt asked with 'concern'.

"Ohh i am blind" Zane replied.

'So he doesn't know what i look like !. This just gets better and better' Wyatt thought "Are your going to be okay in the town all by yourself ?" he asked.

Zane was touched that people where this nice in this world. Most people wouldn't care about a random person they just met. Like this the two conversed until night came and Zane fell asleep.

Wyatt took out a cage which had a few birds inside. He then took out a small piece of paper and wrote something on it before tying the paper on one of the bird's leg. Releasing the bird, it flew in the direction the carriage was headed.

"You should have stayed at the farm Zane" Aurora said with a hint of pity as she watched the bird fly.