The Journey Begins: Allies and New Companions

Kazuki sat at the table with the king of Avaloria, pouring over a map of the central continent. The once-powerful kingdom that used to rule the land was split in two, and had fallen to the academy of magic, their greatest enemy. Princess Akane explained that her father was the ruler of the kingdom before it fell, and that she was the only heir.

"The nordic kingdoms have also fallen to the academy," the king added solemnly. "Only one remains untouched."

Kazuki looked at the map, quickly identifying the three nord kingdoms that had been conquered by the academy. "And which one still stands?" he asked.

"The Kingdom of Thrym," the king replied, pointing to the northernmost part of the continent. "Their armies are strong, but they cannot withstand the power of the academy forever."

Kazuki took note of where Avaloria was on the map. It was a small trading nation located in the east, close to the sea. "And what about the southern kingdom?" he asked.

The king gestured to the southern part of the continent. "The Kingdom of Aradon. They are the biggest military power on the continent, after the fall of the central kingdom."

Kazuki looked to Rei and Akane, both deep in thought. The west of the continent was mostly occupied by strange tribes, and the academy had already taken control of most of the central and nordic kingdoms. They needed a plan, and fast.

Kazuki, Rei, and Akane listened intently as the king outlined their mission to seek the aid of the kingdom of Aradon in their fight against the academy of magic. He gave them each a horse, provisions for their journey, and an official letter requesting the assistance of the Aradon army.

As they prepared for their journey, Kazuki couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He knew that seeking the help of another kingdom was a risky move, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was bound to go wrong.

Later that night, as he lay in his bedroll under the stars, he was startled by the sound of someone approaching. He quickly rose to his feet and drew his sword, only to relax when he saw that it was Rei and Akane.

"We need to talk," Rei said urgently.

Kazuki nodded, sheathing his sword. "What's the matter?"

Akane spoke up, her voice low. "I don't trust the king. He's too eager to rely on another kingdom's help. What if Aradon turns on us?"

Kazuki frowned, understanding her concern. "We have to trust that the king knows what he's doing. And if he doesn't, then we'll have to deal with the consequences."

Rei chimed in, her voice level. "We can't let our guard down, no matter what. We'll be on high alert the entire trip."

Kazuki nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of relief that he had such capable allies at his side.

The sun had just started to peek over the horizon when Kazuki, Rei, and Akane gathered at the stables. The king had kept his word and provided them with three strong horses and provisions for their journey. As they prepared to depart, many of the townspeople came to wish them good luck and safe travels.

Suddenly, a young woman stepped forward from the crowd. She introduced herself as Mia, one of the refugees that Kazuki and his harem had saved during the siege. Mia was a skilled archer and had proven herself to be quite adept at sneaking around. She begged to accompany them on their journey, to help them in any way she could.

Kazuki looked to the others, who nodded in agreement. With the added strength of Mia's skills, their mission would have a greater chance of success. So, they welcomed her to their group and together they set off towards Aradon.

As they rode along, Mia couldn't help but be enamored with Kazuki. She thanked him profusely for saving her and the other refugees, and vowed to do whatever she could to repay him. Her eyes sparkled with admiration and gratitude, and Kazuki couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed by all the attention.

But he knew that they needed all the help they could get, and he was grateful to have Mia on their side. As they continued their journey towards Aradon, Kazuki couldn't help but wonder what kind of challenges they would face along the way.