Ch 16 - Wingston?

As soon as Noah left the battlefield he reactivated his wind and dark magic to continue his growth.

When he returned to his carriage he followed the direction the snake-like being pointed him towards.

He turned left and went along the stream till he came upon his first glimpse of civilization.

There was two guards in front of the town that he was walled out from.

The wall was made of stone and about 10 feet tall. It didn't seem to be sturdy but rather there to stop any monsters or bandits from being able to enter as they wish.

'I need a game plan before I enter. Once I do I'll have to make use of the cards I was given. So I might as well get a couple extra,' Noah thought now realizing he should come up with an idea.

After sitting there for a few minutes a lightbulb went off in his mind. If he got lucky not only wouldn't have any problems but he would also be rich.

Thus, Noah remained in the carriage waiting for the perfect opportunity.

Around three hours later when it started to become dark Noah got his chance.

A merchant who was wheeling his merchandise was slowing making his way to the town probably to set up shop in the morning.

Noah took off towards the man and arrived behind him lighting his finger on fire.

As Noah continued to practice with his fire element it rarely ever flickered anymore and he could maintain it.

"Don't turn around or I'll blow your head off," Noah said.

"I have a fair deal for you. I'm not going to rob you so listen closely."

"I have a carriage along with a horse set up deeper in the forest. I noticed that this wagon isn't good for your health having to drag everything around."

"When you set up shop if you give me 95 percent of your profits I'll let you have the carriage," Noah finalized as he stated his demands.

"95 percent?! That's too much! This is my life's savings!" The man pleaded but worried due to the heat he felt at the back of his neck.

'Why would a mage attack me? And why wouldn't he just rob me there's nothing I could do to stop him? Also his voice sounds so young.'

"With the cost of a carriage and a well trained horse it's worth three of your wagons. You're lucky I'm in a good mood and allowing you to keep 5 percent let alone your life," Noah said starting to get pissed off.

He was fine killing the man but he didn't want to start a commotion the first day that he arrived or it would arise suspicion.

However there was plenty of other merchants to make a deal with. So he could just kill this man then turn him and his wagon to ash before trying again with someone else.

With some of the merchants earlier questions being answered he replied, "95 percent is perfect I am grateful for your generosity."

"Great. The carriage is two miles to the southwest hidden under a pile of branches. Once you finish with your business in town leave the money with the front guard. And if you dare think about running away I will hunt you down," I say with a threatening voice.

"I got it. I got it. Now please let me go," the merchant said understanding the situation.

I stopped the flame that pressed against his neck and let him go on his way.

I watched as he passed by the guards and entered the town.

"Well, now it's time for the second phase of my plan," I said to myself with a wicked smile.

'I can't let the merchant know my true identity which is why I told him to leave the money with the town's guards. Now I need to get the guards on my side using the simplest yet greatest tactic that I know, greed!'

After a couple moments I throw a bunch of dirt on myself and cover myself with leaves and mud. This made it look like I was in the woods for a very long time. Once I believed my look was good I went back to the carriage. I let the horse free from his reins and climbed up on top of him.

I would still leave the carriage for the merchant but I needed the horse. The merchant would make a greater profit selling the carriage anyways. I myself can't sell it as I don't want to be linked to the crime.

I then rode over to the front guards and started moaning as if I was in terrible pain.

"Uhhh... please... help me....uhh..." I cried out.

"Halt! Who are you boy and what the fuck happened to you?" The guard in charge asked as the second guard approached me.

"My name is... Noah. I was to be sent here... uhhh... to be adopted... Zaul was my guardian... you must have... uhhhhhh... heard we were coming. But we were... *cough* atta...ck...ed..." I acted convincingly before pretending to pass out.

I then carefully slipped off the horse to make sure that I would land in the coming guard's arms.

The guard caught me and check my pulse. He saw that I was fine but knocked out and waited for instructions from the main guard.

"What should we do with him? We were informed that a kid from the military would be escorted to the town. This must be him," the guard who held me asked.

Sighing the boss guard said, "We should take him to the doctor and inform his new family of his arrival. It will be quite the surprise for them. I wonder how the boy made it out alive?"

Hearing that I would be brought to a doctor I became annoyed. Any competent healer would know that I am faking being asleep. Thus bothered I wouldn't be able to learn any new information I used wind magic to block my nose and mouth from receiving oxygen. Then I waited until I slowly lost consciousness.

When I woke up I was in a small room and I was laying in a bed. There was a bunch of people surrounding me.

The guard who caught me, an old looking man and woman, a middle aged man and woman, as well as a young boy who looked to be a couple years older than me.

"He's awake," the elderly woman said.

"Oh thank the heavens!" The middle aged woman exclaimed as she hugged the man who was next to her.

"Where am I?" I asked, still playing my role.

'It looks like I'm in the infirmary. Well I better make some connection with these people as this town will be my new home for the time being.'

"My name is Eugenia and I am the caretaker of the Wingston town," the elderly woman said.

"You passed out due to exhaustion. You must have gone through a lot to get here."

"Yes. Please explain what happened to you," the old man asked. "Greg the guard here said that you mentioned that your transport team was attacked, is this true?"

"Yes... uhhh"

"Walter, my apologies for not introducing myself. I am the mayor of Wingston," the elderly man said telling me his identity.

"Yes Walter, we were attacked by a group of bandits," I said starting to explain what happened.

"Ah! That must have been terrifying my poor boy. Oh, I shouldn't say that it's still too early. Forgive me. It's just so worrying knowing what you had to go through," the younger woman said as her eyes sparkled from tears forming.

'It was a walking in the park,' I thought to myself amused.

"You must be my parents," I say looking at the man holding the woman in his arms.

"Adoptive. Adoptive parents," the slightly older than me boy corrects with a rude tone.

"Luke! That is no way to welcome Noah! I don't care how you feeling about the matter but Noah is now apart of our family! And he was attacked at least show some compassion for your brother!" My new father shouted at Luke.

"He is not my brother! I don't even know why you would adopt him anyways. I am a mage and he isn't why would you even bother spending time with him? He is just useless!"

"I don't give two shits about what happened to him he should have died from the bandit attack!" Luke shouted.

"Why you little..." The middle aged man tried to reprimand Luke but before he could Luke chanted, "$@&!%*"

*FOOOM*

Luke's body erupted into flames.

When the man who was about to punish his son saw this his face turned serious. He too chanted something however he also used hand jesters.

*FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

The man also turned a demon-like beast where flames were being ignited all around him at a much higher degree than Luke.

"ENOUGH!"

*tap*

Walter tapped his foot on the ground and instantly both the father and the son were incarcerated in stone spheres.

"This is Noah's first day here and you two are already fighting. I have also yet to hear the full story of what happened to him," Walter said angered.

"Everyone but Greg leave!" He said firmly.

Once everyone was out the the room Walter turned towards me.

"I am deeply sorry you had to see that but please continue what you were saying."

I then told a modified story where we were attacked by the bandits but Zaul strapped me on the horse and told me to flee while the guards fought.

At the end of my story Walter had a grim face.

"I understand, it's too dangerous to attempt to collect the bodies. The bandits around here have many mages in their ranks it would be suicide to encounter them. It's a miracle that you survived."

"You will stay here for the night with Eugenia looking over you. Rest up and you can go stay with your family tomorrow," Walter said before leaving me alone.

'HA! This is even better than perfect! This is wonderful! I am going to have so much fun in this town of Wingston.'

'Apparently no one was told that I am a mage which gives me so much leeway and the people won't suspect me.'

'Plus this new brother of mine obviously dislikes me so it will be interesting to see how I can take advantage of him.'

'Along with my new father being a fire mage I might be able to get him to tell me some pointers since he will have his guard down when it comes to magic.'

'Yes! I this is really going to be so much fun!' I say to myself as my eyes shine black giving off a sense of danger.