Arrival at the Baron's castle

Looking out the window, we could see caravans and single carts passing by in which residents were heading to the city.

Turning one more time, I felt the carriage going up the hill, which meant where we were heading to the higher ground.

The dark elf sometimes asked me about what happened in the camp and how I got these burns on my face.

Telling her about the state some of the girls were in and that we were attacked by a wyvern that I had to take away from the camp because some of the girls did not react to anything.

The professor, having heard about the wyvern, looked at me with interest. From her look, I understood that she wanted to hear in more detail about my battle with the wyvern.

Remembering this fight, I felt like my skin where it touched the fire began to burn, my voice began to falter, I barely managed to hold back the unpleasant sensations and continue the story, my behavior did not hide from Ni'Lim's appraising gaze.

I was thinking about whether to tell the dark elf about the fact that I made the wyvern my tormentor, sooner or later she will find out about this and it is better to have her as an ally and tell her myself rather than hide and reduce her trust in me.

- Wait, stufon Trey, are you saying that you, a first-year mage, managed to defeat the wyvern and even make it your servant? - Ni'Lim asked incredulously. - If our meeting with the baron goes in the wrong direction, call her okay?

It was difficult for me to understand whether the professor believed me or not, I nodded to both of her questions, seeing my nod, the dark elf leaned back and closed her eyes, waiting for us to be taken to the baron's castle.

The dark elf and I heard some kind of mechanism begin to work in the distance, and behind it we heard the sound of something larger stretching along the ground.

 Approaching closer, a shadow was visible through the window that covered the carriage, then after driving for a short time we began to slow down

When the carriage came to a complete stop, I heard how the vigilantes began to dismount from their mounts and several headed towards the carriage.

Having reached her, the door leading inside the carriage began to open, allowing me and the dark elf to see a small building and part of the yard where the carriage stood.

Opposite us stood a warrior who knocked on my room, moving to the side asking us to leave, the first to come out, after me, was the professor who appeared from the carriage.

- Welcome to Baron Falo's castle. - The warrior addressed us in a loud voice. - We will escort you to the hall where the baron awaits, follow us.

It was difficult for me to understand why the vigilante was trying so hard to show that we were here not as guests but as criminals.

Looking at the professor, who just grinned at the behavior of the warrior, who called a few more of his comrades and we followed the one in front.

While examining the castle, I found it small; in some places it was clear that the residents were not particularly worried about its condition over the years; it was clear how the stone began to look worse and worse, which threatened to destroy part of the castle.

Above the entrance we were greeted by the baron's coat of arms, where a bull was running in yellow; along the way we did not meet any guards or servants. The corridor along which we walked was quite wide, allowing us to walk freely.

The guards who accompanied us sometimes glanced at us but did not do anything that could be taken for aggression.

Apparently the baron gave them certain orders before sending for us. Not many doors on our way were closed and trying to hear someone else in the castle gave the feeling that there was no one here except us with the warriors and the baron who was waiting for us in the hall.

As I approached the hall, I came across various coats of arms with which they tried to decorate the walls of the passage leading to the hall.

Smiling at the baron's attempts to give himself a warlike appearance, I wanted to see with even greater interest whether he was a warrior or, like many, he became a hostage to his noble status?

Passing the corridor and climbing a small stone staircase, ancient armor was visible that stood not far from the rise to the second floor, on which no runes were applied and looked more like the armor of the city guard.

Having risen to the second floor and looking around with interest and, to my regret, I did not see anything, the floor was empty except for the armor that was lined up near the walls and next to them there were small paintings that showed the wearers of certain armors.

There was a painting next to the entrance, but the armor was missing due to the fact that we were passing quickly, I did not have the opportunity to look at the painting and who was depicted in it.

 Approaching a large metal door near which stood two warriors, I understood, based on similar armor, who was accompanying us.

Approaching the standing warriors who examined us and, having made sure of something, began to open the doors leading, as I understood, to the hall where the baron of these lands was waiting for us.

Walking through the doors that were opened to us by the vigilantes, we found ourselves in a small hall where guards stood near the walls along with other vigilantes.

Thinking about how those who accompanied us ended up here before us, I came to the conclusion that we were led along a long route when the vigilantes took a shorter route and managed to take up positions.

Staircases were visible and on the passages, as I thought, there were also guards or vigilantes who were armed with long-range weapons.

It was as if the baron was afraid that the professor and I would resist him during our conversation. Looking at the dark elf who only grinned at the baron's attempts to show his strength and hidden threat to us.

Unlike the hall of the Kray Empire, there were no coats of arms of other lands or trophies of war; only one coat of arms of the baron was visible, which hung above the place where the three figures were sitting. The warriors who accompanied us dispersed to the sides, standing next to others.

Approaching the center of the hall, we and the dark elf had the opportunity to look at those sitting, two of whom were young people, the third figure was elderly, already with gray hair, his black eyes moved from me to the professor.

The armor failed to hide the baron's plumpness; his face was sweating heavily and apparently he was unaccustomed to wearing armor.

Inspecting the armor of those sitting, I found it similar to what the warriors were wearing, except for one pair of armor that was worn by one of the young people.

Looking at the interested armor and with surprise, I recognized them, no matter how the young man or the baron himself tried to hide them, but they had previously been worn by a knight of the Kray Empire.

Remembering the weapons in the major's room and the fact that he gave her this mace, does it mean that the baron killed a knight of the Kray Empire and took the mace and armor?

 No matter how I tried to find another opportunity, I didn't find it; I just couldn't understand how a knight of the Kray Empire ended up in these lands?

Having bowed to those sitting, the professor and I waited for the baron or the young people to start a conversation.

- We are grateful that Professor and Stufon Trey arrived at our humble request. - The sitting baron spoke in a loud voice. - I am the baron of these lands, my name is Falo, as you might have already guessed.

Turning my gaze to the baron, I saw that he did not take his eyes off me and sometimes glanced at the warriors who stood near the walls.

- First of all, we express special gratitude to stufon Trey, who took on and completed tasks that mercenaries of A and S rank refused to undertake. - Continuing to speak, the baron tried to portray a grateful smile. - Can you please tell us how you managed to destroy the bandit camp with only one servant with you?

Looking at the dark elf who nodded, allowing me to tell, turning my gaze back to the baron, I looked into his eyes.

And I began to tell how my servant and I attacked the camp at night when the robbers least expected it, many of us were found sleeping or not ready for battle.

- You acted very smartly by waiting until nightfall and only then attacking. - The baron said in a cold voice, peering intently at me. - Did you kill all the robbers, even those who asked for mercy?

I could see that the baron was interested in and why he called me and the professor, the baron was worried about what happened to his son, who was among the robbers.

- There was only one who tried to buy his life. - Answering the question, I saw how the Baron tensed. - He died a painful death and his remains were destroyed by my magic.

The sitting baron began to tremble violently and his eyes became bloodshot, resting his hands on the throne on which he was sitting, different emotions were visible on his face.