Chapter 42 : A New Chapter

The other bandits slumped, as Ajel raised his eyebrow in an act of mockery.

"What's wrong? you guys alright?"

"Hey....kid.... we have families..." Another one said, using their horses to slowly start to back away.

"Is that so?" Ajel looked towards the men. "How unfortunate."

Ajel grabbed his blade, before putting it in a reverse grip.

This was style 3, a style focused on a quick attack to catch the enemy off guard with the controversial "reverse grip."

although it was considered a niche form of defensive style, it allowed the person using it to make a quick set of jab-like strikes with the blade as opposed to long deep thrusts, which makes it easier to land more hits in a certain amount of time.

Ajel wasn't on a horse, and they were. They were at an advantage.

Of course, if he used mana they wouldn't last two seconds, but if he was in a fight where he was out of mana, things like these could be the determining factor.

Progress.

Ajel clicked his tongue.

He was close to reaching the breakpoint of the second mana point, and his prowess with different weapons has been raised.

And then there was alchemy.

He could change the state of an object good, but it had little to no meaning to him currently, as he couldn't make this knife that he was currently stabbing someone's throat with instantly turn into a spear, as that would violate the law's of equivalent exchange and he would need at least the skills of an intermediate alchemist for that.

Not to mention he hasn't even figured out how to change the value of protons in a metal, which meant he couldn't even do the infamous lead to gold experiment.

Although his progress is unsatisfactory, nothing stung him more than this fucking useless spear tip. It wouldn't shine to his command, couldn't conjure up fireballs or create ice like even the most basic of mages could. Instead, he was left with something that couldn't even stab something.

His "Sister" has been quite silent for the past two years, only groans can be heard when he brung out the spear tip which made Ajel just a tiny bit hopeful that it had a shred of power.

Making short work of the bandits, Ajel looked back with a sense of boredom.

"You are brutal, Ekwah." Roheen gave a small clap to Ajel, who groaned.

"I've been itching for a proper opponent, not some bottom-of-the-barrel Bandits like these who plead for their life."

"Impatience makes the wise unnational, my friend." Roheen shook his head, before clapping his hands to signal for the caravan to continue their journey.

Ajel still looked down at the horse, who obviously had calmed down and had stopped protesting seeing him mow down a couple of bandits.

"Smart animal."

"Only the finest of steed for you!" Roheen gave his arguably greasy grin and made a bow.

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They were around three weeks in their journey when Ajel got bored and asked Roheen , a rather shrewd and cunning man , about what he knew about the region of Ionia.

"They do not have a standing government, much like the Freljord and unlike Noxus and Demacia. They have 12 sections , and pose strong ties to nature and the magic." Roheen muttered , before clicking his tongue. "Contrary from what outside might of think , the 12 sections have strong ties and see each over as neighbours , not enemies. No cunning plans , no trickery, no petty wars , just people deeply rooted to magic."

"Sounds too sugar-coated to me. What are the negatives?"

"Well , the 12 sections live in peace , yes , but there are always exceptions of these... from what my sources says , some people have chosen a more....harsher approach to the Noxus invasion , violating there oaths to the ancient magic and choosing more extremists takes to protecting there region." Roheen was a little strange , really. From what times could be a completely silent man when something flips his switch he loves the sound of his own voice.

"Terrorists?" Ajel asked with a sense of intrigue.

"Debatable." Roheen said something dark with a hint of humour in his voice. "Some may they think their the fools , some people may think that the people of Ionia that ignore the looming threat of a large army descending on them are the fools."

Ajel's eyes slithered from the sunrise to the back of Roheen , his eyes condensing into slits. "What do you think?"

"There is no such thing as right or wrong in war , Ajel. Murder is the standard , and all of the sins that came from that ; im sure you don't need a list , don't you?"

"What were those thing's that was on your missions? Vastaya?" Ajel looked confused to the term he had never heard about before.

"Some people debate about what "they" "are" some people think they are half-spirits , half-beasts , where other people think they are half-beast and half-human. Those who lean on the latter think they are impure and should be hunted , whereas those on the former think that they should be protected since they are spirits , and are spirits are deeply engraved into the culture of Ionia."

"Are Azakana spirits?" Ajel could feel his Tattoo burn , which made him click his tongue from the slight pain.

"You are asking the right questions, boy. But , i do not fully know the whole history of Ionia and have no answer to your question." Roheen suddenly stopped on his horse , before dismounting. "Ask them yourselfes after we get on this ship. Welcome to Noxus , my friend."

Ajel went behind Roheen , before seeing the large fortress that was called the "Delverhold" , a landmark of the Noxian border.

"You would think it would be guarded , the border that is." One of the merchants said , as Roheen shook his head.

"They would not construct walls , Ijah. They have not stopped expanding outwards, so it would be waste constructing walls onto land that would be only a small part of what they will own in a few years."

Ajel ignored this conversation , as he looked towards the architecture of the Delverhold.

He had made it.