Episode 34: Arrival to the capital

Despite all the pain, the journey to the capital continued. The caravans advanced slowly since they had to stick together. The monster and Horde attacks continued day and night, making the 3-day trip 6 days long. The guild master and court mages spared no mana to see the Horde burn, their explosive spells decimated the landscape. No wildlife was more sacred or righteous than their grief and desire to protect their people. from the capital walls, a never-ending caravan could be seen approaching, leaving a trail of fire behind

city guard: seize your march!!, identify yourselves or you won't be allowed into the Great City!

guild master: we are the people from the towns of Aremi and Siremi, we’ve been fleeing from the Horde, please let us in, I am the guild master, Bartien of Aremi

city guard: aremi? I've never heard of such place, turn back, we’re full in the capital, we don't need more of you vagrants!

guild master: allow me to speak with your superior, we have injured and dead, my people are tired

city guard: did you not hear me?! such arrogance!, defying a guard’s authority is akin to defying the queen herself!, I shall not repeat myself, go back from where you came from, vagrants!!

the court mages emerged from the crowd, walked to the guards, grabbed them by the neck, and slapped them repeatedly

Nagye’s dad: make way for the town of Aremi!!

Nagye’s mom: move aside worms!!

The rest of the guards saw the court mage robes and hastily opened the gates, whispering among themselves about how many of them would be executed for getting in the mages’ way. The gates were open and the caravans moved in. Taro and the girls were emotionally numb, they didn’t even process how important the mages were to achieve such thing, they were in shock and exhaustion from fighting so much, losing the secretary, and seeing Shizuka still unconscious

As the caravans marched through the pebbled city streets, various residents scoffed and groaned about the “vagrants”. The caravans were guided to an empty plot of land, where they would camp for the time being. The court mages and guild master went to the palace to have an audience, everyone else set their camps, made food, went to sleep, or tended to their injured. Even when Taro tried to sleep, despite his exhaustion, he couldn’t, same for the other girls. They checked on Shizuka, still unresponsive. They hugged each other and her, and only then did they manage to fall asleep. When they woke up, they were in an unknown infirmary

Ari: h-huh? where are we?

Nagye: m-my parents ordered to bring us here, Shizuka was m-moved to another room though

Taro: (did we really make it? we really survived) Ari, Nagye, Sidra, all ok?

Ari: I think so, I’m just very sore

Nagye: m-me too, and I’m also still sleepy, even after sleeping for a d-day and a half

Taro and Ari reacted with surprise, they didn’t know they could sleep for so long. Sidra meanwhile stared at her palms in silence

Taro: Sidra, you ok?

Sidra: yes, do not worry about me, blessed be the sight that we are safe now… blessed?, now I wonder about that

Ari: what do you mean?

Sidra: In the church, we believe in the Wandering Goddess, who travels far and wide to help those in need. Our duty is to maintain the churches and help her, in hopes of her coming to help us and give us blessings. but on our journey, the goddess didn’t come…

Ari: but she did bless us, we managed to get here safe and sound

Sidra: I wonder about that. We all fought valiantly, to our limits, but we could not surpass them, no blessings were granted!, not even the Healing Grace. I could not… save anyone…

Nagye: y-you did help us, without you, Shizu—-

Sidra: No I did not! Shizuka has not woken up!, the secretary died in my arms!, my Healing Grace has failed me, the goddess has failed me!, I was a diligent priestess for so long, and in the end… What blasphemy has gotten into me?, I’m sorry, the journey has taken a toll on me, I need some fresh air

Ari: Wait, where are you going? I'm going with you!,

Nagye: me too!, d-don't carry that kind of thing alone, you’re my friend!

Taro: we, together, never forget

The team walked around the facility, people were as busy as ever, there were collapsed walls being repaired, people waiting in line, others sleeping on the floor. Chatter from all around gave the team context to what happened while they slept; another Horde attack, they tore down walls and entered the city, but were defeated. Familiar faces prayed to their dead in the funerals they could arrange, priest guy was sitting on a cart, covered in bandages, the familiar voices of the trio of professionals could be heard, crying, but someone was missing

spear guy: Bordo! Bordo wake up!, here’s your favorite wine!, here, smell it, wake up!!

shield guy: Bordo my man, you said you would die drinking, don't go yet, have a drink first, come on man!!

Turt: oh! there they are!, Taro, Ari!, wait!

Taro’s spirits were lifted upon seeing Turt alive. when he approached, they shared a hug

Taro: Turt, friend, good see you (man I’m so happy to see you again, I’m glad you made it)

Turt: Taro the man, I'm glad to see you too friend, glad to see you ladies are doing fine as well. I was looking for you guys

Ari: why? what's happening?

Turt: I’m here to tell you to take a bath, get a change of clothes, and come with me. the queen is about to give a speech for our towns

Taro and the girls rushed to the infirmary bathroom, got ready, and followed Turt to a square where various adventurers had gathered. The rest of the townsfolk and then people from the capital also gathered at the esplanade in front of the royal palace. From the balcony, the queen walked forward and, after a round of cheering from the crowd, she gave her speech

the queen: brave adventurers, guards, members of the church, mothers and fathers, braves of the towns of Aremi, Siremi, The Pass, Riverside, and to all who have fought valiantly against the forces of evil that have befallen us, I recognize you!, I see your heroic deeds and your suffering, they will not go ignored!, your towns and all that I can see belongs to me and is under my protection!, the capital is your home!, sleep, eat, live here, protect here which is your home!, together we will vanquish the Horde!!

The crowd exploded in praise and cheers, even the guild master and court mages, who were at the very front, clapped grateful and enthusiastically. In a room of the infirmary, the fanfare from outside made Shizuka open her eyes

Shizuka: …

After the speech, food, blankets, materials for construction, and other forms of help were sent to the caravan camps. For the following weeks, people were busy helping build a mini village there and helping with protecting the city from the constant Horde raids. Those who had talent or demonstrated prowess during the journey to the capital were granted free tuition and acceptance to the University of Magic. Taro and the girls walked together through the massive facility, wearing their new uniforms, nervous about their first time in a school as big as that

Ari: this place is huge!, it might be bigger than our whole town!

Nagye: m-my stomach hurts, I’m so nervous, I’m n-not ready

Taro: same, not ready (even though I lived in a big city and studied in a big university before, this is still nerve-wracking, I hope we don't get bullied, seeing how some people call the townspeople “vagrants”)

Sidra: do not falter, we shall strive… with our very own hands

Taro: I wish Shizuka, wake up soon

Nagye: y-yeah, I wanna see her reaction to this place

they walked, lost, trying to find their classroom, other students eyed them and instantly knew they were not from the capital. The students there looked refined, well combed, well-kept hair and skin, their uniforms looked fancier than the ones the team was using, despite being the exact same model, simply because they knew how to use it properly. The buildings were ostentatious, the team walked hesitantly, like if they were walking among pieces of fine art, even Taro and Sidra, who were more used to cities, couldn’t feel calm. There were ample spaces containing nothing but short grass, bewildering Ari and Nagye, who tried to understand why there were no crops there.

they finally found their classroom; the class had not yet started. They sat at the end row, and waited nervously for their first class