Market Place. Time to Race.

In the street of one of Diesda's marketplaces, Nava and Felra are walking together.
As they walk, Nava is introducing the important shops around the capital—while Felra is being greeted left and right, here and there, someone in their underwear, and there was even someone on the roof where you buy kitchenware.
Isn't that a burglar!?
As soon as he thought so, a knight had hurled a net and captured the burglar. They also noticed Felra and offered a greeting and immediately took off.
What the hell just happened...
Anyway, Nava didn't seem to have noticed what happened as she continue making sure that Felra will remember each shops.
The blacksmith where they can request personalized armors and weapons.
The weapon shop where they can buy already finished armors and weapons.
The apothecary where they can buy medicinal herbs, ointments, and potions.
The magical accessory shop where they can buy accessories imbued with different kinds of effects such as resistances to ailments, strengthening one's physical or magical strength, and more.
Nava's favorite restaurant.
"Hm? I should remember this one too?" asked the confused Felra.
"Yes, you should. It is the most important one. Okay?" she smiled.
"O-Okay..."
When they were done with that, they decided to walk towards the one street where different kinds of stalls were set up.
There are those who set up a food stall, normal accessory stall, a stall that offers a game, a fortune stall, and a whole lot more.
They visited as many stalls as they possibly could. Each of the stall owners were more than delighted to give their merchandise to Felra for free.
Of course, he tried to refuse, so they all just settled that he only paid twenty-five percent of the original price.
With a meat skewer in hand, they continue walking—is what Nava wanted, but Felra's stamina has now been depleted.
"Hmm. I guess the first thing on your training regimen is to focus on your stamina, huh?"
Felra audibly gasped as he sat on a bench.
"So this was all a trap!?"
Felra's laziness might be something you cannot scoff at, but once he enjoys something, he would want to do it as much as possible. That's also true for their visit to this town.
Felra has been shown kindness by many people that are basically a stranger to him, he enjoyed the scenery on their way here, he also enjoyed the games the stalls offered, not to mention all the fantastic food they ate, and most importantly, he enjoyed Nava's company.
"Of course not, you silly," she replied, finding the thought of this town visit as a trap. She then sat beside Felra. "It just so happens that today is my day off. So I thought I might as well invite and give you a tour. I hope you found it enjoyable."
The words were genuine and it surprised Felra.
"Mmm... I guess, yeah..."
Nava chuckled at his reply. For one reason or another, she seems to be able to read Felra's feelings.
"Ah! It's the Hero and the priest! Hello!" A child, whose hands were held by his parents on both sides, greeted them.
Felra heard the kid, he looked at him and waved his hand while offering a smile befitting of a Hero. It made the kid happy as he jumped in joy.
"Mama! Papa! The Hero smiled at me!"
"He sure did, didn't he?" said the mother.
"Good for you, son," the father replied, patting his head.
The parents turned to Felra, offered their heartfelt thanks and left.
This doesn't feel bad, actually, he thought.
It's not like he's suddenly eager to be a Hero and go on a heroing-spree. He still finds it tedious, of course. He just thought that maybe, just maybe, it's fine to act like this from time to time.
Maybe a day or two in a month.
That seems like a generous amount if I say so myself.
As he was talking to himself. Nava turned to him.
"As expected of the Hero," teased Nava.
"Ugh... Stop it..."
"Hehe. Alright, I'll stop. I guess you're tired now. Let's go back to the palace."
With that, she stood up and fired a small fire up in the air. In a few moments, the fire exploded in a small radius enough to be seen and heard by everyone within a hundred meters.
It was a small firework.
Those who saw and heard it paid it no mind and went on with their lives. This is a usual occurrence whenever the priest is visiting the town. In fact, some people are secretly looking forward to it too because they find the fireworks attractive.
"What are you doing?" Felra felt like asking.
"Calling our ride."
As she answered, a simple but elegantly designed carriage showed up in front of them.
The door opened and Yulya came down, kept the door open, and stood at the side of the entrance of the carriage.
"Thank you, Captain Yulya," thanked Nava. "Now, then. Let's go."
Nava went in first, sitting at the back, facing the direction where the coachman is.
"Right..." He stood up, walked near Yulya and asked. "Is this normal?"
"Yes. Please do your best to get used to it."
"I mean, do I have a choice?"
Yulya chuckled. "Haha, not really."
"Thought so," he sighed, going in the carriage.
As he entered, Nava was patting the seat beside her with a smile.
Felra is too tired to think, so he just sat down beside her without saying a word.
Lastly, Yulya entered, closing the door and sitting on the seat in front of Felra and Nava.
With a "Hiyah," from the coachman, the horse started running, pulling the carriage.
Thus, the day ended on a good note.
Maybe. I don't know. Felra got so tired that he even unconsciously fell asleep on Nava's shoulder so...
*
Two days have passed after their impromptu town visit. It is now Sunday.
Nava immediately went back to her duty the day after, so now Felra has been enjoying his unbothered nap—except by the occasional birds perching on his face.
His nap went on without a hitch until it's already sunset.
The pope, who happened to be visiting the palace, saw Felra's galant sleeping Technique #23: Hammock. Made from the bed sheet and a few ropes from his room.
If the maid were to see this, they'd scream in agony.
The pope just chuckled at the scenery before him.
As expected of the Sloth Hero. It might be rude of me to wake him up now, but I have important things to relay. Do forgive me for this, Hero.
As if on cue, Felra woke up. He rubbed his eyes and saw the usual beautiful sunset that he fails to miss.
He yawns. "Guess meal time is next… I should go back to my room."
Felra climbed down the tree and was instantly greeted by the pope who was waiting beneath.
"Hello there, Hero."
"Aghh!!" He screamed.
When he looked back, he saw an old man, dressed majestically. He exudes a dignified and benevolent aura.
"Oh, pardon me. I didn't mean to scare you."
"I-It's fine... I just thought someone from the palace came for me. What brings you here, pope?"
I sure hope it's not for me, he desperately thought.
"Mm. I had something to discuss with his Majesty..."
Hell, yeah!
"...And I also have to relay a message to you."
"Eh? Personally?"
The pope is someone who stands at the peak of hierarchy of the church. It's not like he has all the time in the world. In fact, the pope is a very busy man, one that almost has no time for himself. But that doesn't bother him in the slightest. He's one hell—sorry, heaven—of a tenacious and dedicated man. Be it helping those who are affected by a natural disaster to personally blessing a couple's wedding, he will surely be there if time allows it.
So it's pretty surprising for Felra that he would take a time off of his schedule just to personally tell him a message.
The first time they met was the day of his arrival where the pope told him that before he starts his training, he would like him to get familiar with the place first and make himself comfortable.
Felra took the 'make himself comfortable' to a whole new different level though.
"Of course, I will. Tomorrow, you will have to go to church."
"Oh, it's for that one huh..."
This, Felra had expected to happen sooner or later. The church, besides from holding a mass, also acts as a place where they could conduct a test to see the person's magical aptitude and the element they are compatible with. The church also does this to the common or noble people free of charge. Although it has a schedule and only happens once every three months.
In this world, there are seven main elements. The four basic elements like Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. And the three rare elements Light, Dark, and Null.
I'd like to think that you're already familiar with the first six elements, so let me explain the Null element.
Basically, it is the person's own unique magic. It's either their innate magic, passed down from different generations, or something they acquired later in life, hence there are times when a person does not know what their Null Magic is even though they already know they have the aptitude for it.
The current king has a reputation of being the strongest king Vulteria Kingdom has yet to have. Aside from his Exceptional aptitude—the highest level of aptitude possible—with Fire and Wind, he has two Null magic; Mind Haste and Leader.
Mind Hastes accelerates his thought process five times its normal speed. And Leader is something that was kept secret. No one knows how it works, but one could surmise that it was passed down from their generation.
"Yes. It has been announced yesterday, so a lot of people will gather at the entrance so we'd like to get you to the church tonight to avoid the crowd."
Eh… I'd rather just sleep for now though…
The pope noticed the small change on Felra's expression.
"Normally, your training would start the day after it, but we'd like to make an exception for you and give you a week before you start training in earnest."
That caught Felra's attention.
"Oh...? Alright, then."
It pains him that he still needs to train, but he still has a week before that so he would still be able to find motivation to start... or so he'll try.
But no matter, it is something that is inevitable so he really has no choice.
The Evil Dragon Lord's influence is starting to get stronger. We're in a race against time, but forcing him like that would be foolish. It would greatly backfire on us, the pope thought.
So, after dinner, they both left for the church along with sixteen knights as their escort.
.....And the maid who saw the state of the bed sheet cried as she ironed the wrinkles on it.