Just a Cigarette

The Captain almost without seeing himself appeared in front of the mysterious man and said:

“Who will be responsible for my students injuries?”

“How fast.” said the mysterious man with a slightly worried air.

“You were surprised at my speed were you? Look, it's not my best quality.”

The Captain after saying that managed to put a straight hit on the mysterious man putting him on the ground.

“So, this is all you have?”

The mysterious man quickly got up and used one more spell.

“Dark Illusion: Cursed Power.”

It felt like an aura similar to the one my body had at the time had stayed on the Captain.

“Dark Illusion? It's a difficult type of magic to cast spells, but you seem to master it well. Too bad it has no effect on me.”

*Guffaws*

As if it was nothing, the Captain had released himself from that spell leaving the mysterious man surprised.

“You can only be a Special Class!”

“Well, I happen to be. But that...”

Whoever was possessing my body punched the Captain, but he defended himself with only one hand.

The mysterious man took advantage and fled, leaving just me and the Captain against each other.

“Guys, is this guy here your friend?”

“Yes!” said Kin.

“Help him get back to normal, Captain, please.” said Yumi.

“It has to be there, doesn't it? The things I don't do for my students. Well, but at least let me light a cigarette, boy.”

He, who still hadn't let go of my fist, grabbed it with superhuman strength and threw me to an absurd distance.

“Now I have time to light a cigarette.”

He lit the cigarette.

“I can take things seriously now.”

My body moved at high speed towards him, but...

“Absolute Gravity.”

My body was stretched out on the floor, I couldn't move it.

“Holy Light.”

I felt that I was regaining my body and my consciousness, but at the same time I felt like I was going into a deep sleep.

…

I opened my eyes. I realized that it was already night. I saw a fire lit in front of me. I was surrounded by trees, must have been in a forest. I started to smell food, and at the same time the smell of a cigarette.

“Looks like you woke up.” said the Captain.

I immediately apologized for what happened to Captain, even though I wasn't in control of my body.

“No need to apologize, after all you were possessed.”

I was speechless, after all, I had never faced such a situation.

“Listen, let's talk a little bit about what happened to you, since these two are still sleeping.”

I hadn't even noticed that Kin and Yumi were with us. They looked tired from everything that had happened, but they were fine.

“Take this. You need to eat to regain your strength.”

I accepted the food and thanked him.

“Well now, let's talk about how you were possessed. Do you remember anything?”

I explained everything that had happened after I lost consciousness the first time.

“Somehow you managed to get in touch with the spirit world.”

I was surprised and immediately asked what this “spiritual world” would be.

“The spirit world is the place where different spirits meet. Some are from ancient warriors, others are from legendary animals, among other hypotheses. To connect to that world, you need to be at a very high level, that is, be at least a Class 1 and even Class 1 have difficulty connecting to that world, to tell the truth most can't.”

I was surprised at what he had just heard. As someone like me who didn't understand anything about magic, just the basics that Kin and Yumi explained to me when we were in Kando village had managed to do something like this. I asked the Captain how I had managed to do something like this.

“It's true, we haven't introduced ourselves yet. I'm Michio Kawabata. I only realized now after you called me Captain more than once.”

*Guffaws*

I also introduced myself to the Captain and explained why I was with Kin and Yumi.

“I see... I see... Maybe I can help you with that situation of becoming a Knight of Redon. But to answer your question, I don't have a logical explanation of how you got into the spirit world. It's the first time I've witnessed something like this. The “Holy Light” spell I used on you was to make you return to our world. Now the only thing I'm sure of is that you were in the Special Class at that time.”

I remembered that the mysterious man had said something about the Captain being a Special Class when I had no control over my body. I asked him what that would be.

“I will explain to you how Classes work in a simple way. All people in the kingdom can learn to use magic, but many choose not to. These people are classified as Class 4.”

I asked if this wouldn't be my case.

“Exactly. In your current state you are a Class 4. Class 3's are people who can already use the minimum of magic. Kin and Yumi are already at this stage. Class 2 are people who already have an easier time using magic and who already use some spells. Class 1 are people who can use magic very easily and who can use different spells, and of course some can seek more power through the spirit world, as I have already explained to you. Last but not least, the Special Class. There are few who reach this stage, but those who reach it become “unique”. They are able to use magic and spells unlimitedly and has access to the spirit world in an “easy” way. I only know two people at this stage so far and that man who disappeared now. Kin told me that he said something about “Battleground for Special Class”, so it seems that he is on the same level.”

I was curious to know who the other two people the Captain knew would be, but I already predicted that one of them would be the Captain himself. I ended up asking out of curiosity.

“Well, one of those people is just me and the other is someone with your age.”

I, who was already surprised at the minimum number of Special Class people, was even more surprised to learn that one of the two people known to the Captain as Special Class was my age.

“Minori, I believe you can reach that level too, since you managed to enter the spirit world, even without knowing how.”

The Captain barely knew me, but he said that as if he already predicted that I would reach that level.

“Let's make a deal. I make you a Knight of Redon and in return we will keep this conversation between us, at least for now.”

I asked why the Captain wanted to keep our conversation a secret.

“What happened to you wasn't normal, besides it looks like they want to capture you. So I think the fewer people who know about it, better.”

I agreed with the Captain.

“Captain?” said Kin as he got up.

“Kin, are you awake yet?” asked the Captain.

“Minori, you're fine, fortunately.”

I thanked Kin for his concern and asked how he was feeling.

“Much better, thanks to the Captain.”

“What the Captain won't do for you.”

*Guffaws*

“Can you guys make less noise?” said Yumi as she got up too.

“Look who she is, are you awake too?” asked the Captain.

“Thanks for the help, Captain. Minori, are you better?”

I told Yumi that I was as good as new.

“What a relief. I apologize for not being able to protect you.”

“Yes, I'm sorry too, Minori.”

“Shut up!!!” said the Captain, looking annoyed.

“Situations like this can happen sometimes, that's why I'm going to help you get stronger to face greater dangers.”

We all agreed and promised to get stronger together.

“Guys, tomorrow morning we are going back to the capital.”

“To the capital, but already Captain?” asked Kin.

“Yes, I need Minori's immediate approval in the Knights of Redon, and I want him to meet a person..."

“Who is Minori going to meet?” asked Yumi curiously.

“Secreeet.” said the Captain with a joking tone.

*Guffaws*

We spent the rest of the night there and the next morning we headed towards the capital.

I wondered who would be the person I would meet.

“We will rest in Ersham village and continue tomorrow.” said the Captain.

“Captain, are you sure?” said Kin with a worried look.

“Kin, we as Knights of Redon must be able to live in any environment. I think you already know that, right?”

“You're right, Captain. I apologize.”

Yumi just listened to the conversation, but she looked even more worried than Kin. I started to feel that village had something that those two didn't like. I decided to ask the Captain what was so intriguing about that village.

“Ersham village is a place where there are no rules. Due to the high poverty in the village, people even kill each other to obtain the few goods from whom they kill.”

I didn't know what to say or how to react to what I was hearing. Even though my village had a hierarchy, people all acted equally towards each other. I wondered if the cause of this wasn't the money.

“Minori, it looks like you were a little shocked.” said the Captain.

“He's from Lywood village, Captain.” said Yumi.

“So that's where your surprise comes from. You must have already come to a conclusion as to why this happens, right?”

I replied to the Captain that I thought the cause for this was the money.

“Exactly, but not only.”

I asked what else it would be.

“Some people look for “achievements”. They seek to defeat the “leader” of an area of the village in order to have that area for themselves.”

I started to wonder if there was anything we could do about the situation in Ersham village.

“Minori, there's nothing to be done...” said Kin.

Once again, it felt like he was reading my thoughts. I asked him why he thought there was nothing to be done.

“Because as long as people are blinded by money and power, nothing will change.”

I didn't quite understand what he was saying to me.

“Minori, in time you will understand better how the kingdom works.”

I just stayed in silence, wondering if I really could do anything.

We continued our journey to Ersham village. After a few hours we were finally reaching our destination. It bore no resemblance to Kando village. The atmosphere was different, there were no people on the streets, while in Kando village there were people scattered everywhere and they all seemed to be happy. The houses that in the village were beautiful, in the Ersham village were mostly ruins.

“Stay carefully.” said the Captain in a whisper.

The way Kin and Yumi were just made me more scared, but I knew that in a place like that I couldn't show a weak part.

…

Suddenly, someone appeared from a dark alley and shouted:

“Die brat!!!”

“Minori!!!” shouted Kin and Yumi.