Rebirth of the Phoenix God

"Keep moving."

Fen's former landlord had no other choice but to listen to the young man's commands. Since he wanted to deal with this matter in a nice way, then moving a few steps ahead of Fen was the only rational way in which the young arcanist would allow them to travel. 

Thanks to this kind of positioning, Fen could at least be sure that in case of any… unexpected encounters with the third party of the veteran's companions suddenly appearing, he would at least be able to claim this bastard's life before attempting to flee on his wings.

"I'm moving, okay? No need to be so nervous."

Raising his hands at the level of his shoulders, the man clearly didn't want to give even the slightest impression that he wasn't happy with the current agreement. Yet, as pacified as he seemed to be, it was rather clear what would happen if the city guards were to see the two of them in the current situation. 

"You attempted to kill me, you put my life at great risk in that fake garden… How do you expect me to not be careful around you?"

At this point, Fen couldn't be happier about what transpired back in that fake garden. If not for the surge of his power, he would be unable to maintain his catalyst for prolonged periods of times, leaving him with nothing but a simple spear and knife that he received from the academy. And there was no doubt what would happen if he were to face against the veteran in front of him with just those two silly weapons!

Thankfully, the road to the city didn't take them long enough for Fen to start to regret his decision. Or rather, the question whether being soft enough to spare the man that attempted to kill him or not… Fen didn't manage to find an answer to it before the two of them reached the gates.

Contrary to the young man's expectations, they didn't have any real problems with entering the city. Despite the clearly hostile relationship between the two men, guards didn't seem to care the slightest. Even in the city, the greatest worry that Fen had about the man escaping in the streets didn't seem to come to the fruition. After all, it wasn't the blade of Fen's fire blade that kept him in order, but the implications of what would happen if the mercenary were to betray their deal.

"This is where we will split up. Go and try to save your daughter, while I will make… my report to the academy. Once I'm done, I will come back to your house so that we could finish our deal."

There wasn't any point in keeping this man on a short leash. Even if his entire story to this point was fake, then all that Fen would have to do would be to go to the academy again and add the slight modification to his report. After all, for the people at the peak of the power, the matters of a single scammer didn't matter at all, nor did they care that someone from their very own academy would have some reasons in attempting to protect him.

"Good. I will try to be back as soon as possible but frankly speaking, I have no idea how long the treatment might take. If you will find the need to look for me before it's finished… I will most likely be in the southernmost building in Khateria, right across the bridge."

Nodding his head, the mercenary finally showed that the speed at which they were walking up to this point was nothing when compared to how quickly he could move as if the business of the streets didn't apply to him at all. In just a few moments, the burly body of the man disappeared from Fen's sight, prompting him to go on with his own duties.

Step by step, the young man's legs were taking him closer to the academy. Given how they entered from the north-eastern gate of the city, Fen had the chance to visit his already former home on the way to the school, but for some reason, he decided against it.

It wasn't as if the time was a problem. Even if the man ended up escaping on his own, that would mean he would leave the house unattended for Fen to enjoy. The only reason that Fen might have for hurrying would be to make sure that once he would be finally back, there would be no reason for him to hurry up with his matters anymore. 

'That's… strange.'

Thinking to himself, Fen looked down at his abdomen. Normally, being the young man he was, he would expect his body to urge him to return home, so that he could enjoy some time with Arla, especially now that he was well on the way to become a proper member of Gauna society with his first quest finished. Yet, for some reason, it felt as if some strange force was stopping him from doing so, forcing his legs to march towards the academy.

'This is definitely strange…'

As short as it was, the trip for the quest site was packed with as exciting as dangerous events. Back in the wilderness, Fen was perfectly aware that he was mostly on his own. His focus had to be perfect at all times so that a sudden and unexpected attack wouldn't put him down. But here, in the city? What was there to worry about? What could a man like him, dressing the outfit of the academy already weary from all the troubles that occurred during Fen's quest time could fear from within the walls?

A thief? A drunkard trying to spark up a fight? A mobber? An angry crowd? The only thing that could potentially endanger Fen within this city was another arcanist, either as powerful if not more than him, or influential enough to pull the weight of his connections to do him harm. Either way, the chances of something like that occurring were abysmal, hence Fen didn't really bother himself with those possibilities. 

"Welcome back!"

Yet, there was still something that managed to surprise him. 

As soon as the young man stepped through the line of the open gate of the campus, a familiar voice called out to him, only for a sudden weight to nearly bring his entire body down!

"What the heck?!"

Only thanks to his utmost effort did Fen manage to stop himself from pushing the blade of his dagger into Nadia's side when she jumped at him. Hanging down from his neck, she looked at him as if she was a proud mother enjoying the return of her son from a victorious war.

"Come on! Come on!"

Playfully stabbing all over Fen's upper body with her fingers, Nadia actually took a moment to notice the commotion that she caused. Or to be more precise, only when she looked at the young man with a prideful look on her face did she notice that Fen's eyes weren't directed at her face at all.

"Ah, forgive me for my lack of manners. Judging from how he looks, I think that this junior of mine going by the name of Fen has officially joined the ranks of the academy!"

For some reason, her words seemed to be commonly understood by the crowd that quickly started to clap their hands and shout some kind of positive and encouraging messages. Little to say, it seemed as if Fen was the only one confused by the ongoing events. 

"Ah, you must not understand. To keep it short, people in this academy recognise others as proper students… only after they finish their first quest. Before that… It's hard to even get aquaintanced with someone since no one wants to throw a coin to decide whether his new friend will die on the quest or not. Either way, come on. You need to report to the quest society as soon as possible!"

From then on, everything went insanely quickly. At one moment, Fen was dragged through the corridors of the main building of the academy by his senior, the next moment he was reporting everything that happened along with ignoring the looks of disbelief when his story reached the point of the fake garden and his personal request to either get rid of it or mark it for the others to know, all the way to the moment when Nadia decided that after his long journey, he should return home and have some rest before she would dare to invite him for drinks to celebrate. 

Before Fen could even think about anything, he was already standing in front of the house that he would soon have to leave as per the terms of the deal that he had with the house owner. 

Yet, for some reason, he was unable to step inside. It felt as if some force was stopping him from doing so.

Or rather, it was the moans of Arla that could be heard even through the closed doors that made it hard for the young man to decide what should he do now.