The Stranger Beneath the Crumbling Crown

Chapter 17: Outside

"Hmm? What's the problem?" I turned my eyes to the boy covering his eyes as we continued down the street.

"You aren't paying attention are you? Hah," Felix let out a deep sigh as he stretched his arms up.

"Sorry... I was just thinking about something," I mumbled in reply as we continued down the capital's streets.

"Anyways, what were you saying? You have my full attention now," I smiled at him. My energy levels have been getting weaker and weaker as my body was beginning to become more and more of a waste. It was beginning to react to the soul and my ability to heal was decreasing. It had begun to take too long to heal after a wound because this body's cells function were obviously becoming worse and worse. Now... I could really feel that timer on me.

"I was talking about the invention of the Horin variant, apparently they were able to make the mana particles in it a lot more potent in Orpheus." By instinct I wanted to call him a nerd... but that wouldn't really make sense here.

"Oh... is that so? I guess it's to expected since Orpheus is the most technologically advanced region," I smiled in reply. A total of 17 region which was ever decreasing with the Aurelian empire constantly taking over more land. Eventually the whole continent of Sacratus would become Aurelian territory. Orpheus was probably the only magical region.

The region of Sacratus was originally only full of a minute amount of ability users, those who were born with an ability to manipulate mana. One of those including myself, Regulus, and Cecilius. By some mysterious way though, Orpheus emerged. It history is still extremely old so there is no way to know how they came to be but they did. Orpheus is full of humans who can be taught how to manipulate mana without needing to be born with it. They're extremely selective with which people they let into their nation though, and most people who weren't born there will never be able to learn their mana manipulation. Ah... but since they don't particularly share much with any other nation it doesn't really matter to me.

Even now... while walking through the streets... I could feel peering eyes. The environment felt more tense than ever. I suppose the few seeds were beginning to sprout beautifully. I realised I no longer heard Felix's footsteps. I turned around spotting him reaching for a flyer. He ran back to me, handing the flyer I had designed back to me.

"A new tavern.... It's odd that their advertising in the slum areas though. I suppose it's just because of their free meal, but they're not going to make anyone buy more than one... especially in the slums," the boy mumbled. I smiled back at him.

"Looks closer, Felix," I mumbled in reply.

"Think about their marketing... look at the location... look at the flyer," he scanned over it once more.

"Well... for one thing it's all just simple pictures and numbers.... I guess makes it easy for the people in the slums to u—," I shook my head. He was an academically smart kid... but he lacked common sense sometimes. I placed my finger on a picture.

"What is it depicting?" I asked.

"Well I'm assuming its referring to the tavern's name... The Moon's Rising," I let out another sigh.

"What?" He quickly asked in reply.

"What is the king of the empire referred to as?" I asked. He opened his mouth wide, as he let out an understanding hum.

"Wait a moment. Doesn't that mean—?" He begun pointing looking at me. I returned his surprised expression with a warm smile.

"I'm sorry I was a little slow... but it's starting." His brows furrowed as he returned my smile with his own.