The sun illuminated the golden hair of the beautiful and innocent maiden. Her usually neat and whitish face was bathed in a constant blush, while every so often she peeked in her profile at the passenger seat.
After a night in the city, the caravan left with a more populous group for the provincial capital.
She had received from little Quin a summary about her new teacher, something about money and a weapon of words. She couldn’t tell if she was more confused before or after the explanation, but many things had made sense when she heard certain information about “that person.”
Despite her embarrassment and the fact that the transport was larger, she was sitting next to him for the same reason, although she had not yet mustered the courage to start the conversation.
Lehm was quietly reading his book, ignoring the world around. However, after several dozen sideways glances from Airy, he turned his face away and returned her gaze.
It didn’t take long for her to turn reddish, as she shyly lowered her head.
– Sorry …- she mumbled under her breath.
– Mmm?
– About what happened…
– Someone looked for my disciple to exhaustion. I do not know what to apologize … – refused, turning his gaze to his reading.
A new moment of silence formed again until she appeared to make up her mind to bring up the subject that concerned her.
– Mr. Lehm … Are you really an erudite? Like the official title?
– You can see it like this. More important … I look like a young 24, you make me feel old …
– But … it would be disrespectful …
– Respect for me is what I consider as such. There is no more Mr.… or I will get angry… – in a playful tone.
– So … – playing with her fingers nervously – L-Lehm …
– I refuse …
– Ehhh?
– Any sentence below will involve work for me …
– But … I still haven’t …
– Know someone … offer some kind of assistance …
– How do you …?
~ Brum
The car suddenly stopped interrupting their conversation.
Most looked straight ahead in surprise, but Quin didn’t even blink. She had been awake so long that she fell exhausted at dawn and was sleeping with her arms around Bran.
He had, however, been alert all the time looking ahead.
– Again? – he murmured.
About 50 meters in front of the road a man was standing alone. He was wearing light blue robes and was approaching carelessly in the middle of the road.
The most important detail was not his appearance or attitude, but what few observed and were sharing with the rest. It was that person had just fallen from the sky.
– ………
He knew that kind of skill very well and had a bad feeling about it.
A domain of wind would not put a mere transport in the eyes…. unless…
If it was what he thought, things had escalated quickly. He still didn’t know what exactly Lehm’s domain was, but he didn’t seem particularly fast, and he would be at a disadvantage to protect them if the worst happened.
Yet there he was, sitting placidly next to Airy, cross-legged and reading a book. For practical purposes, his reaction was not much different from Quin’s.
What world did that person live in?
Airy couldn’t help but tense up and silently motion to him to warn him.
– Shh … Mister Lehm … Mister! – She muttered under her breath, drawing his attention.
– Hmm? … I think I heard the word “mister” around here … – without taking his eyes off the book.
– This is no time for that! A stranger has stopped the transport. Have you not noticed? It can be dangerous … – moving her hands nervously.
– Being alarmed is an inefficient and exhausting act. It will come anyway and then we will know its intentions … – turning a page.
That fact did not take long to materialize and the man set foot on the transport without hesitation. They all looked at him in silence with mistrust and fear.
– Let’s do this quick and simple. – He ordered in a cold voice – Anyone with information about incidents in the forest or surroundings during this night, should inform me in detail.
For a moment everyone was puzzled. In the woods? Incidents? It was a somewhat vague demand, but there wasn’t much to say either. Little by little the unified voices of ignorance echoed.
From his attitude, it didn’t seem like this was his first attempt, quite the opposite. As he listened to some inconsequential comment, he looked at each one for cultivators or strange details.
It was something he had done all day in and around the city, without much success. However, here he found another kind of particular sight that bothered his vision from the start.
A young “mortal” in his twenties and great-looking, he was reading without the slightest hint of tension or concern about his presence. Besides strange, it was quite irritating. Someone was not putting him in his eyes at all.
– You! – standing in front of Lehm – Do you have a report? …
The young Airy sitting next to him skipped a beat. What she feared most had happened, and a cold sweat ran down her forehead.
– Report? … – calmly, looking away from the book.
– Are you deaf or what? Any important information on activity in the forest or surroundings tonight.
– Mmm … important … – rubbing his chin – I don’t know … What would qualify as such? – with an expression of curiosity.
– Are you fooling with me? You speak, and I decide. Do not test my patience … – extending his hand in threat.
Although he expected a reaction of fear, the only thing he received was the look of two eyes like silver moons, which watched him calmly. There was no anger, fear, doubt, tension, warning, or the like there. However, for some reason that look made him shiver.
He had never felt anything like it, to be observed as if he were completely non-existent. He found himself standing on a thin line, where a misstep would turn the illusion into reality. And yet, this man did not transmit any cultivation or threat.
It was at that moment that a figure came between them, visibly trembling.
– W-W-We just … we’re just ignorant travelers. Please be compassionate… – Airy pleaded, while discreetly holding a reddish emblem in her hand.
Although he was in no mood to contain himself, when he saw that object and what was engraved on it, his expression froze for an instant.
– ……?
Whatever he saw, it was enough to slowly lower his hand, as well as the momentum of his bad temper.
– Tsk … miss, you would do well to teach your boyfriend some education. – He rebuked.
– Yes … I will … I will … no doubt … – she nodded nervously several times like a frightened chick.
Maintaining even a somewhat confused feeling, he decided it was not worth the expense of wasting more time in that place and everyone sighed with relief when he slowly retired. The last thing they saw was that man make a great leap into the sky and magically advance through the air until he was lost on the horizon.
Although they couldn’t tell, from time to time he would turn around with a frown, trying to get that uncomfortable feeling out of his mind.
Seeing him lose in the distance, the tension finally left Airy’s body, and she fell heavily to the ground. However, Lehm held her at the last moment by gently seating her next to him.
– That was a brave thing …
– I-I … I … I don’t know … what I was thinking … – she babbled nervously and incredulously at her own recklessness.
Her legs still couldn’t hold her upright if she wanted to.
– Receive so much care. I must be the luckiest boyfriend …
Hearing him, she widened her eyes with candid innocence.
– B-Boyfriend?!
