Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
In the early morning, the cold wind kept thudding the windows. Anyone would feel very lucky if he or she was now in their warm beds.
But Ali could not fall asleep. He had a night shift in the hospital and just came back home an hour ago. His head was full of all kinds of thoughts. How could he make his life better? What would be the best way to make achievements? Would he ever have a chance to own his own aircraft? He could not stop these thoughts.
Ali released a long sigh and sat up on his bed. Putting on his coat, he walked to the small table in his narrow room and pulled himself a couple of tasteless ale. Ali would not call the liquor good, but that was still the only enjoyment he had in life.
Holding the cup, Ali walked to the window and sat right down on the floor—the table was the only piece of furniture he had in his room except for the bed.
Watching the leaves shivering in the wind outside of the window, Ali’s heart also felt cold.
His rented place faced a quiet street. Rarely was there a coach or a car passing by, and the sound of wheels grinding the road made the atmosphere even colder. There was no garden, as this place was located in the worst area in the district.
But Ali knew it well that the owners of these buildings were in fact quite wealthy, and their lives were much more leisure than most people. They had good insight into investment. So when more and more people flowed into Rentato for job opportunities in those alchemical workshops, they had altered their houses by cutting them into more rooms. Even though they were renting out the many rooms at a relatively low price, they were still making a lot.
After the alchemical workshops made lots of achievements, the textile industry finally felt the crisis and started inviting sorcerers who were good at using golems to improve their spinners. After two to three years, the productivity of the spinners had been greatly improved and more jobs were created. Meanwhile, people in Holm could finally afford more clothes as the prices of fabrics had become much lower!
Gulping down the ale, Ali pushed the window open. The freezing cold wind made him feel the chill down his spine, but he also felt better because of the refreshing wind.
The beautiful, cold moon was still in the sky. At this time, Ali saw that the big dog he saved was also attentively staring at something out of the window in the direction of the city gate. He was amused and said, “You also feel lost? Do you know which way to go in the future?”
He was talking to himself. He never expected that a dog could understand.
The dog gave him a cold glance but then kept staring at the city gate. The dog had its own plan. It would leave this dangerous city as soon as it recovered!
Ali also turned to look in the same direction. He could see the tall city wall, which appeared white under the moonlight. He released a sigh, “That wall’s indeed tall, but not as tall as the wall between nobles and ordinary people. The latter was so cold and formidable. No one could climb over…”
His listener was just a dog, but he did not care.
“Why ordinary people could never step into the world of nobles? Everyone’s got eyes, nose, and brain, but they’re born to be noble and privileged. So one’s birth should determine his entire life… Is that right?” Ali murmured to himself. Despite the many thoughts, he still had to accept the truth that he belonged to the inferior social status. However, obviously, he did not want to be like this for his whole life.
The dog whimpered and took a glance at Ali. How childish he was!
The social status of nobles came from the power they mastered, like those powerful leaders among werewolves. That was a fact, and no one could change it until he or she gained enough power. At that time, those nobles would welcome the person to join their circle, and thus one would wish to retain the power forever.
“You agree with me?” Ali grinned upon seeing that the big dog had finally given him some reaction. He continued, “I do understand that to overcome this invisible wall I have to make great enough achievement, but with so many options in Rentato, I can’t make up my mind cause I’m afraid of missing the true opportunity. When I saw the fancy vehicles in front of the school, I felt that I probably could never break the wall, you know?”
He confessed to himself in front of the big dog, and his spirit had been lifted once again. He was not even twenty, so energy resumed very quickly.
“I’ve made my decision. I know how to read, but I don’t know much. Maybe I can still study in the hospital or an alchemical workshop while working. I wouldn’t be having a solid foundation for what I want to learn. So… I’m going to save money to go to a generic school!” Ali stood up and announced to the silver moon.
“I do know it’s hard, very hard, but it doesn’t mean I can’t do it. Mr. Evans was so poor that he could barely feed himself, but he’s the top arcanist now. It was all because of his own hard work! I am better off with the several queen coins given by my parents, and it wouldn’t take long for me to save enough money!” Ali clenched his fists and encouraged himself.
Lucien Evans’ story was like a legend that had been turned into a variety of stories by the bards and was popular among both nobles and common citizens.
“Although I am not as talented as Mr. Evans, and I cannot become a musician or a great sorcerer, as long as I work hard, I’ll definitely make some achievement in my own field!” Ali’s chest was full of hope.
From Jane’s letter, Ali knew that the society was looking forward to being more well-educated as there was still a very small percentage of people who could read, not to mention those who know well about a certain field. As long as one was willing to and had the chance to learn, his or her future would be bright.
If Ali could learn well, perhaps he could become a sorcerer, a knight, or enter other professions that could share the same high social status with the nobles.
In this age, knowledge would never become useless. Although the process of learning would take up lots of time, every second would be worth it!
After making the decision, Ali was now in a good mood. Staring at the silver moon, Ali said to the big dog, “If I am also to be the main character in the bards’ stories in the future, I would get a chance to study in the generic school and have my talent in magic and arcana wakened. I would know lots of friends and become a legendary sorcerer to change the world! I would also defeat devils and demons planning on destroying the world! In that case, you’d be remembered by history as well! You’d be the early friend of a great person!”
Then he took a glance at the big dog. “In most cases, in a bard’s story, you should be a magical creature. You know, a dog with a mysterious background and very powerful. The moment when we met would change both our lives…”
As he was saying, he checked the big dog enthusiastically, but in the end, he sighed. “Nop, you’re nothing special.”
At this time, he saw upset in the big dog’s eyes. But why?
The second day was Ali’s day off. He took the big dog with him and was seeking some odd jobs in the city to save more money. Somehow, the big dog’s recovery was much faster than he expected.
“A new alchemical workshop? Producing vacuum tubes?” Ali saw the notice on the wall.
Out of curiosity, as he had no idea what a vacuum tube was, he and the big dog headed for the workshop.
When they almost arrived at the workshop that was located close to the city gate, the big dog lowered its head and stayed closer to Ali.
“What is it?” Ali asked casually, “Are there too many people for you?”
Nasdell was seeking every possible chance to escape from Rentato, but his reaction came from something else.
He just saw a nasty vampire in Rentato! He looked back and believed that the filthy vampire would have himself killed in this dangerous city!
They walked further, and Nasdell’s eyes suddenly lit up. The city gate was just over there!
As long as he could go through the gate, he would be safe!
Nasdell thought that he should give this young man some recompense for his help, if there was a chance.
The desire for freedom had filled up Nasdell’s heart. Although he had yet to fully recover, he suddenly jumped out and started making a dash for the city gate like a fish trying to jump back to water!
Fifty meters, twenty meters, ten meters, five… Nasdell’s heart was beating faster and faster as he was getting closer to the city gate.
Bang!
A car that was speeding ran right into Nasdell. When the car stopped, the owner of the car got off and asked purposefully, “Whose dog is it?! It suddenly jumped out! For what? Murder?!”
When Ali realized what happened, blood had gushed out from the big dog’s mouth. After several twitches, the big dog then completely stopped moving.
Ali hurriedly went up and apologized. The car owner was, in fact, the one at fault, so he just asked Ali to pull the dog away after a short complaint.
Seeing the body of the big dog, Ali sighed. “It looks like we’re not partners who can change each other’s life. But thank you. Because of your company in the past two days, I’ve regained my confidence. I shall bury you well.”
He dragged the body of the big dog to the wood outside of the city and buried it very carefully. He stayed there for a while to adjust his mood and then left.
After a while, the tomb suddenly split open, and a half-dead dog climbed out.
“Luckily I know how to play dead…” Nasdell murmured in low voice. He looked back at Rentato at a distance. It was such a dangerous place!
He was going to report these all to the prince!
…
In Lance, the Holy City, Benedict III said to Philip, “There’s no response from the Angel King?”
