Chapter Two: Rondel
It's been three weeks since Elisa abandoned the Knights and the Empire, she traveled along the countryside, stopping to rest in villages and slaying a few bandits. She still couldn't believe the treaty Piña signed, it was out of fear.
The last person Elisa suspected to be afraid was Piña herself, she grew up with her, she was her role model. Elisa tried to forget the event but she couldn't, she didn't feel like serving the Empire anymore.
Three weeks of enduring the harsh weather and she finally reached Rondel, A major city of the Empire, home to most of the Falmart's master sorcerers. A center for magic development and research.
The city differed much from Sadera, in terms of architecture, with structures constructed primarily of white stone, with conical or dome-shaped roof typically painted light blue or green. Elisa thought of resting in the city for the night.
Horse hooves stepped on the stone road as Elisa marveled at the city's infrastructure, if Elisa wishes to stay in the city for the night, she must first find somewhere to settle.
An Inn would do, and she just needs to find one.
Elisa rode around the city, finding for an Inn, she took multiple turns and realized that she was back from where she started.
"What the?" Elisa said in confusion, nonetheless she shrugged it and started all over again, like before she took multiple turns finding for an Inn and when she took a final left, she was back from where she started.
Elisa grew irritated at the city's chaotic and confusing infrastructure, this time, she took a different turn hoping to never end up from the start. The buildings looked different atleast, maybe she'll find an Inn this time.
She passed by a few houses, and a shop selling some potions, she knew inside that an Inn is close, so when she reached the next block, she took a left turn and things looked familiar.
She was back again from the start "Okay then." Elisa sighed in defeat "I guess I'll have to ask somebody." Elisa said to herself, she looked around and found that there was nobody in her vicinity, she then rode around the city one more time to ask somebody.
She reached and intersection when she passed by an arc, that is when her horse bumped into somebody "augh!" the person fell down on the brick road, Elisa's eyes widened "Oh my!"
Elisa leaned forward to see who she bumped into, the person was wearing blue mage robes and has black hair, he was rubbing his left arm in pain, he also dropped a few scrolls on the ground "I apologize greatly for my mistake, let me help you." Elisa got off her horse and assisted the young man stand up and pick up his scrolls.
"Here." Elisa said as she handed over the last scroll to the man "thanks." The mage bower his head and quickly tried to walk away from the scene until he heard Elisa call out "wait!" he stopped and turned around slowly.
"I'm trying to find an Inn around here, can you please point out the directions?" Elisa pleaded, The man swallowed his saliva out of nervousness "Uh, you take a left turn over at the next block, take a right turn on the end of the third block, then you take another right turn at the second block, and finally, take a right turn when you see a large blue tower, you'll see an Inn there." The man quickly explained, Elisa stood there with a confused expression.
"Uhm, Can you repeat that?" Elisa requested, raising her eyebrows, the man's face slowly became red and when he realized this he ran away, leaving a perplexed Elisa, she shrugged it off and got back on the horse. Hopefully she understands what the man said to her.
"okay, left turn at the next block." Elisa rode her horse and turned left "right turn at the end of the third block…" Elisa did what she said "okay and then… uhmm." Elisa forgot what to do next "Damn it!" she looked around and got lost, she thought of just riding around these parts hoping to see the tower the mage mentioned to her.
Elisa then rode around the parts for a few minutes, trying to get a glimpse of the tower from each building she passed.
Elisa continued to find for the tower, until she stopped when her horse bumped into another person "Not again!" Elisa said in irritation, she leaned over to see who she bumped into and it was the same mage again.
This time, the mage never carried any scrolls with him "I'm really sorry for that."Elisa apologized "You again?" the mage looked at her, he stood up and dusted away any dirt on his robes "Yeah me again, Listen, I didn't really caught the directions you gave to me earlier, where am I exactly?" Elisa asked, the mage lowered his head, tryingto cover his face "I think you're pretty far from the tower now." He scratched his head.
Elisa's eyes widened "I reside at the Inn too, I can accompany you there if you want…" the mage said, lowering his voice at each word. Elisa felt relief at the assurance that she'll finally get to an Inn to rest for the night.
"Finally, get behind me." Elisa smiled, the mage's face has gone red "No, I mean… I can walk." The mage suggested "Don't be ridiculous, hop on." Elisa said as she properly positioned her horse for the mage to get on.
The mage thought about it for a moment and decided to get on the horse, he approached the horse and struggled to get on until Elisa pulled him. The mage then adjusted his seating so he could be comfortable.
"You good?" Elisa asked "Yeah." The mage replied.
"Ok then, where's the Inn?"
"Just keep going forward until I'll tell you to turn."
The horse continued on the path pointed out by the mage.
"So what's your name?" Elisa asked, keeping her eyes on the path.
"My name is Tovar, I recently graduated from the magic academy, You?"
"Elisa Harrington, I'm formerly a rose knight."
"Former?" Tovar tilted his head.
"I left after the Battle of Italica." Elisa answered.
"Italica? Does that mean you saw the green men in rescue the town with your own eyes?" Tovar was in disbelief.
"I would like to think of it as them showing their power." Elisa replied "what do you mean?" Tovar raised his eyebrows.
"if you ask me, all of those metal creatures are unnecessary." Elisa sternly said.
"what made you say that?"
"The demi goddess of death was with them."
"She's with them? Wouldn't that be a bit concerning?" Tovar questioned "it is concerning, that Rory bitch…" Elisa coldly said.
"even though she's centuries old, she still looks like a child… and still acts like one." She added, Tovar stayed silent, a bit afraid of Elisa's sudden change of emotions.
"turn right by that potion shop." Tovar pointed out, Elisa did what he said.
The two now arrived at the Inn, the Inn didn't look different different from any other building in Rondel "Here it is." Tovar got off the horse "there aren't any rooms available but you can rest in mine if you want."
Elisa smiled "that's lovely." She got off the horse and tied the ropes on the small horse stable in front of the structure.
Elisa and Tovar went inside the Inn, while the rest of Rondel started to be crowded in various parts.
A/N: and that's another chapter down! I'll say it again, my writing skills isn't really good, so leave a review for it will help the FRA beat back the JSDF-Empire regime ;) see you all in the next chapter!