CH 2

It was around 7 pm and Bookman, Lavi, Allen, and Kanda were headed for the town where they were scheduled to meet up with a legendary person called the Sage of Life who had requested their audience. It was the middle of spring and the four had been walking in the foggy weather for over six hours just to reach their destination.

"This 'Sage' guy better not be some kind of joke…We've been walking for hours! My feet are killing me…I'm starting to think this town doesn't even exist…" the young bookman jr. complained.

Allen's stomach grumbled. "I hear you…I haven't eaten since lunch…They better have something to eat ready when we get there…"

Kanda, who hadn't even broken a sweat, scoffed at them. "How pathetic. You should have just stayed home, beansprout."

"My name's Allen! Ugh…It's not like I wanted to go, but he specifically asked to meet me and I don't want to be rude."

"It's not like he would've missed much if you stayed at HQ."

"Pfft…says the guy who doesn't even have a reason to be here!"

Lavi stepped between them and wrapped his arms over each of their shoulders. "Hey now, let's just try to get along, eh?" He said with a grin. Allen brushed Lavi's arm off his shoulder and Kanda elbowed him in the chest. "Lighten up, Yu!"

Before Kanda could cut Lavi in half, Bookman said with a map in-hand, "This should be our destination up ahead." As he pointed to a large town much farther down the path.

Delighted, Lavi yelled "Alright! Finally I don't have to walk anymore!" He then pulled out his hammer and prepared to extend towards the town. "You guys coming?"

Allen grabbed onto the hammer and Bookman did the same. Kanda kept on walking.

"Kanda! It'll take too long if we keep walking!" Allen yelled to the arrogant exorcist.

Kanda said without looking back, "No way I'm going to fly on that hammer with a beansprout and a retarded rabbit."

Lavi smirked. "Aww…c'mon, Yu! You're not scared of heights are you? No? Ah, well I guess you can't help but be a little intimidated being so close to someone as gorgeous as me!"

"Tsk…"

Lavi began extending his hammer with Bookman and Allen on board. When he looked back, he held back his laughter when he saw Kanda hanging on as well.

They'd arrived at the town of Earthridge where they were scheduled to meet the Sage. The townspeople were out and about and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Children were playing tag, merchants were lively as ever and wagons rolled through the streets.

"Check this place out!" stated Lavi.

"This seems like a nice town. I'm not detecting even a single akuma either."

"Why don't you sight see for a while then, beansprout. In fact, why don't you make me a flower tiara while you're at it." Kanda stated with plenty of sarcasm.

Allen rolled up his sleeves. "Why you little-" Lavi held him back before things got ugly.

Bookman wacked them all in the face. "All of you, knock it off! We need to be at the Sage's residence in 10 minutes and you brats are wasting our time!" Allen, Kanda, and Lavi stayed quiet and watched as he approached one of the local merchants and asked them for directions.

-9 minutes later-

Bookman opened the gate in the fence to the Sage's residence. The four walked up the path that led to the front door. All along the edges of the path were flowers that were blooming and small garden patches that were well taken care of.

As the group approached the beautiful house, Lavi thought he saw someone standing in one of the windows on the second story, but chose not to say anything.

Bookman reached to knock on the door, but before he got the chance, the door opened. The person on the other side of the door was an elderly man with large glasses, a white beard, and a twig tied in his hair. The man noticed the crest on all of their coats immediately. "Come in, please." He said with an inviting smile.

As they made their way inside, Allen chose to break the ice. "Your home is lovely, sir. The same goes for the garden outside." He spoke, returning the smile he was given.

The old man chuckled. "Ah, yes. Well, if I couldn't take care of one measly garden, what kind of Life Sage would I be?"

Bookman respectively bowed to him and said "It is an honor to meet you, sir. I am the bookman and this is my apprentice. We've also brought Allen Walker at your request, sir." He then held out his hand for him to shake.

The man laughed a bit and politely shook it. "No need to address me as 'sir'. Not even my apprentice calls me that. You may call me Tsamo Esagel." He then shook hands with Lavi and Allen. "And who might you be, young man?" He spoke to Kanda.

"I was told to meet you by General Tiedoll." Kanda stated without shaking his hand.

Tsamo smiled and replied, "I asked you who you were, not who's orders you were following."

"K-Kanda."

"That's more like it. Pleasure meeting you, Kanda."

"Tsk."