Chapter 67 - 15: Carriage
Chapter 67 - 15: Carriage
It's been 2 days since the incident, there haven't been any other attacks. They had been moving by day with breaks every few hours and they had been resting at night.
It was morning right then, and they were still on the path. They had also left the vicinity of the forest, and it was no longer in sight. It was big, but they were lucky to get teleported near the outside. If they were teleported to the exact middle of it. Then that would have sucked.
There were rations on the carriage, so there was no need to worry about it.
"What are you doing?" Asked Eleanor.
John's legs were crossed, and he had his arm under my chin as he sat on the inside of the carriage. Serena was driving with Ariel beside her, Ariel was also trying to learn how to drive.
John would have liked to watch the lessons too, but he was a bit busy right then.
"I'm keeping watch and trying to organise my thoughts," John replied.
"You can do both at the same time?" Eleanor asked with a curious expression.
"Yeah, All I need to do is check the area with 'Deprehendre', after that I just go back to thinking." He replied.
'Although recently I've been a lot more talkative... I guess it's because of those two. Maybe that's the reason I wasn't able to make friends... I was too thinkative and quiet…' John thought.
"Deprehendre? Is that some sort of spell?" Eleanor questioned.
"Yeah, a scouting spell"
Deprehendre's range was 5 kilometres at highest, but when John did that there were too many beings and his head is clouded with information.
"That's weird... I haven't seen you using any incantations..?" Eleanor muttered with a confused expression.
...
"U-Uh, I am a fast chanter and quiet one at that. I've trained myself to be able to out-speed any other." John said with a nervous smile.
Eleanor's eyes seemed to sparkle as she said.
"I knew it!"
"You did?" John asked as he felt his heart sink.
'When did she find out?' John wondered.
"You've gone through special training! Talent alone won't get someone to your level, you three must have had an amazing master." She spoke.
"Ah yes! We did! An incredible master! Unfortunately, he wasn't able to make it. I'm surprised you found out." John affirmed.
"Hehehe, I'm very good at solving mysteries," Said Eleanor with a proud smile.
'C-Close one…' John thought.
"Yeah..."
"So what have you been thinking about?" She asked.
A carriage travels around 15 miles per hour. It's been 2 days and around 10 hours of travelling each so 20 hours, that's 300 miles.
'How far are we from Xoleria..? I wish I had a map... Alfred might have one, but he hasn't completely recovered.' John thought.
"Nothing much, but now that you've mentioned it, How long until we reach Xoleria?" John asked.
"Hmm... In a few hours I'd say," Said Eleanor as she looked at the landscape through the carriage.
'How do you know that? There're only plains around, how could she even tell from these plains? They look the same as any other.' John thought.
"T-That's good..."
Alfred still hadn't woken up since he was poisoned, but seemed to be better. Eleanor has been watching over him since as she waited for him to wake up. Even now John could see that she was worried about him.
'He must be a very special butler. If I ever get one, I'm calling him Sebastian.' John decided.
"Are there any detoxification spells?" John asked.
"Of course, the intermediate spell: Purify or the advanced spell: Detoxification. They both belong to the holy element, and finding the incantation for them is rare. But they're available in the magic school." Eleanor spoke.
"School..." John muttered.
"Is something wrong?" Eleanor Asked.
"Could you tell me more about this school? You mentioned something about higher ranking students?" John asked.
"Ah, yes. Levels of education are divided into ranks in the school. Those with the highest talents and ranks are given special treatment and better access to higher level and stronger spells. Different ranks mean different classes and teachers." She answered.
Just as John expected.
"The quality of education is higher in the higher ranks compared to the lower ranks. Not because of the teachers, but because the students themselves don't have the ability to cast the higher end spells like the ones in the higher ranks can. It's a fair education for all." Eleanor explained.
'I see, so the ranking system separates them not only to nurture those with higher talent but to stop those with less talent from losing faith in their abilities, Separating by ranks is indeed the best option.' John thought.
"But those with low ranks are still given the chance to climb up. Every 3 months there is an event called 'Rank up' as the name suggests it's an event to boost your rank. The challenges are random, but if you do well, you can go up one or even 2 ranks." She added.
"It's good that they're given a chance to improve themselves. So both nobles and commoners can do the entrance exam?" John asked.
"Yeah, many commoners get accepted, but it's usually in the low ranks. A noble is born with more magic power than a commoner after all." She answered.
'At least they don't separate the schools between nobles and commoners like the kingdom of Halfaust. Thinking back, that king had quite the nerve trying to keep us stuck in his kingdom. Hehehe, I'll need to think of a good way to get revenge.' John thought.
"John?" Eleanor asked.
"Ah, yes?"
"Jeez, are you even listening?" Eleanor asked.
"'A noble is born with more magic power, yes. But if many commoners get accepted, why is it hard to get accepted?" John asked.
"Nobles don't have any problems getting in, but if you're not a talented commoner, then you're not going to find much luck." She spoke.
"Why not?" John asked.
"Because there are barely any vacancies for these past few years. Too many students. There are over a thousand students in only this school, there are others in other kingdoms in the continent. Because of how full they've been, it'll be moderately harder to get in, well in case you're planning on getting in, I have no doubt that you'd three get selected." Eleanor explained.
"You're planning on taking the exam too, aren't you?" John asked.
"Yeah... I have an aptitude for the holy element and Water so I thought I would enter in those two areas." She answered.
"You'll be fine. The holy element is rare after all."
'I'm the one that should be worried, I don't even know what sort of language chanting is..' John thought.