Just as what Baston thought before, Luminos City was in state of lockdown for a few days after the incident regarding the dark wizard. The city applied a martial law which all the residents and the guests must abide. Everyone was advised to stay at home, never going on somewhere unless there was a permission issued by the governor itself. Most people didn't mind and only several guests complained about it. They just visited here but suddenly; they couldn't go anywhere. Everyone knew the cost of living here was expensive so counting the days they must stay at inn boringly; they surely couldn't stand it. However, it changed their perception once the dark wizard was involved here.
The people at the surrounding of Carpel Inn before had already known it beforehand so it was just a matter of time before the news
spread. Luminos City had their own officers to investigate the matter. They wouldn't stop until they found a clue. The early news about Viktor from Anderson family who associated himself with the dark wizard already making
every person in Luminos City started to curse him. They wished this man would die very soon or if not, the kingdom must deliver the harshest punishment. People's wish came true when the fat man had been already dead. The headless picture of him was displayed at city center for everyone to see.
"He deserved to die!"
"Yeah, he dared to bring a dark wizard into this city. Unbelievable!"
"I can't believe such a rich noble was tempted by dark forces. I wonder what the dark wizard promised him."
"Perhaps, a lot of young girls and infinite money. Bah, you know every dark wizard is a liar. How could he be so stupid to believe it?"
Many people made commotion at the city center regarding the scum. If not because Viktor, everyone could still enjoy their leisure days during here. Unfortunately, everything changed and the security around was increased many times. It made their freedom got limited by strict checking. In every part
of the city, there was a magic instrument to detect dark magic now. Once there was a positive sign, it would alert the city and everyone in the surrounding area to flee away. By then, many knights and wizards would apprehend the person forcefully.
For now, everything could be managed carefully but deep inside people's hearts, a distrust behavior came up. This matter started from a noble so the nobles should fix it themselves. The merchants were gloating,
thinking that this was their chances to confront the nobles. The inequality treatment between nobles and others made a big gap among society. They started to have a thought about the matter of trust. The nobles were almost perfect in public eyes, yet considering what happened in Luminos City, other people had another idea regarding them. If they could befriend the dark wizard, then everyone could say the nobles could almost do many things behind the curtain.
The merchants who were still trapped inside Luminos City made a deal that once they got away from this city, they would try to spread
the news regarding the relationship between the nobles and the dark wizards. As for what the impact it could create in the kingdom, no one knew until it happened. This thing occurred because even though both of people had money, the nobles would always get the best treatment in Luminos City. People with lower status would think the city not only counted the money, but also looked at the status. The social gap widened little by little, ticking like a time bomb. Before it could blow up, Luke as the same family like Viktor came up to the front. He spoke about the matter between his family and the dark wizard at city center.
"Everyone, I believe you will question whether there is any more relationship between dark wizards and our Anderson family. I can assure you that this matter only applied to Viktor Anderson. The fat man dared to do this because he was too greedy despite having a noble status."
Luke continued, "Did you know before this, that fat man also wanted to kill me? The reason he showed was he wanted my wealth and land despite we are the same family. I tried to discuss about it, but he rejected it. Even though I handed over all my wealth, he still despised me and kept giving me a trouble from time to time. Every day, he sent the assassin just to end my pitiful life."
The people around who heard the speech gasped. Never in their dreams that they would encounter someone like this. The noble boy had already given everything to the fat man, but he still insisted on killing the
boy. Wasn't it the same as the bandit? Not only the fat man wanted all the money, he also wanted the boy's life. A snobbish person like this should die because he was a menace in the society.
"Damn, are you sure that fat man is a noble?" one merchant asked.
"I say he's not a noble, but a poor man in disguise."
"This kind of man is really despicable. He even worked together with the dark wizard. Thankfully, the fat man had already been dead."
The merchants clamored but the nobles were solemn. They didn't want to comment too much, afraid that they would be persecuted by people around. Since the incident came from the noble itself, the reputation of nobles was already damaged. So much that the merchants tried to avoid them recently, thinking that there was a possibility of another one who was just like Viktor. The nobles were angry but there was nothing they could do. In the past, people
below them always made a move to get closer to them. They were always flattered
and it felt good to hear even though it might be just an empty word. Now, everything changed and people stayed away from them just like a plague.
"For this, I apologize to all people here about what my fat uncle did before…" Luke bowed down for a few seconds before he said more, "Of course, I won't be just saying sorry, hoping that everyone would apologize the
fault and forget about it. If I did that, there was no good intention shown to you. Because of this, I want to ask the governor of Luminos City to divide the money for people in here. My fat uncle must accumulate a lot of money inside his Luminos card. Rather than letting it rots inside, it will be better to
share it for everyone."
"YEAH!!!"
When people talked about money, everyone seemingly became interested. Sharing the wealth for everyone was truly a happy moment, not to mention it came from the man who collaborated with the dark wizard. There were no sympathetic gazes because Viktor had already made a trouble in Luminos City. The most important thing right now was how much they could get. While the
merchants were happy, the nobles were whispering with each other. They didn't care too much on meagre sum of this money, but they put a lot of care about their reputation. Luke had already provided them with an opportunity so they wouldn't let it go.
"Excuse me…" one noble stood up, "I think it's for the best to share the money with other people except nobles. Because this incident was caused by a noble, it doesn't seem right for us to also share the money. What do you think about it?"
"I agree with it. I'm also a noble but I'm not like the one named Viktor before. I always act with kindness and pride, conforming with the law of the kingdom. So, I hope everyone could forgive and not treat us the same with the criminal."
"True… true… Also, if the money inside Luminos card is only a little, I can donate some so you all won't feel pity about it."
"Yes, count me in! I know merchant people like you all are always very busy. Time is money so I will also donate some of my money to offset your wasted time."
The nobles were happy and the merchants were even happier. With this rare opportunity, everyone got what they wanted. The reputation of nobles was maintained and others didn't think it was a loss anyway since they got the shared money. Still, everyone knew this kind of money was just like a
shut-up money. In order for this news never spread much outside, the nobles hoped to buy the people with their wealth. Surely, the merchants around knew the matter wouldn't be easy to solve if they dared to slander them so it was better to accept the disguised gift. Luke who was in front stared at everyone
coldly because the façade was too common for him. Everyday, he happened to encounter such deceit even thought his pride of knights wanted to knock it off. He determined not to live by such a lie but he was powerless inside and outside.
Luke shook his head and soon left the city center. He just hoped to clean the name of Anderson family. As for what would happen to his fat uncle's wealth, he didn't care. Everyone could share of the money and he would just let someone to take care of it. By the time he came back to the inn, he just stared silly at Baston who was savoring his snacks calmly. While he was busy fixing his family's reputation, the fat boy didn't need to think about that. Baston only lived and be responsible for himself. Sometimes, he envied such a lifestyle.
"You always eat the food every day. Are you afraid your body will get bigger and bigger?" Luke started.
Baston looked at himself, realizing there was no way to go diet in this situation, "Since we can't go anywhere, there's nothing to do
except eating and sleeping."
"There's also a training room here. We can exercise at there daily. By then, your body will become slimmer than now."
The one mentioned by Luke was actually a simple training room for the knight. People could train themselves or even better, they could spar with each other. Since Baston showed a talent of being a knight, Luke
always urged him to spar. The noble boy felt he could advance more by challenging himself to duel with Baston. Unfortunately, Luke didn't know that Baston's knight training only looked good if he used puppet to replace him. At the coliseum, his nimble movement plus big stamina and strength amazed the noble boy so much that there was an urge to fight him. If the real Baston went ahead, there would be a big lost and Luke must be disappointed for sure.
Baston knew there was no way he could delay such enthusiasm. If Luke didn't get what he wanted, perhaps he would leave Luminos City as soon as possible. He couldn't let the noble boy went back first because he still had a business in here. For Tasco and the refunded money, he had to wait for a few days until the Xavierius family visited. By then, they would engage in
conversation regarding the Gale element. He wondered what the people from this
family would discuss with him. There was actually a way to let other person to learn this element without the need of having marriage and giving a birth to a baby, but this secret way was only known by Baston. The knowledge he got from the old book was complete, unlike the information this world could provide regarding the matter of elements. Still, the way that another person could inherit the element was very complicated. It depended on each person's talent and hard work.
"Tomorrow… How about tomorrow for sparring…" Baston looked at the nagging Luke.
"That's what I'm waiting for. Don't forget your promise!"
Luke was excited, thinking his effort slowly paid up but he didn't know that Baston only wanted to stall for the time. He wished the
Xavierius family to quickly visit him and the matter about this Gale element could be quickly finished. By then, he could rest easily in this long vacation. He wondered how many remaining days left before he needed to go back to the academy.