The four walked in a room as Reinhardt and the others took off their helmet and capes placing them on table beside the door as for their armour they hung it on stands.
Raghav walked over to the round table with four chairs nearby the entrance to the balcony. "This is a lovely room." Reinhardt smiled as he took off his sword placing it beside his chair. "Perks of being the Captain of The Royal Guards."
The four took their seats as Reinhardt handed the bowl of fruits to Raghav. "Please have some." "Thank you."
He took a few grapes from the bunch and held them in his left hand while eating them one at a time with his right hand. Reinhardt then turned to his colleagues. "Raghav these are Laud and Paul. These are my fellow members of the Royal Guard." Raghav nodded at the two of them. "I would have shook your hands but mine are unclean at this moment. But it is nice to be acquainted with you."
Laud smiled running a hand through his long black hair. "We feel the same way, sharing a table with the prophesized hero."
Raghav narrowed his eyes with a stern look on his face as he turned to look at Reinhardt sitting beside him. Reinhardt looked at Raghav as their gaze met he leaned over whispering into Raghav's ear. "The King swore me and Vaughn to secrecy regarding the real prophecy."
He then leaned back as Paul pointed at the two with a smirk. "What secrets are you cooking?" Reinhardt shook his head. "Nothing,"
Laud looked back at Raghav. "So Raghav, I wanted to congratulate you on your victory in the duel with Asfan. I was unaware you possessed such skills."
Paul placed a hand on Laud's chest as he pointed a finger at Raghav. "When we first heard that you are neither Mana sensitive and that your world no longer uses our weapons. We thought you would die,"
Raghav gently shook his head as he ate a grape. "Some people still kept the tradition of using these weapons alive."
Reinhardt looked at Raghav from the corner of his eyes. "What weapons can you use then?" Raghav turned to look at Reinhardt. "You'll find out in due time."
Reinhardt smiled as they were then interrupted by a knock at the door. "May I come in milord?" Raghav lowered his head and closed his eyes as Reinhardt looked at the door. "Come in."
A maid with short brown hair opened the door and pushed the trolley in stopping beside the table serving the foods to the four.
As she placed the mashed potato and bread along with a glass of water in front of Raghav. He opened his eyes still looking down. "Thank you."
The maid smiled as she served the rest of the dishes. "My lords and sir." She then bowed before leaving the room.
Raghav raised his head looking at the three. "You are Lords?" Reinhardt nodded. "I am the younger son of the previous Duke of the East and the younger brother of the current Duke. We come from nobility and that makes us Lords."
Raghav then looked at Laud as he placed a hand on his chest. "The current general of Istreid Kingdom is my Father." "Impressive. What about you Paul?"
Paul smirked. "My Mother is the countess of Load town." "I see." Raghav then took a bite out of his bread. Paul's jaw dropped as Reinhardt held a hand on his mouth hiding his smirk and Laud looked out the balcony holding his laughter.
Raghav took a bite out of his food as Paul frowned elbowing Laud in the side of the stomach. "Stop laughing. Kanah's reaction was so much better." Reinhardt stopped drinking his wine mid-sip as he glared at Paul.
Paul eyes widened as he looked back at Raghav who was eating his food unbothered by it all. Laud leaned forward. "I apologise on Paul's behalf. He is the one who cracks jokes about others but he does not take well on himself."
Raghav placed his spoon down as he wiped his lips with the cloth before looking at Laud with a stern expression. "There is no need for apologies. He simply said Kanah had a better reaction than I did. It is also partly my fault for not giving a proper response. His mother is the countess of the largest port on the eastern coast. I should have acknowledged it better. I did not intent to make fun of you."
Paul chuckled. "Thank you and it is as Laud says, I am the one who makes the jokes yet can't handle them."
Raghav took a sip of water and as he placed the glass on the table he looked at the water inside. "I knew someone like that too. He went missing four years ago."
He then looked at Paul. "Tell me more about Kanah." Paul gulped as he looked at Reinhardt glaring at him; he then turned back to Raghav. "How much do you know about him?"
"We share the same appearance, the sage gave an explanation for it. Other than that I know he is a farmer living in the farmer settlement outside the city walls and that he is someone special to the Princess."
Reinhardt looked down at his food. "He is indeed someone special to the Princess and to all of us. I have known him since I was your age. He has been with the Princess for the last fourteen years as friends and at some point the bond grew beyond. He is someone I consider as my own younger brother. Please don't think that we view you any differently just because you two look alike."
Raghav waved his hand as he leaned back. "I do not feel that way. I understand it is impossible for people who know Kanah to not compare us."
Raghav took a pause standing up walking towards the door. "Gentlemen, it was a lovely breakfast. I will see you around."
Reinhardt nodded with closed eyes. "We will see you tomorrow. We intend to make up for the three days we spent awake."
Raghav opened the door as he looked back at them. "Sleep well." He then closed the door and stood there looking at the floor with an empty expression before walking towards the staircase.
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Raghav sat in his room flipping through the pages of the books and made notes of key information he found in them.
He leaned back resting his head on the back of the sofa as he sighed taking off his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. 'There must be something that I could use in these archives.' He was interrupted by a knock at his door. "Come in."
As the door opened Raghav brought his head back looking at the person at the door and saw Vonreid standing there hiding behind the half open door. "Vonreid?"
Vonreid entered the room as Raghav placed his glasses on the table and stood up walking towards him. "Your name is Raghav?"
"It is. What can I do for you?" Vonreid walks over to him getting a closer look. "They were not lying. You look just like him."
Raghav smiled as he got down on one knee looking the kid in the eyes. "Yes, I do." Vonreid then brought up a wooden sword up. "He used to play with me a lot. But he is not here will you also play with me?"
Raghav placed a hand on Vonreid's shoulder. "What do you want to play?" Vonreid smiled showing his teeth as his face lit up. "We used to play horse and knight. You know how to play it."
Raghav nodded as he got on all four. Vonreid climbed on his back as he raised his wooden sword high. "Charge!" Raghav began crawling on the floor as Vonreid pretended he was fighting a battle.
Vonreid looked down at Raghav. "Father told me that you are the hero and that you are very strong. Is that true?" Raghav looked up at Vonreid. "I am the hero and yes I am strong."
Vonreid got off and walked in front of Raghav who sat on his knees. "Can I see your powers?" Raghav nodded as the white glow spread across his body. Vonreid was mesmerized by the glow as he got closer and touched Raghav's hands.
As Vonreid backed up the glow returned within Raghav as he stared blankly at Vonreid for a few seconds before blinking as he got up.
Vonreid looked at Raghav with awe. "I have never seen such power before. What is it?" Raghav looked out the window. "This is the purest form of power, purest energy."
A knock was heard at the door before the door opened and Aurelia stepped in. Raghav was drawn in by her beauty as she wore a blue dress that matched the colour of her eyes. The way she carried herself; completely different from how she was during the time he had spent with her. Her open hair reaching her waist. "Vonreid" "Yes sister?" "You should not disturb the hero while he is studying."
Vonreid turned to Raghav. "I am sorry." Raghav shook his head as he patted the boy on his head. "You did not disturb me at all. I enjoyed your visit." Vonreid smiled as waved at Raghav leaving the room.
Left alone in the room Aurelia looked at Raghav; finding him looking at her. "I heard from father that Asfan left. Did you manage to have a talk with him and uncle?"
Raghav moved towards his sofa sitting back down as he wore the glasses and picked up a book with a stern expression on his face. "I did. I also escorted Asfan to the forest and had breakfast with Reinhardt, Laud and Paul."
Aurelia sat opposite to Raghav. "Did you enjoy their company?" Raghav nodded. "It was good."
He then picked a book in his left hand and compared the words in it with the book in his right hand. Aurelia gently smiled. "Would you like to visit the city?"
"Maybe another day. We have more Pivotal matters at hand. Such as learning about the King of Hell and figuring out how to stop him" Aurelia leaned forward placing a hand on the books lowering them as Raghav looks at her. "We only have today to explore the city before Father takes you down to the city for a public appearance. I wish to show you the city before that."
Raghav blinks as he looks at her as he gently smiles; placing the books down. "Wear something that blends in. We will leave in ten minutes."
Aurelia stood up as she smiled. "Meet me at the supply gate." She then left the room.
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Raghav stood at the supply gate; wearing a black cloak with his hood down. He was looking at the carriages entering the castle. Someone tapped his shoulder; he turned around finding Aurelia wearing a plain white dress with a brown vest over it; her hair tied up in a bun and covered under a cap. "You look beautiful."
Aurelia smiled as she placed her hands behind her. "Thank you. Shall we go?" Raghav nodded as the two walked out onto the road.
"What are you wearing under this cloak?" Aurelia moved Raghav's cloak seeing him still in his brown jacket black pants and brown boots. "Why did you tell me to wear something that blends in when you did not change yourself?"
Raghav looked around with a serious face. "No one knows me here, you on the other hand are the princess; if people recognize you; it will be hard to get away from the crowd."
Aurelia shook her head as she grabbed his hand guiding him towards a street. "This is the welsh street. The wealthiest and most powerful men in the city live here." "There are not many people here."
Aurelia smiled as she pointed at Raghav. "Of course there would not be many people here. With money and power people can afford to live with privacy."
Raghav looked around at the trees planted on the foot path to provide shade to the walkers; street lamps placed at an equal distance and the mansions with giant lawns in front closed off by iron fences and gates.
A carriage went by their side stopping a few meters ahead of them in front of a metal gate. A middle aged man in a blue suit and black pants with slick back brown hair and wrinkled face stepped out. He walked towards the metal gate. He stopped as he looked up and turned his head to the left.
Raghav met the man's gaze as the man walked towards him. The two men stopped when they were in front of the other. The man extended his hand as Raghav shook it. "May I know who you are sir?"
"Before that I would like to know where you got that sword from young man." Raghav looked inside his cloak and saw that the man was looking at his sword. He then looked back at the man. "I got it from an armory. It was there without an owner and I took it with permission. So it is mine."
The man nodded. "That would make you The Hero of Paneria and this woman beside you Aurelia Reid. The Princess of Istreid Kingdom." Raghav looked at the man with a slight curl of his lips. "How did you come to that conclusion?"
"I heard about the duel that took place within the castle. That the hero used a special sword with a handle made of special resin and a wooden scabbard."
Raghav crossed his arms. "It still does not explain how you know this is that sword." The man chuckled. "Why would I not. I made that sword. I am the smith Martel. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Aurelia's eyes widened as she stepped forward. "You are Martel?" He smiled as he looked at Aurelia and bowed placing a hand on his chest. "I am; your highness."
Aurelia looked at Raghav as she pointed at Martel. "This is the greatest smith in the world. No one knows what he looks like. They say he can make anything as long as you can describe it to him. He can make it."
Martel laughed lightly as he shook his head. "Her highness speaks too highly of me. There are far greater smiths than me in the world."
Aurelia looked at him shaking her head. "Not among humans." Raghav extended his hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you too. Martel. I am Raghav Suryanshi."
Martel hummed in response as Raghav gestured at Martel. "You could have not known that I had the sword inside this cloak; then what made you approach us?"
"I felt a warmth as if I was standing near my furnace and when I turned to look at the warmth I saw you. A glow that makes gold and the sun look dull in comparison."
Raghav closed his eyes as he lowered his head. "You flatter me. In any case, it was a pleasure meeting you; but we have to go as we are short on time." Martel nodded as he stepped to the side. "I understand. May we meet again."
He then extended his hand as Raghav shook it. "We will. I have something I'd like you to forge for me." Martel smirked. "I look forward to what a man from another world commissions me to forge."
With that Raghav and Aurelia walked forward leaving welsh street.
As they left Welsh street Raghav noticed the change in the city structure. Gone were the mansions with gigantic lawn. They were instead replaced by three to four story high buildings that left no space between themselves.
The streets and road were also filled with a large number of people who wore clothes that resembled Aurelia's instead of Martel's. But one thing stayed the same all eyes were drawn to Raghav. As he walked all the heads turned to face him. Some fell because they were not looking where they were going.
Raghav avoided the people as he walked forward looking at the architecture and the items around him.
Aurelia was getting worried as she looked at the people being drawn to Raghav like moths to a flame. She grabbed his arm getting his attention. "Come let's take a ride to the central market." She raised her hand as a shabby roofless wooden carriage stopped in front of them.
The man looked at her before turning his head towards Raghav who met the man's eyes. 'So beautiful.' The man was brought out of his thoughts when someone snapped their fingers in his face. He shook his head as he looked at Aurelia. "We want to go to the central market. How much?"
The man raised three fingers. "At this time of the day, three silver coins." Aurelia nodded and got on the carriage sitting on the wooden seats as Raghav got on sitting beside her.
The man pulled the reins making the horse run forward. Aurelia turned towards Raghav as he met her gaze unfazed by what happened. "What was that?" "That was due to my powers. I possess the purest power in all of existence. Purest form of energy. The people feel that radiant warmth and energy within me and are attracted to me; drawn in by its purity."
Aurelia frowned. "What is your power?" Raghav grabbed Aurelia's hands. "I cannot tell you. I believe it will be best if you hear it from someone else and not me." Aurelia pulled her hands back. "Who will tell me, if you will not?"
Raghav gently smiled. "Someone wise and respected. Just trust me for now." Aurelia nodded as she looked in Raghav's eyes and the two sat straight looking at the city as they passed through it.
45 minutes later. The carriage stopped a street away from the central market. The man looked over his shoulder. "There is a large crowd present today. You will have to cover the rest by foot."
Aurelia nodded as she stood up taking out a pouch from her dress and handing him three silver coins from it. "Thank you." The two of them said in unison as they looked at one another smiling before getting off the carriage.
Raghav pulled his hood on as Aurelia looked at him. "Why are you covering your head?" "It will prevent an incident like that from happening again."
Aurelia then looked forward at the central market. She smiled and walked forward. "Time to show you the heart of this city."
Raghav looked forward with a stern expression as he observed the bustling market up ahead. "I look forward to this."