A pair of small black shoes were handed to Elijah, but before letting go, were turned upside down. Vertical rivets in a randomized pattern allowed Elijah to just slightly see through the soles of the shoe. Furthemore, a second set of black shoes were on the counter, leading to Elijah leaving the building with a smile.
"Even with the current situation, I'm beginning to feel embarrassed about using their money. These shoes cost me 20 silver total…"
The cold air of the kingdom was felt with every step after tightening the riveted shoes around his feat. Each ball of each toe perfectly sat on a place unobstructed by the rivets, while the arch of Elijah's foot felt the wind of every step.
Free-balling it, Elijah slowly made his way to the Western Hunter Guild while taking in the sights of the city, and even stopped to take a look over the side of the western bridge. The structural supports that allow Centerpool to exist came into view, but were interrupted by a hairy man yelling at him not to jump.
'Do I look like I am going to jump??'
The faces of children Elijah's age, a couple years older, and even academy students who were on break completing missions were everywhere outside, and within the guild building.
Something that Elijah hadn't noticed until now was how fast children grew up physically. A ten year old in this world would look like a thirteen year old on earth. The culmination of effects related to an aspect of magic was the likely culprit.
'Could it be mana usage? Or simply being in a mana dense environment?' Elijah asked himself as he walked through the crowd.
Elijah kept his head low the moment he saw Emery's party. From their last confrontation in the washroom, he didn't feel intimidated by him, and if Emery ever made a scene, Elijah would only scoff at it and walk away.
The stained wooden hallway clad with stone walls was lined with all sorts of potted-plants between each room and window. The secondary carriage court for mission pickups and dropoffs was in full view as Elijah passed down the hall. The familiar breath of fresh air surrounded by the sounds of chatter and the clanking of metal excited Elijah.
Being back here again was fulfilling a fantasy he used to have in his head. The more time passed, the more of the beginning of his life he remembered.
A building with a billboard in the front that described "hunter essentials", was the exact place Elijah was looking for.
Depending on your affinity, you have an innate advantage. Fire gives you a light source, earth gives you a shield, and even water gives you a water source. Although Elijah had no idea about the mineral content in the water, he still chose the glass bottled water stored in his spatial storage.
A short conversation and an exchange of goods led him to holding a cloth bag with a few small wooden torches with pointed bottoms that could be lit by scraping them against dry wooden sticks, as well as a cheap backpack that he would eventually throw away. Even if the mission was approved, not a single soul would allow him to go into The Catacombs alone without a backpack full of essentials. A recovery potion, and a mana recovery potion were also inside the bag, which didn't cost very much as it was a low tier potion produced in mass amounts.
"Oh, it's you…" Emery caught Elijah walking through the back entrance of the guild building. Behind Emery, was his party who were laughing in amusement for a reason Elijah did not know.
"Hahaha! I can't believe he came here after that mission. Poor guy." Jared Ruby was talking from behind Emery.
"Your name is Jared right?" Elijah confidently asked.
"How do you not know me?" Jared's eyebrows flipped up in amusement.
For a ten year old, this guy sure has some manners. I wonder where he got his attitude and hatred towards me. "You better hope you don't end up going against me in this tournament."
"Do you really think a water mage could beat a fire mage in combat?" Jared's laugh turned into a one-sided grin.
"Yes, because you have a poor understanding of what this tournament even means."
Jared was just about to speak again until Emery stopped him in his tracks. "Move back so we can let him through. We have things we have to get so let's not waste our time…"
Elijah was standing in front of the doorway, and gave a slight nod at Emery who seemed to have changed. There was definitely something good in that boy.
Emery just had a natural grudge against Novius, and it turned into him being a naturally toxic person that rubbed off on his friends.
Only natural for over absorbent minds.
Something that had been on Elijah's mind lately had been Niko. Not once had he seen him at the hunter guild. There are four hunter guilds in the inner city with the fifth being the one in Centerpool, the headquarters that all of the top hunters conglomerate at.
Either Niko has died, or is at a different hunter guild building. Elijah made his way back to the Weltor estate while slowly sipping on water he pulled from 'within his new backpack'.
Technically speaking, Elijah could become a true magician if that was a thing in this kingdom.
The aromatic smell of eggs infused with herbs hit Elijah's nostrils the moment he walked through the grand wooden door.
Eggs were a food source that has only been affected in a way that caused the chickens to be grown in a slightly different environment. The nature parks within the inner city, as well as on the rooftops while being fed proper food.
Elijah slowly walked down the left hall lined with paintings and plants. When he entered the kitchen, he saw Novius and Alexia helping the cooks with their tasks. It seemed they were having a lot of fun, alongside the fact that neither of them had a frown on their faces.
"Elijah! Come help us! We are having rice and egg omelets!" Alexia had long since grown a wide smile on her face, and gently flipped the eggs cooking in the metal pan.
Memories of his past life came rushing back towards him. The pull of a vacuum took Elijah through many slideshows of his past life, ultimately returning him to reality.
"This is real… isn't it?" Elijah mutters while leaning against the entrance frame of the kitchen.
"Did you say something Elijah?" Novius asked as he took the lid off a boiling pot of rice-water.
Just from the steam and the sound of the rice being stirred, Elijah was able to understand its creamy texture, herbal additions, and love for the carefulness of craft.
"No… What can I help with?"
Everyone in the family always pitched in effort while the television was running. Thus, he had no choice but to ask the question. It practically exited his mouth autonomously.
Before Elijah knew it, he was seen heating a metal pan on a magical rune. The whisked eggs sloshed around the pan, and before he knew it, his hands had flipped the eggs perfectly.
Alexia voiced her surprise by lifting her hand in the air. "Wow Elijah! I didn't know you could do that?"
George came into the kitchen after a long day at the magitech guild. Thankfully, his heart was lifted at the sight of the three youngest children cooking food for everyone.
Dozens of eggs, and pounds of rice.
The night was young, and the trio who had gone through a lot together made a vow inside of Novius' opulent bedroom.
"We will never fully trust someone, and stick together at all times within the Catacombs. We will create our own way of doing things, and never be shifted around by others."
The hands of the trio formed a weird three way handshake that Elijah had come up with. Shortly after, everyone retired to their rooms.
"Good luck Elijah!"
Both Alexia and Novius wished him good luck for the solo adventure planned for tomorrow. They had no doubts in their mind as they knew his strength was something far above themselves.
However, this only related to anyone within the same core level as them.