The Master of Uradan

Near the frontier delimiting the Barren Lands, there was a small city governed by a baron standing here.

The city didn't have any walls as there was no need for them here. Apart from the barbarians of the Barren Lands which would barely be able to throw pebbles at them, the baron had judged it was useless to waste time and money to construct any rampart.

Surrounding this city which counted several tens of thousands of people was mostly green grass with a large forest stretching to the south and west.

Crossing this forest and reaching this city after weeks of traveling in the desert, Rohan was finally able to breathe. A dirt path entering the city was taking the role of a door, and as he came in front of the guard, this one directly pointed his spear toward him.

"Who are you?! Are you coming from the Barren Lands, you beggar?" His tone was too rude, giving Rohan the urge to slap him.

But he refrained himself as he took notice of where he was coming from, and most importantly at what he was currently looking like.

His gray robe was torn here and there, and the weeks surrounded by dust and sand truly gave him the appearance of a beggar. There weren't even any other belongings on him, and as he was indeed coming from the Barren Lands, the reaction of this man was to be expected.

"Where are we?" Since entering would be quite complicated now, Rohan hoped to know at least where he was.

"So you really came from the Barren Lands, eh? I'll give 5 seconds to disappear from my sight, otherwise don't blame me to show why you bastards shouldn't come here!" The guard stepped forward, the tip of the spear almost touching Rohan's body.

Rohan felt his hand itching as he wanted to wave it. Instead, he took on himself and gently smiled as he answered back.

"Give me where I am, then I'll naturally go away."

Unfortunately, the response of the guard was still inappropriate.

"You think I'll not stab you, you filthy nomad?" Along with his words, he stabbed with his spear.

The tip pierced the air before stopping there. The guard's mouth opened itself. The young man in front of him was standing in the same place, with his fingers clasped against the blade of his spear. His weapon couldn't bulge anymore even when he put all the strength he had. He was instantly alarmed as sweat flowed down his spine.

"Before I snap this toy to shove it into your mouth, can you answer my question?" Rohan's patience was running low. Why do people continuously waste their time with such a lack of respect?

He had already gotten out of a place where hundreds of people were almost spitting on his face every day. Experiencing it once again made him want to destroy the man shaking in front of him, but he was barely controlling himself.

"W-we are in Kolin, sir, a city in the Kingdom of Prasthana." The man answered with his face ashen. His hand was still holding the spear as he didn't know if he should release his weapon or not.

"Prasthana?" Rohan frowned. He wanted to reach Daksina before heading for Blanche. Only after did he want to go back home.

"Are we far from Daksina?" He asked another question as he pondered what to do.

"Not at all sir, the frontier with them is only a few ten kilometers toward the east." His speech was becoming more refined the more he was speaking, and his shakes were becoming lighter.

Since he had his answers, and since he was without money anyway, he decided to continue his path toward the east instead of trying to enter the city.

He flicked his hand and pushed the weapon away before walking away. It was only a light gesture for Rohan, but an impressive blow for the guard as he stumbled back and fell heavily against the ground. He looked warily as the young man was headed to the east, and without wasting, he quickly got up to rush toward the center of the city. It was his duty to report back what happened.

Like had said the man, the frontier with Prasthana was extremely near his position, and since the city of Blanche was also close to the border, Rohan reached it only two days later.

Unfortunately, the way the guards were treating him was exactly the same as they instantly pointed their weapons the moment Rohan reached the wall of the large city.

He was finally back after what seemed to be an infinity of time, and people kept spoiling his great mood. It was unforgivable.

"Beggars aren't authorized to enter through the doors. Only the civilized people can enter, go begging in the poor districts behind you." One of the guards, maybe their leader, shooed Rohan away with a look of contempt while posing his hand on the handle of his sword.

Rohan suddenly felt like destroying the doors with a punch, but before he could vent his anger, a man appeared behind him.

"He's with me, don't worry about it." He lifted his hand and took a purse before putting it in the hand of the smiling guard.

Without any more words and this easily, the guards opened the door. They didn't take a glance at Rohan, as if they couldn't see him.

The helping man nodded his head to Rohan as he invited him to follow him. He had short brown hair and was quite bulky under his tight pourpoint. After walking away from the guards, the man explained as he continued on his way.

"I didn't expect you to appear here at such a time. Fortunately, the guards are quite blind, otherwise, that wouldn't be great for you, Warrior Rohan!"

"Do we know each other? What are talking about?" Rohan tilted his head to the side as he followed suit. He didn't know where the man was heading, but the strongest foe in this city was a rank 5 Beginner Warrior, he didn't have to fear anything.

The man suddenly stopped as he turned his face with a puzzled expression. Seeing that the young warrior was truly unaware, he felt totally flabbergasted.

"Don't you know that the kingdoms of Prasthana and Daksina are searching for you?" His tone was showing all the unbelief he was feeling.

"Eh? Why would they search for me?" Rohan was so shocked that this question left his mouth without him being able to control it.

Hearing about Prasthana, Rohan instantly understood they had found his track. But it was already almost three years ago since he had fled, was there a need to chase after him? He was only the child of a count participating in this war after all. However, hearing about Daksina also searching for him was unexpected.

The man was rendered speechless as he looked curiously at the young man. The young master Delia had explained to him that this person was unfathomable and that he should give all the respect he could.

But from the way he was looking at this situation, this young man only seemed utterly lost. It was even a miracle that no one had captured him already!