Through Unknowns

When Chang Xiuying ended her performance, everyone's eyes were still glued on her figure. The lightning didn't disappear and stayed where Chang Xiuying made it stay. She pointed down and the lightning disappeared on the earth.

Gaius broke out of his stupor and quickly ran to Chang Xiuying.

"Ying!"

"I got the basics down now, Gaius," she said enthusiastically.

"That was amazing!"

"It is?"

"Indeed. Your highest affinity must be lightning," Gaius mused.

Chang Xiuying smiled wryly. Well, she couldn't really tell him the truth and would just wait until she had to expose her powers.

Starting from that day, Chang Xiuying practiced and practiced until she could control four elements at the same time.

Two months easily passed.

Moreover, Chang Xiuying was no longer shunned. Instead, she was being praised for her high abilities for elements and for being a knight.

She spent her days in class, library and training grounds. Although she still had to go home to Hugh's Inn everyday. When classes started again, Chang Xiuying finally enjoyed school days more than her time on Earth. It was more fun and fulfilling.

Gaius smiled as he watched Chang Xiuying practicing in the training grounds. He also started practicing to catch up to the girl's level. Three months passed and they were assigned for a quest.

Along with Gaius and the others, Chang Xiuying went to the Cold Plains. Their mission was to collect ores beside a glacier. It was difficult since there were Primordial monsters lurking around. Strong monsters that a normal human won't be able to contend to, besides S class rank adventurers. They could take on one on one with a Primordial monster.

Chang Xiuying was first to arrive at their rendezvous point. Gaius came next.

"Good morning, Ying."

"Morning. How's your sleep?"

"It was great. I also dreamed a good dream."

"Hoooh. Was it a woman?"

"Ho-how did you know?!"

"Heh. Instincts," she smirked. "So, who was it?"

"Someone you don't know," Gaius glared Chang Xiuying down.

"Alright. Alright. Understood. I won't pry anymore. Oh right, I have leftover breakfast here. Do you want some?"

"You cooked it?"

"Yes."

"Please let me have it!" He loudly said as he stretched over his hands.

"... what are you doing?"

"Begging?"

"... you're a prince. You don't beg."

"Sorry. I just got excited."

"Is this your first time eating my cooking?"

"Nope..." he regretfully said.

"... then why did you show too much enthusiasm? Anyway, here," then Chang Xiuying handed over a plate of curry that she retrieved from her item box.

"What's this?"

"Curry."

"Hmm… it has a nice aroma. Okay, let's dig in," then ate a spoonful. His eyes went wide as he hummed deeply.

"When did you get boar meat?"

"Uh… I hunted them?"

"When?"

She sighed as she slouched over, "Before I come home, I would hunt monsters then buy groceries."

"Your days are pretty packed with schedule."

"Well… I guess so."

"You study and practice in the morning and then hunt and buy groceries at night..." Then he whispered, "I wish I could be as productive as you too..."

"Do you want to join me in my hunts?"

"Can I?"

"Of course. It's not like I'm hiding it as a secret."

When a series of time passed, a girl named Akira Godfrey came. They stopped talking and greeted the new arrival. She had gradient hair that started from light blue to dark blue. Her electric blue eyes also contained a mysterious aura behind them.

"Good morning, Akira."

"Good morning, Your Highness, Ying."

"Morning."

"Where's the others?" Akira asked.

"They're still not here," Chang Xiuying responded.

"Ah right, I forgot to tell you that I told those guys to get as much supplies as they could."

"... why now?" Chang Xiuying's eyes twitched.

"I forgot… please forgive me!"

"Okay! Okay! Enough with this!"

Akira stood there, dumbfounded. A prince… just apologized in front of the lower class… that was new.

"Aah~ That was tiring… you doing great there, Caine?" Leovanni Clyd said as he jostled the sack on his back. His hair was almost silver and his eyes were cobalt blue.

"Shut up, Leo… I carried more luggage than you, how can it be great?!" Caine de Beville said as he dragged his feet towards Gaius' group.

"I'm tired..."

"I'm more tired than you! Quit whining!"

"Ah. Your highness, we have arrived."

Caine clicked his tongue, settling their luggage on the ground.

"Hey, can I make a suggestion?" Chang Xiuying suddenly voiced out.

"Sure, what is it?" Gaius said.

"Can I store all of those in my item box?"

"Eh? You have an item box?"

"Yeah? Didn't you see me pull out a plate from my ring?"

"Ah right… now that you mentioned it."

"So, can I?" Chang Xiuying asked as she secretly got permission from the group. She quickly stored them one by one then they went together towards their carriage. This time, Chang Xiuying was the only one outside.

"Ying? Why don't you join us?"

"Gaius… you know why, right? Why are you still asking?"

"I'm worried."

"You're worried? About me? Well, you're worrying for nothing."

"That… yeah, I guess I am," Gaius sighed as he entered the carriage.

"Eh? That girl isn't boarding the carriage? Why?"

"Uh… she prefers the outside rather than this cramp carriage," Gaius pulled through!

"Woah… she must be that kind of a muscle freak."

Caine settled on the driver's seat. He noticed that there was still a small space beside him and it gave him an idea.

"Hey, Ying."

"Yeah?" Chang Xiuying suddenly appeared beside the moving carriage.

"Why don't you join me here?" Caine said as he patted the seat next to him.

"It's pretty cramped there, right?"

"Well… true…"

"Are you also worried about me?"

"Kind of, yeah. You're still so young and you wanted to be outside like an escort. Besides, you're the person the prince brought to Lasirion. You must be an important figure."

"You could say that I am important. I own a firm after all."

"Oh? How old are you?"

"... fourteen."

"So young, yet you already have your own business. I'm envious."

"I have no choice after all. I have to build it as long as possible or a lot of people will lose their reasons to live."

"Aaahh~ You must be a very good person."

"Not exactly."

"You're very charitable and---"

"Correction. I make people work and then pay them afterwards. It is not charity."

"I see now. But still, you made Avarice's economy go higher. It was becoming toe to toe with Lasirion now. How about establishing a branch in Lasirion?"

"Hmm… that sounds nice. Expanding my business in the royal capital is a very good idea."

"What do you usually deal with?"

"Information and food."

"Food? Isn't that too wide of a variety? There is a lot of competition too."

"Don't worry, the food in our restaurant is unique. You should visit it sometimes once I establish a branch in Lasirion."

"Good thinking, Ying."

Then they talked more as the carriage moved towards Fermanagh, their first stop. When they arrived near the city, it was already late in the night. They camped out and Chang Xiuying cooked for them. She also became the first to watch for the night.

Since she was still hungry, as usual, she hunted near the camp. However, she saw that Gaius was still awake and was by the campfire.

"Ah, Ying. You're back."

"Why are you still awake?"

"I heard some noises."

"You have very sharp ears huh," Chang Xiuying teased.

"I trained it back in the academy."

"That's good."

"Ying, I have a request to make."

"What is it?"

"Spar with me."

"What? You want to suddenly become a knight?"

"To tell you the truth, I've been doing my best ever since I saw you perform that lightning dance on the very first day… I'm envious of you. I want to become stronger… more stronger than you. But I noticed that it would be impossible… you keep on going farther and farther away from where I am."

"... you know, setting me as your standard is not a good idea..."

"Why is that so? Are you that hard to reach? Even for me?"

"I… don't think that is so. Anyway, since you want to catch up to me, I'll gladly be your opponent."

"Thanks, Ying. I'm grateful, really… really grateful."

"No problem there. Let's start before the next watch takes over."

Then morning came. Everyone was awake and the prince still wasn't. Seeing a prince oversleep was concerning.

"What happened to Prince Gaius?"

"He looks so exhausted..."

"What happened?"

"I don't have any ideas."

"How about you, Ying? You're the only one who still hasn't talked."

"Well… we kind of had arduous training yesterday before he slept."

"I see now..." they all nodded their heads.

"Since we have no time to spare, let's carry the prince to the carriage and clean things up," Leovanni announced.

"Yes, sir!"

Their next destination: Aqueta.

They moved quietly, but had to stop when Chang Xiuying gestured at Caine to stop.

"What is it?"

She whispered, "Bandits."

"Where?"

"Lying in ambush in front of us. They were hiding in the forest."

"How many are there?"

"Around 50."

"I'll alert the people inside."

"Please do. I'll hold them off."

"You sure?"

"Of course, who do you think I am?"

"..."

"... okay, fine. That was exaggerated. I'm sorry. You go on ahead and I will wait for your reinforcements."

"Understood."