Wizard Runners

Chapter 25's

“Can it do something useful at all?”

Aang Feng looked at Aev with a frustrated expression. He has spent

most of the morning tested his new Shadow Realm, but so far, so far,

the only thing he accomplished was sending out a massive explosion of Shadow

it only disappeared once it touched the tree he targeted.

“There is nothing I can achieve,” Aev replied honestly. “But Mr. Emberworthy

can use it to make himself disappear.”

He still called Mr. Joko ‘Api Hati’ when talking to Aang Feng, he said,

although now he was beginning to doubt whether the identity was really real.

“Disappeared?” Aang Feng furrowed his brows. “So it's not completely

in vain, then ..”

They practiced as they walked, occasionally sending out Shadow explosions

on the side of the road, or trying to manipulate it to move. Whatever that

they tried, however, nothing useful in the slightest, and Aev felt

it's getting harder to stay focused on his training.

Before Mr. Joko left, he didn't pay much attention to their surroundings,

instead of practicing Fire and Wind while occasionally trying to fight knowledge

from master.

Now, for the first time since they left the monastery, Aev

he saw the scenery around them.

In the distance, he could still see the faint mountain lines, which

it now looks like a shadow on the horizon.

The terrain surrounding them had changed, he looked. Where is

the hills at the foot of the mountain were mostly filled with grass, with trees

barely visible, the road is now winding along

bushes and bushes.

Although the landscape is more varied not much easier

their journey, at least it gives Aev a little distraction from boredom

the journey.

“Do you know where it is?” Aev asked shortly after noon.

“The Shadowflame Society, I mean.”

“At the western border,” said Aang Feng. “Do you not know that?”

Aev shook his head. “But where is it?” Turned a little red, he

add, “I know it's on the west side, of course – but how much

far?”

The truth was that he knew quite a bit about the geography of the Empire.

Growing up in Riverbend, all he knew was the surrounding territory, which he

much of it is filled with forests, hills, and farmland, with

several small villages are scattered among them.

The traveling merchants had told the story of the cities even further,

like Landra City, but even those places were far from the border

The Empire's.

Traveling with Mr. Joko also does not give him good insight. They

it has evaded most of the cities and towns, and all that Aev learned

about the Empire is that the city was very big – was much bigger

than he ever imagined.

“You don't know where the border is?” Aang Feng looked even more confused

rather than anything, it was as if Aev had just told her that he had never

drinking water before.

“I grew up in a small town,” Aev said as he shrugged.

Rather to his surprise, Aang Feng did not mock him. Instead, he

it suddenly stopped walking, sat down, then produced a large scroll.

When he opened the scroll, Aev could see that it was a map.

“Sit down and take a look,” said. “This is a map of the Empire. Are you

ever seen it?”

Aev shook his head as he sat next to her. He has seen

map of the region around Riverbend and Landra City, but he has never

looking at the map of the entire Empire.

“Where is Riverbend?” He asked .

“I'm not sure,” answered. “I've never heard of it, and that map

just show big cities.”

“How about Landra City?” If Riverbend isn't on the map, Aev thought,

landra City will be.

“I've heard of it, although it's still too small to be in

maps. But it was supposed to be about ...” His finger hovered over the map for a moment,

then touch the place about half between the center of the map and the map border.

eastern. “Here.”

“And where are we now?” Aev asked, trying to find a way

he's been through with Mr. Joko.

Aang Feng discovered their current location in an instant, pointing in the direction

southwest of the central region of the map, just north of some of the triangles that Aev considers

as mountains.

“Here we are now,” he said.

Aev's eyes widened in shock when he saw that in those months

one third of the way to the western border.

“How long have we been to reach Shadowflame Society?” When he

asking the question, he realized that the answer was a no answer

favored.

“We should be about a year,” he said. “Accuming we don't

met a big delay along the way.”

“A year ?!” Aev wonder. It was even worse than he had expected.

“Great empire,” Aang Feng said in a calm voice. “And travel

takes time.”

“So we stuck with each other for the next year?” Aev regretted

those words were as soon as he said them.

Aang Feng scowled. “Not that I'm happy to be here with you,” he said

with riled.

“Sorry,” says Aev. “I didn't mean it that way. It's just .. I don't

thought we were going to travel this far. I thought we were gonna reach

Shadowflame Society in a few months, at most.”

“I'm not happy either,” she replied with a sigh.

“Then why did you join me?” Aev asked. “You can go

when Mr. Emberworthy did it.”

“Mr Emberworthy gave me an appointment,” he said.

“What is it?” Aev asked, wondering what might be promised by

It was Mr. Joko who would convince him not to just join

Shadowflame Society, but spent a year traveling to get to

sana.

“That's my business.” Aang Feng's facial expression told Aev that the conversation

lt's over.

They left again shortly afterwards.

Aang Feng was mostly silent as they walked, and Aev was discreet

he cursed himself for what he said. If he will spend

the next year he traveled with her,

On the way, they occasionally meet other travelers, mostly

local traders and farmers. Aev was puzzled to see the strange look given

someone else on the street. At first, he thought it was because he looked like a person

Eastern, with blonde hair that is rare in this part of the Empire.

When he finally found the real reason, he had to bite

the curse.

Immediately, he checked the contents of the empty bag, only to be disappointed with the clothes

which has been packed Mr. Joko – there are a lot of robes, starting from the smooth

up to a very fine one, but the other one is small.

“Is there a small town near here?” he asked Aang Feng.

“There is a city less than a week from here,” he replied. “But

it's not much, just a few thousand people. Why?”

“We have to go there,” says Aev. “And fast.”

“Why?” Aang Feng asked. “We have enough supplies for

lasted for months, and this city has no way –

it will at least cost a few days.

” Aev ask.

Aang Feng gave him a disinterested look. “What?”

“We both wore robes,” Aev said. “Clothing like a pair

scholar, or nobleman. When we were with Mr. Emberworthy, the people

would have thought he was a traveling scholar with a few disciples behind him.

But now ..”

“You think the nobles will dress like ... this?” Aang Feng's

asked, but his expression changed wisely. “You think we'll be interesting

academy Attention?”

“Academy?” Aev shook his head. “This bandit should we

worry. Wearing clothes like this, we'll look like

a pair of soft targets, ready to be picked.”

“Why are we worried about bandits? speaking as a set of understandings.

“True,” said Aev with a nod. “Without magic, we are all powerless.”

“But we have a sword,” said Aang Feng, still not convinced. “Even if

we are attacked, can't we defend ourselves from some bandits?”

Aev shook his head. “If they're smart, they'll just put

some arrows in us, then take our stuff from our corpses. And

even if they don't ... if there are more than a few, we'll be in

problem.”

Aang Feng paled slightly at those words, but he still hesitated before

speak. “We can make it in three days if we hurry,” he said

eventually.

Aev nodded. “We will do it, then.”

As they continued, their steps were slightly faster than

earlier, and traces of unease could be seen on their faces.