Silas was very excited to start getting stronger and finally become a powerful mage. He clenched his fists and couldn't hide the smile on his face.
The system was quite intuitive. Furthermore, Malachar was always ready to answer his questions. He had no excuse to get strong.
After having his breakfast, taking a shower, and changing his clothes, it was time to leave the tavern and continue his journey.
Before leaving, Silas stopped and talked with the tavern owner and his daughter, as well as everyone else who worked there. He said goodbye to everyone, then walked away, heading down the stone road near the tavern.
"Good luck, kid," the tavern owner said, waving at Silas as he left.
This was the main road, the same one many merchants used to trade between the kingdom's cities.
It was also common for soldiers to pass through the same road, especially near the cities.
However, the middle of the route between the two cities was the most critical moment.
Silas wasn't a proper mage yet, so if a bandit tried to steal from him, well, there was no way for him to protect himself. That was why he changed into more ordinary clothes. It would help him attract less attention from others.
The bad part was that, a lone traveler like him, on foot and not on horse, was the perfect target for bandits. It was not recommended to travel alone like that. And if one were alone, then having the power to fight against all threats was a must.
"You should find a way to protect yourself for now," Malachar advised, "perhaps rolling with one of the carriages that passes by. Merchants will give you a ride if you pay them."
"Pay them?" Silas protested, frustration showing in his tone. "I barely have any money with me right now," he complained, feeling a bit hopeless.
The only money he had was the tavern owner's, which wasn't much.
"It's worth spending it here. Once we reach safer land where you can hunt beasts, you'll earn money much quicker than you think," Malachar said.
Silas still didn't have an idea how much he would get by killing beasts. Malachar did. Magical beasts' parts sold for good money. If Silas managed to kill one, even the low-ranked ones, he would have more than enough to live for a few weeks.
"I'll trust you on this," Silas said.
"Why wouldn't you? I am a God, I know things." Malachar often praised himself.
So, what Silas needed now was to wait for a merchant to pass by him and see if there would be a place for him to stay inside their carriage.
Some merchants carried too many things inside the carriage. That was common at the start of their trading route.
It took two hours for a merchant to pass by him... Silas had been walking for a couple of hours since he left the tavern. The bright sun hanging in the sky was starting to fade.
He had been lucky not to get attacked by a bandit or a beast, but during the night? Well, there was just no way he would leave unscathed. Silas almost cried when he yelled, and the merchant actually stopped.
"What is wrong, young man?" the merchant said.
It wasn't common to see someone traveling alone on those roads. When there was, they usually seemed intimidating and confident.
Silas, by contrast, was a slight young man in plain clothes. No armor, no weapon, nothing remarkable.
"Is there a room in your carriage? I can pay for the ride. Please." Silas touched his palms together.
He expected the merchant to take his money, but the merchant smiled. "You can hop in for free, don't worry about it. Come before I change my mind."
Never did Silas think the merchant would be so lenient toward him. Surprised and almost disbelieving, his heart fluttered as he heard the offer, so much so that he even asked the man again just to be sure.
"Are you sure I can go for free?"
"Of course, young man. I'll follow my route, so if you want to go somewhere else, that's your problem."
Silas already expected it to be like that, so he wasn't surprised by it. The merchant had a specific route for selling his goods, so there was no way he would change it and go to the exact place Silas wanted.
Also, he didn't even know where to go. Malachar wasn't very familiar with the area, but he said Silas should look for a bigger city.
"In big cities, you'll find more guards and a safer surrounding area with less powerful magical beasts. That is the best place for you to go right now," Malachar said.
Silas jumped into the back of the carriage with the merchant. The inside was tight with not that much space. Two hooded people were already inside.
"I found these travelers a few days ago," the merchant said, "they were asking for a ride just like you. I won't take more passengers until one of you leaves; the space here is too tight."
There were lots of wooden crates inside the carriage. Silas had no idea what was inside, and he wouldn't ask about it, nor try to open it.
The merchant, whose name was Thyr, gave him a free ride, and never would Silas try to piss him off.
"You don't need to tell me your name," Thyr said, "you can keep your identity a secret. Mine isn't a secret. I'm a well-known merchant in these parts, so it's not like I can keep it a secret from you."
Silas chose not to share his name. His future in the dark arts required secrecy.
"I'll go to two small villages first, and then I'll go to Hearth Bridge," Thyr shared his plans with them. "You can leave wherever you want."
Hearth Bridge was one of the region's major cities. It was a famous hub where merchants lived.
The city had many shops where people could buy and sell magical parts from beasts. Because of that, it was also a good place to find adventurers of all kinds, be they full-on mages or enchanted warriors.
Guilds of all sorts made their home here as well, offering new possibilities to anyone seeking change.
Silas was eager to begin his new life here, far from the academy he'd been expelled from.
A few uneventful days slipped by. At least, nothing happened during the first part of their journey.
The timeline shifted when, just after leaving one of the small villages that Thyr had to visit, they were ambushed.
"Bandits!"