To be prepared in the [Domain Quest], Emma invited Riku to do some training in the Colonary Kingdom. To help his body somehow he was able to fight A+ B+ fighters inhabits in the Rattin Kingdom.
21 days the remaining days that he has before completing the quest, so he was wondering if he would accept the invitation or not.
"So Riku... Do you want to train in my kingdom? Also, that's my condition to come with you." She asked him along with a broad smile on his face.
He shrugged his shoulders while slowly closing his eyes. In his mind, after hearing how strong the fighter he was going to face, he realized that he have to do some training. Well, having training in this world wasn't that bad since this was the first time he was doing it so.
"There's no reason to refuse your invitation, so let's do this."
"Good..."
...
After passing the long forest and mountains, Riku and Emma reached the Colonary Kingdom for 8 hours of traveling.
Bam!
Just like what he usually does, he landed in an area where no one could see his wings. Yet, from above he saw how large this kingdom was as if he guessed it 50,000 or more inhabited here.
His feet landed on the grassy surface, after that, he cracked his neck and exercised his shoulders. "Oh... My neck hurts."
Well, Riku didn't bother to use his wings to continue for 8 hours as the moonlight was giving him some strength, that can easily regain the strength he consumed.
"Okay, what's the plan, Emma?" Riku asked while looking at the 20 ft walls above him.
"First, we are heading to the orphanage, and tomorrow we are going to ask Orlan to train you." Emma responded, then started to walk closer to the Colonary Kingdom's entrance.
"Emma, are you sure that I'm allowed to enter this kingdom? Because I'm wondering the guards here would attack me?" Riku asked while seeing the bridge in 45 meters of distance. Under it, was a small lake where the water was flowing calmly.
"Of course, Riku, as long as you're coming with someone who inhabits here. Also, I'm famous with the guards, so I can't see there is anything for you to worry about." She explained, then started to wave her hand at the guards who stood up next to the huge gate.
Guards leather armor, metallic headgear, and utilizing swords, spears, and thin metallic shields. It seemed Emma was right, that the way of living in the Arzotoc village was way better than the Colornary Kingdom.
"Oi! Oi! Oi!" Emma walked to the guards like a child and approached them in a manner.
Even though, the woman was meters away from the gate. Still, the guards easily recognized her.
"Emma?"
"That's Emma, look!"
The two guards waved back to Emma while they were calling another guard sitting inside the guard's post.
"Come, Bruce! Emma's here..."
The man had spiky brown hair, blue eyes, a masculine body, and was taller than Riku by 5 cm moved out. And all of a sudden, his eyes were widened after seeing the woman running towards the location.
"Emma?" Bruce said in a crack voice as he never heard from her after two months that had passed.
Huff... Huff... Huff...
"G-Good evening, everyone!" She was panting and holding her knees with her smooth hand.
"Good evening, Emma!"
"It's been a long time!"
"Where have you been!"
Guards responded cheerfully as all of them were happy to see Emma come back alive in this village.
"I-I'm just having an expedition in Mystic Forest and stayed for Arzotoc village for a month." She stuttered as she was still catching up to her breathing.
Guards were looked surprised after hearing her, thinking how long the Mystic Forest and Arzotoc Village from here and the strong monsters inhabited there.
"That's insane..."
"Staying in the Arzotoc village...!"
Despite the fact that Emma already mentioned the village, still, none of these guards knew about the ended war between Arzotoc village and the Rattin Kingdom. It was kinda surprising as they were supposedly helping each other.
First thing first, she tilted her head to the right side and noticed the man that was dumbfounded at him for a couple of minutes. "Oh, Bruce? Are you right there, I didn't even notice you." She chuckled at him, then walked closer to him as she knew this man for a long time.
He narrowly flinched as the mild slap he received by his shoulder awakened his senses. "E-Emma, i-it's good to see you again? How are you?" He stammered and started to have a red face after he smelled Emma's scent.
"I'm good, Bruce! And looks like you are having a good time being a guard to our village, isn't it?" She responded cheerfully and looked at this man's face.
To put it simply, Bruce Lorn was one of her great friends in the Orphanage. Yet, Bruce started to have feelings for her but he didn't know how he was going to say it to this woman.
"As you can see, I'm enjoying this job. Also, I wanted to help our Kingdom for the possible thing I could do." He tried to control his emotion as he wanted to have a proper conversation with this woman. He cleared his throat before asking her some questions. "Are you coming back to the orphanage?"
She nodded her head at him, then stepped back a bit. "Yes, Bruce, but I don't think I would stay here for a long time because I'm with someone."
"Someone?"
As soon as they were starting to look at her behind, the three guards were pointing their weapons at the man who was slowly walking towards their location, wearing white bandages all over his body, and could see the strange thing straightened on his forehead.
"Prepared yourselves, Emme, I think we need your strength to fight that guy." Bruce said in a worried tone, then started to gather some magical power in his sword.
Emma straightforward his arms, stopping the guards from pointing their weapons at Riku. "Oi! Oi! Oi! Calm down a bit, he's my friend Riku, he's the someone I'm talking about." She pushed the weapons downward, knowing Riku would never hesitate to fight back if they engaged them.
Guards were looked brightened up when Emma mentioned that guy was her friend. Well, it was natural for the guards to act aggressively since they were talking about the life of the creatures living in this Kingdom.
"Are you sure about this, Emma? Who is he?" Bruce said in a deep tone, didn't take away his glance at this man.
"That's Riku Hirota, the inventor that came from the Arzotoc village." She introduced him and the guards put back their weapons after hearing this man was the inventor from their friend's village.
"If it's the case, there's no reason for us to fight that man, unless he attacks people in our village-" Bruce paused for a second as he realized Emma was together with this man. "Wait, Emma? How do you know this man? And what's the reason why are you with him? Don't tell me, that both of you had relationships?"
Emma uncomfortably shook her head and hands in unison. "Don't think such a thing, Bruce. Riku was the one who saved me from the verge of death, also, they come with him to visit the orphan." Emma said and couldn't take to look at Riku.
As soon as she explained her side, that also was the time when Riku stepped forwards and introduced himself. First, he slightly bowed his head to show manners to them.
"I'm Riku Hirota, I'm the Inventor of the Arzotoc village! Nice to meet you all!"
Even the guards were confused why this man wearing bandages all over his body. Still, they bowed their head at them.
"I'm Bruce!"
"I'm Felix!"
"I'm Sander!"
They introduced themselves before going back to their main businesses.
Emma faces Bruce, "Bruce, I and Riku would enter the kingdom to visit the orphanage. At the same time, I would like to introduce this man to Orlan."
"Introduce to master Orlan? For what? He's an inventor, isn't he? Why does he have to do some training? Also, you are talking about to master Orlan, he can kill him." Bruce responded, then looked at Riku from his feet up to his head. "Look at him, Emma! He didn't have enough magical power, you know master Orlan would never accept someone that had no potential."
"Stop it, Bruce, you didn't know who's that man. On top of that, you are disrespecting my guest, could you make a stop?" She approached in an annoyed tone.
"Don't bother yourself, Emma. Let's keep going, okay?" He said politely, planning to enter the Kingdom.
Thud!
While tugging Emme, Riku bumped on the wide chest of Bruce. "Stop right there, man. I would like to give you a test if you are qualified to become a disciple of master Orlan. At the same time, I wanted to know why Emma was confident to introduce you."
"A test?"
"Don't mind, Riku, he's talking nonsense."
"Stop it, Bruce, we should not make any commotion here," Felix said.
"Felix is right, Bruce, it's already midnight. Everyone would be alarmed if we make trouble here."
Bruce clicked his tongue, "Tch! All of you killing the vibe. The test is just a punch, if he can push me back or make me kneel, I promise, I'm the one who would introduce him to Master Orlan."
Or to be exact, even Riku raised mana pool after reaching the bloody crow first-tier evolution. Still, Bruce saw as the man who had low magical power.
"You know what are you saying, Bruce? You're just making a ruckus out of nowhere. Let's go, Riku, I'm tired." Emma tried to tug him, but Riku remained his feet on the surface.
"Just a punch?"
Emma darted her eyes at Riku as she noticed he was being serious. Well, looking down on someone would trigger your emotion.
"Riku, what are you saying? Don't fight him, he's just a child." It seemed Emma was worried about Bruce once Riku couldn't control himself again.
"Let him, Emma, or else. I'll not allow him to enter this Kingdom." He was flexing his muscles and tapping his chest as he was showing this was the spot where Riku would hit him.
Riku didn't make any second thought, then charged at Bruce while swinging his left arm. "If this is your wish, who am I to would not give it to you!"