Commander Giles bowed to Rowan and said, "We will follow your wishes and head out tomorrow." The army soldiers were relieved hearing this. Giles ordered some soldiers to create tents and go to Ignisar for ration. He then guided Rowan and Oswin to an already prepared tent which was for Rowan to stay for the night.
In just two hours food was cooked and served to everyone including Rowan. It was already night, soldiers were camping outside the tent and guarding the tent, Rowan was feeling tired and went to sleep.
"You are back."
"Yes, but is that all you have to say?"
"What else do you wanna hear? Some fairytale? I have already taught you everything I knew, sometimes I believe we are from different universes hahaha….. Did you think I was some crazy kid who would believe humans can spew fire and engulf from their bodies? Listen old man, I have already taught you enough, with this knowledge you can earn some easy money…..", The young man continued, his face was not visible but his voice sounded like a man in late twenties.
"10 days, in just 10 days I will show you that I was not lying and what I learned from you will make me the strongest Aetherbinder ever."
"You! Aetherbinder! What nonsense are you spouting again! Ugh! Ok, old man, I will give you 10 days, I won't disturb you sleep for 10 whole days, it's not like I love to talk to some old drunk man in his dreams, if you won't prove to me what you are saying is true then I will never come back in your dreams! It would be better for me to teach someone else who can use my knowledge for himself. Bye!"
"Now now, why won't you show yourself? We can talk like friends, right?"
"Friends? Yeah, no way I am your friend! I am your teacher! You should respect me like one even if you are older than me."
"Who is older than you? You have been using some crazy magic to make yourself younger for the past 50 years, you must be an Aetherbinder and trying to be ignorant!"
There was no reply and Rowan fell asleep.
Next morning
Rowan woke up and was sitting on a chair when no one was in the room.
'He has the ability to end the dream by his will. You say I am joking? Just you wait.'
Just then Oswin came inside the tent and announced, "Lord, Commander Giles has finished with the preparation, we are ready to head out."
"Okay, Lets go and meet Giles."
Outside, the soldiers were preparing the ration and supplies for the long journey, they were now full of energy with just one day of rest, so much so that they won't even need to sleep until they reach the capital but since Rowan is not an Aetherbinder, they have to rest everyday.
Commander Giles upon seeing Rowan coming out of the tent went to meet him.
"Lord, we are ready to head out, it will take 3 days to reach Aurashal and there we will stop if you want to meet your uncle Lord Marius, from there it will take only a day to reach the capital Firaelis."
"Alright, first let's head out, then I will decide later if we should stop by Aurashal or not."
Fifteen minutes later.
All the tents were removed, soldiers were climbing on their horses, at the front Commander Giles was on his horse and behind him was Oswin, between them was Rowan, around him was almost 100 soldiers.
The horses which they were riding were special horses just for royal guardians but they were not elemental beasts as they were hard to tame and only Aetherbinders rank 5 or above can tame and ride them, and even that depends on which type of elemental beasts it is.
Elemental Beasts had different variations– not only physically but also in terms of elemental powers.
Elemental Beasts with the element water attacks on the edge of Emberland, and they Aetherbinders below the rank 3 are not even allowed to go near the cost line as it will cost them their lives, it was because a rank 1 elemental beast with sea element was equal in strength as a rank 3 Aetherbinder, in the history books which Rowan studied history from also mentioned elemental beasts with different element powers like earth on the mainland of Emberland but they were weaker than water elemental beasts.
Rowan while riding towards Aurashal glanced back at his city Ignisar.
'This time I will return with not just the title but also with the strength of a city lord.'
Rowan continues riding and the army moves forward to the capital on 2nd July of year 400.
On the way to Aurashal there were many villages which can be seen from the road, each had about hundred to five hundred population with rank 1 Aetherbinders, a rank 1 Aetherbinder can easily subdue any wild animal as long as it's not an elemental beast which were extremely rare in the interior of island. The journey to Aurashal was very smooth, there were some wild animals on the way which didn't delay the journey and naturally no beasts for the guardians to fight with.
On the evening of 4th July, 400.
A large city was visible far in the distance, Commander Giles stepped down from his horse and came towards Rowan and asked, "Lord, we have arrived near the city of Aurashell and it's going to be night, will you be staying in the city or in the tents here?"
About this Rowan had already thought before and answered him immediately, "I will go in the city for tonight, all of you can camp outside the city wall."
Since royal guardians were on strict orders to escort Rowan from Ignisar to the capital, they didnt receive any orders to enter any other city.
Upon reaching near the city gate, everyone could feel the terrifying aura of a rank 6 Aetherbinder and multiple aura of other low rank Aetherbinders which was more imposing than the combined aura of an army of 100 which were escorting. It is not only because rank 4 Aetherbinder Giles is 2 ranks behind rank 6 but even rank 5 is very weak to rank 6 Aetherbinders. An Aetherbinder assimilate elemental energy in his body parts in the ritual of the elemental dawn and becomes a rank 1 Aetherbinder, by constantly absorbing the energy of fire of the universe he can increase the capacity of energy he can absorb in his body, and after reaching a threshold, he have to go under a similar ritual where more energy will be assimilated in his body. So, the growth of an Aetherbinder is not constant but variable and has intervals, there's also the possibility of a rank 2,3,4 or even 5 upon undergoing the ritual of dawn.which no one knows why this happens.
The person who was releasing the aura of rank 6 Aetherbinder was a young man who was smiling upon the arrival of Rowan, there were also other Aetherbinders near him who were visibly happy at this moment.
Rowan upon reaching near them climbed down his horse and bowed to his uncle Marius, "I greet uncle, and congratulate him upon becoming a rank 6 Aetherbinder." and smiled.
Marius lifted Rowan, pressing on his shoulders gently and said,"ha ha, I am the last in my siblings and cousins to reach Rank 6, there is no need to congratulate. I just hope I will reach the next rank ahead of my siblings. By the way, since you are going to the capital, are you finally going for the ritual? Good! Do you even know how worried we were ever since you delayed the ritual? But now that you have finally decided to attend it, I wont scold you anymore. Come, I have already prepared for your arrival."