Ren was able to enter the city after his companions explained his existence.The city wall that didn't exist in the past was tall and imposing.It was made of thick rock and cobblestone that appeared to have been magically reinforced with runic inscriptions.
The present guards wore similar armour and clearly had manufactured weapons made of some sort of fantasy metal.In the past of Rens village the guards all wore different types of armour and weapons that were clearly the drops of entities.This probably meant that there was now a blacksmith and a forge in the city now.
On top of that the guards Ren were looking at weren't mages so they weren't even the strongest warriors of the city.As the group made their way within the city,countless people approached and congratulated the group for passing the age of rites ritual.
Most of them didn't realise that the group had returned with an extra member.This made Ren realise that the city was no longer as tight-knit as the village of the past where everyone knew each other.
There were some who did notice him and began to ask who he was.These questions were ignored and the group arrived in front of a large well dressed group of young to middle aged people.
Ren was immediately shocked by their appearance.They were mages but they possessed a unique quality.Their mana appeared to behave in unique ways.On top of that they possessed a bit more mana then the mages from 700 years ago.
They couldn't neglect their physical training since if they only trained their mana capacity they would eventually reach a limit.This limit could only be raised by physical training.In this world increasing physical strengh in any way also increased the durability of the body in its entirety.This didn't however explain the behaviour of the mana in their bodies.
"Who is this extra youth you brought with you and why is he so weak?" One of the elder nobles spoke up.He was a brown haired man of medium stature and height.He possessed a thin vertical scar across his right eye.
The five youths rushed to explain who Ren was and what had happened to him.The elder nobles appeared skeptical about Rens origins and asked a bunch of questions.They appeared to be convinced that Ren wasn't an entity but none of them trusted him.
"Well if you insist on letting him stay here then we'll have to make him train in order for him to be useful to the city." Ren knew he'd have to go back to training and most of him was excited to get back on the grind.However he would be lying if he said that his entire being was happy about it.
Ren was also reluctant to have a repetition of the incident with the vampire count Andreus.He would have to pick his fights better from now on if he didn't want to waste even more time.
Ren also made a mental note to ask the elder nobles about who the gods were as well as why the mana within the elder nobles acted so strangely.Ren was curious about whether or not the gods were those from mythology but from what the souls inside count Andreus told him about the gods it was unlikely.
"Do you know what happened to Raphael?" This was the one thing that was bugging Rens mind and that was the fate of his best friend.
"We do not know this Raphael you speak of but if he came from the time period you speak of then it is likely we kept some records of his deeds,achievements and overall fate." The noble with the vertical scar then gestured for Ren to follow him whilst the other nobles began planning a celebration for the youths coming of age ritual.
...
Ren was currently reading some scrolls on Raphaels fate.There wasn't much to read.They spoke of how Raphael became depressed from his friends deaths and proceeded to become a traveller.Which was another word for Raphael leaving the village.He apparently headed north.
Ren had tears building up in his eyes as he read what had become of his friend.Ren could only assume that Raphael had left the village in order to fulfill his promise to his dead friends.Knowing Raphael however there was probably more to why he left.
"I'm sorry for what happened to your friend,I truly am." The noble with the vertical scar seemed to notice that something was wrong even though he couldn't see Rens face.
Ren brushed aside his tears and stood up.No matter what happened Raphael would want him to continue onwards.
"Now follow me and I will show you where you will train for your entire stay as well as how you will train.I will also have you stay in my lodgings"
"Very well." Ren readily agreed.