Arriving at Bristol, Lars had gone to the Greyworth domain, his mother said that they'd have someone pick him up when he gets to the nearest town, but that was clearly impossible, the Greyworth domain was big, and he guessed that even if someone were to pick him up, they'd never notice him.
So, Lars did the next best thing, he refused the pick up, and he just went and head for the Manor.
Facing the large gate of the manor, he still couldn't get used to it, Lars and His mother were simply commoners then, Sylvia, his mother was part of the Magic Knight corps of the Kingdom, so, Lars had his fair share of being invited in some high class parties because of her mother's status, but he never got used to it.
No one was at the gate which is weird because there should be someone that guards the gate, the gate couldn't possibly open by magic, so even though it was borderline criminal, Lars did the next thing possible, he threw his bag to the other side and jumped over the high fence.
Normal people wouldn't be able to do something like jumping over a 4 meter high fence, only those that have trained their magic and can properly use physical strengthening, or super humans like Lars who were half-bloods.
He grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder and started walking to the main house, the whole manor was pointlessly big, it was like 2 miles in radius, the main house was still in some distance away, now Lars understood why they want someone to pick him up, he walked for about thirty minutes but he already felt like it was forever.
He finally reached the garden of the manor, just a few meters away was the main house. At last he could finally rest, or so he thought.
The moment he took a step closer to the main house, he felt a bloodlust coming from behind him.
He tried to reach out for his short sword in his waist, but he remembered that it was stored in the bag, Lars rolled to the left.
A flash of light came swinging down from his previous position, he saw the assailant, it was a young woman, about his age, he had a dark gray hair tied in a ponytail, she was intensely glaring at him.
"How did you get in here?" She asked, her hostility was proving stronger by the minute.
Lars wanted to say that it's wrong to suddenly attack people but that was impossible since he just did trespass the property, but could it be considered trespassing when your also a member of the house?
Though, in his case, He wasn't exactly a "member" of the house.
Lars calmly stood up, "Easy on the blade, you could've cleaved me in half if I didn't dodge"
"Enough nonsense, state your business!"
"I'm Lars, okay? I'm... Uh... I'm here to see my mom"
Her face twitched in anger "Liar! You're a thief! As a member of the proud Greyworths, I shall purge your vile deeds!"
What's this girl saying?!
She swung her sword diagonally, Lars evaded by a thin margin, a little bit late and it was his neck.
He wanted to stop the girl, but she was too stubborn to even listen, on top of that, he was weight down by his motto, "One must not show off for one shall walk the path of a mob"
The only option now is to run hoping that the commotion the girl was causing would call the attention of those inside the house.
Still who was this girl? She wasn't just flailing around her sword like a bat, they were precise and on point targeting the non vital spots on Lars's body, even though it looked like she's gone ballistic, she's still trying to apprehend him without killing him.
"Ah, this is getting annoying!! I told you, I'm just here to see my mom!!"
"Don't mess around! I know you're a thief, otherwise the guards would've informed us of your arrival!"
"but no one was at the gate!"
Trying to reason with the girl was a fool's errand, she wasn't even listening.
Lars's patience finally reached it's peak, the moment her sword thrust forward, Lars took a side step, twisted her wrist and bend her arm over her back then pushed her down.
It was just a normal disarming technique that he learned at camp but he never thought they were actually useful. Since he only ever fought monsters and never really fought humans in actual battle, he was surprised.
He poured his weight to push down the girl on the ground, she must have been using physical strengthening as she kept struggling with her might.
"Let me go!"
"No, you'll try and kill me if I do" Lars said "I was here cause mom told me too, I'm not someone suspicious"
"You saying that makes you suspicious!"
"Oh gods, she's really unreasonable"
Lars was already tired trying to deal with the girl.
"Lars?"
It was then someone from behind called to him, he turned and saw her.
"Lars... It is you!"
Having a long brown hair and green eyes, and a gentle face that was on the verge of tears.
"...Mom?"
Lars let go of the girl and stood up, before he could even move, Sylvia threw her arms around Lars and hugged him tight.
"My baby, you're back"
Somehow being called a baby despite being a 15 year old was embarrassing for him, but he didn't dislike it.
It's been so long since they last saw each other, she still has the same sweet scent from a candy that Lars loved so much, the warm feeling inside Lars's chest started to spread, it was almost making him tear up.
After a minute of silence, Sylvia let go of Lars and cupped her hand on his cheek while observing her with her red eyes.
"You've grown so big..."
Lars made a small smile as he peel off her mom's hand.
"It has been three years..."
Meanwhile, with all the reunion atmosphere, the girl only stood there unable to comprehend what was going on.
"Um... Mom... Do you know him?"
Sylvia made a surprised expression and giggled for a bit.
"Don't you remember him Alice, you two grew up together"
Lars couldn't keep his wit together and went slack-jawed, the girl that was trying to kill her earlier was someone he knew, but he couldn't remember that.
"He's my son"
"Eh? This guy?!" Alice exclaimed
Sylvia put her hand on her cheek perplexed "My... You two really forgot each other didn't you? You use to fight one another back then"
"are you saying that she's a daughter of Daniel?"
"now, now, Lars, let's take it inside, we have a lot to catch up on"
"You mean to say that this guy is my brother? That violent brat Lars?" Alice said.
The three moved on in the living room of the manor, the maids served some tea.
Lars couldn't get still couldn't get use to being served by the maids, normally there was no such thing in Camp because magic was all over the place, his food would just magically appear in plate, the cup would be filled with anything he wants, but there was no such convenience in the outside world.
Sylvia casually sipped on her tea, and smiled at Alice beside her. Lars was on the opposite side of the two, and staying quiet as Alice bad-mouthed her.
In his childhood days, Lars was pretty violent and had a short temper, but that was justified with the will of defending those weaker ones against the bullies, but still he's violent.
Sylvia went on talking about what her experiences are in the past three years, on the other hand, Lars couldn't openly talk to her mom about his experiences as they were supposed to be a secret so he went with.
"Not much, just traveling"
Just then, Lars noticed someone trying to peek in the open door, it was a young girl with a gray hair about ten years old or so. Sylvia also noticed the girl in the door and called her
"Kate, what are you doing there?"
"Ah" the girl said as she timidly showed herself, her gray hair was tied in a side pony tail, she wore a one piece frilly dress while holding a large bunny stuff toy.
"I'm very sorry mother" Kate apologize "the maids said you have a visitor... I..."
Seeing the repentant expression of the child, Sylvia simply smiled and urged her to come and sit at her side.
"Come here, meet your brother"
Lars wasn't surprise since it's been ten years since his mom remarried their bound to have a child of their own. But still the girl was a splitting image of his mother. That's what surprised him.
When he left Kate was still about six, he didn't remember much about him nor did he reckon the girl did too.
Kate sat beside Sylvia, she held her mother's sleeve while intently staring at Lars. Seeing the reaction of the child, Lars couldn't help but form a small smile.
"Now, Kate, what do you do when you meet someone?"
"Um... I..." Kate hesitated for a while "My name is Katherine Greyworth... Please to meet you..."
Despite the small voice of the child, Lars was quite happy to see his sister.
"I'm Lars, Lars Wynnfried, let get along, okay, Kate?"
"Hmm!" She nodded shyly.
"Ahaha..." Sylvia smiled, Alice stroke the girl's hair in comfort. "She's shy to people she don't know yet"
Lars had a defeated look still he smiled, it was natural, maybe Kate didn't remember him since he left, Kate was only 7 then.
"Mother!" suddenly a shout came from outside the room, then heavy rushing footsteps came.
"Is it true that Lars is back?!"
A young woman about three years older than Lars, the eldest daughter of the Greyworth household, having a long flowing gray hair crystal blue eyes and a well proportioned body, Claire Greyworth came rushing in and the moment she saw Lars sitting on the sofa.
"I've missed you, Little Brother!!"
She came and threw herself upon him in a bear hug while rubbing her face on cheeks.
Normally Claire Greyworth was the dignified heir of the Greyworth household, however that was only the outside, the truth is that she is partially a brocon, ever since she learned of having a brother, not a day had gone by that she hadn't dote on Lars as a little brother.
On the other hand, Lars got so fed up that trying to control the big sister was pointless and just did his best to ignore it.
"Mmm... Yeah... I missed you too, sister..." He simply replied in a monotone voice.
"Claire" Sylvia said "Let go of Lars for a while, he'd just arrived"
"Eh~! But I miss him!"
"he needs to rest, Daniel prepared a banquet for his debut later"
"WHAT?!" Quietly listening till now, Lars shouted and stood up in panic "what do you mean debut?!"
"You're already 15, right" Sylvia said "All the daughters and sons of nobles will make their debut once they become 15, it's a sign as coming of age"
"Woah, woah, woah!" Lars said, "no one told me that"
Claire pulled down Lars back to the sofa and try to calm him down.
"Probably because you'd react like that" Alice remarked.
"Alice debuted last month," Sylvia said "and you two are in the same age, Daniel gave the permission and personally acknowledges you as a member of the Greyworth"
"Come on, Lars..." Claire said in a pleading voice "Just do it for me... For mom"
Seeing the apologetic look at her mom and the irritating pleading eyes of Claire, Lars sighed heavily, scratching his head.
"I don't know about proper etiquette, I'll just make myself look like a clown there" Lars said "I'll just end up tarnishing the reputation of the family"
Once he pointed out the faults of his, Sylvia thought for a while and nodded her head.
"Alright, I'll ask Daniel to cancel it, regardless, you'll make your debut at the Academy in less than a week, so I guess it works either way"