"Grandpa, Grandma, I am home!"
Leon exclaimed as soon as he arrives in the Head Office.
"Little Leon, did you have a good time with Captain Dylas?" Grandma Elizabeth asks Leon.
"Yes, I did some simple training for today. Uncle Dylas recommended that I should continue with the basics for a while to see if my body can cope up with it." Leon told them of the current plan.
"I see. Well then Little Leon, what is your additional plan for today?" Lord Oliver asks in turn.
"You see Grandpa, Uncle Dylas told me about the existence of something called the Polarizing Herb. It is apparently an herb that can help me greatly in my weight loss plan. The bonus is, it can actually be found in our territory. I think I really need this herb to be able to quickly reduce my weight." Leon explained to the people who cherish him dearly.
"Little Leon, I have absolutely no qualms with you trying to take a shortcut, it is your own choice. We should recognize it. But you also need to know the consequences of these types of medicine." Grandma Elizabeth said.
"Is there a problem Grandma? I thought the Polarizing Herb is generally harmless. Uncle Dylas thought so as well." Leon inquires about the supposed consequences of the herb.
"Unfortunately Little Leon, there are some research that shows the effects of the Polarizing Herb towards an Inner Shell expert. Almost all the subjects who took the herb was having difficulties in utilizing their abilities once the effects showed signs of efficacy. They may have a perfectly healthy body, but it was also rid of all foreign substances and energy that are not originally part of the body, and sadly, Shell Energy falls into those foreign energy." Grandma Elizabeth explains.
This issue has always baffled the scholars who are greatly invested in perfecting their expertise in the herbal field.
There are more herbs that are even more baffling than the Polarizing Herb, but those herbs are on the level of being able to almost resurrect a human being. They are priceless treasures.
The Polarizing Herb is just a cosmetic herb that appears every season.
It does not offer any huge benefits towards a Shell expert but it actually has an intricate side effect that scholars are still unable to determine the true cause.
It is a disadvantage that anyone desperate enough would have to take, as it is just that difficult to solve.
"Little Leon, we have seen what you are capable of. We surely do not want you to miss out on them just because you want to look better. You are who you are. Nobody can take that away from you. You may look unpleasant to an outsider's eyes, but to us your family, you are perfect just the way you are." Lord Oliver told Leon.
"Grandpa...." Leon is touched by his family's moral support.
They are a humble noble family in the North. They are not even recognized as nobles in the Royal capital, but they are family to each other.
They treasure their family more than ever.
...
"Uh, my Lord. If I may speak?" Head Butler Bart interrupts the touching scene by speaking up.
"What is it Bart? Hmph, this is the problem with you men, so senseless." Grandma Elizabeth was annoyed by the sudden interruption.
Bart was embarrassed by the Madam's remark and looks toward Lord Oliver.
"Well, what is it all about Bart? You should know that Eliza does not want to be interrupted when there are these touching moments. Anyway, speak up. What is in your mind?" Lord Oliver advices his friend for the nth time.
This has been their routine throughout the years and they are well aware of it.
Grandma Elizabeth immediately brushes the issue aside.
"If what you have told me about the Young Lord's capabilities was real, he could study the herb instead of directly consuming it. Perhaps he could find a way to determine the roots of the problem and even eliminate its effects." Head Butler Bart suggested.
Lord Oliver "...."
Grandma Elizabeth "...."
Leon "!!!!"
Head Butler Bart "????"
...
"Grandpa Bart! You are a genius! Indeed, what could possibly go wrong if I could only figure out the true cause of the herb's problematic effects on the Inner Shell!" Leon exclaimed excitedly.
"That is true. If everything is indeed the way it was, then the Polarizing Herb gains its effects through its absorption of Shell Energy throughout the years, refining it within the plant. If Little Leon could possibly figure out the purpose of those Shell energy present in the herb, he will revolutionize the very idea of herbal medicine." Grandma Elizabeth spoke of the facts.
"Hmm, I do not know if this will be a good or a bad thing though. I think it would be best to keep all of these under tight wraps for a while. I have to make some adjustments in the current Northern social system. Little Leon will change everyone's lives if he could develop even more ridiculous technology and techniques. Bart, we will be having dinner in the office. Get ready for some overtime." Lord Oliver immediately goes back to work mode.
"As you wish my Lord." Head Butler Bart bows in acknowledgement and walks out to get dinner ready.
Meanwhile, Little Leon is still excitedly thinking of the possible events that may happen once he gets his hand on a Polarizing Herb.
"Little Leon?" Grandma Elizabeth wakes Leon out of his imagination.
"Yes, Grandma?" Leon was snapped back to reality.
"Unfortunately, we currently do not have any Polarizing Herb at hand in the manor, but we may be able to buy some from my friends. I hope you are able to put them into good use." Grandma Elizabeth told Leon.
"Yes, Grandma thank you very much for your help." Leon thanks her.
-
Leon continued to do his basic training in the Oliver Manor. It was decided that he will be taking lessons with Grandma Elizabeth alongside his training sessions.
Training in the mornings and academic lessons in the afternoon.
...
1 week later.
Leon is currently swaying below a tree branch.
It was on this day that Uncle Dylas decided to test Leon's endurance to prepare him for the next week's training routines.
After enhancing Leon's stamina, he would need to train in endurance next.
Where would you use all those stamina if you could not endure for even a minute?
"Come on Little Leon! You can do one last pull! Give it your all!" Uncle Dylas encouraged Leon.
He is currently letting Leon do some pull-ups on the tree branch.
"I can't do it anymore Uncle. I am feeling too heavy. Uwaaah!" Leon's hand slips off the branch and he falls on the ground.
"Hmm, you did about 5 pull-ups and was able to endure for about 3 minutes. Not a bad start for someone with no prior training." Uncle Dylas comments on his findings.
"Uncle Dylas, are you trying to make me look bad by stating my bad results?" Leon asks crudely.
"N-no, o-of course not Little Leon... Kuk, Kuhahahahaha!" Uncle Dylas tries to deny but his laughter give him away.
"Grr! You really are making fun of me Uncle! Watch out. Once I get better I will surely embarrass you big time. Hmph." Leon angrily says to Uncle Dylas.
"Ayy, Little Leon. Forgive me, I just want to let you enjoy the experience. I am trying my best here you know-" Uncle Dylas's words were cut off by an urgent report.
"Captain! There is trouble in a mountain village! The village was ravaged by a group of bandits!" A warrior approached Dylas and Leon to relay the message in proper detail.
...
"Hmm, they are making some big moves right now. They should be a new group that have just arrived in the North. We should take care of them immediately." Uncle Dylas orders the warrior briefly.
"Understood Captain. Will you be coming personally?" the warrior asks Uncle Dylas.
"Hmm, I will be following you later. Assemble the other warriors." Uncle Dylas acknowledged the warriors question.
Leon is confused by the report that occurred.
"Uncle, there are bandits in the North? Were they not afraid that they will be wiped out swiftly?" Leon asks Uncle Dylas.
The North has never taken their measures lightly against banditry.
Considering the poor conditions of the North, people are unable to live peacefully if they live alongside bandits.
Lord Oliver also wanted to remove the possibility of having some people gain some ideas of joining into bandit activities so they are immediately purged once there are some reports of active bandit groups.
Bandit hideouts are quite easy to find out as the territory's warriors and soldiers continue to map out the areas that old bandit activities were recorded throughout the years.
The military left these hideouts the way that it was to bait those bandit groups that are stupid enough to not notice that they were already caught in action.
"Hmm, they are a bit too early this year. The neighboring territories may not be doing very well so they were forced to migrate North earlier. Anyway, bandits are always around Little Leon, there is no need to be worried. Although I feel sad for those people who got robbed by those beasts, they will be properly taken care of. Trust me on this one." Uncle Dylas assures Leon that he has got this properly taken care of.
"Yes, Uncle Dylas I believe in you." Leon gives Uncle Dylas a fist bump in which Uncle Dylas bopped as well.
"I will be off then Little Leon, be sure to follow my set routines. I may need to take 3 days off our regular schedule to deal with these bandits. I will be seeing you soon." Uncle Dylas took off with his horse.
Afternoon then came upon them and Leon began getting ready for his daily learning sessions with his grandma.
"Little Leon, I have some news for you today." Grandma Elizabeth told Leon from her seat.
"What is it grandma?" Leon asks blankly.
"What? Are you not even going react excitedly in what I am going to tell you?" Grandma Elizabeth asks, disappointed by Leon's lack of reaction to her supposed news.
"Grandma, of course I am excited to know what news this would be." Leon immediately switched gears when he noticed that his grandmother was displeased.
"Well, I just have some news about the very herb that you are so excited to know about." Grandma Elizabeth spilled the beans for Leon.
"What!? You have news about the Polarizing Herb!?" Leon excitedly stands up and asks his grandma.
"Hmm, now you react excitedly. Do you only react to things that you concerns anything you need? You don't think that your grandmother is fun to talk to?" Grandma Elizabeth sulks at Leon.
"It is not like that grandma. I was just thinking about the report earlier this morning. About the bandit attacks in the northern mountain village." Leon found his excuse.
"Oh, yes. I heard it earlier too. It is sad to know that there were victims." Grandma Elizabeth expresses her sadness of the event as well.
"We should be seeing the victims soon. They will be taken to the manor first before they are relocated to new homes. Some people just disagree to move despite knowing the dangers. You know, people get attached easily to something they have worked hard to achieve themselves. Of course, you would be unwilling to part from something you worked hard for." Grandma Elizabeth spoke from her experience as the Lady of the Manor.
"Yes, even I would be unwilling personally. But I was thinking of something else grandma." Leon said his personal opinions on the matter.
"What are you talking about Little Leon?" Grandma Elizabeth asks Leon.
"I was wondering why the North never built any forts and castles, considering the large size of the territory. The people could use some fortification just like the other territories' noble houses and the Royal Capital's high walls." Leon thought of this abruptly.
"Hmm, a good question Little Leon. Building fortification is quite an easy job for a Shell expert. Indeed, we could easily build a fort or castle in the North but for what? We have only natural enemies in the North. Bandits do not even know how to utilize Shell energy properly. Monsters will just slash though those high walls like butter. Walls will just be a hindrance instead of being an actual defensive structure." Grandma Elizabeth explains the logic behind the North's lack of fortification structures.
"The Royal Capital's high walls will only look like some beautifully designed bricks that are piled in an orderly pattern in the North. Put those walls in front of the Icespike Mountains and it will be toppled in a week. The real redeeming factor of those walls are their capability to be charged with energy coming from Shell Crystals, turning them into the fortification that they are supposed to be. But even then, it won't last for more than a month here in the North." Grandma Elizabeth explains to Leon the disadvantage that a wall would bring.
Leon is baffled by his grandma's opinions about building fortifications. It is considered a demerit instead of a merit to build a wall.
What a skewed world indeed!
But Leon found a key point from his grandma's words.
"So grandma, what this means is that we are actually still living closely to Monsters that have the strengths to easily topple a high wall of bricks fortified by Shell Crystals?" Leon asks his Grandma cautiously.
"Yes indeed Little Leon." Grandma Elizabeth confirms Leon's conjectures calmly.
"What!!!?"
Leon exclaims in shock.