Past historians and scholars have revealed multitudes of facts about the Central Continent.
But what confuses a lot of normal people was the reason why the continent that they are currently living in was named as the "Central Continent" in the first place.
Apparently, an ancient world map was discovered by some post-war adventurers from some ruins found underground. In that map, the continent that they believe to be the land they lived in is at the center of the world.
It was supposedly surrounded by 4 other continents on each of its cardinal directions.
This theory was further proved when famous geographer, adventurer, and philosopher, Sir Vaughn Adler Grist and his associates mapped out the shores of the whole continent, 100 years after the ruins' discovery.
He travelled throughout the various kingdoms and traversed the most complicated terrain in his life.
He discovered that the shores, when drawn into scale is shaped like a rhombus and it coincided with the sketch of the continent at the center of the map that the adventurers originally brought out from the ruins a hundred years ago.
Scholars and historians then began to coin the words "Central Continent" to refer to the place that they live in, in their publications.
After that famous discovery, scholars and adventurers continued to work towards the exploration of ruins and uncover more of the buried history of the world.
If the world map found in the ruins was as real as it could be, then there will be a much more exciting world to discover out there.
...
Leon was shocked by the truth that his grandma has revealed.
Those frightening Monsters are actually still roaming about in the borders of the Northern frontier!
When Leon visited Uncle Dylas's Office last time, he learned about some of the marvelous feats of the former Guard Captains of the North.
Monster invasions should have ended 500 years ago according to the Guard's records.
"Grandma, why are there still Monsters that are strong enough to topple mountains roaming about in the territory? Weren't they wiped out by the previous Guard Captains?" Leon inquired.
It was truly a dangerous situation. To be neighbors with apex predators, it would keep you awake at night.
"Hmm, how should I explain this to you Little Leon? It is true that the Monsters were wiped out about 500 years ago and only some lesser, weaker, and common monsters roam about in the territory. But sometimes, the actual terrifying ones do pop out from time to time. We don't know where they came from and how they were able to come here. They don't make any troublesome actions when they appear so we opted not to release this information to the public." Grandma Elizabeth explains the reason for Leon's misinformation.
The main misconception of the people today about "Monsters" is that they consider them as the same species as the monsters that can be hunted for food. They are clearly mistaken.
Even Leon's condition was caused by these common monsters.
But the real menace. The true overlords. The Monsters were only prevalent in the Northern frontier since ancient times. These Monsters were what the 10 Northern Tribes fought against for survival while the Central Continent was ravaged by the war.
These Monsters are siblings of the ancient predators to roam the earth, long before humanity's supremacy over the world.
Perhaps, only those who have lead a kingdom in ancient times will be aware of their existence and be able to encounter these monstrous beings in battle.
In the Preston Kingdom, it was only the Founder King of the Preston Kingdom who knew about the truth but he was unable to change everyone's minds about the terrible events that takes place in the North.
"The North is far stronger than you think. Don't mess with them."
That was one of the words that the Founder King of Preston left to his subjects and family on his deathbed.
But this fact is only known to a few people.
...
"Little Leon, you need not be afraid, the North can deal with its problems even without support from the Royal Army. We have defended this place for two thousand years. We will not fall easily." Grandma Elizabeth told Leon.
Leon began to think swiftly after knowing this terrible danger.
Despite his grandmother's assurance, a Monster is not to be taken lightly. Many Guard Captains of the past have fallen to their might.
'It seems that there will be more work to do in the future.'
Leon thought internally.
He decided to develop a new fortification system that will reduce the resources needed to maintain their efficacy.
The main problem that his grandma has raised is their durability and their energy efficiency.
Bricks just won't cut it when talking about Monsters. Shell Crystals are too expensive for the poor Northern territory.
Leon will have to develop a new material that will have the support of higher durability and enabling the use of Shell Energy to substitute for the use of the more expensive Shell Crystal.
"Anyway, Little Leon. I think I might have an idea on what you are thinking about but banish those thoughts for a while." Grandma Elizabeth said to Leon.
"Why Grandma? Are there urgent matters that needs attention?" Leon asks Grandma Elizabeth dully.
"What? You have just thought of an interesting thing and you have forgotten what I told you about? We are going to go on a trip to acquire a Polarizing Herb. I thought you really needed one, I guess you do not really need it that much after all." Grandma Elizabeth ridiculed Leon for forgetting his original goal.
"Ah! Right, how could I forget? I was just preoccupied by way too much thinking that I don't know what to do anymore." Leon said.
There were just way too many things that Leon wants to achieve that he always rushes his mind to think of the things he could do.
"Well, the fact is, you are still unable to do what you wish to do efficiently. You need to learn to control your abilities better. You also need to learn more theoretical knowledge through our lessons." Grandma Elizabeth told Leon as a matter of fact.
"Anyway, we will be going on a trip next week. Prepare yourself. We are going to the Northern Grace Academy." Grandma Elizabeth told Leon.
"If we are going to the Academy, then we will be able to meet Lady Issa!" Leon's eyes immediately brightened.
He began looking forward for their trip next week.
-
Later in the afternoon, the victims from the bandit attack incident where invited to the Oliver Manor.
They were accompanied by some Northern soldiers.
Leon and Grandma Elizabeth took care of their needs and gave them some bags filled with some essential needs.
"Wait here for a while, the Lord will be coming to talk to you about the next plans going forwards. You will most probably be relocated towards a safer area." Grandma Elizabeth told them.
"We are not going anywhere!" An old man suddenly declared loudly.
"We will be going back home once those wretched bandits are taken care of! That place is my home, my land!" The old man exclaimed further.
"Yes, I understand your sentiment. But even if you go back there, everything is already lost. Your village was plundered and burnt to the ground. It would take much more to start over from there than if you would start fresh in a new place." Grandma Elizabeth explained.
"Madam, I know what is best for us. But that place is my life. I was born and raised there, my family was born and raised there. We could not possibly abandon it." The old man cries.
"Madam, please forgive our chief, he just has too much personal attachment towards that place. We will turn his mind around on this matter. Please give us some time." A younger man spoke, he leads the crying chief back towards the group.
Grandma Elizabeth sighs with regret.
These people who lost everything are just too pitiful.
Most of the time, they will have no other options but to accept their fate whenever they fall victim to something completely unexpected.
Snowstorms, fires, floods, earthquakes, monster attacks, bandit attacks, and many more.
These regular people have no way to fend for themselves whenever those events happen.
The Oliver family have been working towards the eradication of bandit and monster attacks but for natural disasters, it is a hard fix.
Natural disasters are so common in the North, you just have to deal with it when it happens. No amount of preparation can save your personal properties from these unexpected events.
The true loophole within the North's social structure is the people's lack of capacity to fend for themselves when danger strikes and take everything from you.
Leon observed these people from where he was standing.
They were people that can be considered to be having a relatively good life within the mountains judging from their personal clothing and possessions at hand.
It was unfortunate that they don't have any Shell experts with them to be able to defend from those attacking bandits.
...
In one corner, he noticed an unusual pair of children. There were no adults accompanying them.
Leon looks around to observe that some families have their own kids with them by their side. It was only those two that don't have any adult coming with them.
Leon approaches one of the refugee to ask of their situation.
"Hi, can you tell me what is wrong with those to children at the corner? Where are their parents?" Leon asks the man while pointing towards the children.
"Oh, it's them. They were the children of a woodcutter back in the village. Unfortunately, that man was the first one to be killed as he was just on his way to the mountains when the bandits arrived. He was slashed right in front of the village gates." the man explained the horrible fate that befell the father of the 2 kids.
Leon looked back towards the 2 pitiful kids. They are left alone in this world with no one to watch over them.
It will be a hard life for them going forward. But Leon is confident, as long as they stay in the North, they will not starve to the death at the very least.
There is a chance they can go back to their homes when it is safe to go back to the mountain village.
Leon continued to observe the two children's actions when he noticed something.
'Interesting.'
Leon thought to himself. There is something different with the two kids.
Leon thought of something to cheer up the two kids.
"Hi. Do you mind if I chat with you for a bit? My grandpa is running late so I thought it would be best to join you for a bit of a chat. What do you say?" Leon amicably talks to the siblings.
The two siblings in question were actually a young boy and girl.
"I don't mind at all. Are you a person from this town? Must be nice not having to be afraid of bandits." the young boy spoke coldly.
"Yes, I am from the town. I don't think that your village was any lesser than the town you know. If those bandits never came, everything will be the same as always right?" Leon explains in his defense.
"..." the boy said nothing.
"Hey, my name is Leon. What are your names? We should get to know each other." Leon enthusiastically introduced himself.
"I am Orres and this is my younger sister Fayris. Our father is no longer here, he was killed by those bandits." the boy, who introduced himself as Orres, told Leon their names.
"What happened to your father was an act of injustice. Those bandits will surely get the judgement they deserve. You don't need to worry about having to go hungry, my grandpa will take care of you well." Leon told them.
The younger sister gets teary eyed while thinking of the events that happened.
Leon takes out his handkerchief and hands it over to the little girl.
"Here, this is a gift from me. Take care of it, little girl. Perhaps, one day, it would be of great use to you two." Leon spoke to the two of them as he walks back about to leave.
"Wait, what do you mean with those words?" Orres shouted to Leon from behind.
"A word of advice for you Orres, you should go to the training camp and try your luck in becoming a soldier. You could make your sister Fayris and your father proud." Leon told Orres as he left.
While Leon observed the two siblings, he activated [Shell Inspection] and noticed that they have an inherent rare constitution from such a young age.
Shell Energy was sticking closely around them despite not having the training that allows for that type of control.
Leon decided to give them a slight helping hand to change their futures.
He gave his handkerchief that was filled to the brim with Shell Energy to the little girl, Fayris, that seems to have Shell Sense as her talent.
The handkerchief will allow her to sense Shell Energy quicker as they are way too densely packed that a common person would notice something different.
The older brother Orres seems to be able to sense the Aura of the surrounding Shell particles and their particular origin, judging by how Orres was able to determine that Leon was a member of the townsfolk. He must have used his ability to gauge Leon's Shell Energy Aura signatures.
Leon currently does not know the name of this ability but it is a rare one that can be useful in certain occasions.
Leon did not consider in the slightest that his actions and words on this day will one day have a great impact on his future.