"Count Berilia, we've arranged for a squad of guards to escort master Leon back to the manor. They await your commands," announced one of the Count's attendants before bowing in respect.
"Tell them to be quick about it, I have other things to worry about. And call Servius on your way out," replied Berilia as he rummaged through a pile of documents that were jumbled all over his desk.
"Very well, sire."
{Why in death's name is that monster so eager to come to my county? All my tributes are in order, the undercity is under control and apart from that incident yesterday, we haven't had any security threa-}
"Sire, you called?" interrupted the black knight, kneeling as he said this.
"Ahh, Servius. The Minister of Defense just sent a letter, he'll be arriving sooner than expected. I trust you can prepare a welcoming service worthy of someone of his... ranking."
A moment of silence passed before the black knight removed his helm, his eyes peering at the Count in what could only be assumed was confusion.
"My lord, perhaps this job would be better suited to one who knows a bit more about noble customs," replied Servius after gathering his words for a moment.
"Servius, the man we speak of is the second most powerful mage in our kingdom, third on the continent. It would be disrespectful to let just anyone organize this event," said Berilia, standing up from his chair before strolling towards the window with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"My family and I have ruled over this county for generations, and not once have we been visited by someone of higher standing than us. But now, all of a sudden, the Shadow of Loghdren bombards me with requests for an audience and I'm to accept it without worry? I can't help but feel like something is about to happen."
"And that's where you come in, Servius. I heard that the Minister has roots in Opantar, so perhaps as a man from his homeland, you might know a bit about what suits his tastes," said Berilia, turning to look Servius in the eyes.
"Understood, my lord. I shall take my leave and begin the preparations," replied Servius, adorning his helm before bowing once more.
"Come back to me once you have finished." With that Servius left the room, leaving Berilia to his thoughts.
{Shadow of Loghdren... I wish you death on your journey.}
***
It was early morning and a thin blanket of mist hung over the village. The ground was still muddy from yesterday's thundershower, and the air still had a moist smell clinging to it. A group of children and their parents had lined up in front of Arya's house, their heads drooped in either shame or anger. Most of the children were sniffling, perhaps from the beating that their parents had given them after they found out that they were involved in the attack.
{So he got them to apologize, huh?} thought Arya as he turned to look at his father.
"Thank you all for coming," said Neel, before gesturing for Arya to walk forward.
"Go on."
"A-Arya, we're sorry for what we did to you. It was cowardly of u-" before the boy could continue his barely audible apology, his mother nudged him forward.
"Speak louder," she whispered a little too loudly.
"Forgive me, Arya. I led these guys into attacking you out of jealousy. They never held ill will against you, I planted the thought into their heads, I was the reason you were attacked. If you are going to do anything, do it to me alone," said the boy a little louder, with more confidence in his way of speaking. The other parents began nodding their heads in approval after they had heard what he said.
{Pfft, this is a joke. So they're going to use him as a scapegoat, huh?} scoffed Arya as he eyed the sadness in Hugo's mother's eyes.
"But I'll tell you this, I'm not sorry for what I did," he whispered once he was done.
"Hugo!"
"It's the truth, mother! Why should I feel sorry for doing what I did? You saw what they did to father. And if I had the chance, I'd make him feel the same way father does right now," shouted Hugo, staring daggers at Neel.
{I see, that must be Angus's boy,} thought Neel with regret in his eyes.
"Why?" A single word was all that left Arya's mouth. It was hard to tell what Arya was thinking at that moment, the word held no trace of malice, but still it sounded somewhat threatening.
"Because it doesn't make sens-"
"No. I mean why should I forgive you? Whatever happened to your father has nothing to do with me, has nothing to with what you did to me. Why should I care whether or not the rest of them would've done it had you not told them to? Did they not still do it?"
"It's a nice gesture, it really is, but I don't forgive you, and I never will."
"Arya!" shouted Neel, a look of disappointment on his face.
"Tell me, Hugo, what would you have done had it been Streya walking through the streets instead of me?" Silence washed over the crowd. Neel's face softened after hearing the question, before he turned to Hugo, just as interested in the answer as everyone else was.
"You can't answer can you? And that's why I will never forgive you." With those words Arya walked back into the house, an annoyed look across his face. Neel couldn't peel his eyes off Hugo, it was as if his eyes had just been opened to the seriousness of the attack.
{Would they have,,, no, they are just children.} But looking at the anger in Hugo's eyes even after he had been exposed for his malice made Neel uncertain of how far they would've gone. Some people were just evil, and what little light they had within themselves cast an even bigger shadow.
After apologizing for the way Hugo and the rest of the children acted, the crowd dispersed from the front of Neel's cottage. They had tried returning what was stolen, but Arya refused to touch anything that would remind him of that day.
The rest of the morning went on without much activity. Neel watched Gray as he trained, while Arya helped Armin perfect his casting sequences. The day of the competition was fast approaching and they had to polish up on all their techniques.
It was around midday when a letter arrived by messenger bird at the center of the village -knowing that he was perhaps the only one in the village for whom a noble bird would be sent out for- Leon went collect the letter.
"What does it say?" asked Streya as Leon walked into the house, letter in hand.
[Dear Son
It pains me to hear of what happened. Your siblings and I were worried when you didn't return and nearly sent out the black knights to scour the forests in search of you.
I have arranged for the best guards within the force to act as your escorts back home. We have also made arrangements for your acquaintances to come with you so that we may reward them for their heroic acts.
I count the hours until you will be back home safely.
Count Berilia of Elden]
"Your father seems nice," commented Streya after reading the letter.
"My father didn't write this," whispered Leon, before crumbling it up in anger.