"Hello guys, I'm Adrian I just want to ask to play a game with me and my sister. No mana and magic of course. Care to join? Don't worry I teach you the rules." Adrian explained to the 12 kids that just arrived.
"I just came here because my dad asked me to."
"Me too."
"What kind of game is it?"
"Don't worry. I just want to have fun together with everyone so I order someone to make this, I call it a 'disc'. To play you just need to throw it to your teammates. Look, as an example I throw it to my sister." Adrian shows them the disc and throw it to Marylyn who is 20 meters away to catch it.
"Woah… It flies in the air. Is it magic? I don't have magic."
"It sounds simple. You just need to throw it to someone, right?"
"It looks fun!"
"Okay, okay, before we start, how about I teach you how to throw it first. Everyone can make a circle first." Adrian asked them to make a circle. All 14 kids made a circle, Adrian and Marylyn included.
Adrian teaches each kids the two forms of throwing the disc. All of them are amaze that the disc flies through the air without the use of magic. After throwing the disc around with each other they start to have fun.
"Hehehe… this game is fun."
"Throw it to me! Me!"
"Marylyn here, catch."
"Okay everyone, let's play the real game." Adrian intercepts the disc and grabs everyone's attention. He cast earth magic to make a 60 meters long and 30 meters wide rectangle. Then he, adds a line 10 meters away from each of the edge to mark the scoring zone and a line to mark the centre.
"Here are the rules. We split in to two teams, 7 person each team. The rectangle at the edge of the field is the score zone. If you catch the disc on the zone your team gets a point. Score 8 points to swap sides and a half time break. Score 15 points to win the game."
"The team have the disc first need to throw the disc to the other side to start the round, the team that is throwing at the start is the defending team while the team that catch the disc is the attacking team. The attacking team need to bring the disc to the scoring zone with teamwork because the one holding the disc cannot move when they are throwing."
"The defending team can block or intercept the disc mid throw if they manage to catch or knock the disc to touch the ground, the disc will be awarded to their team. If the disc touches the ground outside the field will also result in the opposing team getting the disc. This game had no violence so body contact will result in a foul, the opposing team will also get the disc. Moving while holding the disc will also be a foul. Do you guys get it? If any questions you can ask me." Adrian explains as detailed as possible.
There are some hands raised but Adrian answers them patiently.
"If there are no more questions, let's split into teams. Marylyn will be with me. The other can be decided by going left and right in a line." Adrian split them into teams as fairly as possible. Leaving the last two of the 12 kids to the other team.
"Okay, here we go." Adrian hucks the disc to the other half of the field from the scoring zone.
The game is slow at the early start because they all are not used to the game yet. After playing until Adrian's team score 8 points, they switch sides. Although the other team is behind, they finally get the hang of the game. The final score of the first game is 15-10, Adrian's team won of course.
"That was fun. I finally got the hang of the game but the Marylyn is so fast to reaching the score zone."
"Yeah, this game sure needs a lot of energy."
"Adrian, what do you call this game?"
"I will be calling it Cross Catch since it started in Light Edge town." Adrian gives the name of the game based on his family name. The world of Etterra had no patten or trademark concept so marking it with a family name will be the next best thing. Although there are some people that will claim that it's their idea but he plans to show this game with the royals.
"Oh! Nice name. Let's play another game of Cross Catch."
"That's right. Adrian is the one who made this game."
"Let's play some more but swap teams please."
Adrian and Marylyn smiled and play with them until the sky is painted bright orange. Adrian went easy so he lost some games. That is fine, they only started to get the hang of the game. Their throws are still disastrous but it gets better until Rupert release sales of the disc.
"Alright guys, it's getting late. It's time for me and Marylyn to get back. There are some adults already waiting to pick you guys back home. Hah hah… We will play again next time. Don't worry I will call for you guys. You can also bring more people to play. Hah hah… although it's a 7 people team game you can change players if you are tired." Adrian said while fake panting.
"Sorry, I have to take the disc with me. Thank you for playing with us. We will be sure to come again to play. See you guys next time." Adrian waves the kids goodbye while holding shyly waving Marylyn and head towards Ralph.
"That is a great game that you invented young master. You called it Cross Catch, is it? For my point of view, it is a simple game. It is non-violent and anyone can play it, one with magic or without." Ralph praises when he was observing from the side. He was fascinated with the invention while guiding Adrian and Marylyn to the carriage.
"This is just the start. Ralph, Marylyn how about we visit the royal twins in the capital. It is getting colder now as winter is coming. So, we will visit them… Now is the 6th day of the first week of the last autumn, so we should go on the 3rd day of the second week. It enough time before grandpa and grandma comes." Adrian planning his next trip to the capital when he gets inside the carriage.
"Are we going to see big sis Chelsea? It's been so long since I meet big sis Chelsea. We can also play Cross Catch with big sis Chelsea and Charles." Marylyn excited to meet the royal twins again. She already visited them before since she was 5 years old. She is close to the princess so she called her 'big sis'.
"Okay, okay I understand." Adrian frowned everytime his little sister called the princess, 'big sis'.
[Notice. Detected Master had 'heart pain'. ARIA can only use 'Bodily chemical manipulation' to solve the problem. Proceed?]
"Sigh… that is fine Aria. I don't need it this time. Thanks." Adrian thanked Aria for thinking about his feelings.
[Responding. ARIA had saved the condition Master told ARIA known as 'heart pain'. ARIA is always providing the best help for Master.]
Adrian's heart begins to calmed down hearing Aria said that. It feels nostalgic. Adrian closes his eyes and took a deep breath feeling the mana around him to simulate a breakthrough. He didn't want to breakthrough because the 2nd most strongest person in the kingdom is coming next month, but always moving forward with Aria gives him a calm state of mind.
"Screw it. So what if Ralph knows, he is my butler right now I can keep his mouth shut. As for Marylyn, she didn't know. But just in case…" Adrian thought after making his plan to breakthrough on his way going home from playing Cross Catch.
"Ralph, you are my butler, right? Everything I command, you will always obey right? Even a secret?" Adrian asked cautiously first.
"Yes, young master. This Ralph will always obey your command, even if it is a secret I will hide it until I am buried." Ralph who is focusing on driving the carriage, answers proudly although he felt somewhat weird about the question. Marylyn tilts her head not understanding why the question pops out.
"Good, keep this a secret and take it to your grave. Tell no one including my parents. Promise me by your name and the gods." Adrian enforces the secret more tightly.
"I, Ralph, promise to take young master Adrian Cross secret to the grave. By the will of the 6 gods." Ralph swears his promise.
After hearing that, he said nothing more. He immediately closes his eyes and circulates mana attempting to breakthrough to the Moon Stage.