Twilight enveloped the village as Kito's grandfather addressed him with an amused smile on his lips. "So, we don't know how to rest, even when night falls?"
Kito returned the smile, slightly mischievous. "I don't like being idle, especially when I'm impatient."
His grandfather nodded in approval. "Oh, my little comment intrigued you? That was the point, but know that you intrigue me just as much."
He took a deep breath before beginning his story. "I'm impressed by your maturity, Kito. Although you're still young, you seem to have clear goals, a strong desire to achieve them, and remarkable discipline. At your age, most children simply prefer to have fun. Based on these observations, I'll answer some of your questions, give you some insights into this world you don't know, and provide you with assistance based on what I observe in the coming weeks."
The grandfather paused, then added in a more serious tone, "Although you're my grandson, that's not the only reason. Your discipline, talent, and maturity also played a part."
Kito listened attentively, surprised by the seriousness of his grandfather.
The latter resumed, his gaze grave. "I'm going to reveal something to you, but keep it to yourself. It concerns my mission of the last ten years."
The young boy, dumbstruck, could only nod his head.
"I'll be brief tonight, but I'll give you a glimpse of what I've discovered. Know that I regret having to do so, especially at such a young age, but unfortunately, I have no choice. To begin with, this village is not just a simple isolated village, but its members were once part of a highly reputed adventurer's guild, and all of them are very powerful. They simply gathered here after the dissolution of the guild for reasons you will learn later.
I know you have a skill that allows you to observe the characteristics of others; I don't know how it works and won't ask you any questions as long as you don't bring it up with me. If you haven't done so, know that all the members of this village have a level similar to that of your parents. I know you've looked at your parents' level, I can sense the faint fluctuation of mana that your ability emits, as well as its target. From your expression at that moment, you managed to get information. I also know that you haven't managed to see mine; just know that my level is much higher. Your father was the former guild leader, due to his high level and also his guild management skills with your mother's support, which made them formidable people on all levels. As for me, I am more of the shadow person, the wildcard of this former guild."
The grandfather paused, then continued. "Recently, in the surrounding kingdoms, the number of monsters has increased considerably. For now, the situation is still manageable, but it could change quickly. This is why I left in recent years. My journey was more complicated than expected; I ventured deeper into unexplored territories, where no one had set foot before. To get there, I faced hitherto unknown monsters, each stranger than the last. The further I ventured, the more these monsters seemed to possess a certain intelligence and unimaginable power. I can't tell you more at the moment, but something mysterious lies there, and I fear that an imminent threat looms over our lands. We still have time, but we need to prepare. In a few years, you will leave this village to discover larger kingdoms and horizons, so think about this discussion and take it all seriously. Of course, don't talk about all this to your parents; it will be our secret, at least for now."
Kito was left speechless by all these revelations. He hadn't expected any of this.
"Why entrust me with all this when we hardly know each other?" he asked, eyes wide.
His grandfather burst out laughing. "Don't worry, we'll have plenty of time to get to know each other over the coming weeks. But you are my grandson, and your mentality is excellent. You seem gifted for combat and already possess hidden assets despite your young age. Besides, you're lucky to have a grandfather who has a few surprises in store to give you a boost!"
Kito couldn't help but smile at this last sentence, reassured by his grandfather's encouragement. "Thank you for telling me all this," he said with determination. "I'll do my best to improve and save this village."
"Don't put too much pressure on yourself; it's up to us old folks to assume that role," replied the grandfather in a soothing tone. "But if we fail, I want the new generation to be strong enough to take on this problem. For now, few people are aware, so don't go alarming everyone."
The grandfather slowly stood up and placed a hand on Kito's shoulder. "There's one last reason I told you. I can see that even if your parents, probably out of parental love, think you're just having fun in the fields, I know that's not the case and that you're more powerful than you show."
He gave him a conspiratorial wink, then added, "Alright, with that, I'll take my leave. Have a good evening and don't think too much about all this! And come see me tomorrow; I'll have something for you."
And without seeing the slightest movement, Kito's grandfather disappeared before his eyes, leaving the young boy astonished and full of questions.
"Well, that conversation was quite surprising from beginning to end," Kito murmured as he fell back onto the ground, his gaze lost in the stars. "In the end, I don't know much about this world, or even anything at all, and my perception of it is quite mistaken."
Kito took a deep breath and promised to follow his grandfather's advice. He knew he still had much to learn and that many adventures awaited him. In the darkness of the night, the young boy was already dreaming of his future, determined to become stronger to protect his village and uncover the mysteries surrounding it.