Inside the carriage
"Ha, how long do they intend to have us wait, surely they could move them faster". An exasperated young woman in fine leather clothes vents her frustration. Feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the heat, she pulled on her shirt and began fanning, flashing a small dark crystal surrounded by a deep ocean blue stone. The gush of wind twirled her navy-coloured hair.
The knight across from her calmly responds with, "Lady with such late notice one can expect some delays".
"As for the peasantry, it takes some time to move them out of the way". The man gestures to the outside as guards can be seen running around trying to organise the people.
Scoffing, the woman begins taking off the Great Horn hide boots, she had recently bought, the tight fit squeezing her feet.
Feeling a little more relaxed, she lets out a sigh, "Sir William, do you think there will be anyone interesting in this hunt?"
"Probably not enough to draw your interest" the man honestly responds knowing the lady well.
"If you would like, I can take care of the evaluation business".
"It's fine, Mother would be displeased if she heard I was shirking, and you have your own duty to attend to".
'Why did the Reinhardt's' dump this on me, surely, they could have waited a week before going off to battle'. Voicing her inner qualms, the party is finally sent through.
After waiting over an hour Leon and his grandfather finally reach the front of the line were two guardsmen and a scribe await at the gate.
The older of the two knights speaks first "are you here for the ceremony"?
"Yes, my grandson will be participating".
Monotonously the scribe asks "name".
"Leon—"
"This kid is going to be in the hunt?"
As Leon finishes stating his name the younger guard starts laughing, pointing at Leon.
As the older man cracks the younger guard on the back of his head with his hand he softly replies, "Sorry this guy was so insensitive you can head on in".
Calming his anger Leon steps forward through the gates, greeting him is an expanse of marquees, each selling unique wares. As his grandfather heads forwards, he takes in the sights. Some are selling dried or butchered meats, crops and even a magical beast material shop.
"Grandfather do we have to do any shopping?", knowing it's a great distance to travel for them to reach a town of this size he asks.
"Yeah, I plan to head to the weapon's shop to get you something and get a room in an inn" holding up a small bag of coins with a smile on his face.
After shuffling through the streets, the two come across the town's weapon shop.
Opening the door, with a small ding ringing they are met with shelves filled with weapons of all kinds with many children and their parents in the shop giving it a mostly cramped feel. The first thing that catches Leon's eyes is a large two-handed sword of red and white with a large red core at the hilt displayed in a glass casing. Taking in the craftmanship, he slowly descends his eyeline to look at the price: 12500 core.
'Wow that seems expensive, even if it is a magic weapon'.
"Grandfather, how much do we have to spend?" Leon innocently inquires.
"I've been saving for a while so there is around 850 core, will probably need at least 25 of those for the room at the inn"
Taking out a few mid-sized cores he hands over the bag to Leon.
"I'll go get us a room, take your time looking for one".
"Thanks, I will see you soon".
With his grandfather's departure Leon heads towards the back of the shop where the non-magical weapons are stored.
Inspecting a lightly magic coated steel short sword for 780 cores he sees a figure approach from his right.
The boy, Leon guesses to be around his age has curly red hair and freckles, a slight bulge at his stomach creases the otherwise nicely fitting clothes suggesting he is possibly from nobility.
"Hah I knew you would be a beggar, saw the pricey swords at the front before scurrying to pick up the blacksmiths rejects. Parents couldn't even afford you a proper weapon to send you off with, maybe they were hoping you would get eaten by a magical beast".
'What's with everyone in this town picking fights', not worried by his jeering he responds calmly.
"They are just beasts on the outer rim of the forest, for those even normal steel is enough".
Having fought against countless beasts of C class monsters, the hunt itself didn't really worry Leon.
"Haha how arrogant coming from a kid with a gemstone no bigger than a pinky nail. It's a wonder you haven't already died from magic sickness".
The last comment made Leon think, magic sickness was a condition that those who did not have sufficient magic capacity would suffer its effects leading to the person being weak and sickly or even in some cases death.
'Given my small gemstone I should have felt it', yet for the last few years Leon had been in perfect health.
Attracted by the laughter, the shopkeeper heads over.
"Donald, what's going on?" the man comes over turning his head to the boy named Donald.
"This beggar kid here is going to be in the hunt tomorrow, I was just thinking it would be a waste to sell him a sword when he is going to be killed by the first monster he comes across".
"That's true" looking at the small white stone on his forehead he comments with a hint of pity "with that little magic power he probably couldn't beat tier D magic beasts".
"He isn't nearly comparable to the son of the towns best knight, Donald" making his choice the shopkeeper begins to butter up Donald.
"You're completely right, also I think I would like to purchase that sword" as he gestures towards the weapon in Leon's hands.
"Why certainly Sir".
Hearing the swift reply of the shopkeeper and seeing that the shopping trip has turned sour Leon leaves the shop.
'What is wrong with these people' kicking a stone along his path he lets out a sigh.
'What am I going to tell grandpa?' as Leon plans out his next move, a figure approaches from behind causing Leon to snap around to face them.