"Grandfather, the forest edge is now in sight".
The young man who had been trekking through the Eternal Forest with his grandfather for the past three days, turned back to look at him.
"Leford should come into view soon then. If I remember the eastern road should wind through the hills leading to the town".
The old man, normally a hearty fella, was struggling in the heat. The humidity had his greying hairs sticking together and days of travel had left the pair with an icky feeling as the clothing clung to them.
"Why are we heading to Leford now? New Year's is tomorrow, and I want to keep practising the soul battle training that you taught me" Leon complained. Since his grandfather had taught him the technique only a few days ago, he felt his battle experience had grown nicely. Every chance he got, he used the technique and battle the monsters from his memories.
The wear of the long trip barely showed on Leon. He had trained his body so that such a journey was a simple stroll for him. His greater concern was that the trip was cutting into his important training time.
"You ungrateful thing! I'm sure you promised me at least ten great grand children before you use it. That old man of East Forest village has at least 30 with another coming soon. That old prick always rubs it in that I have none. When is my grandson going to start doing his part to make this old man the winner?" Shaking his head, Leon's grandpa curses his misfortune.
"Grandpa! How am I meant to have thirty kids myself, that's way too many?" Leon fires back. 'Did I agree to have ten kids?' Leon, very much a man of his word thinks back. 'Hmm, I seem to remember listening vaguely and nodding after I got the technique as I was focused on how to use it. Did he pull some trick then?'
"How could your trick your grandson like that, senile man?" Unhappy with the result, he strides ahead, the previously thick forest had now become more spacious.
Seeing Leon pouting he quickly catches up and smirks at him. "We are heading to town to find you a lovely girl. After all, a young man should keep his promises." The old man makes a series of charades of someone hugging and kissing trying to incite a reaction.
Leon having none of it, faces forward.
"Ah, also you must participate in the great hunt. All those your age will be participating".
'There's a hunt then?' finally understanding the situation.
"If it's just hunting magical beasts, I could have done that myself. There was no need for you to come".
This was true, Leon had spent much of the last four years in and around the forest. Often hunting many of the lower ranked beasts he came across, they proved to be good practice material.
"It's customary, for family members to gift a weapon for the participants and I want to be there when you officially become recognised as a man", as the pair eventually finish parting through the forest Leon's grandfather continues, "and I want to make sure you are progressing to making great-grandchildren".
His grandpa's jovial tone helped alleviate the lingering pain. Both were each other's last family members. Since Leon stumbled across his house four years ago, having lost his family, he had taken him in. During that time, he had helped Leon grow stronger. In his heart, the old man was truly family.
Having left the forest Leon eventually comes back to his senses, in front of him lies small hills coated in thick grass.
Having strolled over them, the grandfather speaks "Leford should be coming into view".
Gazing ahead, Leon saw the town of Leford ahead. A little town were the flattened dirt path leads from the southern gate to the baron's castle with the market along the way. Wooden poles encapsulate the town with bustling activity at the gate as everyone tries to get their work done for the event before the heat of the day.
Leon sighs seeing the long line they must join to enter the town. 'Must be at least an hour line up, how exhausting, I guess I will try a magic particle gathering technique'.
Standing in line, Leon slowly draws in a particle. The slow speed used to anger Leon but now it merely made him cross his brows.
When his grandpa first showed him this technique, the particles he gathered was numerous, unlike Leon's one or two. Unfortunately for Leon, he was talentless. The transparent gem, no bigger than the nail on his little finger, on his forehead made it clear for him. Normally one's talent could be determined by the colour and size of their gem.
Given that he had neither the capacity of others, nor could he even figure out which attribute he had he had previously lamented. Eventually giving up on training it, he had focused on martial training.
Out along the Northern Road, a large cluster of dust was visible. A train of heavily adorned carriages and knights riding along side them were making way for Leford.
"Grandpa. looks like there are some carriages hustling towards the town" showing some interest he excitedly tells his grandfather his findings.
"Must be part of the evaluators, normally the send some each time to determine the prospectives. Can you see the sigil on it, I might be able to tell you what family they are from".
Eyeing the carriages in the distance, he eventually sees a black shield with a two headed silver serpent on it.
"Looks like it's a two headed snake" telling his grandpa in a cheerful tone.
"Hmmm, might be the Serpent of the noble six families then. If that's the case then we have a proper big shot coming, this is a great opportunity to show yourself in front of them".
'Only why would the Serpents be all the way down here in Reinhardt territory, something must have happened'.
Keeping his insight to himself, he draws his eyes to the carriage as it slowly approaches. The guards panicking as they try to figure out what they should do.
The Carriage eventually comes to a halt while the guards begin shouting orders. During this time the pair peek at the two figures in the front carriage, a woman and man. Seeing them causes the slight raise of the grandfather's eyebrows.