December, 6, 1420
"Hey, Neo, wake up." Neo slowly opened his eyes, struggling to adjust to the blinding light. Confusion washed over him as he tried to comprehend the voice calling out to him.
"Wake up; it's 10 a.m.; come on, the breakfast is ready." Neo blinked a few times before recognizing the voice calling him—it was Aria.
Neo got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash his face before going to the dinner room to meet Aria and the food she makes.
After washing his face, Neo went to the dinner room, where he was welcomed by the appetizing smell of the food Aria cooked. He couldn't help but smile as he took a seat, grateful for Aria's thoughtfulness and culinary skills.
Neo grabs his spoon and takes a bite off the fluffy scrambled eggs Aria had prepared. The burst of flavor in his mouth made him realize just how hungry he was. Neo couldn't help but compliment Aria on her cooking, expressing his gratitude for starting the day off with such a delicious meal.
"You're getting better at it, Aria," Neo said as he happily ate the egg. Aria blushed at Neo's compliment, feeling proud of her growing culinary skills.
"Thanks, Neo! I'm glad you liked it; it's my thanks for teaching me how to cook," she replied, encouraged by his words.
After finishing their meals, they both cleaned the table and went outside to admire Tyrolia, Vongord's capital, the vibrant colors of the buildings, and the bustling energy of the city. Neo couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity as they walked, as if he'd been here before. The sights and sounds awoke something deep within him, arousing an insatiable curiosity.
"I'm going to give you a tour," Aria said as she descended to the path leading to the lovely lake in front of her home.
"You didn't get to do any sightseeing yesterday because we had just arrived in the city" Aria continue.
"I didn't know you lived in this city," Neo said as he followed Aria to the lake.
"I don't really live here; I just lived here because the Frontal Academy was here," Aria explained.
"Oh, so where do you actually live?" Neo asked.
"I actually live in the country of Licelle, so I'm not actually a Vongordian," Aria replied.
After finally arriving at the lake, Neo and Aria sit down on the closest bench to rest after all the walking they did. As they sat down, Neo glanced around and remarked,
"This lake is truly beautiful. I can see why you enjoy coming here." Aria nodded in agreement, taking in the serene view of the shimmering water and the gentle rustle of leaves from nearby trees.
While Neo and Aria were admiring the beautiful view of the lake, Neo remembered something: "Hey Aria, have you already given the letter?"
"Oh, that letter the mayor requests we present to the king?" Aria asked
"Yeah" Neo replied
"Haha, don't worry about it; I already gave it to the king yesterday," Aria say in response.
Neo sighed. "Phew, that's a weight off my shoulders; I was afraid we'd forget or misplace it."
Aria reassured Neo. "You know me, I'm always on top of things; the king seemed pleased to receive it, so I think we're in the clear; let's just enjoy the city for now."
"I didn't read the letter; what was it about?" Neo asked Aria.
Aria replied, "The letter mentioned that Redo City is in urgent need of food, medicine, and construction materials. The king assured us that he would do everything in his power to help them recover."
Neo remarked, "That's good to hear then; I hope they recover quickly; the Azkon Empire might attack them again.
Aria nodded in agreement. She then looked up to see the clouds and noticed how they seemed to be clearing up, revealing a beautiful blue sky. "It's a relief to see the weather improving too," she commented, feeling a sense of optimism for Redo City's future.
"Anyway, Neo, do you want to visit the Frontal Academy?" Aria said.
"Can i go there?" Neo inquired
"Yes, you can; there are no classes because of the war, but the Academy is still open." Aria answered
Aria then grabbed Neo by the hand and dragged him towards the Frontal Academy.
Frontal Academy is such a big place. That it can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. The grand architecture and sprawling grounds make it an impressive sight to behold. Despite holding no classes because of the war that's happening, the academy is still full of students.
Knowing that they are currently losing the war, the students have gathered at the academy to train. They wanted to help the soldiers, but they couldn't because they were still weak, and the Azkon soldiers would just slice them open if they somehow managed to fight them.
"Wow, there are so many students here!" Aria exclaimed when she saw the large number of students training in the courtyard of the academy.
"Neo, follow me; you might get lost," Aria assumed.
Neo accompanied Aria through the crowded courtyard as he observed the determined students practicing their combat techniques.
"Aria!"
Neo and Aria are then approached by a girl in her academy uniform equipped with such a big blade on her back.
The girl name is Cera, one of Aria's classmates, is a skilled warrior-in-training known for her exceptional swordsmanship. She is also one of Aria's friends.
Cera questioned Aria, "Aria, I didn't know you would come back to the city; I thought your parents called you to go back to Licelle."
"Yeah, they did, but I got urgent orders from the mayor of Redo, so I didn't continue and went back to the capital" Aria responded
"Mayor of Redo?" Cera asked
"Yeah, the mayor of Redo requested that I give a letter to the king, so I went back to give the letter." Aria responded
"What? I heard there's a war going on there." Cera exclaimed
"Yes, but it had already been completed six days prior." Aria answered
"Have you also taken part in the battle there, Aria?" Cera asked
Aria said, pointing at Neo, "Yeah, I did, and this guy too."
Cera shook Neo's hand and said, "Wow! I'm Cera Tullivan, glad to meet you.
"I'm Neo Bastion, glad to meet you too" Neo replied while shaking her hand too
"So, Aria, are you going to stay here for the rest of the year or are you going to go back to your country soon?" Cera asked.
"I'm going to leave tomorrow; I'm just taking a rest before going back to Licelle." Aria said
Then she turned to face Neo and said, "What about you, Neo? do you want to go to Licelle with me?"
"Sure, I've got nothing to do here in Vongord anyway." Neo answered
"Hey Aria, before you leave tomorrow, wanna have a duel?" Cera asked.