Pentaro's jaw dropped in sheer amazement as he gazed upon the magnificent transformation of Falgore. Gone were the days of shabby training grounds; now, they stood resplendent and well-furnished, a sight to behold.
The sprawling camps had expanded beyond his wildest dreams, their grandeur leaving him in awe. Everywhere he looked, hundreds of dedicated men and women bustled with purpose, the very embodiment of strength and determination.
"Is this what Falgore has become in just 20 years?" Pentaro marveled. "What an incredible transformation!" he exclaimed with boundless enthusiasm.
As Pentaro stepped onto the sprawling training ground, a rush of pride surged through him, reminiscent of the days when he was known as Mykon. A radiant smile graced his face, for this was a place where legends were made.
A breathtaking scene unfolded before him: men and women donned the iconic Blue and White Iron Flux uniforms, a symbol of honor and valor. Some were immersed in the pages of knowledge, clutching books that held the secrets of wisdom, while others cradled boxes brimming with life-saving medicinal substances. There was no doubt in his mind; these were "The Healers."
As Pentaro strode purposefully towards one of the hut-like camps, a group of young boys and a handful of girls formed a queue.
However, before he could reach his destination, a plump figure with a friendly demeanor approached him with a warm, respectful smile that reached his eyes.
He extended his hand for a handshake, and Pentaro responded with a friendly nod, accepting the gesture.
"Excuse me, sir, could you kindly point me in the direction of Maestro's place?" The young man asked, glancing at the paper in his hands, his brow furrowing slightly as if he wanted to make sure he pronounced the name just right.
At the mention of Maestro, Pentaro's expression transformed into one of comical intrigue. His eyes locked onto the young man's with an exaggerated curiosity.
Pentaro, however offered a reassuring nod and took the lead. As they walked, his expression turned from amusement to sympathy, noticing the boy's struggle with the towering stack of books.
A hint of empathy crossed Pentaro's face as he watched the precarious books, with a raised eyebrow that silently acknowledged the comical predicament the boy had found himself in.
Pentaro came to a sudden halt, pivoting to fix his gaze on the young man. The boy, engrossed in his struggle to keep the books from toppling, was oblivious to Pentaro's stare.
Finally, as they both stood there, the boy managed to steal a quick glance at Pentaro and flashed a peculiar, slightly goofy smile. Pentaro couldn't help but mirror the gesture with a warm and understanding smile of his own.
"I'm MK from house Tanic," the boy chimed in, trying to dispel the silence.
With a mischievous glint in his eye, Pentaro responded, "I'm Pentaro."
Curious, MK pressed on, "From what house?"
Pentaro, his tone playfully exaggerated, fired back, "Does that really matter here?"
Pentaro added "Well, whether I'm from house Plexar, Olar, Tanic, or even Eneezer, the only house that truly matters is Kahani itself."
MK grinned and nodded in agreement, "You've got a point there."
Pentaro's curiosity shone brightly on his face as he inquired, "So, what brings you to Maestro?"
With a chuckle, MK explained, "Well, I'm not exactly the sword-swinging type. Blood isn't my cup of tea. But give me a good book, and I'll devour it with passion. Helping folks with my noggin? That's my jam. Plus, I've got this dream of penning my own masterpiece someday."
This statement came as a surprise to him. This was his first time of encountering someone with a similar passion and view of the world as Maestro.
With a playful point in the direction of a seemingly remote and mysterious-looking house at the farthest edge of Falgore, Pentaro added, "There lies the kingdom of Maestro!"
As Pentaro retraced his steps back to the spot he had intended to queue up earlier, his face bore a slight expression of determination mixed with a hint of anticipation.
However, as he arrived, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in mild surprise. The queue that had once appeared quite lengthy had noticeably dwindled in size.
Nonetheless, he wore a composed and patient expression as he joined the remaining queue, a subtle smile playing at the corners of his lips, ready to embark on this new chapter of his journey.
As Pentaro stood in line, a tall fellow with a silvery-white hair, small amount of sideburns and an unfiltered sense of observation appeared behind him, flashing a mischievous grin.
"Hey, buddy, have you taken a good look at the magnificent boobs on display up there?" he whispered, nodding towards the lady at the counter who was engrossed in her work.
Pentaro, without even turning around, maintained a stoic expression, showing zero interest in the commentary.
Undeterred, the chatty stranger continued, "I'm telling you, those tits could probably quench a desert thirst!"
Pentaro's silence remained unwavering, but the persistent fellow wasn't ready to quit.
Then, with unexpected admiration, he exclaimed, "Holy supremacy! Did you see that heavily curvy lady glide by just now?"
Pentaro, almost reaching his wit's end, couldn't help but retort, "Can't you just keep it down for a moment?"
The irrepressible guy shot back, "My friend, the mouth is the window to the soul, and keeping mine shut would be soul-suffocation!"
With an amused shake of his head, Pentaro decided to let this lively character carry on with his banter until he had completed his registration.
*******
As Pentaro continued on his way towards his assigned camp, he suddenly heard a familiar voice calling out to him from behind. He turned around, his expression a mix of surprise and resignation as he recognized the tall persistent fellow from earlier.
With a somewhat forced smile, Pentaro stopped in his tracks, his face showing a blend of curiosity and mild exasperation, wondering what this individual had to say now.
"I think we have posted to the same camp" mentioned the persistent fellow as he gently rubs his silvery-white hair. Pentaro's initial reaction was a subtle twitch of his eyebrows, his face reflecting a fleeting sense of disbelief.
However, as the reality of the situation sank in, his expression quickly shifted to one of utter disgust, his features contorted to convey his dismay.
Inwardly, he couldn't help but lament, "Me and this guy under the same roof?" The thought was enough to make him cringe.
Amid the whirlwind of thoughts about their shared living arrangements, Silon, with a chipper demeanor, broke the silence with a friendly introduction.
"I'm Silon from house Tanic, and you?" he inquired.
Pentaro couldn't help but muster a small smile, replying, "I'm Pentaro."
Silon's response was immediate and cheery, "Nice name there. Oh, and one thing you should know about me is that I never stop talking."
Pentaro couldn't resist a bit of playful sarcasm, retorting, "Really? I would have never guessed."
Silon beamed with good-natured humor, "I'm glad you've figured that out early. You might find me a lot to handle, but trust me, you'll get used to it with time."
With a hint of amusement, Pentaro muttered to himself as he wiped out the sweat dropping from his black hair, "I hope so," as they continued walking, bracing himself for the lively company he had just acquired.