|Flashback|
"Ava Isenberg, I'm sorry to tell you this but your family died in battle, serving the kingdom."
The woman dressed royally voiced out, kneeling in front of the 12 year girl with red hair and a blade hugged to her chest. That blade belonged to her father.
She carefully listened to the Duchess address the death of her parents in the throne room. Growing up as the daughter of the two famous knights of Forgeino city, she already knew how to act when standing in front of a noble.
Her eyes bubbled, just the same way she maintained her composure.
"My deepest apologies, you're a young girl with a bright future ahead of you, I would hate to see it go to waste. That is why I will be sending you to a friend of mine to live there. She will take care of you and your needs, you can choose whatever path you want." The Duchess said to the girl.
At first, she knew survival was her utmost priority, so staying with the Montclair family would be the wise choice, which beats staying in the city's orphanage.
Upon arriving there, Ava did not expect to be treated with such kindness, it was as if this family was of her own.
"Here, I know you're hungry, you don't have to act all tough all the time."
The kid who was known to be a rascal in the house, Alaric, said to her one faithful day with a plate of food.
It didn't take long for the family to grow on her.
"I want to be a knight, lady Kika." Said Ava on her 15th birthday.
Both Rashin and Meren were initially surprised, Ava's reason as to why she made the request was unknown, but the conviction in her eyes.
"If that's what you want, then I'll speak to the Duchess."
That was Meren's response.
Ava was indeed happy, and soon, she would train hard and consistently, just to live up to the expectation of the family.
....
Alaric hid behind a tree, his shrinked wolf on the ground beside him while Ava stood behind, with her arms folded.
They had managed to sneak into the forest, not that they saw any soldiers from the Nurak barony around. If anything, the forest looked abandoned.
[If you're trying to be sneaky, you're not doing a very good job.]
'Thanks for the vote of confidence, I'll be sure to get back to it when I feel it's relevant.'
Alaric frowned a bit.
His focus on one thing.
"Ava, psst come here."
He called out to his knight.
You could almost see Ava roll her eyes before she went low so she could hear what he had to say.
"Do you see that spot? The light shining from the other side?" He asked, pointing at the far distance.
Ava shifted her gaze there, "Oh you're right, there's something behind those bushes."
"Right? Okay good, I'll wait here, but I want you to go retrieve it for me." Alaric said this with a genuine smile.
Ava immediately got suspicious, "If it was easy I know you would have gone to take it yourself, my lord, is there something deadly on the other side."
Alaric spat to the side.
"Ah so there is."
"I wouldn't say it's dangerous. We know goblins like to keep treasures, well most of the time, they gather special relics, or should I say dead crystals. I need those crystals. You're the only one I know that can kill those goblins."
Ava sighed, "I don't know much about monsters, since you read a lot, there's no point in me doubting what you say."
Alaric nodded his head with a small smile.
"Please wait here, I'll handle it and tell you once I've cleared the area of the goblins." As she says this, Ava drew out her blade and leaped forward.
Ava was a silver-ranked warrior, most goblins were D rank at best, so Alaric knew she wouldn't have any problem dealing with them.
He waited behind the bushes, keeping Arthur close to him in case anything was to happen.
Meanwhile, Ava had managed to climb on top of a tree branch. There she could see the goblins, resting around in their small village with tones of different materials in the middle.
Once goblins raid places or go out searching, most times they come back with valuable items that they tower up in the middle of their village, just to worship later.
'Nine goblins in total, the way they are positioned, there's a chance i could get surrounded, if that's the case...'
Ava activated her aura, red scorching flames dancing around her body before she leaped down from the tree.
The goblins were quick to sense her, all of them alerting one another to kill the woman that was falling from the sky.
Sword slashed. Goblin heads went rolling on the floor as blood spewed in circles.
The goblins were no match for the knight of the Montclair family. One by one they dropped to the ground, and Ava made sure not a single one managed to escape.
Goblins were known to harbour deep grudges, if you let one go, it could form a new group and hunt you down when you least expect it.
After a few moments, Ava had cleared the area of any goblin, just as she had promised her lord.
_splash!_
She slashed her sword to the side, getting rid of the blood that had stained her blade.
Alaric was seated on the ground, his back resting on the tree with his eyes closed and Arthur resting on his thighs.
"Lord Alaric, I've returned."
Hearing Ava's voice, Alaric opened his eyes, and there she was, standing in front of him with a chest of materials she had acquired from the goblins.
She gently placed the chest on the ground.
"That was quicker than I expected. Did you get everything?" He asked.
"Yes, although, I do not want to believe you are doing this just to spite the goblins. Are you practicing how to steal?" Ava asked with the most innocent face known to man.
"No I'm not." Alaric smiled a bit, "Let's just say these crystals are going to help me in the long run."