Chapter 3: A Visit from the Valencrests
It had been five years since the god of rebirth sent me to Eldoria. At first, I couldn't understand the language spoken in this new world, but over time, I began to grasp bits and pieces. The first thing I learned was my name: Leo Ashwood. Now, I could understand the language, but for some reason, the system interface I was supposed to access wouldn't show up. I felt like the god had forgotten to tell me the password or something. Frustration welled up within me as I pondered what to do about that.
I had discovered a great deal about my new life. First and foremost, I had a family now. It sounded a little awkward, but I actually liked it. I learned that I was born into a noble family—albeit a poor one. My father, Eldric Ashwood, had been cursed by a demon general, along with my grandfather, Alaric Ashwood, during a war between kingdoms. Because of this curse, our family had slowly begun to fall apart.
In Eldoria, there were four major kingdoms: the human Kingdom of Valoria, the elven Kingdom of Sylthara, the Dwarven Kingdom of Stonehearth, and the Demon Kingdom of Umbraxis.
I had never expected to be born in a human kingdom, but considering I chose to be a half-elf, it made sense. Deep down, I was afraid of losing a part of myself if I picked the pure elven bloodline, so I settled for a middle ground—half human, half elf. It was not so bad, I thought. Who cared? My father was human, and my mother, Seraphina Ashwood, was an elf of extraordinary beauty. The rumors from Earth about elves being exceptionally beautiful turned out to be true.
Even though my family was struggling financially, I had a maid named Celia who took care of me. I didn't like how she followed me around all the time; it made me feel like I had no time to myself. It was ironic, really. I had longed to escape my past life of loneliness, and now, surrounded by people—even a maid—I found myself yearning for solitude. It was strange not knowing how to interact with them like a normal person.
Well, that was enough of an introduction I guess
"Leo! Hey, Leo! Where are you?" a voice called, breaking my thoughts.
I almost forgot about one last member of my family—my big sister, Elena, older than me with 3 years. She could be quite annoying.
"There you are! What are you doing?" Elena asked, urgency lacing her tone. "I was looking for you! Let's go; our mother is waiting. Come on, hurry up!"
"Okay, okay, I'm coming! Why is our mother waiting for me? Did I do something wrong?" Leo replied, puzzled.
Elena chuckled, shaking her head. "Leo, are you stupid? How can you forget that the Valencrest family is coming to visit us today?"
Leo gasped. "Oh right, I completely forgot! Are they here yet, or are they still on their way?"
Sighing, she responded, "They're on their way here. So hurry up!"
"Okay I will follow you in a bit go first" he said with a sigh.
As he approached the castle gates, Leo noticed his grandfather with his father and his mother and his sister standing nearby, looking toward the distance where a carriage approached.
"Easy, easy, boy," said the soldier driving the carriage, calming the horses.
The carriage door opened, and a sturdy man with a muscular build, a small white beard, and white hair stepped out, wearing a noble blue outfit that looked barely able to contain his muscles. Behind him came a beautiful woman in a long green dress with silver hair and blue eyes. Beside her was a young boy around six years old, peeking out from behind her dress.
"Lord Thalion Valencrest!" Eldric exclaimed, a big grin on his face. "Long time no see!"
Thalion laughed heartily. "Well, I'm here now! It seems the kids are growing fast." He glanced at Leo and Elena, adding, "And it looks like we're getting old too! I might have to start calling you 'old man' from now on, Eldric," he teased.
Eldric chuckled. "I suppose that's true."
Thalion's gaze turned to the older man beside him. "Lord Alaric, it's nice to see you doing well."
"Still looking like a brat, I see," Alaric replied with a smirk. "Are you taking care of my daughter?"
Thalion grinned as he stepped out. "You can ask her yourself."
The woman named Elowen stepped forward. "Father! Brother! It's been a while. I missed both of you!"
"Let's go inside," Alaric said kindly. "I don't want rumors spreading about our family being rude to our guests."
They all entered the dining hall, where a feast had been prepared. The warm glow of candlelight illuminated the rich wooden table adorned with bowls of fruits, platters of roast meats, and steaming loaves of bread. Leo tried to hide his nervousness as he took his seat beside his sister, while the Valencrest family settled across from them.
Thalion raised a glass of wine, his gaze meeting Eldric's. "It's good to share a meal together after so long. Even with all that's happened, some traditions are worth keeping."
Eldric nodded in agreement. "Yes, especially with friends as old as we are." He glanced at Leo and Elena. "These gatherings are a reminder of the bonds we've built over generations."
As they ate, Elowen smiled warmly at Seraphina. "Sera, you must share your secret. This roast is incredible!"
Seraphina laughed, a rare sparkle in her eyes. "It's a family recipe… one that Celia here has perfected." She nodded toward the maid standing nearby, who blushed with pride.
Meanwhile, Leo found himself face-to-face with the Valencrest boy, who was studying him with unfiltered curiosity. "So… you're a half-elf?" the boy asked.
"Yes, I am," Leo replied, feeling slightly self-conscious under the young boy's gaze.
"That's really cool," the boy said earnestly. "I bet you'll be good at magic."
Leo shrugged, unsure of how to respond. He had yet to feel any magical ability within himself. "Maybe. I haven't tried much yet."
The boy grinned, his enthusiasm unwavering. "When you do, I want to see it!"
By the end of the meal, Leo felt surprisingly at ease, though he hadn't spoken much. He watched as his family and the Valencrests reminisced, sharing stories and laughter that echoed warmly in the hall.
As the evening wore on, Thalion finally rose from his seat, signaling that it was time to take their leave. "Thank you, Eldric, Seraphina, Alaric, for your hospitality. It was a pleasure to see you all again."
Eldric stood, extending a hand in farewell. "The pleasure was ours. It was long overdue."
Elena walked over and hugged Aiden, whispering something that made him laugh. Leo watched as his parents exchanged goodbyes with the Valencrests, feeling a mixture of relief and satisfaction from the evening.
As the Valencrests' carriage pulled away, Leo lingered by the door, watching the night sky. The visit had been more eventful than he'd expected. And perhaps, just perhaps, he'd found a friend in Aiden, someone who looked
past the strange exterior of a half-elf and simply saw another boy like himself.
After the Valencrests' visit, Leo found himself sitting alone in his room, his mind racing. The lingering excitement from the evening had quickly given way to frustration. He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the god of rebirth's promise.
"I need to get stronger… but where do I even start?" he muttered to himself, a hint of frustration in his voice. There was a burning desire inside him—a need to prove himself, to honor the god's gift and fulfill his purpose. But each time he tried to call upon the system or even sense any trace of magic, it felt as if something blocked him, holding him back.
His gaze wandered out the window, where the stars sparkled in the darkened sky. Somewhere, he thought, there had to be a way forward.
A soft knock broke his thoughts, and the door creaked open. Celia, his ever-dedicated maid, stepped inside, offering a gentle smile.
"Young Lord Leo," she said in her calm, soothing voice, "it's time to go to bed."
Leo sighed but gave a slight nod. "I know, Celia… but sometimes I wonder… am I even capable of becoming stronger?"
Celia tilted her head, a soft look of understanding in her eyes. "Everyone starts somewhere, my Lord. Even the mightiest warriors began with small steps. Perhaps, tomorrow, you'll find the beginning of your path."
Her words offered a small spark of encouragement, though the frustration in Leo's heart remained. He nodded thoughtfully, realizing that maybe, in the morning, things would become a bit clearer.
"Thank you, Celia," he murmured as he stood, allowing her to lead him toward his bed as he pushed his thoughts aside for the night.