Valour had returned from his shopping venture. He changed into a new attire and head downstairs to start his day at the inn.
Upon arriving downstairs, he was beckoned by the receptionist at the counter.
"Go inside the kitchen and wear your apron, then head back here and serve the customers. Take orders and seat any newcomers." She said, dismissing Valour.
Valour nodded and went in the kitchen to wear the apron. The kitchen was quite spacious, sounds of all sorts of utensils was ringing throughout the room.
"Hey! Don't block the way." Someone yelled at Valour, asking him to move.
Valour stepped aside without saying anything and searched for the apron. He spotted it and wore it.
"Take this order, table no.7" the Cheif said looking at Valour, who just nodded and took ahold of the tray.
'Wait, why are they even letting me work? Aren't I just 13.' he hasn't realised this earlier.
Anyone over the age of 12 was allowed to work in restaurants or accommodation centres; the government made it legal.
Valour had spent the entire day serving people, it was quite boring and mundane to say the least.
Albeit, Valour didn't feel that way since he didn't feel anything at all. To him, this was just like doing everything else, just like killing innocent or criminals.
The Sun was almost down, marking the end of Valour's shift.
He retired back to his room, but this time he noticed something.
He could hear creaking noises coming from the room next to him.
He could hear a man and woman giggling and screaming, these weren't the shouts of pain and horror which he was accustomed to.
He wasn't particularly annoyed, but he would have preferred silence over whatever this was. So, he decided to confront the source.
He knocked on the door, this temporarily stopped the noises. Just as he was about to turn back, the noises resumed.
He knocked again, a bit louder this time. The door opened and a man could be seen standing in the frame.
Behind the man, Valour could see what appeared to be two women on the bed, under the blankets.
'How can they share such a small bed?' he was intrigued.
The man was half nude, with a towel wrapped around his lower body. The man was muscular and bulky, it was the man Valour saw at the guild. Wikes, it was the leader of that Border control squadron.
"Can you keep the noise down? I am trying to take a nap." Valour said, his voice calm and deprived of emotions.
To most, Wikes would seem like a mean and overbearing.
Well, he was quite on the contrary to that perception.
"Ah..I am extremely sorry.." he said, a pink hue forming on his cheeks.
Valour without saying anything left and entered his room.
Leaving the embarrassed Wikes on his own. He also closed the door and went back to doing whatever he was engaged in previously.
....
The day had passed and Valour had went back to his job at the inn.
The day progressed normally, without any problems or hiccups.
Today was the day, Harry would be returning from his trip. Valour was looking forward for the training camp.
It wasn't necessarily important to his mission but he wanted something, and that's what the easiest place to get it from.
Ather cores, well not the one that the awakened had. These were like orbs or gems rich in Ather. They were found underground or in places rich in Ather.
Well, one could actually grow them like crops, but there were conditions to be met and it was expensive.
Harry had told him that everyone is awarded these orbs( I'll be calling them that now onwards). These were given to help kids awaken.
That was essentially the main purpose of the camp, it was help kids awaken and give them some on-feild experience before being sent to the academy.
Valour had retired back to his room, shortly after him Harry had also arrived.
"Oh, finally got something to wear. Didn't ya?" He said as he noticed Valour wearing a new set of clothes.
A white turtleneck with brown trousers and white sandals.
"Not too shabby, lad." He complimented Valour's choice of clothes.
"What about the Border Control training camp?" Valour asked, not wanting to be in the dark.
"Sigh.. quite impatient aren't ya? They agreed, 'Arthur' you'll leave after 5 days. You'll spend a year there. You can come back before that if you want." Harry said.
Valour understood what Harry was saying; he was 'Arthur' here.
'I wish I had more masks.' he would have loved to completely disguise himself from everyone.
Nonetheless, it was not am issue for him. He had planned out everything already.
'One year...I have to be ready when I come back here.' he said as he squeezed his fists.
"Quite enthusiastic aren't ya?" Harry said, as he witnessed the site.
"Yeah." Valour said, mustering the best smile he could. Obviously, he was putting a front.
The next 5 days went by smoothly without any issues, and it was finally time for Valour to leave for the camp.
.....
Inside the Castle' Basement
A man could be seen changed to the walls, blood running down his unconscious face.
He was woken up by the rattling of keys.
This was the guard who hit Valour. He was being punished, why so?
Well, because the princess complained to the father. Even though, the way the guard acted was perfectly right, the optimal course of action at that.
But, The current 'King' Sir. Nathan just couldn't dismiss his daughter.
Nathan was the first-son of Magnus(The family head). Magnus had 3 sons, Nathan was the oldest and the current leader of the family.
He was managing the Capital and the rest of the cities in the Southern territory. Magnus was the face of the Belmouth family.
"Express your gratitude to the King, he is to leave today." The guard opening the prison cell said.
Nathan was leaving the Southern territory. Magnus and Nathan were invited by the Union, they were going to discuss about the matters related to the academy.
...
Valour had packed all his luggage and loaded it on the carriage. Harry was going to drop him off. The journey itself wasn't going to take long.
They would reach by sun set, since the Capital was a bit distant from the border itself.
...
At the same time, near the gates of the West district. A hundred soldiers were gathered around a circular platform.
Unlike the East district, the West district didn't have any shops or people. This place was mostly vacant.
There was infrastructure, but it was mostly the housing for the Royal guards.
The circular platform was elevated and 4 were pillars erected on the platforms right and left hand side. 8 pillars in total.
These pillars were white in colour, with golden runes scattered all over them.
In the middle of the platform was a half erected pillar, it had a black button on it.
On the platform stood 5 individuals. Magnus, Nathan and 3 bodyguards.
Magnus had white hair reaching his waist, purple eyes complimenting his hair. He had a beard reaching his chest. Clearly, he looked quite old yet youthful.
Nathan on the other hand had black hair, reaching his ears lobes. He had green eyes and was clean shaven. He looked quite young to say the least.
In reality, he was in his mid therties and had 3 wives. He was of 'Cheif' rank, but he didn't possess a domain. He had a 'SS' rank ability.
His rank cap was 'Commander' so he would probably end up with a 'SSS' rank ability. Unfortunately, no domain though.
Both of them were adorned in white suits. With purple markings all over the suite.
Magnus stepping forward, surprisingly the platform didn't even flinch. Whatever material it was made up of was sturdy.
He made his way to the center, Nathan following two steps behind him. Not daring to close the gap or walk side by side.
When Magnus reached the center of the platform, he pressed the button.
Nothing happened, however, no one showed any signs of surprise or suspicion.
Shortly after, the runes on the pillars and the platform started emitting a golden light.
The pillar started vibrating violently, then the entire platform was engulfed by that light.
The onlookers closed their eyes in fear of going blind.
When the light diminished, the 5 figures standing on the platform had disappeared.
The runes calming down, lost the light which illuminated them.
....