He wandered from left to right, but no one was around. After nearly traversing the entire main castle, Leon’s feet led him to the garden. He wandered further and found himself at the training ground. He sighed, finally sensing a human presence.

  “Master Leon!” A guard’s fist thumped against his chest as he straightened to attention. “Greetings! Your servant wishes to know what you’re doing here alone.” The guard, stationed at the corner, spoke tensely.

  “I was wondering the same thing myself,” Leon replied casually. “Have you seen Erica? The maids are missing too.”

  “My apologies, Master. Duke Albert—your father—summoned all the staff to the meeting hall. I don’t know the reason, but when your father requires the attention of all his subordinates, it usually means something serious. I don’t mean to worry you, Master, but that’s my impression. Please forgive my bluntness.”

  “Don’t worry,” Leon said. “I’m not armed. I was just curious. Thank you. By the way, what’s your name?”

  The guard instinctively saluted. “Swazti, at your service, Master!”

  “Thanks for the information, Swazti.”

  After talking to Swazti, the guard, Leon headed straight for the meeting hall. Upon entering the castle’s annex, he found three maids with worry etched on their faces. “Master Leon! Where have you been? We were looking for you everywhere! We searched the entire castle, but we couldn’t find you,” Alicia, one of the maids, excimed.

  “I was reading in the library with Alice,” Leon replied.

  “But Alice said you left,” another maid chimed in, still clearly worried.

  “Yeah, I went to the main castle, then the garden.”

  “So we were basically following you, but we kept missing you! But why didn’t we find you here?” Alicia asked.

  “I went a bit further—to the training area.”

  “Oh! Have you seen my boy—” the other maid started, before Alicia quickly cut her off.

  “Master, we were so worried,” Alicia said. “But now that we’ve found you, let’s go inside. The meeting is already te. Your father is waiting.”

  Inside the hall.

  “Love! My son! Where have you been?” Penelope dashed, her voice filled with concern.

  “Rex, Mother,” Leon said. “I’m not a child anymore.”

  Penelope looked taken aback by her son’s sudden change in attitude. “Oh?” she murmured, a hint of hurt in her voice. “But you do love my caresses, don’t you? I’ll make sure you’re well fed ter, okay?” she whispered, winking before turning away.

  Leon sighed heavily. I have a lot of expining to do, he thought.

  “Master!” Alice waved energetically from a distance. “Over here!”

  Leon sighed heavily. He was about to approach the boisterous maid when he caught sight of Erica out of the corner of his eye. He stopped, his left foot instinctively turning toward Erica while his right foot remained pointed toward Alice.

  “Hey!” Alice called again, her voice louder this time.

  I guess there’s no way around this, Leon thought.

  “Master, I was so worried!” Alice excimed. “I was starting to think you’d been abducted after we separated. Alicia and the others hadn’t returned either, so I feared something terrible had happened.”

  “Would you stop exaggerating?” Leon said. “I was simply taking a walk.”

  “Really? Then why didn’t you let me accompany you? I could have protected you.”

  “Silence,” Leon said sharply. “Father is about to speak.”

  “My loyal subordinates,” Albert began, his voice resonating through the hall, “you are all important to me. As you know, I value loyalty and trustworthiness above all else. I consider you friends, as long as that loyalty remains. I deeply appreciate your hard work and dedication. For your service, I offer my sincere thanks.” He paused, his gaze sweeping across the assembled staff. “You may be wondering why I’ve summoned you all here.”

  “Recently, we received a missive from Penelope’s parents, requesting our presence. My wife and I have decided to travel to their estate for up to ten days. During our absence, I am entrusting my butler, Henry, with the management of my affairs. In essence, he will be in command. I expect not only Henry, but all of you, to perform your duties with excellence. I will tolerate no misdeeds, nor any actions that would tarnish the Ryler reputation. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, Master Albert,” the group responded in unison.

  “Excellent.” Albert nodded. “Now, to the next matter. Since Leon will be accompanying us, we have also decided that Miss Erica, our son’s personal instructor, should join us as well.” He turned his attention to Erica, who stood apart from the group, leaning against the wall. “Do you have any objections, Miss Erica?”

  “None whatsoever, Mr. Ryler,” Erica replied. “Provided that I am not deprived of my rights and the continued goodwill of the Ryler household.”

  “You have my word, Miss Erica,” Albert assured her. “You will be treated generously and with the utmost respect.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Ryler,” Erica said. “I truly appreciate your generosity.”

  “You’re welcome.” Albert turned back to the assembled staff. “Are there any questions?” He surveyed the crowd. “If not, then this meeting is adjourned.”

  After the meeting, the family gathered in the rge dining area.

  “Mother,” Leon asked, “who are these people we’re visiting?”

  “They’re my parents, son,” Penelope replied.

  “What about Father’s parents?”

  “His parents died many years ago, when he was just a child.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Leon said.

  “It’s alright,” Penelope reassured him. “Your father understands.”

  “Grandma and Grandpa are the best grandparents in the world!” Alice chimed in, standing beside Leon.

  “Oh, you’ve been there,” Leon said, his eyes rolled towards her.

  “I grew up there,” Alice confirmed.

  “Really?” Leon was surprised.

  “It’s true, my son,” Albert said. “Back when we were adventurers, your mother sent Alice to live with her parents. After we retired, we brought her back to live with us.”

  “But why is she one of the maids?” Leon inquired.

  “It’s a long story,” Albert expined, “but, in short, it’s her way of showing her appreciation. And haven’t you noticed? She’s always by your side. It’s because she loves you like a little brother.”

  “Little brother?” Leon nearly choked on his drink.

  “Yes, my son,” Penelope confirmed. “So, treat her well, alright? Don’t ever abuse your position.”

  “I won’t, Mom,” Leon promised. “I love you.”

  “Oh, how sweet,” Penelope said. “Your father and I love you too, my son. And, by the way, come to me whenever you want some of my… you know,” she whispered with a wink.

  “You’re spoiling him again,” Albert chuckled. “Look what happened when your parents spoiled Alice—she became a bit of a brat.”

  “I am not a brat!” Alice retorted, crossing her arms, lifting her chin, and closing her eyes in mock indignation.

  “Mom,” Leon announced, “I have something to tell you. I won’t be… feeding from you anymore.”

  Penelope immediately stood and pced a hand on Leon’s forehead, checking his temperature. “Are you alright, my son? Are you feeling unwell?”

  “I’m fine,” Leon reassured her. “It’s just that this morning, I realized something. To become an adventurer like you, I need to be more disciplined.”

  “That’s true, son,” Penelope agreed, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. “But I’m not sure I see the connection.”

  “Erica expined that to be a successful adventurer, I need to learn self-control. So, from now on, I’m going to practice controlling my habits. That way, when I become an adventurer, I’ll be able to keep my head. She also said I need to become strong, like Dad.”

  “Hahaha! My son, you’ve matured!” Albert said proudly. “Erica is indeed a blessing. Yes, become an adventurer. Become strong, like your father. Maybe then, you can have many women by your side.” He smiled. “Let me tell you, son, it’s a blessing to have many women. But it comes with risks too. You have to be strong enough to protect them. Otherwise, you’ll only regret it.”

  “Why are you talking about women? He’s only six years old!” Penelope excimed.

  “Oh, come on,” Albert said. “Does he look like a child? He’s mature enough for this kind of conversation—except for the brat by your side.”

  “I’m not a brat anymore!” Alice protested. “I’m already eighteen!”

  “Oh, really?” Albert raised an eyebrow. “Then act like it.”

  “You’re so mean!” Alice retorted, turning away with a huff.

  “Anyway, back to the topic,” Penelope said, settling back into her chair. “I like Erica. She’s a good influence on our son. You should maintain a good student-instructor retionship with her. At her age, she knows far more about Pangaea than we do.”

  “What? Are you saying she’s older than you, Penelope?” Alice asked.

  “Yes, she is. In fact, she’s over a hundred years old.”

  “Really! She’s that old?” Alice excimed, her voice a little too loud.

  “Lower your voice, Alice,” Albert cautioned.

  “But she looks just like me!” Alice said. “I honestly thought we were the same age.”

  “A hundred years is quite young for an elf,” Penelope expined. “Elves can live for well over a thousand years.”

  “You both look very young too, Penelope,” Alice observed. “You look like you’re in your twenties. And you too, Albert.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment,” Albert chuckled.

  “To become a strong adventurer, proper mana circution is essential,” Penelope expined. “We train our bodies, minds, and mana circution every day to enhance our strength. As a result, we age slower than normal people.”

  “So, to maintain my youthful beauty, I need to become strong too!” Alice excimed in realization.

  “That’s one way to look at it,” Penelope agreed.

  “Then, if Master Leon wants to become a strong adventurer, I’ll become a strong adventurer too!” Alice decred, turning to Leon. “Master, I’ll never leave your side, and I’ll always protect you!”

  “Do whatever you want,” Leon replied.

  “Just remember, my son,” Albert said, his tone turning serious, “an adventurer’s life hangs in the bance between life and death. You never know what dangers lie ahead. So, choose your team wisely. They will become your everything if you want to survive the harsh world of Pangaea Ultima.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” Leon said. “I’ll never forget your advice.”

  “Speaking of teammates,” Alice said with a sly grin, “you’ve already found one, hehe.”

  “Hmph. Whatever,” Leon muttered, a slight blush creeping up his neck.

  Penelope and Albert exchanged a knowing gnce.

  In a quiet corner of the spacious garden, Erica and Leon sat together.

  “So, have you finished reading the book I recommended?” Erica asked.

  “Not yet,” Leon replied. “But I’m almost finished with one of them.”

  “That’s perfectly fine,” Erica said. “I’ll go over everything with you anyway.”

  “No, I really enjoy the books,” Leon insisted. “Especially the one about dungeons.”

  “We’ll delve deeper into dungeons ter,” Erica promised. “Right now, let’s talk more about the guilds.”

  “Erica,” Leon interrupted, “can I stop you for a moment?”

  “Of course,” Erica said. “What is it?”

  Leon took a deep breath. “I just wanted to thank you,” he began, his voice slightly hesitant. “For opening my eyes to the world. I told my parents about what I want to become, and they were so proud. They said I’d matured. It makes me so happy to see them like that. Alice is happy for me too. So, thank you,” he finished, lowering his head slightly.

  “Raise your head, Leon,” Erica said gently. “There’s no need for that. I’m just doing what any teacher would do.”

  Erica spent several hours that day teaching Leon about the guilds, Pangaea Ultima, basic necessities for adventurers, the ranking system, and many other essential details he needed to know.

  The next day.

  Knock, knock! The insistent rapping on the door continued.

  When is she ever going to learn to wake up early? Leon wondered, annoyed.

  The knocking persisted. She really does sleep like a log, he sighed. Guess I have no choice.

  He pushed the door open—it was unlocked, as always—and crept into the room. Leon sat onto the bed beside her and gently shook her shoulder. “Wake up,” he murmured.

  Knowing a simple shake wouldn’t be enough to rouse the sleeping log, he plucked a feather from her pillow and began to tickle her ear, then her nose, her cheek. He chuckled softly at her increasingly frantic reactions, continuing his ticklish assault until she jolted awake.

  “Ah! What happened?” she excimed, blinking sleepily. “Leon, what are you doing here?”

  “What do you think?” he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. “I’m here to wake you up.”

  “Oh. I had the strangest dream,” she said, still slightly disoriented. “Someone was pying on my face, and…and things were coming out of my ears, nose, and eyes! It was so weird. I have no idea what it means.”

  “It means you’re going to be te if you don’t hurry,” Leon said.

  “What?” Her eyes widened.

  “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten?”

  “Oh, oh! I remember now! How could I forget? Just give me a minute, I’ll be ready in a fsh.”

  “I’ll be waiting in the dining area,” Leon said as he stood. “Father asked if you’d join us for breakfast.”

  “He did?”

  “He mentioned it st night before I went to bed.”

  “Very well, then. Tell your father I’ll be there.”

  “Okay,” Leon said, heading for the door.

  At the dining table, during breakfast, Albert spoke to Erica. “Thank you for joining us, Miss Erica. We appreciate you accepting our invitation.”

  “It’s my pleasure,” Erica replied. “It’s always nice to share a meal with your family.”

  “We invited you because we simply wanted to chat,” Albert said.

  “About what, if I may ask?” Erica inquired.

  “There’s no need for such formality, Miss Erica,” Albert said. “We invited you because we enjoy your company. We like you.”

  “Is that all?” Erica asked, slightly surprised.

  “Yes. We like you. Especially Leon, isn’t that right, son?” Albert nudged Leon gently.

  “Huh? Me?” Leon stammered, caught off guard. “Oh, yes. I like Miss Erica. I’ve told her that many times.”

  “I’m fttered,” Erica said. “Thank you. I’ve simply done what any teacher would do.”

  “You see, Miss Erica,” Albert continued, “after your contract with us is finished, my son will eventually venture out into the world. When that happens, I implore you, if your paths ever cross again, please continue to guide him. Continue to show him your kindness.”

  “You could join our team as well!” Alice chimed in, standing beside Leon.

  “Thank you, Sir Albert,” Erica said. “I’m touched by your kind words. Rest assured, my attitude towards Leon will not change.”

  “Father, we’re leaving today, right?” Leon asked.

  “Yes,” Albert confirmed. “And it will be a long journey.”

  “A long journey?” Leon repeated.

  “Yes, it will take approximately forty-two hours to reach our destination. So, don’t forget to pack everything you need. And have you prepared the gift?”

  “Yes, I have,” Leon replied.

  “Good. What about you, Alice?”

  “I’m all set as well,” Alice said. “Plus, I have a surprise for them,” she added with a mischievous chuckle.

  “Just make sure that surprise is beneficial to their health,” Albert cautioned.

  “Of course,” Alice said, her smile widening. “They’ll be blown away!”

  Albert sighed, while Penelope chuckled. Erica forced a smile, looking slightly bewildered. Leon rubbed his temples, a hint of exasperation on his face.

  Inside the carriage, Alice excitedly beckoned to Leon. “Come on, Leon, sit here beside me so you can get a better view of the scenery!”

  “I’m right in front of you,” Leon pointed out. “I can see the scenery perfectly well from here. But okay, we can switch seats ter.”

  “Why switch?” Alice suggested. “You could just sit on my p.”

  “No, thank you,” Leon declined.

  “Why not?” Alice pouted. “Is it because you enjoy Erica’s company more than mine?”

  “What are you talking about?” Leon sighed.

  “Just admit it,” Alice persisted. “You like her more than me.”

  Leon rolled his eyes. “Don’t mind her,” he muttered to Erica, who was sitting beside him.

  “Who’s the hooded guy?” Alice asked, pointing to the figure in the corner.

  “Mom said he’s here to protect us, just in case,” Leon expined.

  “Who are you?” Alice asked the hooded figure directly.

  The man remained silent.

  “Stop bothering him, Alice,” Leon said. “Leave him alone.”

  “But I just want to know,” Alice whined.

  “I am Veldemrt,” the hooded man finally spoke. “A hired S-rank assassin. I am here to ensure your safety.”

  “S-rank!” Erica excimed. “You must cost a fortune.”

  “And you are?” Veldemrt inquired.

  “I’m a B-rank vanguard mage,” Erica replied. “I’m tutoring the Duke’s son.”

  “I see,” Veldemrt said. “I’ve heard tales of their heroic deeds. The adventurer’s receptionist who processed the paperwork for this commission mentioned that the client was a Duke. I was surprised, as it hadn’t been revealed until I accepted the commission. I’d heard rumors that the Duke used to be a powerful adventurer, but I didn’t believe them until I met him today. His mana was suffocating; I couldn’t even look at him for more than five seconds. I thought I was strong, having recently achieved S-rank, but…” He trailed off, shaking his head slightly.

  Erica frowned, deep in thought. I wonder why I didn’t sense any pressure when I first met Mr. Albert, she mused.

  “What about Mrs. Ryler?” Erica asked Veldemrt.

  “As a fellow assassin, I should have sensed something from her,” Veldemrt replied. “But I didn’t. She seemed perfectly normal, which, of course, she isn’t. I also learned that she was on the Duke’s team back in their adventuring days.”

  “What was the team’s name?” Leon asked.

  “According to the guild records, it was ‘Albert’s Team’,” Veldemrt said.

  “What?” Leon excimed. “That’s Dad’s name! Are you sure that’s the name of the team?”

  “That’s what I heard,” Veldemrt confirmed.

  “Dad can be a little uncreative when it comes to names,” Leon murmured, a slight smile pying on his lips.

  “In any case, that’s the information I received,” Veldemrt said. “Rest assured, I will protect you all.”

  “Why does Albert need protection?” Alice asked. “Aren’t he and Penelope strong enough?”

  “You can never be too careful,” Erica replied. “And there’s another lesson for you to learn, Leon: Never settle for less when it comes to protecting the people you love. If you can afford it, do it.”

  Penelope, Albert, Alicia (Penelope’s personal maid), and Elgard (Albert’s assistant) traveled in a separate carriage. Leon rode in the middle carriage, fnked by his parents’ carriage on one side and a carriage carrying the hired adventurers on the other. Two carriages of heavily armed castle guards rode near the rear, while the first and st carriages were decoys, intended to confuse potential attackers. The adventurers consisted of: a dwarf warrior, whose massive double-headed axe seemed an extension of his own burly frame and whose beard was as overgrown as a thicket; a human tank, a mountain of a man with a perpetually hungry look; a slender human healer with spectacles perched on her nose, always engrossed in a book; and a human mage, of attractive build, favoring green attire. Their leader was the assassin, Veldemrt (an elf), whose pale, bald head was perpetually concealed beneath a hooded long jacket. Perhaps he was self-conscious about his ck of hair? No one dared ask.

  A few hours ter, they reached the western edge of the forest and made camp for the night. In the early morning, a commotion erupted, alerting everyone.

  “What’s happening?” Leon asked, emerging from his tent.

  “Up there!” Alice excimed, emerging from the same tent, pointing skyward. “Did you see it? It was flying so fast!”

  A sudden, powerful gust of wind swept through the encampment.

  “A wyvern!” someone shouted.

  The castle guards swiftly formed a protective circle around Leon and his company.

  “Protect the young master!” the guard captain shouted.

  “Ahoo! Ahoo!” the guards responded in unison, stamping their spears on the ground.

  “Phanx formation!” the captain commanded.

  In a matter of seconds, the guards transformed into a tightly packed formation, a wall of heavily armed men.

  “Wow! I’ve never seen such a disciplined defense,” Veldemrt observed. “But it’s time for me to move. Guard Captain,” he addressed the leader of the phanx.

  The captain nodded, and the phanx parted, creating a path for Veldemrt.

  Veldemrt approached Albert and his group. “My time has come. I’ll handle this.”

  Albert nodded in agreement.

  “Team, let’s hunt!” Veldemrt called out.

  His team immediately shifted into a battle formation: the tank at the front, the warrior and assassin fnking the mage and healer, who brought up the rear.

  “Flying Fox Formation!” Veldemrt yelled.

  The Flying Fox Formation was a tactic Veldemrt’s team had developed. While the tank and warrior engaged the wyvern, the mage will wait for the best opportunity to attack.

  The wyvern retaliated, unleashing a torrent of fire upon Veldemrt’s team.

  The tank, however, reacted instantly, unfurling a Scroll of Sand.

  The scroll costs 15 gold bar.

  Undeterred, the wyvern followed its fiery bst with a stream of poisonous breath and then its most lethal attack: a wave of poisonous fire.

  The Scroll of Sand created a shimmering barrier, deflecting the wyvern’s elemental attacks—fire, poison, and even its acidic breath—for a full minute. The barrier, however, was vulnerable to physical attacks. The more elemental attacks it absorbed, the stronger it became, a fact the wyvern, driven by instinct rather than intellect, failed to grasp. Frustrated by the ineffectiveness of its elemental assaults, the beast switched tactics, lunging forward with powerful cws and snapping fangs. But it was a fatal mistake.

  “Ultimate Move. Voodooist: Totem!” the mage cried, smming the base of her staff into the ground.

  Voodooist: Totem was a powerful restraining technique perfect for immobilizing rge creatures. The mage unleashed a magical trap of poisonous vines and an animated cursed tree. The spell was triggered by proximity; as soon as the wyvern entered the designated area, the trap sprang to life. Spiky vines erupted from the ground, shing around the wyvern’s legs and body, while a massive, sentient tree rose beside it. The tree’s purpose was to ensure the prey’s capture, its branches acting as powerful restraints. Together, the vines and the tree constricted the wyvern, draining its mana and, ultimately, its life force. This technique, usable only on nd, could be cast but once a day.

  The trap was a resounding success. The wyvern was instantly entangled in the poisonous vines, their barbs digging deep, hindering its flight. Desperate, the beast spewed va-like fire from its maw, attempting to burn through the restraints. But the sentient tree countered, its branches cmping down on the wyvern with bone-crushing force. The wyvern roared in agony, struggling to free itself, but the vines tightened their grip, constricting its jaws. The combined pressure from the vines and the tree’s crushing branches proved too much. With a sickening series of cracks, the wyvern’s skull gave way, its eyes and brains spilling out. The creature died, its struggles ceasing. The sounds of breaking bones, the sight of the wyvern’s blood dripping from the vines and branches, and the grotesque exposure of its innards created a truly horrifying, yet somehow pitiful, scene. The tree and vines then receded into the earth, taking the wyvern’s lifeless body with them.

  “What a powerful technique!” Leon excimed, witnessing his first battle. His eyes still wide.

  “Guards, break formation!” the guard leader shouted.

  With eye-catching precision, the phanx dissolved. “Ahoo!”

  “Dismissed!”

  “Ahoo! Ahoo!” The guards dispersed, their voices echoing.

  Erica pced a hand on Leon’s shoulder. “What did you learn from watching the battle?”

  “Patience and cunning,” Leon replied, thoughtfully.

  “Well said, my student,” Erica smiled. “Patience and cunning are crucial in battle, especially when you’re facing…” She paused, prompting him.

  Leon rubbed his chin, considering. “…especially when you’re battling intelligent creatures,” Erica finished.

  “What are those?” Leon asked.

  “Isn’t it obvious? Humans, Elves, Beastkins, and Dwarves. They are the most intelligent races of Pangaea.”

  “So, we need different strategies for fighting intelligent creatures versus…others?”

  “Exactly,” Erica confirmed. “Don’t worry, you’ll learn. I have a book for you to read ter that will expin it all.”

  “I’d like that very much,” Leon said, a spark of interest in his eyes.

  “Good moves,” Albert said, patting Veldemrt’s shoulder.

  “Thank you for your kind words, Duke Albert,” Veldemrt replied, bowing slightly.

  “You have a good team. Keep up the good work,” Albert said.

  “Thank you. I’ll see to it.”

  “Be on your way,” Albert dismissed him.

  “Everyone!” Albert called out, raising his voice. “We’ll continue our journey in a few minutes. Be ready!”

  Later, inside the carriage:

  “Your team is so strong!” Alice excimed.

  “Thanks,” Veldemrt replied.

  “I want to be strong like her,” Alice said.

  “Who?” Veldemrt asked, feigning ignorance.

  “The one you kissed,” Alice stated.

  Veldemrt’s mind raced. How could this overgrown child know? We were so careful. He didn’t respond aloud.

  “You can be strong like anyone with training and experience,” Veldemrt finally said.

  “Thanks, Mr. Veldemrt! I will! I’ll be strong enough to protect my master,” Alice decred with conviction.

  “That’s the spirit. Keep that desire burning, and you’ll achieve your goals.”

  “You hear that, Master? Mr. Veldemrt said I can be as strong as his girlfriend!”

  Leon remained silent, as did the others.

  “Hey, Master, why aren’t you saying anything?”

  After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Leon finally responded, “Okay, I heard you.”

  “Thank you, Master!” she said happily.

  The carriage finally arrived at the clearing. The road had been rough and bumpy. On either side stretched a vast field, a patchwork of cultivated rice paddies, vegetable gardens, and expanses of wildflowers in a riot of colors. In the distance, small vilge houses with stone foundations dotted the ndscape. The carriage stopped before a two-story house, a cssic structure built from a mix of sturdy wood, brick, and stone.