Chapter 4: Leaving the homestead
Inside the central part of the Howling Forest, a young boy was indifferent from what was happening. He was busy poking elemental sprites, imitating the movements of Howling Forest Bull Frogs, playing Rock-Paper-Scissors with Axe Rabbits, and harvesting strawberries from the lone cherry tree beside a pond.
"Mhm… Yup! Just the right sweetness… Sister Alice will really like this one…" a small boy around the age of 8-9 years old was picking fruits from the tree.
Tak ta tak ta tak ta tak~
A sound of something running through the woods was heading towards the small boy's direction.
"Huh?"
"Ngoooooooooooooooo!!!!!" the spirit beast stops in front of the small boy and roars.
"Oh! Oh! A spirit bull! Hello there little guy!" the small boy greeted the spirit bull in wide smiles.
'Huh? This puny human called me little?' the spirit bull was bewildered.
Normally, humans without spirit power would run away at the sight of the spirit bull. And most would call the bull huge or monstrous. Little? That's a new title…
"Ngoooo?"
"Uh yes, I called you little… If you're not then what are you?"
'Huh? This puny human can understand me? W… w… wait… I can understand this puny human too?'
"And yes I can understand you."
'Huh? This puny human is saying that he can understand me? I don't even understand me… w… w… wait…how come I'm talking to myself in human language??' the bull's eyes widened.
"Are you an Idiot?" the small boy was also confused looking at the bull.
Amazingly, this small boy could converse with animals and thought that it was a normal and natural thing. He could talk to Forest Sprites, Bull Frogs and Axe Rabbits so why not this bull?
'Huh? This puny human called me an Idiot! NO! I call me an Idiot! Not you! Puny Human…'
"Really now? Hahahahaha… Calling yourself an idiot… this is a first for me hahahaha!" the small boy was rolling on the floor laughing out loud.
"Ngoooooooo!!!" the spirit bull was angry from the insult of being called an idiot. It went into attack position when suddenly a small hand patted its forehead.
"Now now little blue… I know what you did to the village elder's house." The small boy smiled calmly as he gently patted the spirit bull's head.
The spirit bull was wide-eyed in shock with its mouth open. Although the small boy was smiling and calm, what the spirit beast felt was different. From the bull's perspective, a large hand, as large as the howling forest was trying to pat its head. The bull felt chills on its back and was terrified with its current predicament. A suffocating aura surrounded the area.
Then the feeling suddenly disappeared as the small boy withdrew his hand.
"It's ok though… since you're untamed and all…" the small boy said.
"Ngooo?" the spirit bull felt utterly defeated for the first time in its life. It ran amok the howling forest and the surrounding villages like it were the king of the world. Yet here, it met its match. A small boy who doesn't even have a single bit of mana in his body yet had a very terrifying aura.
"Hmmm… I need to go pick some carrots from the southern fields for tonight's stew. Wanna give me a lift?" the small boy asked.
"Ngoo!" 'sure bro whatever you say bro!'
The small boy mounts on the spirit beast's back and called out, "Come on guys! Hop on for a joy ride! Let's goooo!!! Nyahahahaha!" then the elemental sprites and some axe rabbits hopped on the bull's back to join in the fun.
~In a small homestead inside the Howling Forest~
After the group of children failed to hunt the spirit bull, they went home dejected since they weren't able to obtain the village elder's reward.
"Hahahaha! Failed big time huh? Wahahahaha!"
A loud laugh suddenly sounded from inside the hut. Then an old man with grey hair and a short beard came out. He was garbed in a worn out scholarly robe and red long scarf.
"We got owned Master…" the Eldest Brother Gray said while being embarrassed with the results.
"Hahahahaha! I knew that would happen. Generally, on a one on one duel with the spirit beast, all of you are worlds apart in terms of cultivation level. But you could have stood a chance of not being too miserable if all of you did things right." The Old Master emphasized.
"First of all, Gray…"
"Yes, Master?"
"You weren't using attack skills earlier…"
"But the spirit bull was immune to all spirit attacks…"
"Are your magic spells all spirit attacks?" the Old Master asked.
"Oh!! That's right… I have elemental spells…" Gray exclaimed.
"Yes… and the second mistake you made was leaving little Rosemary on that tree to hide. If she was with all of you, she could have buffed you with recovery and body enhancement Arts. You failed as a mage and as a strategist this time. Now, do you know your mistakes?"
"I acknowledge my mistakes master." Gray bowed his head feeling dejected but enlightened as well.
"Next… Gregory!" the Old Master looked at the burly boy.
"Yes, Master?" Gregory replied.
"You failed at…."
The Old Master reiterated their mistakes and supplemented them with lessons to their individual weaknesses. After the theoretical session, the Old Master reinforced their actual experience with a round of beatings. The training didn't end until all of them were beaten blue and regressed to shrimp position.
The Old Master's hut was small but cozy. During meals, everyone gathers on the central part of the homestead where a cooking pit and dining tables are located. This is the territory of the youngest disciple, Gin.
Due to Gin's crippled mana veins, he is unable to gather mana and cultivate. So he does the household chores and the old jobs from nearby villages.
On his free time, he experiments with his ideas and trains in Smelting and other professions he deemed fun to learn.
In terms of the time spent with the Old Master, he was supposed to be the Eldest Senior disciple because the Old Master took care of him since he was still a baby. But due to his inability to cultivate and his age, he became the youngest brother within the group.
"Seconds!!! Wow… you sure do cook like one of them high-class restaurant chefs, sissy boy…" Milton praised while holding his bowl for another scoop of stew.
"Hahaha… Thank you Fourth Brother Milton… I placed poison ivy on yours for added spicy taste… you'll be scratching your mouth later." Gin grinned evilly.
"Eh!!! Why You!!"
Everybody laughed and joked during the meal. It was what made the Old Master's homestead lively. It was when these few disciples of his gather around the cooking pit and interact with each other, the Old Master reminisced on old memories.
"Hahaha… Gin, how about coming with us for the second time hunting that spirit bull… We'll tame it this time for sure." Gregory affirmed.
"Umm… I think I'll pass for now Second Brother… with all of you being defeated today, it won't be safe for me joining your party… I can't cultivate remember? I'll just get trampled over by them spirit beast and die a miserable death…" Gin awkwardly reasoned.
"Ah… I see…"
"Ah… Sissy…"
~SMACK~
"Ouch… Third sister really pampers the youngest brother!" Milton mumbled as he held his head, feeling aggrieved.
"By the way sis Alice… I have those strawberries you like… ~poook~ ouch…"
Alice finger flicked Gin's forehead while smiling playfully. "What sis Alice? I'm 2 years older than you… called me Big Sister!"
"What? That's just 2 years gap! I won't even call you Big Sister even if your 100 years older!" Gin exclaimed giving a vibe of saying 'listen to mah logic yoh!'.
"Why?" Alice asked.
"Cause I'd be calling you Grandma by then… hur hur hur" Gin sinisterly smirked.
"Grandma your sister!" Alice roared angrily.
"But you're my sister…"
"Why you smart little…" as Alice angrily charged towards Gin, the small boy flicked a strawberry towards Alice's mouth.
As she bit the fruit, what she felt was a heavenly sensation. The sweetness of the fruit's juice twirled in her mouth and its scent was greedily absorbed by her pores, afraid that others would smell-snatch it.
"Woahhhhh!!!! This strawberry!"
"Here's a bowl for you…"
"Yeey! Thank you so much Gin!" Alice happily hugged the small boy.
"Hehehe… Instead of thanking me… why don't you just marry me and we can plant strawberries together." Gin said.
"What… why you… you're taking advantage of this big sister aren't you?"
"Nyahahaha… Sis Alice really treats me best…"
The others were staring at them blankly and shook their heads. This ancient little ancestor really is something… to tame this hot-headed woman with just some fruits…
As the Old Master saw this he laughed. He then told a story of two Grand Knights who broke all friendly ties with each other due to a bowl of strawberries.
He then gathered his disciples around him and instructed them of the future tasks. On his hand were 2 letters of recommendation and 3 letters of introduction. Of the 2 letters of recommendation, one was for Gray, recommending him to study with the wizards and sages of Wiztra of the Wind. The second one was for Gregory, recommending him to learn and join a warrior tribe of Zebul, in the fields of Gremon. Of the letters of introduction, 2 were for Alice and Rosemary, as they were 11 and 10 years old respectively. Alice was a daughter of an Allurian King so she was to enter the Alluria Silver Sword Academy while Rosemary was to enter the Medical department of the academy. Milton given the letter of recommendation to enter Emerald, the city of Nephilims.
"You all know that I'm not your father… But I see you as my own children. And every one of you is not related by blood but you kids treat each other like true siblings… even more than that." The Old master said.
"That's because we ARE family Master. And once a master, a father for life. A family doesn't just mean someone related by blood, but it's someone who you care for more than yourself!" Milton seriously interjected.
"You have learned well Milton. You are now ready to face a new life. In two months, after I give the final lesson, I want every one of you to shape your own destinies and embrace your fates. Remember… wherever you are… you always have a family. No matter how far are we from one another… We exist in each other's hearts."
Then suddenly a grieved voice sounded.
"Hey Old Man! How about me?" a small boy asked.
"Uh…"
"Gin… stop stepping on Master's moment!"
"What? Why? I'm the only one who didn't receive a paper thingy!"
"Shh Gin, keep quiet!"
"No!!! I want to go with sis Alice in that academy place! What if she and sis Rosemary get bullied?"
"Who'd bully them?" Milton didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"No! I will go with… ugh… ufff…"
The Old Master suddenly grabbed the back collar of his shirt like a little cat. The poor small boy struggled but unfortunately, didn't win.
"Nooo!!! Old Man! I want to go with them! Wait! Old Man! Damn!! Old Fart! You!!!"
"Um Excuse us for a moment. I'll talk with this little beast and have him return to his senses. Meanwhile, get ready to start your 2-month final lesson." The Old Master instructed with a gentle smile while holding Gin on his hand who was like a little cat biting and squirming.
-------------------------------
"And then…" as Alice was telling the story to the trio, she noticed that it was getting dark and the children were getting sleepy. "It's already nearing sunset… I think you should go home now."
"Aw… but we want to hear more!" The three kids said in unison.
"Hmmm… how about we listen to you tomorrow again?" Mishael asked.
Alice shook her head and said, "I'm sorry… but I need to go someplace else by tomorrow."
"Awww"
"But… If I'll be able to pass this way again… I'll certainly go visit you guys hehehe." Alice promised them.
"Ok! That's a deal, big sis! Maurice… Nana… Let's go… before our parents will scold us."
Alice looked at the backs of the three children as the marched back to their village. "May the 'Ancient' bless and keep you." She walks towards the sunset and looks up to the sky. "It's already been 2 years since then… I wonder how they are right now. Master left with Gin and they were nowhere to be found ever since… I guess he's 10 years old now… and can enter the Silver Sword Knight Academy… but… unfortunately… he has crippled mana veins…sigh"
2 years ago, after their 2-month extreme training lesson, the second brother Gregory Helm joined a caravan heading for Zebul while the eldest brother Gray Silverleaf went to Wiztra of the Wind to experience the knowledge of the world. Milton Highward went with some bards and dancers heading to the Nephilim City of Emerald. Rosemary Vough and Alice Heart went to Heart Kingdom together, then traveled to the Empire of Alluria to enter the Silver Sword Knight Academy.
"I joined the knight academy hoping to become a grand knight and maintain the level of affiliation of our Heart Kingdom and to protect the people I love. And Gin… he was the closest to me because our personalities had chemistry… in the 6 years, I was with him… I never knew his full name. He was the naughtiest as well as the kindest person I ever knew… as second brother Gregory said before, he'll just hurt himself if he fought. I remember Master telling us that 'Strength doesn't only come from being physically strong, from being mentally intelligent, or by being spiritually gifted. Strength also comes from the heart of a person who always believes.' I didn't understand what he meant, but maybe, he was saying that Gin had a different kind of strength of something. Well anyways, this is how we left… our little homestead."
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