Bryson stood there as a plethora of servants were swarming him preparing his outfit for the parade. Bryson felt that this was going overboard, but nevertheless he followed his family’s wishes. Once the servants were done engulfing him, he was able to take a good look at himself in the mirror.

He had to admit, he looked really good. He was in a nice immaculate navy-blue uniform with white accents. A lovely gray tie adorned his neck and a handkerchief folded neatly within his breast pocket.

Bryson then left his room and headed downstairs to the main room before the entranceway. There he was joined by the rest of his family all dressed up and ready for the parade. He noticed that Gilles was whispering something to Sable. Bryson noted that Nico would be keeping track of Gilles if he were to wander off.

“Oh, you look lovely dear!” His mother said joyfully, his father gave a simple nod of recognition at his appearance.

“Hello mother.” Bryson said simply as he joined up with his family. Together then left the house and into the limousine that sat waiting for them. The family entered the limousine, and it began to drive toward the city, with several other cards guarding them.

Bryson began to notice changes around the city as they drove past them. Decorations being lined around the streets, certain roads on the street being blocked of as a pathway for the parade. People began to line up on the streets.

Already he could see people lining up, food stalls and pop-up souvenir stands. The car continued to travel until they reached the entire other end of the city. Upon reaching their destination the limousine stopped and they all poured out and Bryson got a good view of the parade floats.

He saw a few different floats, all in various shapes and sizes, each one of them with different looked different from their peers. Each float contained their own unique structures that Bryson could tell they were painstakingly designed.

Then Bryson’s eyes drifted to a massive float, bigger than anything else, with giant display screens planted on all sides of the float. A giant group of performers setting up and practicing before everything starts. In the middle of the float Bryson could see a massive golden throne raised higher than anything else.

Bryson assumed that this extravagant float was for his family. His assumption was proven to be correct when a man who was directing the performers hopped of the float and approached his father.

“Duke Coldwater, welcome! How was your trip here?” The man asked while bowing deeply.

“It was fine, how is the parade going?” Duke Coldwater asked, in a deep drawl.

“We are ready to begin in thirty minutes.” The man reported.

“Good.” He said with a nod before turning to his children, “Get on the float.” He commanded, and they all followed his instructions.

As Bryson was climbing up a set of stairs, he turned to one of the workers setting up some of the decorations and asked them, “How long is this parade?”

“Oh, it starts from noon and ends around six.” They replied.

“I see.” Bryson said with a nod. Inwardly Bryson wanted to scream, six whole hours of slowly travelling around the city, sitting in a vehicle. Bryson would rather do anything then this right now.

Finding a seat, he sat down and prepared his mind for the mental onslaught of pure boredom and noise that would be bombarding him for the next six hours.

***

After over six long excruciating hours the parade was nearing to an end and Bryson woke up from his nap. He had managed to somehow drone most of the noise from the parade and dozed of here and there during the entire parade.

Though he wasn’t too sure how but he somehow managed to manipulate the noise around him. All that music and access noise were able to be muted within his own head, at least until he fell into a deep sleep, then the noise almost immediately woke him up.

While he was conscious, he could recall standing and waving to the crowd. Cheers and adulation rained down at them as they passed every street. With all the music, lights and performers it was entertaining to watch, for the first twenty minutes or so. Then Bryson just had to be there for several more hours, which Bryson got bored of very quickly.

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He wasn’t the only one who felt the fatigue of standing around and doing nothing, none of siblings seemed very entertained either. He swore he could see Gilles pondering on whether or not to run off.

Viola and Sable while faring better than Gilles weren’t enjoying themselves anymore than Bryson was. On Viola’s face a permanent false smile was plastered on her face. Though she seemed to genuinely enjoy the compliments about her beauty thrown at her by the crowd.

Sable on the other hand while she didn’t fall asleep was busy hiding in a more sound proofed area of the float and focused on playing around with one of her dolls.

Only Gareth seemed to somehow be wide awake and interested during the entire parade. Maybe because he was the oldest and was prepared for this, but he stood out to the crowd on full display. Right next to his parents, from the glimpses Bryson got between his naps he noticed just how suited Gareth was standing before a crowd.

Bryson’s train of thought stopped when the float finally, mercifully came to a halt. They had finally reached the end of the parade path. While other floats were still making their trips, the Coldwaters were done for the day. Or at least for the parade section.

Wordlessly Duke Coldwater departed from the float and down to a waiting limousine. Duchess Coldwater referred to her children, “Your father and I are headed to the formal party. I know you may be tired, but do any of you want to join us? It would be a great experience to fraternize with the other noble children.”

“I would be honoured to join.” Gareth said gracefully.

“Oh wonderful! Like a proper gentleman.” She praised him.

“I would like to join as well.” Viola said as well.

“Wonderful!” Duchess Coldwater said with a smile, turning to the youngest three she asked, “What will you three want to do?”

“I would like to explore the city ground mother.” Gilles requested.

“Very well, keep a guard with you at all times.” She said. Looking back at Bryson, “And you Bryson dear?”

Bryson took a quick glance over to Nico standing on the side who gave a reassuring nod. Okay, I think he has this.

“I would like to head back home mother.” Bryson said, glad that he doesn’t need to deal with any of this mess.

“And you Sable?” Duchess Coldwater finally asked her youngest daughter.

Sable looked to Gilles and then to Bryson, her eyes furrowing slightly in disdain at him, then back to her mother.

“I would also like to wander around the city.” She said.

“Perfect, I’ll have someone guide the two of you and someone else to drive Bryson back home.” Duchess Coldwater said happily and beckoned Gareth and Viola to follow her as she exited the float.

The Coldwater children all split off and headed to their respective destinations. Bryson got into a car being driven by one of the servants and was driven back home.

***

The traffic back to the Coldwater estate was rather heavy. With so many lanes closed of for the parade and the subsequent parties, many vehicles were narrowed down to only a few open roads. Causing Bryson to sit in the back of the car and stare out of the window watching as everything slowly moves by him.

Bryson still couldn’t quite comprehend why he had to stay with the parade for six hours. Unlike his parents he didn’t really care for the adulation of the crowd. The parties, food and games seemed so much more entertaining than what he had to go through.

As he looked through the car window, he noticed something. He blinked once in disbelief as he realized he saw the ex-maid Lila Frost running across the street, her eyes filled with fear. Bryson rolled down the window and poked his head out called out at the running woman.

“What are doing?” He asked.

Hearing him, Lila quickly turned toward him and ran alongside the sidewalk, which at their pace wasn’t very hard.

“There you are! You need to quickly come!” She cried out.

“What? Why?” Bryson asked annoyed.

“It’s Petr!”

“I still don’t know who that is.”

“I saw him exiting a warehouse where your siblings went!” She said while moving alongside the vehicle.

“Yes, and Reese is going protecting them. Also, another knight was guarding them the whole time. My parents had one join them.” Bryson replied bored.

“That guard wasn’t there, I only saw your knight friend.” She said.

“He’s not my friend. But he should still be enough.” Bryson said, trying to ignore the unease he was beginning to feel.

“There were four of them I saw. Excluding Petr.” She stated.

“What does that mean? Is Petr really strong.” Bryson asked.

“It means that your knight is fighting four people.” She emphasized.

The driver at this point was giving curious glances at the rear-view mirror over their conversation.

“What do you want me to do?” Bryson snapped.

“I don’t know. I just feel like you needed to know.” She replied.

Bryson stared at Lila for a moment as thoughts raced through his head. He was only seven and three-quarters old, what could he do? But his siblings were in trouble and the person who he sent to watch them was also in trouble. And there didn’t seem to be anyone else available to help. But again, what could he do? Time was running out. A choice needed to be made.

Finally, he spoke to Lila, “Do you know where the warehouse is?”

“Yes. But it’s faster on foot.”

Pausing for another moment, Bryson shook his head once and said to her, “Lead the way.” He then unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door and ran out.

“If you’re sure.” Lila said.

As Lila lead him toward the warehouse. From behind him Bryson heard the servant yell out at him in panic, “Lord Bryson! You can’t leave the vehicle! Your parents forbid it!”

“Tell them to find me at the old adventuring warehouse!” He snapped back as he headed down the streets behind the ex-maid of the Coldwater house.