The experience of meeting his sisters was enjoyable, At least, Lanthim thought it was. The gardens, with the many flowers, had been a wonderful place for them all to meet. Lanthim would sit in the garden, recanting the memory over and over. Months gave way to years, with almost no real change in his daily life. Five years had passed.

Lanthim had grown well over the years for a child of six. He felt that he could do anything. Or so thought, the once thirty-year-old soul that inhabited this young body. To his joy, his mother would allow him to go with Milty into the village. He could leave the estate's grounds for the first time. The means of travel would be a small cart. The horse used to pull the cart was Clydesdale-sized. It was an absolute powerhouse. His name was Helgre, and the servants used him for trips to the village.

Being his first trip alone with Milty, his attention was on everything around him. The trees and hills looked so different from his perch in the cart. Looking at them from the estate, one could not truly see the beauty. Looking around him, he could see men working in the fields, with their horses and plows slowly preparing to plant. The efforts of these men would feed many hundreds of thousands.

"We are soon to enter the village, young master." [Milty]

Milty announced as he looked at every little thing that moved.

"There are lots of people about their daily business. Is there some festival happening today?" [Lanthim]

Lanthim looked at Milty, waiting for an answer.

'Well, at least he is sitting now.' {Milty}

Milty thought to herself as they entered the village.

"No, young master, it is only planting season now, and everyone is working hard. Since this region has such fertile soil, many farmers live here, so this time of year, there are many people about."

The village of Homal was one of six which provided the entire region's grain supply. So, it was familiar for thousands of people, either hired hands or merchants, to be active around the area at such a time. By selling wares or grain seed, the merchants who did their business at this time of year generally made significant sums of money. The number of stalls, wagons, and the whole new sensation of being in a large group of people was unique for Lanthim.

"Milty, can we look around while we are here?"

His desire was strong, and though Milty had important business to attend to, he still asked. The estate at this time had gone through a few expansions over the years. Also, three new family members had entered the world in the five years since Lanthim's experience, having met his sisters: a brother and two sisters, with the youngest being six months old. Lanthim found himself in an exciting situation in his previous life. He had been an only child with no siblings or relatives with children his age.

Now, he had many siblings before him and a growing number behind. It was for these three that Milty was presently in Homal. Not to buy but to retrieve previously purchased delivered items. To the clan stores in the village to be taken to the estate. With the estate growing to such a size as it had. The need to store all the goods coming from the capital was needed.

"We shall see the young master. However, these visits can take some time." [Milty]

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Milty's response quickly confirmed that her work here would take time. The number of people walking the streets here was substantial. Hitting anyone, even by accident, would lead to time lost. The clan storehouses were just outside the village to the east, three large buildings with the Frenost clan's crest welcoming them. Entering the complex where the storehouses were side by side, Lanthim could see at least ten large carriages that they carried he did not know. From what he could see, someone of influence was moving into the area. From what Lanthim could see, the carriages had large pieces of canvas placed over them. From what he could see, though, he had grasped that this person was wealthy and prominent.

Voices at the head of the train of carriages suggested a busied atmosphere. Men moved here and there in a hurry to be underway, and one of these, a tall, bald man, approached their carriage. He had a strange tattoo from one side of his neck to his left eye. Lanthim felt great interest in this man for some reason. As he watched this man approaching, he could sense natural mana flowing into the tattoo and not into his body.

"Milty Trigel, it has been far too long since last I saw you."

The man's words made Milty frown. She did not seem to like this guy too much.

"Pitralin Bretryn, what is an unwanted soldier doing in these parts?" [Milty]

A small, hateful smile was on her face. Lanthim, looking back and forth between the two, then felt that he was not safe in his current position.

"You still mad about what happened in the capital last year? I don't see the problem. It's not like you were going to allow yourself to be beaten by a man, right." [Pitralin Bretryn]

"I think this conversation, if it carries on. It will result in a dead fool and us being late, Pitralin. Hurry this up. We are leaving." [Milty]

Another man suddenly killed the argument between the two others. Both froze when he spoke, bowing to him when he came into view.

'I wonder who this is?' {Lanthim}

Lanthim thought to himself as he just sat watching everything unfold around him. This newcomer looked like someone he should know, slightly shorter than Pitralin. He looked like a person of influence. With how he stopped Milty from melting, this other guy was likely part of the family.

"Well, I never thought I would be so lucky to meet you outside the estate, Lanthim. I heard your mother keeps you where she can see you."

This person's way of speaking somewhat bothered Lanthim, like meeting someone you could be safe with until the situation changed to suit them better. However, he would not allow himself to act frightened in front of such a person.

"Mother felt it was a good opportunity for me to come out with Milty today."

Lanthim spoke calmly.

"May I ask who exactly you are? Sir?"

Finishing with this question, Lanthim waited.

"Ah! I see, so you know nothing of your other siblings besides your sisters through your mother. I see. Litralia always hated being obedient to your grandmother. We can put the clan situation aside for now to answer your question. I am your older half-brother. My name is Cortrael Frenost, twelfth son of Pamreila Frenost, our father's second wife." [Cortrael]

Cortreal's answer was not something that overly surprised Lanthim. He had tried on many occasions to ask his mother concerning other siblings. However, she would never entertain the conversation.

"It has been an interesting meeting for us both, sadly. I have some business that takes me to your mother's estate today. So we can not delay. I am pleased to have met you, Lanthim." [Cortael

Turning away and signalling the train to move out, Cortrael was gone, an exciting meeting that would lead to many adventures in future years.

"Young master, if you stay with the cart, I will see the items we are here for today."

Milty's countenance still seemed strained.

'She must hate that Pitralin guy for her to be still mad?' {Lanthim}

He thought to himself as Milty made her way into the central storehouse.

She was not in the storehouse long when a group of men. Arms full of many different kinds of items began to fill the cart. There were many clothes for young children and many other assorted items. He and his three younger siblings were constantly growing. So a need for new clothes was a must. It was only a short time before the cart they had brought filled quickly. Milty, seeing that it had all been appropriately stored in the wagon, grabbed the reins. She sat again next to Lanthim, looking down at him with a smile.

"We will have time to look at some stalls. If you like, young master, we must return the cart to the estate first." [Milty]

The expression on Lanthim's face was one of great joy. He wanted to see and experience so much more.