Ten days had passed since the incident, everyone has returned to their usual lives and there came to view a peaceful village of Greenville lay nestled in the heart of the vast plains, its thatched roofs and whitewashed walls blending seamlessly into the rolling landscape.

To the south, the forest of Whispering Woods stretched as far as the eye could see

The forest to the north was dense in some areas, with towering trees that seemed to touch the sky. Though it is not as vast as the south, it's still large enough for wildlife to thrive

The village's eastern boundary was marked by a gentle slope, where the hills gave way to the foothills of the distant mountains. The mountains themselves rose up like giants, their peaks shrouded in mist and legend.

But for now, the villagers were content to enjoy their peaceful lives, surrounded by the beauty of nature.

As one walked through the village, they might notice the old stone well at its center, where villagers would gather to gossip and share stories. The village's main street was lined with shops and market stalls, where villagers could purchase fresh produce, handicrafts, and other goods.

And just outside the village, where the forests and hills gave way to the vast plains, two children 12 years of age, lay on a blanket, beside a tall oak tree, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Beatrice, a bright redhead with a jolly upbeat personality, was busy examining a small rock she had picked up from the ground. Ralf, with his messy brown hair and timid demeanor, sat beside her, his eyes fixed on the sky.

The peaceful silence was suddenly cut off as Beatrice let out a loud exclaim. "Oi!" she shouted, her bright blue eyes sparkling with excitement.

Ralf was startled, his eyes wide with surprise. "Wha-?" he stuttered.

Beatrice's enthusiasm suddenly caught Ralf off-guard as she exclaimed "Ralf! Did you see that big boom in the sky before?" Beatrice asked, her voice full of excitement.

Ralf shook his head, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Ugh, Beatrice, you keep asking me this same question over and over!" he said.

Beatrice's grin didn't falter. "I Was just curious! I wanna knoooww~" she sang, her voice rising and falling like a melody.

Ralf sighed dramatically. "If you really wanna know! Go ask one-chan!" he suggested, referring to his older sister.

Beatrice's face fell, her shoulders slumping in disappointment. "She won't tell me either!" she exclaimed.

"If she doesn't know, how would I know?" Ralf said with a shrug.

Beatrice's eyes sparkled with mischief again. "Can't you at least guess, jeez~" she teased, poking Ralf playfully in the ribs.

Ralf pretended to be offended, but his eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "Fine, fine. I'll try to guess," he said reluctantly.

Beatrice's grin grew wider as she encouraged Ralf to continue. "Ooh! Ooh! Tell me!"

Ralf thought for a moment before speaking up. "Hmm... Maybe it was... um... a giant bird or something?" he suggested.

Beatrice's face fell again, her eyes wide with disappointment. "That's so boring!" she exclaimed.

Ralf laughed nervously. "Hey, it was just a guess!"

Beatrice grinned mischievously once more. "Yeah, yeah. I'll just have to keep trying to find out what it was," she said.

As they continued to chat and speculate about the mysterious event

Just then, a guy with a laid-back personality appeared on the scene. He had slightly long brown hair reaching down to his neck, and a faint facial hair that added to his rugged look. His brown eyes seemed to be perpetually relaxed, as if he had seen it all before. He was dressed in worn leather armor, with a few scars on his arms and chest that told tales of his adventures.

"Sup kids?" he said, his voice calm and casual.

Ralf got startled again. "Ah-"

But Beatrice recognized him immediately. "Baldwin!" she exclaimed.

The guy smiled lazily. "Yo, so what's this talk about, uh... so what is this you're talking about?"

"The great boom!" Beatrice replied.

Baldwin nodded thoughtfully. "You mean from that day?"

"Yeah!" Ralf added.

Beatrice's expression turned curious. "Do you know what it is?"

"I don't exactly know, but I at least have an idea." Baldwin said as he leaned forward slightly, his eyes locked on theirs. "It was... a doing of a god."

Beatrice's eyes widened in shock. "I knew it! That's what I've been telling everyone!!"

Ralf's face expressed a hint of annoyance. "Then why did you keep asking me!?"

Baldwin chuckled. "I could be mistaken, but there's also a possibility that it could be a great battle had taken place at the skies~"

Both kids marveled in awe. "Woaah!"

Baldwin's expression turned serious. "But do you know what I really think?"

The kid's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Mmh?"

"I think it's the return of the hero that vanished thousands of years ago," Baldwin said slowly.

Beatrice's eyes widened in shock once more. "You mean the Legendary Black Holy Knight! The hero amongst heroes?! Who fought against the demon gods!? Omega!?"

Baldwin nodded solemnly. "Yes."

Ralf's voice trembled with both excitement and denial. "That's just a children's story!"

Baldwin chuckled. "But you are a child, Ralf."

"No I'm not!" Ralf protested.

"Yes you are!" Beatrice chimed in.

Baldwin laughed softly. "I can assure you kids, it's real~"

As Baldwin's expression turned thoughtful once more. "So, the real question begins... what would you do if you see him?"

Beatrice's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I'll shake hands with him!"

Ralf grinned mischievously. "I'll ask him to fly me up the skies!"

Beatrice giggled in agreement. "Oohh mee too!"

Baldwin wondered "Can he do that?" Then he chuckled softly and said "This may sound selfish, but... I'll ask him to take me in as his disciple."

Ralf's eyes widened in awe once more. "I wanna be his disciple too!"

Beatrice nodded enthusiastically. "Me too! Me too!"

But then Baldwin sobered up again. "But first, you have to be able to handle a sword if you want to be one. He is a knight after all."

Ralf's eyes lit up with excitement once more. "My dad has a sword!"

Baldwin laughs. "Haha course he has, he's a former knight after all"

"You also have a sword too, aren't you also a knight?" Ralf Curiously asked

Baldwin shrugs. "Nah, actually I'm an adventurer"

Ralf then beamed up with excitement "Is it as cool as being a knight?"

"Indeed it is." Baldwin nodded proudly. "I even fought a dragon" he added

Both of them exclaimed "So cool~!"

"How'z about I tell you kids about my adventures?"

Ralf and Beatrice nodded in unison. "Yes please!"

Baldwin sat down "Hahaha okay, okay.. so..."

As Baldwin began to regale them with tales of his adventures, time passed as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange-red glow over the plains... he then finished his story

"So that was my tale as the adventurer Baldwin," he said, a hint of pride in his voice.

There was an awkward silence for a moment, as if the kids were processing the enormity of the stories they had just heard. Then, suddenly, the silence was shattered by a barrage of questions.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"SO COOL!" Beatrice exclaimed.

"Is magic easy??" Ralf asked.

"Did you really fight a Dragon??" Beatrice added, her eyes wide with excitement.

Baldwin chuckled. "Haha, slow down! And yes, I fought a dragon. Really cool huh?"

The kids nodded eagerly, their faces aglow with excitement. "It is!" Beatrice said.

"Yes yes!" Ralf chimed in.

Baldwin grinned. "Hehe, anyhow. It's already sunset. You kids better go home before night or you know what happens."

The kids looked at each other nervously, then back at Baldwin. "If we have you on our side, those monsters are nothing!" Ralf said.

"Um!" Beatrice nodded in confirmation

Baldwin smiled nervously. "It is, but seriously, your mother's more terrifying than a monster so you should head home now, or she will... EAT YOU!"

The kids playfully screamed "AHHH!" and Baldwin laughed along with them.

"Hehehe. C'mon scurry on now, y'little scallywags," he said, waving his hand towards the village.

"See ya tomorrow, Baldwin!" Ralf called out as they ran off.

"Bye bye!" Beatrice added, looking back over her shoulder.

As they disappeared into the distance, Baldwin let out a chuckle and watched them go. He shook his head, smiling to himself.

The sun had set, and the sky was now a deep shade of indigo. The stars were beginning to twinkle like diamonds scattered across the fabric of the night sky. In the distance, a humble cottage made of Timber wood came into view. Smoke drifted lazily from the chimney.

As the kids went home, Ralf signaled Beatrice to sneakily walk to the other side to not get caught and scolded by his mother, Beatrice nodded and playfully went along. But then suddenly the door creaked open, and a figure emerged. It was their mother, Norah, slightly plump with black hair tied back in a ponytail. She was wearing an apron, covered in flour and streaks of sauce, and her eyes were narrowed with a hint of concern.

"Ralf? Where have you been?" She says

"Ahh, Mom. We we're just.. " Ralf nervously tried to make up an excuse. But then suddenly Beatrice came to the rescue

"Hi Auntie! We were just outside the village, under the tree! Baldwin was telling amazing stories!" She exclaimed.

"Hoho is that so~ you mind joining us for dinner today?" Norah asked.

"Yes please!" Beatrice said.

As they were about to enter the cottage, Norah stopped Ralf for a moment and smiled slightly but behind that mask was surely eminating an aura of displeasure. "We'll talk about this later, m'kay?" She said with a domineering tone

"Hehe o-okay.."

Ralf nervously laughed as he glanced at his mother with a hint of fear.

As they entered the cottage, they were greeted by the warm glow of candles and the savory aroma of dinner. Cindy, a beautiful young woman in her late teens with a long black hair, waved at them from her seat at the dinner table.

"Hi Cindynee-san!" Beatrice exclaimed, and Cindy smiled back at them.

"Sit in front of me," she said, gesturing to the empty seats beside her.

Ralf and Beatrice quickly took their seats, and Norah, their mother, began to prepare the dinner. The family's father, Andrith, a tall and rugged man with a kind face, sat at the head of the table, looking forward to the meal.

As they waited for dinner to be served, Cindy then poked her father with a curious expression.

"Dad? When are you going to take us to the capital?" she asked.

Norah, who was finishing up the preparations, stopped and turned to her husband. "Capital? Why have I never heard about this?" she asked.

"Oh, I was just about to buy some farming tools and fertilizers there," their father replied. "She just wants to come with."

Norah's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh, and what're you going to do there, sweetie?" she asked Cindy.

Cindy shrugged. "Nothing."

Norah chuckled. "Hoho~ is it because you're not satisfied with the boys at our village?" she teased.

Cindy rolled her eyes. "Nooo, Mom!"

Norah let out a teasing smile "Hehe just teasing."

As Andrith looked at Cindy with a hint concern and displeasure "Oh, and here I thought you were just trying to buy some clothes"

Cindy shook her head. "Dad it isn't like that," she said firmly.

Andrith chewed on his food for a moment before responding. "Sure, sure..."

As they began to eat their dinner, Ralf and Beatrice couldn't help but exchange curious glances. They had never heard of the capital before, and they were eager to learn more about it.

As they continued their meal, the conversation flowed smoothly, with Cindy passing the bowl of food to Andrith, who received it with a nod of gratitude. The family ate contentedly, savoring the delicious aromas and flavors.

But suddenly, Ralf spoke up, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and determination. "Err, Dad?"

Andrith turned to him, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Yes, son?"

"Can you... teach me how to use a sword?" Ralf asked, his eyes shining with excitement.

Andrith chuckled, his expression warm and encouraging. "Oh, so you're finally at that age, don't tell me Baldwin put you up to this?" he teased.

Ralf shook his head, his face serious. "No, I just want to be a knight, and be like Omega."

Andrith's eyes sparkled with understanding. "What? You mean from the story I told you before bed?"

Ralf nodded enthusiastically. "Yes!"

Their father smiled, his expression softening. "Sure, I guess it won't hurt."

Norah, their mother, spoke up, her voice laced with concern. "Honey..."

But their father intervened quickly. "What? We'll only use wooden swords, don't worry."

Ralf's face lit up with excitement. "Yeah, Mom!"

Beatrice, who had been quietly observing the conversation, suddenly spoke up. "Can I practice too?"

Cindy, who had been quietly eating her meal, looked up at them with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Are you sure you don't want to try magic, Bea-Chan?"

Beatrice's eyes widened in shock as she gasped. "Do you know magic Nee-san!?"

Cindy chuckled, her expression playful. "Hehe, I'm just suggesting since it suits you."

Ralf jumped to Beatrice's defense, his voice firm. "You're only saying that because she's a girl neechan."

Cindy shrugged, her expression nonchalant. "I mean a mage and a knight would be a good pair wouldn't they? You fight at the front while she supports at the back."

Ralf's eyes lit up with understanding. "That's... smart neechan!"

Cindy smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Fufu~ I know right? And by the time you already reached that point you and Bea-Chan will probably be a couple..."

As Cindy finished speaking, Ralf's face turned bright red as he stuttered out a response. Beatrice's eyes dropped in embarrassment as she clasped her hands together between her reddening cheeks.

The parents and Cindy couldn't help but laugh at the sudden turn of events. The warm atmosphere of the dining room was suddenly filled with a sense of joy and camaraderie.

As they finished their meal in contented silence, the only sounds were the clinking of spoons against bowls and the crackling of the fire in the hearth.

But as they were about to finish their meal, suddenly...

The tranquility shattered and the warm atmosphere turned grim for what was about to happen next...