The forest folks of the dark forest are known to be very territorial; the infamy of the place and the fact that they really kept their matters private spread a typical notion on them. But it didn’t mean that they wouldn't go out to trade.

It only took them a day and a half to cross the whole span of the dark forest from east to west. The special paths the forest folk knew of are really not noticeable to the human’s naked eye. The paths are passed down, and marks of magic from their ancestors are the only way they could identify the paths.

They would swing and glide using leaves to travel faster. Percival actually struggled at first, but Simon knew how the forest folk traveled.

“We are here,” Afara said as they walked closer to a nearby town, located north of the port town Simon tried to ride the ship. Luckily, the dark-skinned long ears joined for the call. They promised to send two companies of warriors.

“We thank you for the help... I shall remember this!” Percival smiled and bowed with great gratitude.

“You don’t have to if you bring us some of the Pyre ores you have,” Afara answered mockingly... the two of them smirked. Simon thought it was awkward. Pyre ores are combustible materials that can only be found on the northeastern frontier.

<--->

The cluttering noises, lively chatters. Smell of the different spices, aroma’s to tease appetite. The town was lively, Simon really loved the town, but he had to closed his eyes pretending to be blind whenever he was in a town.

Afara and Percival noticed this but didn’t said a thing, half humans had been branded for a long time. Simon must have some bad experiences regarding to his eyes.

Afara led the two even buying them some meat skewers which Simon really appreciated as he gobbled it down with a smile. ‘It was easy to please him’ the two adults thought as the boy exuded with positive aura.

Using his fingers he pointed the mansion that they would be visiting.

<--->

The mansion had vines on it, but it didn’t take away the majestic look it exuded. Rather it added depth to its old structure. There were sounds of metal reverberating and shouts of people working. The place was under renovation.

As the three approached a red boy was already waiting in the veranda of the mansion.

“Sir Afara!!! I welcome you into my abode!!! Come in!!! Hey, please get some drinks for my friends here!” It was a young noble, a bit older than Simon probably. “Please have a seat, refreshments are coming in a while.”

Afara stopped and pointed his hands to the red-headed boy “Everyone… this young man here is Count Gallo Marcia… Gallo… a good day to you,” Afara offered a slight nod, following the noble's lead. The young man had red hair, and handsome facial features with a glint of intelligence on his eyebrows. He bowed with his hands on his chest while maintaining eye contact.

“I was practicing swords when I heard you were coming. Sorry if I’m a little bit sweaty here… let's be seated...” he said with a composure that was beyond his age.

“I’ll get to the point. The north walls on the frontier will be under siege in the next winter… we would like some reinforcement or such…” Percival took the lead of the conversation as soon as the silence permitted him.

“I knew it… those furs… it's a timber wolf, right?” Gallo smiled as he pointed out the fur on Percival’s back.

Although annoyed that he had to play to the conversation the northerner had experiences with nobles “Yes,” Percival confirmed, while Gallo then stood up.

“I cannot give you warriors and knights… my father died just 2 winter moons ago… as you can see, I’m barely maintaining the economy of the town…”

“I see… then we will try to find help elsewhere… we will finish the tea and leave…” Percival sighed and drank the tea that had just arrived. Simon tried it but couldn’t down it in one gulp; it was too hot. Percival then stood up.

Afara held his arms to stop him. “I believe that everything is possible… I know of the old rules. What can you offer me?” the young noble smiled.

He couldn't show the special crest since he was a boy; he didn’t want to demand support. Percival started seeing the young one in a different light, a gray light.

“I will not supply you with warriors; rather, I will supply you with cannons and engineers…”

He guided the three into his backyard, and a pungent smell of saltpeter permeated the air.

“Young lord! Good day to you, how may I help you?” one man instantly rushed to Gallo.

“A test fire if you will,” the man nodded, and he suddenly blew the whistle. A group of men and women emerged from a barracks that was also in the backyard of the lord’s mansion.

“This noble is weird...” Percival whispered.

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“Sir, I heard that… oh… I haven’t gotten your names yet,” Gallo answered the doubt, as he took a towel from his back, wiping his sweat off.

“Percival of the Wolf Tribe…”

“Simon… just Simon”

Gallo's eyes lingered on his closed eyes. He paused for a moment before waving his hands, summoning more servants who brought earplugs and a chair for the lord.

“Put it in your ears like this and cover your ears if you don’t trust me,” he said while demonstrating it himself.

It was a large barrel with a strange shape, loaded with an iron ball. With a small wheel, they pushed it into the front of them, then with a rotating mechanism, they aimed it in the far direction of the backyard, where a wooden dummy served as a target. It was a cannon.

“My lord, it is ready… your command,” the same guy who blew the whistle said.

Gallo scanned the area and it was clear. He took a cylinder-like thing from his pocket and looked through it.

“Make it a 36 and bear right 5,” Gallo said. The engineers immediately followed with clicks of the rotating mechanism.

“On point, sir!” as soon as they finished.

“Fire!!!” Gallo screamed.

“BOOOOOM!!!!”

Simon instantly hid back in the mansion while Percival placed his axe in front of the cannon as if he were blocking himself from it.

“Sir! It's a miss around 3 clicks,” one of the guys who were on the upper part of the mansion screamed.

“I see… well… we still have time-” Gallo removed his ear plugs “-I will increase the precision by the time we are there… what do you think?”

The display changed Percival’s perspective of the boy though he was still reluctant about the trade at hand “But I can’t give you 100 kilos of Pyre ores that easily; what you are asking is impossible. It's not that easy to get,” Percival complained.

“It doesn’t have to be instant… I’ll give you 3 winters to pay me 100 kilos of Pyre ore,” Gallo said, his smile was lively but had a hint of cold, he was on his businessman mode.

“But,” Percival still wasn’t sure of his decision. Simon came back like nothing happened.

“Then I will throw something more… I’ll send you a tactician too,” the red haired boy said aiming to finish the deal.

“A tactician?”

“Me,” Gallo gladly pointed to himself. “I’m probably worth 2 armies,” the gesture of confidence almost made Percival believe at the boy.

It was the first time Percival saw a noble like him. Not only did he have a strange way of doing things, but he could see that even if the young noble seemed like a child, his servants served him more than his age showed. It was strange… he believed what Gallo said was true. He looked at the servants and engineers who were watching their conversation. There was confidence in their eyes.

“You said that you were training with the sword, right?” Percival probed looking at the noble, up and down.

“Yes… I think I know where this is going,” with a flick of his hands, a servant took a sword and gave it to Gallo.

“I want to test your skills… even if you can at least defend yourself.”

“I understand... but also bear in mind... I have no intention of perishing in your campaign... Allow me to make it clear: while I will serve as the strategist, if the choice comes down to the fortifications or the lives of my subordinates, I will not hesitate…”

“Of course... in that case,” Percival stepped back, his gaze shifting to Simon. “Simon, show restraint.”

“Understood…” Simon unsheathed his sword from his back. Unlike Gallo's slender blade, Simon's was broader and longer, seemingly incompatible with his age; it appeared to be crafted from a monstrous creature's part.

“Gosh… that really hurts my pride, are you saying that this is the gap?”

“No... I perceive his abilities as on par with or even superior to mine,” Percival remarked solemnly.

“Well, I'll be damned... let's proceed…” Gallo assumed his stance. For reasons unbeknownst, Simon thrust his sword into the ground and bowed. Even Percival and Gallo were taken aback; it was an antiquated custom preceding duels between swordsmen. Gallo grinned and followed suit.

“Commence,” Percival declared.

<--->

The red-headed boy was finally alone in his room. He stared at his large mirror, his face was gloomy. He got the deal but he didn’t feel happy about it. Gallo sighed, he lay down on his bed... he began reminiscing about the fight against the boy.

It was not even close, the skill and the strength were far against each other. The boy he fought was silent, cold, and calculated. Simon parried and dodged all of his attacks; he wasn't sure if he was blind or not, but Simon kept his eyes closed. During their mock fight… if it was a real fight, he should have probably died 30 times or more. Simon would point out all of his openings.

His sword style specialized in pin-point stabbing and dodging at paper-thin margins. He had already mastered the footwork, coming from his master who had approved of his skill. Even his master, who was watching the fight, was dumbfounded. He would be entering a noble’s school in three more winters, but his fame was already spreading in the central, which gave him a composure beyond his age. But the difference between them was so great... his pride and confidence were totally damaged... it was humiliating.

‘The world was really big.’ His territory was located very far from the central. If it weren’t for the port town south of them and the safe path they offered, they wouldn’t prosper that much. He had been developing a product that could only be produced on his lands, but he was having a hard time. Rather, he had been stuck on developing the cannons.

But the Pyre ores were a great deal. His dreams and ambitions were the main fuel for his actions, the only thing that propelled him, and the only thing he was holding dear now. He had a dream... “It's a long way to go... I'm going to be a hero…” Gallo muttered with affirmation.

Gallo’s noble family had once been hunters, a branch stemming from the central hunters. However, as rulers changed, it seemed their core identity shifted as well.

<--->

They departed from the Marcian lands, heading south along the main road. Their next destination: the castle of Elford, the governing kingdom dominating the entirety of the eastern frontier.

It was Percival’s original destination. Afara had returned to the forest for preparations.

With the generosity of another kind man who allowed them to ride in his cart, they comfortably lay down on the stacks of clothes that came from the Marcian Town. Simon watched as the castle grew closer, his excitement mounting. During his travels with the old man, they had not had the chance to approach it before. Meanwhile, on his journey to Ahas Village, forests and hills obstructed his view.

The Elford castle was colossal, the word “humongous” barely did it justice. It loomed over the eastern frontier, visible from far and wide on clear days when no mountain or terrain obstructed the view.

“Calm down, kid. We still have half a day. Rest for a while,” Percival said, growing annoyed at Simon's constant standing and scanning of their surroundings.

After a few more hours, Simon caught sight of the castle walls.

“Built to withstand monster parades and sieges, it was considered the very epitome of frontier fortification, now serving as the legendary Elford family's home.”

The old man driving the cart proudly explained that he was a citizen of the Elford lands. Simon, though expressionless, couldn't help but clap with his hands.