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A few days went by as I got settled back into the home that I had been away from for months. I reconnected with the house staff that had taken care of me when I was confined to the mansion due to my period of uncontrolled aura, especially my previous personal maid, Alice, who still likes to pinch my cheeks like I was her baby brother, but for the woman who changed my diapers, I will allow it.

At that time, Mum tested Elise, and I asked her to show her dual casting, this impressed Mum greatly, and she congratulated me for spotting such good talent before she was snatched up, so Elise was offered retainership and a few gold sign-on bonus.

The day after that, I brought my friends into town to introduce them to the area, and of course, Emma had her arm wrapped around mine as we walked. When we entered the town proper, I introduced my friends as my house’s future retainers to the different vendors I frequented, and besides greeting them, they also took the opportunity to tease me about Emma clinging to me like a newlywed wife, this made Emma blush happily when I did not say otherwise due to how happy it made her.

We all got some snacks along the way, but when I reached home, there was more activity than usual, horses and a wagon were being prepared, and knights and men-at-arms who worked under my father were gathering on my front lawn. When I entered the house, there were servants helping my father into his armor.

“Ah, my son and his friends, just in time. Suit up, we just got news of Drake that attacked a livestock farm two hours hard ride from here.” Dad said as he turned to my friends, “Luke, bring your friends to the quartermaster, I think we have some armor in their sizes, As for you-” he said as he focused in on Elise and turned to a maid, “go ask my wife if she has any spare wands or staffs for miss Elise.”

“Yes, master.” the maid said before running off to find my mum.

As I dragged my friends through the halls to where the quartermaster was, Elise shouted, “What’s happening?! Where are we going?!”

“We are going on an adventure!... suppression mission actually, but onward to ADVENTURE!” I shouted as I got them to the quartermaster and told him to get my friends some protection. As for me, I ran to my room with Emma hot on my heels.

When I entered my room, I pulled out a chest that I had brought home from my dorm, inside was the mithril alloy armor set the king sent to me to compensate me for revealing my age. Along with the set of armor, in the chest was chainmail to wear under the armor and a Bascinet-style helmet with a purposely customized chin strap that was reinforced with chainmail sewn into it. I already died once due to a chin strap malfunction, I would like to avoid the same end, thank you very much.

I put my gambeson and chainmail on as Emma helped me into my armor and tightened my straps, when I was all dressed up and holding my helmet by my side, Emma pushed the dressing mirror in front of me.

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“You look dashing, Lord Luke, very heroic!” Emma excitedly said.

“Well, I don't know about heroic, but I, too, think I look dashing in armor.” I said as I turned around at different angles to inspect myself.

That is when I saw in the reflection, Emma coming behind me with a cape and started draping it around me, “Something to keep yourself warm, it is getting cold outside.”

As I thanked her for her help, there was a knock on my door, “Young Master Luke, your father calls, he is ready to leave” one of the maids called through my door.

I adjusted my cape and sword strap before we went to the courtyard where I saw my dad and his men, mounted and ready, and beside them also mounted and ready were Dave, Sam, and Elise.

The boys were suited up in mismatched plate, chain mail, and leather armor with an arming sword on their hips and round shields on their backs, as for Elise, she had a thick gambeson on with thick leather padding at critical parts of her body, and a staff secured to the side of her horse.

A stablehand was waiting with my horse beside my father. After mounting up, we waved goodbye to my family and house staff before we rode off.

***

“As long as fifty men are tall it was! Head as big as me house!” the old farmer with one clouded eye and the other eye pointing off to the side said as one of my Dad’s men interviewed the man.

While still on my horses, I leaned over to Dad and whispered, “Do Drakes grow that big? The bestiary I read was not clear on the average size, is the man lying? To what end?”

Dad just shook his head, “I believe that he believes what he says, but then again, I doubt the man has the best eyesight, so who knows what the man saw.”

It was then, that one of the hired hunters who tagged along came up to Dad, “My Lord, from what I have seen of the tracks left behind, the drake is adult-sized and somewhere ten to fifteen meters in length.”

At the end of the hunter’s briefing, the knight who was interviewing the old farmer came back to report in, “My Lord, all I got out of the man was that it was a big drake that ate five adult sheep before going back the same way it came from.”

“If it ate five whole sheep in one go, I would say the drake is closer to fifteen meters in size, maybe slightly bigger.” the hunter commented when he heard the knight’s information.

Dad nodded and looked at the nearby forest the Drake was most likely in. The Drake made such obvious tracks that one did not need to be a skilled hunter to see the squished vegetation and claw marks that dug up dirt and grass.

“Well, at least we know how big of a problem we are dealing with.” Dad said before turning to his men, “Ready your heavy crossbows, we are going on foot, I doubt our horses will fare well in such a wooded area.”

As I dismounted with the rest of the group, Dad asked, “You didn’t bring your spear? I heard news of your skill with it in the tournament, and was eager to see it in action.”

“It was too long and bulky to bring along. I mean, I could, but I did not want the hassle, so I left it with the Academy's armory.” I replied.

“Then your sword is going to have to suffice, but from what I heard of your performance, I will have nothing to worry about.” Dad said with a proud look on his face as we walked to the woods after handing our horses to the old farmer.