Percy approached the camp of the Glacia Knight Order and greeted some knights. They responded in a friendly tone, but their eyes and body language were nothing like they used to be. The Glacia Knights were vigilant and uncertain about how to treat him.

I expected some changes but for the Glacia Knights to treat me differently… It looks like there is no reason to keep hoping that nothing will change. That carriage departed.

A heavy sigh escaped his lips, but he moved onward until he reached the tent in the center of the camp. The Glacia Knight Captain, Knight Liam, and a few more Glacia Knights held a meeting, but their voices died down when Percy entered. The Glacia Knights retreated and pressed their right hand against their chest, only to lower their arms again. Confusion flickered in their eyes.

“I’m sorry for interrupting the meeting.”

Ulfhar waved dismissively, “Don’t worry about it, Percy. I’m glad you’re awake and doing fine. What’s bothering you?”

The Glacia Knight Captain didn’t sound much different, but Percy could feel Ulfhar’s eyes lingering on him for too long, intently studying Percy’s every move.

“I just wanted to know what will happen now.”

“Are you talking about the Imperial Training, or are you trying to mention–...” Ulfhar didn’t get any further.

“Yes. I am talking about the Imperial Training,” Percy responded curtly, his voice loud and clear.

The Glacia Knights in the tent were about to say something, but the old knight, Liam, stopped them. He glared at the Glacia Knights and turned back to Ulfhar.

“Lady Reeze told us the day before that the final decision has yet to be made. However, she is certain the Imperial Training in the Wintermoon estate will end here. We will probably return to the capital, where the remaining stages of the Imperial training will continue. Too many demons have been sighted in the last few months, but we cannot be everywhere. The kingdom needs the Imperials as soon as possible, otherwise, worse things will happen.”

Worse than the incident two days ago? Yeah, I have a bad feeling about that as well. Demons were said to rarely visit the mortal plane. Looks like that wasn’t true.

Percy wanted to say his thoughts aloud, but he kept quiet. That was probably for the best.

“The capital? I think stopping at the capital is a good decision,” He said instead. The capital would have been his next stop as well. Though other cities with larger businesses and enough Gifted, Cardists, and Egos to purchase valuable – Ego-enhanced – goods would have done the deed too.

“If you’re coming with us to the capital because of your debt to the Glacia Knight Order, you do not have to worry about it. Lady Reeze made clear that you won’t have to pay a single copper coin to the Glacia Knight Order. She will cover the 17 gold coins and 63 silver you owe to the Glacia Knight Order.”

Percy tilted his head.

“Why would she do that?”

Uflhar shrugged, but his answer was clear, “Probably because you saved many lives two days ago.”

Is that really it? I don’t think Melissa is that generous. What did she receive that made her believe she had to pay my debt?

Percy thought about it for a few seconds. He ignored the Glacia Knights in the tent and fell deep into thought, trying to come up with a reason.

Her action can be considered as paying me for saving the commonbirth Egos and nobles. Did they thank her for that instead, and did she feel guilty about it? Maybe she is growing closer to the other nobles and commonbirth Egos thanks to the incident.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance. Not knowing what was going on in Melissa’s mind when she waived his debt was annoying. Still, he accepted it. Why wouldn’t he accept it? Clearing the debt would be annoying.

But I have to repay Melissa for the Blueflame Hawk. I cannot leave that behind. If not for the Blueflame Hawk, I would be dead now. [Hawk Eyes] and the other Augmentations saved me during the demon attack and whenever I was out in the woods.

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Maybe Melissa didn’t feel the need to get repaid for the Monster Card, but Percy felt indebted.

The capital will help me earn a lot of money and grow stronger.

Deep in thought, Percy didn’t notice Old Knight Liam approaching him. He patted Percy’s shoulder and hinted a smile.

“Maybe we can find out more about your…identity in the capital.”

Percy was pulled out of his train of thought and winced. He stared at Liam for a while but nodded slowly.

His childhood might have been a little bit lonely, but it had also been special. It was never boring with Greg, though the old man had no idea how to raise a child. He always treated Percy like an adult while staying isolated from the rest of the village. But maybe it was time to open another new chapter of his life.

Since everyone was already talking about it, Percy felt it was natural to think about his family too. He had been certain that the door was closed because he never thought to reunite with them, but there was no doubt Percy was curious about his background. He should have died activating the Staff of Leech seven times in a row, yet he didn’t. At that time, it didn’t feel like his Essence would run out anytime soon. If anything, his lifeforce and mana would have given in way before his Essence dried out.

But that didn’t make any sense.

Why did he not die there? How did his Essence not run out?

Who…was he?

One moment, Percy had been an ordinary young man without family, and in the next moment, he fought against a bunch of demons to protect a handful of snotty nobles…only to find out he might be one of them as well.

That was creepy, but it would be foolish to run away from reality. Something was off about his identity, and the more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became.

He nodded toward Knight Liam.

“Let’s find out who I am!”

**

The final decision was made the day after Percy talked to the Glacia Knight Captain. They would leave the Wintermoon estate at noon and travel to the nearest city, where they would use the Portal to the capital. It was expensive and usually only used for emergencies, but time was of the essence. The portal would shorten their travel by weeks, which the Imperial Instructors hoped to be enough to finish the remaining stages of the Imperial Training before more Elite Demons terrorized the kingdom.

Early in the morning, the tents were removed and collected, and all essentials were stored, and they started moving out in one large group.

That was how their time in the Wintermoon estate ended.

The group was too large for the narrow track leading out of the Moonlight Forest, transforming the caravan into an easy target for monsters. At least, that was what the monsters attacking them thought. To their misfortune, nobody was afraid of the monsters daring to attack the caravan.

The monsters were repelled without slowing the caravan.

They reached the exit of the Moonlight Forest in the late evening, which was much faster than Percy expected. He was certain they would have to travel another day through the forest to escape the dangers of the densely grown Moonlight Forest.

Percy felt glad to be back in the wide-open lands of the Meiso Plains, and he wasn’t alone with that. Everyone was glad to escape the Moonlight Forest after everything that had happened.

They slept soundly outside the forest and resumed traveling to the center of the Meiso Plains as the sun rose.

Not many words were exchanged on the trip. Everyone was tense or in their own world of thoughts, trying to find a way to accept what had happened and how to prevent it from ever happening again.

The answer was easy to name but difficult to turn into reality.

Growing stronger would solve most issues, but how easy was it to grow into a truly powerful Gifted?

Percy sighed deeply, the tension of those around him gnawing on him.

Since he didn’t have a mount and couldn’t be bothered asking others if he could ride with them, Percy chose to resume his seat next to the coachman. The coachman had been nice to him on their trip to the Wintermoon estate, and Percy was certain the serious man’s attitude wouldn’t change. Unfortunately, Percy was wrong about that.

The coachman’s attitude changed drastically. He was more submissive, didn’t dare to speak up again, and responded in an overly formal tone.

The sudden change of attitude drove Percy crazy.

He tried asking the coachman a few questions about nobility, how bastards are treated, and similar topics. Since Percy was unsure what to do in his situation, he’d hoped the coachman could alleviate some of his worries, but the serious man was clearly the wrong man to ask.

If not for Erik and Tarlek, Percy would have been all alone with his thoughts and worries. The brothers were his ray of hope in the swamp that threatened to swallow him whole.

He was glad they would be with him until they reached the capital and after that as well!