The day we finally leave Hillcrest has arrived and i admit, it does feel a little... strange.

I didn't think i would develop any type of attachment to this place, but it's one of the two places i've known my entire life here, the other one being Luton.

Traveling beyond these two places makes me feel a little nervous.

Eric is loading up a wagon next to the gate with Anna.

I, on the other hand, am standing in front of the big tree.

The spot i've been striking all these years feels smooth to the touch, evidence of all the hard work i've put into it and i guess i feel some attachment to it too.

If life here is so peaceful, will any other place compare to it?

Will i ever feel the same amount of peace anywhere else?

I doubt that, the path to greater strength, is far from peaceful.

Hmm, i wonder what Alfreda's doing right now?

Has she and her mother found a new place to settle in like she told me?

Have they found a suitable school she can enroll in and make new friends?

I shake my head.

Am i actually thinking about her?

That can't be right, it was just a passing thought without any meaning.

I'll forget about her sooner or later.

"Alex! Come inside, let's go over the plan one more time before we leave!"

Eric shouts from the backyard door and disappears inside.

I find everyone gathered in the kitchen, a map placed on the table.

"This is Hillcrest."

He places his finger on a small circle on the map with tiny letters reading "Hillcrest".

Hmph, are we that insignificant?

"And up north, there's Luton. We will go there first and pass through the gate on this side. From there, we'll follow this road north-west until we reach the capital."

He traces his finger along the marked road we're supposed to take.

From the map i can see you can get to a few places from Luton, including The Kingdom of Warmon in the east.

"If the weather's good it should take about four days to reach. The supplies we saved for this day should last until we reach the capital and after you've dropped me off, you will use the remaining money to resupply and follow this road straight to west towards The Kingdom of Ebric."

Eric explains the complete route he's chosen when Anna interrupts him.

"Ebric? Are you sure, Dear?"

"Sigh, you can't really reach any other place with the amount of money we have left. The road will go through their borders straight to the capital, which is somewhat decent from what i've heard, as long as you avoid certain parts of the city. I'm sorry Anna."

"Don't be Eric. I trust your judgement, so Ebric it is. I just hope that the war ends quickly so that we can all return home."

He reaches out to place his hand on top of hers.

"I hope so too Anna."

He rolls the map and puts it in a sack.

"Time to leave. Make sure you've grabbed everything important, we won't be turning back."

I'm pretty much ready with my fresh clothes and a cloak on, my sword with its new scabbard strapped to my back.

Of course i still have Stella's satchel, i don't want to leave it behind.

I need to reserve some time to study it further, maybe she'll give me a reward for returning it.

I take a one last look of the kitchen and the living room before heading to the front door, but before i step out, i get a sudden urge to go to the backyard.

"Alex are you coming?"

Eric shouts as he gets on the wagon and grabs the reigns of the horse pulling it.

"Y-Yeah! I'm just gonna check one thing!"

I say to him and disappear inside the house, running towards the backyard door, bursting it open, not stopping before i reach the big tree.

My heart beats fast, not from exhaustion but a feeling, a feeling i can't put a label on as i watch the worn out spot.

It all started here, with this tree, my journey towards greater strength.

It's high time i pay it my respects.

I pull my right fist back, striking it with the loudest scream i could muster.

"RAAH!"

The tree's branches shake lightly, dropping its remaining leaves on the ground.

I then hurry through the house, closing both the backyard and front doors.

"Unfinished business?"

Eric asks as i hop on the back of the wagon.

"Something like that."

I answer him, taking a seat on an empty spot, leaning my back against the wagon wall.

Ava is napping opposite to me, resting her head on a sack.

Eric makes a sound to make the horse pull the wagon, Anna sitting next to him and clinging to his arm.

My head turns to take one last look at our house, before disappearing beneath the horizon.

A few hours later we arrive in Luton.

"Lot's of soldiers are already camping here."

Eric comments and looks around.

Anna pulls down her hood slightly, trying to hide her face nervously.

I open my eyes and sit up to get a better look.

He's right, the soldiers i assume belonging to the king's army are raising up tents and building defensive structures.

There's quite a lot of them, Luton must be quite strategically important to warrant this kind of protection.

"See that insignia on the soldiers chests, Alex? That's the symbol of the current house ruling Mercia."

A soldier passes our wagon and i take a quick look.

A golden lion on a silver background, their uniforms are a mix of gray and yellow too.

We pass the gate and we see even more soldiers inside the town.

Eric notices a familiar face when we reach the town square.

"Gondo!"

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Eric waves towards a nearby wagon.

Gondo acknowledges him, offering a wave in return.

"Eric! I decided to follow your example! Me and my buddies are just about ready to leave!"

"Where are you headed?"

"South, through the forest!"

"Aren't you worried about bandits?"

"Bah! We can swing hammers at heads too!"

"Well, good luck then! I hope we get to meet again someday!"

They wave each other goodbye and we continue heading towards the west gate.

We pass through it and pick the correct path leading to the capital.

It's a strange feeling, seeing the world beyond Hillcrest and Luton.

A day passes by and i feel quite bored.

Our journey thus far has been nothing but forests and fields of grass.

Anna is sitting next to Eric on the front seat of the wagon, her hands held together in prayer, glowing gold as sweat drops form on her forehead.

"What're you doing?"

I ask her since i have nothing else to do.

"Practicing my holy magic. I need to convince a church that hiring me will be worth their time."

"Uh-huh. Any progress?"

"Sigh, not really. At times like these, i really wish i had more potential for it."

"Don't sell yourself short, Dear. Any church would be grateful to have you."

Eric assures her, taking her hand in his.

She leans against him, her head resting on his shoulder.

"Thank you Eric, you always know what to say to make me feel better."

They both chuckle, looking into each others eyes before leaning in for a kiss.

"Ugh..."

I turn away from them and look at the road behind us.

"You promise to stay safe out there, Eric?"

There's a sudden shift in her mood and he clears his throat.

"About that, the letter didn't really specify what my role would be in the king's army, but with my skills there's a real possibility of sending me to the front lines. I thought you realized that?"

Her heart sinks and she looks down at her feet.

"I-I didn't want to think about it. I just wanted to believe that the war would be over quickly and that we all could return home. I don't want to lose your Eric!"

She clings to his arm again, tears forming on her eyes.

"I don't want to lose you either Anna, including Ava and Alex. I know it's sudden, but let's enjoy the time we have left together."

"Yes, dear~"

She coos, her tail swaying gently.

Later at night.

"Aah~! Aah~! Nyaah~!"

Eric and Anna have set up a tent some distance away from the wagon, her moans can be heard in the silent night.

They haven't really had a chance to do it in the past month, because we've been sharing the same room to sleep.

I guess it was to be expected, since there's a real chance they'll never see each other again.

Although i do find the chance of Eric dying in the battlefield to be quite small, considering his skill and how he was able to defeat Grem.

He did speak about individuals possessing incredible power, but the chances of encountering someone like that must be even smaller, i mean, there can't be that many individuals, right?

"Eric! Eric!"

She calls out his name with tearful passion.

"I'm right here, Anna."

It's surprising how Ava manages to sleep through the noise, laying next to me in the wagon.

She won't complain about lost sleep in the morning.

"AAH~!"

A final high-pitched moan before everything falls silent.

Next day our journey continues as usual, filled with boredom, at least for me.

Eric and Anna are sitting on the front seat of the wagon as usual, whispering sweet nothings to each other.

Seems like they "rekindled" their love for each other after last night's tryst.

Ava sits across from me, none the wiser, just eating the leftover breakfast Anna made us.

We should arrive in the capital tomorrow, we've passed a few villages and towns occupied by soldiers and other people fleeing the war.

The war started a month ago, but has there been any actual fighting yet?

"Yawn!"

"Tired Alex?"

Eric asks me with a sarcastic tone, turning his head slightly towards me but keeping his eyes on the road.

"Take a wild guess."

I scoff at him.

"Heh, you know how it is between parents? You'll understand when you grow older."

"Actually i don't nor do i care. When we meet again, i don't expect to find another new sibling."

Hearing this makes them both laugh, making me feel irritated.

I rest my arm on the side of the wagon and rest my head on it, lazily looking at the scenery.

Currently we're surrounded fields of grass and small hills, extending far away before turning into large forests.

Is it just typical to this region?

I just want to see something new for a change.

Another night eventually arrives again, but for some reason i don't feel that tired despite the lack of sleep from last night.

Anna and Ava are sleeping next to me, so i decide to get up sit next to Eric on the front seat.

"Not tired?"

He asks casually, slightly sleepy himself.

"Yeah."

Cool night air fills my lungs and i let it out slowly.

"So, anything you want to talk about?"

He inquires.

"Not really."

"That's alright, i was just thinking that we should have a final proper talk before we arrive."

"Hmm, well in that case there's one thing i want to ask you. Why during my sword training, why didn't you teach me an offensive martial technique?"

"Sigh, i won't lie to you Alex. I don't want you to use a technique i've taught you to kill a man. I failed to make you abandon your goal, so it's the least i can do. You'll have to learn them by other means, from books or other people if you can manage to convince them to teach you."

"Hmph."

A minor setback, but i'll do as he advises, find someone else to teach me or figure it out myself.

"Eric, do you think i have talent for swordsmanship?"

"Hard to say, but i can sense a great deal of potential in you."

"Really?"

"Sure. The way i see it, talent is more like a head-start, while potential is the true capacity of your ability. There's not much use for talent if your potential is lacking. I believe potential can be as strong as talent, perhaps even stronger. Hard work will always be rewarded. The reward may not always be equal to the amount of effort you've put into achieving it, but as long as you're consistent, you will get stronger."

His words resonate with me.

"Hard work will always be rewarded."

I'll be sure to remember it.

I finally begin to feel tired and decide get back in the wagon.

"Eric?"

"Yes, Alex?"

"Thanks... dad."

I rest my head on my arm and he turns to look at me.

"You're welcome son."

A small smile forms on the corner of his mouth.

"Alex, wake up! We're here!"

Anna nudges me awake, excitement in her voice.

"Ah, so noisy...!"

I sit up and rub my eyes, then turn my head to see what all the fuss is about.

"We've arrived, Alex. Welcome to the capital of Mercia."

Eric announces, keeping his own enthusiasm to a minimum.

We reach the highest peak of the hill in front of us, and are greeted to a sight that even makes my eyes go wide in amazement.

An enormous castle stood before us, right in the middle, towering over the cities beneath it.

The castle itself is surrounded by a moat, a few bridges connecting it to the rest of the land.

Three layers of walls encircle it, the cities withing the first layer closest to the castle looking highly prestigious.

The nobility of Mercia most likely live there.

The towns inside the middle layer, look similar to Luton, though a little more affluent.

I see that the third layer seems to be rather sparsely populated with wooden houses like ours, or it must be an illusion created by the fact that it is also the largest layer.

Even from this distance, i can see large patches of vegetation mostly within the outer and inner layers, probably servicing as parks.

All of this is surrounded by even larger fields of farmland, making the castle and its layers look small in comparison.

"Pretty impressive, don't you think Alex?"

"What do you think!? I assumed the capital would be big but this? This is huge!"

He and Anna laugh, Ava sitting between them with sparkling as she points towards the castle.

"Pretty!"

Once we get closer to the furthest layer from the castle, we witness the true scale of things, the first ones being the huge gate and walls.

"Halt! State your business."

A guard wearing Mercia's colors stops us and approaches our wagon while a few others move in to block us.

"I've been summoned by the king's army."

Eric answers him with a disinterested tone.

"Your won't deceive that easily commoner. Do you have proof? A pass?"

"No but i have this."

Eric pulls out the letter he received and hands it to the guard.

His face goes pale the moment he sees the royal seal and he hands the letter back to Eric.

"M-My sincerest apologies, Sir! I didn't know! Men, let this man through!"

The guard commands the guards blocking us to move away, then turns back to us, rubbing his hands nervously.

"Sir, due to the war we must be extremely wary of those who approach the capital. My sincerest apologies once again, Sir."

"At ease soldier. It's understandable."

He assures him and pockets the letter.

"While we're here, can you tell me where i can find the army office?"

"Yes, Sir! Just head to The Golden District, the city-ring closest to the capital! Go directly through The Bronze District here and The Silver District after it. It's a huge building with banners, you can't miss it."

"Thanks."

Eric flicks the reigns and we're on the move again.

It takes around two hours to go through the bronze and silver districts.

The bronze district felt rather calm, reminding me of Hillcrest.

The silver district on the other hand felt similar to Luton, just bigger and louder.

Not many different races though, mostly humans and a few dwarfs and beastfolk, but no elves for some reason.

Passing through the gate leading to the golden district however, was a whole new experience.

The building and atmosphere gave a sense of prestige and wealth, the Mercian colors of gold and silver adorning most surfaces.

Well dressed people doing activities only they could afford.

As i got closer to the title of mightiest fighter on earth in WWEF, i too amassed quite a bit of wealth, but had no desire to spend it on anything, so i just let Coach use it to buy new equipment to the gym or pay for other expenses.

"I see the office over there."

Eric announces and steers the wagon.

It's just as the guard described it, a huge building covered with banners bearing the royal insignia.

He stops the wagon next to the military office and all of us get off.

"Wait here. I'll go in and confirm if this is where you'll be dropping me off."

He goes inside and i lean against the wall.

Anna paces back and forth, looking nervous.

About 10 minutes later Eric steps outside.

"Sigh, yep, this is the place. You'll be continuing without me from here on out."

Anna runs up to him and hugs him.

"Eric! Please don't die out there. I don't know what i'll do without you!"

She cries into his chest, staining his shirt.

He places his hand on her head, then strokes it to soothe her.

"It's okay, Anna. I promise we'll meet again soon. Who knows, maybe it'll be sooner than you think?"

She cries for a few moments before finally letting go of him.

"Promise?"

She leans towards him for a kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Promise."

He fulfills her final request and kisses her.

I find myself unable to look at them.

"Alex? Anything you wish to say before you leave without me?"

He takes a step towards me and i turn to look at him with my arms crossed.

"Not really. Just tell me about any strong people you fought."

I say to him and get back on the wagon.

"Heh, i'll be sure to write down every detail."

He says a few last words to Anna and Ava and then embraces them before they get on the wagon too.

With teary eyes Anna flicks the reigns and we begin moving towards the nearest gate to the silver district.

Eric continues to wave us goodbye, until he disappears back inside the military office.

"Sniff, we'll stop by a general store to resupply and then be on our way, okay?"

"Alright."

I answer her and look up at the sky.

Soon it'll be just me left.