Elysia was a whirlwind of excitement, pulling Ravina along in her wake. Fraven and Joren trailed behind, maintaining a respectful distance while Seit, the young maid, scurried along, striving to keep pace. Elysia had draped Ravina in a dress of vivid blue. Its elegant simplicity was accentuated with white lace and fine stitching. Upon Ravina's protest against any ostentatious adornment, any possibility of pairing the dress with flashy jewelry was discarded.

Doubts began to stir in Ravina's mind about her decision to explore the city alongside Elysia. On the other hand, Elysia seemed thrilled. After all, it was only midday, and they had the entire day to embrace the city's vibrance, given they didn't accidentally cross paths with Varis. So, Elysia, full of life, whisked Ravina down the spiral staircase and out of the castle.

Once they stepped outside the castle’s imposing walls, Elysia spun around, her face alight with excitement. Seit, panting from the effort of keeping up, found herself facing a question posed by an exuberantly amused Elysia. "Did they say we'd have a real carriage this time, Seit?"

Catching her breath, Seit nodded. "Yes," she puffed out. "Kyle is... he's... oh, look there!" She pointed ahead as a magnificent carriage rolled into view.

Majestic horses, one a deep chestnut brown and the other a glossy black pulled the magnificent carriage. Night sky blue mixed with dark, sleek black, forming a striking contrast. The carriage's design played soft curves against sharp angles, encapsulating an understated elegance.

Upon the driver's seat, there was a man who personified paradox. Broad shoulders and calloused hands, the badges of his past life as a farmer, juxtaposed with his polished demeanor. Sunlight caught his brown hair, mirroring the sparkle in his blue eyes, reminiscent of sun-kissed streams that ribboned across the fields he once tilled. A petite cap, sitting precariously on his head, provided little protection from the sun's glare, but it was worn as a symbol of his pride nonetheless.

With a grin that warmed his rugged face, Kyle greeted them. "Good afternoon, ladies. Sirs," he said, tipping his cap at Fraven and Joren. His voice, rustic yet comforting, carried the distinct lilt of the countryside. His voice contradicted his finely-tailored attire, reinforcing the intriguing enigma of his persona.

"Hi," Elysia replied, breezing past him as she swung open the door. Swallowing nervously, Ravina nodded to him and followed after Elysia, who helped her into the carriage and then quickly climbed in herself.

Fraven and Joren entered after them, taking the seats opposite the girls. Elysia turned to them, an eyebrow raised. "What are you two doing here?" she asked.

“You want to leave already?” Fraven asked in return.

“We're just as likely to be pulled back into duty because of this as you are,” Joren interjected.

"But you're both still on duty!"

"So are you."

Elysia began to retort but faltered.

“You're not planning on indulging yourself while we play bodyguards to her, are you?” Fraven asked, gesturing subtly towards Ravina.

Rolling her eyes, Elysia sighed, "Fine, whatever."

Meanwhile, Seit made her way to the driver's seat. Kyle extended a helping hand, which she gratefully accepted as she climbed up to sit beside him.

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Once everyone was settled in, Elysia leaned out of the carriage window. "To The Kantalateaka," she announced, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

It might have been late notice, but at this time - there was a chance. More importantly, the crest of house Ravenshield was outlined on this carriage. There was more than just a chance!

With a nod and a tip of his cap, Kyle replied, "As you wish." A flick of the reins sent the horses into motion, their hooves clattering against the cobblestones as the carriage rolled out of the castle grounds.

As the city's lively streets unfolded around them, conversation sparked within the carriage's close quarters. Fraven, reclining into his seat, folded his arms and engaged Joren. "Did you hear about the tournament's format this year?" he began, his voice carrying a casualness that belied his underlying disapproval.

With a nonchalant grin, Joren nodded. "That they're considering any old adventurers? It could be interesting."

Fraven shot him a surprised look. "Interesting? They're undermining the true essence of knighthood. It's more than just being good with a sword. There's a question of lineage, proper conduct, and strategy."

Joren shrugged, the smirk still present on his lips. "Maybe so, but wouldn't a knight who earned his title through skill and determination be worth more than one who just got it by birthright?

As their conversation flowed around her, Ravina found her mind clinging to certain phrases. Open format tournament? Adventurers vaulting from commoner to knight? Her thumb found its way to her mouth, her teeth gently grazing the skin as echoes of familiarity chimed in her mind. Yet she needed more information to pin down her hunch.

Before Fraven could muster a retort to Joren's commentary, Elysia gracefully cut in, her tone possessing a casual certainty. "Fraven's right. Admitting every half-talented adventurer? What about the mages? They need reliable allies, not amateurs."

Fraven's nod echoed his agreement, his face carving into a stern expression. "And it's not just that. What about the reputation of our order? The status of the nobility?"

Joren leaned back, a smug smile crawling onto his face. “Ah, but imagine the excitement, the diversity - we’d finally have some new faces. It’s about time.”

Fraven scoffed at the notion. "Do you truly believe that Varis would let riff-raff into our esteemed order? We are the Count's right hand here.” Fraven said.

Joren simply shrugged, the playful smile never leaving his face. “Exactly my point, Fraven. Perhaps it's high time our order learned to value skill over lineage.”

Fraven couldn’t help but roll his eyes at that, while Elysia's giggles lightly filled the carriage. “Joren, your optimism, while refreshing, is quite naïve. Varis is strict about certain...standards, and not just in combat skills.”

Joren only shrugged, a slight smile still on his face. “Well, Varis or not, I still believe the idea of a more open tournament might breathe new life into our order. It's about time we had some change.”

Fraven shook his head. “You honestly think anyone from that tournament would join our order? We might as well recruit another girl,” he gestured towards Ravina with a smirk, “Maybe this one would even fancy wielding a blade.” he laughed at his own joke.

Female adventurer, joining a tournament that just became open form. Winning the tournament she joins a prestigious order and has to navigate both her heritage and the opinion of her fellow men - eventually, she will prove them all wrong… talk about cliché.

If it was true that would make the winner the main character of the novel. Then, what would that make her? Side character? Best friend? Someone who died in the original? Wouldn’t that be the best option - she could let the novel play out and enjoy her life.

Better yet, if she became a knight under the count, then as his daughter she can easily become her best friend - a set of plot armor did sound nice.

Without warning, the carriage jolted slightly. It was a minor disruption, yet it was enough to startle Ravina, who had lost herself in the conversation. She had almost forgotten she was in a carriage, given how smooth this ride was in comparison to her previous, fear-inducing carriage experience. The sudden reminder of her location was sharp, and she gasped, instinctively reaching out to grasp Elysia.

Elysia, amused, steadied Ravina with a gentle hand, laughter twinkling in her eyes. At the same time, Kyle's voice cut through the air. He knocked on the carriage door, "we've arrived," he announced, swinging it open. With his help, they each exited the carriage in turn.