At dusk, the two brothers left their lodging and went to the street again. But this time carrying luggage that they piled up next to them.

»As always.«, mumbled Alvyn. »If we are late, we get reprimanded … but if she's late, you can't even mention it without her getting angry.« He picked up a little stone from the ground and gave Vern a prompting look, who nodded in response.

After he had picked up a stone as well, Alvyn said: »I'll go first.«

A moment later, he threw the stone as strong as he could into the air above the nearby forest.

»What do you think that was? 300 meters? 350?«, Alvyn asked as it vanished between the distant trees.

»Yeah. I'd say closer to 300.«, replied Vern and readied himself.

He took a moment to focus and concentrated the mana into his throwing arm. Somehow it felt different than usual, so he stopped after just a few seconds and hurled with maximum force.

The stone traveled through the air, hitting the forest trees a bit further than Alvyn's stone had.

»Ugh, not bad. I guess that was about 350 then.«, commented Alvyn.»Don't tell me you've been practicing that secretly, as well. But just wait, the first time my stone wasn't heavy enough.«

They each picked up another one of the ground.

»Well then. What are we going to play for now that we're warmed up?«, asked Vern, committed to beating his previous record.

»Hmm, how about … seat choice in the carriage?«, suggested Alvyn.

»Sounds good. Go first.«

This time, Alvyn took more time preparing himself.

The stone left his hand at a perfect 45-degree angle, and as they watched its trajectory, Vern heard a familiar sound coming closer.

He quickly took a step away from Alvyn, dropped the incriminating evidence he was holding, and shoved it away with his foot.

However, Alvyn hadn't noticed it yet and he happily jumped up shouting: »Did you see that one? That was definitely my new record. Probably about 500 or so! What do you …«

He stopped as he realized that Ezra was approaching them on the carriage. When she reached them she jumped off and glared at Alvyn.

»What do you think you're doing? Throwing stones into a forest like that? Do you want to kill those who cut down trees there? Or just happened to hunt?«

»I … I didn't mean to–«

»I don't care. Just think for a bit next time. Load on your stuff now.«

While they did so, Alvyn exchanged glances with Vern, basically asking him: Why always me?

And Vern replied wordlessly: I don't know. Guess you're just unlucky.

»I will be in the front steering the horses«, said Ezra, after they had finished. »You will be sleeping in the back. That's an order. So make sure to actually do so.«

She climbed back on, to the position just behind the two horses, and the two boys went into the storage area.«

The carriage was essentially just a tarpaulin on a wooden card that was fixed in a cylindrical fashion with an open front. It looked like any old carriage that was frequently used to transport goods – and felt as comfortable as it sounded.

»I'll go in the back«, said Alvyn to Vern.

»Hell no, you won't. You will be right here next to me.«, ordered Ezra and pointed right behind her. »I'll keep a close eye on you, so you better just sleep the whole way there.«

Alvyn dropped his head in resignation and did as he was told while Vern kept a straight face trying to hide his amusement.

The carriage slowly started moving, and Vern arranged the luggage in the back to create a comfortable place to sleep.

Hours passed, during which he just listened to the rumbling and rattling of the wagon, slowly fading into the realm of dreams.

Vern woke up, the memory of the dreams he just had muddied, as they usually did. He sat up and noticed that the carriage wasn't moving anymore. The sun shone through the open front, and neither Alvyn nor Ezra were to be seen.

Just in case, Vern grabbed the sword lying next to him and stepped out of the storage compartment.

As he did, the smell of roasted meat made him aware of his hunger, and the next moment, he spotted Alvyn and Ezra sitting around a fire with two other men.

He dropped the sword and swung down the carriage, making his presence known to the others.

»Oh wow, you also finally woke up. Was cozy in the back, wasn't it?«, greeted Alvyn, with bags visible under his eyes.

»Yep, quite refreshing indeed«, answered Vern and stretched his arms and legs before coming closer.

Ezra was currently busy inspecting the meat's condition over the campfire. The other two, which Vern recognized as Kieran and his trainer, looked at the meat, eagerly awaiting lunch.

»You are just in time«, announced Ezra as he sat down and put the massive chunk of meat on a plate. »Commander Bertio and Kieran are kind enough to share their spoils with us.«

Vern looked over at them and nodded slightly to express his gratitude.

»Well, it wasn't much of a choice, considering how much better the food is when you're doing the cooking«, said Bertio and winked at Vern.»Everyone has to experience such a delicacy at least once.«

»Ok that's enough.«, interjected Ezra. »Take your meat and be quiet, at least for a bit.«

He happily excepted the plate she gave him and started wolfing down the meat.

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When Vern received his portion, he followed his example. The meat was truly delicious, not only tender but also well-seasoned.

After they had all overindulged and rested for a bit, Alvyn, who had fidgeted around for a while, stood up.

»Can we look around the forest for some time?«, he asked Ezra. »I've been sitting and lying around for hours now. My whole body is so stiff.«

Ezra exchanged a glance with Bertio who approved. »I don't mind. As long as you don't enter the bailiwick, you three can do whatever you want.«

Without another word needed, the three of them equipped themselves and left the campsite. As they entered the lush green forest Alvyn asked Kieran, who hadn't said a word yet: »That's the first we've met outside of any official event, isn't it?«

»Yeah. I always hate these«, answered Kieran. »Just standing around, as my father always says: Being presentable. Definitely not looking forward to the next one.«

»Yes, me neither. I like it much more to use my sword for real than just to present myself with it in public.« Alvyn drew his sword, swinging it around demonstratively a couple of times.

Vern and Kieran watched the crimson blade cut through the air a couple of times.

»Doesn't look bad at all«, commented Kieran. »Can I hold it?«

»Sure.« Alvyn stopped and gave him his sword, receiving Kieran's spear in exchange.

They both attacked the air to test out their respective weapons.

»Nah, I really feel nothing.«, said Kieran and handed the sword back. »Just doesn't click with me. Do you want to try as well?«

He offered Vern his spear.

»Sure. Thanks.«, he took it and pushed it forward a few times. The white metal was cold as if it had been lying on ice until now. He tried to move his mana into the spear, connecting with it, but as expected, it didn't work.

»So I'm curious.«, said Kieran when he received the spear back. »How does that work … since you're twins and all. Can you, Vern, use the Hellfire Sword as well?«

»No, I can't. I am twelve minutes younger, after all.«

»Oh, kinda unlucky I guess.«, Kieran gave Vern a sympathizing look.

»That's alright, since we still train together and all, nonetheless, right?«, said Alvyn and jumped on his brother's back from behind. Vern stumbled and almost fell down face-first.

»Ahh, stop that.« He tried to get rid of Alvyn but to no avail.

Kieran watched them and knit his brows. »Must be nice. Training like that, together. I'm most of the time only around Bertio, which is … not the worst, but also not very fun in the long run.«

»Well, I'm sure you are overestimating how much fun it really is to try and train with one's sibling.«, said Vern after he had finally managed to get rip off Alvyn by sandwiching him between himself and a trunk. They continued going deeper into the forest.

All of the sudden, Kieran, who was in the front, took a step back instead of forward.

»That's as far as we can go«, he announced, and the other two lined up next to him.

Vern reached out his hand and felt a tingling sensation in his fingertips after a just few centimeters as if his hand was passing through a veil of some sort.

»Oh wow, feels so weird«, said Alvyn and repeatedly moved his hand back and forth.

»Hmm? Have neither of you been to a monster bailiwick yet?«, Kieran asked surprised.

»No, unfortunately not.«, answered Alvyn embarrassed by his lack of experience. »Ezra just didn't want to let us go. She's way too strict on us …«

»Well, no problem.«, assured Kieran. »That's how it usually feels – like the mana is trying to escape your body. But once you're inside completely for a while, you won't even notice it anymore.«

They moved along this invisible border, that was seemingly arbitrary with no visual markings.

Only a minute had passed by before they stopped again. A few meters behind the border, they heard rustling sounds coming closer, and the next second, an enormous creature stepped out of the scrubs. It was similar to a boar in its body form but double the size and had fangs protruding from the mouth. Alvyn and Vern drew their swords. However, the beast only stood there, watching them with its small, red eyes.

»I understand that you're worried but they never cross the border.«, said Kieran and just started moving again.

»I know … but I still don't really trust that.«, replied Alvyn and hesitantly followed Kieran, keeping a close eye on the monster next to them.

»I understand. It's better to be ready. I'm honestly also a bit surprised since they normally don't even come close to the border.«

»Should we … like … kill it?«, asked Vern.

»Hmm, better not.«, answered Kieran. »Then the commanders would think we actually entered and disobeyed their orders. Just leave it be.«

They continued in silence, but the trio had gained a new member, as the boar monster just followed them along on his side of the border. It even got worse as a second one appeared and joined in.

»I don't know man«, whispered Alvyn. »Why are they following us like that? Feels like they're just waiting to get the jump on us.«

»I've never seen them do that«, said Kieran, a hint of distress in his voice. »I think we should go back to camp. We shouldn't bunch up more of them so close to us. That only makes problems when we enter it.«

Vern and Alvyn nodded and so they moved away, leaving their newfound companions behind.

»Maybe they're smelling the meat we just ate?«, thought Vern out loud, and Kieran giggled.

»You mean Bertio isn't the only one longing for Commander Ezra's cooking? Not a bad theory, actually. Smelling us out is something that they could probably do.«

»Well, got to give it to her, it was very delicious. Even the monsters can't resist.«, added Alvyn.

They continued to joke around until they reached the campsite again.

In the meantime, a third carriage had arrived with Irina and her trainer. As the boys entered the camp again, the man unloading the wagon looked at them and frowned.

»Ezra!«, he shouted. »What's the meaning of this?«

»What's the matter, Rewalt?«, she asked and walked over.

»As far as I was informed, only the six of us would be on this excursion. Did you obtain permission to bring another student?«

He looked at Vern and then at Ezra.

»Well … I didn't … but he has been training with us and I think he can handle himself just fine«, answered Ezra.

Rewalt shook his head. »Of course, you didn't …«, he mumbled more to himself than Ezra before he turned to Vern. »Don't get me wrong. I don't doubt your ability, however, this is at its core a matter of liability. If something were to happen to a duke's son on a mission he wasn't approved to be on, we would be at fault.«

Vern looked at Ezra, who just stared back, unsure how to respond to Rewalt's objection.

»Do you mean Vern can't come with us into the bailiwick?«, asked Alvyn and broke the silence.

»Well, he probably shouldn't.«, replied Rewalt. »But in the end, it is Ezra's decision if she wants to allow it or not.«

He addressed her again: »Are you confident you can protect both of them when it comes down to it? Whatever the situation they would find themselves in there?«

Ezra grumbled some inaudible words and then said to Vern: »Can we talk about that for a bit, just the two of us?«

He nodded before walking off together with her. They passed by the campfire where Irina and Bertio were seated curiously watching them.

When Vern's gaze passed by Irina he couldn't help but remember certain parts of a certain dream and vehemently moved his head away.

»So … well … I don't really know what to do …«, began Ezra after they had stopped some distance away from the camp.

She looked at him apologetically and visibly conflicted.

»Well, I don't mind too much staying behind«, interjected Vern. In reality, he did mind but wanted to take the burden off her.

»I am really sorry. I didn't think about it beforehand since I've been training you along with Alvyn all this time. We only will stay a day in there or so. So I think it will be alright?«

»Don't worry. I can handle myself that long.« He winked at her trying to reduce her bad conscience. It seemed to work, as Ezra let a smile loose.

»I will make it up to you, I promise. And on a different note, there's something else that I wanted to talk about.«

»Hmm?«, Vern, who had already made his first step back to camp, stopped in his tracks and looked at her.

»Well, you have been really showing great progress in our recent sword session … and therefore, I am considering recommending you for the royal knights training program. However, no promises yet …«

Vern mood instantly changed from trying to hide his disappointment to being openly elated.

»Really?!«

»Yes, however, as I said, no promises yet since your father has to approve and all, so don't pin me down to it …«, Ezra tried to calm his excitement a little. »Keep training hard. No slacking.«

»Yes, Commander!«

When they got back to the others, Alvyn approached Vern.

»Wait, are you coming with us or not?«, he asked confused by Vern's delighted face.

»Ah no, unfortunately not.«, he answered, not wanting to tell anybody yet about the offer until it was set in stone.

Now, however, Alvyn was even more dumbfounded but didn't continue asking him any further questions.

The rest of the afternoon, they did work around the camp and prepared for their excursion into the monster bailiwick. Only when it was time for dinner, everybody gathered around the campfire again.