“Hmm!”

Enara has been watching them from inside the house, feeding Ellysia and watching father and son get along well.

“Should we join them Elly?”

Enara proceeded to leave the house to the backyard where Dastarn and Ryn were training.

‘I should also tell Dastarn about it’.

Although Enara wanted to join them and have a good afternoon under the warm sun with the rest of her family. She also wanted to inform Dastarn of the new information about the exploration .

“Are you guys done, already?”

“Did Ellysia wake up?”

“Mom!”

“No, I was just feeding her. Ellysia here wanted to train with you two.” Enara smirked

“OH!. son, you should be on your toes, Elly is already catching up with ya.”

Dastarn turned around towards his son, teasing him.

“Father, Sia can’t even eat on her own.”

Ryn looked at his father with expression of disbelief of how nonsensical his father was.

“You don’t believe me? just wait until she grabs your training swords for herself. That’s how fast kids grow.”

“So what have you been teaching Ryn?.”

Enara interrupted their bickering and asked about their earlier Training session.

“Oh, That. That was…hunting!? Yes, a hunting technique. With swords.”

Dastarn replied nervously, unsure if Enara would permit Ryn to learn combat techniques at his young age, techniques emphasizing swift and lethal strikes against adversaries. While effective for hunting, such methods would be unsuitable for that purpose.

“Son, show me what your father has taught you.”

“Yes mother. I don’t know if I can do it exactly like father, but i will try.”

“You can do it son.”

Dastarn was relieved a little to hear him say that. At least he wouldn’t copy it exactly like how he did it.

‘He wouldn’t, right!?’

He couldn’t be so sure that he wouldn't copy him to the last move though, after all it was his genius no.

Ryn recalled what he committed to memory while observing his father demonstrate. He then let it flow.

He took a stance, one leg ahead of the other, then spurt into action.

Not unlike his father, it was like a miniature Dastarn was doing it all again.

“He has learned it already, that's quite impressive.”

“.......”

“Dastarn!?”

Enara glanced to the side, surprised by his silent response, only to be even more taken aback by her husband, whose eyes were wide open and jaw dropped beside her.

‘That is not just impressive, it is impossible..’

To Enara it just seemed that Ryn was imitating his father accurately from what she observed from inside the house, nothing more.

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However, to the eyes of a warrior with vast experience like Dastarn, it was hard to believe what he was seeing.

Ryn saw it only twice and he was already doing it like it was something that he learned years ago, if that’s even possible.

“Yeah. indeed he is a quick learner. Couple more times and he will master it.”

Dastarn, still shocked, answered his wife not wanting to make her call him again and worry.

“He really is.” Enara mattured and continued. “I almost forgot. About the exploration…”

Enara informed Dastarn about her latest dreams, and how they should depart earlier than scheduled for the exploration as that would be the least dangerous and most optimal choice for them.

Enara, a member of the village council and its seer, played a crucial role in the exploration. Having charted a safe path based on her foresight, her presence with them was no longer necessary.

“If that’s so, then we should inform the rest of the group.”

“I thought I should first let you know, since you’re the exploration team leader.”

“You did well Nara. Knowing this really helps.”

FWOOSH!

While Dastarn and Enara were busy discussing the coming exploration, Ryn finished his second round of the demonstration.

‘One more time?’

“No. I should wash up and go.”

Between the first and second attempts of the demonstration, he overheard his mother mentioning that she would be staying back from the exploration the next day. This prompted him to prepare, just in case.

It has been sometime since he felt the presence of the Enigma, nor did he respond to him when he sought it in the mind realm.

However that didn’t mean he wouldn’t appear suddenly though. So when he does, he needs to be ready for it.

"Father, mother, I will go clean up now,"

Ryn politely informed his parents before heading inside to rid himself of the sweat and dirt.

"Son, remember to practice diligently, alright? Even when I'm not around," his father reminded him.

"But you didn’t greet Elly today, Son?" his mother inquired.

"Ah, I'm all sweaty and dirty now, Mom. I’ll say hi later,"

"Son, are you paying attention?" his father queried.

"You can go now, Ryn. He can hear you, dear, stop shouting. You might wake Elly,".

"Remember what I said. Diligence…?" Dastarn whispered.

"…Never deceives,"

Ryn murmured under his breath as he turned towards the door, leaving a smile plastered on his father's face.

The following morning, Ryn rose early, looking forward to face his adversary, the Enigma.

Since they hadn't clashed in the mind realm for some time, he wished to maintain a distance from his mother and little sister, fearing the Enigma might seize control of his body.

After a brief breakfast with his mother, he promised to return for lunch and set out, his footsteps light with a mix of anticipation and caution.

His mother, pleased to see her son taking an interest in the world beyond their home, waved him off with a smile.

‘What if the guards stop me?’

Ryn's concern lingered as he retrieved his training swords from beneath the fence where he had concealed them the previous night, wary that the gate guards might hinder his passage.

He had stashed the swords outside to evade his mother's inquiries, dreading the scrutiny that would follow if she caught him with them.

Now, faced with the dilemma of eluding the guards' suspicions, Ryn found himself at a crossroads, pondering his next move with a furrowed brow.

“What to d...hm!?”

While deeply immersed in thought, a symphony of sounds enveloped the air. From a distance, the rhythmic clip-clop of hooves against stone and dirt reverberated, occasionally punctuated by the creak and groan of wooden wheels in motion.

Ryn's gaze shifted towards the source of the noise, drawing him closer to the unfolding scene. Before him, a rustic cart, guided by two sturdy cows, navigated the uneven terrain with a rumbling grace.

Within the cart, scattered metal tools jingled and clanked, creating a lively percussion that danced in harmony with the deliberate steps of the beasts of burden.

The cows, exhaling heavily in a rhythmic cadence, infused the scene with vitality, their harnesses softly rustling with each measured stride.

“That direction is..”

As Ryn observed the cart's trajectory, he intuited its course towards the village's exit. Although a lengthier route than the one skirting behind their fence, this path was the main thoroughfare leading to the outside.

Without hesitation, Ryn set off to catch up with the cart, his mind racing with possibilities.

‘Now what?’

However, upon reaching the backside of the cart, uncertainty clouded his thoughts. It wasn't as simple as requesting a ride or devising a covert escape plan with the elderly woman.

With the gates looming closer, a sense of urgency gripped him. How could he navigate this delicate situation? Surely, the elderly villager wouldn't simply assist a child in slipping past the guards without question.

Time was of the essence, and Ryn needed a solution before they reached the village gates, where the challenge of evading detection loomed large.

THUD!

Like answering his question, something fell from the cart and landed on his foot.

“Wait, you dropped something.”

Ryn, called out for the old woman coaching the cart instinctively, forgetting his predicament.

The old lady couldn't hear him between the noisy cart and just kept going on.

“Halmoni!!” “Halmoni!!”

Ryn called the old lady addressing her grandma, and arrived beside the cart carrying what she dropped.

“Ah! What is it, child?”

The old lady finally stopped, after she saw Ryn calling from her side.

“Halmoni you have dropped this.”

Ryn put it on the back of her cart, telling her how he has been calling her for time.

“Thank you child, I didn't hear you calling.”

The elderly warmed up to Ryn by how he called her Grandma.

“Where are you going Halmoni?”

“I am on my way to the farm.”

‘This is my chance.’

“I will help you until you reach your farm then, halmoni”

“Oh, you would do that?.. But wouldn’t your parents worry about you if you go outside this early.?”

The old cart lady was happy to have a helping hand, but she was still worried that his parents would be angry with him leaving this early in the morning.

“It is okay, Halmoni. I told my mother, and father is outside by now.”

“OH! Is that so? Thank you. You're God sent help.”

As the sun began its ascent, painting the sky in hues of pink and gold, Ryn made his move.

Sneaking past the village guards who were preoccupied with opening the gates for the farmers, he deftly slipped through the cracks of their watchful eye.

His kind-hearted nature had earned him a reputation among the villagers, and today was no different.

Assisting an elderly villager with her belongings, Ryn used the opportunity to slip away unnoticed.