Extraordinary Voyage

Time flies.

It's another day off, and Aiven returned to Cooper Manor as promised.

This time, he no longer felt like a stranger or a guest. Everyone from Aunt Daphne to Elante, the butler, and the maids had already adapted to the new family member.

"Aunt, is the little girl I asked the driver Hoyl to bring back still at the manor?"

Early in the morning, Aiven arrived at Cooper Manor. Elante's daily training had not yet ended. Aiven accompanied Aunt Daphne in the garden, tending to the newly blossomed bluebells, when he suddenly remembered the little girl he'd rescued from the Blood Hand Gang and asked out of curiosity.

"The thin little girl named Angie?

She only stayed at the manor for one night. The next day, she insisted on leaving, saying she didn't want to trouble us. I was worried about her safety on the road, so I had Hoyl send her home."

"She's such a sensible child."

Aunt Daphne had a good impression of the little girl, though their encounter was brief, it was memorable.

"Angie?" Aiven lightly patted his forehead, realizing that he had saved her without even knowing her name until now.

"By the way, she left you a letter for us to give to you.

Rebecca! Is that letter still with you? Please bring it to Master Aiven."

"Yes, madam!"

The little maid quickly fetched a simple sheet of paper with handwriting on it and handed it to Aiven.

The letter was indeed quite plain, but Aiven didn't mind and gently unfolded it.

"Dear Brother Aiven, please allow me to call you this...

For someone as humble as me, it's an honor to receive your helping hand...

When I was most helpless and desperate, you were the light that shone into my life...

Lastly, I pray that the Goddess always blesses a good person like you.

Thank you, Brother Aiven!

Angie."

Though the letter was short, filled with some misspelled words, the sincere emotions between the lines warmed Aiven's heart.

Do good deeds without asking about the future.

With this heartfelt sentiment from the little girl, Aiven felt the reward was already more than sufficient.

"Brother Aiven, you're here?!

Come on, the butler just bought two excellent warhorses yesterday. I've been eager to try them with you!"

At that moment, Elante, drenched in sweat after completing his training, rushed into the garden.

Aiven carefully folded the "thank you letter" and put it in his pocket before being pulled outside by Elante.

"You two, don't go too far, and remember to come back for lunch!" Only the voice of Aunt Daphne's reminder came from behind.

"Got it, mom!"

"Don't worry, Aunt!"

...

The city's scale in this era is not exaggerated. Once they left the manor's area, they were not too far from the real outskirts of New Inn Port.

Due to the extent of human development, the area was lush with dense woods everywhere. Though there were no large beasts, there was no shortage of small creatures.

Whoosh——

An arrow flew past, nailing a plump gray rabbit that leaped into the air firmly to the ground.

A sturdy and handsome horse galloped by like the wind, and the knight on its back easily picked up the arrow with the rabbit still attached, placing it into a bag on the horse.

The whole process was smooth and had a strangely flowing beauty.

"Brother Aiven, wait for me."

"Whoa——"

"Why so slow, Elante, you need more practice with your riding skills!"

Aiven pulled the reins to stop his warhorse, teasing the tardy Elante, with dust flying behind him, followed by two other strong male servants on horseback.

Elante rolled his eyes in dissatisfaction: "If I had Extraordinary level reflexes and balance, I'd run that fast too. You're cheating!"

"Then you should work harder in training! I heard you even drove your swordsmanship teacher away?" Riding high horses side by side on the country road, Aiven brought up a new topic.

"Pfft, my progress in such a short time is all thanks to Brother Aiven's guidance. That guy just boasts everywhere, claiming it's all his credit. He's too hypocritical.

A knight should be grounded, not always looking for shortcuts. A person like that cannot be a teacher for someone like me, Elante!"

A twelve or thirteen-year-old with a definite rebellious phase. Though a little obstinate, he did have some valid points.

"Oh? Is that so? Then while I'm studying at New Inn Port, I can be your swordsmanship teacher whenever I'm free."

Aiven thought for a moment. Independent research didn't necessarily have to take place in a library; moving to Cooper Manor had its benefits as the privacy was higher, plus he could directly help Elante with further training.

"Really? Brother Aiven, that's great!" From Aiven's brief guidance last time, Elante experienced rapid improvement, so he was naturally eager to accept his offer.

"Don't get too happy too soon. I'm very strict. If you don't meet my standards, don't cry when punished." He glanced at the rebellious youngster, speaking plainly.

"Don't underestimate me. Even if I bleed, I won't shed a tear!" Elante shouted defiantly.

"Oh, really? Then I'll look forward to it!"

Walking and stopping, occasionally galloping, occasionally pausing to hunt forest animals, they had already gone quite far, and the bag of prey was filling up.

Elante remembered his mom's reminder to return for lunch and asked the servant beside him: "Where are we now?"

"Young master, we're in the countryside now, near Mog Farm. If we hurry back now, it should take about half an hour."

"Brother Aiven, should we head back?"

"Mog Farm? What a coincidence," Aiven muttered, recalling that the girl he rescued, Angie, lived at Mog Farm.

Hearing Elante's question, Aiven instinctively said, "Since we're here, let's meet someone first and then head back."

Elante, curious, followed Aiven closely into the nearby Mog Farm, wondering if Brother Aiven had a friend around here.

Compared to the bustling city of New Inn Port, this place seemed to belong to another era.

Straw and mud houses, sheep and cattle pens squeezed next to human homes, the strange smell spread through the residences, and the people passing by looked unkempt and unrefined, vastly different from New Inn Port's citizens.

Seeing the elegantly dressed group on high horses, the villagers hurriedly avoided them, their demeanor showing they didn't want any association.

Following behind Aiven, almost traversing the entire farm, Elante asked in confusion, "Brother Aiven, where is your friend's home?"