19 Chapter 19: Study Session

Had a super busy work week from end of month. I'm back to posting (:

Are there any Forms you'd like to see Naoto master? It can be from Trails or non-Trails. Let me know!

Start this week fresh with those power stones!

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S1189, Osborne Villa.

Little did I know a certain green onion haired kid ended up getting picked up by one of the two Gralsritter priests that I encountered with as I was in the middle of my training.

As for me, more sweat could be seen falling from my body. I wanted to collapse onto the ground, but I didn't. Knowing that if I did, I wouldn't be able to continue onward. Just being able to run twenty kilometers with the body of a three year old was an impressive feat.

At first when father first started this schedule of mine, it was almost impossible to keep up, and yet my body gradually started getting used to this running.

We were now past the rolling hills and trees. Now we stood next to a large grassy plain, to which further laid beyond a much larger forest. The vibrant red city of Heimdallr and its circular walls laid to our left side, but my attention was drawn to what was northeast of us.

It was still a ling distance away but one could see a giant metal wall made of various metals, connecting from one side if a mountain pass to another. Giliath quickly took notice of where my gaze went, with him laying his eyes upon this fortress as well.

"So it looks like one of our military bases caught your fancy eh, Naoto?", Giliath asked, approaching my side.

"Yeah. I see several war machines near its entrance too. If I call correctly, Roer lies beyond this gate, right?"

"You are correct. You've been keeping up with your map lessons, good. Roer does indeed lie beyond this barrier. This barrier is known as the Schwarz Drache Barrier. Its colors pale in comparison to our other military installations, its a lot darker than others. We like to call it the Black Dragon.", Giliath answered.

"The Black Dragon...", I uttered softly. That made sense too. Roer was ruled by one of the four Great Houses, and the house that ruled it had its emblem black in color.

"Yes. Time for another question. Do you know which of the four Great Houses serves Roer, the capital of the Nortia Province?", Giliath asked another question.

"House Rogner?", I answered, which earned a nod from Giliath.

"That is right, House Rogner, currently in which Marquis Rogner is seated at its head. In fact, I seem to recall him having a daughter not too long ago as well.", Giliath answered, resting his hand on his chin as he looked over at Schwarz Drache Barrier.

The moment he uttered that though, that caused me to shudder a bit, before turning silent. The daughter of Marquis Rogner. A rather infamous character during the cold steel saga, Angelica Rogner...

She should be four years old now. I do not know how far back her love for women goes, but if that is to happen later, there might be a chance to fix her personality issues. It is possible this stemmed from Kilika being her teacher, but I guess only time would tell...

"Is something the matter, Naoto?", Giliath asked, seeing me turn quiet.

"It's nothing, father. I'm just marveling at the sight of Schwarz Drache Barrier in the far distance. I wonder what it looks like up close...", I began to wonder, quickly changing the subject.

"Haha, I can take you there should you express intersect in going to Roer. Which brings us to our next question. Besides Roer being the capital of one of the Great Houses, what is this city best known for?", Giliath continued to ask me, turning this into a quiz session of sorts.

Hearing this, I became quiet again for a moment. After that, I spoke my answer.

"Roer is known for its many industries, isn't it? They make a lot of things for Erebonia!", I answered. Giliath revealed a smile after I did.

"Roer indeed does make lots of things for our country. And since a few decades ago, it has been heavily influenced by Orbments once they have started to circulate in our markets. Do you remember who is the head of these these industries?", Giliath asked, moving onto his next question.

"That's the Reinford Group, right? And Roer is their home.", I answered.

"Good. I can tell you haven't been slacking off in your studies.", Giliath responded with a praise, causing a smile to form on my face. "We've covered a pretty wide variety of topics and due to our country's long history, it can take good time to memorize it."

"It is quite a lot to take in, but I am trying my best, father. You want me to follow in your footsteps, right?", I decided to ask. In which, father gave me another surprise. He shook his head, denying me.

"No. I merely wish for you to stand proudly on our nation, my son. My teachings are just a path for you to spread your wings and grow. It will be up to you to find your own path.", Giliath responded. He then reached down, only to pat my head for a bit, which brought me another surprise.

To think that Giliath Osborne would be a man capable of giving headpats...

That alone was a scary thought, but seeing him do this brought a smile to my face again.

"I understand, father! I'll do my best to find my own path.", I responded back happily to Giliath.

"That's great to hear, my son. Now, let us talk about the Reinford Group for a bit. After that, our short break will end and we'll return to our home."

'...You're treating studying as a short break!?', I said, wanting to inwardly cry. Truly, the knowledge father has been imparting me thus far is quite good. I can feel he's truly trying to promote my growth. Either way, I nodded at father. He continued to speak.

"Roer is currently one of our most industrialized cities, with the Reinford Group standing at its peak. This group has been around since the Middle Ages, but has been more prominent since the Orbal Revolution. Due to that, the head that ran it at the time, Gwyn Reinford, decided to create several more divisions under his wing. The demands for orbal weaponry skyrocketed, and these divisions could single-handedly assist in meeting the Imperial Government's demands. I told you number of divisions Gwyn created, right?", Giliath asked me, prompting me his next question.

"Yes, I remember. It was four divisions Gwyn Reinford created.", I answered.

"That's right. The First Division mostly produces large iron and steel machinery. The Second Division produces armaments for our war machines and soldiers, while the Third Division mostly focuses on public infrastructure and transportation, and lastly, the Fourth Division mostly focuses on tools for communication while also dabbling in battle orbments."

"So each one focuses on making different things. But for that Fourth Division, wouldn't that make them compete with the Epstein Foundation?", I decided to ask, which earned another smile from Giliath.

"So you managed to catch that part. Epstein Foundation holds the reign on our orbment production currently, but with groups like Reinford Group's Fourth Division, they're finally getting in some competition. I have seen two of its founders' disciples compete against each other quite a bit a result. Franz Reinford and Gerhardt Schmidt."

Now there's two names I wasn't expecting to hear for a while...The latter was a reoccurring character in the cold steel saga while Franz Reinford, he is none other than Alisa Reinford's father. Alisa was one of the leading girls in cold steel...Now that I think about it, Roer and our Villa are kind of neighbors, aren't they? Would that make Alisa my neighbor?

Perhaps it would be good to visit Roer sometime.

As for the Epstein Foundation, I know its founder had a third disciple as well, besides Franz Reinford and Professor Schmidt. He went by the name Albert Russell. The Russell family are known to be famous engineers, with his granddaughter being the most promising one yet.

And that would be Tita Russell, Albert Russell's granddaughter, and one of the main characters in the sky saga...

It probably isn't best to bring her up too much at this point. She was by far the youngest character out of that cast, being only thirteen years old during sky.

Besides, is Tita even born yet...? I know its S1189 new, but it might be a goad year or two for that still.

"Like for that combat orbment you showed me a bit ago?", I asked back.

"Yes. With minds like theirs they make combat orbments like the on I have in my possession a reality. And on that topic, we did manage to complete our twenty kilometer run. I think it's to show you a few Combat Arts. We are far out enough to draw in some monsters.", Giliath said to me. As I heard this, anticipation appeared in my eyes.

"Really!? You'll show me a few magic spells, father?"

"Hahaha, I will. Do not worry. But do not forget, they are called Combat Arts. Only witches are able to cast spells.", Giliath said with a laugh as he corrected me.

"I understand, father.", I nodded back at him.

"Good. But before we proceed I will ask you one last question for now. Are you certain you wish to continue learning the Rapier as your weapon of choice?", Giliath asked me in a serious tone.

I raised my head to look at him in the eyes.

"I...", I began to say...

*

Thumbs up for Rapier user?