20 - Conflict on the Horizon

Conflict on the Horizon

Jon let out a sigh, lost in his thoughts. 'Ah, if only we could go straight to the competition.' He was flipping through his fencing book, an old companion he had read from cover to cover. The posture illustrations served as a guide for his training.

Unaware, Jon didn't notice the scrutinizing gaze of Roderic, the duke's son, on Gwen, who stood beside him. Whenever Roderic glanced at Jon, his face displayed disdain. Had Jon realized, he would regret activating the Aeloria MOD, which unfortunately triggered some nobles to act with prejudice. Especially the younger ones, who often showed contempt for mixed-blood individuals like him.

"Enough!" Jon thought resolutely, after a friend of his mother pinched his cheek and commented on how much he had grown.

"Jon, where are you headed?" Gwen, sensing her friend drifting away, rushed over to him and inquired. "Shh, keep your voice down. My mother might hear," Jon whispered, "I'm heading to the southern forest for some training."

"But..." Gwen began, clearly reluctant to let him go. "Listen, I'm going alone. If my mother asks, make up something," Jon said, quickening his pace.

Roderic observed the interaction with a displeased look. Ever since he laid eyes on Gwen, he had decided she would be his. "Sylvia, let's follow that half-breed. I'm bored here," he said. Sylvia, the leader of the duke's guard, a short and green-haired Bestial with an expressionless gaze, nodded in agreement and cleared the way for Roderic.

'I just hope this ends soon. I'd rather face a tribe of giants a thousand times over than babysit this snobbish kid.' Even though Sylvia hated everything about being assigned to protect the Duke in this event, her face remained devoid of emotion all the while.

Jon entered the forest and, wielding his bow, began hitting the targets he and Gwen had placed in challenging spots. After releasing just three arrows, he sensed someone's presence. "Who's there?" He aimed his bow, still traumatized by the incident with Ren that had nearly cost him his life.

"I'm Sylvia, pleased to make your acquaintance." Upon hearing the Bestial woman's introduction, Jon wrongly assumed she might be there seeking revenge for Ren's death and impulsively let loose an arrow.

'Why does this past keep haunting me?' Jon thought as he shot another arrow and took cover behind a massive rock. However, he observed Sylvia easily blocking his shots. He was no match for her.

"What are you thinking, half-breed? Do you want to spend the rest of your miserable life in prison?" Roderic, who had been observing the scene since Sylvia's arrival, exclaimed.

'Maybe they don't want to attack me. I can try to negotiate.' Jon, who hadn't noticed Roderic due to his impulsive reaction, began to consider that Sylvia might have other intentions for following him. "It was Melisa who took out Ren!" Jon tried to shift the blame onto Melisa, prioritizing his own safety.

Sylvia, who had maintained a neutral expression until then, cracked a smile upon hearing Jon's justification. "I understand. I'm here on young master Roderic's behalf, but it's interesting to know you had some involvement in my sister's problem."

'Roderic? And sister?' A mental glitch, like a system blue screen, flashed in Jon's thoughts. "Ah... I apologize. I... well... Reacted without thinking." Jon emerged from behind the rock, recognizing Roderic.

"Sister? What are you talking about?" Roderic was confused. He had never seen Sylvia's unwavering expression change, and now, with a simple conversation, she was smiling at that half-breed.

"It's nothing you need to know, young master." Sylvia, though in service to the family, was still a commander of the imperial army and owed no explanations, especially to such an arrogant youth.

She approached Jon, extending her hand. "Pleasure to meet the infamous Jon, the troublemaker who caused so much turmoil for my sister. Thanks to you, she reached out to me after two years of silence. Maybe I owe you one."

"I apologize again, it was just a misunderstanding." Jon glanced between Sylvia and Roderic. From what he could deduce, that wasn't the reason they had followed him. "So, is there something I can help with? Being trailed still makes me somewhat uneasy."

"I was just... bored. And upon seeing him walk away, I decided to follow him to observe how the simple peasants amuse themselves around here," Roderic remarked, his tone tinged with sarcasm, attempting to provoke Jon and belittle both him and everyone in his village.

Jon carefully studied the young man before him, reflecting, 'The way the MODs I installed interact with this world is fascinating.' Instead of displaying irritation, a genuine smile illuminated Jon's face. He was already prepared for this kind of clichéd situation.

"This place might be a tad monotonous, Young Master Roderic. But if you're interested, we have an inn where, for a fair price, they can serve you fine drinks. Just don't mention that it was Jon Woodmoon who gave you the tip. And if you're looking for more amusement, there's a brothel where, for the right fee, entertainment is guaranteed." Jon decided to playfully provoke the young man, offering the information with complete sincerity.

Upon witnessing the expressions of surprise on both Roderic and Sylvia, Jon added, "Now, if you're someone like me, who appreciates good training, this is the perfect place. We have targets and tree trunks that can be used to practice your sword skills."

He had succeeded. The expressions etched on Roderic and Sylvia's faces were priceless, worthy of being captured in an image. And so they remained for almost thirty seconds, with the only background noise being the babbling of the stream and the hum of insects...

"Hahahahaha... Young man, you're exactly as Melisa described." Sylvia, who was ready to intervene in case a conflict arose between the two young men, was impressed by Jon's skill in turning the situation around. He provided Roderic with information that would leave even an adult speechless and then softened the tension by mentioning the training grounds, preventing it from appearing as mere banter. 'This young man is truly special...' she reflected, following a genuine laughter.