A Night in Leshe

The crystal ball disappeared just like the pyramid as Apollyon started to hastily walk out of the door before saying one last with his back turned, "Don't forget to keep what you saw here under wraps. Also, I am accepting Razvan Alden, son of William Alden, into the Seven Star Academy.

"However, allowing a five-year-old, even if he looks slightly older, is too much. I'll have some materials sent over, but I suggest Raz learn from home until he can at least pass for a 12-year-old visually."

With that ordeal over, William went over to Raz and picked him up while squishing him a huge bear hug.

The duo stayed like that for a while before William inquired, "Things are going to get busy for you with studying soon. Is there anywhere you want to go visit or tour?"

Seeing his chance, Raz spoke with no hesitation, "Is it possible we could visit Grandfather? I wanted to see him again and maybe visit the Treye branch office. I have the medallion but have nowhere to really use it."

"Alright, I'll figure out how to squeeze in some time to visit your Grandfather in Tessar. Though we'll only be able to stay for a day or two," William muttered as he seemed to be deep in thought before going back to his study to look at his calendar.

Seeing his father hard at work, Raz smiled and bowed before leaving the study and heading back to the room.

The very next day, Raz finally got an answer from his father that the family, alongside Ed, Marisa, a select few other servants, and a small squad of 5 knights, would make the two-day journey to reach Tessar.

Normally the journey from somewhere out on the frontier like Levir would be quite a long one to Tessar, but Raymond covered the expenses allowing the group to use a teleportation array at one of the major cities close by to get there faster.

They would leave the next day and travel to Leshe, where they would stay the night before heading further north out of the frontier to a somewhat major city named Colth.

Colth is famous for its large agricultural scene, but the most important thing was that Colth had a teleportation hall that would allow the group to travel straight to Tessar.

The next day passed by in a flash as the group essentially took the exact same route back to Leshe. Like last time the carriage ride throughout the day went by without a hitch, as no common bandit would dare attempt to rob a Magus unless they felt tired of living.

The group traveled throughout the day until they reached the familiar tall walls of the city, while this time, there were no farmers out and about in the fields as the light from the moon shone on the cobbled streets of the city.

The groggy guard jolted up as he heard the sound of the approaching hooves before he rummaged around in his pocket, opening a piece of paper and crosschecking it with the approaching party.

Like a bolt of lightning, the Guard hurriedly shouted at the guards stationed at the gate to open up as he went to approach.

As he entered within earshot of the Alden group, he cleared his throat and exclaimed, "Welcome, dear guests! The city lord received your intentions of staying in Leshe but wants to offer his personal residence for you to stay in. He has told me to say these exact words, 'Let me make up for last time.'"

Ed led his horse towards the open window of the carriage carrying William, Fay, and Raz before asking, "Do you want to accept?"

"Might as well. At least we won't have to pay for the storage of our horses and food," William sighed as he remembered the incidents that occurred only a few days ago.

Ed accepted the offer, and the guard scrambled as if his job depended on it.

He hastily jumped onto a horse shared by the guards and led the group inside the city walls towards the castle.

Sticking his head out, Raz felt the cold winter air graze his chubby cheeks as he stared ahead at the mansion that loomed closer. Soon a figure with his familiar military cut and pronounced, round eyeglasses appeared, waiting for the group with a few servants.

Viscount Malfe gave a small bow and called out, "Welcome, welcome. Let my servants help take some of your stuff in and let me walk you in."

As Viscount Malfe strolled towards the front doors of the mansion, he continued to narrate, "I'm awfully sorry that no one else could greet you. Aria is asleep, and I couldn't bear to wake her up.

"While my wife and Anton are currently away on personal business, you could say. Let's just say they are atoning for their wrongs from the banquet."

As the Viscount appeared before the two double doors, a servant opened the door as Thomas Malfe led the Alden family, Marisa, and Ed upstairs onto the east wing, where a series of large guest rooms awaited.

"Please choose however many you wish. Don't worry about the rest of your party as they will be given appropriate quarters to rest the night. I'd love to stay and chat, but the hour is late, but I'm sure we can talk during breakfast tomorrow morning before you depart."

Ed and Marisa respectively bowed and stood to the side as they would promptly take the surrounding rooms of whatever abode William or Fay would pick.

William chose a random guest room, and Fay picked up Raz before following him inside the guest room.

Inside the guest room was rather antique but well-maintained expensive furniture that seemed to have been bought by Viscount Malfe's father.

The room was ornate and well-cleaned, as well as equipped with a large palladian window that allowed the natural moonlight to exude its beauty.

As it was quite late, the trio immediately prepared themselves for a night's rest on the king-sized bed.

Before Raz could do anything, he was picked up and immediately plopped into the middle of the bed as both parents snuggled up towards him like a sandwich.

As the two fell asleep soon enough, Raz looked at his sleeping parents and smiled.

Since he'd already gone through three different lives, he never thought he'd experience new things all the same. Soon the three were both softly breathing as the family fell asleep.

Soon enough, morning came around as Raz stirred awake, still in the middle of the bed alongside his mother.

At the same time, his father seemed to have woken up earlier as he was already dressed while reviewing a set of parchment on the study located in the corner of the room near the window.

A few minutes later, Fay woke up and outstretched her arms with a little yawn before William came over and kissed Fay on the lips as she smiled and got dressed.

Soon a knock came from the door as Marisa's familiar voice announced, "Lord, Madam, and Young Master, I've been told that breakfast is ready for you downstairs."

William yawned a little before replying, "Alright, thank your Marisa. I'll head down in a second."

Soon the three of them walked downstairs toward the main dining hall, which was already set and full of delicious goodies. Sitting at the head of the table was, of course, Viscount Malfe, who had a copy of a newspaper that read: The Howlis Post.

Through the course of many lessons, Raz instantly recognized the name of the capital of the Iron Kingdom: Howlis.

Sitting next to the Viscount was Aria, who, despite her rather small stature, had two plates filled with breakfast-filled foods like bread, bacon, eggs, and some fresh fruits that seemed to have been plucked recently from the various small farms outside the city.

Stuffing her face gave Raz a completely different perspective on the girl who had previously acted well-mannered and very serious.

Seeing Raz, Aria swallowed her food before waving and saying with a smile plastered on her face, "Oh, it's you! I have to thank you for getting my annoying twin out of the house. I've been trying for years, but here you do it in just one day of meeting him."

Looking up from his newspaper, Viscount Malfe glared at his daughter, who in turn just gave a little smirk before continuing to stuff her face like she did nothing wrong.

While sipping tea from an ornate teacup, Viscount Malfe looked up from his newspaper towards William, who was buttering a piece of bread, and asked, "Have you heard any news on the situation with the Arasti Theocracy? Seeing as your father is much more connected than me."

"Who knows at this point? It's always something with those fanatics. I'd be surprised if there weren't any political tensions," William replied as he spread butter on a flat piece of bread

"This time, they are claiming that we stole some holy artifact of theirs. Anyways it shouldn't be anything for us to worry about since they only border us on the north and east," William finished before tossing the whole piece of bread in his mouth.

"Crazy bastards," Viscount Thomas Malfe muttered under his breath.

The rest of the breakfast went on with various conversations that altered between stuff regarding their respective cities and magic theories before the Alden family waved goodbye to Viscount Thomas, Aria, and the rest of the staff who saw them out.

Next, the group traveled their way toward one of the newest major cities in the Iron Wolf Kingdom, Colth.