Travel inside a carriage was torturous at first, but Jin, whose butt was numb, now leaned his back against the carriage seat, gazing at the blue canvas that stretched endlessly toward the horizon.
Five days had passed since the journey began. The journey was nothing but smooth, aside from occasional beasts appearing blocking their route. However with a flick of Marina's fingers the beasts turned to crisp, leaving a charred meat for the scavengers to feast on.
Meanwhile, when Ryan had free time, he always invited Jin to spar using their wooden swords. Their winning ratio was devastated and Ryan never clinched a single victory in their spar.
***
Midday, when the sun is high above. Ryan tightened his grip on the wooden sword and lunged ahead. His swing slices through the air, and Jin sidestepped effortlessly. Jin's blade flicked out in a sharp counter before it stopped before Ryan's ribs, signalling the end of a spar.
Ryan puffed his chest and exhaled, "Again".
Jin smirked, straightened his posture, and said, with a gasping breath, "Haa, haa, Okay, you sure are a competitive person, Father".
"Of course I'm". Ryan flashed his white fangs with sweat tickling his forehead. "I will not rest until I take a win from the current you".
***
Jin easily overwhelmed Ryan using his pure technique, whereas Ryan kept his relentless will and then managed to grow in the spar with his son.
While rocking inside the carriage under the warmth of sunlight, Jin's gaze turned to the side, feeling the slight tug on his sleeves, and he found his mother's gentle smile.
"Jin, it's about time".
"What time?".
Ryan cracked his stiffened lips into a smile. At the same time, a knock echoed inside the carriage, alerting the Midnight family. Outside, wearing black robes, a maid in exchange for Irena, pulling the reins of the horse, her voice resonated.
"My lord, My Lady, we have arrived!".
As the carriage rocked and lightly swayed Jin's position, he looked further ahead and witnessed magnificent walls stretched far and wide. They enclosed a city bigger than he had ever seen. Twin Towers welcomed their visit with a line of carriages from merchants or even people travelling.
"Next, please!".
A clear and dignified shout reverberated across the place. It came from the guard who stood before the massive, thick black gate. They wore silver plate armour covering almost their bodies, with a spear in hand and a sword on their waists.
They inspect the carriage one by one while sometimes inquiring what kind of item they brought.
"Next, please!".
Jin's eyes glanced at the knight, whose voice was strangely close. He saw the knight conversing with the maid on the couch, and after some light banter they had, the knight saluted with hand on chest.
"You may proceed!".
"Thank you".
With the maid's word as a cue, the carriage passed the massive gate, which opened Jin's view of the world he was currently living in.
"Woah, it was crowded".
The road was straight and filled with activity. People buzzed like swarming ants lined up on each side of the main street. Tall buildings stood as a testament of power and tradition, a towering stone wall made of marble that seemed strong enough to hold down a strong beast.
Slowly, they weaved through the sea of people and entered the central city, packed yet enough for the carriage to glide smoothly toward its destination.
"Where are we going?". Jin tilted his head as he saw several inns along the way, but the carriage was still rocking and pushed forward.
"Silly boy, we must greet the lord first," Marina giggled as she lightly poked her son's forehead.
Jin closed his eyes, feeling the soft touch of his mother's finger. After traveling for days and seeing nothing but wilderness, the fact that he was a member of the aristocracy faded from his mind.
He inhaled deeply, holding himself to suppress his expression. 'What a pain! I want to rest already!',
Marina and Ryan, who understood their son's feelings, broke into an ambiguous giggle. They slowly leaned closer, sat side by side, and softly whispered to each other.
"What is the Duke's letter?". Marina's voice was soft yet bundled with curiosity as she glanced at her husband.
"Well, he wants to ask about the monster wave incident directly from me".
Ryan reported the incident a month ago to his superior, Duke Frost.
Marina touched her lips, deep in thought, before opening her mouth once more. "Is there anything else?".
Ryan exhaled and glanced at the figure of his son before breaking into a smile. "We will be briefed when we meet later".
"...I see".
The room was shrouded in silence as they attentively awaited the carriage to stop before the massive steel cage surrounding a white palace.
Jin breathed out, watching a magnificent building stand in the distance; his hand extended, yet a transparent wall blocked his attempt. He reeled in, sticking his cheek into the window glass in the carriage.
"Geez, Jin, mind your manners!". Marina's soft voice pulled back her son from the window.
"I'm sorry, mother".
Slowly, the carriage came to a stop as another guard blocked their advance.
"Halt! Which guest is this, and may I see your letter of introduction?".
"Very well".
The maid's voice rang, but before the maid took out the letter, the carriage door opened with a 'thud', and Ryan, the family head, walked out. His appearance abruptly halted the guards' attempt to breathe.
They knew the person was Ryan, a legendary adventurer who hailed as a dragon slayer in the past and now stood before them. Their hearts fluttered and minds on cloud nine, looking at the idol of a lifetime, stood before them.
"We are from Viscount Midnight, Neri. Could you give me the letter, please!".
"Yes, my lord, of course." The maid took out the letter and presented it to her lord with a lowered head.
Seeing a chance, Jin stood from his seat and jumped off from the carriage, stretching his stiffened muscles.
"Fuuu, haaah, never feels better!".
Jin twisted his joints while inhaling a deep breath to taste the fresh air infiltrating his lungs and rejuvenating his mind. He scanned his surroundings, and soon, his jaw slackened to the ground.
'It's so damn huge'. Jin lifted his head, thinking the massive building was incomparable to a small castle.
The Duke's mansion was a masterpiece of wealth, power, and majesty. Encased in pristine white marble, it was unblemished and without a hint of dirt.
Behind the enclosed steel bars, Jin spotted a massive garden unfurling. Each side is lined up with well-trimmed hedges, and trees cast a soft canopy through the straight cobblestone that goes toward the mansion.
"Jin, let's enter inside". Ryan cast a shadow that covered his son's body while placing his hand on Jin's shoulder.
Jin nodded his head and cast one last glance at the mansion before entering the stifling carriage. Following a creaking sound from the opened gate, the carriage rolled over to enter the Duke State.
Again, behind the transparent barrier, Jin witnesses gardeners trimming tall hedges and welcomes the carriage with a warm smile.
The carriage stopped before the elevated stairs, and a line of maids and butlers stretched into the main door, welcoming their guests.
As one of the butlers opened the carriage door, Ryan, Marina, and Jin stepped out. At the same time, the door within the mansion opened, slowly revealing the man of the show.
The man was in his mid-forties and tall, standing around 180 cm. He had a handsome face with a sharp appearance that could drown a woman with a single glance. With blonde hair slicked back and a dignified aura, he was the epitome of royalty. His name is Sullivan Frost.
"Welcome, Viscount Midnight and family. Thank you for answering my letter".
*****
Jin and his family were guided into the salon room. Once he entered the room, Jin gawked at the refined and luxurious interior present. He sat on the sofa in the middle of the room while his parents were facing each other with the Duke, having some important discussion.
In front of him was a long table with a silver tea set and a steamed silver cup. His gaze was straight, and he never left the plate, which was filled with golden brown cookies that smelled like butter.
He licks his lips while his brain craves for some sugar. '...I really wanted it!'.
"I see, so the one that stopped the Monster waves incident was your son".
Duke's deep and clear voice turned the atmosphere heavy. He glanced at the side and raised his brows after seeing the boy's eyes were straight at the plate. Duke's lips loosened. He exhaled the tension in his body and addressed the boy.
"Jin, right?".
Jin's body flinched as he turned to the source. He gulped his saliva and tightened his throat to hold back his urge. "Yes".
"Can you tell me what happened back then? I heard you are the one that stopped the Monster waves going further".
The Duke's calm gaze halted Jin's thought for a moment. He turned to his parents and saw them nod, leaving all the details to him.
"I, " Jin said. Inhaling a deep breath, Jin began to recall the memories of that day: chasing a mysterious guy, saving Nina, fighting two existences that threatened to bring down a town yet succeeded in coming back even in tatters.
Ryan's finger curled into a fist; his nails dug into his palm as the memory of that time resurfaced. Jin's charred and peeled skin, who was barely breathing, was carried by Iris home.
He couldn't forget the horror that tore his heart apart, watching his wife's trembling finger hesitate to reach out, afraid that Jin would crumble like ash.
Even to this day, those memories still cause them to be weighed down by guilt.
"...I don't know what happened after the battle with that wolf. I was unconscious and trusted the other to do the next work". Jin shrugged his shoulders, staring deep at those blue eyes that sucked his consciousness deep.
"I see, what about the mysterious man". Duke's brows furrowed as he leaned forward.
"That man was killed by one of our own, and from that person, we received information that the culprit was from Thypon Cult". Ryan's eyes darkened, and he clenched his fist so hard it crumpled his formal outfit.
"Those wretched monsters!? " The Duke also frowned. He clenched his fist and slammed it onto his lap.
Marina stared at her side, face knitted in deep frown and worried for her husband's well-being.
Meanwhile, Jin's eyes darted from right to left. His hand blurred as he snatched a golden-brown cookie before tossing it into his mouth. The crispy texture melted in his mouth. Its sweet, buttery flavour enhanced his perception, turning his entire world into pure bliss, 'Hmm, tasty!'.