"Yo, Lucian!"
Alan excitedly greeted the newcomer.
It was Lucian, dressed in casual clothes, carrying a bag of supplies, his white hair was longer than before and groomed to a neat middle part.
"Congrats." He simply said.
"I don't understand why you two are so casual about this..." Edward muttered. "Both of you advanced to rank 3 within three years, how is that even possible?"
It was true, over the last two years both Alan and Lucian spent the time hustling, constantly hunting beasts with higher ranks than themselves.
All in preparations for their journey towards the demons' continent, being weak would definitely cost them their lives.
A week ago, Lucian advanced to rank 3 at age 17, while Alan did so today at age 16.
Meanwhile, Edward was still rank 2 at age 21, quite the difference.
"It's been a while since I've seen you like this." Lucian started, while tending to Alan's wounds. "How on earth did your chest even get cut?"
"Do I even need to answer?" Alan replied while glancing at the griffin's corpse, then his eyes lit up. "But did you see me in the sky! I was riding this guy!"
Lucian nodded with a serious face. "I should have done that."
Alan giggled while allowing Lucian to bandage his body, then curiously asked Edward.
"So, what happens now?"
"What?" Edward tilted his head.
"To the forest, we just killed every mana beasts now haven't we?"
Indeed, every mana beast was now dead thanks to Alan and Lucian.
"Well." Edward scratched his cheek. "The forests in the Northern continent are quite special."
"Meaning?"
"Almost all the forests are infested with beasts." Edward continued. "It's like some natural law, so even if you wipe out every beast, eventually it will be infested again."
"Oh? How long?"
"Not sure, give it a few years, maybe."
Alan nodded, the way this world worked was quite unique, every continent had their own special aspects, which brought the question to Alan.
What was so special about the southern continent that made the Abyssal creatures first invade it.
The southern continent was the largest one of the four continents, twice the size of the north.
As well as the strongest continent.
And logically speaking, the south should've been the last one to be aimed for, instead the monsters specifically targeted it.
"Eh." Alan dropped the question, no point in wondering about things you can't find out.
"All done." Lucian said while getting up.
Alan's chest was tightly wrapped in white bandages, as well as other parts of his body.
"Alright let's go." Alan stood up, ignoring the stinging pain he still felt.
As they were leaving, Alan took notice of the silence in the surroundings, as well as the environmental destruction around him.
The trees were uprooted, many were toppled over, the ground was fractured with cracks running along the earth.
"Damn, I feel bad for the next residents." Alan shrugged and kept walking.
Even though he was the reason behind it.
***
The sun was still high in the sky by the time the trio arrived to the training grounds.
Alan already put on a shirt to hide the bandages and not worry his mother, the last time she saw him injured, she cried and lectured him for hours, what a dreadful experience it was.
The moment he stepped into the training grounds, he turned his eyes towards the structure in the distance.
A three-story building, lavishly designed with wood and glass, it was a restaurant, one that his mother runs.
In front of the building was a sign that read.
[Miya's grand adventure]
What did a restaurant even have to do with adventures?
Standing in front of the door, Alan took a deep breath.
"This time for sure."
Both Lucian and Edward behind him shook their heads, already knowing what was going to happen.
...
Ding
The bell on the entrance chimed, announcing a new customer.
"Welcome!" Miya brightly greeted them, before seeing who it was.
"Oh! Alan!" She smiled. "Come quickly, dear! You need to have lunch!"
In came Alan, his eyes narrow, his jaws clenched.
Everyone paused their meals, turning their eyes to Alan.
Soon, Alan stood in front of his mother, as she prepared food for him.
"Mom." He started. "Today, I want more meat."
"No." The reply came immediately. "Your body is developing, you need vegetables."
"Mom! I've been eating more vegetables than meat for the past six years!"
"Hmph." Miya sharply turned her head. "You think I don't know?"
"Know what..."
"That you dump half of your vegetables on Lucian's plate, and steal his portion of meat?"
"That's..." Alan hesitated, then gained his composure. "It's because you're unfair!"
"What?"
"You give others more meat, and give me more vegetables!"
"Really?" She asked, then pointed towards someone on a table.
It was Alden, his height increased over the past years, his features were sharp befitting a nobleman.
The back of his hair gathered into a low ponytail, while the front was cut to fall into dark layers over his forehead.
And in front of him was a plate, stacked with vegetables and less portion of meat.
"Look at him, obediently eating."
He looked like he was forced into eating it, but Alan couldn't say it out loud, seeing his mother's satisfied smile.
"I still need more meat." Alan returned to the topic.
"No, you need vegetables."
"I am already gro—"
"Are you saying I'm wrong?" Miya cut him off, her eyes narrowing, and her lips pulling to a frown.
Faced with her stern face, Alan could only lower his head.
"No..."
Miya instantly smiled, as if her previous expression was just an act, then pushed forward a plate, stacked with vegetables.
"Hahahaha!"
Every soldier burst out laughing watching this, it was a common occurrence that happened almost every day.
Alan grumbled under his breath, then took the plate with a sulky face, he couldn't even bring himself to say anything to the soldiers.
Then he strolled over to Alden's table and set his plate across from him, before taking a seat.
"You too?" Alden asked, lifting his gaze from his meal.
"Yeah, me too..." Alan pouted before shoving greens into his mouth.
Soon, Lucian and Edward arrived to their table, their plates equally balanced with meat and vegetables.
Alan stared at Lucian's plate next to him, then moved his fork to steal his portion of meat, just before he did he felt a gaze drilling holes into his head.
Turning around, he saw his mother staring at him with crossed arms and a frown.
"Shit..." Alan could only curse quietly.
"You're a rank 3 now?" Alden suddenly raised his head to ask.
"Yeah."
"Hmph, you bastard will soon grovel before me, just wait until I put you in your place."
"Yeah, yeah." Alan waved him off as Alden started silently fuming.
Even after all those years, he was still questionably arrogant and stubborn, every time he came to the training grounds, he always challenged Alan to a spar.
And even after being knocked senseless hundreds of times, he remained the same arrogant and haughty boy Alan first met.
That doesn't mean Alden was slacking over the past years, last year at age 15, Alden advanced to rank 2, and so did Alessia.
Thinking about Alessia, he couldn't see her anywhere, it was weird, she always fawned over Lucian and never left his side.
And for whatever reason was still stronger than Alden.
But since last week, she stopped coming to the grounds, more accurately since Lucian advanced, and so Alan just decided to ask.
"Where's your sister?"
"Why would a mongrel like you want to know?" Alden asked back sharply, but still answered his question anyway. "Lately, she's been holed up at the main estate."
"Hmm?"
"She doesn't leave her room and always looks sad..." Alden muttered, deep in thought.
Although his personality might be nasty, Alden was a caring person for those close to him, even to Alan, though he didn't show it in a normal way.
"I assume it is related to the upcoming ceremony." Then Alden snapped his head towards Lucian. "And you."
As a brother, how could he ignore the reason behind his sister being constantly upset lately, when the cause was right in front of him?
Even then, he couldn't do anything to Lucian, because he didn't do any wrong, so he just expressed his dissatisfaction.
"Time is coming." Alan muttered.
The fourth princess's age of coming ceremony was just two months away, and soon Alan and Lucian would be leaving for the continent's capital, Elera.
And it was a wide known fact that Alan and Lucian would not be returning after the ceremony, instead be leaving the continent.
"Have you thought marriage yet?" Alan suddenly asked.
"What nonsense is your filthy mouth spouting?" Alden frowned.
It was quite common for nobles to be engaged at 16 then be properly married at 18.
"Well, you know, the Zevril family must be receiving plenty of marriage offers, for you."
"Hmph." Alden pondered. "They are more so for the eldest of the family."
"Alvin?"
Alvin Nyx Zevril, the firstborn and the current heir to the family, five years older than Alan and someone he has never met before.
When Alan was 8, Alvin, along with the second battalion of the Zevril knights, left for the eastern continent.
And hasn't returned since.
Alan had heard many stories about Alvin from the soldiers, that he was somewhat eccentric and Alan would get along well with him.
"Makes me want to go and meet him..." Alan muttered.
He also knew Alvin was the strongest among the direct lines right now, well, it's to be expected, he is currently 21.
Ding
The bell jingled, announcing another customer.
"Welcome!" Miya greeted them.
Alan turned his head to see who it was.
Light-brown hair, blue eyes and tall figure.
It was Gavin, he stepped into the restaurant with a calm face, but the moment he looked at Miya his eyes softened, and his lips pulled into a gentle smile.
Similarly, Miya's expression softened, and her smile became even livelier.
"Fuck..." Alan eyes twitched as he watched this, he couldn't even hold back the curse.
Even though he gave the green light to Gavin, it utterly pissed him off, seeing someone getting close to his mother like this.
But the fact, Miya, was genuinely enjoying Gavin's company made him rage, even though he wanted it to happen.
Alan was an extreme romance enthusiast, just not when it came to his mother.
Still, luckily, they are just talking with each other, nothing happened yet.
Thinking along these lines, Alan returned to eating, ignoring the veins bulging on his forehead.
"How have you been?" Gavin asked her.
"Good, what about you." Miya smiled... a little too sweetly. "Would you like something to eat?"
"I would love to, but no, I am here for something else."
Crack
Alan snapped his fork, what kind of bastard refuses a meal from his mother?
Before he could attack Gavin.
"The patriarch has returned, as well as the first battalion."
He paused, he face turning serious.
If the patriarch returned, that could only mean one thing.
They were leaving for the capital soon.
Alden stood up and looked at Alan. "We're leaving to the main estate."
Alan nodded and got up too, then followed Alden.
But no one failed to notice how the both of them left behind their plates filled with vegetables and no meat.