A/N: I totally forgotten to announce that in the precedent chapter, but my book finally reached 2k views ! Thanks you a lot for your loyalty and your support !

So, let's go for Olberic !

~8 years ago~

The battle was raging: swords were clashing, arrows were shoot at an high altitude, horse were galloping at full speed, and hundreds of soldiers from both sides have fallen in the battlefield.

It was war: the warriors of the Hornburg kingdom were defending their country from their attackers who were slightly more numerous. Equipped with their iron helmet and their sword, they struggled against their assaillants through a large desertic plain hidden in the mountains, clashing their swords against their opponents ones. The battle was present at different fronts, where only the blows of their swords, the battle cries of each camps, and the screams of agony of those who fell in battle could be heard. It's been an hour since the war has just begun, between the defenders of Hornburg, with their light armor made of a black metal as hard as iron, a common material in the country, and their mysterious visitors which were differentiated with their brown outfit and their melee weapons. The loss were numerous in each camps,  and the country seemed to know one of the biggest war ever made...

However, his defenders refused to give up. The country did everything to protect itself on several fronts: the king Alfred himself established his campsite at the defensive outpost in the center of the kingdom, as he was actually planning some strategies to repel the enemy.

Not so far from here, at the bottom of a cliff where a banner representing the kingdom's emblem was positionated , a group of enemy were surrounding a man. They thought they would easily beat him, with the advantage of the number... but they did not.

It was the single man who was gaining the upper hand, with his two handed large sword he was holding in a particular way, where the tip of his large and heavy sword was directed to the ground, ready to counter any strike.

His opponents were completely surprised of his brute strength, and even the leader of the group was powerless against him.

"Hells, is he man or beast ?", he said, trying to not fall with difficulty from his wound.

The single man watched at his opponents stoically, his dark eyes including an high concentration, when one of the remaining foes lost his temper and rushed headlong at him with a smaller sword.

"aaaaaAAAAAHHHHH !!!!"

CLASH !

The soldier received the blow on his torso, fell at the agony, and died of his wound, just next to other foes being already eliminated by this impressive human obstacle.

The group hesitated to challenge this warrior, and were conscious of his impressive strength, as one of them yelled in the group.

"He's but one, yet fights like a score !"

After a moment of waiting a front of the man who was standing proudly on their way, preventing them to pass, when 10 of them, including a few one pretty hurt after they tried to challenge him once, all decided to charge at the same time.

"aaaaaaaAAAAAHHHHHH !!!!!"

CLAAASHHHH !!!

All of them were all wiped out by a violent sweep of the large sword, making them flying away a few meters further, under the gaze of the rest of the group. Not even 10 person would deal with that knight, as good on the offensive as on the defensive.

The leader's eyes widened when he understood who was their imposing opponent.

"Gods have mercy... That's the Unbending Blade of Hornburg ! Olberic Eisenberg !"

All the others remaining attackers were shocked to hear that name: Olberic Eisenberg ! They must have heard a lot about that famous knight at the service of the king Alfred himself, well know through the continent of Orsterra for his powerful swordfighting skills. He was also well devoted to his king and was ready at anything to protect him and his country.

He then spoke coldly at the leader.

"You know my name. And so to business. Who will be the next to die ?"

As he was waiting for another one to come, 20 other enemies came from behind the remaining group, ready lend them an helping hand, as Olberic wasn't really surprised of their arrival.

"It's you whoo'll be dyin'. Look about you, we have the numbers !", yelled arrogantly the leader, whom he and his fellows were still ready to overtake him by the number despite his monsterous strength.

BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!

A corn horn can be heard from the horizon, which echoed through the ravine, when one of the soldier, surprised, quickly informed his chief.

"Enemy reinforcements, on the left flank !"

A group of defenders of Hornburg suddenly appeared behind Olberic, and they appeared much more numerous than the enemies.

They were rushing proudly to Olberic's side, ready to assist him, when the leader said at his comrades.

"To Sir Olberic's side, men ! The blackguards have had their way for long enough !"

"CHARGE !", they all yelled together.

They totally overwhelmed the small group of attackers, who started to fall one by one, as they was no way for them to fight back the reinforcements.

A tier of them has better chosen to step back from them, including the leader, when one of them yelled.

"They are way too many ! We have no chance against them !"

"Bah ! It matters not. We're done here. Sound the retreat ! Withdraw to the rallying point !", ordered the leader of the attackers.

All of the surviving enemy ran away to the other side of the ravine, and they finally disappeared from the view of the black guards of Hornburg, who all cheered as they fled away. They were all wearing an hard helmet during the battle, unlike Olberic who hasn't his head being covered.

Olberic didn't seem to have a received a lot of bruises from his foes: we tell that he had the strength of 50 men, and the defense of a small army at himself, which makes him a true monster of power. Despite it's been an hour he was dancing his sword against his foes, he wasn't really tired, he didn't have any serious wound on his muscular body, and he still remained a strong moral as a knight at the service of its king.

The reinforcements gathered around the knight, when the lieutenant of the group who was glad to see him well and safe, spoke to him.

"Sir Olberic. I feared we would be too late."

"Nothing I couldn't handle. Can you hold this position ?", asked Olberic while watching down from his great stature at the small lieutenant.

"You make for His Majesty's camp, sir ?"

"Just so. Our foe attacked from both flanks, but we have no orders from the crown since a long time. This... concerns me.", he doubted, as he remained calm at the situation, but still concerned for his king.

"His Majesty is well guarded sir..."

"Sir Erhardt is with him. I know this."

"There is no stronger knight in the realm. Other than yourself, of course, m'lord. With Sir Erhardt at his side, surely His Majesty is in no danger... ?", deduced the lieutenant, who looked worried as well.

"Perhaps not. But we must be certain. I would know how the battle unfolds. Besides, word from the king always lifts the men's spirits.", anticipated Olberic, who was showing awise reflexion.

"As you wish, sir. We will hold this ground.", answered his interlocutor, while he pulled out his sword out of his scabbard, as Olberic did the inverse.

"Be safe. And may the gods guide your blade."

"And yours. Sir Olberic."

He then rushed back to where the reinforcements came from, leaving them behind as they were staying in place, ready to counter another attack on that flank.

Meanwhile, Olberic was still running in direction of the center outpost, where the king's campement was established, and well protected by his close-knit guard, including Erhardt, another powerful swordfighter knight and as well Olberic's brother-in-arms. But despite all of those defences, Olberic could never stop to think that he must be better with the king himself and doubted that he was really in security.

He climbed the rocky hill where the outpost at the summit, and when he finally reached it, what he discovered surprised him enormously.

"Heavens have mercy...", he said shockingly.

Along the way leading to the king's campement, a good numbers of the guards were all slain, spreaded all across the ground as no one made a single movement. Their swords were dropped from their hands, and blood had already escaped the body of some of them. Olberic's premonitions proved to be true: something horrible has really happened in the outpost.

Trying to remain calm, he looked for any survivors, by checking first the body of a soldier, whom he just noticied he was dead. No one had survived from all the soldiers who were keeping that area which separated the king's campement from the hill's bottom. Olberic was confused, although the outpost was well guarded, and no one received the information of a former raid attacking the basement.

He then noticed all the soldiers were killed by a sword in a accurate way: right into the torso or the heart, as all guards must have died quickly while receiving the strike.

"His Majesty's own guard.., slain, to the last man. Who could have done such a thing ?", he asked worringly to himself, horrified to see such an horrible spectacle, when he called. "Erhardt ! Where is Erhardt !?"

~Meanwhile, at the king's campement~

Every guards were slain as well, while the king Alfred was out from his tent, wounded and kneeling on the ground, while menaced by a sword pointed towards his throat.

"So it was... you...", he said weakly at his attacker, glaring at him with hatred eyes.

"...", Erhardt didn't answer the king, and kept watching him with disgust.

This beautiful man, with half long blond wavy hair and a pair of green eyes which were showing a lot of anger, was wearing a black knight uniform, similar to Olberic, but more adapted to his size, alongside with a brown shirt and a pair of white gloves tightened by golden bracelets.

He was holding his blade menacingly at his own king, preventing him from escaping as he had already accepted his fate. It was him, the one responsible of the massive slaying of guards, and also who was supposed to protect the king from any attack... except that one.

Then, Olberic finally arrived and observed the scene with shock.

"My liege ! Erhardt ! What is the meaning of this !?", he asked angrily at the blond knight.

SLASH !!

The traitor just impaled the king with a quick blow of his sword, right into his chest.

"Nghhh !..."

The king finally collapsed on the ground, and immediatly died at the instant, under the powerless gaze of Olberic, who was totally traumatised by his action.

"What... What have you done !?"

CLASH !!

"Ungaaaah !"

Erhardt just dashed at quick speed towards Olberic and hit him, when he managed to pull out his sword to counter partially the blow, but his left shoulder has been touched.

He tried to endure the hard pain making him shivering, when Erhardt answered him coldly.

"Have you not eyes ? The king is dead, by my hand."

"What madness... What treachery is this !?"

"No madness here. But call it treachery, if you will."

Olberic couldn't believe any single words his friend was saying, but it was sadly the truth: his brother-in-arms just killed their king without any regret... But for what reason ?

The now injured knight was breathing weakly, when he spoke angrily to his surprising foe.

"How dare you do such a thing ?... At your king ?... The one whom we had sworn our oath to defend ?!!!"

"I did. But now, everything of this is part of the past."

Angered by his words, Olberic got up and tightened his grip on his sword.

"I thought you a friend... A BROTHER !!!"

He charged towards him, when his enemy did the same at quick speed, as their sword clashed.

CLASH !!

"Gah ! Unnnngh..."

Olberic just received another blow from his opponent, whom he couldn't believe that ite was actually his old friend Erhardt. He was still shocked by what he saw, which permitted to the blond knight to strike 2 blows at him. These 2 powerful knight had exactly the same strength, with olberic being the toughest of the two, while Erhardt was actually the fastest.

"Brothers, indeed. How many times did we cross swords like this in the practice yards ? And how many times have I told you ? I see your every move, your every strike before it falls."

"As I see yours !", responded Olberic.

"Ah, but you've not seen everything. I save one trick... for the day I knew would come !"

They once again charged to each other, holding tight their swords, which the clash echoed through the area.

CLAAAAAAAASHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!.....

~Berg's POV~

"AH !"

I finally woke up on my bed, as usually. Everything looked so real, but it always finished at the same moment, before I found myself back to that small cottage, invided by the darkness, which served as my home.

I breathed slowly, my face sweating from my emotions, as I was now back in the present. I wasn't in the middle of the battlefield, but in a small room, in my bed, and all the wounds I received were gone... with the exception of a scar on my forehead.

"Always the same dream..."

Not the first time I had this dream, where I was remembering back what happened 8 years ago. It's became so difficult for me to see my own past resurfacing despite I've changed my life. Was I having all those dreams just by simple reflexe... or because I was still preoccupied by this awful day ?

Yeah, I was once a great knight from the kingdom of Hornburg, and I was using my sword at the service of King Alfred, whom I respected a lot and kept oath to protect him... until I lost both land and liege. That day, I wasn't able to save both of them during this imminent war, which was ended in failure... my failure. The country has now been wiped out from the map of Orsterra a moment after my former companion, Erhardt, had betrayed his country and beaten me that day. I didn't remember nothing about how that duel had finished, and I had no idea if he was still alive, and what reason pushed him to betray his king and his country. After that event which occured 8 years ago, everyone thought that the proud "Olberic Eisenberg" died in battle, but I somehow survived. However, I had lost everything that day, and I had no choice but to manage for moving away and drawing a line on my past.

I was now living at Cobblestone, a remote village in the highlands, where I hire out my sword under the assumed name of "Berg". I admitted it was such a peacefull life for someone like me, but I was finally habitued to the daily life in that tranquil hamlet.

However, after all those 8 years spend here, I couldn't stop to remember what I was really used to do before. I wasn't able to protect my land and my king in that day, and I felt completely guilty for those whom my responsability was to defend. Have I failed in my duty ?

After all those years where I swung my sword against my ennemies, where I defended the innocent from brigands, thieves, and monsters... I started to doubt on my own person after everything I lost, and how I could be useful for others... But after all those wars where I fought, and after every lives I slain... what does it made me a knight ?

While I was meditating a lot about that question, I then felt the presnece of someone familiar.

"Ah, Philip. What is it ?", I asked calmly.

The door slowly opened, revealing the visitor whom I've expected: Philip.

It was a light brown haired 9 years old boy which lived in the village alongside with his mother, and whom I was teaching at the art of combat, hoping that he would knew how to defend himself, as he wished to be a great warrior someday. He might be quite reckless at his age, but he is old enough to know how to swing a sword, even if he has still a lot to learn. This honest boy was also my protégé, and he seemed to have an admiration on my person.

"Crivens ! How did you know it was me, sir ?", he asked me, surprised.

"One must always be on his guard, even when he rest. Yes a knight... !"

Oh my... I said too much...

I suddenly interrupted myself, as Philip looked confused, but also surprised. I couldn't tell him who I was, I couldn't let my past being learned by the inhabitants of Cobblestone, and to implicate them in my business... not for the moment anyway.

Whatever. I have to be careful in my words. So, I decided to speak again.

"Hum-Hum !... No, I am no knight. Just a man with a sword, and nothing more..."

"If you say so, sir. But there's lots of men what carry swords that can't do half of what you do !", exclamed happily Philip, before he continued. "Like the day when a couple of travellers were trapped in a cave-in not so far from our village, and nobody weren't able to move the rocks. But you, you were the only one who was able to lift them up efforcelessly !... And also when you were the only one able to stop at bare hands the mad cow of the old Spencer, when she escaped her pen !"

"Yes. I remember to have accomplished such miracles... but you know, Philip, anybody of my stature would be able to realize such exploits.", I answered him wisely, trying to make sure he wouldn't take those exploits too seriously.

"Yeah, but I think you must be completely unique, Sir Berg ! I swear ! It's just like you have done those exploits in your entire life ! Like at the training session, when you can disarm any opponent without effort, even when your eyes are closed !"

His remarks weren't wrong. Since I've arrived in that village, and the first time I started to serve its inhabitants, everyone believed I was a very special one of a kind. They saw me as a superhuman, although I convinced them I was just a man with a great physical strength. But they still respected me though, and admired my exploits.

Philip then replied me.

"Oh, I almost forgot, sir ! We are waiting for you for the daily morning practice !"

Oh yeah... I've almost forgotten that I have to train the boys every morning, at the first lights of the sun. I must have slept way too much, so I was late.

I just needed to prepare myself, so I answered to him.

"Tell the others I'm on my way."

"Yes, sir ! I'll go on ahead and let him known, Sir. We'll be in the square... you know the one."

He then closed the door behind me and left.

Philip enjoyed a lot the training practice I was teaching at him and at the other boys. He sometimes spent his time to train his various sword fighting skills, and also determined to surpass me one day. From all people residating in that hamlet, he was more closer to me than any others.

Although I spent 8 years in that place lost in the Highlands, I always had the feeling that I've been pursued by my own past. Indeed, all citizens of Cobblestone started to ask a lot of questions about me, and I couldn't stop to deny them when they wanted to know who was I. It seems like my own actions betrayed me, as all those exploits I've accomplished were the fruit about some rumors about me, even if they preferred to remain silent about the subject. I wanted to start a new life, but it seems like I couldn't forget totally my past. Was it fate ?

By the way, how many years has it been since Hornburg fell ? My liege lost, my land in ruin... I wandered aimlessly. After a time, I came to this village, and here I earn my keep as a hired sword, hiding behind another man's name. Defending the villagers from bandit raids, teaching young men how to handle a blade... not a glamorous life, but it puts food on my plate.

A man like me knows only the battlefield. Worth only as much as the blade at my side, and the arm that swings it. When that blade fails to save my sworn liege, what does that make me ?

For years, I've asked myself that question. My reason for wielding a sword. No answer still... at least, not one I like. One thing I do know is that I owe this village a debt. A debt I intend to repay.

Frrrrrrrrrrrrr !!!....

I heard a rubbing sound echoing in my house.

"Mmmh ? What might be that sound ?"

Concerned by the noise, I got up from my bed, and went to his source.

I approched to my chimney, when I observed some dust were falling from there. Something might be stuck inside my chimney... Maybe it was a bird which stuck himself ?

FRRRRRRR !!!...

I suddenly saw a person's head which appeared from the chimney... Wait ! A person ?!

"Kof ! Kof !", he coughed.

We then stared at each other, when, in surprise...

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH !!!!", we both screamed.

What was the meaning of this ?! What was a child doing in my own chimney ?!

"BY THE FLAME !! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE ?!!", I asked him, still looking surprised and confused.

"I DON'T KNOW ! GET ME OUUUUUUUUUT !", the boy screamed, as he was trying to squirm out from his spot.

The poor boy, whom the dust was covering his face, was stuck inside it. My first reflexe was to try to pull him out by his arms, when I started to pull.

"Gnnn !!!"

"AAAHH ! YOU'RE HURTING ME !", he yelled in pain at me, completely stressed.

"I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN !", I replied to him.

His small body was pretty stuck in the duct, and pulling him again would hurt him continuously.

I then had an idea: if I pushed him further in the duct, I might rotate his body and find an easiest way to pull him out of the chimney.

So, I pushed him from his shoulders, when his hands grabbed the sides of the exit.

"NOOOO ! DON'T PUSH ME ! I WANT TO GET OUUUUUT !!", he screamed again, as he was disturbed in that position, and believed I would let him stuck.

I tried to reassure him by saying loudly.

"CALM DOWN !!! I'M JUST FINDING A WAY OUT !!! JUST DON'T MOVE !"

"BUT I CAN'T MOVE !", he shaked his arms in fear.

GRRRMBLLL...

I heard some rock falling from the upper part of the chimney, which must be fragile woth the time. The boy's size might have touched those fragile walls, and I must act quickly before he is crushed.

Now !

I then rotated him and pulled him with all my strength, when I finally observed his body leaving the duct when

WOUUSH !

"WOOAAAHH !!"

I pulled so hard that he jumped through my room, before he landed at the side of my bed, as I fell heavily on my back.

"Aghh !"

"Gnnn !!..."

CRACK !

The rocks finally fell on the bottom, before exploding in several pieces. That was close...

I could have finally released him from that thick prison of walls, and now my room was only smelling like coal.

I know that children might be used to provoke some troubles at this age, but during all my life, I've never saw one who had stucked himself inside a chimney ! But how did he manage to find himself in a spot like this one, in the middle of four walls and the coal ?! However, the roof of my house was too much high for a little child to reach !

And I also hurt myself when landing on the floor: I must learn how to control my strength once again, as it's been a time I haven't trained myself seriously, and that I haven't felt some pain in may back. I wasn't the same Olberic Eisenberg that fought for his country 8 years ago...

By the way, I watched at the young boy, who was lying at the side of my bed, when I observed he was younger than I expected. In fact, I believed he was younger than Philip, that means around 6 years old, to be exact. He was wearing kind of furry clothes, and a leather bag at his side. When he opened his eyes, he looked quite concerned by something.

He then moved his legs, and sighted in relief, before telling me.

"AAAAaaaahhhh... I'm finally free ! Thanks, sir ! Sir ?"

"Ohhh..."

I managed to endure the pain on my back with difficulty, and it's been a time I haven't trained my body physically.

I then slowly got up on my feet, surprising him with my great stature compared to him, when I answered him calmly.

"You don't have to thank me, young man... You were just pretty lucky the fire was out !"

He seemed to be ok, with just a few bruises after being stuck in the duct. He watched around him the place he was actually, viewing attentively every details of the room, when his hand gripped the side on my bed, as he spoke.

"This place is so dark... Is that where you're living ?", he asked me innocently, quite troubled to find himself in a place like this.

"Yes... I consider it as my home... This may be too small, but it's worth it..."

Even if it wasn't the best place to live, I was proud to consider it as my home. When I arrived, it was the only cottage available, as all the rest were already inhabited by the townfolk. So, I managed to amenage it with just the bare minimum, and after they proposed me to live in a better house, I refused simply because I was already attached to that house. This boy seemed quite curious to see how dark was the place, just like he was still inside the duct.

Anyway, there was one thing I wanted to know. So I watched him cautiously and asked him.

"My turn now to ask you some questions: HOW did you end up in my chimney ?"

"I was... in your chimney ?!", he answered me, surprised that he hasn't noticed by himself that he was inside a chimney.

"You can see well that it is not a rat hole.", I showed him the place where he came from.

CRACK !

We were caught of surprise by some rocks falling from the duct. My chimney didn't seemed to be as solid as it was before. I must envisage to ask the bricklayer to change my chimney, now it became to dangerous.

I then watched back at the child.

"Hum... Anyway, how did you end up getting stuck inside ?"

"I... I'm so sorry, sir... I didn't mean to fall in your chimney...", he apologyzed to me, as he realized he has done somehing wrong.

"So, you FELL in my chimney ? But how ? You didn't fall from the sky, nevertheless ?!"

What I said was quite far-fetched, but I couldn't stop to imagine how did he managed to get stuck.

I waited patiently at an explanation from him, where I noticed his eyes at hir left, just like he was hiding something, and he was hesitant to tell me what he was hiding.

"Well..."

I then saw his bag at his side, and also a kind of black wing on the carpet of my house, which didn't seem to be mine.

I slowly picked it up, and showed it at the boy.

"Is that your stuff ?"

I remained to stay calm, when he told me.

"Yeah... Ah ! I... I just wanted to retrieve that wing."

"You were reaching... for that ordinary wing ?"

"Yep ! But... it's not an ordinary, you know...It brings me luck !"

A wing which can bring luck... Mmmhh... quite original.

I never heard about a wing which can bring luck, and it seemed to be a legend, according to the boy's expression whom I started to doubt he was just inventing that story, as a wing was quite banal for a good luck charm...

The boy continued to explain.

"There was a wind which made it fly away on the chimney of your house... I just tried to get it back, but I fell in the hole by accident..."

"So... If I undertand correctly, you just wanted to retrieve it, right ?"

"Huh-uh !", he nodded, with a weird smile.

That was weird: it just like his story was just invented, and he was lying to me. When I worked under the reign of king Alfred, I sometimes had to interrogate some ennemies, and I was used to notice from their expression if they were lying or not. This boy looked annoyed as well... However, me neither I couldn't imagine how he arrived in my chimney. How did this really happen ?

And by the way, I never saw his face somewhere in the village... no one even spoke me about that young boy... I also noticed his clothes were mostly made of fur, which must have been made by an hunter artisan. Does this boy came from the Woodlands region, the one reputed to be lived by hunters ?

That might explain where did he got that wing, but I have no idea what he was doing here, so far away from his homeland, as he seemed too young to quit his village... How could he manage to reach the Highlands in the first place ? Was he accompanied by his family ?

Actually, despite I was still curious to figure out, I understood this boy has had enough, so I decided to not disturb him more about this subject.

"You could have hurt yourself, up there. You should have knocked at my door instead, and I could have helped you getting it back.", I told him calmly, while giving him back his wing, when I replied. "Just next time, be careful at your stuff."

"Okay, sir.", he answered me politely.

He seems to be a good boy, even if he was pretty reckless to find himself in a weird situation.

His face was actually covered by the dust, so I decided to pick up the closest tissue and to clean him.

"You're pretty dirty. Let me freshen you up."

He let me cleaning his face, as I slowly wiped out the coal on his cheeks and his forehead, when the boy's face became more pale, while my tissue became darker.

"Thanks sir.", he told me nicely, when he asked me curiously. "By the way, who are you ?"

"Ah ! My apologies to not have introduced myself sooner... You can call me Berg."

"Well... Hello, mr Berg ! I am Travis ! Nice to meet you !"

"So am I..."

I gently shaked his smaller hand, as he was glad to get acquainted with me.

I observed he was watching me with a lot of attention, just like I was interesting him on way or another. Does he has noticed something in particular ?

After a moment of hesitation, Travis continued to speak to me.

"Tell me, mr Berg... Are you a knight ?"

I flinched when I heard the word "knight", quite surprised, before I asked him.

"A knight ? What are you asking me that question ?"

"Because... I just saw a sword under your bed !", he pointed his finger at the bed's direction.

The bed ! I've completely forgotten to move the sheets when someone is here !

That was rather annoying: he just had noticed my sword I was hiding under my bed safe from praying eyes. Indeed, it was the second time of the day that we started to wonder about my past. I have to be careful, next time I receive a visitor, but now it was too late to hide this sword out of the kid's sight.

While he was watching me curiously with his light blue eyes, I decided to lie to him.

"Ah, yeah... You seems pretty observant, boy. However, sorry to disappoint you, but it's just a weapon which I've borrowed from someone else who was nice enough to give me when he was absent."

I remained calm in my lies, when the boy asked me again.

"...from who ?"

I could see in his eyes that he believed I was lying to him. That wasn't good...

I never meet such a curious boy who wanted to know more about me, unlike the others kids of the village who had really nothing to do with my past.

However, I still didn't want to be unmasked today.

"Well... it belongs to our village's chief, Helbert ! He's actually gone for a trip since a week, so he asked me to take care of his sword for him. In other terms, I'm just doing a favor at someone else !"

This time I wasn't lying to him: our chief, Helbert, left the village a week ago, in order to find out the brigand's hideout which must be established somewhere in the mountains, as he wanted to put a term at their crimes.

While I was still curious about his past, I wouldn't like to implicate that boy with my own past. In other terms, we are both having a secret we wouldn't share.

He looked concerned when he watched more at his surroundings.

"So... We are in a village ?"

He doesn't even know he was actually in a village ?! Heavens, but where did that boy has fallen from ?!

That doesn't really matter. Maybe his family has already arrived in the village as well... If they still haven't, they must be actually looking for him. Indeed, he too he was conscious he lost himself in the middle of that lost hamlet.

The problem, is that I have still to train the boys, and I don't really have time to take care of that young child. Maybe I should give him to someone else who might watch over him...

"What if we're going to meet your parents ? They might be wondering where you are actually...", I proposed him kindly, when he nodded to accept.

So, I was putting on my brown tunic, when he left the door without delay by his own curiosity.

~Travis's POV~

Each time I opened a door, I was always curious to know what kind of village this could be. I first hoped it must be a simple village, like Clearbrook, but my jaw dropped when I saw what was outside.

Mountains. Mountains as far as the eye can see. They were really high and close to each other, just like the ones I've seen in books at the library. Their dark grey color matched pretty well with the white sky, and their summit were really sharp. They were so far away from where am I, so far that I couldn't imagine the distance between me and all of them. And I was pretty sure there must be other ones hidden.

Beeeeehhhhh ! Beeeeeehhhh ! Beeeeeeehhhh !

WAH ! WAH !

When I observed the grassy area next to Berg's house, I watched at the right a meadow where a few sheeps were guarded by a dog, which leaded the herd at a direction.

But my eyes were mostly distracted by the mountains, making me approaching more through the meadow, when I noticed I could't move forward anymore, simply because there was like a cliff which separated me and this beautiful landscape. Thanksfully, there was a long rampart made of stone which prevented anyone to fall. This is when I understood how dangerous it must be to approach more, because the village where I was must stand very high in the mountains, so high that it was difficult for me to notice the bottom !

"Woooooaaaaahhh ! That's so high !", I exclamed.

"Nice view from here, right ? These are the Thunder mountains.", told me mr Berg who was just standing behind me.

I turned over him, always curious to learn more.

"The Thunder mountains ?"

"It's a vast mountain range which extends over more than 30000 hectares, and its highest mountains reach 5 kilometers of altitude. It is... the pride of the Highlands region."

The Highlands region ?!

So, I was in a new region again ?! It must be the fifth one... However, I couldn't remember the map in my head, and where was located that region... Did it was close to the Frostlands ? Because they were high mountains in that region too ?

Anyway, I was really impressed that such a region existed, and the mountains seemed much more higher than the ones I saw at the Path to the Cave of Origins. I always wanted to find myself in the mountains, just like the ones seen in postcards where there are tons of animals which can be found, like groundhogs or gazelles ! Though I'm not very sure if they were gazelles living in the mountains, maybe I confused them with another animal...

I was also wondering in what kind of village I was actually, when Berg showed me the place.

"And there, you are actually standing in the little hamlet we call Cobblestone."

Cobblestone ?! Still a city with composed name !

But I think its name fitted it, with all those little houses made of cobble, the walls using the almost the same rocks that the roof, alongside with all those low walls and those stairs made of the same material. It just like the entire village itself was only made of stones... but with the exception of its inhabitants, of course.

Garglumble !

Something in my stomach echoed, and I quickly understood what it meaned, when Berg noticed it as well.

"Well, I can hear your stomach claiming something ! Come with me, I know a place to eat."

He encouraged me to take his hand, that I didn't refused to hold, as we were both walking through the village, following him closely. I was really hungry, and maybe that wouldn't be so bad to grab a bite to eat, while I didn't have the time to eat at S'warkii when this monster attacked the village.

Talking about that, it was really weird for me to be first swallowed by that beast, and then to find myself in a peaceful village ! But I was also actually upset to have left that place: I was worrying about H'aanit, about Linde, and also the villagers. I wondered if they were okay, after that kind of purple pillar of light which appeared from nowhere... What does it meaned ? A danger or not ?

I had a bad feeling about this, especially when I learned from H'aanit that the same thing have been seen next to Clearbrook, so I was also worrying for Alfyn, Zeph and the others. I hope they would be ok...

I was also wondering about Therion and Ophilia: it's been a time since I lost them. I also wanted to see them back, as they were really missing me, alongside with the others. I've promised to help them, and I would be reassured if they were with me. I have to steal those 3 magic balls, to help Ophilia bringing that sacred flame through the country, to follow Alfyn who is pursuing his dream of being the best doctor... And for H'aanit, I didn't really know what she wanted to do, but I also wanted to hunt with her again, because I just enjoyed to spend some time with her, and I remembered she really wanted to help her master Z'aanta. Considering how much she liked him, maybe she must be looking for him...

Honestly, I wanted to join them, no matter if I didn't know where they were actually, I would find them by my own will ! I lied to mr Berg about my parents because I didn't want him to find out I had no family, and so he wouldn't let me leaving the village. Yeah, I wanted to leave that place and to find the others, but mr Berg was holding my hand tight, as he was really strong, like he did when he helped me when I was stuck in the chimney. Plus, I was really hungry, so it doesn't seem to be too bad.

I think I'm gonna wait the right moment... And I let my bag at mr Berg's home, so I will take it before leaving after...

About mr Berg, I found him quite nice, and he was also someone serious, like any adult. But he was a calm person, who seemed to care about me, which was normal as he was watching me as a lost kid.

Even if I wanted to get out, I was concerned about that man. He has black hair with white streaks, with a strand of hair left unfixed. I find his hair cut set backwards made me thinking about the shape of an hedgehog. I also noticed he's got a scar on the left side of his forehead, making me wondering how did he got this. He was wearing a brown tunic which fitted very well at his high stature. Yeah, when I watched at his stature, I was impressed about how tall he was compared to mine, where I felt so small next to him. He was even taller than Alfyn !

Wooah ! He looks so strong !

I was persuaded he must be really strong with that mountain of muscles he had, and honestly, I was finding him really handsome ! This man who must have at least 30 years made me thinking about all those famous american actors incredibly well-built, who act in all those famous hollywood action movies ! I was quite excited to have met someone like him.

I was wondering why he was carrying a wooden sword at his side. I also wanted to know what was that sword he was hiding... was he really a knight ? If yes, why did he didn't want to admit it ?

I didn't really want to annoy him more about that sword, it's just I was quite admired by knights ! Effectly, I remembered those fairy tales books I've read at the library which told stories of strong knights in armors, which were really brave to fight dragons and bad people ! Indeed, we were in a video game set in the medieval period, so it was obsious that knights lived here ! Just like the ones I've seen at the entrance of the Cave of Origins. However, I was asking myself why a knight like him would live in such a peaceful village...

"1, 2, 3 !!"

A pair of little girls were playing tag around a house, while they laughed each other while one tried to catch the other girl. I also observed, while walking down the stairs with mr Berg, a slighty older girl, which was helping her mother to palnt some seed on a garden.

"Great, my dear !", she nicely complicated her daughter, when she noticed me curiously. "Huh ? Who is this boy ?"

Then, the daughter watched me with concerned eyes, alongside with the two playing girls staring at me innocently. Then, it was the same thing with an old man, who just passed next to use, and also an old woman who was sweeping next to her house. Everyone were watching especially at me, by curiousity, without question. I must be a stranger for them, so it was normal they believed me to be new in that village. But I was feeling a little embarassed, with all those looks weirdly staring at me.

We were going down a few stairs, when I saw other kids in a square. But what were they doing ?

"Yaaaah !"

TCHA ! TCHA ! TCHA !

Two of them were fighting each other with both a sword, a wooden swords to be exact. A brown haired boy with short hair cut, who seemed to be slightly older than me, was clashing his sword against a blond boy even older.

"Come on ! Faster !", said the blond boy, who must be in his teen years.

They were fighting each other with their own sword, while a third boy, which looked alike the blond boy, was observing them on a low wall while he got also another wooden weapon. The youngest of the three boys kept attacking the blond one, who managed to counter his blow and to counter attack, but the first one could also defend himself. While the blond one seemed to fight by pleasure, the brown one was quite serious and determined to take down his opponent.

But what were they doing ? Playing ? Or they were like... training ?

"Haaaah !"

The brown haired boy charged towards his opponent, when he was ready to give him an huge blow on his arms, when he avoided easily.

"Too slow !"

TCHAA !

The blond boy hit the other on the head, making him falling down.

"Gnnngh !"

"Haha ! I won again !", cheered the blond boy.

"Well Philip, you seems quite tougher than usually, today ! You still want to be like sir Berg, someday ?", asked the third one.

So... his name was Philip, right ?

"Yes, I will !", I watched him slowly getting back on his feet, picking up his sword, when he said back at the others. "And next time, I'll be the one who says "too slow" !"

Even if he just lost, personnaly, I think Philip was quite strong. Indeed, I was more concerned by him than the two others, even if he was the youngest. He was quite serious and brave, I think !

"Ha ! I would like to see that !", answered cockily his opponent.

They noticed us arriving, when the third boy waved at mr Berg.

"Hey ! Sir Berg ! We were waiting for you !"

"Hello, boys. I'm sorry, but I'll be a little late for the training practice, today.", answered calmly Berg, who seemed to know these kids.

Did he said "training practice" ? Did that means that Berg is the one who is training those boys at sword fighting ?... Training them for they could be future knights ? So, maybe he was really a knight, and that could explain why he was the trainer of these boys.

By the way, the boy whom I was mostly concerned, Philip, noticed me curiously.

"Who is this boy, Sir Berg ?", he asked at Berg.

"Just a lost and starved boy I found. Continue the training without me, I won't be late."

"Yes sir !!", cheered the boys happily.

I wanted to know more about that training practice... The boys looked pretty good with a sword, and they weren't like the ones I sometimes see in the park, whey they played at knight and dragon with a stick. Effectly, they were seriously training at sword fighting, although I believed it was a peaceful village...

I was still hungry and thirsty, and I was wondering where mr Berg was taking me to, when we turned at the left, and saw a big chalet, much bigger than all the other houses in the village.

From here, I could smell the odor of alcohol and of food, when I asked to mr Berg.

"Is that a tavern ?"

"An inn, for being exact. And this will be here you'll eat."

"Really ?!"

I was pretty excited: I was going to eat some food, and I couldn't stop to imagine what kind of meal they would serve me. And it was the first time I was going in an inn, which might be like a tavern.

When mr Berg opened the door, I could see the whole ambiance of the restaurant. It looked like a tavern, but the tables were more decorated with a red layer, and it was less darker than in a tavern because the shutters were opened wide, permitting the light of the sun to penetrate the large room. There was a counter at the end of the room, where glasses, bottles, and every sorts of barrels were disposed, and a few customers were calmly eating at the right.

I watched at a waitress serving a plate with a smile. She was a woman of around 40 years old, her curly orange hair orange was tightened by a red bandana, and she was wearing a yellow dress with a white apron.

Mr Berg seemed to recognize her.

"Good morning, Camilla !", he called nicely the waitress.

She then turned at us, when she was happy to meet him.

"Heeeeeyyyyyy !!! Mister Berg ! I thought you would never take your meal in my inn in the mornin' !", said the woman with a country accent.

She approached us while still carrying a tray around her arm, when Berg answered to her.

"Errr... you're wrong, Camilla. I'm not the one who need to restore... But it's that young boy who need your services."

"H-hello ?", I said weirdly at the strange lady.

She then happily welcomed me.

"Well heeeeeeyyyyllo ! Little guy ! Welcome to my inn ! Can you tell me what's your name ?"

"T-travis, madam."

"Travis ? Mmmmhhh..."

She was thinking about something, when I asked her.

"What are you thinking about, madam ?"

"Well, sadlyyyyyy... I can't find you a sweet nickname with your name... So, I'm just gonna call you "Sweetie pie" ! Yeah, that's sounds pretty good !", she said proudly.

Seriously, I found that woman really positive towards us, just a little sassy... And by the way...

Why did everyone thinks I'm cute ?

"Is that a nephew of yours ? Or something like that ?", asked Camilla at mr Berg.

"No, Camilla. He is not part of my family: it's just a child whom I found stuck in my own chimney.", he answered calmly, just like he was used to talk with someone like her.

She then tried to keep from laughing, when she giggled.

"AH AH AH AH AH AH AH ! Thaaaaaaaaat's a good one ! Too bad I wasn't there to witness that moment !", she exclamed as she had tears in her eyes. "And you have called his parents ?"

"I'm trying to look for them. I think his family might be travelling, when they lost each other along the way, and they haven't still reached Cobblestone. However, I don't really have time to take care of him for the moment. I have the boys to train: can I let you him for a moment ?", he asked her.

"Ooooooof course, you can ! Friend ! Do not worry, I'll prepare him a meal of mine !", she cheered happily.

I was impatient to finally eat something that the nice lady would prepare me, but I was wondering why mr Berg was "letting me" to her instead of just staying with me...

He watched down at me and spoke to me.

"Sorry, Travis. I would like to help you more, but I've got something else to do. I promise I'll be right back."

He then left the inn, closing the door behind him, and leaving me with the woman who might be the owner of that restaurant.

"Don't worryyyyyyyy ! He said he will be back ! He always pay his debts, you know !", she spoke to me in a friendly manner, with still that kind of country accent.

There was something which concerned me about mr Berg, and maybe that woman will learn me more about him. So, I wanted to ask her.

"About him, I was just wondering..."

"Sniff ! Sniff !"

She sniffed a kind of odor, and I was confused about what she was doing, when she spoke curiously.

"Where did that strong smell comes from ? Aaaaaahhh... But you need to take a bath, sweetie pie ! It looks like you haven't washed for a week !", she told me, always in a positive manner.

I smelled at myself and bweeeehhh ! She was right ! It's been a time I haven't washed myself !

The lady then turned towards the kitchen, and called someone.

"Percy !"

I then saw a skinny man with black hair and mustache, who appeared from the kitchen.

"Ah !... Errr... Yeah, honey ?!... What do you want ?...", he slowly asked at the lady, while being a little shy.

"Prepare a bath for that little guy, he needs to be cleaned before touching his meals !"

"Okay !... Honey !...", he responded shyly at the servant, while he slowly headed to the stairs, shaking just like he was scared of something.

I was wondering why he was so shy with us, when I heard Camilla laughing.

"Hahahaha ! That's my husband ! I know he looks sometimes so shy with the customers, but honestly, I find him so sweet when he acts like this !" 

Well, it's her husband ?! What a weird couple...

"Come, follow me !", ordered me Camilla.

I then followed the waitress to the stairs, when I arrived to the second floor, and she led me to a specificate room, when I saw her husband filling a barrel with hot water.

I was surprised by the idea to take my bath again inside that thing, but she told me there was nothing else, so I accepted. I removed my old hunter clothes, which Camilla finally decided to throw them away because they were stripped out, and I then entired inside the barrel.

The couple then continued to fill the barrel of hot water with the help of wooden buckets, until the water reached my shoulders, and Camillia then started to clean my dirty skin with soap. Honestly, even if the water was warm, I felt quite embarassed to take my bath inside a barrel, just like I had a déjà vu sensation... I couldn't understand how people would wash like this in the middle age... And even Camilla joked that we should invent a system which I could be wahed while standing up.

I may have wished to take a bath one day, but I just feel annoyed inside that barrel, at waiting by doing nothing while someone his washing my naked body with her hands. Honestly, I would like to take a bath... in a river. Yeah, in a fresh natural river, like the one I saw at Clearbrook.

Or maybe in the sea, like all people would do at Summer in vacation...

Or why not under a waterfall ? It's sounded so nice: I could imagine thousand of fresh droplets falling on my head and my back, and that's might be relaxing to wash myself under the waterfall of a cavern...

Anyway, I just left the barrel, when Camilla gave me some new clothes to wear: there was a white wolly shirt, a brown jacket, grey pants, and a pair of leather shoes, which thansfully all fitted my small size. I also noticed they were almost the same than Philip, the boy I saw training in the court.

Hungry, I decided to go down at the counter, where Camilla was nice enough to find me an high stool which helped me to reach the bar, so I could put my arms and waiting my meal. She told me that she and her husband, who was also cook, were preparing me one of their special dishes, so I was pretty impatient to eat.

While I was waiting impatiently on the bar, Camilla was cleaning a few glasses, when I heard the voice of her husband.

"C-camilla ?!"

"Yep, honey ?"

"I... I b-brought the meal for the little one...", he said shyly, while giving the plate at his wife.

"Thanks, Percy ! You're too sweet !", she complimented cheerfuly at him, as he went back in the kitchen, when she put the meal just in front of my eyes. "Here's for you !"

"Woooaaah...", I was completely amazed by what I saw inside my plate.

A delicious juicy piece of meat was placed at the middle of the plate, next to a pair of salads which seemed so yummy. It totally gave me the appetite.

The lady commented proudly.

"Here's a good plate of beef, weeeeeeell raised quietly in the hearts of the Riverlands, accompanied with an healthy salad, cultivated by the best gardeners of Noblecourt.", she then turned back to the shelter of drinks, when she took a particular bottle. "And its seems I've forgotten... the non-alcoholic drink for kids !"

There was a yellow liquid inside the glassy bottle, and I'm pretty sure it was familiar to...

!!!

When I quickly understood, I became excited in my mind.

"Is... Is that what I believe ?!"

"Ah ah ! That's just an apple juice, sweetie pie !"

She filled my glass of apple juice, and I was really dying to drink it.

So I drank the entire content of my glass, while enjoying the sweet taste of that delicious drink.

"Mmmmhhhh..."

"Glad you like it ! I've also insisted my younger brother, who is also barkeep, to sell this juice at his customers, but he preferred to serve mostly wine in the Cliftlands ! That's not very clever ! And then, he will finish to be surprised to see all his customers head turning red ! AH AH AH !", she laughed loudly.

So, she had a brother who worked as a barkeep in the cliftlands... Was he the man I saw in the tavern at Bolderfall ?

I then started to eat my steak, which was really tasty like I expected. It was really a good meal, and she and her husband were good cooks !

While I was eating positively my beef, I was thinking about mr Berg. Despite he looked like a simple muscular man, since I saw that big sword, I was wondering who he was exactly. Was he really a knight ?

"You seems to be used to that place, little guy ! Is Sir Berg missing you ?", asked me Camilla.

I went back in my thoughts when I answered her while eating my salad.

"Errr... Not really ! It's just... I was wondering what he was doing outside..."

"Ah ! Yeah ! He is training the young boys at swordfighting ! With wooden swords, of course ! "

"He is training them to fight ?!"

"Yep ! Sir Berg is used to train those sweet boys to make them handsome men in the future ! He often train them every morning, sometimes more, and with of course the agreement of their families ! Hehe !", she laughed calmly, while watching me and cleaning a plate.

"Aren't they too tired to wake up so early in the morning ?"

"Nah ! Don't worry ! They live in that village since they have made their first words and steps, so they used to wake up at any time, when the sun shows up ! Sir Berg decided that to make sure they would well know that the early bird gets the worm. Ah Ah !"

Meh, I could understand how tiring it is to wake up sooner... When I was living next to that abandoned bakery, I sometimes had to wake up very soon because I needed to snatch some food, or to find abandoned stuff in narrow streets. That's must be hard for them to wake up and to train while still being tired.

"Who are his apprentices ? And for what reason are they training, exactly ?", I asked to Camilla.

"Weeeeell ! I see you're such a very curious one, sweetie pie ! Among his apprentices, you have the 2 others twins, whom I've already forgotten the names, but they just reached their teenage years a few days ago. And the last one, is the youngest of them: Philip !"

"Ah, you mean the brown haired one ?"

"Of couuuuurse ! Despite he seems to be less skilled than his comrads, he has much more determination than you think ! Believe me, this little guy is the one who wants to progress much further that the others, at a point when he would equalize with sir Berg himself !"

"That's right he looks rather serious !", I told her, while finishing my meat.

I believed that Philip really wanted to progress at sword fighting, just to be as strong as Mr Berg. By the way, he must be a strong guy for Philip would want to surpass him... I wondered how good he should be...

Camilla replied.

"Well ! He would like to be a proud warrior, as strong and wise as him... And maybe he will be a proud knight, someday..."

Yeah, that's must be quite cool to be a knight !

I understood how motivated was Philip for being a proud knight: knights are always strong and cool, and they are also very brave to save people and to deal with a giant dragon. He was really lucky to live in a world like this one !

Camilla really knew a lot about them: maybe like her brother, she must know some rumors about the city and its inhabittants. That was quite practical to own a restaurant where people go to eat and to tell stories between each others.

She then continued.

"And about the training sessions, it's Berg himself who have decided to teach them how to defend themselves. Indeed, he had already well trained a few men, some years ago, for they could be ready at any attack of bandits."

"Of bandits ?!", I asked, really concerned to know more.

"Yep. And they aren't here to play, my boy. Cobblestone might be a peaceful hamlet, but he is sometimes targetted by those sneaky thieves, who stole our resources... not even with a little "thank you", in exchange. Actually, it's been 3 weeks since a group of bandit recently aimed our village."

"Really ?"

"They must have established their base not so far away from Cobblestone... That's why Berg has trained the men, for getting prepared to any attack, and also trained the youngest ones to defend themselves just in case to. "

That didn't seem to be good for the inhabittants, to be attacked by brigands. I might have stolen during my whole life, but I could still understand how annoying it is to loose something which was ours. And I totally understand that, after bullies had ripped out my home and everything I had. I've also heard that in the age of knights and dragons, they were bad brigands which attacked village to steal animals and good, but thanksfully, knights were here to overtake them !

So, some people were already trained before Philip and the others to protect the village... That didn't sounds like a bad idea.

"And by the way, the chief of our village left a week ago, alongside with 2 other men. He said he wanted to find where the group of bandits must have established their campsite, so he let the village under the responsability of Berg during his absence."

"They are really bad guys everywhere !...", I protested innocently, while munching my second piece of salad.

"As you said ! Anyway, no one is safe in that world: even the noblest of men, well protected by their mansion and their loyal guards, can disappear overnight... Just like what happened to the house Azelhart a few years ago."

"The house Azelhart ? Who are they ?"

"They were oooooooooone proud family... One of the most noblest house of the Kingdom, who led the town of Noblecourt... They were really prosperous, at the time... Until 10 years ago, during one late night, the lord Azelhart has been murdered by criminals still at large, and so the house has finally disappeared from now."

"That's sounds creepy...", I told her, not feeling reassured by her story.

That was pretty shocking to hear that kind of story: I might be used to hear stories about crime and murder, but I was feeling bad that a noble man who wanted to spread the justice to be murdered like this, and it wasn't a movie, it was real !

"You said it ! After, we told some legends about them, just some far-fetched stories here and there... Thanksfully, it's not that kind of tale which would disturb our good old Sir Berg !"

"About him... Who is he, exactly ? Something tell me that... he is very... special.", I was thinking back about him, wanting to learn more rumors about him, like how would do Therion at the tavern when he was looking for a treasure.

"Ah ! Weeeeeeell you're not wrong to say that, Sweetie Pie ! You know, Sir Berg is not the kind of man who's used to live for himself."

"What do you mean ?", I finished my salad when I asked her that.

"It's a good guy ready at anything to pay his debts: since his arrival in Cobblestone 8 years ago, everyone saw him as lost, and depressed... just like he had lost faith in him. Everyone welcomed him with open arms, and since that day, he is always ready to help the townfolk, as the town's combat instruction, and is really integrated in the daily life of the hamlet. Everyone is supporting him and respecting him, especially that young Philip for some reason... And the most surprising, is that, in my opinion, he looked so well-built to be a wanderer ! Much of the townfolk started to wonder about his mysterious past, how he got that scar on his forehead, and why he knew so well how to teach the young at sword fighting, just like he was really used to fight like a warrior !", she explained me positively with still a sassy way.

Mr Berg seemed to have much more things to hide than I expected: even the villagers were agree to say that he was a mysterious man. It was also impressed to learn than everyone is respecting him, despite they didn't know anything about him. The villagers must be really nice with him, like this lady who seems to appreciate him.

She then laughed loudly, before adding.

"Ha ! Ha ! After all, the villagers too has started to be worried for him !"

"Worried"... me too I was worried about some persons whom I liked. It was well good to learn more about Berg, but I couldn't forget my other friends. I was also worried about them: if ever something bad happened to them, I would be responsible to not be here for them.

I just quickly reminded the map, where I learnt that the Highlands were so far from the other regions. Plus, with those purple pillar of light, including the one I saw at S'warkii, and the one which was at Clearbrook, I was wondering if Ophilia and Therion too had noticed something like that as well. Maybe it might be too direct, but I better have to tell them about it, and I think I stayed too long in that village.

So, I left my chair and headed towards the exit.

"I... I have to go !", I said at the waitress in a worried tone.

"Hey ? Where are you going ?!"

"Thank you, it was delicious !... Good bye !..."

I then passed the door, and ran while looking for Berg's house.

I was now outside, but I have still to retrieve my bag before leaving. Mr Berg might be actually training those kids, so he wouldn't notice me leaving. This village was much further than the other regions I've visited, and it was the longest distance I've done when I teleported from the Woodlands to the Highlands.

I must retrieve the others !

I still wanted to know more about that Berg, but for the moment, I was really concerned about the...

"Woooohhh... !!!"

My foot suddenly slipped on a rock, when I slipped to the side of the ravine, and fell.

My body slided in pain against a wall of stone, when I continued to fall at the bottom.

GRRUUUMBLLE !!

"Ouch !", I said in pain, when I hit something moving.

Phewww... Thanksfully, it wasn't really a precipice, I had just fell from 10 meters...

By the way, what was that thing I just hit ?

SCREEEE !!!

There was a brown bird, with long wings, and sharp claws, which was flying a front of me, as he wasn't happy.

An... eagle ?!

!!!

BA-BUMP !...

My heart just pounded, as I was too shocked in place to move.

What !....

SCREEEEEEEE !!!!

I suddenly saw a vision of a swarm of eagles flying madly around me !

BA-BUMP !...

What was happening to me ?!

Why am I suddenly stressed ?!

Why my heart was beating ?!

SCREEEEEEEE !!!!

The vision came back, with again those creepy eagles in my head. but I was... too scared to move ?!

Am I...

Scared of...

Eagles now ?!!

Why I can't !...

SCREEEEEEEE !!!!! SCREEEEE !!!! SCREEEEE !!!! SCREEEEE !!!! SCREEEEEE !!!

Move ?!...

SCREEEEEEEEEEEE !!!!

~

 A/N: Oh no ! Travis's worst fear came back ! And seriously... how many weird minor oc characters I've added in my book XD

The reason of adding some original minor characters is simply I just want to bring variety and humor in my book, so I just hope you didn't find them too annoying ! If you did, I advice you to not avoid their dialogues, because one of the dialogues said by Camilla, the sassy owner of the inn, contain something which will be important in the story in the future !

So, I hope (how many times I've said that words ?!) you enjoyed this first chapter involving Olberi... I mean ! Mr Berg ! See you next time !