Journey

In the morning the hall was locked up for anyone other than royal guests. "So basically this is the plan okay?" Athena said looking at everyone. "Nah! That's not going to work. Let's work this one again." Griffin replied with his cup of tea in his hand. Everyone was working on planning the journey to the north. There was no doubt that Theodore had to travel, but it was still a question of who will accompany him. The powerhouses of the South Region won't possibly be able to travel as that would mean leaving millions of people unprotected, and it was not a good option to let him travel alone or with no good backup. "People, sorry to make you wait. Where's the kid? Wait! Don't tell me, you haven't gotten ready yet?" Aeneas walked in through the door. "Here you are. Where have you been Aeneas, we need to plan this first." Griffin said so. "Hya! I was packing my stuff." Hearing this everyone started looking at him suspiciously as he was carrying merely a basket and a sack on his back which could barely carry anything. "What exactly have you packed?" Theodore asked to which he saw Aeneas smirk. "Essentials only, I don't want to make mistakes like the last time." Theo immediately realized what he meant by essentials. "Anyways, now that everyone is here let's plan this," Griffin called out for everyone. "That was definitely not necessary, he being here won't make a difference," Athena replied in a sharp tone looking at Aeneas who was standing aloof. "Yeah, definitely, this old hag isn't accompanying me or anyone, she'll slow us down. Kid, you, me, and that girlfriend of yours will be enough for a while." Hearing this there were three people who went cherry red. "Old Hag!" "Girlfriend!" Athena and Vivian literally screamed. Theodore was dumbstruck not to mention Merida who was clenching on her fist, 'I just want to punch him in his face, how dare he!' was what she thought at the moment.

"Why do you imply such an absurd plan Aeneas? Wouldn't more people be beneficial?" Chloe asked him to which he replied while stuffing a piece of bread in his mouth, "Well, she's an assassin class so would be agile and he's the main party, they'd just slow our pace and you'd need them here sure enough." His explanation was vague yet spot on. Vivian was an assassin class and thus was able to keep up with even a legend class holder like Merida in terms of agility and stealth. Though she was still recovering from the earlier shock, she heard him saying so and was baffled, "How did you…?" "You see when you have lived that long, it's just easy to figure that much, right granny." He answered her and then looked at Athena with a smug look. "You…!" Just as she was about to explode Griffin put his cup on the table and replied with a sharp look, "You better have a good plan." "Hya! What do you think about me? Look, if we have to get to the northern region, it's obvious that we need someone who knows the territory like that back of the hand. There's no one better than Nuae." "Who?" Everyone asked him simultaneously. "Nuae! She was once a Paladin in an army of some territory from the Northern region. If we go by the country road, we will travel through a certain town named 'Egover'. Ever since she was dismissed she's been there, drunk all the time. If we can somehow make her accompany us, a further journey will be easier." Hearing this, no one could answer. No one has ever heard of such a person so no one could argue. "I have an objection." Merida stood up and said so looking at Aeneas. "I want to join in." "No way! You'll just keep bullying me." Aeneas replied in a ridiculing tone to which she almost pounced on him. "Relax kid! I heard you are about to breakthrough, as well as that Nicholas. You stay here and train under Griffin, he'll help you get better." His reply was really reasonable. "So when are we to leave?" Theodore asked while standing from his seat. "Now," Aeneas replied in a serious tone. "We need to cross the Golem Grasslands before sunset." Hearing this Theodore could feel a chill. This name was every adventurer's nightmare, after all this was a region of giant golems. "I'll get ready right away, let's get going Theodore." "Please wait." Suddenly Catherine stood up from her seat and asked them. "Let me join in." Hearing this Theodore got confused as to why she wanted to tag along. "Hey! As I said, you'll slow us." Aeneas replied. "Don't worry, with her help I'll be able to keep up and besides, Theodore isn't a full-fledged Legend right? You'll need some strength when the time comes. Vivian and Theodore aren't great at fighting, I can help with that." She answered with determination while pointing towards Sylph, her wind spirit. "A blessed one! Looks like the journey is going to be fun." Aeneas replied and nodded on her request in agreement. "Before those two stubborn elders step in, get going." Athena was talking about Evan and Jason. She knew that they definitely won't let Theodore and others go without them. "Yeah sure, please say sorry to us," Theodore replied Athena while stepping out.