A Target

'I thought one trouble was down because Eura and Tus are going to bring what I need…..' Lucas carefully looked at his brother who had just come back from his seriousness. 'I didn't expect that you two would have some other problem.'

"Did something happen?" Lucas asked, acting like a child in curiosity.

'Did they get trouble in the plan of hunting the monsters? What the heck are the demons up to do, again? Seriously can't they just stay quietly and wait for the hero's development!?' Internal cursing inside, Lucas waiting for the answers from the mouths, having the awkward smiles, right now.

"There is nothing Lucas. We are fine! You know how Edwin usually acts after work." Maria smiled as always and Edwin nodded along.

Actually it was not that Edwin and Maria were that awkward. It was just that Lucas felt that there was something wrong with the atmosphere which made him decide that the silence was not the usual laziness of Edwin but there had to be some other case.

"Are you sure, big sister, Maria?" Lucas wondered if he should just let the matter go and just try the luck from Carl or someone but he decided to press on the matter for one last time for today. "Is it the demons acting up again? Did you have trouble planning?"

"No, it is not the demons so you don't need to worry!"

'Oh… It is not the demons…' Lucas apologized for cursing at the demons earlier. 'It is not the demons, so it is the humans?' He was surprised because he wasn't expecting that.

'I thought the novel only had the main problems of demons.' Lucas considered that since he was participating in it as his reality, it was a given that he would face more diverse situations. He had already met some though.

"Other ministers giving you headaches again?" Lucas wondered.

Lately, the competition of the two factions of respective princes was getting stronger throughout the years. So some of them were pressuring the Evandall family to join them. If the dukedom who was handling the main army of the kingdom, there would be a big gap in power struggle if Evandall joined one faction.

"Yea, Even though they knew that we are a neutral faction, they are still not giving up." Edwin couldn't help but sigh. "I just hope that they will not secretly plan and try to start a war with some country so that they can raise their worth."

Edwin was worried because he expected that some from the Prince Albert faction would try that if they had no advantage against Prince Eldric and knew that he would have to work more if there was a war or battle. And it would not have advantage to the kingdom itself.

"They won't do that if they still have some senses in their mind. So don't worry." Maria also sighed.

Even though Maria was saying that she had doubts on Queen Margaret as she was someone who was power hungry, with a good support from behind. But Maria believed that Lucas didn't need to make his mind heavy with such matters for which he was just a child.

'That's also brain wrecking....' Remembering how Prince Albert became a crown prince with Edwin's support in the novel, Lucas shivered a bit. 'I can't let Prince Albert become a crown prince.' Lucas believed that if that prince became a crown prince, the kingdom would have its downfall sooner or later.

'Let's not think about it now. Now, Edwin will never support that damn prince so the possibility is low.' Lucas tried to ensure himself, bringing optimism for his mind. 'Making myself stronger comes first…. I hope Tus and Eura can come back tomorrow night.'

"By the way, Lucas, we are going to leave for the investigation of Ereck forest tomorrow. Will you be fine alone?" Maria asked, thinking if she should stay behind as Duke Cassius was also in the capital so Lucas would be alone in the mansion. It made Lucas shift his gaze to Maria, dragging himself away from his thoughts.

"Of course, big sister Maria! I am not a child so I can pretty much handle it."

Edwin and Maria looked at Lucas who was smiling at them as if he was someone who was so mature. Since young, Lucas was always like that. He never threw a tantrum. He never made trouble. He learnt fast and he was also very proficient at his magic.

They always felt that Lucas was always so mature with something that was weighing his mind, thinking always and it was kinda sad as they wanted him to act fully like a child of his age would, passing his life with no worries. It was also the reason why they didn't push Lucas to become an heir. But if Lucas was really willing to do so, the family would consider him with no doubt.

"Are you sure, Lucas? If you want some company, I can stay behind."

"Don't even think about it Edwin. Even if one is going to stay, it is going to be me cause you are the leader this time."

"Why does it have to be me!?"

"Cause you are the heir, my dear brother."

Lucas looked at his two siblings who were fighting like some kids even though they were over twenty. 'I wonder if they act like this when working, too?' Lucas suddenly felt an urge to take a peak of his siblings when they were working.

"Maria… Can you be the heir?" Edwin stared at Maria as if he was begging.

"No, thank you." As she put down the spoon and fork since she had finished eating, Maria smiled, saying firmly, making Edwin groan.

It almost made Lucas release a chuckle, seeing his siblings but he had one thing to tell them as he believed that he would have no time to make Carl act if they were leaving tomorrow.

"Ummm…. About the case of the Ereck Forest…" Lucas decided to tell them on his own, gaining the gazes of his siblings as he spoke. "I heard that the demons are doing some kinds of experiments, trying to figure out the usage of orb… I don't know what the orb is though but I think it is related to elves…. And there are also diveorus running around the forest so you better prepare for that."

"About that case, Brook and Carl had already informed us about this…." Edwin said, saying that they had already prepared for that and Lucas didn't need to worry.

'Oh… that's great, then.' Lucas sighed in relief. 'If they say they had prepared, it should be ok!'

"But that case being related to elves…. It is new information, though. But how do you know about all of this?" Edwin lifted an eyebrow. He had heard that Lucas went to the Ereck forest a month ago for training and stayed for a day in Ereck city for sightseeing but now he thought it was not Carl that met the demon during his training but his little brother.

Maria also looked at Lucas with eyes demanding for an explanation. They both sincerely hoped what they were thinking was not correct. He even knew an information that Brook and Carl didn't.

And it was when Lucas knew he had made a wrong step. 'Of course, Brook and Carl would have told them such important information! But I am glad that they now know it is related to elves.'

"It is just that I...…." Lucas hurriedly tried to find an excuse. "I just met an elf during my visit to Ereck city! She told me that!"

'Believe me brother, sister!' Lucas prayed, feeling a bit of sweat on his forehead. He didn't want to imagine what his family would do when they suspected that Lucas met a demon.

Edwin and Maria didn't worry if it was just an elf that Lucas met because they knew elves never do harm unless one harmed them first. But they both wondered why an elf would tell Lucas about such information.

"Lucas, an elf is not someone who will give away important information easily…."

"Maria is right….. And how did you meet with one?"

Lucas instantly looked for words to explain. And within his rush moments, some words came out of his mouth.

"I just gave her a candy!" Lucas didn't know what he was saying, his head screaming inside, 'WHAT THE HECK AM I SAYING RIGHT NOW!!'

"And she told me some as a thank you gift when I asked her about the strange cases in Ereck forest that I heard from some passing by hunters…." Lucas decided that he should not back off since he had already started it although he felt it was the stupidest reasoning ever.

Finally, even though Lucas still got eyes of unbelief from Edwin and Maria, he could sigh in relief as they didn't ask about the matter anymore, although continuously telling Lucas to be careful when meeting with strangers.

"If what Lucas said is true….." Maria touched her chin while thinking. "We can push for an alliance with elves if we are lucky. We might have the same objective."

'YES, DO IT!' Lucas screamed inside, knowing that if someone could bring the elves to the sides of the humans, it would bring better advantage no matter what. But he wondered if it was possible, though. Even in the novel, the elves didn't ally with anyone. But they were also the best ally target for these situations.

"Let's bring this up to father later." Edwin agreed with Maria.

Lucas sincerely hoped that plan would work, though. 'Maybe I should also try to go with them when they send an envoy group.' He wondered if his connection with Serene would help them to get closer to elves.

And their dinner time ended with some talk of here and there before going back to their own room. Of course, Edwin and Maria escorted him back to the room, saying goodnight.

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"We are here." Eura looked at the Aurora Valley which really brought back the reminiscence of the past. A gentle breeze passed beside her as she looked at some leftover ruins, which were indicating the fact that there was a peaceful valley that she had once lived in. She was not expecting that she would still miss this place that much as sadness swelled inside of her mind.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, instantly knowing that it was Tus, the one who had stuck along by her side since the day after she had fallen into misfortune.

"Are you ok, Eura?" Tus knew that Eura was always a strong girl but he understood that she might feel sorrowful as this place would remind her of her lost family. He understood that, really well.

"I am fine!" Trying to ignore the feelings that she was having, Eura smiled actively as she held the hand of Tus, leading him to where they should go.

'I have no time for this. I need to bring the map as soon as I can to Lucas so that I can be more helpful to him!' While thinking at the same time, Eura slowly murmured. "Mom, dad, I am home..."