Explanations

Once Ares told them his story, the two guards looked at him with flabbergasted expressions. They couldn't believe that a boy could go through so many things all by himself.

Guard B was still crying because of the story of Ares' father and the Phoenix and barely heard the rest. At some point, he took a handkerchief and wept copiously until he was out of tears.

Ares felt that it was strange for a man so big and scary-looking like him to cry that much and be so emotional, but he didn't say anything about it as he kept telling his story.

Both of them were cooking while Ares told them what happened in the past and as soon as he finished talking, the food was ready to be served.

"Well, these are the things that I have to tell about me. I think that it is enough, right?"

Guard A nodded, putting some rice and beans on three different plates.

"Yes. Now everything is clear to me. To think that you have been training since when you were so young..."

"Well, we started before him, though," guard B proudly said, rubbing his bear that was still a bit wet with his tears.

"R-Really?" Ares thought that he was more advanced than a lot of people out there, but it didn't seem to be the case.

"Yes. We started training to work here in Stokil when we were six years old. Our parents are guards here in this fortress and they ended up falling in love with each other. Since the day we were born, our fate was decided. Although we had the choice to just go away and not work here, we didn't know anything else in our lives other than this fortress and everything that happened inside here, so we chose to become guards."

As guard A told him so, guard B repeatedly nodded his head while rubbing his bear.

'Won't he stop to rub this freaking bear!? Before, he seemed cool, but now he is just an idiot...'

"Well, since food is already on the plate, I think that we can introduce ourselves before eating."

Ares nodded his head, looking to the fulfilled plate in front of him. There was a mountain of rice and beans, also as a huge stake on top of everything. Some vegetables were in a separate bowl as well.

It had been a while since Ares last ate something like that. As he remembered the taste of seasoned food, his mouth watered.

'I don't eat this much food since I entered the forest. That's just like a dream...'

Guard A noticed that Ares just got mesmerized by the food and snapped his fingers in front of his face, waking him up.

"Hey, hey, I know that my food seems tasty and smells good, but let's at least introduce ourselves ok?"

The man glanced to the side with a look of reproval just when guard B was going to bite a mouthful of that stake.

He uttered a "sorry" and gave a smile before leaving the stake on the plate again.

Guard A cleaned his throat, adjusting his position on the chair and offering a handshake to Ares.

"My name is Giovan, Guardian of yellow rank. As you may know, I work the morning shift, taking care of the rear gates of Stokil Fortress. It's nice to meet you!"

"And my name is Donovan, Guardian of yellow rank as well. I work in the same shift as this idiot here, though I should be a rank above him," after that last statement, Giovani narrowed his eyes at him as if swearing to punch him if he said more nonsense. "It's nice to give you the pleasure to meet someone like me!"

Ares didn't laugh at his behavior, which made Donovan nearly fall to the ground in frustration. Nobody ever ignored his jokes like that.

"I am Ares Stormray, the son of Kavir Stormray. I come from the countryside, Jasmine Village, and hope that we can get along well."

He bowed deeply as he greeted them.

The two of them got flabbergasted again. They could never imagine that Ares was the type of kid that knew a thing about etiquette.

They continued to converse as they ate their food and the two brothers got right on the point that Ares wanted to talk about.

"So, Ares, from all places to go, why did you choose Stokil Fortress? Was it because you didn't have any other choice?" Giovani asked.

Donovan denied it instead of letting Ares deny himself.

"Of course this isn't the case! How come? There were, at least, two assessments that were nearer than Stokil, though they are very small. If the objective was just to rest, come here is a bad choice."

Ares nodded his head to Donovan's statement.

'At least, he is not as dumb as he seems to be.'

"That's right. I am here for other reasons than just resting."

"And what's it?"

Ares took the last spoon of his rice and beans, then cleaned his mouth. He wanted just to eat and not talk at all, but that was the best occasion to talk about it.

"I would like to train here in Stokil Fortress before going to my main objective: the military academy of Beast Hunters, Chronos."

Once he said it, both guards nearly spat their food. They couldn't believe what their ears were telling them.

"D-did I hear you well, brat!?" That was the first time that Giovani said something so loud. "Are you saying that you want to become a Beast Hunter?"

Donovan was looking at him with the same expression as Giovani, if not worse.

"Yes. That's exactly what I said. What's the matter?" Ares arrogantly asked, crossing his arms

The two guards looked at each other, sighing. In the end, it was good that Ares ended up appearing at Stokil Fortress. They surely have a lot to tell to that stubborn boy.

"Ok, ok... Let's see how can I tell it to you, brat..." Giovani said, scratching his neck.