Chapter 5b: Leaving Home

As the sun set over the hill, the castle jutted into the moonlit sky. Leylin stood upon a forested hill looking at the castle on the cliff part of the sea. He could see Andburg with its cobbled alleys, and teeming docks lit by whale-oil lamps suspended on iron chains swaying in the wind. A moment of melancholy swept over him, unknowingly it had become home to him, Liam felt like a mirage.

He left his parents with a letter that said, "Father, Mother I am sorry. There are times in a man's life when it feels like the tides of destiny and fate are pushing him to decide. It is at times like that, that a man must choose whether to embrace his destiny or cower under his mother's gown. I have become a high-ranked knight and have enough ability to protect myself from the mundane. Do not mistake the statement I made before as a mark of arrogance for I know that the sky is high and above every sky is another sky. I have conviction that I have a great destiny but a great destiny needs great work to manifest. I treat people with courtesy and seldom disrespect or demean them. I do not have a habit of making unnecessary enemies I believe if I am careful I can avoid most danger. I am neither under the belief that the world will bend over backward for me. I am merely cautiously optimistic that my travels will be safe. Even after my words, I know that mother would be worried for she is my mother. All I ask is that you both show some confidence in me. I promise to return before my 12th Nameday.

am I certain of my safety during this adventure no just as I cannot promise not to drown in my bathtub tomorrow? I promise to take care of myself, I wish you both would do the same. To father all I ask is that you trust me."

He knew he had to leave 'Status', a mental command told him why.

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[Name : Leylin Farlier Gender: Male Strength: 4.1 Agility: 5 Vitality: 4.5]

[Status: Healthy. Improved eyesight]

He had little improvement since a year he had stagnated. He had been unable to breakthrough to grand knight. Originally, he had wanted to wait till he was a grand knight but then again man proposes, and god disposes. 'I am running out of time, I have to act now if I must see results before the recruitment', Leylin Thought.

Leylin turned his horse he took one last look. Three men rode hard under a cloudless sky. The moonless sky made the stars themselves shine brighter. They blended in the darkness and rode away.

By the time dawn broke, they were already out of the Farlier lands. He had asked Delvin to find a location northwest of the Gilead in the small kingdom of Cuvelon. The reason behind this was that the kingdom of Cuvelon as it was near the center of the southern part of the continent while being very weak. Cuvelon being a pushover made it an ideal state to act as a buffer separating the major powers of the region. Besides Leylin had plans for the Dolon Duchy an independent duchy bordering Cuvelon or more precisely for one Ourin Dolon. He was also interested in a particular princess of the Gradal kingdom that was separated from Cuvelon by an independent Duchy.

His goal for this trip had been simply to study the aptitude system and find ways to boost his aptitude but for that, he would need guinea pigs to run some tests. The whole thing about understanding the governing laws of the world was needed to improve your aptitude was just plain rubbish in his opinion. Jayden didn't comprehend any laws neither did Merlin so how did they end up with a 5th-grade Aptitude? The idea is to politely convince Ourin and Bessita that they must sacrifice themselves for the noble cause of science.

It took them 2 moons of hard riding on horseback to get to Baron Rio's Territory in Cevelon. After Reaching the territory they went to the makeshift camp that Delvin had made by Mount Vostok. Mount Vostok was an extinct volcano. Due to the superstitious nature of the people of this continent, they avoided the black soil thinking it is a bad omen. Hence the whole place was abandoned. It would be a great place to both grow so extremely rare herbs as well as build warehouses. It would make an excellent Central hub where goods from all over the region can be brought to and from there they could be shipped all over the region. According to customary law, they needed permission from the local noble and the king of Cuvelon to set up a base of operations. So, Leylin sent Delvin to negotiate with the baron with mercer leading a small escort.

While Mercer and Delvin were negotiating with the baron, Locke and Leylin decided to scout out a small abandoned fortress atop a summit of a mountain adjacent to mount Vostok. The fortress was interesting, to say the least. They trekked up the mountain and curiously they found that the way to access it was through an tunnel. The design was ingenious and highly defensible. Leylin and Locke walked through the tunnel to reach the Courtyard. This would need work, it was only their knight physique that allowed them to make the journey up the mountain. Fixing the path up must be the first order of business. The Fortress by itself was quaint but due to its location, it would have been too expensive to maintain for the baron. It would need a lot of work before it was liveable but he had fallen in love with the place.

By the time Locke and Leylin returned to camp they were met by Mercer and Delvin peering over a map

Leylin asked pleasantly surprised, "Is it a map of the barony?"

Seeing Delvin's answer in the affirmative. "You have done well, I am pleased with your foresight." He commented.

He enquired, "How was your meeting with the baron."

Delvin promptly answered, "Young master the meeting was successful." 'As Reticent as ever' Leylin thought. His thoughts were cut off by a snort by Mercer. Leylin raised his eyebrows, Delvin's face had an ugly expression.

"Anything to say, Mercer", He asked curiously. Leylin found the way the gruff man speaks very refreshing

"He nearly pissed himself," said Mercer. "Why so eloquent Mercer," Locke commented each word dripping with sarcasm.

Mercer continued, "The man is a coward."

"Why do you say so?" questioned Laylin.

Mercer answered, "He nearly pissed himself when he saw me." 'As curt as ever', Leylin thought.

"While he no doubt found you, scary Mercer," Leylin paused. "But what terrified him out of his wits was what you represent. Mercer, you are a high-level knight. What does it mean for you to act as a bodyguard for a merchant? If I am not wrong the Baron believes that this merchant company is backed by a grand knight. For a small country like Cevelon that is not something they can afford to offend." Leylin explained

"That is the reason I sent you to escort Delvin on the diplomatic mission, walk softly but always carry a big stick." Leylin continued.

"But cowards cannot be trusted. He would just as easily betray us," Mercer interrupted.

"One doesn't trust a coward, you trust his cowardice as long as we remain strong Baron Rio wouldn't dare to act against us and that's all I expect," Leylin responded.

"But Young Master….," Mercer was just speaking when Leylin cut him off.

"No, but Mercer you do not have to trust the Baron. You only have to trust me." Leylin had the last word and turned towards Delvin and asked, "So, what has the Baron offered us."

Delvin answered while throwing Mercer an ugly look, "Young Master all lands between the Cuvelon and the Rhine in perpetuity to the Red Eagle Traders. It includes 2 villages and a stone quarry, My lord. It was largely uninhabited due to the black soil. We also must pay 220 gold Crows each year to use the Baron's Road."

"You must have terrified him pretty bad eh, Mercer too bad you don't terrify me since I beat your ass," Locke commented. Leylin rolled his eyes at Locke's shenanigans. He knew Locke buried his pain in his nonsense and did not begrudge him that.

"Am I to assume that the fortress on the mountain is also ours?" leylin asked.

"It can be ours if the young master wants it," Delvin answered.

"Make it so Delvin," Leylin commanded.

"It will be done," Delvin said.

Leylin commented while peering at the map, "The fortress needs fixing." Locke scoffed and Leylin ignored him.

Leylin pointed at a location where the river was thinnest, " I want you to build a stone mill and lumber mill here according to this design. It will allow us to reduce the no. of people we employ in milling work."

Delvin asked him, "What are we to do about food young master?"

"For now we will import it we have a shortage of manpower each person spent on growing food crops is one not doing higher value work like protecting a convoy or taking care of herbs," Leylin replied.

By the time the discussions ended the sun had hidden behind the hills. Leylin went out and sat by the campfire. As rivers were in full flow, flames made their way upward toward the stars. Only this was water that made the light in the night rather than reflecting the day shine. He went to his tent and practiced his breathing technique.