Upgrade and Military Strength, Eldric's First Journey

Meanwhile, the military strength has increased quite a bit. During this time when the group scouted, they had found a few lairs of beasts, and the Elders took turns to go and hunt, and over time their strength increased. The Elders had all advanced to level three Squire (Tier 2). Over time they had to fight, the Elders were the only ones who could fight against the Dire Novices (Tier 2) so their speed was much faster than the rest, although there were more Dire Cubs (Tier 1). 

The other knights had to deal with and share the experience of killing the beasts below, but overall, their progress was also quite good. In three weeks, the military strength had gone up and it looked as follows: 

Five Level 3 Squires (Tier 2) 

Six level 1 Squires (Tier 2) 

Seven Peak stage Man-at-arms (Tier 1) 

Thirteen Late-stage Man-at-arms (Tier 1) 

Five Mid-stage Man-at-arms (Tier 1) 

The six knights who were at the peak stage of Man-at-arms (Tier 1) had advanced to the Squire tier and when that happened the whole house celebrated for three days in a row. And since the elders advanced to level 3 of the Squire (Tier 2) rank, Eldric felt more assured about traveling outside. 

Now, almost all the elders had retreated to become more reclusive and mostly focused on enhancing and mastering the [Battle Skills] they picked. Out of all the elders, the ones with the most skill so far were Garen and Cael, Garen was patient and wise while Cael was just a freak and would spend 80% of his time focusing on enhancing his strength than the others. Thus, they were able to advance quite quickly, and they had mastered the first move and are practicing the second, Rending Stikes from the [Sundering Impact] skill. 

The other elders were slightly behind on the mastering of the [Battle Skills] but they were also only second to Garen and Cael. The rest of the knights were still stuck lingering in the early stages of mastery. 

And after three weeks of constant cultivating and growing stronger Eldric had made significant progress. In the first week, he had already advanced to the official knight level, and he finally became a Man-at-arms (Tier 1) level knight. And over time he started cultivating more and after three weeks of relentless cultivation, he advanced to level 4, it was an immense speed, but Eldric did think of a reason as to why he had cultivated so fast. He reasoned that it was because he once was a peak Man-at-arms (Tier 1), and he is just restoring his strength. He will only have problems when he wants to break through to the Squire (Tier 2) realm. 

But this was extremely good news. After months of holing himself up in the cavern and House for his safety, he finally has the chance to explore the surroundings himself. He wanted to do it earlier, but the elders refused and wanted someone to protect him when they left and finally, it was decided that Garen would leave with Eldric. And the date, it was none other than today. 

Eldric was the most excited, 'Finally! I can go and see the outside' he silently rejoiced as if he was a child who was allowed to have candy for the first time. He was up and running around early in the morning and finished his tasks before the morning sun had risen beyond the horizon. 

The air was crisp and carried a distinct chill as Eldric prepared for the journey. Eldric had Caspian make sets of saddles and he took one for himself. The leather, adorned with intricate snowflake patterns and glistening silver hardware, seemed to capture the essence of the snowy landscapes. With a practiced hand, Eldric carefully positioned the Winter Frost Saddle on Starlight's back. The silver icicle-shaped buckles glinted in the soft winter sunlight as he adjusted the stirrup leathers to the perfect length. The plush, faux-fur lining of the seat cradled the horse's back, ensuring a snug fit and providing an extra layer of comfort against the winter chill. Eldric tightened the girth, securing the saddle in place, and took a moment to admire the enchanting combination of winter theme and practical design. 

He then slowly walked forward and mounted Starlight with ease, the only thing now was for him to wait for Garen, and they would soon set off to explore. He did not wait for long until Garen appeared, ready for the journey. 

They set off and in minutes they made it to the top of the ridgeline of Mount. Crown, beholding a beautiful sight. The world unfolded before them in a breathtaking panorama, a tapestry of nature's grandeur painted in hues of twilight and mist. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and the promise of a new day. 

 The trees, adorned in frost-kissed splendor, stood as silent sentinels in the awakening forest below. Each branch bore the weight of glistening snow, shimmering like diamonds in the soft, pre-dawn light. The forest, draped in a winter's embrace, whispered tales of the night and the secrets it held. 

 A meandering river carved its course through the valley, a silver ribbon winding between the snow-covered banks. The water flowed with a quiet determination, mirroring the journey of Eldric's thoughts as he reflected on the challenges and victories that brought him to this precipice. 

 Valleys unfolded like pages in a storybook, each one holding its narrative of life, growth, and renewal. Shadows danced across the undulating landscape, a ballet of light and darkness orchestrated by the ascending sun. As the first rays broke free from the horizon, the world awakened with a gentle warmth that touched Eldric's face, casting a golden glow upon the snow-laden earth. 

As he sat in silence a sense of peace washed over him as he smiled, carefully looking at the beauty surrounding him. They spent a few more moments on the ridge before slowly making their way down the mountain.