Departure.

James looked warmly at the scene in front of him.

Ever since his son miraculously woke up, he has been having second guesses.

Eldric, his son, displayed some rather strange behaviour. He would discreetly look around, almost as if everything was new to him. His eyes scanned every single item and committed it to memory.

His son has been in a vegetative state for as long as two years, it was normal he thought.

However, that didn't explain his exceeding vigilance, the subtle glances he would throw at him, the tension he had whenever someone entered the halls.

Under any other circumstance, James would have been proud of him, vigilance is the bread and butter of a great warrior.

But no father liked to be perceived as a threat by his own son. He was already feeling guilty about Eldric's situation.

He was never there for him.

Alfred, the aged head butler, came into the halls and went straight toward James after slightly bending to each person.

He bent down the deepest for James and said, " My lord. I have bad news." He said calmly.

James sighed, and grabbed his nose bridge." Really old man. Can't you carry good news for once? I don't think I've ever heard you say any, even from back when I was a child." said James with no real heat behind his words.

The head butler took no offence to what was said, it seems. He simply nodded his head and looked seriously at James for several seconds.

The head of the household sighed yet again but with actual annoyance visible on his face this time around." Tsk, those stupid barbarians again?" He asked, no longer in the mood for jokes.

"Worse my lord. It's a horde of magic beasts. The scouts estimate their time of arrival at the border is three hours from now" He said, monotonously relaying the information he was given.

The silently listening Sarah widened her eyes when she heard that." How is that possible? Didn't his majesty already send some of his personal troupes to defend from the beasts?" she pointed out distressingly.

Neither her husband nor Alfred answered her inquiries, they simply had no way of knowing themselves.

James nodded gravely. He looked at his son, an unreadable expression on his face." Sorry son. I know you just woke up from a long sleep, but I need to go. I can't let my people die."

Eldric didn't know exactly what they were talking about, but he could make an educated guess based on the tense atmosphere around him, and the worried face Sarah was making.

He didn't want to lose his other parent so early in his life. He asked worriedly, "Father, are you going to be okay?"

James laughed, ruffled Eldric's hair and said "Pshh, I'm plenty strong son. You should be worried about those stupid beasts instead." bragged James.

Eldric couldn't dispute his father's words, and no one else argued against his bold claims, so he figured he was indeed strong.

Not that he thought his robust figure and muscles close to ripping his military uniform weren't indicators of strength.

James only removed his hand from Eldric's head after he saw him nod at his words.

"Do you have to go?" Asked Sarah taking her husband's hand into hers.

James nodded and righteously said " Sarah, I have to. The quicker I go there, the more lives I can save."

Sarah didn't argue with him anymore, she knew there was no convincing him.

It was one of the reasons she fell in love with him.

But sometimes, it wasn't the best to be a hero.

A small breath escaped her lips, "I don't care how you do it, but make sure to come back. And preferably alive." She gave him a chaste kiss on the lips.

James headed out, with Alfred right behind him. The head butler had already predicted his lord's actions.

He had his pieces of equipment already delivered. James smiled gratefully at Alfred.

He donned a breastplate on top of his military uniform, it was mysteriously shining with power. On his waist was a huge antique looking silver sword, it looked too big to be wielded by one hand.

At least that's what Eldric assumed.

He was proved to be wrong when his father swung it effortlessly using only one, doing some practice swings, creating violent gusts of wind with a simple swing.

Eldric's shoulder-length silver hair slightly moved from the air current.

It was the first time Eldric had seen something like that, it was ridiculously impressive. Especially with the ease, his father performed a number of those swings consecutively, not looking tired at all.

'Is this the strength of this world's residents? How high can it get?' thought Eldric.

He squeezed his small hands until they turned white from the pressure he applied. He licked his lips dry lips and swallowed a lump in his throat.

'I'm getting ahead of myself here. It hasn't even been a day since I came here.' He shook his head.

'The first thing I should do is gather information for now. Everything can come later. I can't be a chicken running around with its head cut off.' he concluded.

Eldric took a last look at his father as he departed from the halls, the cape he wore fluttered in the wind, giving him a heroic vibe.

'If one thing, James sure is charismatic.' thought little Eldric.

If Eldric was impressed by his father's display, then Elah was close to worshipping her father.

Her shiny eyes never left his figure, and her excitement was palpable. It was the most expressive she was ever since entering the halls.

"Father, can I go with you?" She asked with undisguised hope in her voice.

It seems like she didn't grab the gravity of the situation.

"Sorry sweetie, I can't, it's quite dangerous." Said James decisively.

Elah's shoulders dropped that instant. But she immediately perked up when she heard him say, grinning and ruffling her hair." How about I take you hunting some other time?"

She nodded so quickly, and with so much fervour, that Eldric was afraid she'd snap her neck.

As soon as James left, everyone dispersed, albeit Eldric had some casual chatter with Sarah and her daughter.

Elah quickly rushed from the halls, a happy grin decorating her face. She finally got him to promise to take her hunting.

Cenric… dangerously eyed Eldric from a distance, a mad glint appeared in his eyes for a second. He was seriously thinking of removing Eldric from the picture.

'Yes...that way mother wouldn't need to compare me to him.' he thought as he stepped out of the halls with some servants following him from behind.

'What did I do to deserve this?' Eldric thought pensively in his mind.

"Young Lord, what do you want to do?" A voice sounded from Eldric's back.

Eldric jumped up in fright when he heard it, he looked back to see the first and creepiest person that greeted him when he woke up.

It was Epine.