The day of Neo's eighth birthday, his parents took him to visit his maternal grandfather and grandmother. His grandfather was a renowned knight who had retired years ago. He was a tall man with broad shoulders and a thick beard. His grandmother was a mage who still practiced magic, despite her age.
As they arrived at the ancestral home, Neo was mesmerized by the grandeur of the place. It was a huge castle with many rooms, a training ground, and a vast library. They were greeted by their grandparents with warmth and love. Neo's grandfather, Umberto Tolman, is widely respected in the realm for his heroic deeds during the war between humans and goblins. As a fourth rank knight and a baron, he is known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Neo's grandmother, Armina Tolman, is a second heart mage and a formidable force in her own right. The couple met while fighting together in the war and fell in love despite the danger and chaos around them. Neo's mother shared this story with him during their journey.
Umberto, Neo's grandfather said: "Welcome to our humble estate, Neo. It's good to finally meet you in person."
Neo answered him back: "Thank you, sir. It's an honor to meet you too."
Armina: "Oh, don't be so formal, Neo. Call us grandpa and grandma."
Neo: "Okay, grandpa and grandma. It's great to meet you both."
Umberto put a hand on Neo's shoulder and said: "You are quite strong for your age, maybe we could spar later."
His grandmother slapped the back of his head: "You just met your grandson for the first time and the first thing you want to is fight him you muscle head."
Hearing this Neo's mother started to laugh: "You guys never change, do you?" and hugged her parents.
"We missed you to dear." tolled Armina as she was giving a stare to his husband that could kill someone.
After that Neo's father also greeted his parents-in-law and they all went inside and continued their talk there.
Neo spent a few days exploring the castle with his grandparents. His grandfather taught him sword techniques while his grandmother taught him about magic. She explained a little about how manipulating the natural elements works.
One day, Neo was practicing his mana control in front of his grandmother. He concentrated hard, trying to gather the mana from the air around him. After a few moments, he succeeded in creating a small ball of mana in his palm. He was thrilled, and his grandmother was proud of him.
As the days passed, Neo grew more comfortable with the castle and his grandparents. He enjoyed listening to his grandfather's tales of his past adventures and his grandmother's stories of magic. Both learning and having fun from these stories. One day, Neo overheard a conversation between his father and grandfather discussing the recent activity of the orc empire. They revealed that small squads were being sent to the border and that patrols around the mansions and towns needed to be increased. Neo listened intently, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Neo was excited to explore the area surrounding his grandparent's castle, eager to see what kind of shops and stores he might find. After wandering around for a while, he stumbled upon a small blacksmith shop tucked away in an alleyway. The shop's sign read "Dorn's Blades" in fancy lettering.
Curiosity piqued, Neo made his way inside the dimly lit shop. The walls were lined with swords and other weaponry, and the air was thick with the scent of metal and oil. A gruff-looking man with a bushy beard stood behind the counter, hammering away at a piece of metal.
"Can I help you?" the man grunted, not looking up from his work.
Neo cleared his throat. "Yes, I'm looking for a sword. Something sturdy and well-made."
The man grunted again and set down his hammer. "What kind of sword?"
"Something for practice," Neo said. "I'm still learning, but I want something that will last."
The blacksmith stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I have just the thing. Follow me."
He led Neo to a back corner of the shop, where a selection of practice swords hung on the wall. The blacksmith pulled one down and handed it to Neo. It was made of solid wood, with a leather-wrapped hilt and a blunted tip.
"It's not the fanciest thing, but it'll do the job," the blacksmith said.
Neo hefted the sword experimentally. It felt comfortable in his hand, and he could tell it was well-balanced. "I'll take it," he said, smiling.
The blacksmith wrapped the sword in brown paper and handed it to Neo. "That'll be two gold coins."
Neo paid the man, left the shop to return to the castle.
Neo felt the adrenaline pumping through his veins as he stood opposite his grandfather, both of them with their swords drawn. His grandfather, a formidable knight with years of experience, had agreed to spar with him to test his skills. As Neo sparred with his grandfather, he felt like he was hitting a wall. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't land a blow on the experienced knight. His movements were sluggish, and he felt like he was running out of energy.
As the spar continued, Neo began to feel a strange energy coursing through him. He had felt this energy before, during his training with his mother, but it was different now. It was like a powerful force that he couldn't control, and it was getting stronger with each passing moment.
Suddenly, Neo felt a burst of energy surge through him, and his movements became lightning-fast. He felt like he was moving in slow motion before, but before he could do anything his grandfather chopped the back of his head to stop the fight. His parents rushed over to him, worried about his condition. Neo's mother examined him and explained that he had pushed his body to its limits and needed to rest.
After awakening and feeling the new surge of power within him, Neo joins his family and spends some quality time together since they will be leaving the next day. The day passes quickly, and departure time approaches. Despite this being Neo's first meeting with his grandparents, he quickly develops an affinity towards them.
The carriage they were traveling with was accompanied by a lieutenant and ten soldiers. The carriage rattled along the forest path, and Neo's family sat inside, chatting idly. Suddenly, a group of orcs sprang from the bushes and surrounded them. The carriage stopped, and Neo's father drew his sword, taking charge of the situation.
The orcs charged, brandishing their weapons, and the battle began. Neo's father fought fiercely, cutting down orc after orc, while the soldiers fought alongside him. Neo watched from the carriage, feeling helpless at first.
But when one orc made it past the soldiers and lunged at Neo's mother, Neo sprang into action. He grabbed a nearby sword and rushed to her defense, blocking the orc's attack just in time. With his mother safe, Neo joined the battle, taking on the orcs with all his might.
Neo's inexperience showed, and he struggled to land a hit, but he was determined to help. Finally, he managed to strike an orc with a clean blow, and it fell to the ground with a thud. Neo was shocked by the feeling of his first kill and felt affected, but he pushed through it, and his resolve to help his family only grew stronger.
Finally the soldiers managed to defeat the orc ambush, and they continued their journey with the wounded soldiers in tow. Neo sat quietly in the carriage, his mind still reeling from his first kill.