The sun barely shines but the people of Argonia begun their day. Workers on their way to work and children going to the public school can be seen happily looking forward for meeting their friends.
Amidst to this a boy walked along side them carrying sacks of rice towards a store then the boy when towards another store helping them out. He begun carrying boxes of items to sacks of supplies and animals for slaughter eventually he was more tired doing this than when he was cutting grass yesterday.
"You okay boy here drink up"
"Than..k..you"
The store owner look at the boy and gave him water.
"It's your first time isn't it?" he asked while arranging his items.
"Yes I didn't expect it'll be this hard"
"You'll get used to it once your body became more adjusted later you will realize the work will become lighter"
"Yes thank you "
He rested for quite some time until he noticed a small shop with magical items. He approached it and started to look around the shop.
"You find something interesting young one?"
"Do you really sell blessed items?"
"Yes I do most of my items came from Legolas they are the best spirit casters after all"
"Are these spirit wands and blessing books?"
"Oh those! yes they are.. this wand is made from a 100 year old tree adorned with a fire crystal giving assistance to the caster when gathering spirits and this spell book contains basic level spells to intermediate levels"
"Do you also have spirit swords or spirit sword arts?"
The boy inquire the old man begun rummaging through his stand looking for the best items for the boy.
"Here it is boy ....this sword can turn into a small pendant embedded with red fire crystal and this one a technique of a spiritual swordmaster but due to the age of this book almost none can read it"
The boy check the items looking interested but before he could ask for more a shout made him stop his movements.
"Boy break time's work let's get back to work"
The boy who's been going around the market was actually Erez he's task was to work and help out every single minimal yest exhausting task.
"Yes sir Galan" Erez turn back at the old man and look eagerly at the items.
"I shall return sir"
"Then I'll wait young one " the old man replied.
For an entire day Erez spends his day working under merchants to simple vendors and establishments unfortunately he was to tired to return to that old and ask his servant to carry him home.
"Well look at you aren't to tired to eat now"
Liliana said while looking at his tired son who could barely eat on the dinner table.
"I'm sorry mother my body just aches everywhere"
"Its totally fine dear Ian send to his bed now he his to tired to concentrate to his meal"
With that the young boy Erez was sleeping so soundly he didn't notice his father lighting a blessed lamp.
"The light of this lamp will surely take all the fatigue son" he whispered as he saw the tired face of his son turn much better.
"Sleep well little Pendragon" he then departed and went straight to his office.
"My lord only three years before the official enrollment for the academy but the youngest daughter of the Ainsley family already master their sword art and also the second son of Viscount Gualter already took the step in learning their sword art if this continue young master might be harras once the children start attending the academy.
The competition between the families might cause rift between the children"
The Pendragon family was a baron household although this was the case it's power rivals that of a Viscount together with the Gualter and Ainsley which two Viscount family and Duke Alaric they consist the powerhouse of the North, kingdom of Acacius. Although viscounts are lower than marquis and counts Gualter and Ainsley have plenty of strong swordsmans that surpassed any knights of counts and marquis of the North.
There are also two more counts, marquis and baron but compare to the Gualter, Ainsley and Pendragon they're very insignificant. Even with bigger territory and larger armies Gualter and Ainsley have a bigger strength than a marquis since they have hundreds of master class swordsman that other family except Alaric and Pendragon doesn't have in North.
"Do you think the other families will aim at Erez once he enters the academy?"
"I'm afraid so my lord more and more people want to prove themselves especially those who couldn't receive the praise and power they wanted.
They will flock like hungry vultures once they knew young master only started his training challengers might appear one day at our door"
"Hmmm....three years is plenty of time Ian we will train Erez strong enough to defeat everyone. Just make sure everyone's lips are sealed no information regarding my son shall pass through this walls"
"Yes my lord as you command"
...
Morning came to Erez to his surprised instead of the market area of Argonia he was once again send back to the field full of tall grass.
"Why here again?" dumbfounded about his situation he stare blankly at even more bigger field and taller grasses.
"You need to figure that out okay same rules before the day ends well then good luck"
Erez stare at the back of Miguel wondering how on earth he was a former head of the knights.
'Did my grandfather really hired someone like him?'
Shaking his head he look at the tall grass and took the wooden stick he used back then.
"What could I possibly learn from cutting these grasses again" he thought until he begun swinging the stick but he still couldn't think of anything.
"Damn it I'm losing my concentration.....huh concentration?"
"That's it!"
He look at the field once again and slash again he made sure all his thoughts are clear and only as his attention on his task. The day ends and Erez finished the task he's face look really energetic despite his tired body he had figured it out what he was lacking yesterday.
"Focus and concentration I had forgotten on using them when I was carrying those items that's right your focus and concentration are not just for swinging the sword but also on controlling your breathing and stamina"
Erez mused again while eating he was deep in thought that no one in his family disturbed him.
"I should try again tomorrow"
Morning came again he was back at the market he put his focus and controlling his breathing and concentration in lifting the heavy crates of items.
"Atta boy you're getting good at it" a butcher said while looking at the less struggling Erez lifting a huge beast that looks like a boar.
"Here I'll give you a tip as reward for your new achievement hahaha" the brawny butcher said while giving a couple of copper coins to Erez.
"Thank you sir" the boy can't help but smile it was his first time earning money from doing something he couldn't help but show his excitement. Looking at the beaming smile on the boy's face the butcher can't help but pat his head.
"Work harder from now on boy"
"Yes understood" Erez replied with excitement he exits the butcher shop and went towards the other meat vendors.
"It seems we have a new fella here"
"How's the work can handle it?"
"Here's a tip newbie"
"Can you handle carrying another crate of items?"
Erez meet all sorts of people from hardworking vendors to greedy scammers and honest merchants. He also begun to realised how the flow of market is moving from the merchant to the vendors and finally the consumers. He also noticed some pit pocket but didn't stop them since the guards would spot them.
"It's still early but some people already wasted themselves"
Couple of drunk guys came out of the near pub which Erez delivered wines and liquors.
"Put down those crates in the warehouse"
The boy only nodded and lifted the wooden crates.
"Quite young to be working here boy what's your name?"
Without Erez noticing a woman glad in armour suddenly appeared before him after he deliver the last crate in the warehouse.
"It's Ere...!" he realized he can't randomly say his name the people of the town must have at least heard his name.
"Ere?"
"It's Ere....Eren! Eren mam"
"I see Eren how old are you?"
"Eleven mam"
"Tsk only eleven yet working already...what kind parents would make their kids like this"
'Well it is the one only baron Pendragon'
He thought while looking at the almost angry lady.
"How long have you been working?"
"Um it is almost two days mam"
She continue to murmur profanities at my parents not knowing it was the baron Pendragon household.
"Elena why are you still here the young lady already waits for you...!"
He stopped as he look at the young boy who wore a decent clothes but look very haggard with dirt from head to toe.
"Boy are you alright?"
The knight inquired thinking I was injured or something.
"He is a... whispered..... whispered "
The lady name Elena begun whispering things I don't know but sure it is full of misunderstanding.
"I see poor you"
"!?"
"Eren right? here if want to have a better job you can visit this place we wil welcome you with open arms"
Erez want to explain but didn't know what to say he could only try to persuade them that he is okay and he was doing it for himself but the two only look at him with compassion and gave him money.
"But I don't really need it madam"
"No a hardworking kid like you need this" the lady name Elena gave a pouch of money while the other knight gave a letter to him.
"This is a letter of recommendation you can give this Elmer of Lucia he can teach you swordsmanship and became a knight of Ainsley"
"Than...thank you sir" stuttering with his words he still accepted the letter.
"Well then I hope we see you again"
"Bye boy"
"Yes thank you"
With that strange encounter Erez walk out of the pub and went with the overflowing amount of people.
"Now then there's still time should I visit that old man"
Looking at the setting sun he walked straight to A1 street the place which sells items such as swords, beast core, spiritual blessed items and sword art manuals.
"That old man should be here there found him"
Approaching a stall of a old man Erez politely greet him.
"Good afternoon"
"Oh the young one before so what can I help you?"
"Um I want to buy some study materials regarding spirit blessing and spirit swordmasters"
"Hohoho those things are quite plenty young one it will be expensive"
"It it fine I already prepared the money"
"I see then I'll wrap it up"
While the old man wrap the dozens of books and some blessed trinkets they begun to talk to each other.
"See you again young one"
"Thank you"
Like usual Erez went home take his dinner and went straight to bed ready for his coming task in the next morning.