Chapter 11: Lyra and Freya
After two days of recovery, I'm finally back to full strength. There are only three days left until my duel with Mark. I can't just sit around, anyway—I'm definitely not as lazy as Envi.
"Hey, I heard that! What do you think the system does inside you, huh? Of course, it's loafing around! HAHAHA," Envi protested, defending himself.
"Quit reading my thoughts whenever you want! Ever heard of privacy?" I snapped back, annoyed.
"Privacy? Is that some kind of food?" Envi replied, feigning ignorance.
"Ugh... Why do I even bother taking this idiot system seriously?" I muttered, realizing arguing with Envi was pointless.
Feeling restless, I decided to get moving. Instead of sword training, I'd go for a jog from the Blackmore estate all the way to the Braveheart Kingdom's capital. Maybe I'd clear my head and see some new sights.
Dressed in light clothes, I started jogging from the Blackmore mansion grounds. The estate was quiet this morning, with only a few of the staff—Rosan, Elan, Vivin, and Mai—busy tidying the garden.
Pacing myself, I kept my jog steady. I didn't want to tire myself out. The Blackmore estate was a considerable distance from the capital, set at the northernmost edge of Braveheart, close to the Great Arcanis Mountain—a boundary between the Eldaris and Celestian continents and even Doomspire. Legends say the mountain dates back to the age of the gods, with many secrets still hidden within. I wondered why the Blackmore family, out of all the kingdom's hero families, was so far out here. Were they pushed to the border intentionally?
One thing I'd learned recently was that the northern forest, where I encountered the Berserker Troll King, lies near the Great Arcanis Mountain. No wonder the monsters there were so strange. I was curious as to why Lyra, Freya, and their friends ended up in such a dangerous place. If I get the chance to see them again, I'll ask—and reintroduce myself properly.
...
An hour and fifteen kilometers later, I finally reached Braveheart. The city's grandeur amazed me: so elegant, clean, and luxurious, with architecture reminiscent of medieval Europe.