My little sister from Laurel Bay Grillard."

"Your sister can predict the future?"

 That"s strange. Although Mr. Nauke is a doctor, I thought that predicting futures was more suitable for old grandmas and grandpas. Anyways, seeing how he"s not that old (Well, he"s a lot older than me), his younger sister should be a young virgin. A virgin fortune teller, huh. Sounds pretty silly if you think about it.

"Mmhm. Ryujia is quite famous at Grillard. Well to be honest, she"s not as famous if you consider her talent, but that"s because she doesn"t want to be well-known. Anyways, she"s different from a "half-and-half" person like me."

"What do you mean by "half-and-half?"

"I"m not an official doctor, if you didn"t know."

What a relief. I was wondering how this lunatic was supposed to be a doctor. No wonder my arm is so stiff, is what I had almost thought.

"Where does she live in Grillard?"

"If you go ask, they"ll know. Just say the name Ryujia Nauke."

Alright. Considering how much time I have in hand today, I might as well go there considering I haven"t visited there for quite some time. But, would the fortune-telling fee be expensive? If I say that I know her older brother, wouldn"t she give me a discount? I should bring this up…

"Ah, wait. I forgot to tell you some important news. The Lord"s son Arnowalt wanted to give you a message that he won"t be able to practice today. He will rest for about two days, so come back next week."

Hehe, I"ve already presumed that it would be like this. But, it seems that the teacher also addresses him absurdly, similar to me. Maybe I should teach the doctor my newly invented nickname.
That "Lord"s Son b.a.s.t.a.r.d" not only does he have a slow body, but he"s also quite a crybaby.

"Then, I will take my leave."

Picking up the bag he put down, he advised me to be careful with my arm as he returned back to the castle, swinging his arms. I excitedly waved at him shouting,

"If I say your name, I should get a discount, right? It"s alright for me to trust you?"

But, thinking about it, it was a strange situation. For some reason, I think I got infected by his "questioning disease." Hmm, how"s a person who calls himself a doctor lower himself into spreading diseases instead of actually treating them?

Laurel Bay"s Grillard was located below Ember village. I just needed to cross over that pa.s.s. The road was flat and to the side was a thick, harmless peak. There wasn"t a special name for it as it"s commonly called "Grillard"s Peak." It"s not even that long of a path as well.
But still, it feels quite far today since I don"t have my s...o...b..ard. Sheesh, it"s all my mother"s fault.
On top of the uphill pa.s.s was a thick carpet of snow covering the scene.
Thump, thump. The sounds of the snow being stepped on trailed behind me.

Reaching the peak of the hill, I looked down on Grillard from above.
If it was like any other day, it would be so nice to slide down the snow. Oh well, I can"t do nothing about it. Thinking about it, it sure has been a while since I was last here.
Grillard was great for farming as it was the warmest among the 4 villages in Ember. Since Ember is the only place where the Lord lives, many gather around and live there; however, even then, this village has the look of a traditional city. If you consider Habiyanak a mountain village, then you can easily label this place as a farm village.
Looking down, I could see the roofs in Grillard being covered in snow - colors of white, light brown, and chocolate. Behind it was a green lake, sparkling like a thin silver plate.
It looks peaceful.

"Hey, the boy over there."

Is he calling for me?
I turned towards the source of the sound behind me, with my back facing away from the village of Grillard. Seemingly arriving from Ember along with a man beside him… …
It was the lord"s son.

Ah… … Of course, I couldn"t use the nickname that popped up from my head, I quickly lowered my head.

"Ah, h.e.l.lo……"

Let"s stay still. For now, let"s not use the first half of the nickname. Then what do I call him?

"Intelligent Sir Arnowalt."
I don"t think I should call him that as he may misunderstand.

"Ah. Yes. Sir Arnowalt. The weather is quite pleasant."

I just spewed out some random nonsense. In my head, I started calculating why the guy that had hurt his wrist and had cancelled practice would suddenly stroll here.
On a white horse, not bothering to get off, he looked down on me. Looks like he"s a beginner considering how he was holding those reins.

"What are you doing here?"

That"s what I wanted to ask you.

"Ah, I am on my way to Grillard village."

"How"s your shoulder?"

I suddenly doubted my own ears. With that peculiar tactic, I concluded that I must come for practice tomorrow.

"It is tolerable."

"Indeed."

Arnowalt nimbly jumped off the horse. On his arm was a metal cast that was tightly enveloped. Sheesh, talk about exaggerating.
Arnowalt stood beside me. Not knowing what to expect, anxiously I slightly distanced myself from him without him noticing.
He, not caring about me, looked down on Grillard. Unlike his usual actions, he was admiring the beautiful nature and nature as if he had the habits of a n.o.ble.

"Wonderful. My splendid territory."

… So you were appreciating your possessions.

"How is it? Isn"t it splendid?"

"It is a wonderful place."

I will answer, but why am I replying to these conversations - it"ll only prolong them? If you came on a horse, ignore the people walking and just quickly trod by.

"Hey, do you happen to know about the Green Jeweled Knight?"

"I do."

Considering our age, there is hardly any child that hasn"t grown up without having heard of the Green Jeweled Knight"s story. Well, even the adults know that story. If the adults don"t know it, then who’s telling the story to the children?

The Green Jeweled Knight.
The meaning of the green jewel varies from person to person. From interpreting the knight in holding a normal green jewel to a symbol that embodies the meaning of spring (well, in other words, it basically symbolizes the advent of spring following a harsh winter), there are five or six complicated interpretations that are there.
The Green Jeweled Knight is unique from the regular legends as it isn"t about a hero from the past. This figure appears from a dark past, when our country"s female shaman had written a prophesy. But the story was very interesting, accounting for countless hymns to be written, which caused many to forget that it was even a prophesy. Thus, as if it was an actual hero, that story became the envy for all aspiring to be a hero.

"I am fond of the Green Jeweled Knight."

Arnowalt looked at me as his eyes sparkled. At this time, I can"t seem to feel that he is no different from a regular boy; however, I"ve had the experience to know that he can transform into a silly old n.o.ble in a moment"s glance.
So, I just smiled politely, replying him that I too was fond of the Green Jeweled Knight as well.

"That story to many knights is like a road of recognition. A sacrificial - one that does not lose one"s wit - heart is incomparable to a sharp sword. For you commoners, you may not know it but, for people of high status like us, there"s not many that aren"t fascinated by this."

I want to have a test that decides which one of us can memorize that prophesy faster.

"Like the Green Jeweled knight, I want to become a loving person that can protect the lowly people."

I suddenly snapped out of it. No matter how I see it, there"s something wrong with that scene.
Oh grand young one - thoroughly following Arnowalt"s expression - after looking down on my possessions, I will set up a n.o.ble cause to knight you. The commoner boy, realize what his role is, would kneel down and say this.
Perhaps……
… …
Ahk! Oh great and exalted knight. Please allow me to serve you eternally from start to finish…something like that!

TL Afterword: So much poetic language whew~ Hope you enjoyed it!

Translator: Calvis
Proofreader: Sai101