I got on with the rest of my regular morning activities. I bathed in the tub of water my maid prepared. I got dressed and asked the maid for help in styling my hair. I knew I should be capable of such tasks on my own at this point, but I felt I'd be more ungrateful not to use the help while it's still offered.

Goosebumps flared up all over me, it would be the first day I'd get to see the city we lived nearby.

At least the first time I could see it and walk around with my own two feet. I distinctly remember the smell of fresh bread and simmering food from when I was still a baby and my mother carried me. The rattling metal armor of the guards who escorted us still rang in my ear clear as day.

I decided not to disclose my dream to my family as we all met at the carriages. I doubt they'd believe me, but it was quite the surprise, I was still able to read in my dreams. I remembered looking it up online once when I was in my early twenties, it was a rare ability in its own right but not of much use to me at the time.

"Why are we going to the market?"

"Don't you want to get new clothes, there's the rare food too and besides I thought you said you had a girlfriend already? Don't you want to see her?"

"Luca, you believe anything Page tells you, you should know by now she's a snake. Besides I would never be caught dead with some commoner girl."

"Not even, Beatrice?"

"Not you too. You should know better than to mess with your older brother, Zeus."

"Hmmph, you made your meal now take it."

"How cruel of you."

The four of us brothers ended up in another carriage than mother and our sisters. I wasn't used to being with them separate from mother, normally I'd never see them much until dinner time. It's only recently that I've been around Zeus during father's lessons. Luca's the only one I've played with before.

"You excited Fred?"

"Yeah."

"A little nervous?"

"Maybe."

I couldn't hide it but I wasn't exactly filled with pure joy at the thought of going to a place populated with several strangers. It just isn't something I was used to in this life or the last.

"Just stick close by if you're worried, I don't plan on going anywhere aside from the tailor and one of the vendors."

"Alright, Logan."

"What kind of big brother would I be if I didn't make sure you felt safe?"

"It's not like the guards will let you get far if you did try and walk off."

"Come on Zeus, you make it sound like I was being insincere."

Logan seemed to cause Zeus to open up more. He was normally quiet during dinner and father's lessons. I knew very little of how my siblings saw each other but I knew there was no ill will between these two. I could tell somehow.

Luca tried to get everyone to join in whatever game he thought up in the little time before we got to the city. The road itself wasn't uncomfortable or terribly long but it did involve going through a dense and obscured woods that surrounded our castle. 

Soon after, it cleared up into a meadow that seemed to reflect the epitome of spring time.

Sharp points came into view before the structures holding them up revealed themselves as we began to enter the city. The carriage stopped at an armored tower. It must've been the checkpoint watch tower, there's monsters in this world after all, that and bandits. 

I recalled a novel exploring the exploits of a retired bandit, it had a somber ending due to the eventual deaths of all the thief's companions by the end of the story

"Young masters."

The guard opened the door signaling we could disembark now. We swarmed out and followed after our mother who awaited us in front of her own carriage with our sisters.

The walk around the city was as my brothers said it would be, a stop at the tailor and seamstress to get new clothing fitted.

Then we were free to walk about with a guard to any of the food vendors in the marketplace square, in the direct center there were other children playing with some ball attached to a small rope. I've never seen a sport like it in my old life. There was also a smaller section where smaller kids played around kicking a small leather ball. I could recognize it as an attempt at football, but there weren't any nets or defined score areas for goals like the rope and ball the other kids were playing.

"You've never had this before right? You want one?"

"What is it?"

"It's meat covered in a glaze of sweet sauce on top of a filled cheese bread."

The description alone was enough to get my mouth watering.

"I guess that a yes."

Logan handed me the appetizing still steaming bun and patty. We returned to the public mess table the rest of our family was seated at.

Zeus opted for a meat stew as his lunch meal, it had a strong scent that likely accentuated the flavors found in the actual broth base the stew had.

Luca had a strange concoction, it looked like he had bought an entire pineapple for his lunch. Inside however were an assortment of cubes from the pineapple and what seemed like fish meat.

Not the weirdest thing I've ever seen people eat but who am I to judge.

"I still don't know how you can stomach that Luca."

"If you tried it you'd want one too."

"Ew, no thanks."

Whitney spoke out to say what was on the mind of a few of us.

I couldn't help but giggle a little as Luca would purposefully stare at Whitney and take a bite. Vanilla was plenty preoccupied with playfully feeding Ibis while Page held the infant.

I finally bit into the convenient handheld meal Logan had suggested to me. It was sweet and tangy but the mellowed cheese-filled bread muted it which prevented it from becoming overpowering. The taste eventually faded leaving behind a spicy aftertaste. It wasn't anything strong but it did leave me wanting something to drink. All we had was water from the guards' supplies, it was enough for what I needed.

"If isn't Logan and Zeus, what say you two join in a game of tug and dash?"

"You already know, we're in, but obviously it'll be us two in the same team."

"Sounds good to me."

Zeus and Logan had already finished their meals. They got up and started removing their extra accessories and jackets.

"What about you Luca? You're old enough to play."

"I'll only be on their team too."

"It's only fair, I've got more experienced players either way."

The four set off to play in the field. I had about two more bites left, I scarfed it down. 

The guards followed them along with the other kid's guards. I wasn't familiar with the city's rulers but I could only assume the kid that challenged them was a nobleman's son as well.

"Freddy, my child please don't try to exert yourself too much. Listen Erica, make sure Fred is only playing with the little kids, I don't want him getting hurt."

"As you wish, madam."

And so I was only allowed to watch in the smaller section of the field with a ball in foot. I didn't mind, the last thing I needed was getting a terrible injury while my body's still maturing.