"You want to what?" This was a question by the village chief to Henry.

This happened five years ago when Henry asked permission from the village chief. The chief was skeptical of what Henry had just said. Henry had a history of being a liar.

The old man asked Henry for a good reason to grant his training request. But Henry, clueless about how to justify it, zoned out, not knowing how to excuse himself. He grabbed his pockets, remembering the letter sent by Anastasia.

"How about a letter? I was given a letter from my sister."

"What sister..." The chief went silent, then quickly gave a surprised face, as if he recognized something.

"Anastasia! Your sister who went before Alexander, that Anastasia?"

"Yes, she even ordered Alexander to deliver me the letter."

The chief grew more curious about the letter and asked Henry if he could read it.

Henry agreed and presented the letter to the chief, asking once again for his request.

"Only if I can confirm if it's really her," he replied.

Both of them sat in the room in silence, the chief intently focused on the letter, showing all kinds of emotions. After a few moments, he closed the letter and placed it on his table.

"It really is Anastasia, and it seems she didn't stop chasing her dreams," he walked towards Henry and returned the letter.

"Well, you've convinced me, even though the letter was solely for you. I'll accept your request and grant you permission to train with our highly trained guards."

"Really!" Henry's expression lit up with excitement and determination. He was ready to leave, but the chief stopped him.

"You'll train for five years only. You'll be turning 15 by then, which makes you eligible to explore the entirety of the outside world."

The sound of glass spread throughout the entire room as the villagers sang a birthday song for Henry.

"Happy 15th birthday, Henry. Tomorrow marks the end of your five-year training," a villager spoke to him.

"No need to be too excited; Henry must not get worried before his leave," the chief replied.

"Let us continue our feast," he raised the large glass up high along with the guards, and all of them chanted.

"Ascend, young Henry. Ascend, our young master."

The joyful and eventful venue, with some of the village guards, Henry, and the chief, slowly came to an end as they realized that Henry still needed his sleep...

The glooming sun quickly reflected onto Henry's window, signaling him to wake up and continue with his preparations.

The first thing he packed was the precious dragon-formed knife from Anastasia, which still emitted a golden glow. He looked outside and saw the exact spot where he trained, which he had formed into a circle, symbolizing his unwavering commitment to the regime he'd followed.

He got easily distracted by the beautiful field of blooming flowers and cattle roaming around, now bigger, indicating his care for them throughout the years.

"Today is finally the day," he said. "I can finally explore the unknown land that almost all the villagers have talked about."

Meanwhile, a knock on the door interrupted Henry's thoughts. He took only a couple of steps to open the door and found the village chief waiting.

"Are you ready, Henry?"

"No, not yet," Henry quickly replied, hurrying to pack the remaining items in his small home. After a few looks around, he noticed that the details seemed more high-definition now. The dust on the ceiling appeared clearer, the dirty floor he stood on seemed more vivid, and the wind blowing from his window felt more comforting, mingling with the warm rays of the sun.

He calmed himself and looked back, opening the door.

"The crowd outside is waiting for you to show up, so we must hurry, Henry."

"Yes, Chief." Henry took a final glimpse at his home, even though there was too little to be seen. They then went on, started walking through the alleyway, where some village guards were waiting for them. 

Upon exiting the alleyway, Henry stepped onto the cobblestone path that led to the heart of the village square. A sea of expectant faces, a mix of jubilation and curiosity, greeted him. Villagers lined the path, wearing vibrant traditional robes, while colorful banners fluttered overhead, casting a kaleidoscope of hues upon the scene.

As he advanced, the warmth of the morning sun couldn't dispel the shivers of excitement and nervousness that coursed through Henry's body. He couldn't help but think back to the five grueling years of training and how far he'd come. The crowd's anticipation was palpable, and Henry knew he had a legacy to live up to.

The village square, his home, was now a stage for his farewell. Friends, family, and the wise village chief stood with beaming smiles, ready to send off their young prodigy.

Henry couldn't avoid a swirl of emotions as he stepped into the spotlight. With a deep breath, he resolved to fulfill the expectations, to explore the unknown world that awaited, and to bring honor to his village. He stepped forward, ready to address the crowd.

The crowd cheered for him as he walked past them.

 Trumpets blared from a group of instrumentalists, filling the air with melodies The villagers, who had once bear resentment toward Henry, now extended their full support and respect, much like they had for Alexander.

They continued down the cobblestone path toward the sturdy wooden gate. The guards steadily pulled down a lever, and the gate began to creak open.

Henry's heart raced with excitement. He now understood what it must have felt like for Alexander as he embarked on his own grand journey.

The villagers, caught up in the moment, began to throw roses, their petals scattering in the breeze. Together, they chanted a phrase that echoed through the village:

"Ascend, our Young Master, to the land of Ascendia." 

-To Be Continued-