As the sky dimmed and stars began to appear, five moons became visible above. Each one was a perfect circle, emitting a soft glow in a distinct color, as if radiating its own light. The largest of them resembled a tennis ball in size and appeared to be the closest. The others seemed farther away—though the second was slightly larger, the third smaller than the first, and the fourth and fifth roughly the same size as the first.
It was hard to say which of them was actually nearer or farther, for three main reasons.
The first was size. They appeared to differ in dimensions, distinguishable by the grooves and surface patterns on each one—but not clearly enough to make a confident judgment.
The second and third reasons were related—their positioning. They were scattered widely across the sky, making it difficult to view them all at once. Not every moon was visible every night; some only appeared during the day and were easy to miss unless one stared at the sky with focus.
There were seven moons in total, each identifiable by its shape and the color of its glow.
Aiden had once heard their names and other details, but he'd forgotten them—he simply wasn't interested.
Aiden stood in front of the mansion alongside Sebastian and Walter, waiting for Cedric, who was due to arrive at any moment.
"Beautiful moons tonight, don't you think?" Sebastian said.
"Uhh… yeah, pretty," Aiden replied, not really paying attention.
Sebastian gave him a light slap. "Focus and look before you answer—just out of respect."
Rubbing the back of his head, Aiden looked up at the sky and the stunning sight. "Yeah, yeah. You're right. They really are nice."
Sebastian grunted and lay down to the side of the mansion, on the soft grass that lightly scratched at his neck—the only exposed skin apart from his hands. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of freshly cut grass and the cool breeze, perfect for someone who preferred the colder weather.
Walter stood at a distance, careful not to block the sky, while Aiden, like a child, chased after glowing bugs dancing around the mansion. After a while, slightly out of breath, he lay down next to his grandfather, panting until his breathing steadied.
Once calm, he turned his head and looked at Sebastian, who remained focused on the beauty of the stars and moons.
"Should we tell Dad about the training?" he asked.
Still gazing upward, Sebastian replied in his usual tone—one that might seem serious or even intimidating to those who didn't know him. "Do you want to keep it a secret? You'd probably tell him anyway, even without meaning to—you're too young to hide something like that. We'll tell him if he's not too tired. If he is, we'll wait till tomorrow. Maybe he'll join you for training, if he has time."
Aiden asked, his voice uncertain and a little sad, "Am I any good?… I've only had one training session."
Sebastian responded, "I've been training you for two days, and you're picking it up fast—definitely faster than Lucas. Though he was younger, I'm pretty sure you'll pass those little punks soon and get into a better group. Maybe even the one above before school starts, if you stay focused and put in the effort. The only condition is that you listen to me."
Aiden asked hopefully, like the moment might be close, "When can I start learning Vita?"
Still watching his grandson, Sebastian replied in the same steady voice, "Once you rank up twice, and your swordsmanship becomes natural—when you can move without thinking about every step or motion. That means mastering offense, defense, range of motion, and the theory behind other combat styles." He paused. "Do you understand?"
Aiden nodded, so Sebastian continued. "You'll also need to know how to fight unarmed opponents while unarmed yourself—that's one of the most important skills. Why? You'll find out later."
They kept talking, and Sebastian began to tell stories from his past—but didn't get far before a carriage arrived.
They stood up and walked toward it. The difference between this carriage and the one they had used to enter the city was obvious. Instead of horses, it was pulled by a single large lizard that walked upright on two legs, its body covered in rough scales. It resembled a dinosaur, even its snout shaped similarly. You could touch it and pet it—but only downward. Stroking it against the grain of its scales could result in injury.
Cedric stepped out of the carriage and smiled at Aiden, who ran up and hugged his father.
Following him was an elven woman with silver hair and two children, around five and three years old. They were half-elves—Aiden's siblings.