Realizing what the patterns were, the esquire's eyes dilated, sensing the peril the paw prints could bring to the village of Lothar. Davin felt the rising adrenaline flooding and coursing throughout his whole body. He could even hear the pumps and beats as his blood pitted itself against the walls and valves of his heart.

 

"Hahaha, I'm really good at this, right?" Old Gazz chirped in, a proud grin showing on his face.

 

Without further ado, the esquire immediately pulled the old man towards his powerful arms, carrying him like a distressed princess. Putting all his strength on his legs and feet, Davin strutted towards the knight’s house as fast as he could.

 

"Wahhh!"

 

Though, the suddenness made the old man scream like a little girl along the way.

 

The speed of Davin made old Gazz shrieked even more. With the wind bashing his whole body, the feeling of pain also rose within his old wrinkled face.

 

“Brrringgg me down boy! Stop or else. O-or yyya'll goin to face this old man’s wrath!”

 

While running with all his strength, the esquire suddenly remembered something very important. He took a full stopped, he then used the gravity to flipped the old man’s body high up in the air like a toy.

 

"Woahh! Mommmma!"

 

The esquire then rapidly pulled out a mysterious wooden whistle necklace lying on his neck then blew it with all his might. 

 

He then caught the squealing old man back to his arms then ran again faster than before.

 

After the esquire blew the weird whistle, there were no sounds nor hums heard. The place was still the same as before, the cool spring breeze blowing sweetly on the grassy lands.

 

Of course, everything was the same except for the loud wails and angry squeals of a certain perverted old man echoing throughout the way.

Still, the esquire's effort to blow the wooden whistle didn’t go unnoticed.

 

♠♠♠ Morning. The Knight’s Temporary House (The Old Village Chief’s House) ♠♠♠

 

“Hey darling, do you think Davin will be fine if we leave him with old Gazz?” Knight Levo asked his wife as he brushed the hair of little Ciera with a comb.

 

“Of course he will Levo,” answered the madam, her eyes wearing a monocle obtained from the Gartner town, the sounds of page flicking and the rustling of papers echoed in the room. “Remember the time when we left Baron Gisvold in the care of uncle Sept before? The same blood runs in his veins so I think nothing would happen.”

 

Thinking for a brief moment, the Knight couldn’t help but agree with his wife.

 

“Hmnn. I guess you’re right,” replied the knight as his eldest son Liszt sat on his burly arms.

 

“You see Levo, the people of Gisvold family knows the word survival more than anyone else in Rutherford Kingdom.” The madam said as she continued her work. "So don't worry."

 

“Ye-, Ouch, can you please stop pulling my cute beard Klive!”

 

“It’s fine little Klive, don’t worry just continue pulling it,” said madam Annis as she sent a chilling gaze at the burly knight. “If your father has a problem with it just say it to me.”

 

"Yey!"

 

“…”

 

“Hehe. Alright, pull it as much as you want Klive. It doesn’t even hurt.” The knight uttered, as sweat flooded his back. “Give me your best shot.”

 

“Anyway, Liszt, Klive, and Ciera. You could also play with your Dad all you want today.” The madam added as she cast a sweet gaze at her children. “Ask him everything you want, and he will do it for you. If he doesn’t do it, just tell me and your mom will deal with it. Hehe.”

 

“Really.” The eyes of the three kids shining in glee and excitement, their young minds bustling with ideas on what would they asked their dear father to do.

 

“Yeah, really like really, really! Right, Levo? The madam asked her husband, a honeyed smile blooming in her face.

 

The knight swore in his heart that he was going to get things straight with Uncle Sept and Old Gazz later.

 

“Erm, yeah can count on me, kids! Bring it on. Haha”

 

“…”

 

♠♠♠ Afternoon. Few hours after the end of the villagers training camp ♠♠♠

 

“So how’s your day with the kids Levo?” Madam Annis asked the knight, as she stood on the door, her eyes laughing a little.

 

Seeing the signs of anger in the face of the Annis waning a little, the knight couldn’t help sighed in relief. After remembering the giggles and the excitement of his children this morning, the knight also showed a bright smile on his face as pride rose up from his chest due to having such cute kids.

 

He again swore to the three gods in the sky that he would protect his wife and kids with all he had.

 

The big grin on his face answered all of the madam’s questions.

 

 “You see Levo, I know you love training and what not,” said Annis as he sighed, her serious gaze now fixated on the knight. “But at least share some of your time with our little kids. They need you.”

 

“The kids also wants some bonding time with their dad, so at least don’t focus all your time on your drills. Leave some hours for our kids.”

 

Looking at his wife, the knight thought that he was really a lucky guy for having such a caring wife. The sweet smiles of his children this morning rose up in his mind, a bit of guilt could be seen on his face.

 

“I see.” The knight answered, his proud head lowered a little bit.

 

…

 

Deafening silence echoed throughout the place, the knight then slowly, gently, oh so lovingly raised his head as he cast a sweet gaze at his wife. His heart full of unexplainable emotions, in soft words he uttered;

 

“Annis, I love you.”

 

“What the hec-”

 

The knight then grabbed the dainty hands of his wife, pulling her gently to his embrace as kissed her on her forehead.

 

“Thank you.” The knight whispered on his wife’s flushing ear.

 

“For what?” the madam replied, her voice shaky, wavering a little as he leaned on the knight’s broad chest.

 

“For loving and marrying someone like me,” replied the knight, his voice deep and husky. “As well as always being with our kids.”

 

…

 

Hearing the sweet words of his husband, the madam’s face shifted its hues to crimson. An affectionate smile could be seen on her face as she gazed at the knight’s fiery gaze.

 

Slowly, the knight then pulled her deeper as he gave her one deep loving kiss in the lips, then the world fell away.

 

♠♠♠

 

The two couple continued to cuddle each other, the knight embracing his wife as he declared sweet nothings to the madam, wooing her with his unique sense of gentleness and love.

 

Though, things ended fast.

 

All of sudden, the knight and the madam stood up from their sits, opening the closed window nearby, the two peered through the direction where Davin blew the whistle, their faces immediately turning somber and stale.

 

The knight’s eyebrows scrunched up due to annoyance as he buckled up his armor and weapon.

 

The freaks of the breakfast table and other members of the knight’s contingent had also cast their gaze toward the place where Davin blew the whistled, leaving everything they were currently doing, a grim look shown on their faces as they ran to their houses to get their war equipment.

 

Auburn, Uncle Sept, Lady Leine, and the others rapidly prepared and suited up their battle gears, then they sprinted towards the knight’s house as if there was no time to waste.

 

On the other hand, the madam picked all the papers lying on the floor, putting it all aside. She pulled all the kids to their rooms, asking them not to go out. The madam then asked their maids and nannies to take care of them until they confirm that everything outside was confirmed clear and safe.

 

Knight Levo then walked outside his house fully armored, a scabbarded bastard sword on his big hand. The knight then bellowed in a loud voice, his shout enough to reach the whole village.

 

“Buckle yourself, everyone! Men prepare your swords. We’re going to have a big party tonight!”

 

All of a sudden, sounds of shouts echoed all throughout the village of Lothar.

 

The tension forcing its way towards the hearts of every men and woman of the village.

 

Only a fool would not see that something was wrong in the atmosphere.

 

Even the villagers sensed the foreboding trouble as they locked up their doors and windows, telling their family members to stay indoors and wait for the village head’s instructions.

 

Though, some brave and curious villager’s decided to take a short peek at the sides of their windows to determine what was really happening outside.

 

From their wooden windows, they saw the people under the knight, they were wearing their hard clanking armors; their swords, bows, arrows, spears and all other types of weapon jostled its way on each of their hands.

 

The knight’s contingent was acting like there would be a war or monster campaign.

 

They also heard and neighing horses racing towards the house of the lord knight, it seemed like they were all called to go to the knight’s house.

 

After witnessing the things that were happening outside. They remembered the back of a certain fickle old man, the villagers couldn’t help but get a not so wild thought in their head.

 

“What the heck did Ol’ Gazz do again?”

 

Well, at least they’re not wrong.

 

Old man Gazz did discover something troublesome again.