DRAGON AND SWORD.

Encounter.

Felix was young, but he was smart. He understood that the road may be a short path, but it was prone to dangers. Such as bandits. He was a 10-year-old boy with no combat knowledge and no magic experience. He could not even enter the woods because the beasts would love to have a taste of his tender flesh. Chill ran down his spine as he thought of the scenario. Felix sat down on the side of the road and fell in deep thought about how to travel while avoiding danger.

When Felix was in deep thought, a small blue bird flew down from the sky and landed in front of him. The bird glanced at him curiously, tilting its small head to the side. Felix obviously saw this cute bird. A smile emerged on his face. He looked very handsome. The bird chirped a few times. Felix said, "Oh, so you left your nest today?"

The bird became very excited when it heard these words as if Felix spoke in bird language. It chirped again. Felix chuckled. "I am not a bird. I am human. Birds fly high in the sky, Humans live down on the ground."

The bird raised its small head up, looking smug. Felix was very amused by this bird.  He stretched out his palm. The bird flew and landed in his palm. This scene looked too natural. Felix wanted to talk to the bird more when he heard a neighing sound. He glanced in the sound's direction and soon six white horses, followed by a silver and blue carriage came in his sight. Six men wearing armor were riding on the sturdy stallions and they had vigilant expressions. The carriage was being pulled by four reindeer. These reindeer were blue. They had silver spots over them, and the antlers were also silver. Their eyes were silver with a blue iris.

Felix mumbled, "Level six, magic beast, Silverhorn Snow Buck." his eyes were filled with awe. This was a high-grade magic beast. Meros had magic beasts classified in 10 levels. So you can imagine the rarity of a level six magic beast appearing at the corner of a continent. The convoy gradually moved towards Felix. The guards saw him and immediately became wary. The convoy stopped.

One guard spoke while he sat on his horse. "Boy, why are you sitting here?"

Felix was 'homeschooled' and through the books, he had learned how to greet someone of noble status. So he stood up and bowed to the knight on the horse. He spoke, "Sir, I am heading to the city in that direction. I have heard from the elders in my town that there are bandits. I am trying to think about how to avoid them."

The knight spoke with an amused expression, "Then why not go through the woods?"

Felix spoke while scratching the back of his head. "There are beasts and I do not have any combat experience. Although I have read books, Mother Deligentia says that books and life are different. So I am confused."

The guard said, "Why do you travel alone then?"

Felix answered with a smile, "I am ten years old today. According to the rules I cannot stay in the orphanage anymore. So to learn and grow, I need to travel."

The guard was surprised when he heard this. He spoke. "Did you not say your mother taught you that life differs from books? Then why do you live in the orphanage."

Felix spoke. "Mother Deligentia is the matron in the orphanage. She is a nun and prays to the saint of mercy. She found me on the steps of the orphanage and took me in so I call her mother." he had a smile on his face but his eyes were watery. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to stop his tears from falling. He recalled how his mother, Flos, wrote in her letter to him. 'Felix, never let strangers see your weakness. Be soft and be humble, but never be weak. Remember, tears kept inside are the fuel to your strength. They are the tools to make you grow strong.'

The guard also noticed this. They were surprised by how this kid tried to calm himself. The magic beast pulling into the carriage neighed a little. Felix instinctively spoke. "I am fine. Thank you."

The Silverhorn Buck neighed again and Felix replied, "No, no, it is okay. Thank you. I will leave now."

Felix turned and walked a few steps, then he slapped his forehead and said to the bluebird sitting on his palm, "Birdie, you can fly in the sky. Can you help me look for bandits?"

The bird tilted its head and chirped. Felix spoke, "No, they are not animals silly, they look like me, but they are bad. They harm people." he stood there and answered the bird. The guards looked at him in a daze as they stood there. They watched as a human and a bird chatted, ignoring them.

The guard captain said, "Could this boy be blessed? By Magus? It is said that people blessed by the moon of magic have special skills."

A guard on his left side spoke hurriedly, "If so, we need to tell her, highness. Maybe this kid could be of help?"

The guard captain fell into thought. His gaze was locked on the boy and the bluebird. He heard Felix say, "Okay, I will take you with me to travel." the bird jumped on his palm chirping. Felix chuckled. The bird flew away toward his destination.

The guard captain saw this and did not hesitate. He rode his horseback to the carriage and knocked on the window softly. A cold voice rang from the inside. "What is it, Heimdal?"

The guard captain was called Heimdal. He spoke respectfully, "Your Highness, there is a child in front. He can talk to the beasts."

The curtain moved and a beautiful face appeared. The girl inside was 18 or 19 years old. She had blue hair and blue eyes, her face was fair, rosy lips. She was exquisite. She spoke, "Ask him to come over."

The guard captain replied with a yes and rode his horse to Felix. Felix sensed a horse arriving behind him and turned back. Heimdal asked, "Child, what is your name?"

Felix spoke with a smile, "Felix." he knew his full name. But his mother asked him never to reveal it before he is strong. The name of his father was powerful enough to make people tremble, even after his death.

Heimdal spoke, "Our princess, has invited you over."

Felix was scared thinking he has offended someone, but to avoid looking weak he nodded and followed Heimdal to the carriage.

The carriage door opened and a girl in her teens walked out. She wore a white skirt and boots, had black hair, black eyes. She spoke, "What is your name?" as she stared at Felix.

Felix replied, "My name is Felix." he looked her straight in the eye.

The girl raised her eyebrow and said, "Do you not know how to greet a princess? How dare you to match eyes with me?" her voice was full of anger.

Felix took a step back and said, "You are not the princess."

The girl opened her eyes wide, her jaw dropped. She asked is with a surprised tone, "How did you find out?"

Felix looked at her from head to toe and then spoke, "First, your skirt has an insignia on it. It shows that it is a uniform. Princesses do not wear uniforms. Second, you came out of the carriage on your own. A princess would not do that, not because she looks down on others, but her identity stops her from greeting a commoner on her own. Third, your temperament is too volatile to be the princess."

The girl spoke in rebuke. "What if the princess is volatile?"

Felix shook his head and said, "Only those with a calm and gentle heart can have the luxury of being chosen by Silverhorn Buck. They chose their own master, that is if they ever do. Otherwise, they run away, and if you try to force them. You will end up like an ice statue."

Heimdal was surprised, and the girl was more than shocked. A cold voice sounded from the carriage. "Let him come in."

The girl came back to her senses and said, "The princess invites you in the carriage."

Felix spoke, looking at the Silverhorn Buck. "Can you please tell that small bird that I am inside the carriage when it comes back? Otherwise, it would think that I left."

The Silverhorn Buck neighed and nodded as if it was a human. Felix smiled and with a wary heart climbed up the carriage.