Valerius was overjoyed as he saw how happy people of the town were to be involved in his happiness.
They had not only arranged the whole festival but came bearing gifts for his newborn son too.
Most of the town's residents were farmers so there weren't any lavish presents but for Valerius and Sophia all that mattered was their love.
The air was filled with the fragrance of appetizing delicacies. A man was playing a gentle tone with his musical instrument.
"There was no need for this Logan" Valerius thanked a vendor as he gifted a well crafted toy for young August.
"Thank you Priscilla," he thanked another woman.
"The young lord looks just like you Lady Sophia," a woman complimented, watching August in his mother's arms.
People lined up to take a look at young August.
Somewhere within the line stood an old couple, waiting patiently for their turn.
"Congratulations Lord Valerius," said the old man finally getting the chance to talk.
"What, why you two?" Valerius was surprised as he saw the old couple, "why are you standing in such a heat?" Saying that he hurriedly stood up from his chair and offered it to the old man.
"Oh we are fine, my Lord," the old woman replied.
"I am not that old yet," added the old man, "besides we are not here to see you." He said as he turned to August who was still asleep in his mother's embrace.
"Here, say hello to your grandchild," Sophia said as she slightly lifted the veil covering the child's face.
The old man Rowan and his wife Martha were well respected elders of the town. Everyone here knew the value of the experience these elders had.
Due to their chaotic past they married late to each other. It was a shame they didn't have any children of their own. But it didn't hold them back and they only loved each other more.
Valerius filled the void of a child they never had.
From childhood he grew up with both of them around and with time grew attached to them.
He loved them like his own parents and for August of course they were grandparents even though not related by blood.
Valerius proved the fact that blood doesn't necessarily connect people but sometimes emotions and goodwill does.
"Dear give me that," Martha said, gesturing to her husband to hand something over. Rowan, as though suddenly remembered something, pulled a box out of his bag.
"Wait, what is that?" Sophia furrowed her brows. "You didn't have to bring a present,"
"There was no need for that," Valerius said in a fed up tone.
"Why? Can't we buy a present for our grandson?" Rowan said as his wife took out a small golden lustrous relic.
Holding it with both hands she put it on August's head gently, careful to not hurt him or wake him up.
"What exactly is this?" Sophia asked with curiosity.
"A crown for a king," replied the old man.
The golden relic was indeed shaped as a crown sitting perfectly on young August.
Suddenly the crown ignited with luminous light, which was visible even in the sunlight. Then it turned into small ethereal motes of energy and slowly disappeared.
"It is a relic from the fallen era, legends say it saved the life of King Rhaenos once. But no one knows what it actually does and how it happened but we are pretty sure there's still some conscious essence left in it." The old man gave a brief description of the relic.
The fallen era was a portion of human history that changed the world forever. It was just like a fantasy tale of kings, kingdoms, trust, betrayal and realization.
Simultaneously it was a story of a rising sovereign king Rhaenos who conquered every king. The reason historians referred to those times as the fallen era was that various kings fell before his might earning him the title The immortal sovereign.
"We purchased it thinking it would pass down within our family," Martha spoke, showing a hint of vulnerability in her expressions. "...but will you look at that, it was passed down to a better family instead."
She said that smiling, showing no signs of lingering sad emotions.
"I feel so bad, like I am plundering gifts out of all of you," Valerius said with a dejected expression.
"No way," the vendor named Logan said, who happened to hear the conversation. "You've done enough for us already. We can at least do this much."
Looking at him Valerius realised that people have stopped doing whatever they were doing before and were just looking at him with warm smiles. It felt like the words of Logan were true after all.
Residents of the town came and talked to them one by one simultaneously enjoying the evening to the fullest.
The Sun was about to set when a stranger suddenly approached Valerius and Sophia.
Valerius didn't recognise him as an old acquaintance either so the presence of this man here was already a mystery.
He seemed old with withered skin but the smile on his face along with the deep experienced brown eyes told a different tale.
There was a calmness in the man's demeanor but strangely enough Valerius felt a hint of discomfort. Like this stranger's presence was a bittersweet thing, like the wind was carrying a chill along with it suddenly.
A sense of unease washed over him, Valerius feared his next words which could be coming out at any second. Many years of his battlefield experience had made his intuition sharp enough to predict any threat.
Perhaps it really was a coincidence that young August who was sleeping soundly through this whole ordeal, suddenly woke up and started crying.
The loud cries of the boy attracted everyone's attention, the strange visitor too. As his gaze fell upon the young boy, his confident expression faltered for a moment.
Coincidentally, at the same time, far from the joyous occasion —deep within the forest, something dangerous shifted its perception towards the peaceful town.
Turning to Valerius, the man finally spoke, making him fall into a serious thought,
"Lord Valerius, there's a danger looming above you."
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