Veronica went to find the Golds the next day to tell the news. Amusingly, they had all left early to go around Alterra.
The family had been here for many days now, and apparently, there were still places that they had to go to. They had passed the time wherein everyone had to go together though, and the Golds separated to do their own interests.
The parents, Zaol and Gaia were strolling around the wonderful Alterra Gardens. Gaia had always been fascinated with beautiful flora, and Zaol was there to accompany her wherever she wanted to go.
The past couple of months, the gardens had seen quite a few improvements. One was the fruit walls, where there were vine fruits and the like planted along the perimeter fences of the garden. It worked like the other resources, with the citizens paying some copper to pick some (while residents could get a certain amount for free every day).
In terms of aesthetics, they also added a small maze feature. It had a few entrances and exits. It was designed to give the users a sense of adventure and mystery, even if only for a while.
At the center of it, there was a lovely water feature that seemed like a small waterfall, the water slowly cascading down smooth stones. It was surrounded by lush colorful plants, and it looked like a piece of elvendell.
It was like a serene clearing, a hidden oasis, discovered after much challenge (the maze), creating an even more awe-inspiring experience.
When Gaia saw it, she fell in love and they stayed there for a long time. Just the two of them and this piece of nature.
It was really quite romantic.
It wasn’t actually that large, but the proportions and the flower arrangements were done masterfully, and Gaia commented that the gardeners of Alterra were far superior than the entire Bleuelle City’s combined.
Zaol smiled and held her hand. "This place is beautiful, it frames your beauty perfectly."
Gaia laughed, patting the man’s face, which was no longer smooth and had been showing a bit of wrinkles now.
"Well, I have to maintain my beauty," she said, giggling. "After all, my husband is also becoming more and more handsome."
...
While the grandparents were dating, a certain family was also going around as a trio. This was none other than Orion, Hilda, and their son Honda.
Today, Honda guided them to visit the school!
It was a weekend, so there were not many people, which was the ideal time to finally show his parents where he had been spending so much of his time during the day.
The main reason was to reassure them, but he was more proud to display off than anything.
As nobles, they definitely had a far greater standard for personal growth than commoners, let alone having a father like Orion. They didn’t show it much, but Honda knew they were concerned about his growth and learning.
Anyway, he continued to lead a walkthrough of the school, and he described the places as they passed by them.
As humans usually did, people tended to adopt specific, possibly different, personalities depending on who was there with them.
Now that little Honda was with his parents, his personality regressed to how he was before—polite, subdued, and adult-like.
While his parents pondered his words, Honda proceeded on the tour, starting with the building they were already in.
"This is our main hall, and this is where the main administration functions and the teacher’s offices are," he said. "A lot of laboratories and specialty classes are also held here."
"For example, the adult classes focusing on sewing, cooking, and the like are held here at night!" he said. "Of course, they clean up after their own messes."
"In our classes, we are taught some of the basics. I know how to fix my own clothes if it’s ripped now."
Then he realized how unorthodox it was for a ’man’ to do so, and he found himself fumbling a bit.
"...even boys learn it, so..."
"The teachers said it’s so we don’t have ruined clothes during battles!"
Orion and Hilda’s eyebrows rose as they looked at the boy’s minor outburst. Orion’s face couldn’t help but soften a bit while Hilda kneeled down to embrace the child.
"No need to defend it so much, son," she said. "We will always trust your judgement."
"If you say this place is good, then it must be a marvelous place."
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