20 years later...
- What are you doing, Mom? Mike asked his mother, who was wearing a green cloak on her back. She was crouching in front of the vegetable garden, which was behind the house.
- I'm picking radishes and potatoes. I'll make some soup to celebrate your birthday. Liz said. She stood up with a basket full of vegetables in her hand.
- I can help you with the soup. Mike said, but was interrupted by Liz.
- None of that, boy. You have to train with Lord Hauk. Mike came closer to his mother and hugged her. Liz smelled a horrible sweat and moved away from Mike. - Oh, my God, you smell horrible, Mike. He burst out laughing and approached his mother.
- Come on, Mom, give your son a hug!
- Only after you take a shower. She grabbed a towel and threw it at Mike. Only then did she realize that he was dirty and sweaty.
- I defeated Lord Hauk once again, he doesn't have much to teach me, he said I'm strong enough. He said, taking the towel, then wetting his face with water from the well near the garden, and drying it with the towel.
- He's right, but you should keep training, it's for your own good.
- I know, sweet lady Liz. He says jokingly. But the said war happened more than twenty years ago. Liz approached and held her son's face, and looked at him with fear and tenderness.
- Still, there are dangerous people in the world, my son, people who may not accept that you are different from them. She kissed him on the forehead.
- Now go take a shower, your soup will be ready in a little while. Liz says, patting Mike on the shoulder, and he smile raises his hands in surrender. - Okay, okay, okay, I'm going.
During the night, they received visits from friends, Keny, Lei and Drumon. The four young men grew up together, like brothers, Keny, son of Ykan, one of Liz's former guards. Lei and Drumon were found when they were babies, in a basket in the river near Lord Hauk's house, where they were raised by him. - Happy birthday, bro. Drumon said, patting Mike on the head, and then greeted his mother. - Good evening, Mrs. Liz. The three boys said in unison.
- Good evening, boys, welcome, make yourself comfortable, I'll bring the roast meat as soon as it's ready.
- So, have you told her? Lei asked.
- Tell her what? Liz asked curiously.
- We were summoned for a level 8 mission. - By the king?
- Yes! Keny said excitedly.
- But that's great!
Liz congratulates them, but Lord Hauk appears by teleportation, in front of the fireplace. - Not so much Liz. He hands her a scroll, and continues - There is a reason why the mission is level 8.
When opening the scroll, Liz was shocked, and let the scroll fall to the floor. Everyone immediately stood up, curious.
- What happened? Mike asked, holding his mother so she wouldn't fall to the floor, then she answers. - Kingdom of...