Six hours later, they had finally arrived at the town. It was already sunset and the rain had just passed by the time the walls of the town were finally visible. Aster couldn't fathom how such an imposing structure could be built by human hands. The dull grey walls were massive. Dwarfing almost everything around it. Even the fairly large carriage the family was riding in which was already twice as tall as Aster felt small and tiny compared to those walls.
At the gate stood a guard clad in leather armour and holding a metal spear. After a brief discussion with the guard the family was finally allowed into the town.
Somehow the quaint town was even more astonishing on the inside. Looking out the carriage window Aster was able to take in the full beauty of the town. They were currently on a straight brick road which opened up at the town square. The town was illuminated by soft orange lanterns hanging off of each building. Their light defying the darkness that dared to surround them. The scent of saffron gliding through the air. Despite the fact that the sun was already down. The streets of this lantern town were still busy and the town felt alive. All buildings were either 2 or 3 stories' tall usually made of brick or wood but standing out from all the rest was an 8-story pure white marble tower. It's walls carrying the wheight of history. This was the towns branch of the Aestyr tower. Home to the keepers of memory. It is said that Thier towers contained all the knowledge in the world
They had already arrived at the front of inn they were to spend the night. As they all came off their cart and the innkeeper towed it away, Aster could sense that his sister was a bit scared to enter the inn. He could tell exactly why that was the case. They had spent their whole lives on the farm, had little to no human interaction aside from themselves and their parents. Heck even he was scared, he had literally never had a conversation with anyone his age in his entire 12 years of living. Realizing that his sister needed help he held her hand and walked straight into their room for night.
It was morning, the birds were chirping. The winds were soothing and with them came the smell of fresh tea. And despite it being so early the streets of the small lantern town were packed. Aster and his father were headed for the Aestyr tower.
Aster wasn't sure why his dad said they should head for the tower this morning. But since he was planning to visit the prestigious landmark, he had no qualms with the arrangement. As they walk, Arthur slows down, asking his son a question he was curious to know the answer his boy would give: "say son, what do you think makes a true man?".
Aster blinked, confused at the sudden question he replies: "p…pr…principle?"
Arthur simply smiled then asked again:
"principle. Hmmm. And what does principle mean to you?"
Aster fiddled with his small brass ring his mother had given him years ago: "I…I think… all great men are principled. Their will… I think… stops them from doing wrong."
Arthur ruffled the boy's hair: "Principle, eh? That's a good start. But it's not the whole of it. You see, 3 things make up a true man. principle, duty and honor. Remember that, find your own meaning to them and stick to it."
Aster, at a loss for words decided not to think about his father's weird questions. His parents were weird and he had accepted that as fact.