[0826] A Chance Encounter in the Wilds

As she traveled through Freljord's mountains with her personal guard, Lux was in a rather good mood.

As a more or less native-born Demacian, Lux had been taught to hunt from childhood. Under Demacian noble etiquette, hunting was a very important tradition. The nobility often commemorated their ancestors through hunting ceremonies.

After all, in the age of their forebears, the Demacians had driven the many beasts that roamed what was now Demacia from the land through one group hunt after another, laying the foundations of the Demacian nation.

Because of this history, hunting had always held an important place in Demacian culture. Its purpose wasn't to acquire game, however, but to honor their ancestors and remember their struggles through the act of hunting.

Of all the many ceremonies, hunting was one of the few Lux had found interesting. That interest had lasted only until she actually took part in a hunt. Only after participating in one herself had she truly understood why it was called a ceremony.

Most of the game for these ceremonies had been selected in advance.

Most of the shooting during a hunting ceremony was just for show.

Only a few newly ennobled nobles of insufficient standing chose to hunt in an attempt to demonstrate their bravery and catch the attention of the old aristocracy. Aside from them, most participants seemed to be attending a hunter-themed masquerade. After ceremonially drawing their bows and loosing a few arrows, they would gather around the campfire to eat and drink.

In essence, it was no different from the noble balls Lux hated most.

After that, she lost all interest in Demacian ceremonies.

Karya's endless lectures hadn't been enough to make Lux realize that noble etiquette was all about pretending and playacting. Only firsthand experience had shown her that its true