"Master, are you sure about this?" A young girl asked the man beside her.
The man was none other than the person who was against the baby being cast away into the lake.He looked ahead into the far sky surrounding the mountain and it was utterly dark."Yes. I want to save the child that is if I am not late already," the man replied and then turned his gaze to the staff in his hand."The chief will kill us if he finds out what we are about to do," the girl replied with a scared gaze."Not until he finds out. Let's get going," the man said and the two of them began to head toward the mountain. When they got to the barrier, the man did what the chief did with his staff and then stabbed it into the ground.The same rumbling sound was heard and the barrier surrounding the mountain disappeared."Stay here and wait for me. I'll be back once I save him," the man told the girl and then went into the mountain."Good luck, master," the girl mumbled and joined her hands in a praying style. She closed her eyes and mumbled some words before reopening them again. "Not only did you create a replica of the chief's staff but also want to save a child who has already been banned from the town. Hopefully, you will be safe because I don't want to die yet," she mumbled again.Inside the mountain, the sky suddenly returned to normal as the man was approaching the lake. Everything went back to how it used to be, except for the basket."The basket?" The man mumbled and rushed to the basket which was already on the lakeside. He was shocked to see the basket back, he opened it and the baby was unharmed. He looked around before carrying the basket and leaving the mountain.Outside the mountain, the girl saw her master coming and she felt happy. "Master, you are saved him? But how's that possible?" She asked him."I'm equally surprised. Perhaps, it's not his time to die," the man said and then handed the basket over to the girl who carried it and examined the baby."Master, this baby is too cute. The chief is sure heartless," she said as she stared at the baby with a smile on her face."What do you know, little girl," the man replied and pulled the staff out of the ground. He did what he did earlier and the barrier returned. "Let's leave quickly I can hear some noises around," he said and they began to rush out of the place.As they were leaving, the man did not fail to hear some noises around, he knew what it meant and so he stopped."Take the baby, and follow this way. Go deeper into the forest, you'll see a house there. It has always been my secret place, take the child and go over to that place. No matter the reason, never leave this child or hand him over to anyone. I may or may not return but take care of that baby for me, it's the task I'm leaving for you, my little apprentice.""Master, what are you saying?" The girl asked with a scared look on her face."Don't ask me any questions and just leave immediately! Remember the task I have given you, the child's life is more important than mine. Now, go!""Master, please..." Tears began to gather in the girl's eyes, she now understood what her master was saying.Seeing that she was not willing to leave, the man stabbed his staff into the ground, creating a large shadow palm. The palm carried the girl and the basket and then started to head in the direction he pointed for her.When they were far off, the girl saw the chief's men as they grabbed her master and carried him away. She tried to shout or move but a spell was placed around the shadow palm and there was nothing she could do, not even a sound from her cry could be heard.Once they got to the house the man talked about, the palm disappeared."Master," the girl cried as tears fell from her eyes down to her cheeks. A drop of her tears unknowingly fell on the baby's face causing him to wake up from his sleep.The baby watched as the girl carrying him was crying and then began to cry even louder than her.She heard his cries and abruptly stopped crying to pet him."Baby, stop crying okay? Everything is going to be fine, master will come back to us," she mumbled as she wiped his tears away with her small fingers. Though she was calming him down, there was no one to do the same for her. She was now the adult herself, there was no master to direct her because she knew that he wasn't coming back.As if understandings words, the baby stopped crying to her relief and this made her smile sweetly at him."What a cute baby," she said and pinched his cheek lightly. The baby stretched out his little arm toward her and touched her on the face, this action caused tears to gather in her eyes but she quickly wiped them away and smiled broadly at him. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to take care of you. I'll be your big sister and you'll be my baby bro, alright? Hmm... Now, let's go in and see what master kept for us."She carried the baby in her arms and went inside the house, it was not like her master's main house but it wasn't entirely bad. It has two rooms — Her master's room and an extra one. A kitchen, a bathroom, and then the sitting room. Behind the house was a small room, she went into the room and looked around, it was where her master does his work — His blacksmithing work.After she was done scouting the whole place, she returned to the main house and went straight to the kitchen to prepare something for the baby. Luckily, her master had some milk stored in the cupboard and so she prepared it for the baby.She went back to the sitting room where she had laid the baby on the couch, she carried him in her arms to feed him but he refused to eat and began to cry."Baby, you have to eat because if you don't, you won't be cute," she pleaded to the baby but he still wouldn't accept the food.For seconds she kept pleading with the baby, saying things she knew would work on babies yet, it was useless. Out of frustration, she started crying out."I promised master to look after you but you are giving me a hard time. What will I tell my master if something bad happens to you?" She wept.Seeing her tears, the baby stopped crying and started stretching his arms toward the cup of milk.*8 years later*Today is a sunny day and the weather seemed friendly. The town looked even livelier than before with many people on the street. Shops were open and many things were being traded."Miss, a gold coin is all I have. Please, can you reduce the price of these clothes?" A young girl with red hair and blue eyes asked a shop owner.The shop owner stared at this girl in disbelief. "You want me to reduce the price again? Little girl, aren't you been selfish?" She asked her."Miss, I'm not. Remember I told you that my parents died when I was very young leaving me to take care of my little brother and myself? The only job that keeps me going is the blacksmithing work I learned from my father, I am yet to be perfect in it and because of that, I don't earn much from it. The little I earn isn't enough to take care of us," the girl explained. As she spoke, tears began to gather in her eyes which the shop owner didn't fail to notice.She gazed at the girl for quite some time and afterwa
"Even though you don't have an ability, you will still have to go through the tests so that your power level will be accessed," The female instructor said to Ryan and then pressed the button she had initially pressed.The bright light engulfed the five of them, causing them to close their eyes and when they reopened them again, they were surprised to see themselves in a grass field."This is where your tests will be taking place," she announced and pointed at the barrier that was some miles away from where they were standing. "Your targets will come out from there, hit as many as you can without getting hit by any of them!"Just as she finished instructing them, black ball-like objects began to emerge from the barrier."You are first, so begin!" The instructor, of course, said to Ryan who nodded in reply and walked further to the center of the land.'So I'll just hit as many as I can.' Ryan thought as he waited for the targets to start coming at him.Soon, he got into the action by hit
"Hey, how about you move into my dorm? I'm sure you don't like staying at home," Taylor suddenly said to Ryan.As if he didn't hear what the boy said, Ryan turned around and gave him a 'what did you just say' look.Taylor understood the meaning behind those eyes and so he chuckled before replying. "Well, I'm certain that you aren't living fine wherever you are. Instead of having to wake up to meet the same ugly faces every moment, how about you pack your stuff and come live with me in the dorm? It's better than staying in a cold house, am I not right?"Yes, he was right but how is he so much aware of the situation in his home? This question was something that troubled Ryan."How are you certain that I'm not living happily at home?" He asked with brows knitted in inquisitiveness."Do you suspect me or something?" Taylor asked back with a sly smile. "Of course, you are now on the top news in the whole school. Who doesn't know about your ordeals with your step-family, huh? It's everywhere
"Wish me luck, bro!" Taylor whispered to me before heading to the center of the field. There he stood, waiting for the test to begin.The five targets appeared before him and he got into a stance.Others may not be curious about him but I was. I was very much curious about what ability this playful yet strange boy had.Flamy particles began to gather around his palms and after some minutes, a large flame arrow was soon formed. He stretched out his hand and a bow appeared on it.The bow didn't look all that impressive but it was eye-catching. The body of the bow was made of some beast skin and it looked extremely powerful, at least, one would know from the aura it was emitting.He placed the large arrow in between his bow and aimed it at his targets. In the next second, the arrow was seen flying at an extremely high speed toward those targets. The arrow hit the first one and as expected of it, it was supposed to hit the other targets but it didn't hit them. But suddenly, the remaining
As if I didn't hear what the pale-looking boy said, I turned around and gave him a 'what did you just say' look.Taylor understood the meaning behind those eyes and so he chuckled before replying. "Well, I'm certain that you aren't living well wherever you are. Instead of having to wake up to meet the same ugly faces every moment, how about you pack your stuff and come live with me in the dorm? It's better than staying in a cold house, am I not right?"Yes, he was right but how is he so much aware of the situation in his home? This question was something that troubled me."How are you certain that I'm not living happily at home?" I asked with brows knitted in inquisitiveness."Do you suspect me or something?" Taylor asked back with a sly smile. "Of course, you are now a little star in the whole school. Who doesn't know about your ordeals with your step-family, huh? It's everywhere and I happen to hear them the moment I came to this school.""Hmm..." I sighed quietly. I was still not
"Is my face damaged?" I asked Taylor after Alex and his lackeys had left."Not that much but you'll need to get it treated," Taylor replied while checking my face.The old Ryan was more good-looking than me, at least, he had long white hair that fell behind his face, a pointed nose, and a chiseled jaw. He had the features of a sixteen years old boy, unlike me who looked like a fourteen years old kid suffering from a disease.This God-given face will I tend with care and not let it get damaged by anyone, not even during fights."Then what are we waiting for?" I asked as I stood up. "Let's go to the school clinic and get my face treated immediately."Rina wanted to follow us but I disagreed."It's best if you go your own way now, we have nothing in common, please." After saying this to her, I left with Taylor."Do you think it's the best choice?" Taylor asked me after we might have left the canteen.At this point, I didn't care to know if it was the best choice or not. If she continued
After the surprise test, the school closed for the day.Heaven knew how exhausted I was by that time, the test was something I did not expect to be brain-cracking. I had written what I think is right and now, I'm relying on my luck to pass it.I met up with Taylor and we briefly talked about the moving-in of a thing. Tomorrow is going to be a weekend and so I'll have to move in tomorrow. After talking with him, I left him and headed home.Upon arrival, I saw the mother and son duo waiting for me in the sitting room. The moment the lady saw me, she stood up and blocked my way."What are you still doing here? I thought Alex told you to leave this house for good?" She asked while eyeing me like I was some pest... Or maybe I am actually."He did, but am I supposed to leave empty-handed?" I asked her and rolled my eyes at her.Just as I expected, she got more infuriated, "You son of a bitch!" She yelled and rushed to slap me.Calling Ryan's mother a bitch was like calling mine a bitch. How
"Argh!" I groaned as I opened my eyes. Looking around, I was in my room and on the floor. "Huh? How did I end up sleeping on the floor?" I asked myself in surprise. Surprisingly, I could not remember anything from last night. How and why I ended up sleeping on the floor."It's 6 am already," I mumbled and decided to get up.I took off my clothes and went to take my bath. I could not wait to leave the house once and for all.After dressing and all that, I carried my bags and left my room. They were still sleeping and so by the time they'll be awake, they won't see me in the house. With a sigh of relief, I opened the door and walked out of it.Getting outside, I was surprised to see Taylor waiting for me by the side of the gate. The moment he saw me, he smiled and rushed over."I thought you would not come out again," he said with a smile."Why wouldn't I?" I asked back and he replied with a shrug. "Let's just go," I said to him and began to walk.He helped me with one of my bags and