“I am going to enroll you in school today, are you excited?” An old man told him with a mischievous grin.He felt himself nod his head then a wide grin crept out on his face. When did he ever smile that way? Who was that old man that could make him smile that way?“It seemed that you really are excited today, Kane. Do you want to make new friends?” the old man asked.He shook his head and with a faint smile, he looked at the old man. “Do I need to make new friends, Grandpa?”Grandpa? Did he just call the old man his grandpa?He looked at the man carefully and he noticed how much he resembled him. Not his current face which was morphed, but the old Kane’s face. It would not be an exaggeration even if they tell him that he was the spitting image of his grandfather.“Of course, you should!” The old man chuckled. “Kane, no matter how strong and smart you are, you will still need people by your side. If you want to be the north’s zonekeeper one day, you’ll have to train as early as possibl
Kane noticed that the attention had been shifted to him as soon as he entered the administration building. He went to the information desk to ask where his scheduled interview and the lady in charge of the desk told him the directions. He immediately left the building; not minding the people whose eyes were sneaking glances at him. “Aren’t you such an eye-catcher? Look at those ladies gawking at you,” Arisa chuckled as soon as she started walking beside Kane. Kane looked at her before he started walking fast past her. The moment he saw her face, he remembered what happened inside the dungeon yesterday. He was surprised by what he did, but he was bewildered when he realized why he did what he did. He was expecting that his plan would not work, but he still did. That was so not him. The moment he realized that Arisa was in danger, his body just moved as if by reflex. Why was he so keen on protecting her? She was supposed to be just an acquaintance. She should be nothing more than that
Clandestine Empire. An empire consisted of different regions where mages and non-mages co-exist. The north was protected by people with earth affinity magic, south with wind, east with water, west with fire, southwest with lightning, southeast with ice and the northwest with plants while the northeast had magic affiliated with animals.Aside from the different territories under different lieges, the outskirts were composed of free cities. One of those cities would be found in the southern outskirts. The South City was also known as the Lawless City.During the day, this city was just like any other city. There are different shops such as tea shops, armor shops, weapon shops and bakeries. There were people roaming around without fear despite the city's name."I told you to bring me that dagger, didn't I?" A seventeen-year-old young man said with a grim expression.Kneeling in front of him was an eleven-year-old boy with ragged clothes and face full of dirt."F-forgive me, Leon. The sho
The sound of the crackling fire had woken the five-year-old kid. The smoke was already thick and his surroundings were bright red-orange. The boy covered his mouth as he coughed. The smoke made it hard for him to breathe.He heard his mother called for him so he dragged his tiny body out of the bed. The room was so hot and the smoke burned his eyes, yet he still continued to move outside his room and go to his worried mother.He followed the direction of the voice and found his mother's room. Despite the burning pain, he turned the knob.He saw his mother lying on the floor, some of her skin was burned but what brought terror to him was the dagger pierced in his mother's body."Mother!""Dio!"Dio immediately opened his eyes and saw his grandfather's worried expression."Gramps, mother is. . ." Dio hugged his grandfather.Archie caressed his grandson's back as the boy cried while calling for his mother. It was one of Dio's frequent nightmares which usually kept the both of them awake
"Gramps!" Dio excitedly called out to his grandfather when he arrived home because he brought good news with him.However, he was welcomed by the groaning of a kid inside the room where they brought wounded people.He peeked on the slightly opened door and saw that the kid he helped earlier was writhing in pain. He immediately opened the door wide and stood next to his grandfather."What happened?""Good thing you're here, Dio. Can you help him? The poison spread too fast because it was put in his open wounds.""How about the antid—" he couldn't continue what he was about to say when he saw the grim expression on Archie's face. "You couldn't."He sat beside the kid and covered his hands with his eyes. He could feel the surge of power coming from his core towards his hands as he focused the mana in his fingers. He calmed the kid first. He made his sensory nerves numb for a moment so that he wouldn't feel pain temporarily. Removing a poison from the body would hurt a lot so he had to do
It was a fine morning. Archie saw his one and a half meter tall grandson picking up herbs from their backyard. The boy's mint colored hair fluttered with the wind as he hummed."Dio."The boy's face turned toward him which revealed his gray hazel eyes. "Yes, Gramps?""Let's eat." He smiled as he watched his grandson nod his head cheerfully."Oh!" Dio said as he turned to face Archie. "Mr. Marcus Stannard said that he would prepare a contract for us to supply tea leaves for him."Archie nodded his head in response to Dio's information. "That will be great. Will you do the deliveries?"Dio smiled and gave him a thumbs up.Archie went to the dining area while listening to Dio's blabbering. He was somewhat relieved that Dio still had this side of him despite being exposed to the juvenile atmosphere of south city."Gramps?" Dio hesitated as he sat across Archie."What is it?" He saw Dio's pupils shook as he looked away which made him sigh. "Just say it, young man."Dio breathed deeply befo
"Please, Mr. Archie!" Matt prostrated in front of Dio's grandfather.The old man pursed his lips as he stared at the young man bowing his head in front of him. "Why does it have to be Dio?""Dio knows a lot about herbal plants. Aside from the fact that he is the second best when it comes to medicine, he is the only one I could ask to come with me," Matt answered truthfully.Archie turned to look at his grandson who was looking down. It felt like too much of a coincidence that Dio suddenly asked about his opinion on him being an adventurer last week and an adventurer suddenly visited to ask if he could take Dio with him on a mission."Dio. . .""I didn't do anything, Gramps."Archie sighed when he sensed the truth when he looked at Dio's eyes. However, Dio didn't even try to hide his expectant and happy gaze towards Matt."Can you promise to protect Dio?""Even at the cost of my life, Mr. Archie.""Matt!" Dio blurted out of shock. "You don't have to go that far.""It's just proper to a
While Dio was on an adventure with Matt, Archie was preparing something. He was putting the gold bars he collected for more than eight years to a spatial bag. Then he moved to the medicine cabinet and moved the highest quality magic and health potions as well. After putting a couple more items necessary for survival he then entered his room and opened a hidden door under his bed. He opened a chest full of magic crystals and lastly, he took a twin dagger hidden in the chest and moved them all to the bag. He opened his space ring and put the bag in there with a sigh.“This should be enough,” he mumbled as he put the ring on his pinky finger.He went back to the store when he heard a sudden knock.“I hope you’re ready.”“I’ve been waiting for you.” Archie let out a dark smile.“Dio!” Matt called out to the kid who was suddenly attack by a canis. They were just a few meters away from the heart of the forest when a pack of canis attacked them.Matt kicked a small canis who stood on his way