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
Dio threw the shovel to the side after he finished burying his grandfather’s remains. He sat on the ground with his legs crossed as he stared at his grandfather’s tomb. He played with the ring on his finger, the last thing that his grandfather gave him, as he sighed repeatedly.“Heir apparent.” He sighed after reading the letters carved into the ring. If it was the reason why his grandfather wanted him to live on, then it would be useless. He threw everything away that day and nothing was left for him to live for.He poured mana onto the ring and a magic circle appeared in front of him. He already expected that it would be a space ring, yet his lips curved upwards when he realized that he was right. He peeked at the contents of the dimension storage and he shook his head in disbelief. In the end, his grandfather prepared everything for him to live a good life. It was obvious with the stack of gold and jewelries that he found inside as well as the amount of high-quality potions that he
Dio decided to spend his last day in Arnea City in a very productive way-- to stay inside his room and sleep for a day. He was set to do it though Blur had been whining to go around the city before they leave.He had no choice but to go with Blur or else, he would keep chanting on his head. His hands were inside his pocket while blur was on to of his head as they strode along the market streets.‘Are you having fun?’ He asked his bond through telepathy.‘I think it would be more fun if I could eat some meat.’Dio could imagine his bond grinning from ear to ear when he entered a tavern. “Please give me 4 sets of meat dishes. Just pick the best selling ones.”‘Dio, are you rich?’ Blur’s voice sounded excited as he looked around.‘Maybe? My grandfather left me a lot of money.’He rested his head on the table and closed his eyes. He just wanted a peaceful sleep but he was being push around by a pet. Since when did he become a pushover?‘I’m not your pet.’“Yeah. Whatever,” he mumbled agai
“Dio. . .”The voice that he knew so much called out to him. He smiled as he held his mother’s hand and gently tugged her dress. “Mother, I saw a very beautiful flower over there!”His mother let out a soft laugh before following his lead. They stopped at the corner of the garden then the he pointed at the budding flower.“Look at how small it is, mother!” He was delighted to show it to her and he was happier when her mother tousled his hair.“It’s a beautiful budding flower, just like Dio.” His mother gave him a gentle smile.His brows furrowed in curiosity. “Like me?”His mother nodded. “Just like Dio, this flower will grow to be amazing.”“Will I be someone amazing when I grow up, Mother?”“Of course. Dio was born to be someone strong and amazing, after all.” His mother gently touched his cheek. “Will you promise me that you’ll be someone whom the weak can depend on?”He smiled cheerfully. “Of course, Mother. I’ll grow strong to be someone who will take the side of the weak and not
“Uhmm.” The lady fidgeted before she took the courage to hold the hem of Dio’s shirt. “Can I at least know your name? I am Cassandra, the youngest daughter of Duke Riva.”The sun was already up and they were nearing the entrance where the gates were located. Cassandra wanted to know the name of her savior before they depart. She wanted to make sure that she would be able to repay him if ever they would meet again.“My name is Dio, my lady.” Dio looked towards the direction of the western gates where knights were coming back and forth. “Perhaps, did you run away from your knights?”Cassandra blushed as she looked down in embarrassment. “Will you keep it a secret?”Dio nodded. “I guess this is where we depart.” He turned towards the gate to Arnea and started walking but he stopped when Cassandra tugged on his shirt.“T-thank you for saving and protecting me.”Dio looked back and stared at her for a while. “You are quite timid for a noble.”“Do you need a reward? I could arrange for it.”
After the topic of his light-colored hair, an awkward silence ensued between the two of them as they walked towards the entrance not knowing that a disaster was waiting to fall upon them. Unfortunately, even though the lady basilisk let them go; another one was waiting right around corner. Without making a noise, the smaller basilisk which happened to be the younger brother of the lady basilisk that guarded the mountain bit Dio on his shoulder.“Argh!” Dio groaned in pain when he failed to dodge the surprise attack. He immediately pulled her to the other side to evade the serpent-like beast.Dio held his bleeding shoulder and the lady’s hand trembled in fear as she panicked not knowing what to do. Dio gritted his teeth, the pain coming from the clash between the basilisk’s venom and his healing abilities made him feel wobbly.“W-what should I do?” The lady exclaimed as she tried to wipe Dio’s blood as they ran.“Calm down,” Dio said in a hushed voice as he pulled her to hide behind a
After jumping off the tree, Dio followed the direction of the voice until she saw a lady who seemed to be the same age as him. She was slowly dragging herself backwards as the basilisk in front of her slowly moved forward.“Help me… Help me… Help me…” The girl continued to mumble.Dio stared at the girl who was no more less than a noble. Her ripped dress looked like something that was used to be on display at the capital’s boutiques, her fair white skin which was touched with shallow cuts probably caused by the branches when she ran, and her red hair with a gray hue signified that she was indeed a noble lady.He shook his head when she saw how the lady’s body trembled in fear but still managed to contain it in front of an S-class beast before he stepped out to show himself.“Excuse me,” he said to catch the attention of the lady as well as the basilisk.The lady probably noticed him since his voice was loud enough to resonate in the area. Her eyes grew wide as she lifted her hands to
It took Dio a few more days to collect himself. Knowing fully well that he wouldn’t die easily unless he commit suicide, he decided to just continue what he had been doing-- walking without moving forward. Besides, it wasn’t that bad to comply with his grandfather’s last request: live on.Dio found himself staring at his grandfather’s grave once again. This time, he was neat-looking and well prepped. Unlike the past days when his body hasn’t been washed and covered with sweat, dirt and tears.“Should I go on an adventure?” He stood up and put his hands on his pocket. It was more of a question for himself than to Archie. Dio lost motivation to continue living but he remembered his grandfather’s words.“I need to get moving, Gramps. Please rest in peace.” He bowed in a ninety-degree posture before leaving. As he turned his back on his grave, he felt a pang in his chest. Just the mere thought of leaving the place where he spent his days with his grandfather tore his heart into pieces.He
Dio opened his eyes and he saw the dark sky above him. He looked around and realized that he was still at the alley where the boys left him. He touched his side and felt disappointed when he felt the dried blood but the stab wound was completely healed.His restoration ability was something that he inherited from his mother. It would be hard to kill him unless his heart or brain was crushed or he suffered from too much blood loss that his restoration wouldn’t be able to keep up. Though they can heal and regenerate, they could still feel the pain.“What a lousy bunch. They couldn’t even do a good job of killing me,” he mumbled as he stood up. His stomach grumbled when he smelled the aroma of grilled meat just right outside the alley. He sighed before moving his feet and walked towards the store.“2 chicken skewers, please.” He took out 4 copper coins from his space ring and gave it to the vendor. The vendor gave him his order and he went on his way. Once again, he let his feet walk aim
Dio threw the shovel to the side after he finished burying his grandfather’s remains. He sat on the ground with his legs crossed as he stared at his grandfather’s tomb. He played with the ring on his finger, the last thing that his grandfather gave him, as he sighed repeatedly.“Heir apparent.” He sighed after reading the letters carved into the ring. If it was the reason why his grandfather wanted him to live on, then it would be useless. He threw everything away that day and nothing was left for him to live for.He poured mana onto the ring and a magic circle appeared in front of him. He already expected that it would be a space ring, yet his lips curved upwards when he realized that he was right. He peeked at the contents of the dimension storage and he shook his head in disbelief. In the end, his grandfather prepared everything for him to live a good life. It was obvious with the stack of gold and jewelries that he found inside as well as the amount of high-quality potions that he
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