"If that's the case, have you ever visited an orphanage to have them taken care of by people from the foundation?""No, I would never step into an orphanage like that. Let alone entrust the children to a place like that. One of my foster children was once placed there by their parents. In the orphanage, they experienced many terrible things. The caretakers abused disobedient children with whips, punished them with confinement, deprived them of food, and other horrifying things. So, my foster child ran away because they couldn't endure the violence they faced, especially since they were under five years old.”Zorka fell silent now. But suddenly, he remembered Uncle Burt. He who lived alone, always missing his late wife. Zorka felt that Uncle Burt was actually very lonely. Especially when he asked Zorka to become his adopted child."I think I have an idea," he said, "but I have to ask first if he's willing to accept you all?”"Why ask first?" Inigo asked."I'm afraid he might reject you
As he returned to the city, Zorka suddenly felt a wave of energy he recognized."Azurks, are you back?" asked Zorka.A blue swirl perched on Zorka's shoulder. A cat-sized dragon nestled playfully on his shoulder.Azurks yawned widely. He squinted at Zorka."Why? Missed me?"Zorka immediately grabbed Azurks' body and slammed it. However, the dragon just floated casually while chuckling happily."Stop your talk, Azurks, that's Disgusting!”"Hey, kid. Looks like there's progress in your coin-hunting efforts?""What progress? If it weren't for Uncle Burt's help, I might have been in jail by now!" Zorka felt annoyed by Azurks' remark."How so? Didn't your herbal plants work?"Hearing that, Zorka recounted everything that had happened while Azurks was away. From his initial encounter with Uncle Burt, then meeting Inigo and his wards, to the issue of the flesh-eating bird monsters that often came at night to prey on Sylvanvale town.What surprised Azurks even more was Inigo's heterochromia e
The situation in the building was really not conducive. Zorka hugged the children who were crying hysterically."Azurks, please teleport me to Uncle Burt's place! You can find out where it is, right?" Azurks said."Of course, your energy trace can be a guide for me."Without waiting any longer, Azurks teleported Zorka and the five foster children of Inigo to Uncle Burt's backyard. Uncle Burt, who was gardening after Zorka left, was surprised.A dazzling blue light formed a rune. Then six figures appeared in the light. Slowly the light disappeared, and Uncle Burt fell when he realized that Zorka was among those who appeared in the blue light."Z-Zorka, how could you appear out of nowhere in that blue light?"Zorka approached Uncle Burt. Meanwhile, the five small children, their eyes swollen, all hid behind Zorka."Those kids...""These are the children I told you about, Uncle. They are Inigo's foster children," Zorka explained."My goodness, they really are still so young, they are sti
The man who had been torturing Inigo crawled, attempting to escape when Zorka's magic disappeared. However, his actions did not escape Zorka's sight.Zorka used ice magic to freeze the man's hands and feet, rendering him unable to move in a crawling position. When the man realized he had been ensnared by Zorka's magic, he cried out, begging to be released."Let me go! I beg you, I don't know what I did wrong to deserve this torture..."Zorka stared coldly at the man. It was pathetic how adults could resort to violence against children but couldn't stand up when faced with someone stronger."Shameful! You dragged Inigo into your mess, yet you blame him instead of protecting him as an adult," Zorka said.Approaching Inigo's prone body on the floor, Zorka checked his pulse and examined the wounds caused by the lashings.Inigo's clothes were torn, and the lash marks crisscrossed, drawing blood. Zorka clenched his teeth to contain his anger."You tortured this child simply because you were
Before answering Zorka's question, Inigo, lying on the soft bed, stared at the ceiling of the room. The comforting feeling of lying on the clean and comfortable mattress made him feel sad."I'm tired," Inigo began to speak."I'm tired of living on the streets. Especially having to raise those kids alone. I'm overwhelmed, Zorka. Especially when there's danger like yesterday, I couldn't protect them at all.And with your earlier statement, I'm even more stressed. I want them to live a normal life under the care of adults. They deserve to live well."Zorka listened. He didn't want to interrupt Inigo's words before the child finished his story."I also feel the burden growing heavier when we don't have money to buy food. What's worse is they need new clothes. So far, they've been wearing the same clothes without changing. They rarely even get to bathe.”Inigo paused for a moment to take a breath. The weight on his heart lingered."I used to live alone without thinking about the burdens I
Zorka glanced at Inigo's foster children. Initially, he offered them to be cared for by Uncle Burt. However, he needed to discuss his intentions with Inigo again to get permission. Besides, Uncle Burt seemed willing to take care of the five children without any objection."I've mentioned it, Uncle. That's why I need to get Inigo's approval first," said Zorka.Uncle Burt nodded in agreement. He even agreed if Inigo also wanted to live with him as his adopted son. He had no objections at all; in fact, Uncle Burt would be happy to have a companion in his home. Uncle Burt had been very lonely since his wife passed away."If Inigo agrees, he can also stay with me here. I don't mind. Let's be a family here. Since my wife passed away, I've been really lonely."Zorka looked at Inigo's foster children one by one. They were eating quietly, listening to his conversation with Uncle Burt."What about you kids? Would you like to become Uncle Burt's adopted children if Inigo agrees? Besides, Uncle B
The surge of energy from the face-changing rune was powerful. Even Inigo's eye covered by the bandage felt the waves of its strength. The rune glowed, enveloping Inigo's entire body."Watch closely how the face-changing magic rune works!" Azurks commanded Zorka.Zorka stood behind Azurks, observing how Azurks' magic worked.The burst of magical light shot up into the sky, gathering in the middle directly above Inigo standing on the face-changing magic rune.Then, the magical light descended like rain, falling onto Inigo's body. The light spread, covering his entire body. In a short time, the light seemed to seep into Inigo's body.Inigo's face changed. The shape of his jaw, nose bone, eyebrows, lips, and even his eyes changed.The bandage covering one of his eyes opened. Inigo reflexively closed his eyes. His reddish hair changed color to golden.Inigo still kept both of his eyes closed as the magical light disappeared entirely. Zorka immediately approached Inigo, as did Azurks."Open
For Zorka, Néos's problem was already resolved. The child just needed to obey what Uncle Burt said. Now, Zorka only needed to think about his financial issues. He had to gather money as quickly as possible and buy the clothes he needed.While Zorka was sitting comfortably on the living room sofa of Uncle Burt's house, suddenly there was a rumbling noise outside. Zorka, Néos, and Uncle Burt were startled.They heard the cries of the children who woke up in the room. Néos was about to rush into the room, but Uncle Burt beat him to it. Uncle Burt hugged the five children while comforting them."Shh. Calm down, children. Uncle is here, don't be afraid. You are safe in this house. Those monsters can't enter the house."Azurks, hearing the flapping of wings from the scavenger bird monsters, grumbled in annoyance."Inferior creatures. Gathering and making noise. Just destroy them, Zorka! Besides, their energy crystals could fetch a good price!"Hearing that, Zorka had an idea. Zorka got up f