Chapter 3:

Krish Hale's POV

I live in a desolate village in the Empire of Haril. This village is near the Forbidden Zone, which used to be the Sacred Land of our Empire. Ever since the land became deprived from natural energy of the earth and heavens, many of the cultivators guarding the village and Sacred Land have left. Now the village is guarded by only Qi Refining guards as there are no threats from the Forbidden Zone.

Being a lumberjack, I walked to the outskirts of the forest surrounding the Forbidden Zone, when I found an unconscious 14 year old boy wearing brown leather armour, lying outside of the forest. I brought the boy back my home where I let my wife take care of him as I went back to do my job.

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Unknown Creature's POV

I walked towards the end of the forest while avoiding the allies of the guard from before. I don't want to kill them and become enemies with the Empire. While I was walking I practiced summoning the dagger and sword, and that's when I started getting more tired. Halfway through the forest, I noticed my armour would attract attention, so I changed the armour into the leather armour that the guard wore inside the iron armour. I then changed the colour from red to brown. Arriving at the exit of the forest, I finished changing my armour when I felt extremely tired and hungry. It seems using my abilities causes me to get tired and hungry more easily. Right when I exited the forest, I fell down and felt my consciousness flood away from me.

.....

I wake up on something comfortable when the word Bed popped up. I think this word came from the memories of the guard. After going through my memories before I fainted, I jolted out the bed. I look around the room and notice the room has a closet, a wooden drawer and this bed which has a cotton mattress on top of it.

While I was observing the new wonders around me, the door of the room slowly creaked open. I summoned my dagger out as I saw a woman with a bowl walk in. The woman looked like she was in her thirties, she had silky long black hair, and dark brown eyes. She has a fairly good figure, and exuded a gentle aura. Feeling no threat, I lower my dagger but still keep it out.

Thw woman hesitated a little whenn she saw my dagger, but she kept coming towards me. Putting the bowl down, the woman walked towards me and asked " How are you feeling."

Feeling happy about the fact that I can understand the language and speak it, I ask " Where am I?"

The woman replied back " My husband found you unconscious outside of the forest. He brought you home so that we can nurse you back to help."

"Here's some chicken soup," she says as she hands me the bowl from before. I sniff at it to make sure it doesn't have the Poison which is mentioned in the guards memories. I didn't know if it was poisoned, but I quickly devoured the food, which eased the hunger and pain in my stomach.

The woman only says "Slow down, the food isn't going anywhere." before asking me a question.

"What is a 14 year-old boy doing in that forest?"

Not knowing how to answer, I pondered on that question before saying " I lived there my whole life."

She gasped in surprise before asking me "Where are your parents, why are they making you live there?"

I just say " I don't have parents, I only came out of the forest because guards from the empire entered them."

She then questions "Do have somewhere to live?"

I raise a brow at that question but answering nonetheless, "I don't."

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The woman tears up a little before wiping them away and tried saying something before getting interrupted by a sound.

"Wait here."

She tells me that as she leaves the room. I hear the door open and a conversation. I can't really hear it, and just as I try to get up to see what's going on, the woman renters with a man. The man was robust and had blonde hair and obsidian black eyes. He entered the room with an axe slung on his shoulder, and some wood shavings on his body.

The man walks in front of me and introduces himself, "My name is Krish Hale, and this is my wife Courtney Hale.  Would you like to stay with my family and live in this house?'

I felt a little surprise from his offer, but after thinking a little, I reply "Yes, if that doesn't impose on you or your wife."

Some of memories from the guard contained lessons on how to be etiquette.

The man then says "Good, now can you please tell us your name?"

As nonchalantly as ever, I reply "I don't have a name."

The man's face twitches a little, and he says " Is it okay if we name you?"

I say "Go ahead."

The man and woman talk for a while before turning to me and saying, "Your name from now on shall be Aiden Hale."

Thinking about my name for a while, I tell them "I like the name."

The man tells me " Come lets have dinner, and also both of us will be your parents from now on, so call us dad and mom."

I don't know why, but the man and woman seemed abnormally happy for taking in a stranger like me. In fact, why would they take me in? Do they have a different motive in taking me in? I ponder about this as I ate dinner with the Hale's.

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Emperor of the Haril Empire's POV

The guards I sent to the Forbidden Zone returned. I was excited as I though the Sacred Blood Pool from my ancestors' books has returned, but the guards told me something which both brought me sadness and confusion.

The Sacred Blood Pool has completely disappeared leaving no trace, but luckily the absorption power which caused my Empire to slowly lose its natural energy has stopped. Although we don't have the pool, the energy density in my Empire will slowly return and recover. One bad thing is that we lost the natural defense the Forbidden Zone provided us, now we have to guard that area of land.

More troublesome news came in, as Cero Jenkins's has died. This will be problematic as he is the son of the current head of the Jenkins's family, Ray Jenkins, also one of my personal guards. I know Ray's personality, he will stop at nothing to find the culprit of his son's murder, and brutally murder the culprit.

Since I don't want one my loyalist followers leave cause of my inaction to help them, I sent the number one beauty of the Empire, and also the number 1 genius, the fourteen year-old Jasmine Lopez. The reason I sent her, is because she has dual-pupils and will be able to investigate both the disappearance of the pool and the death of Cero the best in the Empire.

I look out my window as I sigh for the upcoming trials my Empire will soon face.

To be continued.

Hey guys, I'm sorry I didn't update the past few days. I am busy as I have my part-time job as well as the fact I'm moving. I can't release as frequently, but I'll try at least once a week until I'm more free. I have 1 more week of work, so I'll be more free pretty soon. Remember to leave comments, reviews, advice and criticism.