Suddenly, Claud grabbed my arm and pulled me closer. His cold mana enveloped the surroundings.

A small black droplet from the sky smacked into a translucent surface around us. Each droplet made the dome of mana light up in varying hues of blue.

I was nervous that our feet would be contaminated by the pooling rainwater, but the dome covered even that. We were completely dry.

Such precise control to maintain a spherical shape. The further mana gets away from the body, the more difficult it becomes to control. Mine gets all wiggly and misshapen when I try to project it further than an arm's length.

If I had the same skill level as Claud, I could do the same. I could help evacuate people to safety.

Everybody except us ran for cover as the light rain built up into a heavy downpour. Priests and guards ushering folk into the church. Parents frantically pulling their children indoors.

"The church is going to be filled with people again."

"Mhm." An unfazed response.

-Claud's Empathy Trait: Active-

"This district has guards, priests and appropriate shelter. Paige's 'home' is going to be leaking water through the roof. They should be our priority for escorting to the church."

Along the way, he extended the barrier to help numerous people get to shelter. Although I've practiced every day, my Mana Mastery isn't anywhere as fluid as his.

The sight of people panicking, strongly contrasted with Claud's calm expression.

On the first day it rained miasma, he wasn't surprised either. Some people wandered under the rain until their bodies starting decaying.

I was scared but Claud made the first move to start bringing people to safety and healing them with holy power. Faced with the grim appearance of their wounds, all the while he carried that same calm expression.

Are you putting a brave front or are you actually fearless?

Reaching the outskirts of the shantytown, there are many people huddled up underneath shoddy rusted shops and stalls. Crouched on rotting wooden tables and stools to avoid the pooling water.

Claud parts the water, replacing it with mana for us to move safely.

Amidst the loud torrent, Anny could be heard crying.

We stepped inside the dwelling to find Anny and Paige clinging onto a table that was being swayed by the flood.

"Uwaaah! Sophie!" Anny cried out.

Some of their body is tainted.

"Goddess, aid them. Heal."

A soft light bubbled, and the blackened skin slowly returned to its usual color.

"I'm sorry for troubling you, Ms. Sophie, Sir Claud. I couldn't lift the doors up in time."

Paige had removed the doors off shelves in order to use them as cover.

"You did a fine job, Paige. It was really clever to use those as shelter."

Everyone squished inside the narrow barrier. Except one person.

"F-father!" Paige stuttered. "He hasn't come home!"

The rain isn't letting up in intensity. This isn't good.

"We have to find him!"

Claud should search, he's faster. But I can't create a large enough barrier to protect the children from the rain... I'll have to go instead.

"Claud bring the children to safety, I'll look for their father."

He nods.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

"I'll be right back, don't worry, Paige, Anny."

I know my words won't assuage their fears or change reality. But regardless, I am obligated to speak hopefully because I am the Hero.

----------------------------------------

'Daddy, my drawing doesn't look good.'

'Hmm, hmm, let me see. I'll give it a try...'

'Wow! Daddy's drawing is so pretty! The horsie looks real!'

That was the first time I saw daddy smile ever since mommy went to the white plane.

'Heheh~ This is daddy's skill! I can copy anything. Ahahaha!'

I couldn't help myself. Daddy always looked sad. I just had to make him happy.

I made lots of trouble so that he would use his skill.

'I can't make a new cup...'

'Why not?! It's my favorite!'

'Daddy needs the proper tools to make it. I'm so sorry, sweetie...'

My cup... Hmph.

I can try something else.

'I'm hungry. I want mommy's cooking. Please copy it, daddy.'

'... I... I'll try.'

It didn't taste anywhere close to what I remembered.

'It's gross...'

'Sorry...'

'It gwoss.' Anny chimed in as well.

He drew the horsie perfectly. Why doesn't the food taste the same?

Daddy can't copy everything after all.

'Why did mommy have to go?'

'She... I was... Mommy was stronger so, they chose her.'

'Why did they have to fight?'

'I don't know.'

'... I miss her.'

'... I do too.'

Around that time, the government built a new school that all the children, poor and rich, could go to.

'Make sure you wear your hat when you're outside. Otherwise, bad people will take you away.' Daddy looked upset sending me to school. He cried so hard that he started shaking while hugging me.

'It's okay, daddy! I promise to be safe~' I tried to cheer him up.

I left with joy for that first day. That didn't last very long.

'I'm sorry. I really am. My daughter usually behaves herself...'

I couldn't go back to school after that.

'Why... Why did you do that?! This was your only chance... Paige!'

'Sorry...'

'If you could have just studied and become smarter... You could have gotten a good class and skills... Why did you get into a fight...'

'... They made fun of daddy. I told them to stop but they-'

'...'

'I'm sorry!'

'No. No. I'm the one that should be sorry. Dad is the one at fault. If I had a better status, they wouldn't pick on you.'

His eyes wavered and flickered uneasily.

Perhaps at that crucial moment in time, I should have held back my anger.

The following day, Dad seemed to return to normal. He wasn't angry or sad anymore.

'Dad needs a little bit of money. Do you want to work at the factory with me?'

'Okay~ Sure!'

I regret it. If I were still in school, Dad wouldn't have become the way he is now.

'When no one is looking, can you take the tool that looks like this? Don't let anybody catch you, alright? It'll be like a game~'

I knew it wasn't a game. Dad was making me do bad things but...

'Okay, Dad...'

'Good girl, Paige.'

I couldn't say no. It was my fault.

He developed a problem. Becoming obsessed with levelling his skill. Desperate. He took trash to try and turn them into something usable.

'Paige, I need you to go to the business district and retrieve this-'

If I had controlled my temper, he wouldn't have resorted to this.

'Paige, can you please take over Anny's 'chores'? She's still young and-'

'Okay. I will.'

To not get caught by the guards, I chose the Thief class to become skillful and nimbler. I needed all the Dexterity I could get.

I'd seen my own stats once before at church. The trash that dad kept taking could somehow be salvaged, my stats could not be given the same respect.

Eventually, I got caught by the maneater. But my benefactors arrived in time to save me.

And the guards returned me home safely.

'Sweetie! Are you okay?! You aren't hurt!? I'm so sorry guards please don't hurt my daughter-'

'No, daddy. It's not what you're thinking about. I'm okay. I got caught by the killer and I was saved.'

'Oh... I'm so sorry... If only I didn't make you do such a dangerous thing.'

He became withdrawn. No longer obsessing over his work. He wouldn't meet my eyes and frequently left home at night.

I shouldn't have gotten caught. Dad stopped trying to level up his skill.

And amidst all that misfortune, the black rain fell.

It was fortunate father happened to be in a brothel at the time. Anny and I were safely in a tavern with Sophie and Claud.

'Come, come. Help me take the doors off these shelves. Hoist them over the roof. That way if it rains, we won't get wet. Smart, ayy? And tonight, we have coats for blankets!'

Father is mentally unwell. I can't rely on him to take care of us any longer.

With help from my benefactors, I sought a position in their party.

I could be an adventurer. Previously, it was impossible, but now I have great mentors watching over.

With that I earned my first legitimate income.

'Daddy just needs a little bit more money. Your friends helped you earn some. Can you spare Daddy a little bit?'

'O-okay...'

I was hesitant to surrender the money to him. He'd begun frequenting unsavory shops recently.

'Paige, Anny look! I bought a coat from that fancy shop! I'll make enough copies for us to wear and more for us to sell.'

But I was wrong. Dad's working hard. In his own way.

He hadn't given up yet.

'Paige, keep this a secret from Anny. But we finally have enough money for a small house. It's been dangerous recently so I thought we should live in a proper home from now on. I'm sorry, okay? For always burdening you, my eldest child. It's going to all change now.'

Dad kissed me on the forehead.

'I love you both very much.'