"Are you sure that we'll need to circle a so-called Leonid Forest? I don't see any forest, but a vast wasteland!"

The boy complained to his old carriage driver, who was flipping the map non-stop like a deranged man.

"Young Master, I bought this map from Leonid City because most of the residents said that the forest outside is a natural maze! I don't think that they're speaking nonsense since the forest was known for its devilish mischief even by neighboring city!"

"Well? Where's that devilish forest now?"

"T-That's..."

The boy sighed in resignation. He was travelling with this man for a while now so he knew that the man was being careful around him because of his bearing.

They continued to travel the boundless wasteland which was supposedly Leonid Forest when they saw a group of men with large bodies, as if looking for something. They number around twenty and each of them were emitting killing intent.

The driver decided to steer away from them, but they were still noticed by them.

"Halt!"

The driver became nervous. By looks alone, one could think that these men are either bandits or mercenaries. These two group of people are always unreasonable, so he didn't resist any further and stopped the carriage.

"G-Good day? What's up?"

The driver tried to initiate a friendly conversation with them, but noticed that it was ineffective.

"Have you seen a boy with black hair and amber eyes, who was wearing ragged clothing around here? It was a slave of our Master who escaped a while ago. We need to take him at all cost."

Instead of a request, the man's voice sounded like a threat. The Young Master inside the carriage heard the stranger and stepped outside the carriage.

"Oh? A little kid escaped all of you?"

He revealed his appearance, which was so peerless that people will think that he was a man sent from the heaven. His long yellow hair that reached his shoulders and his amethyst eyes which instills a deep tranquility to those who see it. He was still young, around twelve to thirteen years old, but an aura of a sage can be felt around him. The killing intent of those men vanished and was replaced by awe and reverence.

One of the mercenaries can't help but utter:

"Previously a Master Warrior little girl, now another weirdo appeared."

The Young Master's ears twitched, as if he heard something interesting.

"A Master Warrior little girl?"

The driver was impressed of the Young Master's show of bravery but at the same time, was scared witless when he felt something was amiss in the Young Master's words.

"What? Do you know her?"

A man walked out from the crowd. He was the leader whose brother had his eyes pierced. A flash of killing intent sparked on his eyes. He won't forget the humiliation and the consequences because of the appearance of that little girl.

"Boss, why don't we take the boy first for some 'questioning'? That won't be a problem, right?"

One of the mercenaries asked the leader. Everybody knew that this 'questioning' means. Some mercenary groups are fond of taking people and sell them into slaves. Their Leplar Mercenaries is one of those kind of groups.

A malicious grin appeared in each of the mercenaries' faces. Looking at the qualities of the boy, he would sell by a large sum of money. It won't be an exaggeration if they earn much more money on selling him than the money the City Mistress will give after finishing the mission.

Cold sweat started to appear in the driver's face. He was hired by this Young Master as a carriage driver and paid him handsomely. He knew that the boy wasn't lacking money and has a high standing in the society.

What baffled him was the humbleness of the Young Master, for he carried so much money for someone so young, yet didn't flaunt it like any spoiled child would do. He also didn't have bodyguards to protect him, which was very unusual. He's confident, but he was still showing signs of immaturity despite him possessing an aura of boundless wisdom.

"I see. That girl's still running around in circles."

A disappointed sound leaked from the Young Master's lips. Knowing that the boy knew the little girl before, the mercenaries took their swords from its sheath and circled the boy.

"Obediently follow us or else you'll experience something much worse than the word 'Death'."

The Young Master felt the other party's hostility but nonchalantly contemplated in his own world.

"What was she doing here? Knowing her way of thinking, she will think that the 'Gift' will appear after a strong reaction with 'Fool' Stone. Did she really found the 'Gift'?"

He looked at the leader, who was looking at him like a hungry tiger.

"That girl, did she took someone with her?"

"Since this will be the last time you'll be able to be haughty, I shall answer Young Master's question. Yes, she took an ugly middle-aged woman with her."

"A middle-aged woman? That isn't right... Something's wrong here!"

"Nothing's wrong here! You can either submit or die!"

A mercenary lost his calm and charged at the Young Master with a blade in hand.

"*Sigh* I don't want to waste my time around this wasteland, but I guess a little exercise won't hurt."

He raised his right hand into the air and roared to the heavens.

"Mistelteinn, Come!"

Suddenly, a scepter appeared on top of him. He grabbed it and used it to block the incoming blade.

"W-What?! Is that an Archaios?!"

The mercenary was shocked and jumped backwards. This weak-looking boy handled a strike from him with ease.

Every mercenary knew the power behind these weapons. Presently, there are two known people who are using them, but they knew that there might be some who have them, but didn't concern themselves with worldly affairs.

"Yes, but I can't be called an Archaios wielder because this weapon is still half-awake."

He answered like it wasn't a big deal and swung around the scepter.

"I'm not as forgiving as that little girl, you know. I believe threats should always be removed before it could cause even bigger problems."

"Boys! Kill him!"

The leader ordered without hesitation. Unlike before with the little girl, they already had surrounded him. They outnumbered the boy and the boy didn't have any way to escape in this wasteland. An awakened Archaios might be unbeatable, but if it isn't, its just a pretty relic.

"Let's stop here for today. I'm not as graceful as Gracia, but please excuse my crudeness."

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He raised his scepter and spoke in an ancient tone. His blue eyes turned crimson and an evil grin desecrated his peerless appearance.

"Solar Flare!"

A strong stream of light flowed from the heavens to the mercenaries like a waterfall. Their skin started to inflate and explode, making them look gruesome beings which expels large amount of blood from their body. After the blood evaporated, their body contacted until their bones are visible. Muscles to bones, everything disintegrated until nothing left. The whole process was so disgusting, the driver puked out all what he ate until nothing left.

"Well then, let's go."

The boy brushed the dust from his robe and returned to the carriage like nothing happened.

The driver was still pale but obediently followed the boy.

"That was close... I almost sell him out for my safety... If that happened..."

He muttered as he imagined himself being one of those mercenaries.

The driver continued his duties, but his attitude towards the Young Master changed drastically. His previous friendly personality was changed into reverence and fear.

Their journey in the wasteland contined until they encountered a two-meter deep trench. It wasn't noticeable from a far place, but they noticed it when they were fifty meters away from it. It occupied a large area, but it's width was only one meter. Mysteriously, it looked like a blade slash made by a gigantic being.

The driver took two strips of hardwood from the carriage which would act as a bridge. He was about to place it above the trench when he noticed a kid about nine years old. His features are exactly the same as the one being searched by those mercenaries earlier.

"Young Master! I found the kid they're looking for!"

The driver didn't forget to notify the Young Master. It reached the Young Master's ears and left the carriage.

"Oh? That boy looks skinny. I thought he had some kind of beastly body to escape those group of men. I'll just ask him when he wake up. Take him to the carriage."

"Understood, Young Master."

He was about to return when he noticed that the boy was embracing a dagger. It looked ordinary, but he sensed that it was precious to the boy the way he holds it dearly.

"Also, take that dagger. Stash it somewhere safe."

The driver was baffled, but obediently nodded.

After passing the trench, they continued to travel while the Young Master healed the wounds of the kid. It wasn't anything serious, but the exhaustion of his body makes him unable to return to his sense.

It took them three days to reach the next city, Pelan City. It was already fast because when the forest was still there, the travel between Leonid City and Pelan City usually takes more than seven days. Unlike the North which had advanced machinery like trains and cars, the South only had carriages. The South is regarded as 'Desolation of Machines' because no one liked to develop machines but were more focused on developing larger, faster, and effective spells.

Instead, the South make use of Magic Tools. Unlike those Magiatech of the Technicia, these Magic Tools are things that were circulating even before the war between the North and South had begun. Technicia call them relics because their Magiatech are advanced versions of these Magic Tools. If one would compare, it was like the difference between a bow and a gun.

Pelan City is a small city when compared to Leonid City.

They arrived before dawn making the streets empty. Their main motive is to rest and continue their journey eastward.

"Young Master, I have to replace our horses if we're bound to travel around Glassreach Mountains. It will take a half day or two days to acquire those horses, so..."

The driver can't just tell him to go so he tried to speak ambiguously.

"Very well. I shall leave the boy in your hands. Perhaps you can find someone who could take care of him for the meantime? I don't have time to babysit a kid around. Also, make the horse replacement within half a day. Money isn't an issue so do everything you can."

The Young Master threw a small bag from his sleeves. The driver was surprised when he caught it. The bag which the Young Master threw contained gems instead of gold coins. These are more precious than gold coins by ten to twenty times!

"U-Understood!"

He dropped the Young Master by in a nearby inn and dashed off towards the City Stables. With the money in hand, he finished the exchange within three hours. Luckily, he was the only customer around so he didn't need to use the gemstones the Young Master gave.

"Now, the problem is this kid."

Looking inside the carriage, he saw the skinny kid who was sleeping comfortably. The boy was unconscious for more than three days, but there were no signs of him waking up.

"I'm not familiar to this city... maybe placing him in a monastery would do!"

The driver may be faint-hearted, but he's a soft-hearted person especially to children. Monasteries of the Novem Deux Alliance are sponsored by the monarchs themselves. Since war orphans are increasing day by day, this is the only way for them to pay the sacrifices of their people to their kingdoms.

After asking around the location of the monastery, he reached the place which was just outside the city which took him around half an hour. He looked around and moved when he noticed tha no one's around. He carried the unconscious kid on his back and leaned its body beside the door. He left the dagger and some gemstones beside it.

"I'm sorry kid. This is all that I can do for you. I wish that you'll have a good life, away from slavery."

The driver turned and left as how he came.

"He's a good man."

When she noticed that the driver wasn't around anymore, Machi returned to her human form.

"That Young Master... Machi feels that Machi will meet him again..."

Her gaze turned solemn as she petted the unconscious Bellwick's hair.

"Machi feels that Machi should change Machi's clothes..."

She looked at Bellwick's clothes and felt that her clothes are eye-catching. It wasn't that she was aware that clothes are connected to one's status in the society but it was because of her human form's natural sense of aethetics. She can sense that there's something wrong but she doesn't have the ability to craft good clothes for Bellwick, so all she could do is make her clothes comparable to him.

She started to tear her own dress. Even though she can't return it to its previous state, she didn't have any problem with it, because she knew that problems may arise if the notice the difference of appearance between the two children. Being away from Bellwick was something she hated the most.

She continued until the previous beauty of her dress was nowhere to be found. It only looked like a worn-out second-hand dress from an ordinary clothing store.

When she was satisfied of her present look, she sat back beside Bellwick and leaned her head against his shoulder. Then, she took the gems the driver left with Bellwick.

"These gems are gonna be useful. Machi saw the man valued it dearly."

She closed her hand and made the gems disappear. She looked at the peaceful face of sleeping Bellwick and kissed his cheeks.

"Let's do our best, Master Bellwick."

They sat there until morning came.

...

"Don't run around the hallway! Geez!"

It was a normal for Elaine to scold these bunch of kids everyday. Since the day she became the assigned mother of this monastery. She's still young, aging only 26, but was already assigned to handle most old-aged disciples of Nine Gods are only qualified.

But the truth wasn't that pleasant. She was one of the top disciples which had the chance to become the next head priest but was banished because of her beliefs. By using 'Spiritual Training' as a front, she was sent to this city by herself.

Although it was the case, she liked this city. As an orphan herself, the children around her makes her remind of her past, the times when she was still together with her childhood friends.

"Big Sis Elaine! There are kids outside!"

One of the children shouted while Elaine was still busy cooking the breakfast.

"Sister Theia, please."

"Yes, sister."

Elaine left the cooking to another sister assigned to this monastery, Theia. She was younger than Elaine by eight years but was much more beautiful than her. If Theia wasn't around, most of the guys in the city would hail Elaine as their idol instead. Even though Theia rarely shows emotion, men will flock around her everywhere she goes.

"Big Sis Elaine! Hurry up!"

The kids had already surrounded the two new kids outside.This wasn't a new occurrence to monasteries near the war front, since even infants were left outside their doors every now and then. Unfortunately, people who adopt children are scarce.

In front of the door, Elaine saw two children who were sleeping on the ground. The girl slept while sitting while the boy was sleeping on the girl's lap. Thankfully, Pelan City was still on it's summer season. Sleeping outdoors in this city during the winter is a death sentence for any person.

"Go back inside. Breakfast is almost ready."

She instructed the children, who nodded and dashed back inside.

Elaine lifted the skinny boy and noticed that she didn't need to exert that much force in lifting him.

The little girl, as if she noticed that the boy's head wasn't on her lap anymore, slowly woke up. She looked around and saw the boy being carried by Elaine.

"Little girl, can you stand?"

"Yes. Where are you taking Master Bellwick?"

Elainr noticed both curiosity and hostility in the little girl's eyes. Hearing that the little girl called the skinny boy 'Master Bellwick' and the way she looks at Elaine, Elaine knew that this boy was precious to the girl.

"I'll let him rest. Why don't you come inside? Let's eat breakfast."

Elaine sweetly smiled as she took the sleeping Bellwick inside. The little girl followed behind without retreating her attention. She only withdrew it when she saw Elaine laid Bellwick on a bed.

"What's your name?"

Knowing that she needs to start a conversation to make the little girl comfortable, Elaine asked her the most basic question she could ask.

"Machi is Machi."

Machi sat beside Bellwick and answered without looking at Elaine.

"Machi, is it? What a cute name."

Elaine left the room and returned with a bowl of water and a wet towel to clean Bellwick's body.

Then she took a pair of clean clothes for Bellwick and Machi.

Finding out that Machi prefered to dress by herself, Elaine changed Bellwick's clothes instead.

Elaine soon became curious of Bellwick's condition, but saw that there weren't any problems in his body and was only resting so she left him alone.

"You won't eat?"

Elaine's worrily asked when she saw Machi stayed sitting without bulging from her position after dressing up. Machi's actions could make one easily tell that she would stay like that, even forgetting eating lunch.

"Machi's fine. Please leave us."

Seeing that Machi was acting distant, Elaine sighed helplessly. Most of the children who were with their brother or sister when they entered the monastery are always like this. They thought they had to depend on themselves and create a barrier to others. She was once like that... but it was a long time ago.

"Very well. I shall send one of the children to deliver food for the both of you."

The best way to handle this case is to give them time, Elaine thought as she left the room.

"Malmeir..."

She can't help but mutter a name before she shook her head and returned to the kitchen.