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As early as the sun rose, Leo and Bruno left. It wasn’t that long a path to Valetta, but with hand-cart loaded with goods, it would require more precaution on the road.

Unable to bypass the winding road down the hill, they could only take the long way around and spend an entire hour just to make it to the market. Luckily, the streets were still empty, allowing them to snag a good spot by the market entrance.

“Alright, you can take a break. I’ll tend to the sales. If you look around, don’t bother anyone and don’t bump into strangers.”

Ensuring Bruno didn’t get into trouble, he unloaded the cart and pushed it sideways, then pinned down his merchandise as if on a display. A variety of hoes and axes and such were strung in a line.

The polished metal glistened slightly, the tools clearly sharp and clean, undoubtedly new.

The wooden parts was what really drew attention, however. The surface of the handles was polished and oiled, with simplistic and rustic ornaments featured on the grip areas. Setting the appeal aside, it would prevent the tools from slipping out of grasp, so they were functional too.

Still, the main attraction was that they looked special. Even if the tools weren’t of a much greater quality than what they were used to, there were vain people even among farmers. He wasn’t worried they wouldn’t sell. Everyone liked to show off, even if it was something as banal as a tool.

Grabbing a chair and lazily slouching his back against a tree next to his makeshift stall, he casually dozed off in light meditation. It wasn’t long before traffic in the market picked up and various peddlers and customers passed his stall. None stopped by his stall, however. After shooting a few glances, they would carry on with their business.

Bruno fidgeted a bit and nudged Leo, “Say, Leo, do you think we can really sell this for food? Look, none of them are paying attention to your tools.”

“Is food all you think of? Tch. What do you know…” Lazily waving off the boy as if he were his superior, he then explained impatiently, “They naturally won’t buy them now and walk around all morning with a shovel. Isn’t it better to do so when they exit? Most of them will sell around noon, so scram and go find a girl to chase after or something.”

Tossing him ten tari, he then closed his eyes again and feigned laziness whilst pondering deeper thoughts. Despite the orphanage become somewhat more self-sustaining, and his products being somewhat superior, Leo didn’t feel much accomplishment.

He also didn’t quite know where to take things from that point on. It’s not as if he wanted the kids to live like nobles. As long as they had enough food and warmth, things ought to be fine. Yet, there was always that small core of his subconscious constantly pushing him, egging him to try risks and driving him to do something else.

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What that something else was — he frankly did not know. It was an odd restlessness in his heart, constantly leaving him unsettled…

Ever since he spoke with Anabella and took responsibility, it’s as if he saddled himself with unnecessary worry and now carried the grievances of many fates. Perhaps this is the so called karma spoken of in Muchen’s memories.

If so, then to release himself of this burden he had to bring things to a completion and sever the connection with their fate. It was a rather abstruse instinct, one even Leo grasped only vaguely.

Squinting his eyes slightly open, he allowed his senses to spread across the market. As he searched for Bruno, he couldn’t help but dwell on the difference his presence made in that boy’s life. It was clear at first glance that he had a monumental impact on the boy. From a shy, starved orphan who was bullied daily by Luca, he now strutted around the woods with confidence, seemingly ready to be assume the role of a man.

As he located Bruno through Spatium Dharma, his ears twitched slightly, ‘Oh? Is that Luca? Interesting.’

Perking up from his lazy posture, he closed his eyes again and focused on fully projecting his senses over.

“..let me go.” Bruno groaned weakly as Luca held him up against the wall.

“Hmph. I see you even have money to waste on white buns. You sure have it good, huh? Where did you steal this from? I think I best take you to the guards.”

Despite loudly proclaiming he’d caught a thief, his hands carried a completely different intent and he pocketed the tari for himself. Although he lived in the streets for a few weeks, Luca didn’t seem much worse off. He was still bulkier than most kids his age and easily manhandled the young Bruno.

“Tell that bitch Anabella me and my friends will come visit. Make sure she receives us graciously.” Sneering as he punched Bruno’s gut, he then pitilessly shoved him to the ground and walked away, where he rejoined with two teens who were cheering him on. Some riff-raff just like him, they no doubt were up to no good.

Despite witnessing the incident as if he were present himself, Leonardo didn’t leave to help Bruno. Instead, he calmly observed the group whilst pondering his earlier Quaestio trial.

“Seems like there was some truth to it. If left to fester, a disease will only worsen. Perhaps it’s time I took matters into my own hands.”

Squinting his eyes as killing intent flashed through them, Leonardo stood and glared at the adjacent street.

It took a good minute for him to wholly calm down as images of Luca’s mangled skull continued to surface in his mind, tempting him to make it real. Only after reminding himself several times that it was just a dream did he let go of his murderous thoughts. Even so, that dangerous glint was still there, buried in his boiling blood and ready to resurface whenever those instincts were provoked.

“How much are the hoes, boy? And when’s your parent coming back?”

“Huh? Oh!” It was only now that the startled Leo realized someone was next to his stall. Having projected his senses earlier, he was a bit absent-minded about his surroundings. “125 for the hoes, 175 for the shovels, and 150 for the ax. You needn’t wait for my parents, I can trade.”

Returning to his usual demeanor, Leo masked his ire with a polite smile and served the first customer dutifully, promptly carrying out a small trade. It would be a long day, and Luca wouldn’t go anywhere, so he might as well settle things here.