"I-I can't stand up," Marie whispered, her voice trembling.

She was kneeling at the bedside beside May, her legs suddenly giving out just minutes after May had awoken. Her body shook uncontrollably, as if the weight of exhaustion finally collapsed upon her.

"The adrenaline must've worn off," Mav thought.

"How many days have you two gone without food?" he asked.

"Three days... and a half, I think?" Marie replied, her voice barely audible, as if speaking took all her strength.

"Three days?!" Mav exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.

He hesitated for a moment before asking the question that had been on his mind, though he feared the answer. "I didn’t want to pry, but... where are your parents?"

The smiles that had momentarily brightened the siblings' faces vanished instantly. They all looked down, their expressions heavy with sorrow. After a long silence, Marie finally spoke, her voice quiet, laden with the weight of memories.

"Our mother died when we were young—she had an illness. After she passed, our father took care of us. We scraped by, eating at least one meal a day. But... one day, he left, and never came back." Her voice faltered, and her eyes welled up. "I asked him a lot about his job, but he never told me. Now that I’m older, I think I understand why."

She glanced at her younger siblings, taking a deep breath before continuing. "When he disappeared, I was the only one left to earn money. I worked odd jobs in the marketplace, but when May got sick, I couldn’t keep it up. I couldn’t leave them alone. Three days ago, we ran out of money...and food."

Mav stood there, speechless. What could he say? Sure, his family had been poor, but this was another level entirely.

“I’m... I’m so sorry,” he managed to say.

Marie forced a weak smile. "It's not your fault. Besides, we should be thanking you, right, Max, May?" she said, turning to her siblings. They nodded in unison.

Her words stirred something in him. It wasn’t pity, but a surge of warmth, like a cool breeze after a scorching day.

"No... I’m just glad I could help," he said. "But first, let’s get some food in you. Come on, climb on my back." He knelt down beside Marie, offering his support.

"Thank you," she murmured as she gingerly climbed onto his back.

Mav turned to Max, who was now wiping May’s sweat from her brow. "I’ll come back to carry you both after I settle Marie in the living room."

Max shook his head. "No need. I can still walk, and I’ll carry May too."

Mav raised an eyebrow, impressed by the boy’s sudden determination. “You sure?”

Max nodded enthusiastically before turning to help his sister onto his back. Though smaller than Mav, he moved with surprising strength, carrying May with steady resolve.

"That’s impressive," Mav said with a faint smile. "Go ahead, lead the way."

As they made their way down the hallway, Mav walked behind, keeping a watchful eye on the two, ready to catch them if either faltered.

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Once he settled Marie into a chair, Mav opened the door, squinting as the sunlight flooded the dim room. Standing there was Lia, impatiently tapping her foot, a basket in her hands.

“Took you long enough,” she said.

"Sorry," Mav replied with a sheepish grin.

Lia stepped inside, glancing around the room. Her eyes softened when she saw the frail figures of the three siblings. Mav noticed a dusty table in the corner and pulled it closer.

"Are there any plates we can use?" he asked, turning to the siblings.

Marie attempted to stand but stumbled. Just then, yellow flames flickered to life around Lia’s legs, and in an instant, she caught Marie before she could hit the floor.

"Thanks," Marie said, managing a weak smile as she settled back down.

"I’ll get them," Lia said, already heading to the kitchen. "You just rest."

After she bought the plates, she and Mav laid out the grilled meat, vegetables, bread, and fruit from the basket. The rich aroma of grilled meat and freshly baked bread filled the room, mingling with the earthy scent of roasted vegetables. The siblings' eyes widened at the sight and smell, their hunger palpable as they breathed in deeply, savoring the warm, comforting fragrance. It was the first time in days they had smelled anything so inviting, and their stomachs growled in response. They exchanged wary glances, then, looking at Mav.

"Go ahead," he said, gesturing to the food.

He half-expected them to devour the meal in desperation, but to his surprise, they ate slowly, methodically, taking only small portions and making sure May was fed first before serving themselves. The sight tugged at Mav's heart.

"They were raised well," he thought.

Mav nudged Lia playfully. "You too, go ahead and eat," he said, catching her off guard.

She chuckled. "What exactly do you think of me?" she replied, lightly punching him on the arm. Mav dodged with a grin, and they both laughed, joined by the giggles of the siblings.

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

“So... who were those three men from earlier?” Lia asked, her tone suddenly serious.

Mav had almost forgotten about them. Marie stiffened, her expression hardening.

"I don’t know who they are, but they’ve been coming by for weeks. They... they offered to buy my brother." Her voice was laced with disgust.

"What?!" Lia gasped, her face pale with shock.

Mav’s heart raced, a deep anger stirring inside him. "They offered to... buy Max?"

Marie nodded, her voice tight with emotion. "Not just us. They’ve been going around the neighborhood, offering money to buy people. Anyone, really. But they seem especially interested in those with flame affinities."

Mav’s voice dropped to a whisper, dread creeping into his stomach. "Did they say what they wanted with them?"

"No... but I think it has something to do with the Blue Flame affinity. I asked around, and every family they’ve targeted has had someone with it."

She glanced at Max, her jaw tightening and fists clenching, a fire sparking in her eyes. "My brother has an intermediate Blue Flame affinity, and that’s what they're targeting, I’m sure of it. Some families... took the money. But I would never sell my brother!"

Mav’s mind raced. "Did they mention if they were from the Blue Flame Guild?"

Lia shook her head before Marie could answer. "No guild would recruit like that, let alone buy people. That's disgusting."

Mav frowned, piecing things together. "Maybe that’s why they ran when they saw you earlier. If they were doing something legitimate, they wouldn’t have suddenly bolted like that. But what exactly are they doing with them then? Mercenaries recruiting healers maybe?"

"Nope. That’s not exactly legal," Lia replied. "Besides, being a mercenary comes with too many disadvantages compared to being in a guild. Guild members have a higher market value for the materials they gather, which means they sell for more. Plus, guild commissions offer better pay than hunting alone, and it’s much safer to work with a guild."

"Have any of the families reported them?" Mav asked, his brow furrowed.

Marie shook her head. "No. Most are too scared, and for some... the money is too tempting. They’re desperate."

Lia crossed her arms, her expression dark. "I’ll report it to our guild leader. Mav, you should talk to Ms. Ana. She’s with the Blue Flame Guild. Maybe she can shed some light on this."

Mav nodded. "I will."

He looked around the dilapidated house—the peeling walls, the broken furniture, the air thick with dust—and then back to the three frail siblings. A burning determination welled up inside him.

"The people living here have more than enough trouble already," he thought, impatience gnawing at him. "They deserve something better, not the constant threat of being sold off like commodities."

"You said they’re after people with Blue Flame affinities, right?" Mav asked.

"Yes, why?" Marie asked.

A glint sparked in Mav’s eyes as he formulated a plan in his mind.