Having provisionally settled the matters concerning Danni, Glen took his leave from the store on the pretext of having other affairs to attend to.

Guiding the deer-drawn cart through the labyrinthine streets and alleys, he chanced upon Sheriff Dogli.

"Are you making your way back?" Dogli inquired with a smile.

"Indeed, but I shall return anon," Glen replied, mirroring the smile with equal courtesy."You all still seem occupied. What tasks are you engaged in?"

Dogli let out a gentle sigh."There are several children who have been bereaved of their parents. I have just entrusted the returning knights to convey those children to the Relief Society."

Glen fell silent. He had, to some extent, anticipated such a situation. After all, those affiliated with the so-called Ancient God Cult scarcely seemed the type to refrain from wantonly slaughtering the innocent.

His heart heavy with sorrow for the children, he declared,"I wish to pay them a visit."

"'Tis yonder. You should be able to gain an audience with them," Dogli indicated, pointing towards a building under the watch of knights.

Glen nodded, alighted from the deer-drawn cart, and proceeded on foot in that direction.

Dogli placed his hand over his heart, his voice a mere whisper."May the gods above watch over and protect those hapless children."

Upon reaching the building, a knight promptly stepped forward to bar Glen's path.

After offering an explanation, the knight bade Glen touch the knight's sword. Only when no untoward reaction ensued was he granted entry.

The building was teeming with numerous refugees, encompassing those who had lost their kin, their limbs, or their abodes.

Initially, Glen's gaze swept across the scene instinctively, yet a youth huddled in the corner soon caught his eye.

The youth was besmirched with mud, his hair and visage grimy, and his attire, needless to say, was in a state of disrepair.

None of this was particularly out of the ordinary. What drew Glen's attention was the look in the youth's eyes.

Glen had encountered the gazes of countless individuals and prided himself on his ability to glean much from a person's eyes.

He considered himself something of an adept in this regard.

However, the look in the youth's eyes was entirely at variance with the surrounding circumstances.

It was a sense of serene composure, akin to that of a max-level player in a novice village, despite the youth's ostensible efforts to feign the guise of a suffering commoner.

Could he be a high-ranking Extraordinary who delights in playing the role of the underdog?… Such were Glen's musings.

Just as he was observing the youth, the latter seemed to sense his scrutiny and turned to look at him.

Glen, naturally, averted his gaze, as if he had merely been glancing idly about.

He refrained from further perusal and made a beeline towards the room where the children were situated.

At present, he had no desire to court further trouble. Since the individual was concealing himself among the refugees, it was evident that he intended to depart with them, likely bound for the capital.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Should he attempt to cause unrest there, there would undoubtedly be those to rein him in.

After a brief word with the female knight attending to the children, he was granted an audience with the five afflicted youngsters.

To his surprise, no sooner had he pushed open the door and made eye contact with the children than all five of them rushed towards him.

Regardless of whether they had been weeping previously, they now wailed loudly.

The female knight, who had been tending to them, hastily pushed open the door and entered. Upon witnessing the scene, she was momentarily at a loss as to how to proceed.

Glen was aware that the reason for such a reaction was that all five of these little ones remembered him.

He and the female knight spent some time soothing them before they were able to regain a semblance of control over the situation.

Under the severe blow of losing their parents, these children, all under the age of ten, were desperately seeking someone to lean on and a means to vent their emotions.

And Glen was, at that moment, the ideal pillar of support. They would forever remember the one who, in their darkest hour of despair, had transformed into a colossal wolf and rescued them from the maw of the monster.

"All is well now, all is well..." Glen soothed, signaling for the female knight to step outside, as he wished to have a private word with the children.

She, suspecting nothing, nodded and quietly exited the room.

Glen was silent for a moment, regarding these young and vulnerable lives with no one to turn to. Then, he spoke softly,

"Listen closely, little ones. This too shall pass. There is naught to fear. If ever fear should grip you, think of me. Remember, I shall always be there to aid you, just as I was on that fateful day."

"Wilt thou not stay with us always?" a little girl sobbed.

"I have other children in need of saving, so I cannot remain by your side indefinitely," Glen fibbed.

"Then thou must promise to come when we are in need of thee," another girl piped up.

"Aye, I give thee my word," Glen said, gently stroking her head.

Any person of sound moral judgment, upon beholding these children, now left helpless and confusion in their eyes, would surely be moved to pity and a desire to extend a helping hand.

Glen was no exception. He knew he could not adopt these children himself, for who could foresee what the future might hold?

But he would do all in his power to assist them.

With these words, a glimmer of hope appeared in the eyes of the five children.

"I have an idea. How about I regale you with a story?" Glen proposed.

"What is a story?" the youngest child asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

Glen smiled."This story is titled Harry Potter."

...

By the time Glen emerged from the building where the refugees were gathered, the sky was on the verge of darkness.

He had condensed the story of Harry Potter considerably and only recounted the initial part, yet it still took him a considerable amount of time.

He hastened back to Bayek to check on the situation at home.

All was as it should be at home, save for the fact that the young maid was somewhat concerned due to Glen's absence the previous day.

"Tia, would you accompany me to Dudd and stay there for a few days?" Glen inquired.

Tia was taken aback and instinctively asked,"Why should we take up residence there?"

Glen leaned in close and whispered in the maid's ear,"My sister has arrived. I fear I may not be able to attend to her adequately, and I would be most grateful if you could lend a hand."

"Mr. Glen's sister?" The young maid was visibly astonished. She had always assumed that Glen was either without family or had been cast aside by them.

"Aye. There is no obligation if you would rather not go."

"Of course I shall go!"

Tia eagerly assented.

...

To the east of the Zern Kingdom lies the Saeh Kingdom, which is under the dominion of the High Elves.

Within the kingdom's borders, to the west lies a region known as the Shaded Forest.

Gigantic trees, each reaching a height of several hundred meters, cast a shadow over the sky, and a diverse array of strange vegetation clings to their trunks.

Each of these massive trees features numerous houses that appear to have grown organically from the wood, serving as the dwellings of the native inhabitants.

Svelte forest elves with long, pointed ears and smooth, delicate skin call this place home.

The density of elves within this vast Shaded Forest is comparable to that of a human city.

The voices of the elves resonate throughout every nook and cranny.

At the heart of this "city" stands a colossal castle, replete with the distinctive characteristics of the forest.

A potent force of nature emanates from the light core at the very top of the castle, nourishing all the living beings in its vicinity.

Within the castle, a heated argument is unfolding.

"My child has been in captivity for far too long! Why has the kingdom yet to take action?! Are you not duty-bound to uphold the rights of us elves?!"

A female forest elf, garbed in a white robe, loudly remonstrated with the three imposing male High Elves standing on the dais.