“I’ll kill anyone who comes closer!” Osric yelled, raising his knife menacingly at those approaching him or his family.

“Quit it, kid! Surrender before things get worse,” the leader urged, smirking. “You’re just wasting your time. We’ve got you surrounded.”

“You can only take my sister over my dead body!” the boy declared, lashing out at one of the thugs who tried to tackle him.

“Master, should we help him?” Bran asked, turning towards the young noble with concern evident on his face.

image [https://i.imgur.com/sapOprH.png]

“Hmm,” Elysian mused for a moment.

‘Perfect timing! I can use my ability again. At least fifteen hours of cooldown—not ideal but not bad either.

Bloodline. Hmm, they’re pretty rare. However, not all bloodlines have a positive effect.

Why a question mark?

Maybe that bloodline is not yet awakened. That will be a huge problem since bloodline needs specific requirements to be awakened, and that process is highly guarded secrets by families or tribes.’

“Of course we are going to help him, my friend,” Elysian said, grinning. “How can I let a soldier that works for my family be bullied like that in front of me, right?”

“Young master, you are really kind. You’re the best,” the servant replied, smiling.

“C’mon, big fella. Lead the way,” he said, grinning back and gesturing for the servant to move forward.

Bran looked at him wide-eyed, his mouth hanging open in surprise.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Elysian scoffed, eyeing the older boy’s expression. “Didn’t you suggest that we help him? Also, do you expect me to go first? Are you nuts?!” he exclaimed, and the servant immediately avoided his eyes. “Where in the world would you find a master facing danger first instead of his servant? Does that make sense?”

Bran could not find any words to respond to that argument. So he could only swallow hard, walking slowly forward.

“Move faster, you big oaf,” he scowled, pushing the older boy. “He’ll be dead before we even get there.”

“You f*cking thugs!” Elysian shouted, hiding behind the lumbering servant. “If you don’t stand down now, I will get all of you arrested!”

All eyes were suddenly on them. One of the thugs shouted back, “Hey, kid, don’t involve yourself in matters that don’t concern you!”

When they just stood there and didn’t back down, the thugs got even angrier.

“Will skin you alive, kid!” one of the thugs threatened, and the others laughed. “Or do you wish to join them in slavery? Pick your choice.”

“Did you just threaten me?” Elysian asked, stepping out from behind the servant and striding forward. “You want to skin me alive? Not only that, but you also wanted to sell me into slavery?”

“Who are you?” the leader asked. One of his men whispered in his ears, and his arrogant expression suddenly changed into panic. He quickly said, “I’m sorry, young master. I didn’t recognize you.”

“Who’s the merchant who ordered you?” he demanded, eyes sweeping over the leader and his men, who avoided his gaze. “Answer me!”

“Merchant Edmund, young master,” the leader said, sighing before meeting his eyes.

“The father of my fiancée?” he asked, his grin widening.

“Yes, young master.”

‘Great! This is great. It seems I might be hitting two birds with one stone.’

“Hey, Osric,” Elysian said, turning to the young soldier who was glaring at everyone, ready to fight. “What will you do if I can solve your problem here?”

Osric turned to him with eyes full of hope and said, “I will serve you. If I must, I will sacrifice my life for you, young master, if you save my family.”

Elysian nodded, turning to the leader, and said, “Okay, tell Edmund that I will pay their debt. Also, inform him that no one will bother Osric and his family again. Anyone who does, I will personally deal with them,” he said, staring directly into the leader’s eyes. “Do you understand me?”

“Yes, young master,” the leader said, gesturing to his men to follow him. “Let’s go back!”

Osric immediately went to check on his family. “Mother, are you alright?” he asked, quickly hugging her.

“Osi,” his sister said, crying even more.

“Don’t cry, Ari,” Osric comforted, hugging his little sister. “No one is going to hurt you again.”

Elysian just stood there, observing the whole scene, smiling. Suddenly, he noticed his servant was also crying. “Why are you crying, big fella?”

“I don’t know, young master,” Bran said, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. “I just can’t stop myself from crying, watching them.”

Elysian chuckled, patting the servant’s arm.

‘It’s kind of cute watching this lumbering servant of mine show his inner soft side. Well, he’s always soft in the interior; this isn’t really a surprise.’

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Young master, thank you very much,” Osric’s mother said, kneeling in front of him.

Elysian was taken aback when he saw what the woman had done. Gently pulling her up, he quickly reassured her, “Ma’am, you don’t have to kneel to me. It’s the least I can do for my own people. If those thugs, or anyone for that matter, make trouble for you or your family again, tell me quickly,” he said, glancing at the approaching sibling. “I’ll deal with it, okay?”

“Yes, young master,” Osric said, bowing.

Elysian nodded, noticing the small girl, about the same age as his sister, bowing to him. This brought a smile to his face. “What’s your name?”

“Elena,” she said in a small voice, shyly hiding behind her brother.

Smiling warmly, he turned to Bran and took a couple of his sweets that he had bought earlier.

“That’s mine, young master,” the servant protested, attempting to take back his prized candies.

“You big oaf, you’ve eaten enough,” he said, shooing him away. Slowly, he walked towards the small girl, extended his hand with the sweets, and said, “Do you want some?”

Elena turned to her brother, who smiled and nodded. Gently taking the candies, she looked at him, blushing, before quickly saying, “Thank you.”

“You are welcome,” Elysian replied.

“Young master, would you like to come inside our house?” the mother asked, glancing at the bystanders watching them. “It’s small, and…”

“I would love to. However, I think it would be best for you and your family to gather yourself first. I know this whole incident is very stressful,” he said, smiling at her. “I will visit you at a later date.”

“Thank you again, young master,” she said, bowing. Turning to her daughter, she said, “Let’s go inside the house.”

After watching them go inside, he said to everyone still watching, “Hey, there’s nothing to see here. Just go back to your own business.”

After the three of them were the only ones left, Elysian glanced at the young soldier, who was observing him intensely. “Do you remember your promise, right?”

“Yes,” Osric replied, bowing again. “I said, ‘I will serve you. If I must, I will sacrifice my life for you.’ I will never forget what you have done, young master.”

“Good. Good,” Elysian nodded, patting the arm of the older boy. Retrieving three silver coins from his pocket, he handed them to the young soldier.

“Young master, this is too much,” Osric said, attempting to return the money.

“This isn't too much, but just about right. Your family has just undergone a traumatic experience. Buy them something delicious, and for your little sister, some pastries. This may help them get over this incident faster,” he said, smiling and looking him in the eyes.

Smiling back, the young soldier nodded and said, “Thank you, young master. I will never forget this kind gesture.”

“Remember, I will always take care of my own people. However, I expect absolute loyalty from them. Do you understand?”

“Yes, young master. I will be absolutely loyal to you!” the young soldier declared with a very intense gaze. “I will gladly offer you my life in a show of loyalty.”

“Are you an idiot?”

Osric looked at him, taken aback by what he heard, and slowly responded, “Young master, I don’t understand.”

Elysian sighed and said, “Stop saying ‘I will give you my life’, okay? Once is enough, and it’s cool. The more you say it, the cheaper it becomes.”

“Okay, young master.”

“You should cherish your life. You are not an expandable trash that is thrown away if they don’t have any uses,” he said, pondering for a moment before quickly clarifying himself, “Well, I’m not someone who throws away my people. What I’m trying to say is this: if I order you something crazy that you think will endanger your life, tell me or object to it if you must. Remember, you have a precious family to support. If you’re gone, who will protect them?”

Osric just nodded in agreement, his eyes staring at the floor.

“Good. It’s good that you understand,” Elysian said, patting him on the arm again and adding, “For now, go with your family, relax, and recuperate. The day after tomorrow, go to the training ground and join us there,” he said, walking back to the street. “Let’s go back home, big fella.”

“Thank you again, young master!” Osric exclaimed, bowing and watching his departing back.

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

“Is that your father?” Elysian inquired, nodding toward the side of Bran’s house.

“Yes, young master,” the servant said, sighing. “It seems he is arguing with the steward again.”

“Again? Do they argue often?” he asked, his curiosity piqued. Suddenly, more questions popped up, and he quickly added, “Wait, why is Bertrand even here? Do they know each other aside from work?”

Bran remained silent, avoiding eye contact with Elysian as he stared at the ground.

“Bran?” he asked again. When the young servant did not respond, he used a much firmer voice and exclaimed, “Bran!”

“I’m sorry, young master, but Ma and Pa told me not to tell anyone,” the servant said, still avoiding eye contact.

Elysian sighed and said, “It’s okay, big fella. It’s okay.” Turning back to the scene, he noticed Norah suddenly arrived. The big woman argued with the steward some more until he finally left. When he saw them calm down a little, Elysian carefully walked towards the couple and greeted them, “Good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon, young master,” the couple greeted with a bow, expressing mild surprise at his unexpected presence.

“Would you like to go inside?” Rodger offered.

“I would love to,” he said, smiling at them. Upon entering the house, the first thing that he noticed was how clean it was. Everything was in its proper order, and all the spaces were properly utilized so that the small area felt bigger.

“Sorry, young master, our humble abode might not be to your standards,” Norah said, observing him as he looked around.

“Actually, I quite like it. I can finally see why Bran is such a good child. Growing up in a place like this and being blessed with both loving parents, it isn’t surprising now,” he said, nodding respectfully at them.

“Thank you for the compliment,” the cook said, turning to his husband. Both of them were proud of their simple place. “Would you like to drink something, young master?”

“Tea would be fine,” Elysian said.

“Young master, would you like to have a seat?” Rodger offered.

“Thank you, sir,” he nodded, sitting.

“Here’s the tea,” Norah said, placing the drink in front of him along with a dessert. “This is a pecan pie I made last night, young master. I hope you like it.”

“Your food never fails to impress, ma’am. I’ve always loved them,” Elysian complimented, taking a bite. His expression easily conveyed how much he liked it. “This is truly delicious.”

Bran sat next to his master, bringing with him eight slices of the pastry.

“What are you doing?” Norah scowled at his son, seeing the excessive amount of food. “Didn’t I tell you to watch your diet? If you keep eating like this, you’ll just keep gaining weight.”

“I’m hungry, Ma,” Bran complained, eating a whole slice of pie. “I've been running and swinging a sword the whole morning.”

“What?” Norah frowned.

“That’s actually the reason why I’m here,” Elysian interjected, smiling at them. “But before we get into that, I’m curious—what was the steward doing here earlier?”

Both couples were caught off guard by the question, exchanging glances before returning their gazes to him with a hint of unease on their faces.