Despite the few days it had been since the two had met, the boy felt it was much longer due to the dull environment they were in. However, even he felt such a dull journey had been cut short too abruptly.

The carriage suddenly stopped moving and two roguish looking men stepped inside. When they arrived before the two children, Alicia tightened her hold of the boy and tensed up. The men silently grabbed and pulled Alicia outside, along with the boy, into a small crowd of people.

Unlike Alicia who was only focusing on him, the boy looked at this surroundings. Within his sights were an unfamiliar slave trader to his side and a man in the forefront of the group, all standing in a courtyard, discussing business.

“Unfortunately City Lord, you are unable to provide enough compensation for the boy. Take a look at his hair and eyes, you are far too mediocre for him.” The slave trader gave a mocking smile.

The opposing man, titled City Lord, glared back at the slave trader “Is this how Occu Conglomerate treats its customers?”

“Is it not enough that I am here?” The slave trader laughed arrogantly. “As you had discussed with our middle man beforehand, we are only here to sell you the girl. Heh, Don’t be so angry. Although her eyes and physical capabilities are lacking, her hair shows respectable prospects for a mage. Now, hand over the payment”

The City Lord’s face contorted with anger. How long had it been since someone had held him in no regard, he wondered. If he had the strength to slaughter the person before him, he would have done it long ago.

He signaled his subordinates behind him and before long, a small dagger made entirely of green crystals were brought to him. “Give me the girl” The City Lord voiced as he tossed the dagger towards the opposite party.

Checking the dagger in his hands, he affirmed it an adequate item and gestured to his men to hand Alicia over.

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Alicia, who had been still during the entire conversation, was greatly agitated when two men tried to release the boy from her arms.

“NO! Don’t let them take me away!” Alicia screamed as her grip on the boy increased.

However, no matter how much she begged, no one would stop because of it. Although they were curious why she was speaking to an infant, they did not care enough to find out why. The men attempted to separate the two, pulling them apart.

Alicia sobbed, screamed, and struggled, unwilling to let go. “Please! Don’t let them take me away!” She continued to plead to the boy. Yet there was no response.

The men continued their attempts of separating the two apart in vain. Every endeavour they attempted, they halted immediately after due to the fear of damaging their product. They felt that if they had put more force, whether it was pulling the boy away from her arms or separating her arms, either of the two would be injured. That was how firm she held onto the boy.

“Tsk, this is why working with people who only handle low class goods is so annoying.” The slave trader criticized. “Just break her arms, she is not worth a fraction of the boy’s price.”

Noticing the irritable face his customer was making, he continued, “Do not worry dear customer, we will pay for her repairs”

After he saw the City Lord silently accept the outcome, he signaled his men to continue and they forcibly grabbed the Alicia's arms.

*Snap*

It was easy to do.

No matter how much she struggled to hold onto the boy, they were far too strong compared to her once they no longer hesitated.

As if to protest their actions, in spite of no longer being able to move her arms, she pushed her body over the boy, covering him. She wept, but not once did she let out a scream.

“Please… let me stay by your side. I won’t ask anything of you … please … I just want to be with you.”

The boy could not understand why she was saying such things. It had only been a few days since they had seen each other and it had even been an even shorter period of time since he had spoken to her.

It confused him.

Nonetheless, even with such confusion, he knew one thing for certain. He no longer wanted to continue this farce.

WIth a wave of his hand, before anyone noticed, their entire surroundings were engulfed in a world of white.