Melinoe was a very poor and unfortunate individual. After getting knocked unconscious by Magnus for the nth time, he finally woke up.

Despite being knocked around so many times, Melinoe didn't blame it on his master.

Master must have his reasons.

These were Melinoe's thoughts.

He woke up on a comfortable bed. It was his first comfortable bed in a long while.

When he looked around, he saw a quaint living room. It was clean, had open windows, and beautifully carved furniture.

"Are you done looking around?"

Melinoe quickly turned his head towards the voice. Melinoe saw Gregory gutting a rabbit and cutting some vegetables.

Melinoe's stomach growled. He hasn't had a proper homemade meal in a while.

"You hungry?"

Melinoe nods.

Gregory nods. He prepares a meal for the poor mage.

"Sit on the table. I don't want you spilling stew on one of my beds.

"O-okay."

Melinoe was still groggy. He couldn't bring out his cocky demeanor.

Once Melinoe was seated, Gregory brings him a hot bowl of rabbit stew.

Melinoe grabs a spoon and quickly takes a sip. Immediately, Melinoe screams.

"Ahhh!!"

Gregory looks at Melinoe bewildered.

"IT'S SO HOT!"

"You should have waited for it to cool down first."

"You stupid peasant!"

In a fit of petty rage, Melinoe was about to throw the bowl of hot stew towards Gregory, but he notices a quick silhouette appear beside him. He winces in pain as he feels an iron grip on his wrist. The bowl of how stew is about to fall to the ground but the silhouette easily grab it with one hand.

"Who dares!?"

Before Melinoe could continue his tantrum, he feels something shoved down his mouth. He turns his head towards his assailant. Melinoe sees Sanria standing beside him. Sanria's face lacked any emotion. Gregory sighed and he didn't speak.

"Listen here you filthy cum rag, the only real reason I didn't drop you off that cliff me and my dad passed by was that my master told me to take you home. I was curious as to what type of anomaly you were, but you're a normal person with some leaves growing out of their ass from the looks of it. You don't have any of the energy me and my dad can use. And my dad told me you tried to cast magic yesterday but you got beaten without any magic coming out. So, let me be clear so you don't miss what I'm going to say next. I'll keep you alive due to my master but the next time you shout at my father or me, I'll rip out your tongue. Understand?"

Sanria stared straight into Melinoe's eyes. For some reason unknown to the mage, Sanria's eyes instilled great fear into Melinoe. It was simple. With her awakened soul, Sanria's eyes carried a portion of the might of a dragon's eyes.

Melinoe was forced to nod. He felt that Sanria would keep her word if he tried to protest.

It was only when Melinoe nodded multiple times that Sanria let him go.

"And another thing."

"Sanria, that's enough."

Sanria shuts her mouth. She respected her father so she listened.

"Melinoe correct?

Melinoe looks at Gregory with annoyance but it quickly disappeared with a single look from Sanria.

"Y-yes."

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"The dragon... I mean our master wants us to keep you here until further notice."

Melinoe nods.

"I can't feed you or house you without any real reason."

"But you just said our master told you to keep me here."

"Exactly. He didn't specify so I'll assume I'll keep you here. So, I'll have you work for your housing and food."

"What?!"

Sanria slightly moves and Melinoe flinches.

"I mean yes! I'll help around the place!"

Just wait till I repair my magical foundation!

"Good, now eat up. You need the strength for later."

Melinoe nods.

"I'll be outside chopping firewood. Give me a holler when you're done."

Sanria looks at Melinoe and after a while, she leaves.

Melinoe heaves a sigh of relief when the monster girl left the room. Melinoe was about to stupidly threaten Gregory but the old man left with Sanria to work.

Tsk, I guess I'll have to threaten him when he's working.

For now, Melinoe resigned himself to eating.

The meal was delicious but Melinoe would never admit to it. After finishing the bowl, Melinoe stood up. He was preparing to threaten Gregory.

Melinoe gathered all his courage and looked out the window. He didn't see Sanria anywhere so he stepped out of the door.

He saw Gregory putting down an axe.

Easy enough, I'll just shout at him. The old man should cower quick enough.

Melinoe heard a powerful rip as Gregory ripped a small log in half with his hands. Melinoe saw the old man's powerful muscles flex underneath the thin clothes.

Melinoe gulped a throatful of air.

On second thought, I shouldn't bully senior citizens.

And that's how Melinoe's week passed. It was very uneventful.

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Melinoe did work around the village, work he was unfamiliar with but he still did his best. His pride made sure that his work was good.

During his stay, Melinoe continued to fix his magical foundation. It's taking time but he's slowly repairing it.

In addition to his chores, Melinoe got to know some of the villagers in the village.

Gregory was a fine man. He lost his wife at childbirth but he spent his years taking care of Sanria and the people.

Melinoe was scared of Sanria. Every time he looked at Sanria, he felt a pit in his stomach. She was beautiful, talented, and powerful but she seemed alien in nature. It felt like she was something else wearing human skin.

There was this young man named Sylas. Melinoe liked the young man enough. He seemed like a good kid. He seemed interested in learning magic. Melinoe said he could teach him but he wanted to wait for his master first before he does anything.

In all honesty, there wasn't a guarantee that Melinoe could properly teach someone due to his lack of talent. Melinoe would never admit to it.

There was this young woman, named Angelica. Melinoe noticed how she tried to talk to him all the time. Just like Sylas, she's probably interested in learning magic.

She always seems so shy around me, it's not like I'm gonna bite.

Melinoe sat on a wooden chair overlooking the forest, the same forest his master lived in.

For the whole week, Melinoe thought about just entering the forest and finding his master but each time he strayed near the forest, he felt something was watching him. Even when he did his best to look for the source, Melinoe couldn't find the one watching him.

He was sure it was Sanria. That crazy demon lady was to be the death of him.

Melinoe stayed in the village.

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Melinoe was 90% finished on the magical foundation. Usually, it would take a longer time to create one but repairing a broken foundation is easier, as long as the foundation isn't fully destroyed.

Melinoe was near the forest. Despite Sanria being nowhere to be found, Melinoe knew she could catch him even if he had a one-hour lead on her.

After his transformation a week ago, Melinoe found that he gained an affinity for forest mana.

Unlike normal and novice mages, Melinoe could fill up on forest mana rather than neutral mana. It would allow him to use nature-inclined spells with ease and still use neutral spells without any problems.

Melinoe started to gather energy from the forest to complete his magical foundation.

92%... 94%... 96%... 98...

So close!

"Your foundation is lacking. It has many flaws."

Melinoe's concentration was suddenly cut off and his progress today disappears.

What the fuck?!

Melinoe turns his attention to the voice he heard. It was a young child that just exited the forest.

The young child had eyes that seemed to carry the universe within them. After a second look, Melinoe realized that the child was beautiful beyond measure. Not only was the child beautiful but his body was perfect.

Melinoe's anger was quickly quashed.

He forgot that his concentration was interrupted by the child. Remembering that the child spoke about something, he muttered a weak response.

"Wh-what?"

"I said, your foundation is lacking. It has many flaws."

"Huh?"

Melinoe's shock slowly dissipated as he took in the situation.

What is this kid saying?

Before he could say anything to the kid, Sanria suddenly appears. She quickly ran from her house when she saw the new person enter the village.

"Hi!"

The kid looks at Sanria and he nods.

"Oooh, you're so cute!! So adorable! Let's get you clothed and that monster of yours in some pants! Can't have people think we're deviants!"

Melinoe was scared stiff. The whole time he was in the village, he has never seen Sanria so excited or happy.

The kid looks at Melinoe and he shakes his head. Sanria ignores Melinoe and grabs the kid's hand.

"Let's go to my house. We have all the privacy in the world there! I promise to properly dress you!"

When Melinoe heard those words, he was suddenly afraid for the child. He didn't think that Sanria was that type of person. He finally realized why that beautiful woman was single and unmarried.

Deviant!

Despite being afraid of Sanria, Melinoe resolved to get the kid.

No child must ever have to suffer the depravities of an unhinged adult!

Melinoe, despite not yet finishing his magical foundation, rushes to the house.

Melinoe slams open the door to Gregory's house.

"Unhand that child you heathen!"

Before Melinoe could continue his speech, he sees a golden tail sweep towards him. It hits his face and he is knocked unconscious.

Melinoe's last thoughts echoed in his mind before he fell asleep.

Master?