Some hours have passed since the group started walking to reach the nearest city or village.  They didn’t have a map but they still could remember some of the places in the map.  In half a day’s time, there was a small city to the north.  They were still far from their original destination so they need to resupply.  And this small city was perfect for resupplying.

The small group managed to reach the small city around noon.  The hot sun was shining brightly overhead making the heat unbearable for the tired group.  Without waiting for anything, they went inside the small city.

The small city of Hendun had around twenty thousand people living within it, consisting mostly of commoners.  Only about ten percent of the population here were nobles who were mostly controlling the happenings inside the small city.  Sturdy walls of about ten metres were erected all around Hendun giving it a certain sense of security.  Though whether these not so high walls would prove effective against invasion was another matter.  At least, it could provide protection against small groups of bandits and some occasional wandering monsters.

The city wasn’t that lively or that gloomy.  There were merchants scattered around the streets and were trying to sell their own wares.  Most had small smiles on their faces as they faced with their various customers while some were calling out desperately with all their might just to attract some potential customers.  Haggling customers could be seen everywhere which caused a lot of frowns on most merchants.  The very experienced ones could only chuckle though as their eyes gleamed with gold and silver coins lining up their pocket.

Alongside the not so narrow road stood the various houses of the people living in the city.  It was lacklustre compared to the city in the capital but it was not too shabby.  Most houses were two-storey tall while a few had three floors or higher.  One could easily distinguish a noble’s house from a commoner’s from the decorations and style of the house.  The nobles had a large amount of space that had fences and gates on it.  Although not as lavish, the richer merchants were also enjoying a larger plot of land which they embellished with their own personal tastes.  There were also guards employed who were standing in front of those gates so a noble’s or rich person’s house could easily be distinguished.

The group in which the third prince belonged continued to walk as they looked for a place to stay during the night.  Lots of inns were placed around the small city but finding a good but cheap one would be hard as they were already all fully booked.  What was left was some shabby looking inns, suspicious looking inns, very expensive inns, and some rundown inns.  The one leading the group, Embrick, frowned as the money they had on hand was too little and could not even afford those shabby looking inns.  There were other things he had to buy if they were to continue on their journey.

“This isn’t good.  It may take us all day to find a good one.”

Embrick stopped walking and leaned on a wall as he sighed.  He noticed Rachel slowly approaching him as she covered her mouth with her hand and whispered silently to his ears.

“Our money would be enough for an inn if we only had four people, right?”

“Four people?”

“Yes, four people.  Aren’t there just four of us here?”

Rachel smiled innocently as she looked at the wide-eyed Embrick.  A second passed as he also returned her smile with a smile of his.  Things were exactly as the female squire pointed out as the money they had on hand would be enough for four people to stay at a shabby inn.  The two were just in their teens while the other two were children.  He felt vibrant as he nodded to the idea, berating himself how he did not thought of it.

The group walked towards a certain direction as they followed Embrick.  He already found a shabby but nice inn that could accommodate the four of them.  It was a cheap inn but a clean one at that.  It took them ten minutes of walking before they arrived at the inn.  Embrick walked up to the counter as he talked to the young girl behind it.  He was asked to put the names of their group and he gladly did so.  He wrote his name, the female squire’s, his sister’s, and his sister’s friend’s.  He placed some silver coins on the young girl’s hands as she led them to their room.   The two girls would share a room while he would share one with his sister’s friend.

They were up on the second floor as the two girls went inside a room.  Embrick and the two children behind him followed the young girl to the farthest room in the back, in which she quickly left after showing them their room and giving him the key.  Embrick stepped inside the room and found the place suitable.  As expected, the place wasn’t too luxurious with only the basics inside like the bed and some drawers but it was also sparkly clean.  Being able to sleep in this place for that price was a bargain for them.

Lark followed Embrick inside the room as he heard the door closed behind him.  He saw that the one who closed the door was the young squire who entered before him.  He was puzzled and began to ask Embrick the reason for his actions.

“Why you close the door?  Third prince is still outside!”

The young squire shook his head as he sighed.  He placed his hand on Lark’s shoulder as he kneeled down and looked at the young Lark’s eyes.

“There’s another room.  Another room, okay?”

Lark tilted his head on the side but then he nodded after he understood what the young squire meant.  Sadly, he was a good child and doubting people wasn’t really in his nature as he wasn’t able to see through the lies.  He smiled as he thought the third prince was lucky as he had his own room.  Earlier, he thought this person in front of him was bad as he ignored the third prince but it looked like the case wasn’t like that.  He was even thankful to him as the young squire provided the third prince with a room of his own.  Lark was excited as he thought of visiting and playing at the third prince’s room later.

Outside of the room, the third prince could only smile wryly as he sighed softly in his heart.  Dwelling on this would achieve nothing so instead of staying still like that and pondering, he decided to just go outside and explore the city.  Even though it could not be compared to the large cities that had hundreds of thousands of people living within them, a small city like this would also take some time to fully explore.  He was also admittedly bored so exploring and seeing new things would be fun and exciting.

The young girl at the inn’s counter did not give him any look as he exited the place.  Lots of people were walking outside and various noises could be heard all throughout the street.  He had no destination in mind as his intention was to explore so he just went where his feet would take him.  This experience was refreshing as he only had stayed in the castle the entire time for more than five years in this world.

As he walked on the streets, there were some objects being sold that caught his eye.  He didn’t have any money though so he could only shake his head as he tried his hardest to avert his eyes from them.  There was also this particular pendant that would surely suit the maid that worked for him for a few months.

“I wonder what she’s doing now.”

He looked at the direction of the capital.  He left the place without telling the maid as he was sure the maid would be forced to follow him even though she told him she loved the capital.  She may not look like it but she was stubborn in her duties and even if not told to accompany him, she will do so, albeit reluctantly.  He did not tell her of his leaving but he did leave her a letter telling her of his gratefulness.  He wasn’t used, no, he didn’t know how to be emotional so he just wrote what he thought as is.  Also, he left her all the money he saved up so that she can use it.  He understood that the short period she served him managed to sever or block some ties of hers to other people so having a bit of money would help.  He also knew about the situation of her family so the amount he left was enough for her and her family to live comfortably for many years.  It was all his money as the third prince after all.

Dismissing his worries, he continued his pace.  Like in all cities, some places that you could call slums exist.  These places were known for being scary; some lawless while some were full of misery.  One wouldn’t be able to complain if he was instantly robbed or killed in these places.  Poverty was rampant so crime was also rampant.  The number of crimes and atrocities committed in these places would make anyone shudder so the wise would do their best to stay away.  Only fools would step inside of their own accord as a foolish third prince also did so.

Wearing gaudy clothes fitting for a prince, he continued walking within the slums.  The stench was unbearable for many but he walked on without giving it a care.  There were people sitting and leaning on the walls.  Their eyes were devoid of life and hope.  It was as if they were just waiting for their deaths as they laze on the ground.  There were also other people who had menacing eyes.  A group of them was looking at the young child who just entered their territory.

“Looks like we hit the jackpot.”

A young man said so as he licked his lips.  He had a wide grin on his face filled with something sinister.  The three men around him were also wearing the same expression as his as one would even lick his rusty knife.

“Boss, we have to be careful.  He is wearing such a dress so his family may be very influential.  One wrong move and this place may be cleansed.”

Another young man, a distance away from them, talked to the other four.  He was skinny like the others as they were not graced with proper meals but if one would look closer, one could see how lean his muscles were.  His skinny appearance belies his strength.

“What are you worrying about, Drivk?  Money is right in front of us!  This is why I hate newbies!”

The one who replied at him with a husky voice was another young man standing closer to the one they call “Boss”.  He was always seen standing close to the “Boss” and there was never at time when he would leave his side.  Literally not a single time.

Drivk, who just joined their group, frowned.  He just joined yesterday and this was the first time he would be in action.  During the twenty or so years of his life, he had lived poorly but with pride.  He never harmed others or stole from them like what most people do in the slums.  In fact, he would help them even with the meagre amount of money he had with him.  His parents were already deceased but he had his little sister with him.  She was a lovely and lively child who would always smile at him.  Their lives were tough with almost nothing to it but he still tried his best to give her everything she would need.  He only did low paying but honourable jobs.  He didn’t want to put any shame to his name and his sister’s.  He wanted her to live a happy and fulfilling life, if not only for that despicable illness.

One day, half a year ago, he went back home to their poorly constructed house.  He was tired from doing multiple jobs and was really sleepy but he told himself that sleep can wait until he saw his sister’s very happy and excited face.  After all, it was her birthday that day and he had a little surprise for her.  He couldn’t wait for a second more as he hurriedly stepped inside their house and called for his sister’s name.  Their house was small so he could easily see everything inside, as so his lively sister who was now crouching on the ground, clutching something in the middle of her chest.

He immediately rushed towards her as his heart wrenched in pain.  His sister was very cold making her previous warmth disappear.  He repeatedly asked himself how his very lively sister turned out like this.  Could it be that he just did not notice it?  Could it be that the care he gave was not enough?  Was it some food he gave her?  His thoughts swirled as he placed his sister in a more comfortable place in their house, the creaky wooden bed.

He did not know what to do and did not want to take some actions as he did not want to cause harm to his sister.  Some actions may just further worsen her condition.  Luckily, he knew a kind old doctor that he once helped.  There was some distance away from the old doctor’s house so he quickly ran with all his might to fetch him.  Nothing misfortunate happened as he and the old doctor made their way to his sister.  The old doctor instructed him to prepare some things which he hastily did.  He was a little happy that his sister would now be saved but proved him very wrong.

“She is safe now but…”

“…But?”

“I’m afraid I cannot cure her.  I’ve treated lots of sickness but this is the first time I encountered something like this.”

The old doctor had a very guilty look on his face as Drivk clenched his fist.  He knew how good a person the doctor was so he understood that he was not tricking him or anything.  The reason why he clenched his fist was because of how helpless and weak he is.  What reason was there for him to even be here if he could not even save his only family?  Tears soon rushed down his face as he remembered how lively and lovely his sister was.  The doctor patted his shoulder.  The cute doll already forgotten, lying down on the dirty floor.

“I’ll do my best to alleviate her from pain as much as possible.  I’ll also try to compound some medicines for her.  There’s no guarantee though.”

“Thank you…  At least there’s hope now.”

Of course, medicines and their ingredients cost money and he could not possibly force the burden for the old doctor to bear.  The kind old doctor was also persistent as he said that he would only take half of the money needed.  His impression of Drivk was, after all, a very favourable one.  A very diligent and honest young man even though he was part of the slums.

All of his savings already had all been used up after six months so although he really dislike things like robberies and such, he couldn’t find any other work that would earn him big in such a little time.  There were high paying jobs in the city but they had all refused someone who lives in the slum, saying he was someone who couldn’t be trusted at all.  Dejected, filled with worries about his sister’s situation, coupled with the continuously rising amount of medicine his sister needs, he turned to the only feasible solution; to rob others.

He thought he had already fully resolved himself to turn into this despicable ways but imagining how the family of that young child they were about to rob and perhaps kill made him stop.  As someone who was about to lose his only family, he could somehow understand how hard it would be to lose someone.  He didn’t want to create someone like him through his actions.  He’d just have to try harder to find a very high paying job, he thought to himself.

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“Boss, will a rich-looking child like him just walk through here?  Think of it, there hasn’t been a case like that here in the slums.  I’m sure that there are powerful people guarding him.  They’re just too skilled that we can’t see them right now.”

Drivk was trying to persuade the leader of the group.  He, himself, didn’t very much believe the words coming out from his own mouth but he had to so that the group would believe him.  He also thought of just shouting towards the kid to make him scared so that the kid could run away.  But that would be his last resort as he didn’t want to make himself the target of the thieving group, subsequently bringing harm to his younger sister.

“Is that the case?”

The “boss” made a grumbling sound as he still did not avert his stare from the wandering child.  The luxurious clothes pretty much tempted him to make his way to the child as soon as possible.  The others around him were making similar expressions.  Drivk was about to sigh in relief until the person sticking to the “boss” spoke.

“If there really are guards, then where are they?  And if they really are hiding, then we can just kill the child quickly and take his belongings.  After that, we can just run away fast!”

“But they’re going to see our face!  Even if we succeed, they’ll just hunt our families!”

“You just have to cover your face, right?”

The “boss” and the others nodded in agreement.  Drivk felt cold sweat running down his back as the group began to put masks around their faces.  The preparations only took some seconds as the group in front of him menacingly looked at their target, or as the situation would call it, their prey.  Hesitation filled Drivk’s eyes but it soon disappeared as he readied his next move.

“That clueless child over there, run!!!”

He shouted on top of his lungs as he ran to position himself between the child and the group.  Only tens of metres separated the child and the group so he was able to position himself easily with his back towards the child.  The group of thieves were a little delayed in their action thanks to Drivk’s surprising actions.  His action was just something out of their expectations.

“What are you doing, newbie?”

The boss’ tone of voice was cold with a hint of fury.  The other members stood to his side while they held their knives and daggers in hand.  They were giving looks of intimidation that would easily make others scared stiff.  Adding the murderous look in their eyes and their rough looking faces and one would already run away for life, leaving the valuables behind.

“I already told you, this is dangerous.  Let’s just give up and look for an easier target, okay?”

Drivk knew that even if he could handle two or three of them alone there was no way for him to handle five people at once but he still had a smile on his face.  It was a smile full of confidence as his eyes held something deep within them.  A sort of conviction, or was it perhaps some sort of will?  He himself didn’t know what it was but he still stood against the group of thieves.

“Hmph.  Two is always better than one.  Get that newbie and the young child.  Let’s teach them the meaning of pain!”

The group was slightly taken aback by Drivk’s demeanour but they quickly recovered seeing as how Drivk was unarmed.  The group dashed towards the easier prey as they didn’t want the child to flee.  They knew where Drivk lived so they could easily pursue him later if he decided to run away.  Ignoring the “newbie”, they were fast approaching the young child.

“Like I’d let you!”

Drivk brought his arms up and turned his hands into sturdy fists.  He didn’t have any weapons but he knew how to fight using his fists.  He got to practice a little six years ago when he worked under an adventurer.  The job lasted for half a year and that span of time allowed him to be trained enough for combat even against those who were armed with weapons.  But he still knew he could not win and would just buy enough time for the young child to run away. 

But why is this child not running away was what he thought as he bit his lips.  He could pick the child up in his arms and run but the extra weight would make it easy for them to be caught.  The only choice was for him to block all five men alone, at the same time.  He gritted his teeth as the distance grew shorter and shorter.

The group of thieves though was already well-experienced.  They easily saw through Drivk’s plans as two of them split up from the group and made a runabout way towards the child.  The remaining three charged toward Drivk as they managed to surround him.  They were full of smiles as they had accomplished their plan without a hitch.  Now, with the newbie surrounded, the two thieves who aimed for the child wouldn’t have to worry anymore and could focus all their attention on the easy prey.

Horror filled Drivk’s face as he understood how he easily fell to the group’s plan.  The child would meet a gruesome fate without a doubt so with desperation, he attacked the three surrounding him.  He just wanted to make some sort of opening so that he could rush towards the kid.

Drivk threw his right fist towards the one in front of him.  The boss, who was in front of him, put together his arms in a cross to block his face.  The punch connected but he was surprised at the weak power behind the punch.  Then he heard a sound of someone falling on the ground.  He removed the arms blocking his face only to find that one of them was kicked away by the newbie.

No matter how desperate he was, Drivk still maintained a calm mind.  He was taught by the adventurer to always maintain a calm mind in a fight.  That was why he was still able to throw in some feints with his attacks.  Luckily, the one in front of him blocked with his arms, blocking the vision, so he was able to throw a side kick to the one in his right.  The thief in his right wasn’t able to react properly in time as his right foot went deep into the thief’s stomach.  That sent the thief flying, hitting the wall making him unconscious.

The boss was only still beginning to be filled up in anger as the thief remaining close to him made a move.  He swiftly thrust his rusty dagger to the open side of Drivk’s body.  This happened as soon as the other thief hit the wall so there was no time for Drivk to evade or even block his attack.  And that was where he was wrong.

Drivk already sensed the thief approaching his side as he brought his left knee and left elbow to block the rusty dagger.  There was a look of shock on the thief’s face as his weapon was placed in between the newbie’s elbow and knee.  He thought that doing that was impossible but seeing it happening before him told him otherwise.  He still did not let go of his weapon which earned him a hook punch from Drivk.  With sounds of a nose’s bones breaking, the thief was also sent flying.

Drivk smiled.  He was glad that his body still remembered how to fight properly even though he was just doing routine training now and no more fighting.  He was about to charge towards the boss when a scene in the corner of his eyes prevented him so.  Two thieves with knives on their hands were already about to swing their weapons towards the child.

His face was filled with regret and guilt.  He scolded himself as he forgot what his goal was.  It wasn’t about beating the ones in front of him nor was it about reliving the feeling of fighting.  It was to save the unfortunate child!  He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists so hard that blood could be seen dripping from within them.

“”Huh?””

The two thieves were surprised.  Indeed, it was surprising that their knives hit each other but that wasn’t the reason they were surprised.  Instead of backing away or running away, the young child took a single step forward.  That little action made their attacks miss their mark, even making their weapons hit each other.  They both had wide eyes but they once again focused on their attack, dispelling their earlier thoughts.

Seeing the young child so close to them that their bodies were already hitting, they grinned widely as they raised their weapons high up and brought it down to the child, hitting nothing but air.  The child once again took another step forward to their surprise.  Normally, a child should already be cowering in fear of their weapons but the child in front of them was clearly not normal.

“Grab him, you fools!”

Hearing the voice of their boss, they regained their senses as one of them rushed to grab the child.  The thief’s right hand was about to grab the child’s shoulder when he felt something on his feet as he tripped forward, nose first.  That made his nose bleed as his thoughts became disoriented.

The other thief looked at how the boy continued to walk after stopping and tripping his comrade.  Blood boiled within him at the fact that a mere child was able to greatly humiliate them.  With blood rushing through his head, he dashed towards the young child.  Fortunately, the child still wasn’t running as the child still calmly walked straight forward.  It’s just ten metres between them so he successfully grabbed the child’s shoulder.  He smiled widely at his success but was puzzled as the young child looked at him with a smile.  He then felt something on his back.

Just like the other thief, the thief who fell down was full of anger in the humiliation he suffered from the child.  His thoughts were already full of how to torture the young child, on the ways of how to get the best scream out of the child, and how to laugh in delight as the young child would eventually lose the life in his eyes.  With his still hazy mind, commendably, he still managed to grip his knife and throw it towards the direction of the child.  He passed out soon afterwards.

Drivk watched as the scene which he considered was absurd happened in front of his eyes.  He didn’t know whether to think whether the child was truly lucky or was just truly skilled.  The same could also be said to the boss of the thieves just a few distance from him.  Both of them stood still but the first one recover his bearing was Drivk who instantly rushed to the boss and did an uppercut with his right fist that knocked out the boss out cold on the floor after experiencing how to fly in three seconds.

Drivk panted as he was mentally exhausted.  The fight didn’t drain much of his stamina but him being full of worries did much damage to his mental health.  Gladly, the young child wasn’t hurt in any way as he breathed a sigh of relief.  He soon ran up to the child who resumed his walking.

“Hey!  Are you alright?”

Even though he saw how the whole scene unfolded in front of him, he still had to ask.  There may have been some injuries or something to the child so checking for it was important.  The young child turned around and smiled in response.  It was a childish smile devoid of any fear.

“Thank you, kind mister.  I’m fine.”

“Ah, that’s good then.”

The young child bowed his head towards Drivk as the latter scratched his head.  He didn’t know what to think of the child’s calmness even with the thing that just happened to them.  He was thinking if perhaps the child was already too used to these kind of incidents.  But he thought that if that was the case, he felt sad at the kind of life the child could have been living.  How nice it would be if that wasn’t the case, is what he earnestly thought.

“Drivk!  Hurry!  Your sister!”

What break the small silence was a shout from an old man.  The old man was wearing a white robe that covered most of his other clothes.  His hair was white just like the long beard under his chin.  Sweat beads formed on his face especially on his forehead as he continued to pant.  He rested his hands on his knees as soon as his face saw Drivk’s.

“What happened?!”

A look full of anxiety was displayed on Drivk’s face.  Judging from the doctor’s words and expression, something terrible should have happened to his dear sister.  He wanted to rush straight away to his house but he felt the need to hear the doctor’s words first.

“Ha…  Ha…  It’s terrible!  I don’t know what happened but she’s losing her life fast!”

“Damn!!!  What can we do?!”

“Maybe someone who knows a healing magic could help.  I don’t know anyone who knows that magic but maybe you do.”

Drivk tried recalling all the persons he met from the various jobs he did all his life but he failed to find someone who knew healing magic from his memory.  No one really studied healing magic as it was harmful to one’s body.  Feeling helpless once again, he gritted his teeth hard.

“Why?!  Why should this happen?!  My sister haven’t done anything to deserve this!!!”

Drivk began to scream on top of his lungs while staring straight to the sky.  He did not believe in gods but if there was one, he would like to have some help in exchange for anything.  He was so desperate for help that tears began streaming down his cheeks that were tired from screaming his heart out.  He powerlessly fell on his knees as rain began to pour down upon him.

The old doctor approached the young man with sorrow and pity in his eyes.  He tapped Drivk’s shoulder and spoke with a calming voice.

“At least…  At least stay at her side till her last moments.”

Drivk made no response as he looked at the old doctor with lifeless eyes.  It took him some seconds before he understood that even if there was nothing he could do to save his most beloved sister, he could still at least stay by her side and make her smile until her final moments.  He wanted his sister to feel happy before everything came to an end.

With renewed determination filling his eyes, he grabbed the old doctor’s outstretched hand and stood up.  The falling rain was indeed very cold but it would not deter the feelings burning inside him the slightest.  The two of them began to walk towards the direction of the young man’s house.  They were so filled with emotions that they did not notice a young child was following them from a distance not too far away.