Rosie’s enthusiasm was infectious as she darted from room to room, her laughter echoing through the spacious new house. “There are three rooms! Can I really have one all to myself?” she asked, her voice brimming with hope.
Leo nodded, his heart warmed by her joy. “Of course, you can,” he assured her.
Her eyes alight with possibility, Rosie paused, considering her options. “Which one is mine?”
“Whichever one you like best,” Leo replied, gesturing expansively.
With a squeal of delight, Rosie scampered off to make her choice, her small feet pattering against the wooden floors.
Turning to his mother, Leo noticed her stillness, a stark contrast to Rosie’s exuberance. “Mom, are you alright?” he asked gently.
His mother’s eyes were filled with a mix of wonder and worry. “Can we really afford this place, Sweetie? It seems so… lavish for us,” she said, voicing her concerns.
Leo took a deep breath before explaining. “Actually, it’s by order of the association,” he began. “They insisted that as a Paladin, it’s important for me to reside in a place that reflects the church’s stature.”
The revelation brought tears to his mother’s eyes, though she quickly turned away, attempting to hide her emotions from Leo. When she faced him again, her smile was back in place, albeit tinged with a hint of sadness Leo couldn’t quite understand.
As he watched his mother begin to explore their new home, Leo couldn’t help but reflect on his past life. ‘If only I could have brought this much happiness to my parents in my previous world,’ he thought wistfully.
Eventually, the excitement of the day caught up with them, and they all gathered in the living room, their faces flushed from the flurry of activity and their hearts full of new beginnings.
…
"Ok, me and Rosie will go get our stuff; in the mean time, you cook something delicious for us, mom."
"But I don't have anything here."
Leo pointed at the cooling box.
"That over there is a cooling box; I bought a few things and put them in there; there are also some dishes in the cabinets."
Lisa rose and walked over to the cooling box. She was surprised when she opened it. She fixed her gaze on Leo.
"Sweetie, there is a lot of stuff here; did you buy all of it?"
"Yes, don't worry; use all of them if you want."
"OK, then you go; I will make dinner."
She began searching in cabinets for the tools she required, while Leo and Rosie left.
Lisa removed the meat and vegetables from the cooling box.
"Potatoes, tomatoes, and… beef?!"
She brought the pot and other items, such as a knife and grater, and began to wash them. Her eyes welled up as she was preparing the food.
"Don't cry, Lisa; God is finally looking at us; I have to be grateful."
Lisa rinsed her face, feeling the cool water wash away the fatigue of the day. She set the pot on the stove, its contents ready to simmer, and was about to go to the living room for a well-deserved rest when the doorbell’s chime interrupted her thoughts.
‘Could they be back already?’ she wondered, drying her hands on a towel as she made her way to the door.
With a gentle push, the door swung open to reveal a dwarf woman. “Can I help you?” Lisa inquired, her tone polite yet cautious.
The woman’s eyes crinkled with warmth. “You must be Leo’s mother? I’m Belgilia Fodoln, your landlord. Didn’t Leo mention me?” she asked.
Lisa offered a slight bow. “A pleasure to meet you, I’m Lisa Mantine. My apologies; it seems Leo was so eager to surprise us that he forgot,” she explained with an apologetic smile.
Belgilia waved off the apology. “No need for that. I just wanted to ensure everything was fine,” she said.
“Everything is more than fine, thank you, Ms. Fodoln,” Lisa assured her.
“Oh, please, just call me Belgilia,” the landlord insisted with a friendly nod.
“Very well, Belgilia,” Lisa agreed, her smile growing genuine.
Belgilia’s next words caught Lisa off guard. “By the way, you’ve done a remarkable job with Leo; he’s quite the gentleman.”
Surprise and pride mingled on Lisa’s face as she processed the compliment. “Thank you,” she managed, touched by the praise.
Their conversation was pleasantly interrupted as Leo and Rosie returned.
"O Ms. Fodoln!?"
"Leo, sweetie, why didn't you tell me about our landlord, Belgilia?"
Leo’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as his mother questioned him about Belgilia. “I’m sorry, I must have forgotten,” he admitted.
Rosie, ever curious and oblivious to the subtleties of adult conversation, piped up with a question of her own while nibbling on a piece of candy. “Who’s she?”
“She’s our landlord, Ms. Belgilia Fodoln. say hello,” Leo instructed gently.
With an innocent bow, Rosie greeted her. “Hello, Ms. Fodoln.”
Belgilia’s eyes twinkled with amusement at Rosie’s candor. “Hello, dear. Such a charming young lady you are,” she complimented.
“But you’re as tall as me!” Rosie blurted out with childlike honesty.
A gentle pinch from Leo was a reminder of manners. “Ouch!” Rosie exclaimed, rubbing her side.
“Rosie, that’s not polite. Ms. Fodoln is a dwarf,” Leo explained, trying to smooth over the faux pas.
Belgilia’s laughter filled the room, dispelling any awkwardness. “Hahaha… Don’t worry; she’s just a child,” she said with a hearty chuckle.
Handing Rosie a bag to distract her, Leo suggested, “Take this inside for now.”
With a pout but no further protest, Rosie took the bag and disappeared into the house.
Lisa watched her son with a mixture of pride and bewilderment. ‘He’s matured so much; when did my little boy become such a responsible young man?’ she mused silently.
Turning back to Belgilia, Lisa extended an invitation. “Would you care to join us for dinner?”
Belgilia declined politely. “No thank you, I must be going. But remember, don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.”
With Belgilia’s departure, Lisa and Leo retreated indoors. Rosie was busy in her room, leaving Lisa to ponder dinner preparations.
“Is dinner ready yet, Mom? I’m starving,” Leo called out.
“Just fifteen more minutes,” Lisa replied before adding, “I’m going to take a quick shower. Rosie, come join me.”
From her room came Rosie’s voice, laden with protest. “But I don’t want to! The water’s always so cold!”
Leo couldn’t help but laugh at his sister’s dramatics. “Our new shower has hot water connected directly to it,” he informed her.
Rosie’s demeanor shifted instantly from sullen to excited at the prospect of warm water. “Really?!”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“Yes,” Leo confirmed with a smile.
With newfound enthusiasm, Rosie gathered her things and followed Lisa towards the promise of a comforting shower.
…
Leo was waiting in the living room, he could hear his mom and Rosie’s laughter and playing.
'I wish this world had television; I'm bored.’
he sniffed the air and detected the smell of freshly cooked food
‘The food smells delicious; perhaps I should open a restaurant for my mother.’
After ten minutes, they came out. His mother was brushing her hair.
"I never felt this clean in years; come into the kitchen in five minutes."
Leo went into the kitchen to assist his mother in setting the table.
"You don't have to do this, Sweetie; you're tired, Go take a break."
"I am not tired; I am bored," Leo answered as if he really was a kid.
"All right, the table is set, Go call your sister.”
Leo went to Rosie’s room; she was cleaning her room.
"Rosie, come, dinner is ready."
"OK"
They entered the kitchen and took a seat at the table. Lisa brought a large bowl of beef and vegetables. Leo had never seen this food before in his previous life. When Lisa put their plate full of food in front of them, Rosie looked at her plate and asked in surprise.
"We have meat?"
“Yes, my dear, all thanks to your brother’s hard work,” Lisa replied, her voice filled with gratitude.
“Thank you, Leo,” Rosie said earnestly.
“You’re welcome. Now eat up before it cools,” Leo urged with a brotherly nudge.
The meal was a symphony of flavors, each bite better than the last. It was, without a doubt, one of the finest dishes Leo had ever savored.
“Mom, this is wonderful. Thank you,” he praised sincerely once they finished.
“You’re welcome, sweetie,” Lisa responded with an smile.
After dinner, Leo stayed behind to help his mother with the dishes. As he prepared for bed, he paused and turned back to Lisa. “Mom, I left two gold coins on the counter. Please use them tomorrow to buy new clothes for Rosie and yourself,” he said, his voice firm yet gentle.
Lisa’s eyes widened at the sight of the coins. “Two gold coins? that's too much, sweetie,” she gasped.
“Visit a nice store, pick out something beautiful. And if there’s money left over, stock up on food and whatever else we need. You don’t have to overwork yourself anymore,” Leo added with care.
Lisa hesitated, overwhelmed by her son’s gesture. “But… alright, I will,” she finally agreed.
“I’ll be off to work by 8:30 a.m. tomorrow. Goodnight, Mom.”
“Goodnight.”
With that, Leo retreated to his room, leaving Lisa in the quiet kitchen, her gaze lingering on the golden coins.
...
Leo got up at eight o'clock the next morning and went to take a shower. His mother was making breakfast when he came out.
"Good morning, mom."
"Good morning, Put on some clothes, and I'll make you breakfast."
Dressed in his new attire, Leo felt a renewed sense of purpose as he joined his mother at the breakfast table. A warm, baked egg awaited him, its aroma inviting him to savor the simple yet comforting meal.
As he ate, a thought crossed his mind. “Mom, does Rosie go to school?” he inquired between bites.
Lisa sighed, a shadow of concern crossing her features. “She was, but we couldn’t afford it this year,” she admitted.
“And the cost?” Leo pressed, already calculating in his head.
“Twenty silver coins each month,” Lisa replied, her voice tinged with regret.
Leo’s resolve hardened. “Then she must continue her education. It’s settled,” he declared.
Lisa’s worry deepened. “Leo, you’re already doing so much,” she protested gently.
“It’s necessary, Mom. Education is important. We’ll make it work,” Leo reassured her with a confidence.
Rising from the table, he donned his coat with a sense of urgency. “I have to leave for work now.,” he said.
“Take care, sweetie. May God watch over you,” Lisa called after him as he stepped out into the new day, her heart both heavy and hopeful.
Leo went straight to work. It was 8:40 a.m., and he had to be at work at 9. Fortunately, his new home was only five minutes away from the association. He was soon at the main entrance to the association. He proceeded in the same manner as the previous time. Lara was seated behind the desk.
"Mooring Ms. Lara" he said with a smile.
"Good morning" Lara raised her head briefly before returning to her paper.
Leo went to the storage room. He went into his closet to put his coat, and when he came out, Peter was there.
"Good morning, Mr. Peter."
"O Leo, you are early." Peter expression was warm.
"My new house is five minutes away from the association."
"You got a new house; congratulations” announced Peter with a hint of cheer in his voice. “And Ms. Rave said that today you don't need to go to her."
Leo’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Why’s that?” he asked.
“She believes your body needs time to adjust to the new diet. It’s quite a change, after all,” Peter explained.
Leo, ever eager, protested lightly. “I feel ready to begin training today.”
Peter shook his head, a serious look crossing his face. “Trust me, it’s better to wait. The strain could be too much too soon.”
Leo’s frown deepened, his mind racing for alternatives. “Then what am I to do with my day?”
“Mr. Haider has arrived; let's go to the library,” Peter offered, sensing Leo’s restlessness.
With a nod of agreement, Leo followed Peter’s lead, their steps echoing through the halls as they made their way to the library.
"Samuel, this is Leo Mantine, your new colleague who is going to work in the library."
Samuel was a medium-sized, chubby man with a large nose. He resembled the nobles in the stories. Leo extended his hand to shake Samuel's.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Haider."
Samuel extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you,"
He gave Leo a long look before adding.
"I have to say, you are quite young."
Leo grinned, he already looked at a calendar. "I will be fifteen in three mouths." .
"Fifteen? And you already have a job at Paladin Association? Fascinating"
When Peter noticed how well they were getting along, he went for the door.
"Well, I leave Leo in your hands, Samuel, If you need anything, I am in my office."
Samuel nodded to Peter before returning his gaze to Leo.
"Peter said you got the highest score in the entry test."
"Yes, sir, I did."
Samuel stroked his beard before settling into his chair.
"Tell me, Leo, do you have any interest in the field of alchemy?"
"Well, I don't know enough about alchemy to really answer your question," Leo admitted honestly.
“Hmm, good point. Alright, I’ll show you the ropes, so pay attention. If you look around, you'll see many books on the tables. These are either ones other members have been reading or ones brought in from elsewhere. Your first task is to get familiar with each area of the library, like history, magic, and so on. By reading the first page of each book, you’ll be able to identify which section it belongs to and return it to its proper place. Second, you’ll need to clean the tables and a portion of each area each day.”
“How do I choose the area to start in?”
“Don't worry, I'll guide you,” Samuel replied, rising to his feet with visible effort. Once steady, he led Leo toward the shelves.
"Third, I need to give you books to study."
Leo followed as Samuel began by collecting a few from the history section, including an introduction to the three great kingdoms. He moved next to a shelf on the Paladin's faith, then to one on basic regulations, and finally selected a book from the magic collection.
"OK, this is your last book for now."
He took out a book with a blue and brown cover. Leo read the headline.
‘Introduction to the World of Magic”
Leo's lips formed a smile. he received four books from Samuel.
"When you don't have anything to do, you can read them."
"Can I bring them back with me?"
"Yeah, sure," Samuel said, waving his hand.
"What should I do after I read all of them?"
"That should take you some time, but after that, I'll give you some more books, And please come to me if you have any questions."
"OK"
"And before I forget, if I wasn't here and a member came to borrow a book, write his name and the book name here, If he wanted a book from the forbidden section, I have to be here"
"What is the forbidden section" Leo asked curiously.
"It's the basement, dangerous books are there, each book there have a ranking and to read them you have to be at the same or higher ranking of that book, there are books there that not even captain are allowed to read."
He then paused for a second and looked at Leo.
"You can't read any of them"
Leo’s eyebrows rose, ‘I already know that’.
He faked a smile, “Noted”.
"OK then get to work, start with cleaning the tables, what ever you need is in the closet near my desk."
Leo went to the closet to get some rags. He gathers all of the books on the table and returns them to their proper sections before beginning to clean up the tables. He finished by taking his watch from his pocket.
'It took an hour and a half, I need to be faster so I can read my books.'
"Mr Haider, I cleaned the tables"
Samuel examined the tables.
“Not bad, that was fast, OK rest for half an hour and start reading your books, and also call me Samuel or teacher, I don’t like my last name”
Leo sat at one of tables. He put his book on the table and looked at the titles one by one
‘well I can read the faith and rule one later let’s start with the history first.’
In the next twenty minutes, Leo read around 30 pages.
‘Okay, so it’s saying the same thing as my school history book, but with a little more detail. The new thing I learned, in summary, is that the beginning of time isn’t really the beginning. There was also an ancient era with an ancient civilization that was destroyed, but it doesn’t explain why. This map shows a place called the Shadow Lands at the top left of the world. Why is it called the Shadow Lands, and what’s there? Did the ancient civilization live there? And if so, what destroyed them—demons? It says the Gates of Hell first opened in our time, so what could have destroyed them before? Could it be the same thing that created the Shadow Lands? There are also islands in the ocean, so maybe the Three Kingdoms aren’t the only kingdoms in this world.’
He checked the time; he still had five minutes.
'It also mentions elves, dwarfs, and orcs.'
A corner of his mouth lifted as he leaned back in his chair.
'I would like to meet some elves.'
He then turned to face Samuel.
"Mr. Samuel, can I ask you a question?"
Samuel turned to face him. "Go ahead"
"What is the average lifespan for a human? And how does it differ from other races?"
Samuel arched his brow. "I didn't expect that question"
He then paused for a few moments to think.
“It is different, humans normally lives around one hundred years, Orc are the same, dwarfs can live around two hundred years, god knows how long can elves live, the longest I know is around six thousand years. also when someone increase their rank, no matter the race, their lifespan increases, it look like that by increasing you mana, your lifespan also increase, I am not really sure about this though”
Leo blinked “Six thousand years?”.
"Yes, he was an Archmage"
"Isn't our era about 500 years old? Was he from the past?"
"No… How many pages did you read? There is an ancient era, a middle era, and our era, which is the beginning of time. When the world was in chaos around ten thousand years ago, the four races of humans, Orcs, Dwarfs, and Elves were killing each other like animals, and there were also magical beasts and dark creatures."
"But it said that magic came into our world in our time?!"
"Well, that's actually true, because magic was once sealed away in our world, most of it by the elves, and then the seal was broken by opening the gate of hell, Don't ask further; you are not qualified to learn more about this. If you want to learn more, you must advance in rank."
"Then why do we call our era the beginning of time?"
Samuel paused for a moment before responding in a deep voice.
"Because the god of light showed himself in this era, his arrival created a new beginning."