By the time they reached home, Aric was able to tell the story of what had happened. Albert had already listened once, but not in great detail. Aric knew that his words would twist and turn through the mouths of others, but that was enough as long as there were no stains on his name.

He even spoke of the location so that people would go and see if what he said was true or not. After all, there should be frozen bodies there—unless the animals and magical beasts hadn't gobbled up everything by now.

William encouraged and praised Aric before leaving. Albert took Aric home by hand, as if Aric was some kind of doll and he would crumble at any given moment.

"Uncle, you don't have to be so careful. The healer said that I am fit to go home."

"Shut up. I don't even understand why you would want to be a bell boy. If you wanted experience, you could have hired any team and gone for an adventure. But you went as the bell boy. How stupid can you be?" Albert was reprimanding Aric when the door of his home opened, and out came a young boy. Albert hadn't seen him before.

"You never told me you have a brother," Albert asked, thinking the boy, who was Alden, was Aric's brother. Alden, who had just arrived, was massively puzzled by the words of this man who had come holding onto Aric. He had seen Albert before because there were very few good bakeries in the city, and Albert's bakery was now selling drinks that were apparently very good.

"He is my long-lost brother whom I found," Aric said. He didn't want to say that he had just picked Alden up one night and given him a place.

"Oh. Hello. I have seen you around," Albert said, sure that he had seen Alden's face before.

"Yes, I was living on Down Street before big brother Aric here took me away and let me and my sister stay with him," Alden said. This made Aric laugh as he didn't expect Alden to be so quick-witted, going along with Aric's lie so fast.

"Down Street? Hmm.. You have had a rough childhood. Good that you found your brother. I thought I would have to take care of you today, but since your brother and sister are here, you will be fine. Down Street boys are known to be the roughest and toughest," Albert said. He was baffled by the familial connections these two had but didn't question it.

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Aric was safely handed over to Alden, who took him and carried him inside by the shoulder. Albert also gave instructions on how to take care of Aric, which Alden listened to with interest and concentration. He wasn't sure what had happened, but he knew that Aric was acting. And he was acting along with Aric.

After Albert left, Aric got off Alden's shoulder and stretched himself. His sickly look was replaced by the same energetic boy that he had been. The pale look on his face was replaced by the same rosy cheeks full of vigor. He was able to pull off that look because the nano suit armor had a sick mode.

This was added as a prank in the suit for people to pull pranks on others. The nano armor would make it seem like the wearer was sick, thus making others alert. It seemed like Aric was able to pull the prank and convince a whole city of his sickness. Alden didn't seem to be that surprised when he saw Aric being perfectly fine.

"Thank you," Aric said. Alden put a smile on his face and replied.

"I made some roasted meat and bread. Do you want to eat?" Alden asked, not bothering to acknowledge what had happened. Though he was curious, he didn't ask.

"No. Did you eat?" Aric asked as he sat on the couch.

"Yes," Alden replied.

"Where is your sister?" Aric asked.

"She is upstairs. She is sleeping as she hasn't slept in such a cozy bed in her lifetime. I will wake her up," Alden said, embarrassed to admit that. He hurriedly walked towards the stairs, but he was stopped by Aric.

"No need," Aric said. He wasn't that interested in seeing his sister, and he could also tell that Alden was very protective of her, which was understandable as they came from a rough place. It was morning already, so it was time for him to return, or his parents would barge into his room.

Before he entered his room, Aric said, "I will be in my room. Don't disturb me. Your enemies are dead, by the way. If you want to know more, you can ask around. Just don't say anything about me."

Alden stiffened when he heard that his enemies were killed, but then he remembered the reason he was here. After Aric closed the door, Alden burst into tears. He had not cried since his mother's death. And after two years, his spirits finally gave way.

He bawled his eyes out silently on his couch. He didn't even know exactly why he was crying, but he felt like his emotions were all over the place.

"Brother, are you crying?" A small and cute hand was placed on his shoulder. Alden looked up to see his sister, and he couldn't help but hug her tightly. The little girl was confused but happy to get the hug. She had just woken from the best sleep of her life and came down to eat, only to find her brother crying.

She didn't know why, but her eyes welled with tears. They cried for a solid ten minutes before Alden said to his sister, "Avian, soon you will meet our savior and the reason why we are in this home. Promise me that you will never betray him."

"Huh?"

"Yes. Promise me." Alden insisted.

"But."

"Promise me." Alden was staunched in his words.

"I promise you brother. But what am I promising about?" Avian said.