"Young master was around nine years old when Madam passed away." Butler started.

"Sir, I know very little about Captain's biological mother. Could you share more details?" Hector inquired, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Yes. Can you tell us more about her?" Leo said.

"Let me continue." Norman intervened.

"Okay, Master." Butler nodded.

"Her name was Lara. She was a kind and loving woman who always had a smile on her face," Norman began, his voice carrying a sense of nostalgia. "Unlike Wanda, she was a player. She was a healer, known for her compassion and courage. She believed in helping others, even at great personal risk."

Norman continued, his gaze distant as he recalled memories. "On that unfortunate day, there was an unexpected surge of monsters in a high-level dungeon. She was part of a group attempting to clear it when things took a dire turn."

Norman paused, a somber air settling over the gathering. The orange glow of the bonfire cast shadows on his face, emphasizing the gravity of the tale.

"As they ventured deeper, the group faced powerful adversaries. Lara, despite being a healer, stood at the forefront, protecting her comrades. It was her generosity that earned her the respect and admiration of those who fought alongside her." he recounted.

"But as fate would have it, they encountered a formidable boss in the heart of the dungeon. The battle was fierce, and Lara displayed incredible resilience. However, in a tragic turn of events, she sacrificed herself to save her squad." Norman's voice carried a heavy weight, the pain of the past evident in his words.

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He sighed and looked at the fire. "Her death not only left a void in our lives but also marked a turning point for Ethan." Norman explained, his eyes reflecting both sorrow and pain.

Hector, Leo, and the rest of the group listened in respectful silence, absorbing the poignant tale. The crackling of the bonfire seemed to echo the emotions in the air.

"Sir, what happened to boss after that?" Leo asked, his voice filled with worry. He leaned forward, eager to learn more.

"After Madam's death, young master changed drastically. He became more aloof and somewhat distant. It was as if a part of his innocence was lost that day." Butler explained, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"He was just a child. Losing a parent at such a young age must have been incredibly difficult" Leo mused, empathizing with Ethan's past. He wondered how Ethan coped with such a trauma.

"It was all my fault. If I had given him time then he wouldn't have felt lonely. He had to stay without mother and father. I still remember how he asked me 'dad, when will you come back?' I can’t even imagine how he would've felt." Norman said holding his tears.

“Norman, you don’t have to blame yourself. You did the best you could in those circumstances. You were not the only one who was busy. The whole world was in chaos. There were sudden increase in number of gates. You had to lead the guild and protect the people. You had a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders.” Hans said, trying to console him.

“That’s right, guildmaster. You were not neglecting young master. You were doing your duty. You were a hero to many. You still are.” Trevor added, nodding in agreement.

"But still…” Norman trailed off, unable to finish his sentence. He clenched his fists, feeling a surge of guilt and regret. He wished he could turn back time and do things differently. He wished he could be a better father to Ethan.

"You don't need to feel guilty. What has happened you can't change it, you should focus on present now." Gorgan said, putting his hand over Norman shoulders and advising him.

"Yes uncle, it was no one's fault. It was just the circumstances that led to that." Emily said.

"Maybe you all are right. Anyways I should continue." Norman took a deep breath and continued.

"After watching Ethan growing more and more cold I decided to marry Wanda, in order to fulfill the absence of mother from Ethan's life." Norman said.

"Wanda tried to form a bond with Ethan but contrary to expectations Ethan didn't change at all." Norman sighed and felt heavy.

"It wasn't like Madam didn't tried to cheer up young master but young master had turned completely distant and aloof." Butler continued, his voice tinged with sadness.

"Yeah, I remember whenever I came to play with him. He wouldn't even bother greeting me and stay silent most of the time." Emily added, recalling their childhood with a sad smile.

"Everything was still okay till then. Things could've gotten better if that incident hadn’t happened." Norman expression darkened as he recalled that incident.

"Which incident are you talking about?" Leo asked not recalling any significant incident related to Ethan.

"Not many people know about this incident." Norman said, lowering his voice.

"Yes. Even I don't know." Emily said.

"Butler, tell them." Norman said.

"Okay Master." Butler nodded and prepared to tell about the incident which made him an awakened and Echleon member.