The moon hung low, bathing the orphanage courtyard in a gentle glow. Arthur descended with the group of people he rescued floated behind him in silence. 

His feet touched down softly on the cobblestone, and the moment they landed, the people slowly began to look around.

Before any of them could speak, the door to the main orphanage building creaked open and Kai stepped out of the building.

He was barefoot, wearing a loose black robe, and despite the late hour, his posture was alert and sharp as ever. His eyes, however, narrowed at the sight before him.

A dozen thoughts crossed his mind, but he decided to ask Arthur about the people first. “…Who are they?” 

Arthur sighed slowly, then stepped toward his master.

“Slaves,” he said simply. “Or… they were.”

Kai didn’t speak. He only looked at the group again, at the visible bones beneath their skin due to malnourishment, and tattered rags barely clinging to their emaciated forms.

Arthur continued, his voice low, “After the banquet… someone slipped me a note with an address in it and stating that I’d find something interesting about Elaric.”

After that Arthur recounted everything to him that happened from going and rescuing the slaves, and killing the guards. He had told his master about Elaric, so Kai was already familiar with who Elaric was.

A beat of silence passed after Arthur completed his recounting.

Kai gave a slow, approving nod.

Kai didn’t offer words of praise or judgment. Instead, he stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Arthur’s shoulder.

“You did what you felt was right, kid. Don’t regret it.”

Arthur said nothing, but his shoulders loosened slightly.

As he was talking with Kai, just then, hurried footsteps echoed from inside the building.

Butler Hudson appeared from the building, adjusting the buttons of his nightcoat, a lantern in one hand and confusion writ all over his face.

“Sir…?” He looked at the group of ragged, wide-eyed strangers in the courtyard, then at Arthur. “Forgive me, but… what is happening?”

Arthur gave him a nod. “They’re staying with us now. I need you to help them with food, clothes, and accommodation.”

Hudson blinked, but nodded without hesitation. “Understood.”

He stepped forward and addressed the group with a calm, warm voice honed over years of experience.

“Please, this way. Let’s get you all something warm to eat first.”

He led them toward the orphanage’s canteen, walking slowly so the weakest could keep pace. They have been starved for who knows how many days from their appearance so he first took them to the canteen.

Arthur and Kai watched in silence as the group followed. Some limped, some leaned on others. One woman was nearly carried by two others. But they all moved forward hearing about food, hope was a powerful motivator after all.

Hudson went to wake up the head cook after telling the people to sit at the table. 

As they were returning to the canteen Hudson asked the cook, “Please prepare some porridge for them.”

The cook, wide-eyed at the scene as he entered the canteen didn’t even question him. He simply nodded and got to work, grabbing pots and shouting instructions at the kitchen staff.

Hudson then excused himself to prepare the dormitories, leaving a couple of maids to begin distributing blankets and clothes for the tired group.

…

Outside, Arthur leaned against the side wall of the building. Kai stood beside him, his hands crossed behind his back.

“Blood never washes off as easily as people think,” Kai said after a long pause seeing Arthur’s mood. “It stains the soul more than the sword.”

It was not the first time for him to take human life but massacring a group of people would always leave some psychological scars on one, and Kai knew it first hand so he reassured him.

“Look at the bright side, due to your action tonight. You saved many innocent souls, that’s what matters.” Arthur gave a small smile seeing Kai trying to cheer him up. 

Kai continued, “But you know, you got played right at the hand of the people who gave you the letter.”

Arthur nodded, “I figured…I don’t know who sent the note. But they clearly knew about me and Elaric’s enmity. They knew exactly how I’d react after receiving the note so they used me to get rid of him.”

Kai didn’t respond immediately, but his eyes grew sharper.

“I don’t care if they used me,” Arthur said quietly. “Because what I saw in that chamber… no one should have to live like that. No child should ever be caged, and me and Elaric already had a score to settle.”

Kai gave a soft grunt of approval.

“But whoever it was…” Arthur’s voice dropped an octave, much colder now. “They’re playing a game, and I don’t like being someone’s piece on the board.” Although the name of an organisation came to his mind, the Hollow Crown, it might have been them who sent him the note but he wasn’t hundred percent sure.

He looked up at the moon, his dark eyes reflecting its glow.

“I’ll find out who they are,” he said. “And when I do… they’ll regret thinking they could manipulate me.”

Kai looked at him for a long moment, then said. “You should also prepare for retaliation from the nobles.”

Arthur was confused and asked, “But I cleaned the place, there is no evidence left there.”

Kai scoffed, “You are underestimating mages boy. They have their ways to find out who the killer is even if you cleaned the place. It wouldn’t have mattered if you had killed some commoners, but killing a noble is a serious crime.”

Arthur nodded, he really didn’t care about the noble’s retaliation. The only thing he cared about was whether they would target the orphanage. He would have to think of a countermeasure quickly.

Arthur thought for a moment and said. “I will think about what to do.” He then continued, “I should get cleaned up. The childrens don’t need to see me covered in blood.”

Kai chuckled. “Go. I’ll keep watch.”

As Arthur stepped back into the orphanage, the sound of quiet voices and clinking bowls echoed from the canteen.

…

At one of the many hideouts of the Hollow Crown, buried beneath layers of illusions and runes, hurried footsteps echoed through the dimly lit stone corridors.

The footsteps belonged to Tristan, Alistair’s disciple. He didn’t bother to slow down as he reached the obsidian-inlaid double doors at the end of the hall and knocked twice.

“Enter,” came a calm voice from within.

Tristan stepped in, slightly out of breath. The room was lit by lanterns, books lined the curved walls, and maps covered the desk where Alistair stood with his arms crossed behind his back.

“What is it?” Alistair asked, his voice smooth and cool. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Tristan hesitated only a moment. “Elaric Bahram is dead.”

Alistair blinked in confusion. “…Dead?”

“It happened just a few hours ago,” Tristan confirmed. “But there were no bodies found, not even a spec of blood was left there. It took our scouts an hour to even confirm it.”

Alistair’s brow arched slightly. “Who killed him?” It was not everyday that you hear about a noble dying.

Tristan looked grim. “It was Arthur.”

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Alistair finally let out a slow breath, turning back toward the window behind his desk, eyes scanning the distant canal.

“So, he couldn’t wait anymore and finally did it…” he sighed. 

Tristan hesitated for a moment and then added, “There’s more to it master. One of our spies who was paying attention to the banquet noticed something odd. She said she saw someone slip something to Arthur.”

Alistair’s posture stiffened. He turned sharply towards Tristan as his face darkened.

“…What?”

“Someone approached him during the banquet and slipped something into his pocket. She thought it was strange but didn’t act.”

Alistair swore under his breath, a rare break in his usually calm demeanor. He slammed his palm on the desk.

“Those damn bastards,” he hissed. “I told them to stay out of my affairs!”

Tristan blinked in surprise. “Master?”

Alistair paced once across the room, then exhaled sharply. “It was the Scarlet Hand,” he said darkly. “Another faction within the Hollow Crown. At the last meeting, they were pressuring us to eliminate Elaric. They thought we were being too slow… They must’ve acted behind my back and used Arthur as a pawn.”

“But why Arthur?” Tristan asked.

“Because he’s had enmity with Elaric,” Alistair said bitterly. “They baited him knowing exactly what he’d do.”

Tristan lowered his head. “So what now?”

Alistair paused… then smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

“Now? Now the nobles and the church will come after him,” he said. “They’ll want his head. A noble’s death, especially one from a prestigious family like Bahram’s, won’t go unanswered.”

He sighed and leaned against the edge of the desk. “It’s a shame, that kid is talented. The church would either order him to be executed, or he would rot in jail for a lifetime.”

Tristan nodded. “Then… do we just let him fall in their grasp?”

Alistair’s eyes narrowed.

“No,” he said. “We will make a move. If we can rescue him, we might just bring him to our side.”

He looked up at Tristan, his voice low and measured. “Begin preparation, as soon as they imprison Arthur we will move. And get me his schedule from the academy.”

“Yes, Master,” Tristan replied, already turning to leave.

As the door closed behind him, Alistair looked once more to the canals beyond the window.

“They really went out of their way and involved an innocent,” he muttered to himself. “Let’s just hope he isn’t someone to hold grudges.”

…

Meanwhile with Arthur

Dawn crept gently over the horizon, the orphanage was peaceful now, and inside, thirty souls slept soundly for the first time in weeks.

Arthur, however, had already left for his academy, and silently slipped inside his dorm.

He had wiped all traces of his actions, and no one should have found evidence in that warehouse. But Kai had a point, he couldn’t underestimate mages or various kinds of spells they possess. If they were determined, they would find him.

The orphanage could become a target of the noble, so he needed to secure the people in it.

He had already come up with a plan and just needed to execute it, and the nobles wouldn’t even see his shadows.

…

As the morning arrived, Arthur went towards the training ground. Today marked the beginning of their one-month intensive training, a final push before the Ancient Realm gates opened.

Arthur spotted his friends near the center of the grounds.

Leon had a wooden practice blade resting on his shoulder. Finn was grumbling about early mornings, while Sophia was tying her hair into a ponytail. Natalya and Eva stood close, talking quietly.

When they noticed Arthur approaching, Finn waved. “Yo! Sleeping beauty’s back!”

Arthur offered a faint smile. “Morning.”

“You alright?” Leon asked quietly, studying his face.

Arthur nodded. “I’m good.”

Sophia gave him a look. “You don’t look good.”

Eva stepped beside him, her voice low. “If something’s wrong, you can tell us, Arthur. You know that, right?”

“I know,” he said. “Just… thinking about something, that’s all.”

Before the others could press, one of the academy’s senior instructors, Professor Elias Verdane, clapped his hands at the front.

“Alright, listen up!”

The murmuring students quickly quieted.

“You twenty have been selected to enter the Ancient Realm next month. Between now and then, you’ll be trained personally by your professors. This is not a vacation, we want you to get stronger as much as possible before you enter the Ancient Realm.”

His eyes swept over the group like a hawk. “Fail to keep up, and you would wish you worked harder after you entered the Ancient Realm.”

Finn winced hearing the professor.

Elias said for one last time, “Starting today, you all will train until dusk.”

***

Become a patreon member and read 30 Chapters ahead!

You can join my discord channel to discuss my novel and find artwork of this novel!!

.gg/PmkQsrAdMY

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep