CHAPTER 77: PARENT

The cold night air flooded into the room, waking up the sleeping woman inside.

"Sister, it’s me," Zephyr spoke, his voice barely audible.

"Zephyr?" The young woman sat up, trying her best not to wake up the babies sleeping next to her.

"Yes." Zephyr walked into the candlelight, showing his bruised and battered appearance.

The young woman widened her eyes.

"What happened to you?" She almost shouted.

"Nothing, nothing at all." He reassured her before continuing. "I have something important to tell you."

"Did the lord beat you again?"

She asked, concerned.

"Why are you calling him the lord? He is your uncle who stole your father’s title. The family title should go to your son."

Zephyr gazed at the baby boy who was sleeping soundly. Right next to the child was his twin, a baby girl.

"He should be the next count." He added.

"Shhhh...Don’t say that." The young woman motioned for him to stop. "If your uncle hears it, he will..."

Suddenly, she paused. Then, shaking her head, she continued.

"Uncle promised my husband that he is looking after the family for the time being. He said he will hand over the title once my boy comes of age."

"Do you really believe that?"

Zephyr was appalled.

His cousin-sister was still in denial.

"..."

The young woman didn’t speak for a while. Even she must have realised where the trajectory of her life was going. Thinking about it was futile.

With deep sadness, she looked at her children. The young boy was sleeping peacefully on the bed. How long will his peace last? No one knows.

"I am leaving. I am going to become a mage." Breaking the silence, Zephyr spoke. "I finally got my hand on the family seal and stamped the letter. I can now go to the capital with it and participate in the selection examination."

"You are leaving?" The sister widened her eyes.

"Yes. I must." He said with conviction. "I secretly learned to read and write to get this chance. I can’t let the opportunity slip by me."

"How will you go to the capital?"

"I will travel with one of my friends." He said.

There was a merchant caravan headed to the capital. Hitching a ride will get him there safely.

"It’s dangerous." The young said with a hint of sadness and concern.

Zephyr nodded.

To reach the capital city, or otherwise known as the imperial city, he would have to go through mountains, forests, and grasslands, filled with monsters and magical beasts. It was a perilous journey that could kill him. So, Zephyr knew of the dangers beforehand.

Still, he decided to leave the house. Because it was his only chance to gain true freedom. And it was the only chance to protect what he loved.

His eyes momentarily swept past the faces of his niece and nephew. He knew the peace they had was temporary. If he can’t become a mage or someone powerful, they would suffer under his uncle.

Gritting his teeth, he decided to speak his mind for one last time.

"I will leave now. I hope you can be safe until I return. I will surely come back and take care of you."

The cousin hesitated, but still nodded in the end.

"I hope you become the greatest mage, Zephyr." She said with a bright smile.

Zephyr nodded and turned around, hiding his tears.

Both Zephyr and his cousin lost their parents when they were young. Zephyr was too young at the time and couldn’t even remember the faces of his parents anymore.

Now, when he thinks about his parents, his sister’s face comes up in his memory. He remembered everything she had suffered under their uncle to take care of him.

Therefore, when he said he was going to return and take care of her, he meant it.

With steady steps, he walked out of the room and closed the door. The drunk brother-in-law will crawl back anytime now. Before that, he had to leave.

"I hope nothing bad happens." He prayed and walked away into the darkness.

—

The scene changed again.

This time, Zephyr was standing proudly amongst the recruits who passed the examination. The rest of them were in their late to mid-teens, and he was the only one who was thirteen years old.

After the examination, they were brought into a large hall. There were about a hundred or so new recruits this time.

Half of them were for the knight academy. The rest were nobles who wished to join either the Storm Tower or the Royal Academy.

Everyone was waiting patiently to see if they could join either one. After all, they would have to be chosen to join them.

A while later, just as he felt his legs cramp, the Tower Masters and Royal Academy Masters walked into the hall. Immediately, a defeating silence permeated. Just their presence was enough to make all the teenagers behave.

Zephyr adjusted his shabby clothes, waiting patiently for them to climb up onto the podium.

The tension was palpable; the recruitment procedure was about to begin. The coveted first pick would go to the Storm Tower, who would immediately claim the exam’s top scorer.

Following them, the Royal Academy would issue its summons for the next most talented candidate. They would continue this alternating recruitment pattern, each side taking turns to secure a new member.

No one among the examinees knows their score. So, everyone patiently waited to see who would be the first pick, the top scorer.

Just as the children stood there with greater expectations, nobles, peasants, and all who passed the exam, a master from the storm tower walked up to the podium in front.

The navy blue robe made of luxurious fabric, the gold rimmed monocle he wore, and the slight glow around his staff, everything evoked a sense of mystery, power, and prestige.

Zephyr stood amongst the children, waiting to hear his name amongst the first few who were going to be chosen. Even if he were the last, he still wouldn’t complain since being a mage was enough to turn around his life.

As the anticipation peaked, the man spoke.

"Zephyr Venturi, walk to the front." The monocle-wearing master called out.

Zephyr gasped for air.

He stood there momentarily lost in disbelief. He couldn’t believe his ears.

"Zephyr Venturi." The Master called out again.

Immediately, all the eyes in the hall gathered on him.

Zephyr realised it was not a mistake. He was the one who was being asked to come forward.

Unknowingly, he took a step forward as the children around him parted to make way. Then another step, and another...

Finally, he reached the podium carrying hopes and dreams.

The monocle-wearing Master smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"Zephyr Venturi, you have been chosen as this year’s top performer. You scored exceptionally well in the mana sensitivity test and mana control test. Do you wish to join the Storm Tower?" He asked.

Zephyr nodded absentmindedly. What happened felt like a dream to him. And if it was a dream, he never wanted to wake up from it.

With that, the scene ended, taking the soul to another destination to show something else.