Chapter 6: Chapter 4: The Beginning Arc

As soon as he reached the hall beyond the door, three souls arrived upon him.

“Master!” The female voices called to the old man in unison, grabbing his attention immediately.

With an unbothered expression, he said the same words, used many times towards new kids that now belonged to the base, “that child, treat her well and make the girl one of your own.”

They made a little celebration like hyped children would upon receiving a new toy or a pet, perhaps even a baby sibling, “a new sister! The master has blessed us with a new one! Hurray! Aren’t you girls happy?” The young woman stared at both, carefully analyzing their responses and expressions.

“Hehe!” Fafia giggled cutely, moving along with her sisters towards the inside of the room, finding the one asleep. “This one has quite the exquisite hair. I wonder if she has any talent. What do you think, Rubia?”

They looked at each other with open mouths at the strange sight, “white hair... maybe it could symbolize the light element? I guess black hair would be closer to the dark one, in a way. What’s your opinion, Maia?”

The two lassies stared at the mentioned one while they felt curious, despite all of them knowing that the color meant nothing towards such a possibility. Yet it was a fun game, to guess the newcomer’s affinity if they had one at all. This happened often since they were the oldest ones in this place, members being in their twenties, excluding Timothy, who was past his thirties.

“I suppose, the light, wind, or even water one,” Maia passed her hand through her chin, scratching it slightly, and then nodded, making that the final decision.

“Around that, I’d say! Though her hair is kind of cute, no different from a little white fur sheep.”

Once again, their gazes befell on the young one, almost as if they caressed her with them.

Fafia started removing the fainted girl shoes, who added enthusiastically. “In that case, a white cloud could also be a good comparison!”

They giggled merrily once more, hearing the elder voices who remained at the door, making his words resound inside the room angrily.

“Girls less chattering and change her clothing already,” he clicked his tongue with a hint of anger and impatience.

“Yes, master!” The girls responded in unison after shrieking, bowing respectfully afterward, and then hastened the pace.

Maia, who noticed the direction of the stare from the old man’s eyes, placed herself in front of the fainted girl, blocking his view, causing him to scold her, “no point in hiding her naked body from me fool, I have to make sure of something!”

The young woman frowned nervously, taking a few steps away, “apologies master!”

She then proceeded to remove the brown pants along with the white underwear, leaving her completely exposed as the girl came into the world.

From the sideline, he pointed at the unconscious girl and ordered Maia. “Pass a wet towel in the middle of her legs and show it to me.”

The young woman did as she was told and upon giving it to him, the old man examined it, becoming full of suspicion.

‘Her first time seems to be intact. The panties and pants are clean, even with the rain, hints, and stenches should remain...”

Feeling confused inside, he decided to let it be for now. “I’m going to work. Take care of her, will you?” Without waiting for an actual response, his legs took him further into the hall, disappearing out of their sight in no time.

To what, the girls per habit and out of respect responded, “of course, master!”

They dressed her in warm, clean, and white clothing, fuzzy pajamas after wiping her entire body from any residual wetness with clean white rags.

Rubia then called out to the eldest brother, who remained in the hall outside of the room, but close to the door. “Timothy, you can come now and carry her upstairs for us, will you?”

Without caring too much, he responded harshly as the master was still capable of hearing, despite being further away from them. “You bunch of weaklings!”

With a lower tone, he then added, “leave it to me and my great muscles,” he rose both sides of the chest, one at a turn jokingly.

The girls started laughing joyously while giving him space to get close to the white-haired one, who was now sheltered by warm clothing.

‘She looks much better, so much for talking about not wasting mana on random people,’ Timothy smiled heartily and princess carried the feeble, slender girl upstairs.

Once he placed her on a bed, his right hand pulled the linen up to the girl’s chin and as the man appeared to leave. A muttering voice made him approach his left ear to the source.

“Este... ban... fri...end.”

The murmur soon stopped, and the man went into thought, surprised. ‘Esteban is it? Quite the weird name, but for there to be a named. From the place she came from? Judging by her aspect and clothing, it has to be one of those orphanages... I wonder why is there one hiding in there.’

The man grinned, for those with potential could have a use to his master. ‘Sounds like it could be useful, and even an anchor for her to stay with us. Essentially, if she had the water element along with talent, the old man won’t allow her to leave this place.’

His eyes glanced over at Maia, who seemed over caring about this one, “look out for her. It wouldn’t amaze me if she woke up earlier than expected.”

“Hum? Is there an expected date?” With an innocent expression and tone, she looked at him. He who remained expressionless and then, shortly after, returned her gaze to the girl, looking for waking up signs, feeling confused about the entire thing. Nonetheless, preserving her own value of judgment, making sure to keep the girl in perfect condition so the old one wouldn’t injure her later.

“Initially, I figured like a bit more than a week based on the body, and the days I assumed her to be lying down on that floor. Now, with the words of the master, one can only expect a miraculous recovery.”

A tender smile appeared on Maia’s expression as a low tone followed soon after from her moving lips, “master doesn’t show it but he’s actually kind, to take us to live under his place... and even going as far as to use his almighty magic on an unnamed.”

He sighed, knowing better, in fact, both did, but not to his extent. The hunter shrugged his shoulders and stared coldly at her, remembering the young woman of the truth, in a way to keep her awareness intact.

“Well, it always depends on how useful they can be to him. You can view it as a merciful act. However, the master wouldn’t blink twice to disposed you.”

The girl’s legs shook while her head lowered, becoming closer to the one asleep.

“I understand Timothy. I’ll be careful even if I’m part of the talented.”

With that, the man nodded silently, remembering something that he found pleasurable to ask. “How many named kids so far?”

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He crossed his arms, anticipating a quick answer, and to reach his expectation, she gave him an efficient one with a robotic tone.

“8 out of 98, with this girl, 91 kids remain without a blessing or a name.”

With a closed mouth, the bulky one made a couple of sounds, attempting to understand what he saw back then. “It truly is weird to be able to do magic without a name, so this orphan should have one, probably...” His eyes glanced back to the one asleep, hoping for that to be true as she’d get a better life than most of her age. 

“Think the master will make her go through the ritual as soon as she wakes up?” She made a serious expression towards him, who responded calmly while lifting his head and eyes towards the ceiling.

“It is likely Maia. Soon she’ll have to make choices, as we all do.”

With growing anxiety, the girl turned her hand into a knuckle, gripping it tightly, and questioned further, “think she’ll serve the god of light, too?” 

The man sighed, displeased with the typical question the girl would make every time he brought someone new home.

“The divinity protects the people of this kingdom, but we’ll have to see. Since she possibly used a water element, maybe she’ll go towards such a path, similar to the master.”

His eyes dimmed, unsure that he should’ve added those last words.

“The goddess of water was it?” Maia looked down to the floor, feeling sad within as different gods meant that at a given time, they may become enemies. Such was the fate of different values of this world and the religions that came with it.

The man sighed once more, stretching his arms vertically towards the ceiling. “Yes, that one is just like the god of light, whom our master made the oath to. Though if we were to compare both, the territory of Einhol is growing as time goes by, while hers is diminishing rather quickly.”

The kingdom of light where they were living in, consisted of citizens who possessed many elements. Even if one was born with a different affinity to the one who ruled the place, it didn’t matter. To the divinities, the only thing that counted was to govern the world, no matter whose souls ended up sacrificed in the way.

Theocracy, a method found everywhere, and Einhol was no different, having the name of the god of light, he who chose the next king. Through this method, any who had royal blood could partake in such a blessing and the next successor would have a crown-shaped symbol somewhere in their body.

Through history, revolts had happened, heirs murdered before the enlightenment of the successorship ceremony. Thanks to that, a great struggle in keeping the right heir would surface. Ultimately, the emblem engrained in their body would move onto a different prince or princess, and not all of them were great.

Truly, a terrifying world where everything had a price, and people sought the highest position possible, no matter what. To gods, however, it was simply the result they sought. To humans, it was the path of a ruler, and to others, the survival of the fittest.

The girl patted her hair softly while speaking concerning words, “there are not many water users left in this world, so it would be nice if she picked our god.”

Within her, she felt some sympathy, believing that choice would cause the lass’ life to become easier.

“Yes, otherwise, she would become a heretic, possibly even die or exiled. Well, there’s always a chance that she could reach the warmage title. In which case, it wouldn’t be weird to be respected by others, or who knows, simply become a mercenary.”

“With a good wage at that!” Maia smiled faintly, doing her best to be positive to which the man turned his gaze at the entrance, wanting to go out for some fresh air.

“Our master is called a lot for wars as a mercenary, despite his old age. Otherwise, the 99 of us would starve at some point.” The man opened the room door, about to leave, adding some last words. “Sacrifices are required. First and foremost, the named ones are those who get to help the master in the front lines. Those without talent remain unnamed and help here at the base. That is our debt to him.”

Once more, the girl looked at him and sighed.

“I find it unfair that not everyone gets to have a name.”

His merciless eyes gazed down and then back at her, unsure of what to tell her but the truth.

“That is the way of this world. Now take care of your new sister. I and the master have to prepare for the next war.”

She made a displeased expression, feeling sadness and the sorrow of fellow named ones who died in such battles. “When will warfare ever end...” At times, some children she knew very well passed away. And sometimes acquaintances did. 

“For sure, when one of the gods wins by destroying all the others.” Ruthlessly he spoke, for there was no easier way to speak such truth.

Maia gripped the right hand tightly while holding her tears back, feeling contempt growing inside, slowly lightening up the loathing that dwelled inside. “I hate how the gods force their wills on us like this!”

The man commenced laughing upon hearing the girl’s words, surprising her. “Timothy? It’s not a laughing matter, you know? Especially not when you’re the eldest of us, and the first the master brought home.”

He tilted his head, smiling charmingly, knowing it better than everyone else, but alas, the man didn’t care much about serious things, much less about beings that were far out of his reach. “I know, I know, but we’re simple humans. There’s only so much us lowly ones can do.”

His name resounded coming from the room door, with an elderly yet loud and annoyed tone attached to it.

“Shit! I’m late! See you later.”

He quickly waved, receiving a sort of prayer from the younger sister.

“Good luck, older brother,” she added, hoping that he wouldn’t die, and return to their home, praying within her mind for that to happen, so the heart wouldn’t remain restless as it proved to be thus far.

“I’ll be sure to kill a lot of them!” The hunter reassured her before completely going through the door, noticing the emotions planted on the teen’s face. Despite being a brute at times, and not caring about a lot of things, the children he took from the streets held some significance in his heart.

‘Just don’t die out there on the battlefield, please...’ The girl gazed at the wide back of the man, as the rest of the body went through the door and then the hall, eventually meeting the stairs going downwards.

‘I’ll be beseeching to the god of light for your safe return.’ Maia knelt in front of the bed where the white-haired girl remained asleep. She placed both hands while clutching them to one another on top of the bed, right on the edge, lowering herself. Once the forehead closed enough to her hands, and the young woman started to pray, something ended up on the top of her faith, grasping it, making her bite the tongue in a mixture of emotions.

Surprisingly, the small snake, her tongue, moved instantly inside, taking a lick at the wound, tasting a sweet flavor of blood, and then outside towards the slight cut on the lip. A shiver ran down the girl’s spine while her head raised, facing the fear that clouded her judgment.

“Ugh, shit... my ton-gue.” The young woman peeked at the pale hand that scared her, and then at the girl’s face, finding both eyes still closed.

“You’re... asleep? Aren’t you?” After waiting while sucking the iron-like taste in her mouth for a while, she gave up realizing it was an unlucky coincidence, proceeding to grab the tender cloudy and soft fingers with all of her own, leaving the pearly-white-colored ones in the middle. Silently and effortlessly, Maia started praying to the god of light to give blessing to her family, both the named and the unnamed children under the warmage master custody.

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