Theodoras's History

The young lady opens the gate of the bars and steps inside, crouching in front of Theodoras.

"How ugly you look. Tell me your name, worm."

Theodoras began staring into her amber-colored eyes with vacant gazes. Theodoras' eyes were utterly empty, devoid of any desire or emotion, and these blank stares unsettled the spoiled young girl from a noble family. Yet, though Theodoras appeared like an empty shell from the outside, there was still a trace of hatred within—a hatred directed at himself.

"Are you asking for my name? I doubt it'll be of any use to you," Theodoras replied.

"Is that so?"

Lily stood up and looked down at Theodoras with a condescending air.

"If you think that way, then I can keep calling you worm."

Just then, Lucius returned with the slave's deed in hand.

"I've handled the payment procedures, Lady Lily."

"Thank you, Lucius. Remove this slave's chains."

"My pleasure, Lady Lily. I'll take care of it right away."

Lucius drew his single-handed sword and sliced through the chains binding Theodoras' arms to the wall as if they were paper.

Lucius began staring at Theodoras in astonishment.

"Did you see the path of my sword? How did you do that?"

Lucius furrowed his brows suspiciously, staying on guard.

"Lucius, don't be ridiculous. There's no way a slave like him could see your sword. It's impossible for anyone to track the blade of a peak-level swordsman. Even I, a second-class mage, couldn't see it."

"No, my lady, he definitely saw it."

A smirk appeared on Lucius' face.

"My lady, I think we've acquired a valuable piece of merchandise. Your choices are impeccable."

Both of them chuckled smugly.

Theodoras, however, didn't even seem bothered by being treated as a commodity to be bought and sold.

Lucius, Lily, and Theodoras left the dungeon and began walking through the slave market. The place was filled with all sorts of people—captives in cages, mercenaries for hire—but this was a market typically used by common folk, so the prices were unreasonably low.

Along with the cheap prices, the goods were usually of poor quality. This sinful place was a filthy area tucked away in the backstreets of Celestie city.

After a long time, Theodoras breathed in the fresh air deeply, feeling a sense of relief.

Lily donned a coffee-brown cloak to avoid being recognized and walked ahead, humming to herself like a child who'd just gotten a new toy.

After a long walk, they arrived at the Celestie Viscounty.

"Steward Montgomery, arrange a place for Theodoras to stay and give him some clean clothes. Then bring him to the arbor. Oh, and don't forget to bring two wooden swords and some cookies."

Lily spoke with haughty arrogance, but her voice suddenly sparkled with excitement when she mentioned the cookies, though she grew slightly embarrassed afterward.

Theodoras stepped out into the garden in clean clothes, accompanied by Steward Montgomery to the arbor.

Even when covered in filth, Theodoras had a striking appearance, but now, dressed in simple yet clean clothes, he stood out even more.

"Would you like a cookie?" Lily asked.

"Clean clothes, a comfortable room to stay in, and now cookies? What's your goal? Are you trying to relieve your boredom by messing with me?"

Lily's mood soured slightly at Theodoras' outburst, but she was both reassured and surprised that he still had some shred of pride.

"Looks like someone still has a bit of a backbone," Lily said with a hint of sass, and Lucius chimed in.

"Lady Lily possesses the Grace of God," Lucius said.

"The Grace of God?" Theodoras replied.

"Yes, the Grace of God refers to special abilities that aren't gained through bloodlines or other means," Lily explained.

Theodoras, still somewhat angry, didn't see how this connected to her buying a slave.

"So what does that have to do with you buying a slave? If you think I'll be grateful to you, you're mistaken."

Lucius spoke again.

"Lady Lily's grace allows her to sense the potential in the living beings around her. That's why she brought you here. Work hard and repay Lady Lily's efforts."

Lucius picked up the wooden swords and tossed one to Theodoras. Theodoras caught it mid-air.

"Theodoras, from now on, Lucius will train you. Consider yourself lucky—normally, a slave wouldn't be allowed to receive instruction from anyone."

Theodoras fumbled, his nervousness evident. He didn't want to feel indebted to a noble he despised.

"What are you, some shy little girl?"

Lucius suddenly lunged at Theodoras with a stabbing motion aimed at his stomach. Theodoras instinctively blocked the attack with his wooden sword, though he didn't know how he managed it—but it was futile. Lucius followed up with a rapid series of stabs to Theodoras' stomach and chest. The flurry lasted only a second or two, leaving Theodoras no time to react. He collapsed to his knees, on the verge of vomiting, when Lucius struck his face with the wooden sword—a harsh blow for Theodoras. He lost consciousness, collapsing to the ground with a bleeding nose.

While he was unconscious, Lucius spoke to Lily.

"His body is on par with a third-class martial artist. His reflexes are excellent, though he lacks technique and experience. For someone untrained, he's exceptionally good, my lady."

Theodoras' bleeding began to stop, and his wounds healed rapidly on their own.

"I suspected that boy had demon blood, but what's this?" Lily remarked as Theodoras' horn vanished.

"Lady Lily, have you ever heard of anything like this before?"

"I'm sorry, Lucius, I don't know much about demons, but I can say he's a single-horned demon."

Fifteen minutes later, Theodoras slowly opened his eyes and stood up as if he hadn't just been beaten.

"Ah, my head hurts a little."

"Our sleeping beauty woke up awfully fast," Lily teased.

"Young lady, what nonsense are you spouting now?" Theodoras retorted.

"Theodoras, there's something we need to ask you," Lucius said.

"What is it?"

"Could anyone in your family be a demon?"

"I don't know anything about my father, but my mother's eyes were like my left eye—violet, with slit pupils like a snake's."

"You don't know anything about your father?" Lily asked, surprised.

"No, unfortunately not. He passed away before I was born—at least, that's what my mother told me. I hope it's true."

"I see. But didn't you ever ask your mother about your father?" Lucius asked cautiously, suspecting Theodoras might be hiding something.

"I did, but every time I asked, she'd steer the conversation elsewhere and avoid answering."

"And where is your mother now?"

"When I was eight, I accidentally wandered into a dungeon. You might have heard of it—the S-rank dungeon on Meladicte Island. I still don't know how I got inside, but surprisingly, it was empty and lush green. There were no monsters, and I didn't even realize I was in a dungeon. Everything was beautiful—the atmosphere wasn't unsettling like the island's. The ominous air of the island was gone. Then I saw a man sitting in a white arbor in the middle of a river, surrounded by a valley. Everything was green—flowers, insects, trees—it was so peaceful. But as I looked at the man, he suddenly vanished, and I felt something appear behind me. When I turned around, he greeted me."

**Aduax Calendar, Year 416**

"Hello, little one. Are you lost?"

Theodoras jumped in shock.

"What? How did you—? You were just over there! Even I couldn't see you move."

Theodoras noticed the man's eyes were like his right eye, though the man's were blue.

"What? How?" Theodoras asked, stunned.

"Your pupils are star-shaped."

Then Theodoras was suddenly gripped by terror as he saw an ominous aura radiating from the man.

"You—you're not normal. I've never felt an aura this sinister, not even from the demons I encountered on the island. What is this?"

Theodoras' eye began to ache and bleed. The man's left side was completely unaffected by decay, but his sinister nature was clear—half of his body was a sickly purple. Theodoras was paralyzed with fear, unable to move.

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