Chapter 14: The talk and the unavoidable fate

Free and Sylvia came back to the village while talking, when they arrived it was already noon. Sylvia steal glances toward Free and look away when he turns to her. She had a faint smile on her face.

"I'll go home for now" Free said, he turn left and walk away. Sylvia look at Free walking him fading into the corner of the village path.

"Can we meet here again!" she shouted, Free looked back and nodded he wave his hand and he slowly turn in the village square and turn to the East.

"I should go home too." she muttered to herself and walk straight to her house.

Free arrive home and the new maid Liona bow her head "welcome back Free" she said, and Free entered the house.

"I'm home" Free said, he entered to the dining table where lunch was already served.

"Free, Hina said to come to her room after you finish your punch" Liona said, and she go outside to hang the clothes to dry.

Free nodded turn his attentio back to

the lunch again. After he finsih eating he run upstair and enters Hina's room, inside, Hina was in bed, she was feeding Hinata breastmilk. Hina turn to free she look at him scanning his clothes.

"You didn't get dirty" Hina said, staring at Free's clean clothes.

"i didn't really got much time to use spells" Free said, he walk close to Hina's bed and sat there and poke Hinata's cheek, her cheeks were soft.

"So soft" Free said, his hands poke Hinata cheeks more and Hinata was getting disturbed by the continuos poking.

"That's enough Free, Hinata is getting disturbed" Hina said, holding Hinata more high.

Free stopped poking her cheek and turn to Hina. "I forgot. Why did you call me here mom?" Free asked.

"Nothing, just curious to ask about your first tour alone in the village" Hina said, patting Free's head with a smile.

"Nothing much, i go to the lake and practice some spell...also i met a girl there" he said, and look outside the window, birds were chirping in the root tree outside the house.

"A...girl?" Hina repeated, she look at Free. "what is her name?" she asked.

"her name is Sylvia" Free answered.

"Sylvia. The half elf girl" Hina said, her smile twitched. "how did you met her?" Hina asked, her gaze filled with curiosity.

"I was practicing spells and heard some sobs and when i followed it i met her. She was crying because a kid name grok throw her necklace into the high current of the river" Free said, he turn his gaze to Hinata. "Can i hold her" free asked.

"Yeah sure" Hina replied, she finsih feeding Hinata and gently gave it to Free.

"She is very light" Free said, his eye lit up he place a finger on Hinata's palm and Hinata cover her fingers around Free's finger. "W-wow" free said.

Hina coughs making Free turn his attention to her. "so you help her to get her necklace back from the strong current of the river

" she said, looking at Free's face.

"Y-yeah, i used a spell" he said, Hinata yawned in Free's arm.

Hina gave him a light flick in his forehead. "I'm proud you help her, but you're still a kid. water is way more dangerous than you think" she said patting his head.

"I'm sorry" he said, looking down almost guilty.

"No need to be sad, Free" Hina said, she took Hinata back from Free.

"A-also i said that we could meet again after—lunch" he said.

"ohh~ already making moves huh" Hina said, her voice was teasing, she gave a teasing smile. "You can go and meet her also bring her home somtimes" Hina said, she put Hinata down gently.

"N-no i'm not making any moves, it's just that i promise to h-help her, that's all" Free said, his voice panicking, cheeks flush and he wave his hand in refusal . "W-well bye!" Free said and stormed out of the room.

Outside Free was about to go downstairs but he stopped and stand over Lina's room. He gave a light knock "You can enter, young master" Lina voice came from inside the room. Free entered and Lina was in her bed brushing her hair, Elina sleeping peacefully beside her.

"Need something young master?" she asked, putting down her hairbrush.

"No. i just wanted to check on Elina and— you" he said, still standing in the doorway.

"I heard you were talking about a girl inside lady hina's room" she said, with a calm expression on her face.

"Yeah. i promised her to meet after lunch and i was about to go but decide i would check on you first" he said, scacthing his cheeks with a awkward smile.

"Then what are you waiting for, go and meet her" Lina said, she gave a faint smile but genuine one.

"Okay then, bye" Free said, leaving the room. Outside he walk to the place where the path to the lake was, in the village square he stare at a woman hanging herbs out the window, a blacksmith hammering a glowing blade, childrens younger than him chasing a small slime.

"The village is more interesting than i thought" he said, staring at a woman buying breads, ingredients etc.

Just then "Leave me alone" a small voice reached his ears. It was Sylvia's she was sorrounded by other kids, her white hair was messy, her face was dirty.

"I said leave me alone Grok" she pleaded, her voice cracked.

"and why should we, grandma elf" Grok said, he was older, grey hair, brown skin, blacdk eyes filled with mischief. "should we let the grandma elf go or not" he said, gesturing to his minions.

"we shouldn't let her, she didn't let us take a look on her necklace" a boy said, grinning his eye turn to the diamond necklace between sylvia's neck.

"Give the necklace to us and we'll let you go" Grok said, he knocked Sylvia to the ground. He reached his hand the necklace between Sylvia's neck and was about to grab the necklace but a fist landed on his face.

"No you're not" Free said, his fist was already in Grok's face, Grok fall to the ground with a thud. He cover his face screaming.

"Aaaahhhh!" he screamed, covering his face with his hands. "W-who are you" he asked looking at Free.

"Name's Free" he said, pointing his thumb to his chest.

"Free? that's quite the hilarious name he have" one of Groks minions whispered to the others.

"F-free you came" Sylvia said, her hair stick to her face her sobbed slowly faded and Free extended his hand and help Sylvia to stand up.

"You think you're high because you landed a surprise punch!" Grok yelled, he stands up and throw his fist aiming for Free's face but Free bend and launch a kick in Grok's chins with his left foot. Grok fall to the ground again, he look at Free his confidence replaced with terror.

"Look like dad's training paid off" free said, he walk close to Grok and stooped down and grab him by the collar. "Now let's give you a taste of your own medicine" Free said, his pupils glowed yellow.

"F-free you should stop, that's enough" Sylvia said, she tried to stop Free but he didn't listen.

"N-no wait, i'm sorry i won't make fun of anyone anymore. Please spare me!" Grok pleaded, terrified as free raised his hand for another punch.

"You should stop" Hemire said, he suddenly appeared behind Free and grabbed his hand.

Free look back then froze. "V-village chief" Free said, his face turned pale and he let go of Grok's collar.

"I never thought you would do this Free" hemire said, letting go of Free's hand, he look at Grok's bruised face and chin. "you did this?" hemire asked, he looked at free face and clothes not even a single sign of bruised.

"Y-yeah because they were bullying someone for no reason so i had to" Free said, he stood there fidgeting with his hands.

"and Grok, what do you say" Hemire said, turning to Grok and his minions.

"W-we were minding our own business when he suddenly came and punch me" Grok said, pointing his fingers at Free.

"And what about you?" Hemire said, he turn to sylvia and bend down to her level.

"G-Grok was bullying me and F-Free came and helped me" sylvia said, she was clutching her necklace.

"And why were they bullying you?" Hemire asked, his gaze never leaving Sylvia.

"They bullied me because i am a half elf, my hair is white, and i'm shy too" she said, she glance at Free who was still fidgeting his hands.

"A-also don't forget about the necklace" Free said, Hemire turn to him and Free quickly looked away.

"Necklace?" Hemire repeated.

"Y-yeah my necklace" Sylvia said, she took out the shiny necklace from her neck. Hemire examined it and his eyes went wide in disbelief he scanned again.

"This necklace is worth 1000 gold coin. Who gave you this?" Hemire asked turning to Sylvia, he gave her back her necklace.

"My grandma gave me this before leaving..." she said, wearing back the necklace.

"... And Grok throw it in the river" Free said, Hemire turn to him again and Free looked away whistling.

"He throw it in the river" Hemire said, he turn to Sylvia and she gave a nod.

Hemire stand up and turn to the 4 kids "why did you do that Grok" Hemire said, his voice was flat wind brush past his white hair and beard.

"We just wanted to take a look that's all b-but she refused" Grok said, trembling a bit he still covered his bruised face with his hand.

"Just because she refuse you did that" Hemire said, he stand over Grok and the kids his face menacing. "If you ask politely no one will refuse. understand" Hemire said.

"Y-yes" the 4 said in sync.

Hemire turn back to Free "But still, Free resorting to violence isn't the way to solve things" Hemire said, he was still standing over Grok and his minions but his eyes were lock on Free.

"Yeah. But still Grok is the guilty one, Sylvia is the victim of his bullying, and i just punch Grok instinctively not on purpose and the second one was self-defense" Free said, Hemire blink and Free went silent. Crap! My previous life instinct took over!, Free thought to himself sweating.

"What did he said?" a kid said, confused by Free's word.

"Where did you learn that?" Hemire said, he turn to Free. " How did you learn those laws" Hemire asked, standing over Free.

"I-i read it in a book that's all" Free said, taking a step back but Hemire take a step forward.

"But law books are expensive they are given only in villages office and if you wanted they are founde if you go to the capital's library" Hemire said, he bend down and stare straight into Free's eyes but Free turn his eyes away.

"I-i heard mom and dad talking about laws and other stuff" Free said, looking away.

"okay, i let it slide this time" Hemire said, he stand up and turn to Grok. "you don't bully anyone from now on or else i will complain it to your parents" Hemire said, the kids nodded and Grok was about to leave but Free grab his shoulder.

"wait" he said and lift his hand and a green glow appeared. Grok wounds started to heal, he touch his face the bruised were gone.

"T-thank you" Grok said and ran to the village west side.

"phew, no wounds no accusation" Free muttered to himself.

"was that a chantless spell?" Hemire said, his face was now filled with doubt.

"N-no i just chant spells in low voice that's all!" Free said, but Hemire stared at him a bit longer.

"okay then" he said and left.

Free sighs, tired. Sylvia walk forward and stop beside him.

"Thank you" she said, her voice was a whisper.

"You're welcome" Free said, they walk at the village path. "so where do you live" he asked.

"i live in the east side of the village" she said, stealing glances at Free. Her cheeks flush she turn her face opposite to Free. "what about you?" she asked.

"my house is in the west side" he said, crossing his arm behind his back. Eventually he reached home.

"So this is your house" she said, looking up at the house.

"yeah" Free said, Liona greeted Free then she turn to sylvia.

"Free, isn't this Sylvia the half elf girl" Liona said, she then crack a smile a teasing one. "Look like Free is good at flirting with girls" she said, covering her mouth.

"N-No i'm not picking up" he said, waving his hand in refusal.

Sylvia blushed. And ran away smiling. "S-Sylvia where are you going?!" Free shouted but Sylvia was already gone.

"See~" Liona said, her smile grow wider.

"stop it!" Free said , running to the house and he get back to his room.

Hemire on the other hand, at the village meeting hall scratched his chin with a smile Free, you exceed my expectation, Hemire thought. "The village future is really bright" he muttered to himself.

3 days later....

Knock. Knock. Philip opened the door he look down a white haired girl was standing in front – Sylvia

"is Free at home?" she asked, turnibg her gaze and scratching her cheeks.

"Yeah he is. would you like to come in" philip said, it was now a casual thing.

Sylvia came in and she enters the dining table, Free was eating his bread quietly, eyes full of energy to learn new spells.

"F-Free wo-would you like to play again?" she asked, fidgeting her fingers her cheeks were red.

"Sorry, i'm bu-" Hina bonk Free's head mid-sentence. "what was that for" Free said, turning to Hina.

"Go play with her" Hina said, her vouce deadpanned.

"Okay....." Free said, he ate his bread quietly and after finishing it he went to play with Sylvia. Hina smiled as Free went with Sylvia.

Philip sat on the dining table and ate breakfast quietly. "pretty hard for him" he muttered to himself.

And that's how Sylvia started to visit my house everyday, she would bring cookies sometime and somehow she even bring my favourite cookies.

To be continued....

Next chapter preview:

In the mext chapter preview!. 2 years passed, the growing up and climbing of the dungeon to the new S rank . Don't forget to comment and vote.

Also thank you, to my first Comment he correct my mistakes. so please send advice so that i can improve my grammar.

Thank you