"You two look completely different. What's with that?" Ethan asked.
The boy raised his head and looked at Ethan with a cautious eye. While the girl curiously looked around the room not minding the surroundings around her. She seemed timid and yet appeared to be bold at the same time.
"It's because I had used mud with a specific remedy to dirty our faces to not stand out." The boy replied.
With a surprised look, Ethan said, "Oh! Clever! It makes sense to not stand out when you're captured as a slave. Especially for women…."
As Ethan said this, the boy's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Ethan ignored it completely and continued, "Was it the roots of 'Gluvinesia?' I'm sure the slave trader must have tried to clean your bodies first. If you had just used dirt and mud, it would easily come off with a splash of water. Gluvinesia has the effects of stickiness while not being toxic. It can also be found commonly so I imagine that you used it to make the dirt stick to your skin and managed to lay low. Very wise."
The boy jumped in surprise as his eyes widened with shock. With an astonished tone, he said, "How… How do you know?"
"It's not hard to figure out. I have read about the properties of plants in books. Considering that you'd need a remedy that you could easily acquire, this is the only option really." Ethan said calmly.
"Well, enough of that. Tell me your names." Ethan said, casually switching the topic.
"Ronan," The boy muttered.
"My name is Aria." The girl said timidly, looking into Ethan's eyes but then averting her gaze right after, seemingly intimidated by his sharp eyes.
"Hmm?… You… don't seem to be siblings…" Ethan muttered as he realized that the two children looked nothing alike.
Ethan promptly noticed the sorrowful look in Ronan's eyes when he said the word 'siblings'. Making a mental note, Ethan waited patiently for the reply.
"No… We're not siblings." Aria said, shaking her head from side to side. While Ronan had a reaction of melancholy and sorrow on the mention of the word 'siblings', Aria had an opposite reaction.
Ethan noticed that she was utterly disgusted at the mention of the word sibling. Hints of fear and a sense of betrayal could also be seen through her body language.
'Both have stories to tell it seems…' Ethan thought.
"If you're not siblings, then why are you protecting her?" Ethan curiously asked, pointing at Ronan.
Ronan lowered his head and did not speak, a moment passed and then he opened his mouth.
"She… She reminds me of my big sister."
Ethan raised his chin at this new information. At this point, a vague outline was starting to form in his head.
Suddenly, the playful atmosphere in the room changed to one of solemnity and prestige. The air became thick as Ethan adjusted his posture, he sat straight with his chin lifted and his eyes focused. Ronan and Aria jolted out of their trance as they realized that the person in front of them was the heir to a large Dukedom.
Simultaneously, both Aria and Ronan thought, 'How strange… He seemed so different moments ago.'
"Now that introductions are done. Why don't you tell me your story?" Ethan asked as he leaned on his palm below his jaw.
"What… Story?" Ronan and Aria both muttered in unison.
"Your stories, you have something to tell, no? I would like to hear before going forward." Ethan said nonchalantly.
Aria and Ronan both looked at each other then Ronan said, "Fine!"
"Go ahead then…"
"I was a son of a merchant. One day when we were traveling in a carriage, a bandit group attacked and my parents were killed. I was sold as a slave." Ronan said with a pained look on his expression.
Suddenly, the sound of clapping rang as both Aria and Ronan found Ethan clapping with a wide smile on his face.
"Woah… Good acting, boy. I almost believed you. Stop lying, do you think I am a fool, farmer boy?" Ethan said sternly, his voice carrying a certain playfulness as well as intimidation at the same time.
Ronan stared at Ethan with a horrified expression as if he had seen a ghost. Stuttering and fumbling he asked, "H- how…?"
Ethan smiled gently and said, "First of all… You better not lie to me. I don't like lies and liars. And as for how I know… Well, firstly, a merchant's boy wouldn't have callused hands like yours. You are neither from a warrior class as even an amateur like me managed to see back then that you were hiding a knife in the slavers' tent. And since you seem to be knowledgeable about the outside world, you can't be someone pampered either. Considering that you seem to have a basic knowledge of plants, I threw a dart and it landed on farmer. It turned out to be current. It makes sense that a commoner farmer's son has callused hands due to working."
Ronan was speechless and horrified. He didn't know what kind of mind-reading freak he stumbled on to. But he was also scared, he didn't want to go back to slavery. Between gritted teeth, he said, "I'm sorry… I thought you would not take me in because I am a commoner."
"I don't care what your social status is. But I warn you again, never lie to me, ever again."
"Yes!"
"Now then, tell me truthfully. Why did you want to kill the bishop?" Ethan asked.
As soon as Ethan asked this, Ronan's body trembled with rage and his eyes flared up with pure menace. His mind went blank and he lost himself to his pent-up emotions.
"I, I hate the church! I will kill them all! Every single one of them! I will not stop before every one of those church scums is dead!!!"
Scared by his sudden outburst, Aria stumbled back startled as she stared at him with a conflicting gaze.
"Why? What happened?" Ethan asked casually.
At this point, Ronan had calmed down and was regretting his stupidity. But seeing that Ethan did not show any reaction to the blasphemous words, he felt relieved.
Ronan hesitated to continue and Ethan patiently waited. Seeing that Ethan still had the same stoic expression and knowing that he had already spilled the beans, Ronan said, "The Church! They forcefully took away my sister! My mother and father tried to stop them but the church killed them! Before they could kill me, I escaped and was captured by the slave traders."
To this shocking revelation, Ethan simply muttered an 'oh'. But inwardly thoughts were spinning in his head.
"I understand… And what about you?" Ethan said to Ronan and asked Aria while pointing at her.
A look of hesitation appeared on her face as she dared not meet Ethan's gaze. Timidly she spoke, "Umm… Can I.. Please… Not say?"
Ethan stared at her for a few seconds and then sighed, then he smiled gently and said, "Well at least you're honest. Fine! I shall not force you."
Hearing this, Aria sighed with relief and smiled gratefully as Ethan watched, feeling amused inwardly as he looked at the girl who he suspected to be the daughter of some noble family.
Suddenly Ethan got up from his chair and with a serious tone he said,
"I don't care what your status and pasts are. I freed you because I have reasons to believe that you have the potential to become strong. The both of you. I can also help you to gain new strength. But I am not doing this by the kindness of my heart. You have two options from onwards.
I mean it when I said you are free. If you wish, you can step out of this mansion, this city right this moment. But then we will have absolutely no business with each other and I will not welcome you again even if you beg me. The second option is your absolute fealty and obedience. I will give you strength but you must work for me until the end of time, no questions asked. Perhaps, you can even take revenge with your own hands once you are strong enough."
Both Aria and Ronan were dumbstruck hearing what Ethan had suddenly said. Ronan's whole body shook as even the slightest possibility of revenge tempted him. On the other hand, Aria had no home to go back to and she was sure that if she were to out in the world, she would definitely fall into the hands of the slave traders once again.
She was desperate, afraid, and anxious and so without hesitation, she bowed and said, "I accept!"
Even though Ronan was the most tempted to accept, he did not lose his mind. With hesitation and uncertainty, he muttered, "How… Why should we believe that you can really do what you said? Can you truly give me strength?"
Ethan smiled cheekily with a cunning glint in his eyes as he walked up to Renan.
Renan felt the world become heavier and heavier as Ethan took each step towards him. He had no idea what was happening and that sent shivers down his spine.
Ethan raised his arm as he began using the power of his Ancestral Blessing. Slowly nearing his finger toward Renan's forehead, he almost made the boy faint as the air grew colder around them.
Renan could almost feel the insides of his head getting colder as Ethan's finger came closer. But Renan did not move from the place at all.
Just as Ethan's finger was a few inches away from Renan's forehead, he drew his hand back and moved to the side.
Touching the flower bass on the table at the side with his same finger, Ethan said, "Now do you believe me?"
Soon after, both children saw as the colorful flower bass froze completely, shrouded by icy frost. The flowers inside it became crystalized, shining beautifully in the light. Both of them involuntarily opened their mouths wide as their jaws dropped.
Renan kneeled immediately without hesitation and said, "I agree!"
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