Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Burden Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Burden Ronan unconsciously searched for Vinicia.
The girl stood under a yellow pine tree, about seven or eight meters away from Ronan, her head hanging so low it almost buried into her chest, incessantly pulling at the hem of her robe with both hands.
She appeared utterly mortified and self-reproachful.
When she felt Ronan’s gaze on her, Vinicia’s face turned red all the way to her neck.
Not to mention, though Vinicia’s face and hands were dark and rough, the small section of skin visible below her collarbone dazzled with whiteness, like the milk they drank in the morning.
Seeing Vinicia , Ronan was somewhat speechless.
He was angry mainly because the academy had stopped enrolling new students, completely disrupting his next steps.
His mind was in disarray, further compounded by the rude and disdainful real estate agent.
It had absolutely nothing to do with Vinicia; he didn’t originally expect the girl to handle the complicated task of finding a house.
Ronan decisively shook his head to Cheryl.
“Then it’s because of me..”
Like an adult, Cheryl sighed deeply, her mood sinking as she said, “I know I’ve always been a burden to you all…I’m so useless, I can’t do anything, and I always drag you down…”
Ronan: Are women all this fragile and sensitive?
Do I have to pacify the adults and then the children?
Feeling a headache coming on, Ronan thought for a moment and asked Cheryl, “What do you think makes someone useful?”
Counting on her fingers, Cheryl replied, “Either like Grandpa Wales, who knows everything.
Or like you, super skilled in fighting, always able to lead everyone out of danger.
Or like Sister Vini, beautiful and kind-hearted…”
Ronan couldn’t help but chuckle, gently touching Cheryl’s small head, and said, “Nobody is born knowing everything, nobody is innately useful…”
After speaking a few words, Ronan suddenly paused, seemingly thoughtful, and unconsciously stood up slowly.
“If one day you feel like you might be becoming a burden to others…”
Ronan’s eyes looked in the direction of Hoddam Wizard Academy, his gaze flickering as he murmured to himself.
“Then strive to make yourself stronger.”
After saying this, Ronan exhaled deeply, feeling as if the weight of numerous irritations and frustrations was lifted from his chest.
These words, meant to comfort Cheryl, unexpectedly ended up enlightening himself as well.
With a relaxed mood, Ronan looked down and saw a puzzled expression on the tender face of Cheryl.
With a slight smile, Ronan bent down to pick up Cheryl and continued walking forward, with Vinicia following behind them.
As they walked, they chatted with Cheryl.
“Do you possess any wizard talent?”
“Of course, Grandpa Wales said my aptitude is much better than his.”
“Maybe he was just flattering you.”
“No, Grandpa Wales never lies!”
“Then tonight, I’ll teach you meditation.”
Having waited at the agreed spot until the afternoon, Ronan and the two others finally met the hastily arriving Old Wells.
They didn’t see Andre and his siblings, but they did meet the blonde, chubby Jacob whom they hadn’t seen before.
Upon seeing Ronan, Jacob excitedly came forward to greet him.
“Lord Ronan, it’s so wonderful to see you again!”
Ronan was somewhat pleased too.
In the Tree House District, the one he had the best relationship with, aside from Old Wells, was probably Jacob, with whom he had patrolled together for several months.
Yesterday, when they fled, Ronan was genuinely worried for a while because he couldn’t find Jacob.
Why didn’t I see you yesterday?”
Ronan asked immediately upon his arrival, Jacob seemed a bit embarrassed, scratching his head and said, “Yesterday I was buying things for someone, I arrived in town early in the morning.
By the time I finished buying things and came out, I heard that the Black Robes had attacked, and the Tree House District had fallen…”
It really was a stroke of dumb luck one could envy.
Ronan sighed inwardly, not knowing how many Grey Robes had died in the forest yesterday, while Jacob, usually the most timid and cowardly, had foolishly escaped the disaster.
“..But all my belongings are still in the tree house, and the Magic Stones I brought were all spent buying a bunch of useless stuff…”
Jacob had a crestfallen expression, speaking as he pulled several sanitary pads for women out of the pack he was carrying on his back.
Everyone was speechless, and all Ronan could do was comfort him; given the current situation, the items he had would eventually be resold, and he might even make a small profit.
Jacob’s mood improved slightly.
“Andre and his sister live in a cave outside the town, they aren’t used to city life..”
Old Wells said while taking out a piece of paper, “They gave me the address of where the Jolin couple is now staying.
Do you want to go find them?”
Everyone looked at Ronan.
This mutual aid group, led by Old Wells, could have ceased to exist after leaving the Tree House District.
Whether to continue maintaining it now was entirely up to Ronan.
Ronan thought for a moment, according to his original plan, he would enter the Hoddam Wizard College upon entering the town.
But now that the academy had stopped enrolling students, his plans were disrupted, and he could only choose to stay in town.
Living alone was not as good as being with everyone else; they could at least take care of each other.
Ronan spoke, “Jolin has lost an arm; now is the most difficult time, let’s go there and help…”
Once Ronan spoke, everyone’s face clearly showed joy.
After all, Ronan was now the core of the entire small group.
“By the way, where is Linus?”
Old Wells, who had obviously heard from Andre about Linus’s actions, replied with a complex expression, “After leaving the forest, he split ways with Andre and them, I don’t know where he is now.”
Ronan nodded, unconcerned.
As for someone like Linus, as long as he doesn’t stay around and cause trouble for his own people, it didn’t matter where he went.
Following the directions on the piece of paper given by Andre, the group traveled all the way to the outskirts of town, nearing the residential area close to the wilderness.
There, in a dark, damp small house where barely any light could be seen, they found Jolin, pale-faced and lying on the bed recovering, and Mrs.
Jolin sitting beside him taking care of him.
Seeing the group, the helpless couple was so delighted they nearly cried.
Actually, for a Wizard, missing an arm really wasn’t a big deal.
Not to mention that the Wizard community pursued the immortality of the soul, and the physical body was just a shell, it didn’t matter whether one had more or fewer arms.
Even if one truly felt inconvenienced by the lack of a hand, the Wizard World had plenty of ways to solve it.
But considering the current financial situation of the Jolin couple, they wouldn’t be thinking about attaching a new arm any time soon, so they had to make do for now.
After finding the Jolin couple, the group discussed, and finally decided to just find a few houses nearby to settle down.
Firstly, the rent here was cheap, and besides Ronan, everyone was tight on cash, so they didn’t have many choices.
Secondly, living here was convenient for leaving the city, and they could solve some of their food problems regularly.