Unwilling to spend time and noticing Nova's anguished features, Adam offered her to meet Shepard to get the documents requested by Aurelius's father.
After she accepted, he gazed at her departing back, his mind drifting. He understood the impact of witnessing the other side of society shook her joyful bubble. Until now, she believed life was a fairy tale where everyone was as rich as Asha. Yet, reality had forced her eyes open.
The suburb composed the entire southern part of the city, accounting for seventy percent of the population. So, no. Life wasn't as easy as she thought.
At that point, his gaze lingered on the distant college tower. What was Shepard doing? When noble students spent dozens of silver coins daily to have fun in the streets, how could the majority live in such poverty?
The worst part was that he believed the arcanist wasn't even conscious of how dire those people's lives were since he seldom left his living quarters. Despite the man's ignorance, a part of him still blamed him.
'If I were a ruler, I'd ensure everyone could eat,' he thought, pursing his lips in dissatisfaction. With how strictly he followed the boy's diet, he knew how important proper nutrition was.
However, he also knew how greedy people could be. Poverty would never truly disappear. That's why focusing on offering citizens a way to live with dignity was more important, in his opinion. What if your neighbor had more money? What if he lived in a palace? As long as you had warm food on your table, a sturdy roof above your head, and a loving family, why would you care?
His mind continued to race for the rest of the morning uninterrupted. New ideas blossomed until an elegant voice forced him out of his trance.
"I have the document," said Nova, her robes blown by the wind as the midday sun reflected shining lights on her silver hair.
"I found no one else," Julius said, retracing his steps to Aurelius's house, unbothered that his brother left him to search alone with the mother's family. After all, he entered the houses for a few minutes before leaving.
A moment later, Aurelius's father gazed in awe at the document's magic seal. Then, he nudged his silent son. "Leave with them and become a brave mage." His voice trembled. As a commoner, he couldn't read. But he believed the boy had been educated by a prideful man who considered his words to carry more weight than gold after his earlier declaration and the delivery of the stamped paper.
The youth hesitated briefly before Khalid's mother reassured him with a gentle voice. "I'll visit your father to ensure he is safe every day. Go and make us proud!"
His father nodded, smiling softly as his eyes turned moist. "Leave now before they change their mind and refuse such a troublesome child!"
"I'll become the best fighter," said Aurelius, tensing his scrawny muscles before joining the group, leaving the next moment with them.
Left alone, his father covered his eyes with his right hand. "I-I... will miss him," he muttered, warm tears uncontrollably rolling down his cheeks.
"Humph. Why didn't you tell him?" Answered the mother, rolling her eyes at the proud neighbor.
"I can't cry before him! I showed him how pathetic I was enough already!" He retorted, his lips stretching into a soft smile. "At least he won't end up like me."
After navigating the market and feeding the amazed kids, the group finally entered Shepard's tower an hour later. On their way, Nova bade them farewell.
"You'll most likely become the dean's disciple. Why don't you introduce yourself before he arrives?" Julius smiled. He wanted to make them feel accepted and break their inferiority complexes. After all, he also had been wary of nobles his entire life, until he met Arun and Asha.
The two boys hesitated. Khalid fidgeted with his fingers nervously while Aurelius frowned, unsure what to say.
However, Najet took the lead, unafraid of the tall, muscular boy. "I'm Najet. I like my brother and to cook!" She said, squinting and pointing her finger at him. "If you try to bully him, I'll fight you!" With her tiny fists clenched, she looked more adorable than menacing, resembling a small kitten showing its teeth.
Alarmed by her words, Khalid jumped before her twin sister. His brown eyes trembled in panic, believing she offended Julius. "Don't listen to her!" He yelled, covering her mouth with his hand and holding her head protectively. Then he introduced himself. "I'm Khalid. I don't really know what to say.
But, well, my mom said I'm the smartest kid in our neighborhood."
Next, he pointed at his sister and added, "She also said Najet is the most logical person she ever met."
"I'm happy to meet the two of you," said Julius before gazing at Aurelius, his eyes glinting with curiosity.
However, shock soon covered everyone's face as the silent boy started a monologue.
"I'm Aurelius. Don't judge a book by its cover because I'm strong. In fact, I'm the strongest kid in the suburbs. I never lost a single fight, even against older kids. But I'm still not good enough to contend against adults. I want to become the strongest fighter in the future, not for glory or conquest but for myself."
As everyone eyed his thin limbs, unkempt dark hair and brown eyes, Adam exploded into laughter, slapping his leg in amusement. "A boy dreaming of being a fighter in a magic world. How unique," he said, his eyes turning into crescent shapes. He liked his mindset, though.
Unfortunately, billowing smoke filtered through the windows before he could continue. After a moment, Shepard's figure greeted them.
"You brought back three of them on the first day?!" He asked, his gray eyes enlarging in disbelief. He had found none on his side, making him believe they were too late. After all, he learned about kids mysteriously disappearing over the last ten years. He understood it was no coincidence. His ignorance profited other individuals, who abducted his territory's summoned without shame.