*Whack*
"Ugh, who hit me?" said James as he opened his eyes to a surreal scene.
"What in the world?" was the only thing he could mutter.
The base of the Dark Tooth gang was completely wrecked and its members were in an even worse state, groans and cries were heard as they lay on the floor.
Some had their four limbs fractured and the slightest movement made them feel a lot of pain. Some had their faces disfigured with swollen eyes and broken teeth.
They looked so pathetic that he almost felt sorry for them.
'Wait a minute, where am I anyway?' he suddenly thought.
'The last thing I remember was-'
As his thoughts reached this part, a voice called out to him.
"Oh, you're awake. Sorry for scaring you like that"
The boy he saw before he fainted was in front of him. And then everything suddenly became clear.
'Right, I almost died' James thought, smiling bitterly before looking at the seemingly-harmless boy staring at him.
James was sure…
'He doesn't seem a day older than my sister'
Yet what he had seen, that small display of ruthlessness, was vivid in his mind and also…
'What's with that level of skill?' he couldn't help but ask.
The little bit of swordsmanship he had seen was enough to leave him in awe.
It wasn't something a boy this young should be able to do, as well the fact that…
'He never hesitated'
James was sure that if he hadn't screamed at that moment, he would have most definitely died.
'But enough of that' James thought, throwing the event to the back of his mind, before taking a closer look at the boy who could give the opportunity he dearly needed.
When he noticed that the boy was still waiting for a reply while he got lost in his thoughts, he immediately became flustered.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause sir any trouble"
But the answer he got was something he never expected.
"What are you talking about? I'm the one who acted impulsively and almost killed an innocent bystander, so I'm the one who's sorry"
The boy said before bowing lightly.
Seeing such a scene, instead of having a calm expression, James looked as if he was about to die-
'Oh my god, what have I done?' he thought as he hurriedly replied.
"No Sir, there's nothing to apologize to a lowly beggar like me" he answered, before bowing deeply with his body quivering.
Ezra, who saw this, knew his intentions had been misunderstood because he sincerely meant all he had said.
After all, he was about to kill the person he called due to his impulsiveness. The boy deserved at least an apology, if not anything else.
Yet, now he only became more fearful because of it, and Ezra couldn't just leave him that way, it would weigh on his conscience.
Ezra wasn't a hero or even a good person, but he followed the principles of "do to others what you want them to do to you".
Well, at least when the situation allows it, sort of like now. And so to make sure the apology was felt, Ezra tried visualizing what he would want by putting himself in the beggar's shoes and the answer came right after.
'Money'
He would appreciate money, and so he would give the beggar just that.
"Sir John" Ezra called the codename Sir Fredrick agreed upon, as the man in question was sitting with the Adept rank, as well as some others, kneeling in front of him while begging.
"Yes, my lord" said Fredrick, or John.
"Give this man a coin from the ones we brought" Ezra said while pointing to the still-bowing James.
"Huh?!" James muttered surprised, as a middle aged man straightened his back before removing something James had never seen up close in life and handing it over.
"The lord told me to give this to you" the man said, dropping a gold coin into James' hand.
The man in question began to shake heavily as if he was having a seizure, and what he was having might not be too far from it.
'I-It's a g-gold coin' James' brain grew unstable and his body temperature increased.
His rationality was almost completely gone when the image of his most treasured wish came to mind.
'I can't be doing this, my sister is still waiting for my arrival'
The moment his thoughts reached this point, his body stopped quivering, his common sense returned and his mind regained tranquility, well almost.
"Sir" James called out.
"Hmm?" Sir Fredrick who was going back to deal with the riff-raff suddenly stopped and looked behind as a frown formed on his face.
Ezra also looked at the boy but didn't say anything.
'Don't tell me he's already becoming greedy? Is he really going to ask for more?' Sir Fredrick thought but refrained from saying anything that might lead to a misunderstanding.
"I don't want your gold" James said with his face down and his hand outstretched with the gold coin on it.
"Oh? What do you want then?" Sir Fredrick asked.
"Treatment, treatment for my sister" James proclaimed.
Both Sir Fredrick and Ezra were taken aback at the request.
"A gold coin should be more than enough for almost any treatment within the city, so use it for the treatment" Sir Fredrick answered.
"I don't want to, because I never did anything to deserve it" James once again refused.
At this point, Sir Fredrick was sure that he either wanted to make a good first impression or…
'He's the real deal' before he could speak, Ezra spoke.
"If all you say is true, then what is it you want?"
"I want to work for Sir in return for my sister's treatment" James answered, still in the same position.
James couldn't see it, but Ezra's eye's slightly glowed.
'He…seems to be telling the truth' Ezra said while utilizing mana vision, that's what he named the lesser version of mana eyes.
Ezra then took the gold coin, before asking James…
"How are you sure I'll have a use for you?"
"Because you wouldn't have noticed or talked to me otherwise" James replied.
"Kid, you seem smart, do you know how to read and write?" Ezra suddenly asked before adding…
"You can stand straight now"
Which James immediately did.
"I only know how to read. I do not know how to write" James answered.
"Hmm, it seems you'll be even more useful than I hoped" Ezra said before continuing.
"You still haven't told me your name yet"
"S-sorry Sir, it's James, James Opson"
"You may call me Kevin" Ezra couldn't use his real name, so he used the name from his past life.
"I have a job for you, one of many, but before that, can your sister come here?"
"She can but it's not advisable for her to move in her current state" James answered.
"I guess it can't be helped. What illness is your sister suffering from?"
"It's venom from an infant vine snake"
"Do you know the cure?"
"Yes I do, and it cost fourteen silver to buy it, only…I couldn't afford it" James paused when a hand hit his back.
"Don't worry, you have me now, so rejoice" Kevin/Ezra said.
"Sir John, you will follow this boy to buy whatever medication his sister needs for treatment" Kevin/Ezra said.
"Yes, lord" Sir Fredrick said as he moved away, before abruptly turning and asking…
"If I go, what about them?"
"Oh, these guys? They're free to act up. I can still use some exercise" Ezra said while cracking his knuckles.
Sir John/Fredrick nodded in affirmation before leaving with James.
"Come on, kid, let's go, your sister's waiting isn't she?" Sir John said, pulling James out of his reverie.
"Y-Yes she is" James said and began to move while Sir Fredrick followed.
Sir Fredrick didn't actually know why Ezra was doing all this, but Ezra had already told him.
"You don't have to. So long as I cure you, just follow me while trusting me and the answers will naturally come"
And while Ezra hadn't cured him yet, he pledged his loyalty because he had told Ezra about the Un-limiting Dew, while Ezra trusted him enough to tell him his biggest secret.
So he would follow and watch just like Ezra said, while also trying to understand the type of man, or boy, Ezra was.
'It seems things are going to get interesting very soon' Fredrick thought while moving through alleys to reach a potion shop, where he bought the most expensive healing potion.
Well, to the shopkeeper it was outrageously expensive, to him though, it was just half a gold coin.
A few minutes later, they arrived at James' home, which was a tent in a sorry state with filthy torn clothes as a bed.
Laying on it was a girl of 4'3 wearing torn clothes identical to James. Her skin was all dirty and her hair so unkempt that its color couldn't be known.
James rushed in front of her and knelt before calling out her name.
"Ruby"
The girl then opened a pair of tired eyes to look at her brother with a smile forming on her face.
"Ruby, I'm here with a cure" James said.
"What are you talkin-*cough* *cough*" She tried to talk but she coughed out blood.
"It's worse than I thought, she won't last long like this. Help me sit her up" Sir John/Fredrick said.
"Ok" James said as he raised his sister into a sitting position, as she couldn't muster up the strength to even talk.
*Cough* *Cough*
Only blood came out.
"Ruby, don't try to talk, it'll all be fine soon" James assured her.
"Open her mouth" said Fredrick, who had arrived beside them.
James nodded and did as he was told.
Sir John/Fredrick removed the potion cap and emptied the shining yellow liquid in Ruby's mouth as she looked on weakly.
A minute passed since the potion was administered but there were no signs of recovery.
"Sir, I-Is this supposed to happen?" James asked, already going into panic mode.
"Calm down kiddo, it's just taking a little while longer" Sir Fredrick said. True were his words, Ruby's body soon began to glow a yellow color.
Her unhealthy body started to show changes. Her face brightened up and her bones made crunching sounds, which Sir Fredrick said were her bones growing stronger.
After two whole minutes, the light died down and Ruby opened her eyes groggily.
"Ruby, Ruby, talk to me, how are you feeling?" James asked worriedly.
"I feel-"
She said as she slowly stood on her feet while her brother was left in a daze.
"-perfectly healthy"
*pop* *pop*
Tears rushed down her face as she was overwhelmed with happiness.
Her brother hugged her tightly as no words were said between the two, but the tears coming out of their eyes spoke volumes.
'A way to turn my life around' James thought as he remembered what Sir Kevin had first told him.
He clenched his fist as he swore in his heart to do all he could to repay this kindness.
A decision that would have the biggest impact in his life going forward.
Whether it was a good or bad thing? No one knew.
