Bab 61: Chapter 59: Parents(2)
Nash slowly nodded, almost as weak as a flower wilting. This made Luke frown and he started to worry about what he should do to make this kid feel better.
"I... My mother and I lived alone. We always move from place to place so there is really no place for us to call home but we were happy though..."
Nash paused and Luke gently patted his small back. Trying to recall memories of his past, especially of his dead mother, must be tough. Nash then started to speak again.
"Then one night, when we were traveling to the nearest mountain in Reece... some guys with white robes started to attack us in all directions. Those people were carrying black chains with them and were about to target me, but my mother threw her body in front of me to protect me..."
Luke could feel Nash slowly trembling. Luke just kept on being quiet and gently patting his back. He then heard Nash's trembling voice.
"My mother was chained, beaten, and her flesh was cut on multiple sides, but she couldn't fight back because she was restrained with a mana restraining collar and... I was held by that man."
By that man, he meant the man that they met in front of the cave. Luke gritted his teeth.
'Damn it. I should've not let that man have an immediate death.'
Luke then looked in front of him and saw Liam clenching his fists with a dark expression on his face. He was a really nice guy who was upset about letting that jerk off the hook so easily. If he had known what that man had done, he might've tortured him first before killing him.
Luke then heard Nash's weak voice. He sounded like he wanted to cry.
"A-as for me, I am weak... I can't handle all of them at once and let them beat me, and cut me, and a sharp sword is placed on my neck... I couldn't do anything. I was weak... I couldn't even save my mother..."
Luke then heard Nash starting to cry. Luke just continued to pat his back, hoping that he would calm down. He was also hoping that he himself could calm down because an unexplainable amount of anger had started to flow inside of him.
"M-My mother used the little bit of magic she could muster to let me escape. I-I could still see it... Her crying face as she watched me run away..."
Then Nash started to burst into tears. Luke and Liam just quietly listened to his cries with dark faces. They couldn't believe that the young child that they always saw laughing and smiling had been carrying such a heavy burden for all this time. Luke began to blame himself for not noticing; after all, he was the child's guardian. He then started to think while patting Nash with dark, menacing eyes.
'Dark Eye... You fuckers, I'm going to destroy you.'
At first, Luke really didn't notice or he really just didn't care in the beginning, since he just planned on using Nash, but now it's different. There's some sort of bond now between Nash and him that makes him not want to see him cry or get hurt. The same is true for the others; the mere thought of them being harmed enrages him. Now that he has chosen to take them in, he must take responsibility for them.
Luke sighed and patted Nash's back before speaking slowly.
"Nash, what's your mother's name?"
"B-brother."
Liam butted in with an anxious face. It is understandable though, talking about Nash's mother any further may hurt him more but Luke didn't care and focused on Nash. Nash then slowly answered while trembling.
"Hilda... She received that name from the gods."
"Hilda, huh? Hmm, why don't we build a grave for her here?"
Nash looked up at Luke and saw his calm face looking back at him. Luke then spoke while caressing his back.
"At least we could properly send her off even though without her body. And we could also remember her if her grave was here. What do you think?"
Nash curled up into a ball and stuffed his body into Luke's chest. He then slowly nodded. Luke smiled a bit and spoke again.
"Having no parents is indeed hard, but remember, you are not alone anymore. You have us now, by your side."
Luke felt Nash flinching in his arms. Nash then slowly started to tear up. He's right, he is not alone anymore. He has brothers and sisters and also friends.
After losing his mother, he thought that he had lost everything and he deserved to die for not even moving an inch to help his mother. He was on his way to die in someone's garden when he met Luke. He offered help and gave him a potion. He even recognizes his bravery in surviving because he didn't notice it himself. He also feeds him and takes care of him and, slowly, it's not just Luke anymore. There's Lily, Jessa, Michael, Josh, Spencer, Selena, Lina, Klein, Julius, and Liam. He has a family now.
Nash slowly closed his eyes with a small smile on his face. Luke just continues to carry him while patting his back. Liam saw this peaceful scene and felt peace and happiness within him. He then clenched his fist.
'That's right, we are family now. I will destroy everything that comes our way. I will protect them.'
Liam then had a determined look on his face and stood up. Luke then looked at him.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to train more."
"Okay? Knock yourself out."
Liam smiled and walked out the door and Luke was left alone with Nash in his arms. He then sighed and stood up. He then carefully placed Nash on the bed and covered him with a blanket. He then turned around and went outside. He could see the clear blue sky and white clouds as he went outside. He then flinched when he saw Selena and Lina running towards him with urgent faces. He suddenly had a bad feeling.
"What is it?"
"Luke!"
"It's an emergency!"
Luke's face tensed as a result of the two women's urgent stares. He then asked.
"What is it? Is it an attack?"
Lina shakes her head and speaks nervously.
"M-My parents are on the estate!"
"What?"
Luke looked at Lina in shock. Her parents are there. There could be only one reason for this. Luke then frowned.
"Damn it, call Spencer. Nash is currently sleeping."
"Okay!"
Selena then started to run towards where Spencer was supposed to be. Luke then looked at Lina's nervous face. He then asked.
"How did you know that your parents were on the estate?"
"Ah, about that, Uhm, I have this."
Lina then took out his necklace that had a blue gem as a pendant. She then started to explain.
"My parents can briefly send short messages through this and if this gem shines blue, it means that the other two necklaces like this are close in range to each other."
"Your parents each have one?"
Lina nodded before starting to look anxious.
"My father gave this to my mother and me before we split apart. Even though my mother didn't like it, she still wore it for my sake."
Luke then started to frown. If the mother didn't like it, it must mean that the relationship between the mother and father was not that good. Luke began to worry about what would happen if the two couples fought on the estate. An elf and an assassin, it'll be chaos. He then hurriedly looked around and saw Selena and Spencer running towards them. He then urgently spoke to Spencer.
"Teleport. Now."
"I don't know what is going on, but okay."
Spencer then cast teleportation magic and arrived in the teleportation room in a flash. Luke then immediately went out of the room with urgent footsteps. They then entered the guest room. Luke flinched when he saw a heavy aura in the room.
And there he saw a long-white-haired elf and a black woman in her 30s glaring at each other. The maids around them nervously looked at them and stopped when they saw Luke in the doorway.
"Young master!"
The elf and the woman turned their heads towards Luke and Luke flinched at the sharp stares that the two gave him. He then saw Lina moving in front of him.
"Stop! Don't kill him! He is a friend!"
Luke then nervously looked at Lina.
'Kill? What do you mean kill? They'll kill me?!'
This is the time when Luke needed Nash the most. But Nash is currently not here to protect him, so he needed to do this on his own. He then faked a cough and looked at the two vicious glares in front of him.
"U-uh, hello Ms. Clenn and... Mr. Elf?"
The elf then frowned at him.
"How dare you call me that as a mere human? I have a name, and it's Silviu. Dare to call me Mr. Elf again and I'll pierce my arrows into every part of your body."
Luke's face turned serious. He didn't like how this elf called Silviu is treating him. Even though he is old, threatening someone younger than him is kind of immoral for Luke. Especially when he hasn't even done anything bad to him. Luke then talked in an almost rude tone. Thankfully, he managed to pull out some of the rudeness.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Sir Silviu, I didn't know. And by the way, are you Ms. Tina Clenn? Who is the Clenn family patriarch?"
"Y-you! How dare you speak-!"
"Yes, that's right; I am the Clenn family patriarch."
Luke nodded and walked forward with Lina, Selena, and Spencer behind him. They saw how Luke just completely ignored Lina's father and that only meant one thing: he was pissed off. They nervously followed behind Luke and sat beside him on the third couch, facing Lina's parents, who were sitting on both sides.
Luke then looked at the elf and the assassin in front of him. His nervousness was completely faded thanks to Silviu and now he could see their faces clearly. Silviu appeared irritated by his ignoring him, while Tina appeared to be interested in him. Luke sighed and spoke.
"I assume you came here for your daughter since you heard about the incident in the capital, right?"
Tina then answered. Her eyes were cold.
"That is right, and I am here to take Lina back. This is a dangerous place for her."
"Mom! I am completely fine! It is brother Luke who-!"
"I don't care, you are going home with me."
Luke frowned. They hadn't even started a conversation yet, but the mother was already ready to leave. He then started to speak.
"Are you picking her up because you've got the wind of the war?"
Tina glared at him. Her gaze was cold.
"You already know the reason, so don't stop me. She'll be safe on the eastern continent, far from danger."
"But you know Dark Eye knows her identity now, right? They most likely investigated the heroes who disrupted their plans after the incident. Even the Eastern continent is not safe for her."
Tina frowned and pulled out her dagger. She seemed to be annoyed.
"If anyone tries to harm my daughter, I'll cut their necks."
"Is that so? So what if you kill a member of the Dark Eye? Do you think it'll end up being just that? Ma'am, they have withered souls."
"What?!"
Both Silviu and Tina stood up from their seats in shock. Luke then signaled them to calm down.
"Relax, even though I said that it is not safe for her even on the Eastern Continent, doesn't mean that there is no safe place."
Silviu and Tina then sat down. Tina glared at Luke and asked.
"And where is this safe place?"
Lina then answered.
"Our base! It is a floating island! The others are also in there and we are perfectly safe in there!"
"...Floating Island? Where?"
Luke then answered Silviu, who had asked him the question.
"The reason why it is safe is because its location can't be revealed."
Silviu frowned.
"Stop playing with me, boy."
"I'm not a boy; my name is Luke."
"Why you!"
Luke completely ignored Silviu's angry face and looked at Tina, who seemed to be thinking about something. Luke let out a sigh and spoke up.
"If you want your daughter to be completely safe, you must find the source of the problem."
Tina stopped moving and then smirked at him.
"Ho? So you want me to completely destroy that Dark Eye or whatnot?"
Luke shrugged his shoulders.
"I am just saying, and, besides, we already know one of the Dark Eye's dogs."
Tina's gaze became sharp.
"And who is it?"
Luke smiled at her.
"Are you willing to help us?"
"Ho! So this is what you've been aiming for? You sly brat."
"I'll take that as a compliment. And I assume that you are willing to help too? Sir Silviu?"
Silviu frowned and looked at Luke with intense eyes. But then, his eyes suddenly widened and he looked like he had seen a ghost, making Luke feel uncomfortable.
"Uh, Sir? What is wrong?"
Luke flinched when he saw Silviu suddenly stand up and bow towards him. Luke's jaw opened and he saw Tina looking at her husband like he was some sort of lunatic. Luke slowly turned towards his group and they all looked as shocked as he did. Luke flinched when he heard Silviu's now respectful tone.
"I am sorry! Please forgive me!"
'What the hell is going on?'
Luke then awkwardly talked toward Silviu who still has his head down towards him.
"Uh... Apology accepted?"
Lina, Luke, Tina, Spencer, and Selena then all flinched when they saw Silviu kneeling with his head down. Luke then started to get nervous for some reason.
"Hey? Is there something wrong with your father?"
Luke asked Lina beside him and Lina just shakes her head with a worried expression. They then heard Silviu shouting.
"Oh, mighty and glorious legendary beast! Please forgive me as I have sinned!"
Luke suddenly felt shivers down his spine. Nash is definitely not here, so who is Silviu talking to? While Luke is wondering why Silviu's attitude has suddenly flipped, Silviu is sweating bullets while waiting for Luke to answer.
'How stupid of me! How could I not notice?! And I called myself an elf?!'
Silviu bit his lip while facing the ground. While looking at Luke earlier, he sensed multiple natural powers within him. He sensed water, earth, fire, and wind, which only legendary beasts, close to nature and mana, could possess. He also has an imposing and rude nature, which is common among legendary beasts, especially dragons. He only just noticed because he was impudent and thought that Luke was just another ordinary human.
"Hey, stand up."
Silviu flinched when he heard the hard tone of Luke above him. He then slowly stood up and sat back in his chair with his head still down. He then heard Luke asking him.
"Who do you say was a legendary beast?"
Silviu shivered in fear at the cold tone of Luke. As he learned from the elf chief when he was little, legendary beasts are extremely cold and hot-tempered and could eliminate you in an instant when angered. He then slowly spoke in a trembling voice.
"I-it's you, esteemed s-sir."
"Excuse me?"
Luke pointed at himself while looking lost and shocked. It was the same for the others, who were looking at him in disbelief. Luke then suddenly remembered something.
"Ah, now I get it."
Luke nodded and remembered the information from the novel. Elves are very sensitive to nature than mana, causing them to somehow sense legendary beasts and natural powers. He must've sensed the powers that he got from the magic containers in his body, mistaking him as a legendary beast.
Meanwhile, Silviu, Tina, Lina, Selena, and Spencer saw Luke's nod with shock. They thought Luke was admitting that he was a legendary beast, so they couldn't help but stare at him in disbelief. They then heard Luke change the subject.
"So, are you willing to help me or not?"
Silviu nodded his head with determination.
"I will do my best to help you, sir! I am the Captain of our elves brigade so please use us however you want!"
"Uh... Sure? What about you Miss Tina?"
Tina sighed and sat back on the couch. She then picked up her teacup and drank the tea inside it before answering.
"As I said earlier, I must eliminate the factors that could harm my daughter. And now that I know that she is currently safe with you, the Clenn family will help you."
"I appreciate your help. So can I ask the Clenn family a favor?"
"What is it?"
"I need you to investigate the Arram Empire."
The whole group flinched and Tina looked at Luke with interest.
"Ho? So the Arram empire is the Dark Eye's dog? Unbelievable."
"Yes, and we suspect that the withered souls the Dark Eye brings out are from the Arram empire."
"Ho? How so?"
"It is just speculation, so that's why we need your help to investigate it. With your family's stealth and prowess in gathering information, I believe we can determine the truth in no time."
Tina smiled as if she was amused. She then put her teacup down and crossed her arms.
"Very well, we'll investigate the Arram Empire."
"Thank you. And now, Sir Silviu."
"Yes?!"
"I believe that the elf kingdom is on the Eastern continent, right?"
"Yes! That is correct!"
"....Please try to investigate the Eastern continent. See if there is a shady organization anywhere. I might be wrong, but I kind of speculate that the Dark Eye's base is on the Eastern continent."
"Yes, sir!"
Luke sighed. Actually, he just said that to Silviu so that he wouldn't feel left out. But, indeed, he is somehow suspicious of the Eastern continent. He then sighed and shook hands with Lina's parents and then stood up. He then heard Lina asking him.
"W-where are you going?"
Luke looked at Lina and glanced at Tina and Silviu.
"You need to speak to your parents. Won't you say hello to them? They came all the way here to see you. "
"O-okay."
Lina then embarrassingly looked at her parents, who were also looking at her with a gentle gaze. Luke just ignored it and went outside the guest room with Spencer and Selena. When they got out of the room, Luke sighed as if he felt sick. He then looked at Spencer and Selena, who had been staring at him for a while now.
"What? What is it?"
"Are you really a legendary beast?"
"What kind of scary things are you spouting now?"
Luke looked at Spencer in disbelief. Spencer just frowned.
"As expected, a self-harming bastard like you is no legendary beast."
"Yes, you are right."
Selena agreed with Spencer's statement and nodded. Luke just frowned at them and sighed.
"Brother!"
Luke flinched and looked at the source of the voice. He then saw Finesse walking toward him. Her tummy seemed to be bigger than before, so it was probably hard to walk. Luke then smiled and greeted Finesse.
"Finesse, what are you doing here?"
"I came to check on you when I heard that you were here."
"Oh? But you didn't have to come out personally. I was about to come to greet you."
"Don't mind me, the doctor said that walking is also good for exercise."
"Is that so? You should rest later."
"Yes, brother!"
Finesse smiled and started to chat with Selena and Spencer behind Luke. Luke just sighed and just patiently waited for Lina to be done discussing with her parents in the living room with the others. After a while of waiting, Lina and her parents finally came out of the room. Luke stood up to greet them.
"Are you done speaking with your parents?"
"Yes."
Lina smiled and glanced at her parents. Luke then saw Tina throw something at him and Luke caught it. He then saw what it was and smiled.
"Great, I was about to ask how we're going to communicate."
Luke took the communication device into his hands and placed it in the pocket of his coat. He then looked at Lina's parents and spoke.
"I am afraid that we need to go now. Our schedule is quite packed so..."
"Just go already."
Tina then made a shooing gesture towards him and Luke smiled. He then looked at Spencer and Spencer just sighed.
"Let's go."
Selena waved goodbye to Finesse while Lina was energetically waving to her parents. Then the light from the magic circle completely engulfed their vision and they finally arrived back on the floating island. Luke just sighed.
"Well, that went well."
Luke nodded in satisfaction. He thought that dealing with Lina's parents would be extra hard, but it was not that hard at all, and that made Luke fall into a good mood.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone