Capítulo 32: Chapter 29: Gracier

With the young girl, Gracier, on his back, Alex entered the Moonlight Inn.

The first floor was bustling with customers enjoying their meals. As they caught sight of Alex with the young girl, they looked at him with curiosity and some even smirked.

Ignoring the stares, Alex pressed forward until he spotted Lea, Ms. Lana's daughter. She greeted him, but her expression turned cold when she noticed the beautiful young girl on his back.

Anticipating this reaction, Alex spoke up. "Lea, please call your mother. I need to talk to her. And I could use your help as well."

Lea stared at Alex for a moment before disappearing into the kitchen. Soon enough, she returned with her mother. Ms. Lana's face lit up with a smile when she saw Alex and Gracier. She decided to tease him a little.

"Oh my, Alex returns tonight with a young girl. How bold of you. She seems quite young, don't you think?"

Alex sighed before explaining the situation to Ms. Lana. Her playful smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. After listening to Alex, she asked Lea to take care of Gracier.

Excusing himself, Alex went upstairs to his room to clean up and change into fresh clothes before returning downstairs.

As he descended, Alex spotted Gracier, now dressed in new clothes, likely borrowed from Lea. Lea and Gracier sat together at a table. Alex approached them and took a seat. Lea smiled, while Gracier bowed her head and spoke.

"Thank you, Big brother, for rescuing me, Gracier. I'm grateful for your help."

"Oh, so Gracier is your name. What a lovely name," Alex complimented. Gracier smiled, pleased that her name was praised.

"You're welcome, Gracier. How are you feeling now?" Alex asked, gazing into her eyes.

Gracier averted her gaze before answering. "I'm fine, Big brother. Just a little hungry."

"Oh! Don't worry. The food will be served soon," Lea interjected. Alex simply smiled and asked Gracier to address him differently.

"You can call me Alexander, or Alex if it's too long."

"No, Big brother is fine," Gracier responded, rejecting his suggestion. Lea smiled as she observed the interaction.

Taking a closer look at Gracier, Alex noticed that she had some features that set her apart from humans. Her ears were slightly longer than a human's, but shorter than an elf's. She was a half-elf.

In books, it was often mentioned that half-elves were disliked by the elves. Alex wondered if that was the case in this world as well.

"Big brother, Big brother Alex!" Gracier called out, snapping Alex out of his thoughts. He had been lost in contemplation and hadn't heard her earlier. It seemed she had been trying to get his attention for a while.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought. What were you asking me earlier?" Alex inquired.

"No, Big sister Lea said that our food is coming. She went to the kitchen to help her mother. She'll be back soon with our dishes. She asked me to tell you that," Gracier explained.

"I see," Alex replied. Just as he was about to initiate a conversation and ask some questions, Lea and Ms. Lana arrived with their meals.

Ms. Lana joined them at the table, and when Alex expressed concern about her having work to do, she reassured him that it was fine. The four of them began to eat. Gracier devoured her food voraciously, indicating that she hadn't had a proper meal in quite some time. She had been famished, and now, seeing a variety of dishes before her, she couldn't contain her excitement and ate to her heart's content.

Finally, it was time for a serious discussion. Alex took a deep breath before asking the question that had been weighing on his mind.

"Gracier, where are your parents?"

The moment Gracier heard the word 'parents', tears started streaming down her face.

"Oh, come on. Now you've made her cry," Lea criticized Alex for making Gracier cry.

"Lea, please, enough," Ms. Lana scolded her daughter. Lea pouted and shot a glare at Alex, but he chose to ignore her.

Amidst her tears, Gracier began to share her tragic story. It was a tale of heartbreak and loss.

Gracier had grown up in a simple and happy household with just her and her mother. They lived in a small village located fifty kilometers south of Eria town. She had never seen her father, who was rumored to be an Adventurer. When Gracier's mother discovered she was pregnant, her father vanished, leaving behind five gold coins. With that money, Gracier's mother raised her, and though their lives were humble, they found happiness in each other's company.

As Gracier grew older, she made many friends in the village and enjoyed playing with them. Life in the village was peaceful, and even as a half-elf, everyone treated her kindly. She lived a content life with her mother and the other villagers.

Gracier had believed that this idyllic life would continue until one fateful day. Their village was suddenly attacked by a horde of monsters. Over fifty goblins, accompanied by orcs and goblin shamans, descended upon the village. The peaceful village was transformed into a scene of chaos and terror.

The attackers massacred over a hundred villagers, capturing a few women along the way. Gracier's mother was subjected to unspeakable horrors and died in front of her eyes. The village chief and Gracier's friends sacrificed themselves to ensure her escape, urging her to inform the guild about the monster invasion.

Filled with fear and desperation, Gracier fled the village, running non-stop towards Eria town. She didn't stop to rest or eat, driven solely by the need to survive. After what felt like an eternity, she stumbled upon a passing caravan. Relief washed over her as she hoped the people inside would provide help and safety. However, the reality was cruel. Instead of receiving aid, she was captured by the men in the caravan. They turned a deaf ear to her pleas for help, intent on selling her to slave traders once they reached Eria town.

She managed to escape after entering the town, but she was soon apprehended. It was at that moment that Alex came to her rescue.

By the end of Gracier's heartbreaking story, Lea was already in tears, holding Gracier's hand tightly. Ms. Lana's expression mirrored the weight of the tragedy. Even Alex couldn't help but feel a deep sadness for what Gracier had endured.

"You've been through so much, Gracier. It's okay to let it all out and cry," Ms. Lana said gently, comforting Gracier as she rubbed her head. Gracier sobbed uncontrollably, releasing all the pent-up emotions within her. After a few minutes, her tears subsided.

"What are you planning to do now, Alex?" Ms. Lana asked, breaking the heavy silence.

Alex was uncertain. He knew he needed to report this information to the guild, as they would likely already be aware of the monster invasion. As for Gracier, he considered the option of placing her in an orphanage or allowing her to stay and work in the inn's kitchen with Ms. Lana and Lea.

When Alex shared his thoughts with Ms. Lana and the others, Ms. Lana remained silent, as did Lea, whose gaze towards Alex held a hint of confusion.

But it was Gracier's reaction that stood out the most. Her expression turned pale, and tears streamed down her face when she heard Alex's suggestion of an orphanage or working at the inn. Desperation filled her voice as she pleaded with Alex.

"Please... I'll do anything. Please don't abandon me, Big brother. I want to become an Adventurer like you, Big brother. I want to slay monsters and repay my debt to you. I want to go on adventures with you. Please," Gracier begged, bowing her head in desperation.

Ms. Lana and Lea exchanged glances, realizing that they couldn't dissuade Gracier once her mind was set. Her eyes revealed determination and a clear sense of purpose.

Alex pondered the situation. While he appreciated Gracier's desire to become an Adventurer and assist him, he also didn't want to burden her with his own responsibilities. He wasn't sure if she would be useful to him or if it would be safe for her to join him on his adventures. Lost in his thoughts, Silveria, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, surprising Alex with her words.

"Master, accept her. You won't regret it. You'll understand later," Silveria assured him.

"Alright, I understand. Tomorrow, we'll go to the Adventurer Guild together to register you, and then we'll see," Alex agreed, making a decision.

Gracier's face lit up with gratitude and happiness. "Thank you, Big brother. I promise I'll work hard and not be a burden to you."

With those words, Gracier drifted off to sleep, a sense of relief and reassurance washing over her. Before falling into slumber, she uttered a phrase that left Alex bewildered, leaving him to wonder about the mysteries hidden within Gracier's past.