BXBX NOVEL Chapter 405
The old elf appeared to be overly resourceful. Furthermore, he liked to overexplain to the point that anyone could understand, not to mention how he speaks. He almost always started when a person found the need to ask a question. Thus, the old elf was the only one speaking because he would answer every question before it was asked.
Ming Xiao Fan made descending down the seventy-meter tall volcano much bearable. The subjects varied from fish that could be found in the river to migratory birds that frequent the island.
Vincent overheard a student mention how Ming Xiao Fan is in charge of the history class that will become available later. The old elf’s identity made much more sense now. As his class hindered him, the old elf spent almost two decades learning and training his body to compete with a warrior class.
After stepping off the last stair, the two homeroom teachers and hundred first-year students took a short break.
Vincent offered Lilith, Nick, and Clair something to drink since no one was prepared to move this much under the summer heat.
Vincent notice Jun Ye Rim alone. She was looking at the sky with a frown.
‘Is she thirsty? Does she think the clear sky will start raining to give her something to drink?’ Vincent thought.
Vincent left Lilith with Nick and Clair and approached Jun Ye Rim with a cup of water in his hands. However, she swiftly refused while frowning as if the drink was drugged. After the refusal of help, Vincent noticed Elias frowning.
.....
“Drink or don’t. You will be the one thirsty and not me.” Vincent placed the cup of water on the ground in front of her and went to offer a drink to Elias.
Elias was parched, and it quickly turned into three. He thanked Vincent for offering to help because he didn’t drink nor eat in the morning, and descending the volcano made him feel dizzy.
Elias explained how he trained until late because today would be a day without lessons. He ended up waking late because of this. Moreover, his teammates didn’t even knock on his door to wake him up regarding the announcement happening at eight o’clock in the morning.
Vopor noticed Vincent talking with a student, and it took a few seconds to remember how Elias was his classmate. Elias always stayed alone in both lessons, and other than his appearance of an overweight teen, he didn’t leave much presence or impression.
Vopor approached the two of them and asked if Vincent knew his classmate Elias.
Vincent nodded and glanced at Elias’s teammates talking with other teams. “Could you watch over Elias sometimes? The four wenches on his team are horrible.” He said in a low voice.
Vopor felt Elias and Nick both had problems regarding women. One suffered from rumors while the other from bullying. Regrettably, Elias’s four teammates were on the aristocrat faction. He couldn’t help without possibly starting a family fight.
Furthermore, because the academy uses the team system, Elias couldn’t change his team unless something drastic happened. Fortunately, if enough proof is presented, Elias can change his team in his second year.
“Nice to make your acquaintance, Elias. I remember how you like to stay alone, but I hope you can consider me a friend and don’t hesitate to sit near me if you have a problem while learning the magic lesson.” Vopor said. He extended his hand and continued with a friendly smile, “I once heard someone say, men before wenches... or was it, bros before hoes?”
Vincent and Kazumi chuckled at the familiar sentence of friendship said between men.
Elias became so emotional that a tear in his eye. “My mother and I live alone in the city without anyone else to depend on. It feels like a miracle to have two people offer help to a minor noble like me.” He extended his hand and shook Vopor’s hand. Then he did the same for Vincent.
[It looks like Elias is in a bad financial situation. Could he be like Ester? Is he a son that his father abandoned?]
-But isn’t he a noble, unlike Ester? –
[Maybe that was why Beatrix was calling him a wicked man. Maybe he was being followed by someone, and Beatrix noticed Elias’s anger.]
“Elias, did something happen to you or your mother recently?” Vincent curiously asked out of the blue.
Elias flinched and took a step back. *Gulp* “H-how did you know?” He nervously said.
“I remember seeing you being harassed by a woman with a snake around her neck a few weeks ago. I know that woman. She only bothers people who show signs of malice because she was born sensitive to people’s intent.” Vincent explained.
Elias stopped being on guard and said with a distressed expression, “We had to rent another place to live because the landlord wanted disgusting favors from my mother. So we left and found another place. But the same thing happened again last week.”
“What about your mother in the next six weeks in the academy?” Vopor urgently asked. Because Vopor was raised without a mother, hearing the mention of how someone’s mother was hurt makes his heart feel the same pain as if it was his mother.
“We exchange letters daily. As for money, my mother is a scribe mage. She mostly makes magical contracts and rarely basic scrolls because of the production cost. We collected enough money to find many different places to live for the next year.” Elias reassured.
However, the was problem he didn’t mention. His mother was without her son deterring the lecherous actions from landlords. This information also showed that Elias’s mother is beautiful and isn’t very old.
[I know we accept people we can trust, but can’t we try to help Elias and his mother? I feel bad for them.]
Vincent placed his hand on Elias’s shoulder and asked, “Can you and your mother keep a secret?”
Elias frowned. He hesitated at first as it could mean many things. But after recalling how Vincent might not be the type to act friendly and take advantage of his situation, Elias said, “If it isn’t morally wrong, then yes, we can.”
“Great. Tell your mother that she can start living in the Emerald Lionheart Mansion from Monday onwards. I will tell my people to arrange a room for her.” Vincent offered.
“Wa... what?” Elias became too surprised by the sudden offer that he couldn’t believe what he heard. To live in the home of a noble meant they would have their protection.
“Ohh. So that’s why you mentioned keeping a secret, hehe.” Vopor chuckled. “Your wives are a surprise after all, hehe.”
“But... but...” Elias started to believe that this was too good to be true and it might be a new type of hostage scam.
“About the payment, right?” Vincent turned around and continued, “I am interested in the ability to create magical contracts because I am a man that favors trust. A contract is essential for me, no matter their quality. Thus, that will be the rent and protection fee.”
“The amount can be discussed when your mother decides to trust my family and lives with us.” Vincent nodded once and went to Lilith.
“I met Vincent a couple of weeks ago when I needed help to complete my familiar bond contract. Every time I met him, he always acted kind to those around him, so I don’t think you will have any worries with your mother living with his Lionheart branch family.” Vopor said to help Elias conclude.
Elias looked at Vincent go to Lilith and offer her another cup of water to drink. After contemplating what he should do, Elias decided to write everything in the letter and hope his mother could at least see what kind of people they were before she made a choice.
The ten-minute break was over, and the two teachers asked to be followed. As everyone walked on the coin road, the difference from watching from above to watching at ground level could be noticed.
The stone-paved road was longer than it seemed, and the many stands and tents prepared by the villagers made the long coin road feel even longer. Moreover, their heads moved from left to right many times, with a couple of students setting a stand early in the morning.
Vincent feared his neck might feel sore if most of the coin road became filled with students and villagers selling produces or services.
Later, they arrived at the end of the coin road. The area was vast, and the flowers, trees, small statues of animals, and stylized trimmed bushes complemented the scenery. The end of the coin road felt similar to entering a park after a long walk to rest both the legs and neck.
The area wasn’t empty. Some people had the slave curse mark on their necks, but they wore everyday clothes. Furthermore, one or two women with the salve mark had a smiling child without a curse mark beside them.
Not only on their faces wasn’t a hint of sadness, but they appeared to live an ordinary life on Paradise Island as the villagers who the Griffionheart family protects. Those who were slaves were able to build a new life for themselves.
It was a nice sight, but not all the noble students liked what they saw. More than half of the hundred first years frowned.