"Um, can Oliver come too?" Noel asked.
"Of course. I'm not short on money." Mond replied generously, pulling out his coin pouch. The crisp clinking of the coins was practically a display of wealth.
The three of them soon found a small restaurant. Although it was just a small place, the interior was neat and welcoming, with a warm, ordinary atmosphere.
"Uncle Mond, you're here again," the hostess greeted warmly from the counter.
"I came to town to buy some materials, and I'll be troubling you again today," Mond replied, a bit embarrassed.
"It's no trouble at all! We should be thanking you for your business," the hostess said gratefully.
"I'll have one adult set meal, and two children's meals, please." Mond scanned the menu on the counter, ordering skillfully.
"Who are these two children?" the hostess asked curiously.
Although she knew Mond well, she had only ever seen him alone. It was the first time he had brought children with him.
"They're my relatives' children, staying at my place for a while." Mond explained.
It was a poor excuse, especially since the two children were dressed in rags, clearly beggars. But that wasn't the hostess's concern; her job was simply to serve customers.
They found a table and sat down, with Noel and Oliver sitting together while Mond sat across from them.
A waitress brought over three glasses of cold water.
It was the first time either of them had been to a restaurant like this, and they were not used to such warm treatment, making them appear stiff and awkward.
"Is this water… okay to drink?" Oliver asked.
"Of course, don't be so tense. Relax a bit." Mond smiled gently.
Both of them nodded. Even if they tried to act calm, it was clear they were both a little excited, but mostly nervous, in such an unfamiliar place.
"May I tell you a story?" Mond took a sip of water and began.
"I was once an alchemist belonging to the Alchemists' Guild. In time, I rose to become an A-rank alchemist within the guild."
"Everything in my life was going well, and I married a wonderful woman. We had a lovely son, and back then, life was truly fulfilling."
Oliver looked displeased. They hadn't even agreed to listen yet, and here this old man was, launching into his story unprompted. It felt a bit pushy.
Noel, however, listened patiently. He liked hearing people's stories. In other people's stories, there was always a piece of genuine emotion. Even if the story was sad, Noel still liked to listen.
Suddenly, Mond's voice began to tremble, almost fraying at the edges. "But later, my obsession with alchemy grew, and I lost myself in research, day and night."
"My skills in alchemy continued to improve, and I eventually passed the S-rank alchemist exam within the guild."
Mond's voice grew raspy. "But while I was pursuing alchemy, I lost so much. I lost time with my wife and son, ignoring my wife's worsening illness."
"When I finally achieved success, my wife was already bedridden, and because of my neglect, her illness became untreatable."
As he spoke, Mond's face twisted, unable to maintain a calm expression, leaving only the contorted face of a man desperately trying not to cry.
"After my wife passed away, my son began to resent me, asking why I didn't save his mother. What could I say? It was all my fault. I could only remain silent. Unable to handle it, my son ran out of the house in a rage."
"Later, when we found him at the bottom of a cliff, there was nothing left but his clothes and bones." Tears streamed down Mond's face.
It was such a tragic story that Noel found himself quietly moved. He wasn't someone without empathy, and seeing all of this happen to one person felt so unfair.
But Noel still didn't understand why this man wanted to take him away. It was just too strange.
"I can feel your pain, and I know how much you're hurting. But I can't fix any of that, so… what is it that you want from me?" Noel asked quietly.
Mond finally spoke the truth. "When I look at you, I see the shadow of my son. You resemble him so much… I wanted to give you the fatherly love I never gave him."
"I'm sorry, but I can't accept that." Noel had thought about it carefully and decided to refuse. "I'm not your son, and I can't accept your fatherly love. I can't take away something that was meant for someone else."
After all, he was nothing but a shadow of another person. Forcing such emotions onto someone else was just a way to satisfy one's own regrets.
Accepting something unearned felt wrong to Noel. It felt cunning.
"I see…" Mond's face fell, and he looked defeated, though he understood that the boy was right.
His request had been unreasonable. He was merely forcing his love onto someone who didn't want or need it.
Was that really love? No, it was nothing but selfishness.
Noel, sensitive as he was, could see the deep sadness in the man's eyes, a sadness that could not be hidden.
"Can you teach me alchemy magic?" Noel asked softly. "I want to learn. I want to become an alchemist. Master."
Mond could hardly believe his ears. The despair in his heart suddenly transformed into a strange, budding hope.
"Are you serious?" Mond asked in disbelief, then added cautiously, "But alchemy isn't something easily learned. It requires a deep understanding of the elements of nature, and it demands a lot of knowledge."
"For those who aren't willing to sit down and study seriously, it's not a good choice. To be honest, it's a road filled with thorns."
"It's alright. I will do it." Noel answered with bright confidence. "I've always been curious about different kinds of magic."
Then Noel turned to Oliver. "Oliver, what about you? Do you want to learn too?"
Oliver thought for a moment. "I think I'll pass. A brain like mine couldn't handle that kind of studying. I know myself—if I had to read all day, I'd go crazy. It's not for me."
"But I'll find my own way to become a great mage, so you better do your best too!"
What pure friendship, Mond thought to himself. Two friends, encouraging each other and enduring together—that was true companionship.
"Here are your meals, one adult set and two children's meals. Please enjoy."
The waitress brought their plates and set them down in front of them.
Oliver and Noel immediately dug in, wolfing down the food, while Mond only took a few bites, spending more time watching the boys eat than eating himself.
At one point, Mond quietly slipped a few gold coins into Oliver's hand.
As he watched the two boys, he thought that maybe, just maybe, this was the right decision. He was old, and the alchemy he had spent his life refining needed to be passed on to someone.
This child seemed mature and steady, hardened by a difficult life into someone far beyond his years. He was diligent, attentive, and kind. Perhaps… it would work.
Sensing Mond's intense gaze, Noel looked up, feeling a little awkward. "Is something wrong, Master?"
"It's nothing," Mond replied, smiling faintly. "You just had me lost in thought."