"You!"
How could someone see him and hold him even with
'I'm in big trouble!'
With fear running in his veins, he summoned the courage to turn around and look the figure in the eye. It was a tall, studly, and masculine frame.
The stranger's gaze was piercing. He had broad, composed shoulders, and he carried the aura of a veteran. Steel armor capably protected him, and a crimson coat clung to the gorget and pauldron, where a stunning insignia was etched.
The stranger had salt-and-coal hair, a sharp jawline, and a faded scar that ran from his left brow down to the middle of his cheek. And his eyes were gray and steel, clearly seeing through Darien, clearly seeing through his cloak of
"I saw what you did."
The man had a very deep and steady voice. And as he spoke, Darien glanced around dreadfully to be certain if it was only this stranger that could perceive him.
It turned out that was the case because everyone on that street had their entire attention drawn toward the incident in Red Boar.
"I–I don't know what you mean, ser."
"Where did you learn your little trick, hmm? Answer me, girl."
Darien opened his lips again to protest and deny, but he shut them after one thought.
Just by the hard gaze of the stranger, he realized there was no point in pretending and no point in trying to squirm away. This Warrior had truly sighted him with his perception.
'Just who is he?'
Rank 4? Rank 5? In Valurion, non-Ascendants couldn't actually sense the Energy or the Flow from the Warriors. In that case, Warriors had to confide in their dress code and mannerisms in order to give out a certain unmissable aura to the common masses.
Darien cursed his luck for coming in contact with a being most likely an Ardent.
"I'm a boy, not a girl."
He muttered it under his breath, believing it was best to set things straight with any new person he encountered.
The man's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied him again, reassessing without a flicker of the surprise Darien usually got.
"...hmph. The Curse really took a toll on you."
The man murmured as his gaze passed over the boy's lashes and the unsettling sharpness in his irises. His observation came to an end.
Being someone who had survived many battles in Valurion, he knew many like Darien often vanished before adulthood.
The man released his grip on Darien's wrist. This staggered the boy backward, and he clutched the sore spot. The man hadn't even squeezed hard, but it hurt and stung his skin.
Both stood silently for a breath: the child around 160 cm, the man around 195 cm. As they stood, staring up and down respectively, they regarded each other, and a rapport, however thin, began to form.
"Did you catch me to take me away for prosecution?"
Darien asked in a wary, low tone. But the man exhaled softly, and a flat smile tugged at his scarred cheek.
"Prosecute you? You just killed the Ash Rats. I should be thanking you, not binding you. You actually did the town a favor."
Darien said nothing.
He too was glad that he had just wiped out the terrorizing Ash Rats, but he knew it was still wrong legally, and Lanthold was a very lawful city, although they disregarded the low district.
This deepened his curiosity about the man before him, as he wondered who he was. Finally, he asked why he was grabbed then. The man raised a brow at the question.
"I captured you because of the skill you used. The stealth technique is never common at your age, especially since you haven't Ascended."
'Woah! How can he tell!'
The tall man tilted his head, scratched his sparse facial hair, and continued speaking.
"But now I know you're Cursed Born… that might explain it.
Some of your kind get strange gifts apart from the genetic disorders. There was once a great Cursed Arcanist, but ever since his time, your kind has been subjected to…"
The Warrior let his words trail off into oblivion, because he thought what he was going to say was sensitive.
Cursed Borns were wretched offshoots of varying grotesque genetic disorders right from birth. In a world with stronger humans, Cursed Borns were left behind, and they lived a horrible life. They always died or were killed young because of being too brittle and sickly.
Others were taken and used in forbidden dark rituals and experiments.
None of them ever grew well or lived long enough to make a name. So Darien was lucky with his own unique genetic disorder.
The Warrior before him now understood how important the stealth technique must be for him.
Being out of sight from those who might want him as their lab rat was a great advantage.
The Warrior calmly changed the topic and asked Darien if he was enrolling in the Academy to become a knight. Darien nodded firmly. An approving hum came from the man.
"That's good. The knight class is respected in every dukedom, even by those who dislike the administration. You'll be given status and meals you don't have to fight for."
"If you're serious about improving, I can also link you to the Adventurer's Association. There you can fight with low-rank creatures in the Primordial Forest's outer paths and get good rewards. This is the exact way real Warriors grow."
Darien eagerly accepted this generous offer from the man. For two weeks now, he had been searching for a way to get in contact with beasts of the Primordial World so he could slay them and level up.
By becoming an Adventurer, he would not only encounter a lot of these beasts, but also get to see other Warriors in action, learning from them.
"Thank you, ser!"
The man nodded faintly at Darien's enthusiastic response.
"Depending on how well you perform, even in the Academy, I might consider bringing you into my guild."
Darien's eyes widened with hope.
'A guild! That's a different level!'
"But first…"
The man added as he turned away. He took one glance to the right as people had already begun to drag out the deceased bodies of the Ash Rats, the crowd overwhelming.
"Wait here. I still need to get what I came to buy. Once I'm done, I'll take you to the Adventurer's Association."
Darien became restless, and his body refused to stay still. He was greatly excited for the adventure ahead because he had been dreaming of it. It was finally starting to happen!
"What's the name of your guild, ser?!"
He raised his voice for the question while the man was already walking away with slow, steady steps. The reply floated back to the impatient boy.
"Honored Spire Guild."