Now that they had entered the market carrying the large animals hunted by Shion and his friends, Rohim and Ikhas found it difficult to pull the animals along as they had to jostle with the crowd, and the other traders and buyers were staring at them, some in awe and others in annoyance. In the midst of their journey through the bustling market, Rohim and Ikhas were completely overwhelmed until finally Shion, Rafaela, and Isyar came to help carry the animals.
*Halfway through the journey, Rafaela felt a little annoyed looking at her surroundings*
Rafaela:"This is so annoying! The further we go in, the more crowded it gets."
Isyar:"(encouraging everyone) Hang in there, everyone! Don't pay any attention to them and keep trying!"
The five of them continued to try to embrace the animal while jostling each other, and also testing their confidence. In the midst of carrying the animal, Shion said:
"Rohim. Is there really no other way?"
Ikhas:"Yes, Shion, there's no other way. We have to go through this market, whether we like it or not."
Rohim:"(so annoyed) Hheaaahh...!, you've been talking non-stop! Who could have predicted this?! Just get through it first, don't complain! My ears are hurting from listening to you two talk."
Shion:"You're such an idiot. Your chatter here is making my ears ring too."
Rafaela:"Enough with that, why are you two arguing! You know it's tough, and now you're arguing too."
Rohim:"(really annoyed and in a low voice) Idiot. Who's arguing?"
Finally, after passing through the crowded market, they arrived at an area that was completely deserted. It was then that they relaxed by sitting down together, exhausted.
Shion:"Hhhahh... Hhhaahh... Hhhaahh... I felt like I was going to die walking through that market."
Rohim:"...Hhhaahh... Hhhaahh... But luckily it's over now."
*When they were completely exhausted, only Isyar remained standing with his enthusiasm. Then he encouraged his friends again.*
Isyar:"Wake up, you weaklings! We still have a long way to go to get to Rohim's house! I don't want to lose the fight just because we've come this far!"
Then they slowly got back up. As they were getting up, Ikhas looked at Isyra with a smile and said:
"Okay, we're pumped up again!"
As they were about to continue their journey, Shion looked to his right. There was a dark corridor with very little light. Shion seemed to be looking at someone in the corridor, but it was not very clear because they were covered by shadows. However, it appeared that Shion saw a child who looked like a homeless person who had not eaten. Shion hurriedly approached the child. Meanwhile, his four friends watched Shion enter the corridor.
Isyar:"Hey, wait, Shion, where are you going?"
*Rafaela and Rohim decided to follow Shion, while Isyar and Ikhas stayed where they were*
Isyar:"(surprised to see Rohim and Rafaela) Hey, hey, why are you guys coming too?!"
Ikhas:"Just let them be."
Isyar:"Ugh... If that's the case, I want to come along too."
Ikhas:"Just stay here. Who's going to look after these animals if everyone goes?"
Isyar:"You can do it."
Ikhas:"I don't feel like looking after things that aren't mine."
*Meanwhile, Shion. He ran a few metres into the alleyway and finally got a clear look at the child.*
A young boy, looking dirty, shabby and filthy. The boy was sitting with his knees bent, hugging his legs. He noticed Shion coming and glanced to his left. After Shion stopped, he was now close to the child. For a moment, the two of them stared at each other, until finally Rafaela and Rohim approached Shion.
Rafaela:"Shion...! (taking a moment to catch her breath) You finally stopped... Why did you come here? Let's go back."
Rohim:"(stopping running and surprised to see the child) Eh? Who is he?"
Rafaela:"(seeing the child and also surprised) Eeh..? Since when has there been someone else here?"
Shion approached the child seriously to talk to him. However, the child did not react at all except to stare at Shion. With a slight smile, Shion spoke to the child.
Shion:"What are you doing in a dark alley like this? If you have no business here, get out. This place is too dangerous."
However, the child remained silent and ignored Shion's words. Shion was confused by this child. Then Rafaela approached the child more closely. Smiling more warmly, she crouched down in front of him and spoke more softly to the child.
Rafaela:"Hey, what are doing here?"
Suddenly, Rafaela, Rohim, and Shion were startled to hear the child's stomach growling. The child clutched his stomach continuously, then Rafaela continued speaking:
"You're holding your stomach, are you hungry? If you're hungry, come with us. We just caught a big boar and are going to cook it."
Shion:"(smiling broadly) Yes! We just got a big pig, (sarcastically to Rohim, mocking him) but after you burned it to a crisp. Rohim."
*Rohim felt guilty again for roasting the pig.*
Rohim:"I-I'm sorry..."
Rafael:"So what do you say? Do you want to come with us? Rohim has given his permission, (looking at Rohim) right, Rohim?"
Rohim:"(smiling) Y-yes... of course. If you want to, come with us."
*However, even after being invited, the child remained silent. Then the child saw Shion. The boy pointed towards Shion*
Boy:"Will that child be coming too?"
*Although Rohim and Rafaela were initially shocked and looked at Shion, Rafaela smiled again when she saw the child*
Rafaela:"(still smiling) Of course he's coming."
Slowly, his eyes widened as if he had never seen anything like this before. Even Shion himself felt a little tense and confused because he was being looked at like that. The boy got up and looked at the three of them, and with a blank expression, he said:
"All right, I'll come along."
Rafaela was delighted to see the child, as were Rohim and Shion. Finally, Shion, Rafaela, and Rohim immediately took the child away. But first, Rafaela asked the child a question.
Rafaela:"(standing up) Yay...! Let's go then! Oh, by the way, what's your name?"
Boy:"KHARIM. My name is Kharim."
Rafaela:"Okay, Kharim, let's go!"
*He said with a happy expression. Meanwhile, Shion gave him a hand to help him stand up. Kharim, who was still mesmerised by Shion, took Shion's hand.*
To cut a long story short, Rohim, Shion, and Rafaela had emerged from the dark corridor. But Isyar and Ikhas were shocked when they saw the three of them carrying a child who looked like a vagrant. Ikhas and Isyar, who had been sitting down, now stood up and looked at them.
Isyar:"Who is this child?"
Rafaela:"(silent for a moment, smiling) Let me introduce him. His name is Kharim. He was in that corridor. He doesn't talk much. But right now, he's hungry. And we've decided to take him with us. So, do you two agree? Shion and Rohim agree."
Ikhas:"(approaching Shion and Rohim).(they discuss) Hey, are you two just going to accept this kid joining us?"
Rohim:"(looking at Ikhas) What do you mean? Are you underestimating him?"
Shion:"You're so mean"
Ikhas:"No... no, that's not it. I just wanted to tell you both not to trust others too easily."
Shion:"But he really is starving. Do you want him to starve to death because he abandoned someone in need?"
Ikhas:"Huh? Well... it's not like that. I'm just saying not to trust other people."
Rohim:"Don't think negatively about Kharim. It's not like he looks like a beggar or anything, so what's there to be suspicious about?"
Ikhas:"Of course there's reason to be suspicious, you idiot Rohim! It's in all my comic books. The character looks like a homeless person, unkempt, but it turns out he's a state intelligence agent."
Shion:"Oh, come on... it's just fiction."
Rohim:"(sighing) You're like there's nothing else to talk about. Now let's take Kharim to my house. How can you bear to let him go hungry?"
Ikhas:"(grinning) Actually, no..."
*Finally, during their discussion, Isyar and Rafaela seemed annoyed by the behaviour of the three of them, folding their arms and watching them closely.*
Rafaela:"Oh my god, you're taking this discussion so seriously."
Isyar:"I don't know... but we can still hear what they're saying."
Ikhas:"(looking at Kharim, then grinning) Heheheh... All right, I can't bear to see people starving either."
Isyar:"(smiling again) Great, let's go then!"
Rohim and Ikhas once again embraced the wood from the large animal to lift it, and Shion helped lift it from behind. And so, Shion and his friends continued their journey to Rohim's house, bringing with them a homeless child named Kharim.
To cut a long story short, they finally arrived at Rohim's house. It was a simple house made entirely of stone with unpolished walls. Rohim's house had no neighbours except for a large tree and some flowering plants that adorned it.
Rohim called his mother several times from in front of the small fence. After calling several times, the door of Rohim's house opened, and it was indeed Rohim's mother who came out. Rohim's mother was wearing a blue apron. She smiled happily when she saw her son had returned, but was also surprised to see Shion, his friends, and the large animal.
Rohim's mother:"Welcome home, Rohim! (surprised) Wow... What is this? Did you hunt a boar this big? You guys are amazing (happily)."
Rohim:"Yes, we caught it."
Shion:"(interrupting) Yes, at least he's using his HUOOZAI again."
Rohim:"(falls silent again and thinks to himself) Bloody hell, can't this kid just shut up?!"
Rohim's mother:"Is that true?"
Shion:"Of course."
Rohim's mother:"Oh dear... It's not time to enrol in MAGICAL STEEL yet, but he's already using HUOOZAI."
Ikhas:"But that's cool, Auntie! He hasn't enrolled in Magical Steel yet, but he can already master magic."
Rohim's mother:"It is impressive. (tempted by the sight of the large animal) But it's even more impressive that you brought such a delicious animal!"
She said with a smile as she looked at them. Rohim and his four friends also smiled at Rohim's mother, who was happily carrying their hunted animal, while Kharim, who was quiet by nature, just watched them all silently. Now that they were on their way to Rohim's house, they had one more person with them, named Kharim.
NOTE= MAGICAL STEEL is an academic school that educates students to become great Fighters, as well as training Cerdiva in their strengths and abilities.