"It's already nighttime. Grandpa hasn't arrived yet?"
Jabin looked outside and sighed. Although Grandpa Thomas was not related to him by blood, he would truly feel sad if the old man passed away. Grandpa Thomas had moved to this town about two years ago. However, because of his good nature, not only adventurers but also the townspeople of Limart knew and respected him.
Feeling worried, Jabin returned to his shop and sat at the counter.
"Grandpa Thomas still hasn't come back, huh, boss?"
The person who appeared in front of Jabin was Marglas. Marglas was also an adventurer and someone who deeply respected Grandpa Thomas.
"Yeah, Marglas. I haven't seen him yet. Normally, he wouldn't be this late."
"Should I go look for him? I'll take Kobe and Nax and check the forest outskirts."
Kobe and Nax were Marglas' party members and, like him, were adventurers.
"No need for that. You'd just be adding more trouble. You know Grandpa was once a war veteran, right?"
Hearing Jabin's words, Marglas listened, nodded, and emptied his glass. Then, suddenly, Marglas laughed.
Jabin, not expecting this, was confused and angrily said, "Hey! Are you messing with me? What did I say wrong?"
"No, it's not that. I just suddenly thought... We're just ordinary adventurers, but we're worrying about an old war veteran who's spent years defeating monsters. If others heard this, they'd laugh so hard they'd die."
Hearing Marglas' words, Jabin also started to think and then smiled. If someone who wasn't even an adventurer was worried about Grandpa Thomas, people would definitely laugh, just like Marglas said.
At that moment,
"Even ordinary people can worry too, can't they? I didn't know you all cared about me this much."
A voice came from outside the shop. When Jabin and Marglas heard the voice and looked toward it, they saw Grandpa Thomas, and they felt relieved.
Marglas immediately asked, "Grandpa, why are you so late? What happened?"
"I ran into a Harpy. Got quite a haul today. I went to the adventurer's guild first, that's why I got late. And, Jabin, I also got some wild boar meat for you. I'll bring it over in the morning."
"Hahahaha... That's fine, Grandpa. Take your time." Jabin laughed and said.
Marglas, looking curious, asked, "A Harpy? Was it a whole group? Grandpa, you're really reckless! Did you get any injuries? If we ran into a Harpy group, I can't even imagine."
"Luckily, it was just one, a Red Harpy. Since it was raining, you can imagine how powerless A red harpy was in the rain. I was fortunate. By the way, did you two see a powerful spell being cast near the forest?"
Marglas looked at Thomas with a frown and said, "Grandpa, what are you talking about? We didn't see anything... Seems like you're seeing delusions because of your old age. Hahahaha... Ouchh!"
Thomas knocked Marglas on the head and said,
"So, you really didn't notice anything... hmmm..."
At that moment, a thought flashed through Thomas' mind. When casting a spell, whether or not there is sound depends on the spell itself. Thomas remembered reading in a book during his younger days that destructive magic spells are loud, while non-destructive spells are much quieter.'Seems like it was a non-destructive spell… A buff spell, maybe?'
Just then, Jabin asked, "Grandpa, who is the child in your arms?"
Thomas stopped thinking and replied, "Oh, this child? I found him in the forest and brought him here."
"What?! You just took a child from the forest? Grandpa, is this a monster or what? "
"It's not a monster. I've already confirmed it."
Thomas then explained everything to Marglas and Jabin.
"That's really strange... Leaving a child in the forest like that is really inhumane. And the cloth wrapped around him is silk. Could he be a noble's child?"
Marglas said, "Jabin, are you too seeing delusions like Grandpa? Even the kingdom's army wouldn't bother coming this far. What noble would be here?"
"Yeah... You might be right. But still, this is too strange. Should we take him to a church and have him checked?"
"Are you seriously thinking this cute little child could be a monster? The cloth has a name embroidered on it—Arthur Rowan."
Jabin sighed and said, "You are right, Grandpa."
And then Marglas, looking at the child, commented, "Hmm... That name really suits him."
Jabin then asked, "So, Grandpa, what are you going to do with him?"
"I've decided to adopt him. I'm getting old… and also sometimes I feel lonely."
Marglas smiled and said, "Grandpa, don't say you're lonely. You have us."
"Thank you, Marglas… You guys must be tired from waiting for me too. Come on, let's eat something. It's my treat. Tonight, let's celebrate for little Arthur."
"Here we go, Grandpa… Come on, Jabin, you too."
Under the vast sky, amidst the moonlight's glow, lively sounds filled the night as the Maple Tavern brought the town of Limart to life.
---
In another place, the golden sunlight shone upon a field of colourful flowers, casting its warm glow alongside large white clouds. In the middle of this vibrant scenery, a tall white tower exists. Inside, the walls were a deep brown, lined with countless bookshelves packed with an uncountable number of books. Some books were scattered, and even a few ladders hovered in midair, making it seem like gravity did not exist within this library.
At the centre, a floating table and chair rested, where a young man sat, his head tilted to the side as he read a book. He had a slender figure and wore a white silk shirt. His most striking features were his pale skin and silver hair, giving him a unique appearance. However, his expression showed boredom.
"This is so dull… Just one magic theory after another..."
With a sigh, he closed the book, stood up, and stretched.
"Whew… That's enough. Time to sleep… Transfo—"
He abruptly stopped speaking. His eyes widened, and his face showed a mix of excitement and shock.
"Haa… This is a truly ancient spell… One of the most powerful in history. Let's take a look…"
"...Cofnodion am byth…"
As he extended both hands, a thick book, glowing with a blend of silver and violet light, appeared before him.
"Alright… Let's see..."
He flipped through the pages carefully.
"Hmm… So that's how it works… And then… Oh, I see…"
Suddenly, he stopped turning the pages. His expression, which had been filled with excitement, now carried a trace of surprise.
"What?… That girl was truly reckless… She really went through with something this dangerous… I'm impressed… Hmm, let's check the name… Arthur Rowan… Oh, interesting. You've caught my attention, kid. You better thank your parents… Because I'll be watching you. Show me something exciting in the future… Whew, I'm getting sleepy… I'll continue reading tomorrow... Time for some sleep… Transformation—"
As he spoke, the scene outside changed instantly. The once-shiny sky transformed into a clear night filled with bright stars.
---
As dawn broke, the golden sun emerged from the east, pushing back the darkness. On a small hill near Limart, a young boy stood beneath an old tree, training intensely with his sword. Sweat dripped from his brow as he swung the blade with all his might. His dark hair, pale skin, and golden eyes gave him a striking presence. As the sunlight gradually reached his figure, he paused his training, resting his sword on his shoulder while gazing at the vast Great Therondia forest in the distance.
"Whew… This view is the best."
At that moment, an elderly man stepped out of the house nearby and called out.
"Son, if you're done training, come and eat breakfast."
"Got it, Grandpa. I'll be there soon."
"Alright, don't take too long. The food will get cold."
The boy stopped admiring the scenery, walked over to the old tree, and grabbed a cloth he had set aside. Wiping his sweat, he headed toward the house and placed his sword on a corner of the door before stepping inside.
This marked the beginning of the journey of a boy destined to bring light into the age of darkness—the disciple of the great wizard Merlin the Gray, and the one who would claim the hero role in the legends of the future… Arthur Rowan.