"Hey, looks like you're hungry. Why don't you come with me and get some food?"
Nivar, still tense, replied,
"Who are you? Why would you help me? Don't you know who I am? Are you mocking me?"
The old man laughed,
"Ha ha ha! Kid, if I wanted to hurt you, I would've handed you over to the guards when they came.
Now it's your choice. If you don't want to die of hunger, come along. I'll feed you."
Nivar, still suspicious, thought for a moment—then followed him.
What the old man gave him was food he never even dreamed of.
Nivar ate fast, like an animal unleashed.
The old man chuckled,
"Ha ha! Slow down, boy, or you might choke to death!"
With a full mouth, Nivar mumbled,
"Ever gone three weeks without food? Stop talking and go get me more."
The old man looked at him in surprise, but nodded and brought more food.
Nivar asked for more—twice—and the old man brought it every time.
When Nivar was finally full, the old man asked,
"What's your name, kid?"
Nivar replied,
"I'm Nivar Diagora."
The old man laughed,
"Ha ha! Young Nivar, why were you running from them at your age?"
Nivar said,
"I beat up those three noble brats who were bullying me. They had it coming… filthy scum."
The old man nodded,
"You're right. These nobles deserve to be taught a lesson."
Nivar smiled faintly,
"Yeah, that's what I... Wait a second—you know who I am, yet… you're not afraid of me?
Everyone calls me the devil's child and avoids me—just because I'm weak..."
The old man smiled calmly,
"Ha ha ha… I'm not like them. I don't judge by appearances.
I see potential—I look at what's inside people."
Then he reached out his hand toward Nivar and said in a firm voice,
"Kid... why don't you come with me to Velmora Academy?"
End of Chapter Three