I. A MONTH OF VIGILANCEMina's eyes narrowed with tenderness as she looked out at the garden, where sounds of heavy breathing could be heard. Her seven-year-old son's body was beginning to be sculpted by sheer will; his muscles were starting to show definition. Yet, she didn't want her son to push himself this hard. At this age, he should be carefree like other children. Mina sighed deeply.
A month had passed since Crone left for the war. During this time, Agois had thrown himself into training, allowing himself only time for sleep and meals. The continued silence from Crone put a heavy burden on the boy. Mina was also deeply worried; she kept herself busy with the children and needlework to keep dark thoughts at bay. On one hand, she wanted to say something to ease the pressure, but she knew her son. He was stubborn and determined. She knew the sole reason he was willing to endure these hardships: his family. Her heart softened at the thought, and she called out to her son.
"Agois, sweetie, that's enough for today. Come, let's get you a bath. Then we need to go to Heven Street to get provisions."
"Okay, Mom, but I can wash myself! I'm big now," Agois said, his face flushing. He was embarrassed that his mother still bathed him.
"Has my little baby grown up and decided he doesn't want his mommy anymore? Oh, my," Mina said, placing a hand on her heart with a dramatically sad expression.
Even though Agois knew his mother was feigning, he always fell for this sweet trick. He couldn't stand to see his mother like this.
A short while later, Mina, Fel, and Agois left the house, got into the horse-drawn carriage waiting around the corner, and set off for Heven Street.
II. HEVEN STREET
Sitting in the carriage, Agois began watching the poor and dreary streets of Lenes City. Everywhere there were beggars and refugees—wounded, ragged people from other kingdoms—pleading with passersby for food and water. An ordinary child would not be easily affected by these sights, as their worldview had not yet developed. But Agois was different. In every refugee, in every beggar he saw on the streets, he saw the harsh truth of this world. These sights only strengthened his motivation. He did not want his family to ever fall into this situation.
That is why becoming strong was not a luxury for him, but the only way.
Mina, holding her children's hands, stroked the hair of Fel, who looked at the streets with an innocent and curious expression. Then, she looked at Agois, whose face was serious and stern. She knew her son was very intelligent and understood what kind of a place the world was. As a mother, this saddened her. She wished her son hadn't encountered the dark and painful side of the world so early.
As the carriage moved forward, the scenery in the streets gradually changed. There were no longer beggars or refugees. Instead, there were city guards on patrol and wealthy, noble people in fine clothes going in and out of shops. This was Heven Street, the most prosperous and popular spot in the city.
Beggars and refugees were not allowed here; they "spoiled the aesthetic pleasure" of the residents. Jewelers, clothing stores, restaurants, inns, and entertainment venues lined the street. There were also provision merchants here.
Zou province was the most barren and unproductive land in Askaraf. Large merchant guilds established branches in the kingdoms here and sold provisions at prices far above the normal cost. When the lands failed to yield crops, provisions had to be brought in from outside, and the major merchants never missed this opportunity.
In the carriage, the family looked at the scenery with a mix of yearning and excitement. Especially Mina, who felt the same emotion every time she came here, even though it wasn't her first visit, and her eyes always drifted to the jewelry shops by the side of the road; after all, she was a woman. This was Agois's second visit. The first was with his father, also for provisions. He hadn't felt much the first time, but now he recognized that this city had both its darkness and its light. This was Fel's first visit; her curious, large green eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, as if she were seeing a new world.
The carriage gradually slowed and stopped in front of a particular shop. It was a wide, three-story building. Its sign read "Five Lakes Merchant Guild." Mina took her children, got out of the carriage, and entered the large shop across the street.
Mina stepped into the shop's dimly lit and clean interior. The scent of wheat and harvested crops permeated the air. The attendant at the door directed Mina and her family to a specific counter where common and poor people like them shopped. Others were also lined up at the counter. The manager and important people of the establishment handled special and important customers; no one paid any mind to ordinary people.
Mina took her place in line. The woman ahead of her was asking for provisions on credit. Her husband had died, and they didn't have enough money left. The woman desperately pleaded for a deferred payment, but the clerk behind the counter indifferently and scornfully refused. He implied that he would resort to unpleasant measures if she caused trouble. Realizing that pleading was useless, the woman desperately walked away from the shop. This incident put pressure on Agois as well; he felt as though he were seeing his mother's shadow in that woman. He clenched his fists involuntarily even tighter.
It was Mina's turn. When she heard the prices, she wanted to haggle, but remembering the previous woman, she decided against it. She gave the list of provisions to the clerk: some rice, beans, dried meat, and wheat. The total came to 20 yellow coins. The last of Mina's money was 22 yellow coins. Her heart aching, she paid the money. For ordinary people like them, yellow coins were very valuable.
(In these lands, 1 yellow coin was equal to 100 iron coins, and 1 platinum coin was equal to 100 yellow coins.)
After Mina paid, she asked for the provisions to be loaded into the carriage. The clerk told them to return when it was ready. Normally, such things wouldn't take long, but the employee clearly didn't want to be bothered. So, Mina and her children began waiting on a bench further inside the establishment. They were left with 2 yellow coins and 40 iron coins.
Mina decided to stay put to avoid any unexpected incidents. Besides, they had no money to spend on this wealthy street, so it was better not to experience anything meaningless.
Fel's eyes were fixed on the candy store in the corner. Mina noticed this and involuntarily looked at her money. She sighed. Even the candies here were expensive, but she wanted to grant her daughter this small wish.
"Shall we get a candy for Fel?" Mina asked, smiling at her daughter, seeing Fel's cheeks flush with joy.
"Mom, can we really?" Fel was small, but she could sense certain things. Eating candy was a luxury for her, so she couldn't help but ask despite her joy.
Mina's heart tightened as she looked at her little girl. "Don't worry, sweetie, we have money to buy candy. Tell me what kind you want," she said with a smile.
And she turned to Agois. "You tell me too, sweetie."
Agois was embarrassed. As mature as he was, he was still a child and wanted candy, but he knew their financial situation was dire. Smiling at his mother, he said boastfully, "You can get one for Fel, Mom. I'm grown up now, I don't eat candy."
Mina knew her smart son was always thoughtful, but today she wanted him to be a simple child, not a thoughtful one.
"Oh, sweetie, are you not accepting your mother's gifts anymore? Your mother's old heart can't bear it," she said, exaggerating her sorrow with her usual trick.
Agois's heart warmed as he looked at his mother. He happily accepted. "Okay, Mom, mine is cherry-flavored, hehe!"
"Mine too! Mine too!" Fel interjected excitedly. Mina gently ruffled Fel's hair. "Alright, kids, wait here. I'll go get them."
III. THE HUMILIATION
As Mina crossed the street toward the candy store, a luxurious horse-drawn carriage sped down the road. Noticing the carriage at the last moment, Mina quickly threw herself backward and tumbled to the ground.
Seeing this, Agois quickly sprang up. "Mom! Are you okay, Mom?!" Fel followed, crying. "Boohoohoo, Mom!"
Hearing her children's cries, Mina somewhat came to her senses. Her head was bleeding; she must have hit it when she fell. Agois immediately helped his mother up from the ground. "Mom, your head is bleeding. You're alright, aren't you? We need to do something quickly!"
Fel also hugged her mother, crying. Mina's heart tightened upon seeing her children so worried, but she composed herself. "I'm fine, children, don't worry. Just a scratch. I can take care of it with a little first aid. Calm down, your mother is fine."
As she prepared to take the children and leave, Agois's eyes fixed angrily on the carriage stopped ahead.
At the same moment, an arrogant and mocking voice came from the carriage: "Hey, you filthy peasant woman! Is this a place for you to wander around? If you had hit my horse, if something had happened to my carriage, could you have answered for it?"
Hearing this, the rage in Agois's heart began to overflow. They were the ones who had nearly hit his mother, they were at fault, yet they could still say such things. His mother had been harmed; that wasn't important, the carriage was.
Agois was beginning to lose control. That was his mother; she had been hurt!
Mina froze stiffly at the man's words. From the carriage's crest and luxury model, she knew this was someone who could not be provoked.
Clutching her children's hands, she said in a trembling voice, "I am sorry, Sir, I was careless. Please forgive this helpless woman," and bowed her head. Seeing his mother like this, a dagger seemed to pierce Agois's heart. He was in such pain and shame. His mother's state struck Agois as a major blow—the cruelty of reality.
An arrogant young man in exaggerated, luxurious clothes stepped out of the carriage. He was tall, with blonde hair falling to his shoulders and black eyes. He looked like a noble child with a mocking smile on his face. He was accompanied by two muscular, large-built guards.
Sir Mark said in a mocking and arrogant manner, "It's good that you know your place, you filthy peasant. You're lucky nothing happened to my horse. Now, get out of my sight quickly!"
The guard next to him asked, "Sir Mark, these lowlifes are not worth you speaking to personally. Shall I take care of them?"
Hearing this, Sir Mark said mockingly, "No need. Today is a happy day for me. I can't let these lowlifes spoil my mood. You are lucky, peasant, now get lost quickly!"
Hearing this, Mina's heart felt like it would stop, but she regained her composure.
Just as they were about to leave, Sir Mark's attention was drawn to Agois. The look in the boy's eyes was so intense that he didn't like it. He turned and looked at the child: "Hey, you filthy brat, are you harboring enmity towards me? Your gaze irritates me. Do you want me to gouge out your eyes?"
Hearing this, Mina immediately bowed her son's head forcefully in fear and pleaded with the noble young man in a trembling voice, "Sir, my son is just a child, he doesn't know what he's doing. Pay him no mind, I beg for your mercy."
Agois was trembling with anger. His fury was so intense that he couldn't speak or move. His mother violently forcing his head down brought him back to his senses. He quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind; he barely suppressed the urge to attack the despicable man in front of him. Because a suffocating Iron Body Realm pressure, similar to his father's, emanated from the guards next to the man. In his current state, he stood no chance against them; taking action meant endangering his own and his family's lives. Regaining his judgment, Agois composed himself and tried to calm down.
Hearing this, Sir Mark said, "As I said, it's your lucky day. So, get out of my sight quickly."
Mina immediately grabbed her children's hands and quickly walked away. They returned to the bench. Passersby cast mocking and scornful looks at them, but all Mina cared about were her son and daughter. On the bench, Mina hugged Fel and Agois tightly.
She turned to Agois: "You must never act so recklessly again. I know this is the first time you've encountered a situation like this. I understand your anger, but my son, I think you understand this world, at least a little. You should know that there is no logic in such people. They look down on ordinary people and don't even consider them human. And what would I do if something had happened to you?" She cried as she hugged her son and daughter. Fel cried too. But Agois did not cry.
Mina quickly composed herself because the shop attendant was coming their way. He arrived and looked with pity at the family of three. He had seen what had just happened. He helped them prepare their provisions faster than usual so they could leave quickly. He sighed. "Madam, your provisions are ready. I found your carriage; your provisions are being loaded now," he said and turned to leave. Mina was grateful for the man's good intentions; she also wanted to leave this place immediately.
As the family walked toward the carriage, Agois lagged behind. He looked back one last time, but Sir Mark and his guards were already gone. But he remembered. He remembered that scene, the injury and humiliation his mother had endured. He had etched that man's face into his mind and whispered to himself, looking back:
"I swear, I have not forgotten, and I will not forget the pain and humiliation you put my mother and sister through today! The time will come. I will repay this debt tenfold."
And he clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails dug into his flesh.Blood dripped from his palms. Then he calmly turned back and walked toward the carriage.
His action today was truly reckless. If something had happened to his mother or sister because of him, the thought alone was terrifying. This had been a painful lesson.