Chapter Text
14th Chapter
Ron got down from the carriage holding a small cage. There was a cat hissing inside. He still remembered his surprise when the unconscious assassin changed forms not long after he obtained him.
‘So he was a cat beast person.’ Ron was aware that on the other continent he was from, there were some cat tribes specializing in assassination, but he never would have guessed they would alain themself with that scum organization.
When he entered kitchen two he found Cale sitting on a quilt down on the floor, eating cookies and loudly reading a book. He most likely was doing so because of his little dongsaeng. Ron could see some cookies disappearing into thin air next to him. His little ward also looked way healthier now. He was wearing comoner clothes but they were clean and the right size.
Both Cale and Beacrox immediately looked up hearing the loud animal noises coming from the door as the butler entered. Ron smiled at them and put down the cage on the table.
“What’s the meaning of this Father?” Beacrox did not like him bringing totally wild animals into his clean kitchen.
“I’m truly sorry Beacrox for bringing this trash I picked up here, but there’s a chance it actually contains some gold if we examine it closely.” Answered Ron.
Beacrox didn’t catch Ron’s implication, but Cale did. He got up and went closer to the cage, looking at it seemingly uninterested.
“Is this a beast person?” Asked the boy.
Ron’s smile got even bigger. He ruffled the child's hair, prizing him.
“Indeed. The Young Master got himself into quite the trouble in these years. He seemed to be someone after your little dongsaeng.”
‘Your dongsaeng who is a dragon.’ Finished silently Ron, thinking back on the shocking revelation he got at the Stan Estate. Now that he calmed down. He only felt proud of Cale for getting away with stealing a real dragon from them.
Noticing they were most likely talking about him, Raon left the plate of cookies behind and went to Cale. Then he demanded to be picked up with a high pitched noise, so he could also see their prisoner. Cale compiled without really paying attention, because his eyes were glued to the cat instead, tilting his head with a frown. That bastard was someone from the organization. Ron had quite a catch.
On the other hand the butler was watching Cale. He wasn’t surprised seeing the child’s contemplating frowning face, he had already known Cale was in possession of some information about that damned group.
“The question is where we can keep our new house pet though.” Continued after a while Ron. “We need a place where he won’t cause any disturbance.”
“There’s maybe a really easy solution at hand. We had quite an encounter with Violan Henituse this week.” Decided Beacrox to get involved, not that he was really interested.
“How so?” Ron thought Violan was a good countess and mother, but he had no misconception about her being an overly good person.
Cale actually felt a bit tense, because the situation with Violan was caused by him. He nervously shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Beacrox changed his gloves and patted his head reassuringly.
“She offered us money to move to Harris Villa with the Young Master.” For Beacrox it wasn’t important how this came to be, he only cared about the end results, so he didn’t say anything about Cale’s meeting with the other two Henituse kids.
“So she had seen Young Master Cale.” Sighed Ron.
His son only nodded.
‘Her reaction was as expected.’ Thought Ron.
After thinking for a minute the butler finished deciding. It wasn’t a bad deal, especially now that Ron planned to follow up on the leads he got on the secret organization. It wasn’t particularly important for Violan to make them stay in Harris Villa, so they will be free to come and go. They just have to keep Cale out of sight.
“We will accept it.” Though he still wasn’t sure if it was the right decision.
Taking children to dangerous places normally should have been avoided if possible, but he couldn’t leave Cale here. The dragon should be fine, but he was really worried for the red head. He wasn’t like Beacrox as a child. Cale looked weak and even sickly.
“Does the Young Master want to learn some self defense from me?” Turned to Cale Ron.
“No.” It was an instant reply, Cale didn’t even think about it.
The child was eyeing Ron as if the butler actually went crazy. Even Beacrox was looking at his father oddly.
“He cut himself while he was trying to help peeling potatoes. I had to throw out perfectly good food because of it. Then he dropped the empty pot when I asked him to bring it over, because it was heavy. So I had to wash it, wasting my time.” Listed Beacrox.
Cale felt a little bit offended hearing the cook, even though what he said was all true. Not that Beacrox meant to offend Cale, he just found it hard to admit he was concerned over him.
“He needs to protect himself somehow though.” Sighed Ron.
Silence took over the room. The Molan duo was thinking hard about a solution.
“If all of this is about protecting myself, I have a way.” Broke the silence Cale. “I just need a lot of food for it to work.”
He already thought about getting some of the other ancient powers he read about. So this issue had a very convenient solution in Cale’s opinion. It was The Indestructible Shield. Let’s feed that black tree as it was written.
It took Cale several minutes to explain what he actually needed and for why.
“And how does the Young Master know about all this?” Asked Ron after he got the just of it.
“I read it in a book.” It was the truth, but Ron raised his brows in doubt. “I really did, tsk.”
“If the Young Master says so.”
‘He totally does not believe me.’ Thought Cale, but he did not care enough to try to convince him. ‘It does not matter, the important thing is that they are willing to help.’ So he just shrugged.
“I will talk to Countess Violan, then I will go and contact every baker in the city, so we can pick up enough bread tomorrow morning.” Said Ron leaving Cale and Raon with Beacrox again.
“Am I just a full time babysitter now?” Grumbled the cook as he went back to his kitchen counter. Not that he really minded it, those two were quite cute.
Ron was scarry efficient. That was the only thing on Cale’s mind as he followed behind the two Molans going from bakery to bakery the next morning. They gathered way more bread than it was needed, and they were carrying it as if it was nothing. Cale’s only job was to carry the invisible Raon.
Even if he would have been nervous before about going through the slums to get to the Man Eating Tree that they had to feed, it would have all long disappeared watching them. Both looked terrifyingly strong lifting all that weight. Nobody dared to come close to them as they walked through the narrow alleyways.
Everybody only watched them from a safe distance, and as they were getting closer even the onlookers had disappeared. The Man Eating Tree had an awful rumor around it, as its name suggested. In reality there was nothing evil about it, but people came up with crazy stuff all the time.
Then Cale heard that damn crybaby old man again. He thought he was actually free from hallucinating that annoying voice, but it seems he was wrong.
- I can feel my noona’s power close by. She was such a simple person, I really miss her.
‘I guess the Birth of a Hero wasn’t lying about this place either.’ Smiled Cale, then it got to him. ‘Wait, the Vitality of the Heart and the Indestructible Shield…’ No, he does not need to know about any of their business.
Ron and Beacrox put down all the packs under the tree, even though they became unsure after feeling the place's eerie atmosphere, but the child seemed calm so they forced themselves to go through with it. They trusted Cale's judgment.
Cale gave Raon to Beacrox, then he started to drag one of the packs closer to the opening at the base of the tree. Ron would have actually found Cale struggling cute and funny if he hadn’t been totally creeped out from that damn tree.
When the pack was close enough he pushed it, dumping its content into the dark hole.
- They said my gluttony was a sin. - It was a young woman’s voice this time. - All I wanted was to eat till I hadn’t felt hungry. Let me eat! Give me more!
Cale was actually pitting this one not like he did with the original owner of The Vitality of the Heart. Everybody should eat till they are full. Well he was aware that the world wasn’t such an ideal place that it would come true.
“Sure, I will give you as much as you want. Eat to your heart's content.”
Cale grabbed the second pack not caring for the odd looks the Molans were giving him.
- MORE! GIVE ME MORE!
Cale started to get a headache from the loud yelling as he kept feeding the hole, which slowly started to get lighter in color.
- They actually kicked me out, have I told you this? They said I was priestess-like, but I found some really nice people later. We wanted to make the world a livable place again. I can feel one of my friends' power within you, do you know?
‘What the hell is she talking about now?’
- I guess we must have succeeded, if you can spare this much food for me. It’s a shame I died before the end, and it was even out of hunger. Don’t stop! Give me more!
‘This is actually interesting.’ Thought Cale, there wasn't much about the ancient times in The Birth of a Hero, but the glutton seemed to be done talking about the past.
The hole was actually emitting white light now. The grudge was disappearing.
- Just a little bit more! - Saied the priestess, and Cale complied. He dumped the last pack’s content without hesitation. - You are a good kid! I will protect you.
Cale put his hand in the now bright hole, and the light enveloped him. His already fortified heart now felt protected.
He tried triggering the power and a small silver shield with white wings popped out.
Raon was looking at the shield with sparkling eyes from Beacrox’s arms. Cale would have frowned if he could have been able to see it.
“Beautiful.” Saied the dragon in awe. It was actually the first word he uttered out loud in his life.
Cale was happy hearing their reading sessions weren’t for nothing, but he was also annoyed. Contrary to Raon’s opinion, he did not like how the shield looked. It was way too holy for his liking.