Chapter 23

  The moment Drakkel stepped out of the gates, he surveyed the area. Stalls surrounded by customers sat across from the manor. People bustled about the clean and organized road, either deep in conversation, in a hurry to get somewhere, or walking leisurely.

  Many stopped to greet him, their smiles extending from ear to ear.

  However, some whispered about him.

  Based on his appearance, he could guess what they were saying. He stepped outside of the manor, but he wasn't dressed in the same wear as the disciples.

  He pretended not to hear as he got on the road, heading in the direction that would allow him to leave the city and head towards Joyful Encounters. But Immortal Peak was a small Inner City. Even when moving a bit up the road, the rumors persisted. Eventually, he couldn't help but pick up the hushed whispers of those who spoke about him.

  A female storekeeper and her male customer were chatting.

  “Is that the fellow that’s been staying in Sacred Sword Manor these days?”

  “He must be! I’ve been all around the city and this is the first time I'm seeing him!”

  “I wonder if he might be a patient of the master or disciple. I heard they recently took in someone who was seriously injured.”

  “Bless their hearts! They do good work. If it weren't for them, my mother would have died when she fell sick a few years ago. To think they are still doing charitable services even to this day! It's certainly something to be admired.”

  A small smile spread upon Drakkel's face as he picked up his pace, quickly leaving the crowded area.

  Even when he got far enough that the whispers disappeared, they still reverberated in his mind, lightening his mood.

  Immortal Peak was filled with many people. The roads were paved in smooth stone and stalls that sold various items lined the streets. Large buildings towered behind them, hanging signs that advertised their services.

  There was “Licen’s pottery”, “Ri’s Clothing” and even “Ty’s bakery.” As the words entered Drakkel's mind, a sense of familiarity accompanied them.

  He had often visited these stores when he still stayed with his clan. He specifically remembered that Ty’s bakery’s Lotus cake was his favorite pastry growing up. His master was stingy and would often say, “We have sweets at home. Why would you want to go out and buy some from outside? We need this money to help the sick and poor!”

  His master, being in control of the funds for their manor, made it difficult for him to acquire spending money. His Senior Brother would often use his personal allowance to buy him pastries from Ty’s, thinking he was wronged. But his master would sometimes “misplace” money when he was around. He might drop it while looking for something or while heading to the garden to harvest some herbs.

  Drakkel would collect the money and try to return it to his master. But whenever he asked him about it, his master would pretend like he didn't hear anything. Drakkel was then forced to keep the money and spend it.

  Later he found out that although they offered their services to the poor folk for free, many felt indebted and would either pay in food or a small fee in coin at a later date when they had it. His master would drop some of the money on purpose, expecting Drakkel to collect it. Then Drakkel would use it to buy pastries and share them with the other disciples.

  When he was old enough to make his own money by assisting villages, towns and cities in whatever affairs they requested, he would buy his own pastries as well as some items for his master and senior brother to show his gratitude.

  After some time, he made enough to buy items for all of the clan members whenever he returned.

  He was so caught up in his thoughts, he didn't notice a golden-haired man slip out of the shop with a bag of pastries in his hand.

  The man walked up to him and grabbed him by the wrist.

  When Drakkel looked up to see who it was, although the man had covered his face in a veil, he could still tell it was Rillian Adore.

  Thinking about what he had just learned about the duel, both anger and curiosity gripped him at the same time. With a mix of the two, his body was unable to react and he defaulted to a startled reaction. “Rill…?”

  However, Rillian Adore, placed an index finger near his lips which were covered behind a thin white veil.

  Drakkel then noticed that the large sword sitting on the man's back was concealed with its sheath under the wrapping that hung off its hilt. He pointed towards the direction of the exit to the town and grabbed onto Drakkel's wrist as he led him there.

  But before they could get far, Rillian Adore was bumped into by a small boy. The boy who appeared no older than 6, had his dark brown hair tied into a small ponytail. His innocent brown eyes stared up at Rillian Adore before they welled up with tears. Then, he started to cry.

  His crying was so loud that the people walking the streets stared at them as they walked past. Drakkel quickly said, “What's wrong? Don't cry!”

  The boy continued to cry. As he did, he whined, “I miss my mom and dad!”

  “Where are they?” Drakkel asked. “We’ll bring you to them!”

  “I don't know!” The boy answered, heavy tears still falling down his face.

  Rillian Adore stopped for a moment, then pulled a pastry out of his bag. Without hesitation, he gave it to the boy. “Stop crying and speaking slowly. Have this first and talk after.”

  The boy’s crying slowed to a sniffle as he nodded and took the pastry from Rillian Adore’s hands.

  As he silently ate, his crying settled and people stopped staring at them, continuing to go about their business.

  When the boy finished half the pastry, Rillian Adore asked, “So you got separated from your mom and dad?”

  The boy sniffled and nodded.

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  Rillian Adore continued, “What do they look like? Or do you remember what they were wearing?”

  The boy initially shook his head, but after thinking for a moment, his eyes widened. “Mom was wearing a pink robe with pretty pink flowers on it!”

  Rillian Adore looked at Drakkel and then back at the boy. “We’ll help you find them. Ok?”

  The boy nodded.

  Drakkel was still angry, but he still couldn’t help but be amazed at Rillian Adore. For someone so hard and cold, he was surprisingly good with children.

  The boy was small and already got lost in the crowd so someone had to carry him. Because Rillian Adore was already holding the pastries, Drakkel tried to pick the boy up. But the boy grabbed onto Rillian Adore’s robe with his empty hand and retreated behind his figure.

  Drakkel’s emotions hadn’t settled, but he knew he had to cooperate and reign them in.

  Holding out his hand, he said, “I can hold the pastries. Why don't you hold the boy?”

  Rillian Adore who had watched the whole thing nodded. He handed the bag of pastries to Drakkel and easily hefted the boy into his arms.

  The three spent some time looking around the town.

  As they walked through a quieter place with less people around, Drakkel could tell that the child in Rillian Adore’s arms who had fallen asleep to the loud noise from earlier, was beginning to wake with the quietness that settled as they passed through a particularly desolate area. His eyebrows and mouth shook and an unpleasant expression began to form on his features.

  Not wanting to wake him, he threw out some words to liven the atmosphere and soothe him. “Sword Master Rillian, I didn't know you were so good with kids.”

  Rillian Adore shrugged.

  Drakkel continued, “Sadly, I can't say the same.”

  Rillian Adore stopped for a moment, before unexpectedly replying, “You can.”

  Drakkel was confused. The boy wouldn't let him hold him, but Rillian Adore was able to. He had even fallen asleep in his arms. How would Rillian Adore know he was good with kids if he had never seen him handle any?

  Drakkel responded, “You don't know me. How do you…”

  However he didn't get to finish as Rillian Adore continued to walk.

  Drakkel knew when one didn't want to talk and decided to drop the matter. Besides, Rillian Adore might have just thought he was good with kids because he heard how he helped the kids in Shadowy Ridges.

  Not long after their conversation ended, they had entered another noisy area and after twenty more minutes, the two finally found the boy’s mother and father who had been frantically looking for him.

  His mother was indeed wearing a pink robe which was embroidered with pink camellias.

  When he was reunited with his parents, they thanked them profusely and the boy’s mother hurriedly took out a handkerchief and wiped his face.

  As he watched, the corners of Rillian Adore’s lips turned up into a small smile.

  He then turned to Drakkel and said that they should go.

  As they left, the young boy happily waved them goodbye, his eyes bright and a wide smile on his face.

  After what they had just experienced and even with everything that happened before, the cloud of bitterness that settled over Drakkel’s heart began to disappear and he realized that his anger was probably misplaced.

  He had learned that many things need not be fussed over and now he knew he might have been making a perpetrator out of a victim.

  Rillian Adore was intimidating but he was also honest. If he had anything to do with Drakkel’s situation, he didn’t need to defend him when people talked badly about him and he didn’t need to bother communicating with his clan for a complete stranger. So Drakkel decided to drop the matter until he learned more.

  But still, he wanted to speak to Rillian Adore about something else.

  Luckily for him, Rillian Adore again grabbed his wrist and led him to the exit of Immortal Peak. Because he had something to say, he let himself be dragged without resistance.

  When they reached around half a mile away from the city and found no one else on the path, Rillian Adore removed his veil and Drakkel removed his hat.

  Drakkel stated, “Sword Master Rilian, we can finally talk in private. I’ve been meaning to ask. How did you escape the demons?”

  Rillian Adore shook his head.

  “We’ve known each other for long enough. Just call me Rillian.”

  Drakkel raised an eyebrow. Who would casually call Rillian Adore by his name? Knowing someone for long enough didn't mean one could easily overstep their bounds especially to one as respected as himself.

  He was stuck on what to say next when Rilian Adore added, “If we can't speak casually, it's best not to speak at all.”

  Drakkel's mouth twitched. On top of being cold and intimidating, this man was an oddball. But if he requested something from him, he couldn't easily refuse. He only hoped no one else would hear him address him so casually.

  “Alright, Rillian. Please continue.”

  Rillian Adore smiled. “Once I saw the Sacred Swords clan retrieve you, I prepared to fight the demons. However, after unsheathing my sword, they suddenly retreated.”

  Drakkel breathed out a sigh of relief.

  He then noticed that Rillian Adore hadn't yet let go of his wrist. He looked down at it silently, but Rillian Adore didn’t seem to get the hint.

  He cleared his throat and only then was he released.

  Afterwards, he asked, “So how did you end up here?”

  Rillian Adore shifted his gaze to the side.

  Taking out the bag of pastries, he casually replied, “Pastries.”

  Drakkel's mouth twitched. If he wanted to lie, he could have tried harder! There was nothing particularly special about Ty’s bakery when compared to the likes of Lily’s in Waning Crescent and even Xil’s in Dragon's Dwelling. It didn't hold any renown outside of Immortal Peak at all!

  Also, traveling from Lunala Isle to Immortal Peak might take only two days, but it wasn't like it was a short distance. Who would travel that far for some small unknown bakery?

  Drakkel knew Rillian Adore wasn't being forward with his true reasoning, but he didn't really have the time nor energy to figure it out.

  He promptly answered, “Alright. Now that you've had them, there's no reason for you to stick with me. We should go our separate ways.”

  He put his hat back on and continued to follow his original path when a hand held onto his arm.

  “What?” He turned around to ask.

  “Where are you headed?” Rillian Adore replied.

  Drakkel sighed.

  Pulling his arm out of Rillian Adore's grasp, he said, “I have some business to attend to in Joyful Encounters.”

  “The home of SwordSmith Villa?”

  Drakkel nodded. “And I have no time to waste. So I’ll be going now.”

  Rillian Adore’s voice raised a bit as he hurriedly said, “I have to go there as well.”

  Drakkel smiled, but he couldn't stop his right cheek from twitching slightly. Did he want an invitation? Rillian Adore continued to look at him expectantly and Drakkel couldn't take it anymore. He obviously wasn't going to give up, so he had no other choice.

  He sighed. “Fine. Let’s go together.”

  Rillian Adore smiled and Drakkel sighed. The normally stoic and cold Rillian Adore who was known to always hold a listless expression or a frown, had been smiling a lot in front of him.

  For a moment, he wondered if the rumors about him were true, but then he shook his head. Whether they were true or not didn't matter. He had more important things to worry about.

  Without a word, he swiftly turned around, continuing to walk along the path with Rillian Adore at his heels.