"Wow, really?" The child beamed as he stared at the two shell necklaces with bright admiration.
As if he remembered something, he hurriedly looked up at Lawrence.
"But Mister, you need this too. You collect herbs, right?"
Lawrence shook his head slightly. "I do not need it. I can kill the Lamias if I want to. You give one of that to your father."
He took a step forward, intending to leave, but felt a small tug on his clothes.
"Mister, where are you going next? Are you leaving this town? My father and I can take you wherever you want to go."
Lawrence gently removed the child's hand from his clothes.
"We should part ways here. You and your father need to leave. If the barbarians find out you were with me, they will kill you," he warned softly.
"But you will protect us, right? Mister, can you not come with us?"
As the boy looked up at him, something inside Lawrence wavered. The boiling rage that had consumed him since arriving here eased slightly.
