A whole day had passed since Oravien arrived in Moraief. His hand had healed completely.
Oravien: "Alright... I don't feel any pain in my hand anymore. I can take any job now."
Oravien (thinking): "I still don't know exactly what I'll be doing. I need to get my thoughts in order. My main goal right now is to save up enough money to enroll Razin in school. After that, I need to find a steady source of income for the family. The fortune I once had from the Alethiar family is almost gone. I've decided... for now, I'll work in Moraief doing individual tasks. I'll help people with what they need, in exchange for gold or silver coins. Once I gather enough and Razin begins his schooling, I'll move to one of the nearby towns or villages. Most likely, I'll relocate the entire household there. We've been isolated long enough."
Oravien: "Now, I'll walk the streets and ask people if they need help."
He began walking through the streets of Moraief, looking for anyone who might need assistance. Suddenly, he noticed an old man struggling to lift a wooden beam.
Oravien approached him.
Oravien: "Let me help you, old man."
Old Man: "No, no. I can manage."
Ignoring him, Oravien picked up the beam.
Oravien: "Where do you need this delivered?"
Old Man: "Well, if you insist... over there." (He pointed to the entrance of the building in front of them.)
Oravien (smiling): "Alright."
Oravien carried the beam to the spot.
Oravien: "All done, old man."
Old Man: "Thank you, that was a big help."
He pulled a gold coin from his pocket.
Old Man: "Here, take this."
Oravien: "No, no. This was a free service, don't worry."
The old man insisted, and after a short back-and-forth, Oravien finally walked away.
Old Man: "At least tell me your name!"
Oravien: "My name is Elikear. Nice meeting you. Good luck with your work."
He continued walking, searching for a real job.
Oravien (thinking): "Why didn't I accept the money? That's why I'm here, right? He offered it willingly... Why did I refuse? Because he's old? Am I... getting soft? I don't understand... Am I really changing?"
---
Razin: "Mom, why am I slow at running?"
Mother (chuckling): "Maybe because you haven't trained to be fast yet. It's not a problem. You'll get faster as you grow up." (She smiles.)
Razin: "I wonder when Dad will return. I miss him... and I want to go to school. I really want to."
Mother: "Don't worry... he'll be back soon."
---
Oravien: "It doesn't matter... maybe it was just a one-time thing."
He spent the rest of the day working. At day's end, he returned to his tent and collapsed from exhaustion.
Oravien (thinking): "Good. I earned 5 gold coins today. To enroll Razin in school, I'll need around 15 coins. That means 10 more. I can earn them in two more days of work... maybe even tomorrow if I'm lucky. Then finally... my son will go to school. I need to make this happen. He'll go to school... and become the best there is. Maybe... maybe Razin will be the one good thing I leave behind in this world. I need to give this everything I've got."
Oravien: "Honestly... it's kind of funny. The only good things I've done lately are under the name Elikear... not Oravien. That bothers me a bit. I've always liked praise... but still, I feel like I did the right thing. It doesn't bother me too much. Am I truly... beginning to change?"
He slowly drifted into sleep.
--- The Next Day ---
Oravien woke up and stepped out of his tent.
Oravien: "...I hope I make a lot of money today."
Razin (stretching): "I hope today is fun!"
As Oravien walked...
Oravien: "Looks like I'm near the edge of the city. No time to admire nature now. I need to find people who need help... and earn some money."
Oravien: "Loneliness really gets to me. I miss my wife and son."
Suddenly, he heard a scream: "Help meee!"
He sprinted toward the voice.
He saw a man trying to force a young girl into a cart.
Man: "Shut up, you little brat! I'm going to sell you and make a fortune! Keep screaming and I'll kill you!"
The girl kept screaming.
Just as the man raised his hand to strike her—
It stopped mid-air.
Oravien had grabbed it.
Oravien: "That's not how you treat children."
He landed a powerful kick into the man's stomach, sending him flying away from the girl.
Oravien: "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"
Girl: "...No. I'm okay."
Oravien: "Good. Stay behind me. Don't worry, I'll take you back to your parents." (He smiles.)
Girl: "Okay."
Man: "You ruined my fun, freak! I was working here!"
Oravien: "Oh? Sorry about that... but looks like you interrupted my work too."
The man charged at him.
Oravien raised his palm toward him.
Suddenly, wind gathered at his palm.
Oravien: "Launch!"
He released a blast, sending the man flying again.
Oravien: "You're not even a technique user. Do you think you stand a chance against me? Or were you just unloading your weakness on kids? Honestly, I bet she'll be stronger than you in a year."
He grabbed him by the neck and stared into his eyes.
Oravien: "You know... I used to think I was the biggest scum in this world. But I guess I never accounted for people like you. I've been too hard on myself. I realize that now."
The man struggled.
Oravien: "Look above your head... See that? A rock I summoned with my techniques. One move, and it cracks your skull."
Fear overtook the man. He couldn't speak.
Oravien: "You want to live?"
Villain: "Yes, yes, please!"
Oravien: "Hmm... then hand over all your money. Now."
Villain: "W-What?! Are you insane? No way!"
Oravien: "Shhh... Look up again."
The man looked at the rock again.
Man: "Fine! Take it all!"
After taking all his money, Oravien helped the man to his feet.
Oravien: "I won't kill you... but you're not going unpunished. You're coming with me to the city's Authority law center. They'll decide your sentence. Move."
Oravien: "If you think of running, you know what'll happen."
Oravien: "Also... if you're curious about who I am... my name is—" (He leaned in to whisper)
Oravien: "Oravien."
Oravien: "Girl, come with me. Don't worry. It's over now."
Girl: "Okay."
Oravien turned the man in to the city authority guards and then walked the girl home.
Oravien: "Where's your home?"
Girl: "That way."
They walked together.
Girl: "Um... May I ask your name, sir? You saved my life."
Oravien: "Of course. My name... is Elikear."
Girl: "Nice to meet you, Mr. Elekiar. Thank you so much."
Oravien (smiling): "And yours? What's your name?"
Girl: "My name is... Verina. Verina Alethiar."
Oravien was shocked. She was from the Alethiar family—his own bloodline.
Oravien (thinking): "This girl... Alethiar?! She's young, I don't know her. That means... we're heading to the Alethiar estate! Damn it, I'm in trouble. Will my fake identity hold up?!"
Oravien (smiling): "Nice to meet you, Verina."
They continued walking... until they reached the mansion.
Oravien (thinking): "Damn it... what am I going to do?"
At the gate, a bodyguard stood.
Guard: "Welcome, young lady... Who is this with you?"
Verina (smiling): "He saved my life! I want Dad to reward him!"
Guard: "O-Oh, I see. Very well, then. Please, sir, come inside."
Oravien (nervously): "N-No need for that. I just happened to be passing by."
Guard: "I'm afraid I can't let you go. The Alethiar family would never ignore someone who saved one of their own. Please, come in."
Oravien: "A-Alright..."
He stepped inside.
Oravien: "...This is the first time I've entered this mansion... in over six years..."