Free and Sylvia returned to the village while chatting, after they arrived, it was already noon.
Free stepped on the village's footpath, his Spell-book in hand while Sylvia stole glances at him from time to time and turned her head away whenever he tilted his head to her.
"I'll go home for now."
He slowly turned to the left and made his way to the village square, Sylvia's gaze lingered at his walking figure shrinking as he advanced further in the village path.
She bit her lower lip seeing him walking away. And called-
"Can we meet here again!."
She shouted, Free glanced back hearing her voice, and after a few moments, he gave a low nod, waved his hand and headed to the West-area.
"I should go home too."
She uttered, and walked back to her house with a smile, because today, she got her first friend.
Free on the other hand, reached his residence, and the new maid Kagana bowed her head.
"Welcome back, Free."
She gave a polite welcome, and he marched in the house.
Entering the dining room where breakfast had already been served.
"Free, your mother told me to inform you to come to her room after finishing lunch."
Kagana informed, and went outside to hang the clothes to dry.
Free turned his head toward the door before his attention shifted back to the lunch.
After he finsihed, he ran upstair and entered in Hina's room.
Inside, she sat on bed, a pillow pressed against her back for comfort, she fed Hinata breastmilk, and turned to Free, scanning his clothes.
"You didn't get dirty."
She questioned, Scrutinizing his clean clothes.
"I didn't got much spells to use"
He replied, and advanced forward, close to Hina's bed and sat om the bed, pokinh Hinata's cheeks.
"So soft..."
He muttered, his finger pressing her cheeks more and Hinata shufted her head slightly, disturbed by the continuos poking.
"That's enough sweetie, Hinata is getting disturbed."
Hina interrupted, holding Hinata higher.
Free stopped pressing her cheeks and remembered why he was here.
" I almost forgot, but why did you called me here mom?"
He asked.
"Nothing, just curious to ask about your first tour alone in the village."
She amswered, patting his head with a faint smile.
"Nothing much, i went to the lake and practiced some spell and...Oh, i also met a girl there."
He told her, his eyes gazing outside the window, where birds chirped on the Root Tree in the house.
"A...girl?"
Hina eyes sparkled hearing his words.
"What's her name?!."
She yelled, her voice reaching the garden.
"Her name is Sylvia."
"Sylvia? You mean that half-elf girl?."
She paused, before the smile turned into a grin as she gave Free a teasing look.
"How did you met her?."
She curiously asked.
"I was practicing spells alone, then i heard some sobs coming from the forest, sk when i followed the sounds, i met her. She was crying because a kid name Grok threw her necklace in the strong current of the river."
He explained, turning his gaze to his little sister.
"Can i hold her."
He requested.
"Sure"
Hina agreed, as she finsihed feeding her and gently placed her between Free's arm.
"She is very light..."
He whispered, his eyes studying her face, after a brief pause he placed a finger on her palm and Hinata responded by covering her fingers around his.
'This...feeling...'
His mind swirled, feeling the unknown warm sensation in his heart as he held her firmly in his arms.
Hina coughed, shifting Free's attention back to her.
"So...you help her to get her necklace back."
She asked, looking at Free's face for confirmation.
"Y-yes, i used a spell."
He clarified, swaying faintly seeing Hinata yawning.
He turned his gaze up when Hina gave him a light flick on his forehead.
Flick...
He froze, as he was about to place a hand on his forehead, he stopped, 'cause to still holding Hinata.
"I'm proud and happy you helped her. But, you're still a kid, water is way more dangerous than you think."
She scolded, she placed a hand on his forehead, soothing the pain.
"I'm sorry."
He said in a remorseful voice.
Hina nodded with a satisfied expression, smiling faintly and cradled Hinata back from Free's arm.
"A-also i said that we could meet again after—lunch."
He stated, Hina suddenly paused, and gradually, she flashed a teasing grin.
"ohh~ already making moves huh~."
She teased, her voice tainted with amusement, she gave him a knowing look.
"No, i'm not making any moves, it's just that i promise to help her, that's all."
Free remarked flatly, waving on hand in denial .
"Realllly?."
"I'm heading out."
He stormed out ofbthe room and was about head downstairs, but he abruptly stopped and stood over Lina's room. His hand slowly moved and knocked lightly.
Knock knock.
"You can enter."
Lina's composed voice answered from inside the room.
Free paused for a second before entering, Lina sat on her bed, a wide-tooth comb ran through her hair, while Elina napped comfortably beside her.
"Need something young master?."
She asked.
"No, i just wanted to check on Elina."
He replied, standibg still in the doorway.
"I heard you were talking about a girl inside lady Hina's room."
She added, with a calm expression on her face.
"Yes. i promised her to meet after lunch, and i was about to go, but decided i would check on you first."
He muttered, his eyes on his half sister's.
"Then, go and meet her."
Lina suggested, her lips curling up.
"Well, if you says so."
He left the room and marched downstairs, advancibg to the doorway and strolled outside.
He walked unhurriedly to the place where they parted ways. The path to the lake.
As Free waited for her, his gaze swept across the village's area. Vendors sold goods, merchants discussed prices, the sound of metals collidibg against each other rang, children's youbger than him chased a newborn slime.
He looked around the bustling village, a tiny smile crept on his face.
"Still the same."
He muttered, recalling memories from years ago when Hina used to bring him along during her freetime.
Just as he was having his time, a voice disturbed his peace.
"I said leave me alone..."
A subtle frightened voice reached his ears, non other than Sylvia's, Free turned behind and saw that, 5 kids surrounded her, her hair a tangled mess, dirt on her face and her emessbrimmed with tears.
"I said leave me alone."
She repeated, her voice cracking.
"Aandd why should we, 'grandma'."
A kid, bigger than the other mocked, older, grey haired, brown skin, black e eyes full of arrogance.
"Should we let the grandma go or not?."
He asked, gesturing to his minions.
"We should not!."
One boy yelled.
"Yes! she didn't let us borrow that cute necklace."
Another continued, a smug grin on hos face as his eyes turned to the diamond necklace between her neck.
"Give the necklace to us and i will let you go."
Grok proposed, and pushed Sylvia to the ground, taunting her as his hands reached for the necklace between Sylvia's neck.
"N-No!."
She stammered, tightly holding onto her necklace.
But he did not listen was about to snatch the necklace, when a fist swiftly landed on his face, knocking him on the ground.
"Ouch."
Free winced, clutching his hand as pain shot through his knuckles. Meanwhile, Grok covered his face screaming, as blood trickled from hiss nose and mouth.
"Aaaahhhh!."
He screamed, his hands clutching the wound, trying to ease the pain.
"W-who are you?!."
He hissed, staring at the unfamiliar boy while his minions stood still, stunned by the sudden punch.
"My name is Free."
Free introduced himself, pointing a finger to his chest.
"Free? that's quite the funny name he have"
One of Groks minions whispered to the other, and some giggled.
"F-Free, you came..."
Sylvia called, sobbing on the ground, while still tightly gripping her necklace.
Free turned back and help her to stand on hher feet.
"You think you're strong because you landed a surprise punch!."
Grok yelled.
He jolted up from the ground and threw his fist toward Free's face, but Free twist his head to the left and dodged thhe punch, Grok's eyes widened as Free responded to the punch with a kick on Grok's chins with his left foot.
Bam!.
Grok fell to the ground for the second time, one of his teeth fell to the ground, his minioms flinched, looking at Free with their confidence shattered.
"Look like dad's training paid off."
He said, finally appreciating the trainibg Philip gave to him for the past months.
He approached close to Grok and stooped down, his hands grabbing him by the collar.
"Now, let's give you a taste of your own medicine."
Free mumbled, a spark of excitement flickered in his eyes .
"F-Free, i think you should stop now, t-that looks painful."
Sylvia quivered seeing Grok in that state, but Free didn't heard her words.
"N-no wait, i'm sorry! I'm sorry! I won't make fun of anyone anymore. Please spare me!"
Grok was now the one pleading, his pupils shrank as Free's hand rose and tightened.
"You should stop."
Hemire immediately stopped them, he stood behind Free, his cane on Free's hand.
He peered back, and froze.
"C-chief.."
He murmured, his face losing all colors and released Grok's collar.
"I never thought you would do this Free."
Hemire spoke in a disappointed tone, his cane dropped from Free' hand, scrutinized Grok's bruised face and chin, and the terrified minions.
"Uou did this?."
He tilted his gaze on Free's unscathed face and pristine clothes.
"Y-yes, because they were bullying someone for no reason."
Free stood there fidgeting with his hands.
"And Grok, what do you have to say?."
Hemire pivoted to the boy still on the ground.
"W-we were minding our own business when he suddenly came and punched me."
Grok lied, pointing all the blame to Free.
"And what about you?."
Hemire continued, turned around and bent down to Sylvia's level.
"G-Grok was bullying me and F-Free came and helped me."
She admitted, her trembling hands still holding the necklace.
"And why were they bullying you?."
He inquired, his eyes gently reassured her.
"They... They bullied me because I'm a half elf, and my hair is also white, and i'm shy too."
She explained, glancing at Free who nervously fidgeted with his hands.
"A-also don't forget about the necklace."
Free added, Hemire turned to him and he quickly tilted his head away.
"Necklace?."
Hemire repeated.
"Yes, my necklace."
She gave a firm nod.
And pulled out the shiny necklace from her neck. Hemire examined it and his eyes shook in disbelief, scanning it again and again, not believing his eyes as the necklace was made of hardened gold and diamond, but what stood out was the symbol.
'This emblem...'
"Who gave you this??."
Hemire asked, handing her back the necklace.
"My grandma gave me this before leaving..."
She answered, and slid back the necklace on her neck.
"... And Grok threw it in the river"
Free added, Hemire swiftly turned to him again and he averted his eyes away.
"He threw it in the river?."
Hemire repeated, turning to Sylvia and she gave a faint nod.
Hemire lowered his chin and hauled himself up, and swiveled to the other 5 kids.
"Explain youselves."
He ordered, the wind brushing past his beard.
"We just wanted to take a look t-that's all b-but she refused."
Grok explained, trembling a bit, hands covering his bruised face.
"Just because she refused, doesn't mean you have to bully her."
Hemire scolded, his shadow looming over Grok and the kids.
"If you had asked politely, no one will refuse. understand."
He told them, yet even with the calm and composed voice Hemire had, the kids shuddered.
"Y-yes!."
The 5 shouted in sync.
Hemire then shifted hos attention back to Free.
"But still, Free, resorting to violence isn't the way to solve things."
He lectured him, still standing over Grok and his minions but his eyes lock on Free.
"Yes, But still Grok is the perpetrator, Sylvia is the victim , and i punched Grok instinctively, not on purpose and the second one was self-defense, so by law... I'm innocent!."
He explained, Hemire stared for a moment before blinking in astonishment and Free went silent realizing what he just said.
"What did he said?."
A kid questioned, confused by Free's word.
"Where did you learned that?."
Hemire inquired, his eyes locked on Free .
"Where did you learnt those."
Hemire repeated, stepping infront of Free.
"I-i read it in a book that's all.."
He replied, sweat trickled down his temple and he stepped a few steps backward only for Hemire to advanced forward.
"But law books are expensive, they are given only in village's office , and some libraries in the capital."
Hemire stated, and bent down to Free's level, staring straight into his eyes but Free averted them away.
"I-i heard mom and dad talking about some laws and stuff..."
He lied, trying to sound convincing yet his expression said otherwise.
"Okay, i believe in what you said."
Hemire buyed it, up and spun around to Grok.
"Don't bully anyone from now on, or else i will complain it to your parents."
He warned, the kids nodded and rushed home and Grok was about to leave too but Free placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Wait."
He lifted his hand and a green glow appeared, healing Grok's swollen face.
He touched his face and felt the smooth surface, bruised gone and somehow, his teeth was back, like it never broke.
"T-thank you."
He thanked and rushed to the village's west-area.
"Phew, no wounds no accusation..."
Free muttered to himself, as Grok's figure dissapeared down a corner.
"A chantless spell?."
Hemire murmured, his face was now filled with doubt and something unexplainable.
"It's not, i just chant spells in low voice, that's all!"
He cleared the doubt with a lie, but Hemire's stared lingered at him for a bit longer before he gave a faint nod.
"Okay then."
He left.
Free exhaled in relief and exhaust. Sylvia walk forward and stopped beside him.
"Thank you."
She whispered.
"You're welcome."
Free shook it off and trudged forward, Sylvia followed. Free headed home with Sylvia, silence stayed among them for a few seconds before Free finallu spoke.
"So where do you live?."
He finally asked.
"I live in the East-area of the village."
She answered, stealing glances toward him. Her cheeks flushed, before turning her face opposite to his.
"W-what about you?."
She shyly asked.
"My house is in the West-area."
He crossed his hands behind his back, the two talked while walking, and surprisingly it went well, Sylvia asked about his hobbies, foods and all, whole he did the same, until they eventually reached his home.
"So this is your house"
She uttered, tilting her head to the second floor of the house.
"Yes."
Free replied, Kagana greeted him but paused seeing a girl beside him, she turned to Sylvia.
"Free, isn't this the half-elf girl?."
She whispered, giving him a teasing look.
"Look like someone is good with girls."
She purred, but Frree shook his head in denial.
"N-No i'm not."
He remarked, waving his hand in refusal.
Sylvia blushed hearing their whispers and bolted away from the house while giggling.
"S-Sylvia where are you going?!"
Free called, but she was already gone.
"See~"
Kagana teased hik even more, her smile growing wider.
"S-stop it!."
Free instinctively puffed his cheeks , running to the house entered his room, closing the door shut.
Hemire on the other hand, at the village meeting hall scratched his chin with a knowing smile, still thinking about Free.
' Free, you exceed my expectation'
Hemire thought, his hands moved through his beard, a smile on his lips, hidden behind his beard.
"The village future is really bright"
He muttered to himself.
A few weeks later....
Knock. Knock.
Someone knocked on door at Free's residence in the morning, Philip opened the door, seeing no one in infeont, he look down and a white haired girl stood – Sylvia, she asked.
"Is Free at home?."
She asked, peeking inside with a bright smile.
"Yeah he is. Would you like to come in."
Philip casually invited her, it was now a casual thing for him.
Sylvia stepped in and stick her head in the the dining room, and there he was, Free ate a bread quietly, the spell-book beside his plate.
"F-Free wo-would you like to play again?."
She shyly asked, fidgeting her fingers, with flushed cheeks.
"Sorry, i'm bu-"
Just as he was about to refuse, Hina lightly hit his head with a ladle.
Bonk!.
"What was that for?!."
He turned to her, and Hina sighed with disappointment.
"Go play with her."
She ordered, her calm yet authorativitive voice forced Free to obey.
"Okay....."
Her intimidating stare left him with no choice but to nod reluctantly. Resigned, Free quietly finished his breakfast. Once he was done, he and Sylvia headed outside to play.
Watching them leave, Hina smiled in quiet satisfaction. Free's spellbook remained on the table asbshe had forbid him from bringing it along, because he might use it instead of playing with her. With that settled, Free left with Sylvia, empty without his spell book for once.
Philip on the other hand, ate quietly witnessibg the events unfolding, and after both of them left, he muttered:
"Pretty hard for him."
And that was how Sylvia started visiting his house every day. Sometimes she would bring cookies and other snacks for him, and somehow, she always managed to bring his favorite kind, wether it was Hina's doing or Sylvia's observation, but one thiing he knew was that, this girl had grown close to him.
To be continued...