Rivers and hills alike vanished in his wake as Hager rushed toward his destination, crossing vast distances in the blink of an eye. Despite moving at several times the speed of sound, his steps were so smooth that the sleeping babe cradled in his arms didn’t so much as stir. It continued to snore peacefully, blissfully unaware it was traveling at such deadly speeds.
He flexed his Spirit to smooth out any sign of his passing, parting the air ahead of him like a curtain and sealing it behind him. The sonic booms that would have otherwise formed drew too much attention–something he couldn’t afford. Instead, not even a breeze had been born to whisper a testimony; the ground had already healed from his tracks.
In the distance, the barest of flickering lights could be seen cresting the horizon. As he approached, they grew brighter and more numerous, until he could make out the outlines of the houses they came from. Towering above them all was a colossal tree, its massive form casting an imposing presence over the quiet dungeon town–Vinesgrove.
Hager landed on the rooftop of a random house on the edge of town. His form was concealed by his Ethereal Ring of Invisibility (Legendary), and there was no one in this remote town powerful enough to sense his presence.
Not unless he wanted them to.
There were a scant few Masters living around here, their Domains stretching for miles around them. But he wasn’t a Master. He had long since perfected his own Domain–then used it as a foundation to build his Kingdom.
He was a Grandmaster. He didn’t merely control the space around him–he ruled it.
He flexed his authority over the world around him, scanning the entire town in less than a moment. He found what he sought in an inconspicuous, dimly lit house near the town’s center.
A young couple sat by the fireplace, their demeanor tense, even as they pretended to relax. Both were at the peak of the Expert rank, just one step away from shaping their Intent into a Domain and becoming Masters.
Purring contentedly by the fire was an actual Master-rank mana beast, its eyes fixed on the flames. Beside it, resting atop a round wooden table, sat a hot plate of cookies and a warm glass of milk.
It was a password of sorts–a beacon to let him know this was the correct house. And an old joke, alluding to his large size and charitable personality.
Hager slipped through the open window, letting a faint breeze announce his arrival. It brushed past the couple before drifting toward the fireplace, where it bent the flames slightly off course.
The cat was the first to react. It slowly lifted its hindquarters into the air, tail curling as its whole body trembled in a stretch. Then, turning toward Hager, it blinked once in greeting.
Hager blinked back, surprised. He knew that cat. He hadn’t expected to see it here, but there was no mistaking it–there weren’t many Master-rank cats in the world.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
He smiled at the feline and gave a single nod in acknowledgment.
The young couple–Peter and Vivian–noticed his arrival shortly after the cat. They rose swiftly and turned to greet him.
The man wore a wide, friendly smile. He nodded, crossing his arms over his chest in a relaxed manner.
The woman smiled too, but it was a nervous thing. She fidgeted as she stepped forward, her eyes locking onto the sleeping bundle cradled tenderly in his arms.
“You must be Hager. It’s nice to finally meet you,” she said absentmindedly.
She continued forward, inching closer to Hager and the baby, until she could finally see beneath the blankets he was swaddled in. Her strained smile brightened, turning genuine–radiating care and a promise of love. It was a beautiful thing, and it eased many of Hager’s misgivings.
“And this must be Elias,” she said softly.
Her hands reached out, peeling back the soft cloth like a flower to reveal a frail baby boy snoring weakly. He stirred as she gently caressed his face and hair, his sleepy eyes blinking slowly.
Rather than crying, he hiccupped cutely and reached out with tiny hands to grab her finger. His green eyes shone brightly, even in the dim light.
Hager offered the bundle to Vivian without a word, not trusting himself to speak.
For the first time since his arrival, she truly looked at him, tearing her eyes away from the baby. She acknowledged him with a simple nod and a small smile–one full of unspoken gratitude.
Vivian accepted her son into her arms.
Peter stepped up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her waist, looking over her shoulder at their baby. He kissed her neck and rocked her gently, even as she did the same with the baby.
The smile on his face was simple and honest–the kind forged through many tribulations.
Hager looked away, his eyes heavy with emotion as he recalled a similar scene playing out not so long ago. It felt like yesterday–but now, his friends were gone, and he couldn’t raise their only child, no matter how much he wished otherwise. Yet despite the ache in his chest, there was relief too.
Seeing the young couple with his own eyes reassured him that he was leaving little Elias with a good family. He’d been worried they wouldn’t measure up to the image Sage Ethan had painted of them. No matter what the man had said, Hager wouldn’t entrust his friend’s only son to just anyone.
Hager watched as the cat approached the young couple unnoticed, gazing curiously at the baby with soft eyes, blinking slowly. A melancholic smile slowly crept onto his face as he observed—especially when Vivian began making small baby noises.
But he couldn’t stay long. Eventually, he was forced to interrupt the moment with a gentle clearing of his throat.
“I need to leave soon. Ethan should have debriefed you on everything you need to know. That is the case, correct?” Hager asked.
Peter nodded firmly in response.
“Good, good… I’ll leave little Elias in your care, then. Please take good care of him–his parents were very close friends of mine, and good people.”
Having said that, he left as suddenly as he’d arrived–not even a breeze marked his departure. He was reluctant to go so soon, but it had to be done. He was still being hunted, and the longer he stayed, the greater the risk of being found. No matter what, he couldn’t let his trail lead back to Elias. The plan he’d devised with Sage Ethan relied too heavily on anonymity.
By some miraculous twist of fate, their enemies didn’t yet know Elias existed–and they intended to keep it that way for as long as possible.
Hager dunked a hot cookie into his glass of milk before biting into it–and groaned. It would be a long time before he saw Elias again. Even then, it would only be for a short while. Still, if this cookie was any indication, the boy would at least be well fed.