Alice’s PoV

“Ms. Alice, we are ---”

I interrupted him waving my hands, “Yeah, yeah, what is my new name?” I was still grumpy at William for pointing out my desire to replace the version of me in this place, I was envious she has a mother while I don’t. I feel worse for being happy when I replaced her. I’m conflicted yet excited to meet my ‘mother.’

“Your new name is Aihepy.” A look of fear as he read the name but it was gone in an instant and he smiled, “Follow me.” Fear? What does the name mean? What humans are afraid of? The only I can think of is….Death. I may be wrong and it may have a different meaning, since this world is different it may be a name from a Demon like Voldemort in the novel Harry Potter.

I shook my head not thinking about it. Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be.

I smiled, “Aihepy, huh? I like it.”

The guard stiffened when he heard her, he mumbled, “What kind of mother would name her this cursed name?” He was instructed by His Majesty to safely guide them to their new homes, he had said the children are special, different even and treat them with respect. He thought, ‘Would you say the same thing if you knew the meaning of your name?’

He remembered a legend, a Goddess with pitch black eyes blacker than the abyss itself. Her silky white hair without tint of impurity and a face so perfect every man will bow down to her but she was the Goddess of Death and Destruction, a lot of Gods and Goddesses are afraid of her, they had been so powerful and had live a long life they don’t want to perish because a God’s death will have its worshipers forget about them the moment they die.

Due to fear they tried multiple ways to kill the Goddess who was confused to why they tried to kill her, her only role consist of collecting the souls of the dead who had sinned greatly and destroy them. She escaped multiple times she wasn’t scared of Death since she is Death herself she wants to know why they want to kill her when she didn’t do anything wrong. She asked but they didn’t answer her.

A few years all the race are scared of her, she was ostracized, due to loneliness she made a new race named by her Allgan which means ‘My Children’ or ‘All Good’ in the language of Gods but the Kings were all commanded by their Gods or Goddesses to kill the race made by her. The Gods planned to distract her while their creations killed her race.

The day came and it did not end well for the Allgan race, innocent people were killed not a single one spared they were at the brink of extinction when the Goddess knew about it she was enraged.

“This world should be destroyed.” She whispered but all the living things heard her, black Mana came out from her and it spread a dreadful plague with no cure, the Allgan race was excluded and live a peaceful life. After a hundred years her Mana ran out and she disappeared without a trace. A new God appeared and he was the God of Life and healed the world from the plague.

The race Allgan change into Hellicust which means ‘Plague’ or ‘Damnation.’

…

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In front of me was an old house, to me it hadn’t been repaired for years it was

obvious though because of the moss between the bricks, the roof it was full of holes and the creaking of the windows. One word to describe this house is ‘eerie’.

“What happened?” I asked feeling uneasy.

“Here put your Mana into this orb.” He gave me the orb and left without saying anything else. He turned back, “It can shrink if you command it. Goodbye.”

Feeling the weight of the orb on my hand, it was beautiful but I can’t seem to appreciate it. To me the orb was a…dead heart. It gave me a feeling the light surrounded me was gone all was left was darkness. Loneliness. Despair. Sadness. It was suffocating, I had a hunch I would regret if I followed the guards instruction should I let it absorb my Mana?

I tried to calm myself, “S-shrink.” The orb followed my command and I clumsily keep it in my pocket. I don’t think I’m ready. Where should I go? Fortunately the King gave me a pouch full of gold. Night is coming, I should buy some fruits and meat for dinner.

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After several minutes of walking, I heard voices of children playing and laughter, the murmuring of the crowd all in all it was a lively town, its houses are made by cobblestones, the roofs are in a perfect shape than my house. Should I buy a hut here? Will it be expensive?

I think its cheaper if I hired some carpenters to fix my home.

I found the market place in this town, it was just a half a minute walk from the entrance. I heard hawkers shouting, trying to attract customers.

“How much for the fruit sir?” I asked, I don’t know the names of the fruit but they sell it so the fruits are edible right?

“How ‘bout five coppers lass?” He smiled slightly, “If ya buy five of them, I’ll sell them for twenty-two coppers. Deal?”

I nodded, “Deal, here.” I gave him one gold coin.

He laugh awkwardly, “Lass isn’t this a bit much? I don’t have a change for a gold coin.” He clapped his palms, “Ah how about this, what else do you want to buy?”

“Meat and I want to hire some carpenters.” I said.

“I see.” He eyes lit up he cupped his hands on his mouth, “OLD FART! SOMEONE WANTS TO BUY MEAT!”

A groan came from the hut beside the hawker’s place, “Shut up! I’m not deaf!” An old man came out of the hut grumbling, his dishevelled white hair was all over his face. Dark brown eyes showed wisdom and experience he had faced when he was young. He wore a simple plain shirt, it was loose it almost look like a robe.

“Is this lass going to buy meat Kelz?” The old man asked.

Kelz nodded, “She gave me a gold coin, you know how poor I am. I can’t give her a change.”

“Poor?” The old man deadpanned, “In this town your the ‘richest’ man.”

“I can’t possibly compare to this fair lady here.” He gestured at me, “Giving a gold coin to buy for twenty-five coppers.”

“You said its twenty-two.” I said, “Stop flattering me, it won’t work.”

“Lass you’ve been tricked, the five of these would cost fifteen coppers.” The old man laughed.

“Nonsense, this man is magnanimous ----” I interrupted him.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. I don’t mind after all, twenty-two coppers is a small sum. How much is the meat?”

The old man chuckled, “High or low quality?”

“High quality of course.” I said immediately.

“Its eighty silvers.” He said and wave his hand and a meat appeared, “This chunk of meat came from the One-Eyed Wolf its level is 9th Beast-peak.” The old man seemed to notice something and asked, “Do you have a storage equipment?”

“No.”

“I see, here a storage bag. Its free for you.” He said.

“Thank you!” I smiled, he just laughed and patted my head. “How about a carpenter?”

“We don’t have any since I can use repair magic.” Kelz said smugly. “My level is Apprentice-peak impressive right?”

“Very impressive.” I smiled, the old man glanced at me and smiled with appreciation.

“Lets go, bring us to your home.” The old man said.

“Follow me.”

…

When we reached at my house Kelz drew something around my house it has different patterns after an hour he dripped his blood on the patterns and it glowed. Kelz shouted, “Repair!”

After a few seconds…the holes in the roof started to shrink, the broken windows had been repaired with new glass and the moss disappeared. The dirty house had been cleaned and the house became warm and cozy. Just the way I liked it.

I smiled, “Thank you Mr. Kelz.”

“Just doing my work lass.” He stretched his hips it cracked, “Ahh, that’s better.”

“You’re becoming an old fart yourself Kelz.” The old man said jokingly.

“If I breakthrough and become a Mage, my lifespan would increased.” He sighed, “But it would never happen. Lass for the repair it cost..hmmm nineteen silvers and seventy-eight coppers.”

“The total would be one gold coin.” Kelz curve his lips to a smile.

“Tell me the truth, how much is the repair?” I asked.

“Thank you for your purchase. Good day lass.” He wave his hands and quickly walked away.

“Do you want to know?” The old man asked.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I felt he lowered the payment.” I said, I mean he worked for an hour without rest and dropped a blood. If its me I would make the payment about 50 silvers above.

“Yeah he did.” He looked doleful for a moment but he smiled at me and he left, “See you again kid.”

I watched as he walked away, they’re good people. I went inside my newly repaired house I wanted to eat meat for dinner but...

The problem is…I can’t cook even if my life depend on it.

“…” Maybe I should eat the fruit first. I should hire someone to cook for me…tomorrow.

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I yawned still sleepy but I forced myself to wake up and give my self a bath since I didn’t any spare clothes so I wore the same clothes. My goal today is to hire someone to cook for me, buy a new set of clothes, and if possible learn Magic so I can defend myself. I went to the town and walked towards Kelz.

“What do you want now lass?” Kelz gave his signature smile.

“Do you know someone who can cook?”

“I do.”

“Where?”

“Right in front of you.” He said smugly. While gesturing to himself.

“You?” I asked incredulously.

He nodded his head like a chicken, “Yes, me!”

“How much?”

“Its free but can you let me taste the meat too?” His eyes became glazed as he licked his lips and started to drool.

“Ummm, Kelz?”

“Sorry, you’ll understand when you taste the meat. Its heavenly!” He exclaimed and raised his arms in the air, some of the kids playing followed him while shouting. Amused by the kids I chuckled.

“Wait for me, I will buy some clothes.”

“See that hut over there lass?” He gestured to the hut right across the street it was covered with trees. “It has everything you want…besides clothing. If you want I will buy for you.”

“Thanks, here.” I gave him twenty golds, I glanced at the hut he pointed but how did he know I need to learn Magic? He may not had said it but he it was obvious, does he think I am an idiot?

As I was about to walk away I heard him mumbled, “This is too much….can she just give five silvers….sigh.” I shrugged it off. His honest so I trust him in spending if he tried to steal. I don’t care since I have a pouch full of gold.

I walked towards the hut and knocked, “Can I come in?”

Nobody replied, I opened the door and come in. It was too clean there wasn’t a single dirt.

“A kid?” A exasperated voice came from nowhere, I looked around, “Save it kid, you won’t see me.”

“I want a book about Magic.” I said.

“Be more specific, what kind of Magic?” It grumbled, “Elements, Summoning, or Seman?”

“Seman?” I asked, the name of this Magic is weird. It laugh strangely and I heard it say.

“Seman it is.” A book flew towards me with a speed of a bullet and it hit me and I was thrown outside the hut, the strange thing is I was not hurt but I was not happy.

“This isn’t my choice!” I yelled, “I was asking a question!”

“Quit your yapping kid!” It yelled back and the hut disappeared, “ And I don’t care!”

“...” I huffed, this hut is rude I didn’t do anything to it. It reminded me of William, this is a bad day.

I went back to the stall of Kelz and I saw him humming, I thought he was distressed since I gave him too much gold.

“Here your clothes.” He wave his hands and mountain of robes, dress, armors, bracelets, necklaces, rings, gowns, silk-clothes, and panties/bras.

I stared blankly at him, “What the..?”

“There’s no change.” He smiled brightly, his just like Antonio. Great. Did he do this on purpose? If he did I would smack him. Hard. “Oh, some of the rings are full, some of them are empty. The rings are full of fruits, vegetables, meat and other kinds of stuff. There are 10 storage rings it is only 5 silvers since it has only a space of 23 to 36 inches in width, 65 to 69 inches in height, and 24 to 33 inches in depth. In addition, it will have an interior volume of between 10 and 25 cubic feet, with between 7.5 and 18 cubic feet.” So it is large as a refrigerator.

I smiled stiffly, “Y-yeah, lets go?”

He waved his hand and all the things disappeared and he gave me the necklace he wore. “Here this is all the things you’ve bought.”

Should I strangle him?

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END OF CHAPTER SIX