Alara's horrific revelation had shocked him to his core and stayed with him as he could hardly phantom how somebody could do such a monstrous thing to a wee child. It was practically publicly subjecting the child to torture under the pretense of a 'punishment', not to mention public humiliation.

He wasn't sure if he himself would have survived being ruthlessly whipped at the mere age of eight. Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't, but he was glad that he would never have to know. Apparently, this incident occurred shortly after Alara's childhood friend Qas uluated grievously at the loss of Alara's brother and another village girl, Rosariae, in the marketplace just after the Amorals' abductions.

From what Alara had told him, Qas's emotions seemed to get the better of him and had been naturally unable to control it. Just because of that, Qas's true feelings spiraled out of him which consequently landed him in a deep pit.

It might as well be a literal pit too- to Maren, being completely paralysed was similar to being buried and trapped in one's own body for all of eternity. In all honesty, he would rather perish than live as a paralysed man.

To not be able to move, eat, use my own limbs... he shuddered. To have my friends help me to shower, feed me... To imagine that my own body is a permanently locked coffin...

And that wasn't where the horrendous nightmare ends.

The most crucifying part of it all was that when Qas's mother begged for her son to be executed, an official from the Governors' office had refused to, and even dared to roar with laughter when he heard that Qas had not only survived the whipping, but was paralysed too.

"Your son deserves it for bad-mouthing us. We've done so much for you, and you people repay us through vile accusations." The official had spat at Joanne, Qas's mother, and had boldly continued, "No wonder you're in the low-class. It's because you are destined to live your life as a lowlife."

Maren couldn't believe the obstruction of justice committed by the same party that governed them. He was not a stranger to their egregious deeds but this was outrageous. The majority of these deeds were unknown to people from the middle and higher classes as all of these acts were done in the most remote and rural areas of Excidiums. The Governors ensured a tight monitoring of censorship in the more affluent parts, rightfully fearing that protests or revolts may happen if they were made aware of the truth. They truly didn't care for the low-class.

When I get back, I must report this to Valesque. The Agency exists for change, and there must be at least some form of equality between the classes.

There's so many things on my plate lately... and today, I have to break some news that will undoubtedly make Alara downcast.

With a heavy heart, Maren headed to the back alley of the tavern to meet Alara.

If he was not an amiable person, nobody would have informed him of the things happening to Alara and he would likely never have known of the recent notable events of his goddaughter's life.

Fortunately, he had his eyes and ears everywhere, and those people who supported him saw Alara Berrera as their own child too, and hence Jonek trusted them to care for her when he was too busy blacksmithing to.

But recently, he had received pieces of disturbing news from the bartender at the tavern. Poskli had hastily shared his suspicions of Alara soon to be eloping with a strange man as Poskli had seen the two were drinking beer together and having hearty exchanges.

Jonek felt that something was off as he knew that if Alara had a man in her life, he was confident that she would tell him as she had always viewed him as a father-figure. Most importantly, the poor child had never indulged in what she deemed 'frivolities' ever since her brother's kidnapping.

To her, dating was one of them. Furthermore, he knew her like the back of his palm and was cognizant of Alara's wishes to never fall in love or even enter romantic relationships. To her, that meant that the likelihood of her marrying and even having children was quite high, and those were things she did not want.

She shattered his heart when, at age fifteen, she informed him decisively after studying her mother hugging her father's wooden tombstone during her father's death anniversary, "I never want to fall in love because in our world, it will only destroy us. If I am destroyed by love, I will never be able to continue looking after my Mama or reunite with Ren. I'm not like others. Love, flings even, are luxuries that I cannot afford to indulge in. I will never engage in one as, Jonek, my family and my revenge for us are the two things that I care for most in this depressing life of mine."

This was why Jonek had discreetly set a meeting with the rumored lover of Alara. He wanted to clarify with him whether he was really going to elope with her (he felt that he had to give good old Poskli the benefit of the doubt). Of course, he was also determined to find out why Alara was going away with him and what his intentions towards her was.

Nobody is going to mess with my goddaughter. When Lara was born, I promised Alvino and Cynthia that I would protect my goddaughter with my life.

Thus when Poskli divulged to him that the mystery man was to meet Lara at the back alley of the tavern at 1pm sharp, Jonek took it upon himself to go earlier than Lara would- the girl was typically late at meetings. Once, he had agreed to meet her at 2pm for lunch at a small food centre and ended up waiting an extra twenty minutes for her. However, her reasons for her lack of punctuality was always related to caring for her mother, and as a result Jonek never reprimanded her much for it.

Just as Poskli had told him, he found a young, handsome man waiting for Lara with an anxious expression plastered on his face. Has he found out that I've been asking around about him?

"You must be Alara's friend," he stated upon seeing him, catching the young man off-guard. He never greeted people with the seemingly customary pleasantries as he found it to be pointless and preferred being blunt. Being blunt may be considered rude, but it undeniably moves things along faster. It also works efficiently in situations such as these, Jonek thought as he strolled towards the man.

"I- I- what? Pardon me sir, who are you? Have we met?" The young man nearly jumped out of his skin and seemed absolutely bemused. Jonek resisted the urge to chuckle at his reaction.

"I'm Jonek, Lara's godfather. Who are you?"

"Alara has a godfather?"

Jonek gasped in surprise at that. "Has she never mentioned me to you? Why, I am disappointed." He sighed, and then continued on his quest. I will lecture her regarding this later. "Who are you, young man? There are rumors around the village that you are going to elope with Alara. Yes, elope. Don't look so dismayed at that- she's a fine girl. What exactly is your relationship and intentions towards her? If you ever lay a finger on her, I chop off your hands... and without hesitation too."

"Sir, I'm Maren Santos and I'm, well, her friend. And colleague. I just want to be on genial terms with her is all, especially since we will be working together soon." answered Maren promptly.

Jonek raised an eyebrow at that. Friend? In his many years of life, he was well aware of the various meanings of friends. There was the innocent type, and there was the... more risque ones. Which type of friend could he be referring to?

"What type of friend exactly, Maren Santos?" He had purposefully stressed on the man's name to make him even more nervous for he wanted to see how he dealt with matters when under pressure. Only the best for my Alara.

"Friend, sir? What do you mean... I- oh. Oh." Maren's cheeks flushed a vivid pink when he got the gist of his underlying implication. "No, sir, Alara and I really are friends. Trust me."

Jonek surveyed Maren and nodded his head a few beats later. For some reason, he trusted him. There was something about him that he could not put a finger to, but he trusted him. Wanting to keep Maren on his toes though, Jonek proceeded cheekily with another question.

"You mentioned that you will be working together with her. Now, what kind of job are we talking about here? I know for a fact that nobody is hiring new employees around here, especially not Marietta with that rundown bakery of hers."

He was just about to get an answer from Maren when he heard Lara's angelic voice.

"Maren!" Alara was dumbfounded when she saw Maren conversing with Jonek- the unlikeliest person she ever expected him to talk to. She had never even mentioned Jonek to him and yet... the impossible had happened.

"Jonek... Maren... how on earth.. I... what's going on?" She was completely at a loss for words as she found this to be a very peculiar sight. Never in her eighteen years of life had she envisioned Jonek, an elderly blacksmith and an agent of the both notorious and renowned Ascendancy Agency to be chatting away.

"You're leaving the village and yet you never thought to inform me?" Jonek asked straightaway, and she flinched from the obvious hurt in his voice.

Oh.

He knows.

Instantly, Alara briefly explained the situation as if Maren ever reported to the head of the Ascendancy Agency that she had disclosed confidential information regarding them, she would surely suffer severe consequences.

After her explanation, Jonek merely grumbled for a while but seemed to be somewhat able to comprehend that she couldn't say any more about her new job. She ensured that he just had to be conscious of the fact that she would be getting adequate pay from it, and that he may not see her for at least six months for instance.

That was what Alara had sincerely thought, until Maren coughed and corrected her. "I'm sorry, but Alara will be gone for more than six months. It may even end up to be three years as the job requires her to be actively involved in a variety of activities. I'm really sorry, and I hope that you can understand."

After dropping that unpleasant bombshell on them, Maren slyly took advantage of the opportunity to whisk her away from Jonek where they could finally discuss in private.

"Three years? Maren, seriously! You must be pulling my pants."

"I'm not. Believe, I wish I was joking. But I'm not. Rookies usually need a year to grasp the new skills introduced to them- and you will be learning things which were what the middle and upper-class have the privilege to learn. So it's not just physical training.

Now that you've accepted the Agency's offer, there is no backing out. You are now an agent for them, and the things we do are completely different from the typical odd jobs you are used to. Alara, this is your life now.

The last thing you must know is that you're to leave in a month's time. Finish anything you have yet to do, and provide explanations to your loved ones.

Leave with an easy heart and conscience."