Part 3: Temporary

A few hours after Aaron’s escape to the Tremblay guild.

Rico, who had survived thanks to Zomb’s illusions, joined Jacob in his office. Jacob would always stay behind his desk when meeting someone. This time, however, he sat by Rico’s side with his levitating chair.

In front of them, the young woman with green eyes and brown hair was kneeling on the floor, still followed by guards. She was wearing thick red anti-magic shackles. As the name implies, these prevented her from circulating mana.

Rico remembered what Zomb had told him before dying. He frowned. “So, you are the one who tried to kill me.”

The woman looked up at him. She showed her bonded hands and cried in an attempt to emphasize his sentiment of pity. “I-it wasn’t my fault!”

“SHUT UP!” as Rico kicked her ribs, a severe pain rushed throughout her body. She rolled to the side.

Jacob laughed while waiting for Rico to calm down before speaking. “She wasn’t entirely at fault. The truth is, I shouldn’t have trusted her with handling your brother.”

He turned to look at the woman. “But, she was the one who betrayed us two!”

Rico looked at her with disgust.

He talked to the guards. “Huh. Send her to the dungeon then, and make sure that she has barely enough food to survive!”

…

In the Tremblay Guild.

An old train had stopped at a station. Aaron Amon was the first to come out. John moved him with a wheelchair because he was still asleep. John had put a cervical collar on his neck to support it and prevent further injuries.

Christiana and the older man followed behind.

They went up the stairs and got out of the tunnel. It was cold and dark outside. Steam came out of their lungs when exhaling due to condensation.

They had passed the Tremblay Guild’s borders and arrived in a small village where not a single building exceeded a hundred meters in height.

An S-Craft stood at the entrance. They entered aboard, and Christiana drove.

An hour later, after travelling a thousand kilometres, they finally arrived at the core of the Tremblay guild, Aspen City.

They landed the aircraft atop a white and black building.

The building’s primary material was crystallized glass. A layer of snow covered the top.

The Aspen Forest remained distant, covered by a thick layer of fog.

Aaron finally woke up. “I’m still alive?”

John was startled. “I fixed your neck on the train. If I couldn't do that much, I wouldn't be very qualified as a doctor. Thankfully, you didn’t lose too much blood.”

Alex and Isaac Tremblay were chilling inside an apartment. Isaac was looking at his magic watch, tinkering with his weapons’ settings, while Alex, on the other hand, was reading a book on his tablet.

*Bzzz~* A low-pitched buzz came from the entrance. The door opened.

“Hello.” Four people came inside the apartment.

Alex and Isaac greeted the guests and his father.

“Hi. Dad -who is this guy?” Isaac knew all of them except one.

Aaron was still sitting in the wheelchair. He looked at him.

“I’m Aaron Amon. I’m also curious about something. Who are you all?” Aaron followed.

And so, everyone introduced themselves.

“I’m Christiana de Champlain.”

“I’m Johnathan Dubois. You can call me John.“

“Alex Tremblay.”

“My name’s Isaac.”

All that remained was the man who saved Aaron from his younger brother.

“And I am Henri Tremblay.”

*Gulp* Aaron swallowed his saliva so quickly that he choked on it.

John went to his side. “Are you okay? Breathe through the nose.” He tapped his back a couple of times.

*Cough* “Henri Tremblay?!” Aaron was amazed.

Henri looked into his eyes. “You’ve heard of me?”

Aaron looked up at him without moving his neck. “My uncle told me to find you for protection before he died. He said you knew my parents. You must have been pretty close, seeing that you came to save me.”

“Well, welcome to your new home, Aaron Amon.”

Aaron blinked. “What?”