Nobody knew where this girl with intense eye gazes came from, including Edward who she claimed to be her master, he had no previous knowledge of meeting her, albeit he had played with so many ladies, who names or faces he probably could not remember, but such a little girl and her flaming hair, there was no way he could have forgotten.

 

Everyone was silent, the two tall and threatening guys looked at each other, they wanted to laugh at the girl's words, but there was something about her that made them fail to mock, was it her coy glare? Or the fact that she looked so calm in the face of people bigger than her? Generally, people were afraid of powerful things, and these tall guys usually enjoyed scaring people off with their appearance, for example; mother Stark, who already shivered from a mere simple meeting.

 

But this girl didn't seem to afraid at all, she pointed her sword, but there was no change on her face, it's like what she did is a common act.

 

The two tall guys felt humiliation, it's the first time they were being threatened, let alone from a small girl, yet at the same time, their heart whispered the enticement of retreat, gave them a warning that fighting the girl would only end up with them suffered some losses.

 

The fat short guy blinked his eyes several times, then started laughing, he disdainfully looked at the fainted mother Stark, said, "What kind of cheap trick you want to use this time? Do you think a little girl could have backed me off? Do you think I am dumb?"

 

"But..." he looked at the girl again, holding his chin, "this girl doesn't look bad, if I am to bring her together, I believe she can sell at a high price."

 

"Oi, you, take her together, I don't want to waste any more time here," the fat short guy pointed at the tall guy who didn't have Edward on his shoulder, then he turned around and prepared to leave, regarding the girl as a joke.

 

The tall guy swallowed his throat, although the fear in his heart was overbearing, his boss had given order, so he braved himself, chased away the thought that this girl could bring any danger, then he moved forward.

 

The girl squinted her eyes, she tilted her sword slightly, aiming it toward the tall guy, it's a simple movement, but actually managed to stop the guy from moving.

 

Cold sweat dripped from his temple, he had faced several people in combat, but this was the first time he was ever this nervous in the presence of others, especially in front of a little girl.

 

'Nah, it's just your illusion, this girl isn't scary at all,' the tall guy wiped the sweat and calmed his thought, then he paved his path again toward the girl.

 

Watching him began his motion again, the little girl smirked, from the start till now, there was no trace of fear in her eyes, but instead, the closer the tall guy to her, the more she looked happy, it's like a wolf watching its prey grew closer.

 

The guy was finally in the arm-length distance, he watched the girl didn't move her sword, he exhaled a relief breath, now he had confirmed the girl was just playing around, there was no need to fear.

 

Right, how come a big guy like him would have afraid of a little girl? If this was known by others, he didn't know how should he mix with them again in the future.

 

But at this time...

 

*Shuaa*

 

Flame suddenly emerged from the girl's body, so fast that the tall guy was barely able to dodge them from burning him.

 

"Ah!" the tall guy fell onto his back, shivering as the sight of flame, cold sweat broke out of his head.

 

"Mage?!" the fat short guy now also startled, a mage was not rare, even in their city, although their strength was not absolute, at least, the two mucks he brought wouldn't be enough to defeat a single mage.

 

"Stark, you cheat bastard, how dare you bring a mage into this?!" he gritted his teeth in anger, to him, bringing a mage into this conflict was simply unfair, not that he didn't have a mage on his own, but he was very reluctant to use him due to how powerful they could be, having help from a mage could flip the entire table, turning a huge favor for the other side of the party.

 

"I say this once more; put down my master," the little girl ignored the fat short guy's uproar, she shrank her eyes, the flame around her body was getting bigger.

 

The tall guy ran back to his friend's side in a hurry, didn't want to get caught in a fire, the other tall guy had trembling legs, he even put down Edward in reflex.

 

"Don't you dare!" the fat short guy roared, stopping the tall guy from fulfilling the girl's demand, then he walked a few steps forward, said in a bit anxiety, "friend, why do you help them? They are people who owe me money, isn't just normal for me to demand the payment?"

 

"I don't care about their affair, but you have harmed my master, that alone enough to cost one arm to be burned," the girl said.

 

"Who is your master?"

 

"Edward Stark," the girl said.

 

"That handsome boy?" the fat short guy laughed, then he waved his hand, "I don't know what kind of benefit he promises you, but that guy is broke, so does his family, he won't be able to pay you anything, in the other hand, if you follow me instead, I promise a great reward."

 

Edward at this moment suffered a terrible headache, the moment the girl emerged the fire, it's like his head was splitting apart, there was an urge to collapse.

 

"I have no interest in your reward, leave behind my master, or I shall burn you like a rooster," the girl said again.

 

"Fuck, you stupid fucking girl," the fat short guy stomped his feet, he snapped his face toward the two tall men, he wanted to order them to beat the shit out of the girl, but he saw they were already terrified, well, actually, he was also scared, but his arrogance did not allow it to be exposed.

 

After a few seconds of nothing happened, the girl finally took a step forward, it's not loud stomp or awe-aspiring move, but it actually shook the fat short guy's heart, watching the flame around the girl that seemingly alive and wanted to swallow him, his dry lips trembled, quickly said, "Fine, fine, drop the boy, we leave for now!"

 

Without hesitation, the tall guy placed Edward on the ground, and they were running toward the exit, the fat short guy stopped at the gate, said as he looked at the girl with hate in his eyes, "You'll pay for this."

 

Then he walked away.

 

"..." the girl didn't respond, but put down her sword and extinguish the flame.

 

Edward gasped for air, feeling the ache on his brain disappeared, then he quickly crawled to his mother, shaking her body, "Mother, mother!"

 

She didn't answer, then Edward put her into his embrace and pressed his ear on her chest, hearing her faint heartbeat, his worry slightly lessened.

 

"Oi, butler," the girl said in a calm yet strong voice, and as if a cue, the Old Vernon showed up from behind the stairs with an ashamed face.

 

Edward glared dagger at his uncle, from the looked of it, he knew this guy had been hiding, didn't dare to face against these people, although he understood nothing would even change if his uncle showed up, and he might just also get beaten, but he was about to be taken by these people, and his mother suffered a beating.

 

No matter what excuse he had, Edward couldn't help but feeling hatred for Old Vernon.

 

"Young Master, please let me carry your mother to the main bedroom..."

 

"Don't touch my mother!" Edward roared, stiffened the butler from making further action.

 

"Young Master..." Old Vernon said with a lament in his voice, when he heard mother Stark yelled, he already rushed toward the living room, but the situation progressed beyond his expectation, and he saw how these people bullied mother Stark and her son, he couldn't help but get cowered.

 

"I can carry her myself," Edward said and then tightened his arms around mother Stark, he tried to stand and lift her up together, but his legs were shaking fiercely and his head became dizzy, his entire strength as if seeped away from his body.

 

Falling back to the ground, Edward felt confused, he might not be athletic, but carrying a woman, especially as thin as his mother, he shouldn't be having any problem, was it because of the injury? But other than spitting a few drops of blood from his mouth, he didn't have other wounds, so this lack of strength was just strange.

 

"Master, please refrain from hurting yourself, you are suffering from the lack of magic now, you should also rest," the little girl said.

 

Strangely, she didn't move a single bit from her spot, speaking to Edward through several meters of distance.

 

Edward wrinkled his eyebrows upon listening to her words, Lack of magic? How's that possible? He's not a mage...

 

"You must be joking," Edward mumbled, he wanted to refute, but he doesn't have a single strength left.

 

"Butler, carry Master to his bedroom, and so is Madam later, afterward, go boil some tea for them," the little girl nonchalantly ordered Old Vernon as if she was the mistress of this mansion.

 

"No, tend to my mother first... I..."

 

"Master, for now, you shouldn't talk again, rest," the little girl said calmly.

 

"But..." Edward wanted to refute, but he did feel really weak, it's like he was a moment away from fainting.

 

"Butler, why you still standing like a fool?" the girl wrinkled her eyebrows toward Old Vernon, causing the butler to feel slightly mad, he would accept Edward to misbehave at him, but who was this girl to order him around?

 

Old Vernon snorted, he didn't want to listen to the girl, so instead of helping Edward first, he went to mother Stark, judging from the wound on her body, she was obviously required more attention than Edward, who only pale at most.

 

"Ignorant butler," the little girl coldly said, then she looked at Edward who was feeble on the ground, a trace of worry flashed in her eyes, said, "master, I am going to disappear, I hope... this will not our last meeting."

 

Huh, last meeting? Edward lifted his head and stared at the red-haired girl, her eyes were staring with indifferent, the corner of her lips was stiff, despite it sounded like a goodbye, but there was no absolute emotion on her face.

 

Then her body covered in a flash of light, the once stood cute girl replaced by a devoid of a figure, absolute nothingness.

 

Who was she? From the moment she appeared till now, Edward still didn't know her name, but his brain didn't have the power left to ponder, not long after her departure, Edward felt his world's spinning, then he descended into darkness.

 

There was nothing here, no up and down, no right and left, Edward floated in the space, even sound and air seemed evaporated.

 

He heard voices, telling him to give up, just go sleep and forget anything, everything would be alright, he didn't have to do anything.

 

It was tempting... so soothing, the voices were like a lullaby for a wonderful sleep.

 

In his life, he was uncaring, a man would have begged for food, he would ready to give them a foot, a fist for a fish.

 

But his mother's sacrifice made him realize how forgetful and ungrateful he was, he even had the audacity to be angry at his own father, the man had worked with his bone and blood, regardless what kind of mistake he made, none of them Edward believed he wanted to happen.

 

Therefore, Edward didn't want to sleep, he wanted to make it up for his parents, being an ignorant child must stop right now.

 

And he shouted toward the voices, 'go away' 'go away' he said, it's not the time for sleep, a man must wake up from their dream sometimes.

 

Finally, Edward opened his eyes, realized he was no longer in the living room, he glanced to the side, looking through his window and saw the night had fallen, he laughed bitterly, even when he decided to refuse to sleep, he still in slumber for almost the entire day.

 

He rose from the bed and rubbed his head, it had become much better now, then he remembered his mother again, Edward rushed out from his bedroom and stumbled into the long hall, didn't care about his own body, he dashed toward the main bedroom.

 

The room was big, with a red carpet and canopy bed at the center, two people could be seen sleep side by side, one was a tall, skinny and pallid man, having his long black-hair lose to his shoulder and his oval jaw supported a thin beard, he also wore a white cloth with black long pants. The other person was a woman, seemingly much more older than the man despite their age only different about 3-4 years, she had worn different clothes she had this morning.

 

"Father... Mother..." Edward went to the side of his father's bed, looking at the two peaceful grown-ups, how beautiful it would be if they could be peaceful like this even when they were sober?

 

Remembering what he had done these past few days, Edward couldn't help but feel incredibly ashamed, despite his family was declining, he didn't want to abandon the extravagant life and borrowed money from his friends to pay for his indulgence.

 

He was even readied to take his father's several books and exchanged them for money, had he not accidentally listened to his mother's words, he would have them sold by now, without the slightest guilty feeling.

 

Edward looked at his father's face, the healer judged his father's sickness was nothing sort of ordinary, there was even a hint of foul play such as curse or poison, but father was just a merchant, how could be someone had this deep grudge with him?

 

Obviously, Edward still lacked the knowledge of what merchant did, the core business was to sell and buy, but there were tons about it that someone like him would have not understand unless he learned properly.

 

His father was spoiling to him, even when he was too lazy to study, he would not scold him, this resulting in a dumb kid like him.

 

Edward believed it's not in his father's intention to cause this much suffering on his family, had he been sobered the entire time, he would have stopped them from wasting money to cure him, probably told Edward to learn properly how to do business and took over his job, readied to mentor him while he was waiting for his death.

 

But the moment father fell into a coma almost a year ago, he hadn't awake again for a minute, they spent untold resources to get him back up, but all was a futile effort, the father did not sober.

 

Edward held into his father's hand, looking at the wrinkler on the surface, it used to be healthy and powerful, elegant and noble, refined, and smooth.

 

Now it almost became a withered branch, pale and dry, even some outline of the bones could be seen through the thin skin.

 

Edward spent some time holding his father's hand, his eyes were remembering the past time, some was happy, he chuckled, some was awful, he groaned, and some was silly, he laughed.

 

His father had worked so hard to build this family, and he bought this mansion sometimes after he married mother Stark.

 

Edward put down his father's hand and traced his tranquil's face, he wondered what if his father sober this time and watched the hard work he built soon collapsed, what kind of pain he would reveal? Or would he laugh and said 'Haha, that means I have to work harder!'.

 

"Father..." Edward mumbled, then he took a deep breath and shifted his gaze toward his mother.

 

He remembered a year ago, she was still an elegant middle-aged woman, so beautiful and noble, her smile was warm, the softness of her thighs as she laid his head on them, the gentle caress of her soft hand, her wavy blonde hair would wave when the breeze of wind drifted slowly.

 

But now, months of suffering had turned her into an old woman, but she never stopped smile to him, even in peril, she still thought the best of her son.

 

Besides the powerful father, there was always the faithful mother, the fire and ice, they would traverse the same, none got left behind.

 

"Mother..." Edward moved to the side of her, noticed there were several bandages on her body, other than Old Vernon, there were 2 staff left in this mansion, one maid and the cook, the maid was a widow without children, due to mother's benevolent in the past, she dedicated herself to her service, as for the cook, he had been mother's cook for a long time, father and mother had regarded him as family, even willing to support his family's life.

 

She suffered all of those wounds because of him, Edward really didn't know how he should repay this kind of graciousness.

 

If he was to ask, his mother would definitely say, 'There is no need to pay, is a mother's love after all.'

 

Taking a deep sigh, Edward looked at his mother, he didn't want to bother her sleep, so he just stared gently,

 

After a while, Edward went out of the main bedroom, now he remembered about that girl again, and how she just appeared and disappeared out of nowhere.

 

He wished he would have asked her name first, and why she would call him Master.

 

Also, she said that he was suffering from the lack of magic, how could that be possible? As far as Edward knew, none of his family had a line in magic, and being a mage was a big deal, there was only like 10% of them in the entire world, or at least that's what the others said.

 

If his family had a mage, how came his father or his mother never mentioned him or her? Was it because they were not good? There were four types of a mage in this world; mages that are part of a guild, mages that are independent, a mage that is part of the government, and mage that is a dark guild's member.

 

And as the name's state, the dark guild's member was a mage that considered to be dangerous because of their harmful action and shady operation, this reason was enough to make anyone would not mention a mage in their family.

 

At this moment, Edward's stomach suddenly grumbled, he hadn't eaten anything since morning, so it would be natural to be hungry now, he was too worried about his mother that he only noticed the drum band in his stomach.

 

"Oh, fine..." Edward made his way toward the kitchen, the time was still early, the cook should not be already going home.

 

But... he was wrong, there was no one in the kitchen, Edward groaned slightly, how come the cook went back while his shift hadn't over yet?

 

Edward looked for the widowed maid, he didn't want to eat raw meat, after all, so he needed someone to cook for him. He could have gone to uncle Vernon, but Edward still felt resentment at the butler, for him to not help the people he served, especially his own family, it's no different than a betrayal to him.

 

There were many rooms in the mansion, for the staff who didn't have family or yet to have family, usually occupied these rooms, but most of the people had left the Stark, making the place looked almost deserted, Edward couldn't help but feel uneasy.

 

He heard a small hum at the distance, probably because no one else in here except the widowed maid, so the sound could be heard from the hall.

 

Edward stopped in front of the maid's door, knocked it several times, and said, "Aunt Maid?"

 

It was his mother who told him to call the widowed maid this way, not only she's the oldest among the other maid, but mother also had treated her like her own sister.

 

"Young Master?" the hum stopped, and a middle-aged woman with strong eyebrows opened the door.

 

On the contrary to the usual maid, the widowed maid had a valiant appearance, her shoulders were broad and she's quite tall, she was more like a female fighter than a maid honestly, in the past, Edward often got scared by her, but he was fine now.

 

From the glimpse of her room, Edward could a pair of sewing set and partial knitted small clothes on her bed, it was often the maid's hobby to knit when she had done her shift, the craftsmanship was alright, but they were absolutely not bad.

 

"Young Master, you awake, madam is very worried about you before," Aunt Maid sighed in relief.

 

"Mother visit me?" Edward said with a slight surprise.

 

"Of course, Madam even said to buy all medicine in the city to rescue you, Old Vernon even has to bring several things to sell so we could afford the medicine," Aunt maid said.

 

"Was my life in danger?"

 

Aunt maid went silent for a while, then waved her hand, said, "No, no, Madam has brought a healer, and he said there is nothing to worry about, the Young Master just over exhausted."

 

"Aunt maid..."

 

"How about it, Young Master? Are you hungry? The aunt will cook for you, okay?" Aunt maid walked from her room and closed the door behind, she darted into the kitchen immediately.

 

It wasn't long for Aunt Maid to cook, she prepared Edward a sandwiched with double eggs, a slice of cheese, several lumps of meat, and a glass of milk.

 

Although he felt like Aunt Maid hiding something from him, Edward didn't continue to ask, after waiting patiently, he immediately grabbed the sandwiched and gobbled them like a hungry wolf, Aunt Maid just stood beside him while kept telling Edward to slow down, worried he might get choke.

 

Suddenly, in the midst of eating, something had crossed Edward's mind, he put down the food and said, "Aunt Maid, do you happen to see a red book lying around?"

 

It was the weird book that the dust on it Edward was not able to get rid, he remembered picking it up before the tall guy was about to carry him, but he couldn't remember what happened with the book afterward.

 

"Red book?" Aunt Maid tilted her head and looked confuse for a while, then she shook her head, said, "Aunt know nothing about any red book, perhaps Young Master should ask Old Vernon."

 

"Oh..." Edward nodded, then remembered something, he quickly asked, "Aunt Maid, you said before that we have to sell several things to buy medicine, right?"

 

"Yes."

 

Edward abruptly stood up from the chair, with a panic face, he said, "Where is Uncle Vernon right now?"

 

"He is in the warehouse, I think? Lately, there are some rats, he is trying to secure our provision."

 

Gulping down the milk, Edward ran toward the warehouse's direction immediately.