"You're gonna fight them," the priest says with a bright smile.

  Me? Fight them?. Azel thinks to himself as he points a finger to himself while staring at the priest.

  Francis nods in response to Azel's gesture.

  "EEhhhhhhhhhhhhh??????" Azel screams in confusion.

  "Why else did you think he dragged me along?" Pyra said rolling her eyes as she proceeds walking.

  "But-" Azel tries to object.

  "No but do you want that child Miho to be disappointed in you?" Francis said, staring Azel in the eye for a brief moment letting out a subtle mischievous smile.

  Right, I shouldn't disappoint Miho but what if i fail again?. Azel thinks back to his encounter with the orc as he then stares at his trembling hand.

  No i have to do this. Azel thought to himself as he shakes his head.

  Several steps later and they're finally at the side of the abandoned house.

  "Ok here's what you need to do" Francis said in a whisper.

  Azel stares at the priest with his full attention.

  "First avoid getting hit in your heart, neck or head. I'm not a necromancer" Francis said in a stern tone.

  Azel nods as he listens to the priest.

  "Secondly in the same way avoid hitting people in those same spots i don't want you children to go on killing people" Francis adds, raising his hand making a two in his fingers.

  "But what if they tried to kill me instead?" Azel said with a concerned look in his eyes.

  "That's where number three comes in. If you received any form of injury, or you think its getting dangerous, shout for help. I'll quickly cast a barrier so you have enough time to run away." Francis said as he lowers his hand.

  After the priest's explanation the three of them arrive at the front of the abandoned house and peek through the window.

  "There's 10 of them" Pyra whispers as she watches closely through the window, counting the people inside.

  Those ten people are divided into two groups. On the left is a wealthy person with his two lackeys and a hooded figure, while on the right is a slave trader with five mercenaries surrounding him. The slave trader and wealthy man are most likely negotiating.

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  "Go for it," Francis whispered as he pats Azel's back.

  "But there's too many of them! How about her, isn't she coming with me?" Azel whispers as he stares at Pyra.

  Pyra turns around facing Azel just for her to roll her eyes.

  "There you got your answer. Don't worry I got your back, now go!" Francis whispers as he pushes Azel inside the abandoned house.

  Azel stumbles a little as he tries to regain his balance. He finds himself in the middle of everyone's attention, both the slave trader and wealthy person's group have their eyes set on him.

  "Who are you? " the slave merchant coldly said as he stares at Azel from head to toe.

  Maybe we can talk things out? I don't have to fight all of them right?. Azel thought to himself as his hand can't stop trembling.

  "C-can you guys free the child if there's one? " Azel said sthutters a little.

  "Get him" the slave trader said unbothered.

  The mercenary with the most muscular build steps forward carrying his huge battle axe walking towards Azel's direction.

  Azel slowly steps back, hands still trembling as the mercenary approaches him.

  "What's wrong, young lad? Peed your pants?" The mercenary laughed.

  The other four mercenaries on the slave trader's side also burst into laughter, hurling insults.

  "P-please just let go of the child" Azel stuttered as he keeps stepping back until he stumbles into the ground.

  "If you want to get the child then you have to go through me first!!!!" The mercenary said as he quickly charges towards Azel, swinging his battle axel.

  Meanwhile, Pyra and Francis began spectating and commenting on Azel’s fight….

  "Ohhhh great he's a dumbass," Pyra said peeking from the window as she watches Azel clumsily dodge the mercenary's attacks.

  "Are you really sure he can fight?" Pyra asks, turning to face Francis who's leaning against the wall holding a gourd.

  "Remember when I told you about a village far away from Anon that got struck by a monster outbreak 3 days ago?" Francis said before he started drinking from his gourd staring into the distance.

  "Of course! What about it?" Pyra said as she watches the priest lower his gourd and shake it gently.

  "Well apparently Azel and Miho were from that village," The priest said as he stares at Pyra.

  "Guhhhh just go straight to the point!!" The red head protests as she rolls her eyes.

  "Klice told me that they're the only survivors and apparently Azel protected Miho all on his own" Francis said as he let out a bright smile before taking another sip from his gourd.

  "Then what the hell is he doing?" Pyra said as she takes another peek through the window.

  "Don't worry he still hasn't asked for help, maybe he can handle it" Francis hiccups as he then starts laughing softly as he stares at his gourd.

  Inside the house, Azel struggles to avoid the mercenary’s attacks

  Should i ask for help?!. Azel did his best to dodge with trembling knees as the barrage of slashes from the mercenary keeps coming.

  "H-" Azel stares at pyra's direction and attemptsed to scream for help but it was interrupted as the mercenary slammed his head with the blunt part of the battle axe.

  My head hurts. He thought to himself as he fell into the ground dizzy he caresses his forehead just to end up touching a warm liquid, he's bleeding.

  "Come on lad don't tell me that's the best you've got" the mercenary laughed.

  I need to get up. Azel thought to himself, still feeling dizzy as he struggles to get on his feet, just to fall into the ground again.

  It's no good. I am not strong enough. Azel can't help but stare at the mercenary laughing and taunting him.

  I wish i can be as strong as him. Azel thought to himself as he thinks back to the past when the three of them Klice, Miho and he were walking on the way to Anon.

  "ICICLE SPEAR!" Klice said as a spear of ice flew towards an orc's direction the orc then convulses as it collapses into the ground.

  "I want to ask something, mister " Azel says, staring at Miho who's walking beside him.

  "Sure what's it?" The mage said as he proceeds walking ahead.

  "How did you become so strong?" Azel said as he stares at all the dead orc corpses.

  The mage pauses as he turns around to face Azel.

  "I get that question a lot," Klice chuckles, staring at Azel.

  "To tell you the truth you don't need flashy magic spells to be strong" Klice said as he turns his back and proceeds walking.

  "Then what do i need?" Azel asks as he caresses Miho's head who's staring at him innocently.

  "Just think of those you want to protect and you'll gain strength immediately" Klice said as he proceed walking not turning back.

  Azel shakes off this memory and returns to the present.

  Just think of those i want to protect huh?. Azel thought to himself while he presses his palms against the rough ground as he does his best to get up.

  " Besides, a child should just play and keep having fun right? " those words of Miho echoed in Azel's head as he remembers Miho's bright smile.

  Right.... I want to get stronger to protect him. I don't want to lose a brother again!. Azel thought to himself with firm determination as he stood up.

  "Come on, stop fooling around and finish him already!" The slave trader shouts impatiently.

  "You heard him lad, this is as far as we can go" The mercenary said staring at Azel as he raises his battle axe.

  "Water ray!”