-----Narrator POV-----
"Kill her."
The men behind the butler shifted instantly.
Weapons were drawn, and the horses stamped and tossed their heads, hooves scraping against the dirt.
ohmmMM....
A strange distant noise rolled across the open field.
Roxy locked her eyes on the enemy, her mind snapped into focus as the rush of adrenaline and oxygen flooded her system.
vroooHMMMM...!
That strange noise still hadn't disappeared.
In fact, it was louder enough that both sides faltered. Loud enough that weapons dipped, stances loosened, and every head slowly turned toward the source of the sound.
VWROOOOOHM!!!
Whatever it was… It was coming fast.
And it was getting closer.
BAM!
Both sides turned toward the sound. A blur shot across the field and slammed into the ground between them, the impact throwing dust and loose dirt outward in a wide ring. The shockwave pushed everyone back a step, boots scraping for balance.
They froze.
Dust rolled through the air, drifting around the point of impact. The ground there had split open, soil displaced in a rough circle.
As the smoke thinned, a figure took shape, one knee pressed into the earth while the opposite hand clenched into a fist was planted firmly against the ground. Their back rose and fell with each breath, the impact still settling through the cracked soil beneath them.
The figure lifted their head.
A face covering came into view, its surface carved into deep ridges that formed a permanent snarl. The mouth section jutted forward with sharp, exaggerated teeth sculpted along the upper and lower jaw. Two short horns rose from the forehead, both painted a solid red, their surfaces smooth enough to catch the light. The eye openings were narrow slits, angled downward, hiding everything behind them. The entire piece sat tight against the head, held in place by straps that disappeared behind the figure's hair.
The figure rose from their kneeling stance. Dust slid off their shoulders as they straightened, revealing their clothing piece by piece.
A long coat reached down to the thighs, its fabric thick and reinforced with stitched panels that followed the lines of the torso resembling a formal attire of a noble military officer.
The figure tilted their head toward the small magician, then toward the mounted man whose grip tightened on the reins, and after a long, breathless pause turned fully to face the Gresham butler, who steadied his stance before forcing him out.
"M-may I ask you who you might be?"
"..."
In a sudden motion the figure raised their hand, making both parties flinch, then lowered it to their chest and bowed with a precise, practiced angle.
"A humble servant of my Master, Lord Perigius. My name is Furiousful of Fury."
The field went still as every stance loosened, every grip slackened, and every rider froze with reins half‑pulled.
A bead of sweat slid down the old butler's forehead, traced the line of his cheek, and dropped from his chin.
Lord Perigius—the Hero, one of the founders of the Asura Kingdom.
"To what great pleasure do I owe Lord Perigius from this encounter."
"..."
Furiousful of Fury straightened and placed both hands behind her back.
"I was commanded to prevent Matheus Boreas Gresham from being taken back to the Gresham family."
"What kind of nonsense is that… what is the meaning behind this?!"
The air around the small figure seemed to tighten, the space between her and the butler growing heavy enough to make his shoulders twitch.
The butler lifted a hand to his mouth, cleared his throat, and bowed his head.
"I‑I apologize for my rude remark."
The pressure in the air eased by a fraction. The butler drew himself upright again, eyes fixed on the masked figure as he reassessed the scene.
"Furiousful of Fury, servant of Lord Perigusus, may I ask your reasoning before your actions."
"..."
The butler's fingers tightened around the saddle, the leather creaking under his grip.
"Please understand, Furiousful of Fury… my men and I are in a difficult position. We wish to avoid bloodshed, but we cannot return to Zellenrode empty‑handed. Our families would be the ones receiving the consequences of our failure."
"..."
The butler bit down on his lip, the skin tightening under his teeth.
There is no other way… is there.
He stepped down from his horse, boots pressing into the dirt as he moved past his men and stopped at the front of the group, facing the servant of Lord Perigusus.
"We… are willing to compromise."
Furiousful of Fury tilted her head by a fraction, the mask shifting with the motion.
"In the Gresham family, all parental rights belong to the family head. However, in this case, we can transfer Matheus's rights to our nearest blood‑tied relation to avoid any backlash from breaking tradition."
"..."
"However, I must inform that this transition will exempt Matheus from all heritage rights of the Gresham family, including the use of the family name."
"…What makes you say this so confidently."
"I am the Consigliere of the Gresham family. I hold the authority to grant Matheus his freedom, should he choose it."
The butler lifted his chin toward the oni mask, drawing in a steady breath as his chest expanded with resolve.
"I can grant that much."
"…What would be your request."
The butler's gaze shifted briefly toward his men, then back to the masked figure.
"We… the Gresham family request the service of Lord Perigusus's servant, Yuruzu of Atonement."
"..."
To think that reading those history records on the founding of the Asura Kingdom would become useful now.
"The family head is injured. We request Yuzuru of Atonement's healing services until he recovers."
Furiousful of Fury remained motionless, the oni mask fixed on the butler without a shift in stance.
A second voice rose from behind the butler, steady and clear.
"Very well. Lord Perigius agrees to your terms."
"!!!"
The butler flinched and turned, catching sight of a tall figure standing behind him, posture straight, wearing the same precise military uniform as Furiousful of Fury—only this one bore a fox‑shaped mask, its carved features sharp and symmetrical.
The fox‑masked figure shifted his stance and angled his head upward toward the sky.
A flash of light wrapped around his body, outlining his silhouette for a brief instant before both the light and the figure vanished without a trace.
The butler stepped back, his boots dragging through the dirt as he tried to process the sudden disappearance, but a voice rose behind him again—low, steady, and cold enough to halt his movement.
"…See this through. Gresham's Consigliere, Reginald."
The butler turned as the oni‑masked figure walked past him, her steps carrying her toward Roxy and Matheus.
Roxy lowered her staff when Furiousful of Fury stopped in front of her.
"…Lord Perigius is an old friend of Reinheardt."
Still processing the chain of events, Roxy managed only a small nod.
Fury tilted her head downward, her gaze settling on Matheus as he hid behind Roxy's robe, his hands gripping the fabric.
She studied the child in silence long enough for Roxy's shoulders to tighten.
"…I did not know they could get this small."
"Excuse me!?"
Roxy jerked back, cheeks reddening as she clutched her staff close to her chest.
"…I did not mean—"
Fury straightened and shifted her attention toward the mountain rising behind them.
"…I will see myself over to Reinheardt."
Roxy watched her walk past, her lips pressed into a pout as her eyes traced the hour glass figure Fury's uniform from head to toe.
"Cough…"
Roxy turned as the butler stepped forward and offered a small bow.
"A‑rank Adventurer, Roxy Migurd."
A faint shiver ran along her spine as she straightened, the same polite old man who had ordered her death minutes earlier now addressing her with formality.
"As you witnessed, the Gresham family will transfer the parental rights of Matheus Boreas Gresham to his closest relative, Hilda Boreas Greyrat."
The butler lifted a hand, signaling the sideman beside him. The man stepped forward and presented a rolled scroll with both hands.
Roxy cast a cautious glance at the butler, then reached out and took the scroll. The parchment unfurled with a soft crackle as she opened it to inspect its contents.
"Therefore, the Gresham family would have the duty to deliver Matheus to his new guardian… however, the Boreas Greyrat household is in the Fittoa region, and with our current situation we cannot spare the manpower nor the finances to safely escort the child."
The butler straightened, placing both hands behind his back as a thin smile stretched across his face.
"Since you mentioned that the previous lady of the family assigned you as Matheus's guardian, I have taken your word and officially named you the acting guardian of Matheus."
Roxy raised one eyebrow as she closed the scroll.
"I am aware this is not the most desirable outcome," the butler continued, "but this is the extent of what I can do with my authority to prevent further prosecution from the Gresham family."
The butler pulled an envelope marked with a lion‑crest seal and extended it toward Roxy.
"As a token of apology for the… rough play earlier, this is a personal letter from the family head. With it, you may request a favor in any major city. I trust it will aid you on your journey."
Roxy accepted the envelope, her nose wrinkling the moment the scent of old ink and cologne drifted from the seal.
The butler lowered his gaze to Matheus, who peeked from behind Roxy's robe.
"Matheus. A word of advice."
Matheus's shoulders stiffened; every member of the family knew that advice from the Consigliere carried weight.
"Now that you've been formally excommunicated from family affairs, the Gresham family, and the other four houses, will no longer address you. I advise you to do the same."
With that final statement, the butler swung onto the saddle, snapped the reins, and his horse turned in a burst of dust.
The four men behind him mounted in quick succession and followed, their formation tightening as they rode away from the clearing.
As Roxy watched the riders disappear down the path, Matheus stepped out from beneath her robe, his small frame leaning forward as his eyes stayed fixed on the butler's retreating back.
"They didn't even ask what I wanted…"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a platinum ring, its lion‑crest band dulled by scratches and smudges, turning it slowly between his fingers as he examined the worn metal.
Caught off guard by such a self‑aware question, Roxy stared at Matheus with widened eyes as he continued, each word landing with weight.
"Mother… she also didn't have a choice…"
His fingers tightened around the family ring, the metal pressing into his palm.
"Once Uncle took my father's place… he demanded my mother become his concubine."
Matheus drew his arm back and swung it forward, sending the platinum ring skidding across the dirt.
"Matheus—"
The boy turned away from the discarded ring and began walking toward Montanus Village, his small steps steady and deliberate.
Roxy reached out, her hand hovering inches from his, but she stopped herself before making contact.
She slowly turned her head toward the platinum ring lying in the dirt, its scratched surface catching the moonlight in a thin, cold glint.
----- 2 weeks later -----
"Alice! Come back here!"
"Heheha!"
A small girl with bright orange curls darted through the house, slipping between furniture legs, crouching low, then springing over stools and cushions with quick, nimble hops.
An elderly woman hurried after her, one hand gripping a steaming cup of tea as she tried to keep it steady.
"You haven't fully recovered! You shouldn't be out of bed!"
Alice ducked behind the counter, pressing her back against the wood as she peeked over the edge. Aunt Eir bent down to check beneath the furniture, her robe brushing the floor.
"Where did that girl go… Alice!"
A grin stretched across her face as she slipped out from behind the counter, padding lightly across the floor toward the window. She pushed it open in one quick motion—only for the frame to swing wider than she expected.
"Ah—!"
Alice toppled forward and tumbled out, landing face‑first in the dirt.
"Argh!"
The thud caught the attention of a young boy nearby, mid‑swing with a wooden sword. He turned sharply toward the sound.
"Alice?!"
The boy, still slick with sweat, rushed toward her. Alice pushed herself up, revealing a face smeared with mud and a dress stained from the fall.
Matheus grabbed the hem of his shirt and lifted it, wiping the mud from her cheeks with quick, careful strokes.
"Aren't you supposed to be in bed."
Alice stayed still long enough for him to clean her face, then closed her eyes and flashed a confident smile.
"I'm all better!"
Matheus looked the girl up and down, her steps light, her cheeks full of color, her breath steady. A stark contrast to the pale, fragile child who could barely lift her head 2 weeks earlier.
Sebastian's tea really had worked.
A shadow tightened across Matheus's expression.
"Now let's go play with the village kids, Matheus!"
"Oh no you are not!"
The voice behind Alice cut through the air, stopping her mid‑step making her shoulders jolt.
"Aunt Eir, good morning."
"Oh, Matheus! Good morning. Training on a Sunday morning? I applaud your discipline."
"Thank you, Aunt Eir."
"Come inside and have some breakfast. And please bring Alice with you."
Eir set out a bountiful breakfast, the plates filling the table as the children settled into their seats.
"Cheese and eggs! Is today a special day, Aunt Eir?"
"Haven't Roxy told you? You two will be departing for the Fittoa Region today."
Alice froze mid‑chew, her cheeks puffed out like a stuffed hamster, eyes widening as she stared at Matheus. The boy held a small, bittersweet smile.
"Oh… yeah. I knew it was today. I just wasn't expecting a feast for the farewell."
The elderly woman reached over and smacked the back of his head.
"Ouch!"
"Don't make that face. Of course I'd prepare a proper meal before your long journey, Matheus. Treasure it."
Matheus rubbed the back of his head with a grimace.
"Yes, ma'am…"
The sound of the front door opening drew everyone's attention. A teenage girl stepped inside, wearing a magician's robe and a pointed hat.
"Excuse me…"
"Roxy!"
Alice shot out of her seat, sprinted across the room, and wrapped herself around the blue‑haired girl's leg.
"Morning, Alice—"
"Are you leaving!?"
Alice clung tightly to Roxy's leg, burying her face against the robe.
Roxy, realizing the reason behind the girl's sudden panic, gently pried her off and crouched to meet her eyes.
"Yes, Alice. I'm going to travel the world and learn everything it has to offer."
Alice's trembling stopped as her eyes widem with sudden and breathless wonder.
Roxy smiled.
"That's what it means to be an adventurer."
Mesmerized by her words, Alice echoed softly:
"Anventure…"
Satisfied with the girl's reaction, Roxy rose to her feet and glanced toward Matheus.
"Shall we, Matheus?"
Catching the cue, he stood, gathered his belongings, and bowed toward Eir.
"Thank you for the hospitality, Aunt Eir."
The elderly woman rose as well, cupping his cheeks with both hands as she studied his features with a warm, approving look.
"You are always welcome here in Montanus, Matheus."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Eir and Alice walked with Matheus and Roxy to the edge of the village, stopping where the travel horse stood packed with supplies. The two riders mounted, settling into their seats as the morning breeze brushed past.
"I apologize on Reinheardt's behalf. He couldn't come to see you off."
The elderly woman's expression tightened as she looked up at them.
"Please don't apologize. We understand," Matheus replied.
Eir's face softened into a small smile. She then glanced down at the child clinging tightly to her clothes and gently nudged her forward.
"Alice, you have something to say to Matheus and Roxy."
The girl buried her face deeper into the fabric, gripping it with both hands.
Matheus and Roxy exchanged a knowing look as Eir let out a quiet sigh and prepared to give her own farewell.
Roxy gave one last smile to the little girl before flicking the reins. The horse stepped forward, hooves thudding softly as the distance between them grew.
As the riders moved farther down the road, Alice suddenly tore herself free from Eir's grasp and sprinted toward the center of the path. She skidded to a stop, cupping her hands around her mouth.
"Bye, Matheus! Bye, Roxy!"
Both riders glanced back and lifted a hand in a final wave, smiling as the horse carried them farther down the road.
Tears welled in Alice's eyes. She rubbed them with the back of her fists, hiccupping as her small shoulders shook.
Eir stepped up beside her, a brief, gentle smile softening her face as she rested a hand on the child's head.
"You're a strong girl, Alice."
"Aunt Eir… can I become an adventurer too?"
"…Of course you can, Alice. You're Reinhardt's daughter, after all."
Alice's eyes lit up.
"Really?! Once I become an adventure, I am going to travel all around the world like Roxy!"
Eir took the girl's hands and began guiding her back toward the village with a satisfied smile on her face.
"Oh! Aunt Eir!"
"Yes?"
"When can I see Father? Oh! Is he with the boy with blue eyes?"
A bittersweet smile softened Eir's face as she looked towards the mountain.
"Yes, sweetie… Your father will return soon..."