Parallel World: Fated Oracle

Chapter 4.1

"But strong mages fight curses beyond the capital, exorcists!" The girl proudly said as a light blush appeared onto her cheek.

Kenneth crossed his arms, making a x, gesture of disagreement.

"No no no. Not all mages fight curses with magic. People like me preserve humanity, knights." He pointed his thumb on his shoulder, all the children's gaze shifted, gazing at the crossed blades sowed onto his polo. A symbol of knights.

Suddenly, the children started to laugh among each other. "Hear that?" "Yeah." It even made little Nathaniel confused, and even Ethen couldn't help but smile from the scene.

"...What's so funny?" Kenneth finally asked. "Everyone says Mr. Kenneth is just afraid of curses. That's why he is watching over us in the outer wall."

"He patrols around our village to find any suspicious people but slacks off in the end."

"...We're not even being attacked by curses thanks to the fortresses across our storie"

"That is thanks to the exorcists." The children shared their thoughts with cheeky smiles.

"W-What kinds of lies does your parents tell you? Kenneth ruffled Nathaniel's hair once more. "But you believe me right, Nathaniel? He added with an irritated smile on his face, a short silence followed as Nathaniel pulled away from Kenneth's grasp with a doubtful expression on his face.

Kenneth sat down once more, his head gazed at the wooden floor, like a defeated little kid.

"...Why can't anyone trust a man who doesn't fight curses." He muttered with a low tone.

"....W-Well, if papa says you're a strong mage. I believe him." Nathaniel said as he fidgeted his fingers.

The children teased him even more. "Look he's sulking." One kid blurted. "What a cry baby." Another followed.

Kenneth marched to the fire place, casting a shadow underneath Ethan.

"Ethan! These kids are mocking me! Tell them about the the truth, they'll believe you!" Kenneth expressed with an irritated tone yet it sounded humorous to the children, even to Ethan.

"...Don't be so childish." Ethan replied as he stood up, patting the dust off his broad shoulder. "It's getting late. Take the kids back to their homes." Ethan suggested as he helped the kids stand up from the wooden floor.

Some rubbed their eyes with light yawning and some still wanted to hear more stories. Eventually, Kenneth left, carrying an oil lamp in hand with the children.

In the distance, a shadowy figure stood, dragging its feet on the grassy plains, leaving a trail of blood on the grass as it held its bleeding arm, panting heavily with the cold breeze of the night

After a while, Kenneth came back to Ethan's home, they sat across each other on the wooden floor while young Nathaniel fell asleep on his father's lap. The rustling of the burning wood of the fireplace gave off a relaxing atmosphere despite their topic.

"...A special grade appeared again by the nearest fortress?" Ethan clarified, his hand rested on Nathaniel's hair.

Kenneth nodded in response. "That's right. They keep appearing more consistently. If this keeps up. The Outer Wall wouldn't be safe from curses." Kenneth stated, followed by a silence as his gaze trailed towards an open window, getting a glimpse of the poor state of homes outside.

"...The Outerwall is already fucked as it is, with us knights dealing with human traffickers and shit." He added with a sigh, propping his elbow on his thigh. Ethan could only ruffle Nathaniel's hair as he listened to Kenneth's words.