Free Web NovelChapter 7: Ch 7: Leaving in two hours
"We will leave in two hours. Go and pack whatever you want to bring with you, then meet me at the gate."
Kael gave the kids a tight deadline, which made many people gasp at the strict schedule.
"Grand Master, aren’t you being too unreasonable? These kids will need time to pack their belongings and say their goodbyes. At least give them a day before you leave."
The Cardinal immediately objected to the decision and pretended that he was saying all this for the children’s sake. But Kael was not naive enough to believe that.
Knowing the temple and the Cardinal, they were probably asking for more time so they could brainwash the children further before sending them off.
And that was precisely why Kael had given such a tight deadline.
"I know the schedule is strict, but we have a long journey ahead of us. Besides, didn’t you bring the children to the temple only a few days ago? I doubt they had enough time to properly unpack their belongings."
The Cardinal’s smile stiffened at Kael’s words, and he tried to interject again.
"But still—"
"You both can be ready in two hours, right?"
Kael ignored the Cardinal and directed the question toward Leon and Seraphina instead.
The two exchanged a glance before quickly nodding.
"We will be ready in two hours."
Leon agreed, and Kael’s smile widened. He turned to look at the Cardinal and noticed that the older man’s face was beginning to redden.
"They said they will be ready. We should get going now. We do not have much time to pack, so every second counts."
The Cardinal looked like he had swallowed a lemon, but he finally allowed them to leave.
Kael did not trust the temple or the Cardinal, so he created two familiars and sent them with Leon and Seraphina to keep watch over them.
"Keep these familiars close to you. They will inform me if anyone tries to interfere with you."
He told the children, and they nodded before quickly running back to their rooms.
Kael kept an eye on them while pretending to pack his already prepared belongings. He noticed several people trying to approach the two children, only to step back once they noticed the familiars.
Two hours passed in a flash, and it was finally time to leave.
...
Kael waited outside for Leon and Seraphina to arrive. He could sense their presence, so he knew they were ready.
Seraphina was the first to arrive, and she stood awkwardly beside him.
Kael allowed her time to settle down and did not force a conversation. He knew Seraphina was shy and needed to open up at her own pace.
So it surprised him when she spoke first.
"U-Um, Sir... I wanted to thank you. I... did not expect you to keep your word, but you did."
Seraphina’s voice was quiet but sincere. Knowing her personality, even this short conversation must have taken considerable courage.
Kael decided to respond immediately.
"There is no need to call me sir. You can just call me Kael, or teacher if you prefer. As for helping you... I did it because I wanted to. So there is no need for you to feel like you owe me anything."
Seraphina’s expression brightened slightly, and her eyes relaxed a little. She looked more at ease around him now.
[Affection +5]
[Trust +10]
The system chimed in, proving that Kael’s gamble had paid off.
He thought that would be the end of the conversation, but Seraphina decided she wanted to continue talking.
"K-K... Teacher, can I ask what you expect me to do while we are living together? Do you want me to cook or clean...? I can do a lot of things."
Seraphina spoke with a hint of pride, trying to prove that she was someone he could rely on in the future. Her words also revealed that she was still worried about being abandoned if she was not useful enough.
Normally, Kael would have pretended not to notice such concerns. But this was a situation where he needed to reassure Seraphina, and the best way to do that was to give her a sense of purpose.
"Hmm, since you are offering, I will leave the household chores to you. But let me know if you need anything, and I will provide it."
Seraphina’s expression brightened even more at his response, and the tension finally left her shoulders. Giving her responsibility over the household tasks had been the right choice.
"I-I will do my best to make life comfortable for you."
"Then I will be counting on you."
Kael made sure to keep his tone soft and friendly. He did not want Seraphina to feel unwelcome at any point.
Seraphina opened her mouth to continue speaking, but Leon arrived at that moment, cutting her off.
Kael would have encouraged Seraphina to continue, but unfortunately, Leon had not arrived alone.
The Cardinal was accompanying the hero and whispering something into his ear. Leon nodded occasionally, but Kael could tell that his heart was not in the conversation.
’Looks like I need to go save my poor disciple.’
Kael quickly walked over to Leon and the Cardinal before placing a hand on Leon’s shoulder. His sudden appearance startled both of them, and Leon immediately moved to stand behind him.
"Grand Master—" free𝑤ebnovel.com
"Thank you for bringing my student to me, Cardinal. I will take over from here. Leon, let us head out now."
Kael quickly guided the hero toward the carriage, though he could still feel the Cardinal’s glare burning into his back. The older man continued watching them with piercing eyes until the carriage disappeared over the horizon.
Once the temple’s presence faded behind them, Kael finally relaxed and took the opportunity to properly observe the two children in front of him. freewёbnoνel.com
Physically, they were all close in age, but mentally, Kael felt a significant gap between himself and the two children. It immediately made him feel responsible for them.
And the first thing he wanted to do was make Leon and Seraphina feel more comfortable around him.
"Since we are similar in age, we should drop the formalities. Do you both mind if I call you by your names?"
Kael asked, and both children shook their heads. He gave them a reassuring smile before continuing.
"You can either call me by my name or address me as ’teacher.’ If you ever have a problem, come to me immediately, and I will try to resolve it. I will also give you as much freedom as I can. But remember, I will always be there for you."
The two children looked startled by his words, but they slowly nodded to show that they understood.
At least that was one obstacle out of the way for now.
