Chapter 79: The Tree Of Solace (1/2)

”My parents?” This was not the first time he had not wondered about his parents, but since he never even met his parents in this life and the previous life as well, he thought that he was destined to be an orphan in the end.

Of course, he at least wanted to know who his real parents were and why they left him. But he believed that he had very few chances of finding it out since whoever his parents were, they probably didn't want to see him anymore.

Even if he felt that the reason was a different one, he was afraid of the possible disappointment and sadness that could come from meeting his parents.

So even though sometimes he badly wanted to meet his parents, at other times he felt that not meeting them was better.

”I don't know...Mei said that they died to Dreadlings, and only we survived. I was just too young to remember…” Arion had to tell the made-up story to Old Zi since everyone else considers him and Mei to be siblings.

Old Zi sighed with a sympathetic expression, ”Hmm, you are indeed strong, Arion. Even after losing and suffering so much, you still came out strong in the end. You really deserve this gift you have. It will surely make you reach new heights, especially in your Defity, which you would learn later why.”

He then continued in a serious tone, ”But don't ever tell anyone about your gift unless you really trust that person, especially when you go to a training school. Since you and Mei would be alone in a foreign place, you both can rely only on yourselves until you find people you could confide in.”

”Till then, it's best you keep your gift a secret since in our life, Dreadlings are not the only enemies we would have to fight...it's humans as well since some might seek to exploit you thinking you have no one else to protect you. Dreadlings are at least straightforward when it comes to killing us, but sometimes humans are worse since they play with our minds too before killing us.”

He continued as he raised a finger, ”That's why there's a saying...To kill a Dreadling, you only need a weapon, but to kill a man, you need your wits as well. I am not trying to scare you or anything, but since you have lived most of your life in a place that has been very peaceful for the past few years, you don't know how dangerous and vicious the outside world can be. I just want you to be careful since I would feel bad if something happens to a talented and upright boy like you.”

Arion placed his palms over each other and said, ”Thank you, Master. I will be sure to keep this in my mind.” A

Arion already knew about these things since he himself had gone through a lot, but he still had to act according to his age on the outside before others except Mei, of course.

But he never knew that his ability, ”Pranic Echo,” was this rare and sought after enough for people to try and exploit him.

He felt a sense of happiness knowing that he had this gift but at the same time an intense curiosity to know who his parents were since Old Zi mentioned that his gift could only be passed down hereditarily.

Old Zi also said that those who possessed this gift were usually born in high-born families with immense power and wealth.

But Arion thought to himself, 'If this was all true, then why did I end up in an orphanage? Did my supposedly 'big-shot family throw me away just because I was disabled?'

This thought only made Arion more apprehensive about finding his real parents.

He then looked at the special tree before him and pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind as he asked curiously, ”Master, what is the story behind this tree?”