66 A Second Home (2/2)

Whispers in the Old Tongue, the ancient language of the Alf, floated around the council room as the six figures smiled in joy.

Reed, who quietly stood in front of them as he waited for his judgment, wondered why he could not understand them. His tome was reputedly capable of translating an innumerable amount of languages, and yet he was unable to make sense of the conversation in front him. It was the first time since he'd been given his tome that it had failed him.

He found it odd enough that he actually spoke up for the first since he'd entered the room and said, ”Um, why can't I understand what you're saying? Are all you using some kind of technique or skill to circumvent my tome's abilities?”

One of the council members, an older man with silver hair and refined features said, ”We are not using any techniques at all, my boy. Rest assured, your tome is still functioning properly.”

A beautiful older woman with kind violet eyes said, ”We were simply speaking the Old Tongue, my son. That is why your tome was unable to translate our little discussion.”

”The Old Tongue? But I thought that tomes contained the sum of all the knowledge scholars have collected, including the native languages from all races were summoned here…” said Reed in confusion.

”That what you have been led to believe, little brother. But that is far from the truth. You see, we, just like the other races on this foreign world, have made some compromises with one another for the sake of privacy. There are certain languages and dialects that have been kept from the universal compendium, and therefore are not in your tome's repository of knowledge…” said one of the younger council members, a younger looking man in his late twenties with glowing blue hair.

Secrets, always with the secrets. People never tire making them, do they?

Reed quietly mumbled, ”O-Oh, I didn't know that. It goes to show that I'm still very ignorant about this world's affairs…”

”My, my… so you're not a native then, my boy? A foreigner?” said an older Avunian woman with glittering emerald eyes and warm, golden hair like wheat. ”How tragic, for you to have been suddenly torn from your homeworld and brought here, of all places. Not to worry though, we will make sure you are taken care now that you are under our care…”

Reed awkwardly scratched his head and said, ”A-Ah — no, ma'am, I'm not sad about that, or anything... I was, um, ...a mangy little orphan back home so it isn't as if I lost anything of value when I was summoned here…”

The blond Avunian woman's face crumpled up in sorrow, along with the rest of the council members when they heard Reed's response. When they thought about the boy's circumstances, they couldn't help but feel sorry for him even if he had been working for the North.

Born with an incomplete soul, a miracle never seen before, only to have been born without a family. Lived his entire life as an orphan only to have been transported to Mulia in order to become contender.

On top of that, sent on a suicide mission by the North, given the nature of his original mission compared to his current abilities.

Born without anything, and forced to suffer for nothing, only to die a dog's death.

Even for them, as section chiefs who'd seen and heard the life stories of many a people as a result of their careers, it was a bit much to listen to the boy's story. It was as if someone above up wanted to punish the poor boy as much as possible.

The oldest figure among the council, an elderly man with energetic blue eyes said, ”Life's been quite harsh to you hasn't it, son?”

Reed bitterly smiled and said, ”I've learned to deal with what life throws at me the best I can, sir. Had I not, I would have broken down long ago in some dirty alley back home.”

He'd wavered, feared and often times despaired, but he'd always held out for something, even during the worst days. The idea, the hope, that one day he'd see a light at the end of the tunnel.

That one day, he too, would be able to live a wonderful, peaceful life with purpose.

Expressions tightened up when they heard the boy's response among the council. They clearly saw how boy's soul shone even brighter than before like a stubborn, flickering candle in wind. None could deny that the boy had meant what he had said with all his heart as they gazed at his distant, lonesome eyes.

It was then that the elderly man stood, walked up to Reed and patted his small shoulders. He warmly smiled and said, ”You won't need to worry about that kind of life anymore, son. Not anymore. So as long as the Golden Tree prospers in the East…”