The fastest place to greet dawn in the city of Eulmash was none other than the dormitory of the Holy Mage Guild’s west wing. When Yuric went out to see the morning garden, there were already many mages in the corridors.
Anton, who held an elder position in the Holy Mage Guild, also prepared early in the morning for the lecture on Curse Studies. He used a small classroom that could accommodate around ten people. Usually, only one or two students attended, and at most three. This year, there wasn’t even a single student enrolled. As a result, the lecture on Curse Studies became solely for Yuric.
The lecture was very beneficial for Yuric. Starting from the definition of curses, through their history, incidents, accidents, and even sealing and barrier magic, the range of topics covered was vast. Yuric found great enjoyment in comparing and analyzing human history with curse history. Anton, too, found it refreshing to have such an enthusiastic student, losing track of time while lecturing.
After the morning lecture, Yuric headed towards the city center of Eulmash. As someone who loved art, the city had plenty to see.
Yuric would stop at various places he found interesting, sitting down to draw pictures or reflect. The warm weather made it pleasant just to bask in the sun.
Yuric also visited the Grand Square, which he really liked. The grand fountain and the angel statue standing tall in the center exuded dramatic artistic beauty. He drew the fountain from four different angles.
To the north of the city was a large pond, where the weeping willows hanging along the path around the pond were quite artistic. Carp swam leisurely in schools, and lovers enjoyed sweet moments under the shade of the trees.
Yuric sat on the grass by the weeping willows and quietly observed the pond. Occasionally, the spirit of the willow would climb up onto his head when people weren’t looking, then quickly dart away when it sensed someone approaching.
Near the pond, a wandering bard was playing a lute and singing “Hero and Love Story.” Yuric was captivated by it and gave the bard a coin. The bard, with only a few spectators, bowed deeply, collected the coins from his hat, and then wandered off.
When noon came, Yuric returned to the auxiliary building of the Holy Mage Guild to attend lectures by professors. After enjoying the sunset with a cup of tea at a teahouse, he concluded his day by researching late into the night in his laboratory.
Ten days passed as if in the blink of an eye.
Like any other day, after finishing his morning lectures, Yuric went to the Grand Square to read a magic book in the sunlight. A boy approached him cautiously.
Judging by his appearance, this boy didn’t seem to have regular meals.
Most people would have frowned and waved the boy away upon seeing him, but not Yuric.
“What is it?”
Yuric closed his book and kindly asked the boy. Seeing the boy’s clear eyes, he felt that the boy hadn’t come with ill intentions.
“…Are you a mage, sir?”
“Yes.”
“Then may I ask a favor?”
“A favor?”
The boy took out a storybook from his pocket and respectfully handed it to Yuric. However, Yuric politely declined.
“It’s okay about the money. Let me hear what it is.”
Hesitating, the boy cautiously spoke.
“There’s a sister in the wardrobe.”
“—In the wardrobe?”
The boy nodded.
“Can you help me with my sister?”
Yuric couldn’t understand the boy’s meaning.
“Do your parents not care?”
At this, the boy’s face darkened.
“…My father is here.”
“Why don’t you talk to your father?”
The boy shook his head.
“My father… doesn’t listen to me.”
“…”
Yuric realized how much courage the boy must have to come here.
“Alright, let’s go together.”
The boy’s face brightened. Yuric tidied up and went with the boy to the place where he lived.
“What’s your name?”
“Lucius.”
“Pleased to meet you, Lucius. I’m Yuric.”
“Yes, Mage Yuric!”
“How old are you?”
“I’m seven years old.”
Yuric gently stroked Lucius’ head.
Lucius’ house was deep in a back alley, a dim place where hardly any sunlight entered. The door looked like it could break at any moment, and the windows were boarded up. Garbage was scattered around the alley.
Lucius carefully opened the door and entered, but a man in the living room immediately noticed him. It seemed to be the boy’s father. There were countless bottles of liquor in the living room, suggesting that the boy’s father was a heavy drinker.
“Where have you been! …Who are you?”
Yuric politely greeted him.
“I’m Yuric. Lucius said his sister is in the wardrobe and asked for help. Have you heard anything?”
The man erupted furiously, spitting out venomous words.
“Bullshit! To believe a kid’s nonsense! Get out of my house right now!”
Yuric tried to speak, but the boy’s father threatened him with a bottle of liquor. Yuric had no choice but to leave.
“Teacher, just a quick check. I’m a mage. Lucius might have seen something.”
Yuric waited for a long time at the doorstep, but there was no response inside. Eventually, he left and returned to the square.
Although the man was right that the boy might have been lying, Yuric didn’t think so. Children often saw things adults missed.
Yuric waited until evening for Lucius to return, but the boy never showed up. With regret, he returned to Anton’s lab.
For the next five days, Yuric waited at the square, drawing and reading books, thinking about Lucius asking for help with his sister. But Lucius didn’t appear for a long time.
On the sixth day, Yuric finally spotted Lucius far away. But the boy couldn’t easily approach him. Yuric walked confidently towards Lucius. Lucius seemed afraid that Yuric might hate him for what happened before.
“Lucius, long time no see. How have you been?”
“…I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Lucius knelt down and bowed his head, apologizing. Yuric was surprised and helped the boy up. There was no need for this.
He hugged the boy tightly. Patting his back, Yuric reassured him. The boy, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar warmth, eventually cried.
“I didn’t lie. I really didn’t, Mage Sir…”
“I know, Lucius. I know you’re not the kind of child who lies.”
Yuric waited until Lucius stopped crying, then took him to an inn. He fed the boy a hearty meal. Initially hesitant, the boy soon devoured bread and soup greedily.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he exclaimed, “Ah!” His expression turned anxious.
“We can’t be late. We need to go back right now.”
“When can we meet again? I want to hear more about you.”
“I don’t know.”
“Then come to the square when you can. I’ll wait for you. Understand?”
“Yes, Mage Sir.”
Lucius kept thanking and hurried out of the inn. The innkeeper glanced at Yuric, clicked his tongue, and wondered why Yuric fed such a child.
“If a child goes hungry, what a sad world it would be. I don’t believe in such a world.”
The innkeeper seemed to understand something and promised to charge half price for the child’s meal next time.
Yuric thought there were good people like this, making the world better.
After leaving the inn, Yuric walked around the streets, thinking of Luke and the children.
He decided it was no use waiting for Lucius and headed to the boy’s home.
—
Lucius’ misfortune began with his father’s drinking and gambling.
His mother couldn’t bear the alcohol and gambling debts, and the frequent violence, so she left. His father, drunk, cursed her viciously.
His sister and younger brother suffered from his father’s beatings and verbal abuse. Whenever his father returned drunk, shouting loudly, they would hide in the wardrobe. The sister would hug her trembling brother, comforting him.
—It’s okay, Lucius. You’re not alone. I’m here to protect you.
But their father would find them in the wardrobe and beat them. The sister would take the hits for her brother.
Their father had long stopped caring about their meals. So the sister would beg for food on the streets. Whenever she got food, she always prioritized her brother.
Though only ten years old, the sister never showed weakness in front of her brother. She always smiled, saying better times would come.
One night, after being beaten severely by their father, the sister and brother hid in the wardrobe.
—You’re so good, Lucius. I love you. I’ll always be by your side.
But the sister couldn’t open her eyes after hugging her brother tightly.
From that day on, Lucius prayed every day.
Please bring my sister back. I miss her.
One day, his prayers seemed to be answered.
