The next morning, in a small, empty house...
Jin sat on the floor, staring at Zegion, curiosity brimming in his eyes.
"Big bro, what do you do for the Solana Guild to pay you so much?"
Zegion, sitting cross-legged on a thin cloth, looked up from his meal. "Hmm… I do delivery services."
Jin frowned. "But even Scary Frank does deliveries, and he always complains about how low the pay is."
Zegion smirked. "Yes, because I carry a lot."
"More than THAT Scary Frank? Brother, please don't lie!" Jin protested.
Without warning, Zegion gave him a light chop on the head. "Do you know what an Item Box is, Jin?"
"Hmm? A what?"
Zegion sighed. "Call the others. I have something to tell you all."
Soon, Yuna, Lumine, and Ludwig gathered around, sitting on the wooden floor with barely any coverings. The house lacked furniture—just a few old blankets and sacks stacked in the corner. They had grown used to the emptiness, but today, something felt different.
Zegion took a deep breath. "So today, I'll explain why I took you guys in."
Yuna's eyes widened. She had anticipated this conversation, yet a hint of hesitation flickered across her face.
"Do you know about magic and its attributes?" Zegion continued.
Lumine shot her hand up excitedly. "Yes! I know!"
"Go on, Lumine."
"There are six main elemental attributes—Fire, Wind, Earth, Water, Light, and Dark!"
Zegion nodded. "Good. And how many attributes can a person have affinity for?"
"Two or three at most!" Lumine answered confidently.
"That's correct. A person can have affinity with two or more elements. I have an affinity for Dark and Light attributes. But don't go blabbing about it outside."
Before he could continue, Jin interrupted. "B-But what does that have to do with why you took us in? Or how you can carry more stuff than Frank?"
"Wait for it, Jumpy Jin! Let brother finish!" Yuna scolded.
Ludwig gave a small nod, silently urging Zegion to go on.
Zegion chuckled before explaining. "For starters, I used my Dark attribute to create a void space and connected it to my mana signature. I then applied Light magic to prevent the objects inside from being destroyed by the void's influence. This allows me to store and retrieve things at will."
The kids' faces twisted in confusion—except for Lumine, who nodded eagerly with a huge grin.
Ludwig squinted. "You got all that, Lumine?"
"Yes, yes! I don't get a single thing! So amazing!"
The others gave her blank stares, their expressions screaming *Are you kidding me?*
Zegion sighed. "Okay. If you don't get it now, just remember this—I use Dark magic to make a space where I can keep things and take them out whenever I want. That's why I can carry more, and that's why merchants pay me well."
Jin's eyes sparkled. "Ohhh! Brother, you're awesome!"
Zegion smiled but then turned serious. "Now, I have another ability. I can sense people's affinity with mana. It's not always accurate, but it works like a sixth sense. And I sensed that all of you have a strong ability to manipulate mana. That's why I took you in. From now on, I'll teach you how to use mana and guide you in your specific attributes. In return, I want you to use it for good. Am I clear?"
The kids exchanged glances, processing his words. Their emotions were mixed, but they all felt one thing—luck.
Jin clenched his fists. "I understand, brother! I saw Sister Reina and Brock become adventurers with their Fire and Earth magic, and they get to eat every day! I'll work hard so I can eat every day too!"
Yuna nodded with determination. "I want to become strong too!"
"So cool! I wanna learn magic toooo!" Lumine cheered.
Ludwig eagerly leaned forward. "Brother! What attribute do I have?!"
Zegion laughed at their excitement. He knew the hardships these children had faced, the struggles they had endured. He couldn't change their past, but at the very least, he could guide them toward a future where they could bloom into something greater.
This was the least he could do for them in this harsh world.
_____
Meanwhile, in the back alleys of Zilt, the kids woke up and made their way to the Adventurers Association, hoping to find some menial jobs. They weaved through the bustling marketplace, where adventurers secured provisions for their hunts and expeditions. The association building stood tall with three floors, its interior packed with adventurers scanning the request board or speaking to receptionists. Deeper inside, a room was dedicated to material submissions, where butchering took place to extract mana stones, meat, and other useful monster parts.
Today, the kids had chosen the Adventurers' Association as their spot, knowing that small tasks like cleaning, pest control, or delivering messages for adventurers were often posted. Growing up in the back alleys, they knew the fastest routes around town, making them perfect couriers. It was an easy way for them to earn some coins, and for the guild, a convenient way to get things done.
As they waited outside the building, they noticed someone missing from their usual group.
"Is he not here today? Well, good for us—we'll have more to eat!" one kid smirked.
"Yeah, but I heard he was taken in by that guy, right?" another added.
A haggard-looking boy scoffed. "Shame. Guess he's out of it now, huh?"
"I wanna be taken in too! What did he do that we didn't?" a younger one whined.
A woman, one of the association clerks, interrupted them. "Work hard, that's what! Now, you three—Old Amanda needs some herbs. Completing her request will get you paid."
The three boys nodded eagerly and ran off, while four others lingered.
"Any jobs for us, Lady Bree?" one asked.
The woman—Bree—shook her head. "Not yet, but I'll let you know." With that, she briskly walked back inside. This was all she could do for these children.
"Guess we gotta wait, huh? Damn…" one of them muttered