After several years, he grew up from a helpless toddler into a hardworking teenager.
Leo—known as Eman in his previous life—realized that the elf woman who had sheltered him was Amanda, a former party member of his parents.
"Leo, could you assist me in carrying these?!" Amanda called.
"Coming!" Leo replied.
"You sure are dependable as ever," Markus said, tapping Leo's shoulder heavy enough to sway him slightly.
"I just wanted to keep up with everyone else." Leo smiled a bit wider than usual as he glanced over Amanda. He grabbed the towel from his shoulders and wiped the sweat off his face.
He looked back at Markus and asked, "This is good here, right?"
"That's great, go help Amanda."
She waved at him when she saw him approaching. Several people were with Amanda happily chatting with each other, the soft glow of descending sun reflecting off their faces and mildly sweaty figures.
Leo slid a belt bag to his front and pulled out a large towel. After giving it a shake, he opened it and wrapped it around Amanda's shoulder.
"Thank you," she said as she swept her hair on top of the towel.
Sigh "How many times to do I have to keep telling you to cover yourself with a towel?" said Leo as he slightly tilted his head back.
"Just look at Old Grunter over there, drooling like a fool!"
They turned to Grunter and laughed as his wife, standing beside him, scolded him.
A gentle tug pulled Amanda's focus to her front. It was a small girl holding a basket of fruits. She bent down and asked her after they're on the same height. "What brings you here, little one?"
The little girl stretched out her arms and said, "For you!", she smiled and continued. "Mom said it's the sweetest harvest of the year!"
Amanda took the basket and patted her head. "Thank you, how kind of you and your mother."
She then turned and looked up to Leo. "I suppose we shall be baking sweetened bread, after all."
"Wow, what's the occasion?" another one in the group asked.
Amanda started to stand up still smiling at the girl and replied, "It's Leo's eighteenth birthday."
The group erupted in a more lively discussion as they congratulate Leo.
"That's amazing, are you going to register at the capital?" Markus asked as he made his way to the crowd.
But a man, almost the same age as Leo scoffed opposite to them. He stood with his back to them, arms slightly raised, as two rakes floated in front of him, magically leveling the soil without his touch. "He doesn't have any skills for an adventurer."
"He'll die instantly in the field."
"Hey, watch your mouth!" Markus shouted.
Leo grabbed Markus' shoulder and shook his head.
"Suit yourselves, don't say I didn't warn you." The man replied and continued working away from them.
"Cris is not wrong either," Leo started. "All of the kids I grew up with here in the farm already got their powers." His gaze scanned the expanse checking how the other workers use their skills and abilities at work. Some plant seeds throughout the farm in an instant while others their superhuman strength to plow the soil using their bare hands. And some really gifted ones can use magic and plant seeds with just a flick of the hands.
"To be honest I wanted to be an adventurer like my parents."
"But being an ordinary citizen has its merits too." Leo concluded his eyes lost its glow as he slightly bowed. Amanda then pushed the basket she's holding to Leo, startling him. She grinned and said, "Even those who have attained their skills may face dire consequences if they're not prepared,"
"Once you get your adventurer card, you can level up and start from there."
"And there exists the guilds as well, which often provide newbie assistance like boosting." Amanda said as she was stroking the little girls head.
Boosting in terms of games is the process of helping low-level players either by providing them items or assisting them during hunts.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
"Clear the area!" Markus exclaimed signaling everyone to go somewhere behind him.
Some trees splintered and crashed down not so far away where they are when suddenly, multiple black apparitions came from the forest.
"Black Wolves!"
"They might have slipped through the adventurers hunting party!"
Their inky fur danced in the air, it was almost ethereal, until their glowing eyes locked onto the farm workers.
Panic erupted everywhere.
The sound of stomping on the farm soil echoed through the air, blending with the frenzied shouts of workers as they scattered in all directions. A sharp cry from a girl halted everyone's movement momentarily.
"Mika!" An old woman shrieked and tried to ran back for her but several people grabbed her.
"Let go of me!"
"Mika!"
A man then ran passed them. It was Leo, he held the basket tighter and leaned forward as he ran faster. But the wolves proved faster than him with one already jumped into the air, its fang wide open ready to devour its prey.
He stopped abruptly, clenching the basket and was about to throw it, until he saw someone blurred passed him.
The three Black Wolves wailed as they dropped to the ground in a satisfying thud. The sound of the hissing sword was almost like a fleeting crescendo as the figure slowly sheathes her sword.
"The farm owner is here!"
"Were safe!"
The sound of hurried footsteps and heavy breathing approached Leo and the owner. It was the old lady bursting towards the little girl. She then slowed down and picked up the child before thanking them—weeping as she cradled the little girl on the ground.
Four people then jumped out the forest and frantically ran to them. A man, saw the disappearing slain wolves scratched his head as went forward.
"We're sorry boss, we were outnumbered and some the monsters even reached here."
The man put away his sword and continued to talk to the farm owner. A woman from his party saw the old lady and little girl on the ground. She went to them and bent down, placed her hands on the little girl's scratched knees and chanted, "Heal..."
A golden light manifested between her hands and rained down multiple sparkling dust-like particles. Each one that touches her bruise mending her skin. The little girl immediately was able to stand up. She and her grandmother bowed before running back together with the other farm workers.
Leo then slowly straightened up as he looked over the adventuring party in front.
I still remember how I felt the first time I saw a party, he smiled recollection flooding his mind.
Right now, I just wanted to thank Amanda for what she did for me.
Sure, she's my late parents' party member, but she chose to stop adventuring and take care of a boy whose race isn't even an elf.
He clenched his fist still focused on the adventurers in front of him.
I promise to give Amanda the life she should be having—*
Zap—Zit—Zit!
A sudden flash of light flickered before his eyes, leaving him momentarily stunned.
What was that?!