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In the midst of heavy falling snow, a wandering magician walks through the forest. Armed with a small lantern that projects history, he is able to see a little clearer ahead. Based on the prophecy he received, what he will find may at least help him in this bygone era.
Human or animal footprints that once roamed around here have long been covered by snow, but from the bloodstains still clinging to the tree trunks, he can guess that 99% of it is due to the recent massacre.
Exhaling heavily, he stops in front of the gate of a luxurious nobleman's house that is now in disarray. If his prediction is correct, the person who caused this massacre is no longer alive. He decides to enter and check if there are any survivors, but as he checks the guards or servants in the yard, they are all dead. He finally reluctantly uses one or two of them as puppets to tidy up all the corpses.
The wandering magician stops in front of the steps of this luxurious mansion. He immediately kneels in front of a boy whose condition is just as bad as the corpses he has found. While his puppet enters the mansion, he flips the body of the boy.
From his clothes, which look more expensive and luxurious—even adorned with diamond and gold stones, the wandering magician can ascertain that this child is the young master of this house.
The boy's head is injured, and blood soaks his brown hair.
He checks for other wounds. Stab wounds in the stomach and slash wounds, as if he had been tortured.
The man frowns in annoyance, what kind of demons torture a child like this? Damn. He forgot that in the fourth era, there were still many kulot people who kept slaves. But this child is the young master, right? Who tortured him? Is it the murderer who slaughtered the entire family?
Poor child. He is still young, and his family has left him.
Fortunately, despite the severe injuries, the boy's chest still rises and falls slowly, his breaths uneven, but at least he is still alive.
Now the man can use his will to heal the boy's wounds.
After succeeding, the boy doesn't immediately open his eyes. He decides to leave immediately and let his puppet finish cleaning up. If his puppet finds the identities of the deceased, he will return their bodies to their families, but if not, he will make them his puppets.
...
They arrive at a hotel not far from the mansion of the aristocratic massacre. The receptionist who is still awake hurriedly approaches the wandering magician. A beautiful woman with blonde hair briefly looks at the boy, though curious, but the first thing she does is offer assistance to her guest, "Mr. Merlin, do you need medicine? Or warm food? I can prepare it."
Klein, who is in Merlin's skin, smiles, "Thank you, Miss Dorothy. Food and fever medicine, as well as a basin of warm water, would be very helpful."
"Then I'll prepare it."
Dorothy hurries away from Klein's presence. While Klein climbs the stairs to go to the second floor where his room is located. He opens the door, lays the boy on the bed, and, a little hesitantly, removes the boy's dirty and torn clothes.
A few minutes later, Dorothy knocks on his door, just as Klein is covering the boy with a blanket.
Klein walks to open the door, and Dorothy pushes a cart. Where there is a basin of warm water, medicines, and food. For a moment Dorothy stares more deeply at the boy. She feels somewhat familiar with that face, but before she can really remember his name, Klein interrupts.
"Thank you very much again, Miss Dorothy."
"Ah!" Dorothy instantly turns to the wandering magician. "It's no problem, it's my duty. Well then, I'll take my leave."
The woman leaves the room, and Klein locks the door and moves to sit beside the boy. He touches his forehead and feels the heat. Klein takes a cloth and dips it in warm water. He cleans the bloodstains on his face—still with blushing cheeks—Klein continues to clean the dirt on the boy's skinny body. After finishing, he places the cloth on the boy's forehead and covers him with the blanket. The bedsheet is slightly damp, and Klein uses his request to dry it.
He immediately sits at his study table and eats his food. Occasionally glancing at the boy to check. After finishing his meal, he lies down on the armchair. Closing his eyes and trying to enter into a dream.
Several hours pass, and the sun or Aucus now greets the world. A groan is heard, and Klein, who is sleeping but not really asleep, rushes to the boy. The fireplace in the room has long been extinguished. The boy opens his eyes heavily, pulling his body to sit up, Klein helps to place a pillow behind the boy as a back support. The boy looks up to look at Klein. He squints and asks sarcastically, "who?"
"Merlin. The Wandering Magician."
"Merlin?" The boy frowns, surely he has never heard that name before. He then looks Klein up and down, then looks at his own condition, still naked.
Redirecting his attention to Merlin. He asks cautiously, "what do you want from me, Merlin?"
The caution possessed by the boy is indeed good. But why does Klein feel slightly offended? It's like Klein has just done something indecent to him.
"I don't want anything from you," Klein quickly replies.
"Then?"
"I just happened to pass by your family mansion and help you. I will help you find your remaining relatives and escort you to them."
"Oh, are you a hero?"
Does Klein need to admit it? Why is this boy provoking him? Is he on the path of a hunter? Klein did see that this boy is not an ordinary person, he might also be a beyonder. Not at a high level—he must be at Sequence 8 or 7.
"I wouldn't consider myself a hero. Besides, you should eat something. I will order porridge." Klein takes his coat and leaves the room.
He re-enters the room a few minutes later, and the boy stands up to greet him, not covering his body with a cloth at all. Klein turns his face away, and his ears turn red.
What is this boy doing? Doesn't he have any shame?
"I'm looking for my clothes," he explains.
"Your clothes are damaged. I will buy you new ones."
"Oh." He nods. "Then I'm forced to keep being naked like this."
"At least use the blanket!" Klein exclaims.
The boy chuckles. He approaches Klein, although the boy is only waist-high, but it's enough to make Klein want to step back. In his lifetime, he has never seen a full naked man or woman's body. He only saw his own body, forgive his awkwardness in facing this boy.
"Why are you ashamed? You've seen my whole body when you took off my clothes, right?" he says a little teasingly. He takes the bowl of porridge from Klein's hand, then walks to the sofa and sits down.
Klein breathes a sigh of relief. He doesn't answer that question and chooses to look at the boy who is eating his food peacefully. The boy's body trembles slightly—he's cold, but why doesn't he use the blanket at all? Does the boy want to test him? Is Klein lewd or not? If Klein really attacks him, what will the boy do? Oh dear, Klein doesn't understand the thought process of this boy.
He goes to take off his coat and covers the boy's small body with it. The boy is surprised by Klein's action, but Klein doesn't care and goes to relight the fireplace.
"I will go out to buy clothes for you. Do you want to leave something?" he asks after successfully lighting the fire. He faces the boy and sees the worry on the pretty face.
The boy puts the half-empty bowl on the table. "I'm coming with you."
"No need. You still have a slight fever."
"Aren't you afraid?"
Klein wants to laugh, but he restrains himself, "afraid of what?"
"Of me? I could just run away and take your valuables."
"You can run away as you please. Besides, you're not a prisoner." And all my valuables are in the Sefirah Castle, Klein continues in his heart.
"Why don't you ask for my identity?"
"I would be very grateful if you told me your name from the beginning."
The boy pouts, he tightens the coat Klein gave him to cover his body more tightly. "Ali. My name is Ali."
Not giving a family name?
Even so, Klein still smiles, "nice to meet you, Ali. I'm Merlin Hermes."
...
Klein bought several pieces of clothing for Ali. They were affordable, but of decent quality. In the fourth era, Klein couldn't make much money. Also, the money he accumulated in Castle Sefirah couldn't be used here because the currency was different. He had to sell some mystical items and travel around performing miracles. Klein had to be careful every time he performed miracles, afraid of being heard by the angels and gods still alive here. Until he found the error room in the fourth era, he had to stay here before he could return to his time.
However, his job had now expanded. He had to take care of a ten-year-old child.
After this, he would go up to Castle Sefirah and predict if there were any family members of this child still out there. Because mysteriously, the people who died in this child's family mansion didn't have real identities. As a result, they all had no remaining members, making Klein have a lot of doll stock.
"These clothes are comfortable compared to the expensive clothes I usually wear," remarked Ali, then turned his body towards Klein, "how do I look?"
Snapped out of his random thoughts. He looked at Ali, who now looked beautiful in the simple clothes given by Klein. Just a shirt with balloon sleeves and blue shorts, but this child's beautiful face made any cheap clothes look expensive.
"Beautiful," praised Klein honestly.
Ali didn't react much, but the sweet smile he showed was enough to tell Klein that he was happy.
Klein approached Ali. Ali's hair was longer than the character of Merlin played by Klein at the moment. The slightly wavy hair flowed down to his back.
He squatted in front of Ali, Ali's beautiful blue eyes staring at Klein's face. Klein showed him a blue ribbon, "I bought this for you."
"Then, put it on."
Klein blinked once or twice. Meanwhile, Ali had already turned his body and let his long brown hair caress Klein's cheeks.
The man who had never held a woman's hand felt a tremor just touching that hair. Maybe it was because he—Klein Moretti, who currently hadn't fully taken the divinity belonging to The Fool, who was still asleep after the apocalypse, made him more human and feel nervous.
"My hair hasn't been washed, maybe it smells a little," said Ali.
But that wasn't what Klein cared about. Klein was questioning his morals. He shouldn't feel nervous facing a ten-year-old child he just saved less than a day ago.
And, compared to his age since before the first era, he had been thousands of years old! Would this make Klein a pedophile?!
"It's okay." Klein gently tied the ribbon—loosely so that the child's hair didn't look too messy.
He stood up again after finishing. Ali shifting his hair to fall over the shoulder. He smiled brightly and thanked Klein softly.
"Have your breakfast first, then we'll talk."
Klein returned to his armchair and sat down. He could feel Ali's gaze, but chose to pick up one of the books to occupy himself.
Ali finished his meal slowly. He seemed to be delaying the long conversation with Klein.
"You know, I don't remember much," Ali suddenly said after he finished his milk.
"Even a little clue can help. Don't you want to get back at the villain?"
Ali's body jerked, fear truly evident in those eyes. When he found Ali, Klein saw signs of torture on his body, surely reminding him of that memory.
"Sorry," Klein finally relented. He didn't know how to act in front of children because the only child in his life was Will, and Klein exploited 'Him'.
"As promised, I will look for your remaining family members." He knew there were no good orphanages in the fourth era. Here was full of madness, these children might experience something horrifying. Although Klein wanted to extend a helping hand, he couldn't, a slight mistake would change all historical narratives.
"But, before that..."
Ali lifted his face, tears flowing heavily, causing panic to engulf Klein. He ran to Ali's side. "What's wrong?"
"Am I bothering you? Do you want to get rid of me?"
This change in attitude? Klein was slightly surprised because a few hours ago Ali was still cynical towards him. Although mischievous, he didn't expect that this child... Did Ali want to stay with him? Wasn't he afraid of him?
"That's not what I meant."
Klein's hand was pulled and placed on Ali's cheek, "you know..." Those beautiful blue eyes were still a bit teary, Klein was momentarily captivated by those eyes, "you're the only one who's been kind to me. They all tortured me."
Klein quickly withdrew his hand. The feelings he felt now were mixed. He sat down next to Ali, took a deep breath, "alright. For the time being, I'll take care of you."
Klein's body was suddenly hugged tightly. He looked down and saw Ali smiling happily, forming his eyes into crescent moons. Klein couldn't resist and finally gave in to stroking the child's hair. Ali under his palm behaved like an obedient dog, letting Klein play with his hair.
...
For two months now, Ali had been living with him. They had moved away from the city where Ali's family mansion had been destroyed. During their time together, Klein struggled to go to the Sefirah Castle. He had become a parent, solely focused on raising his child.
Ali was obedient and good, though sometimes mischievous and incredibly spoiled. Klein managed to tolerate him.
When near the city where he found Ali, Klein usually sent his puppets, in case anyone came there. The perpetrator of the massacre had not been identified yet. Klein suspected it had something to do with the Black Emperor. The deity enjoyed eliminating noble families who refused to submit to "His" rule. Klein couldn't freely predict Solomon's actions, as it would be immediately detected.
He didn't want to draw too much attention, especially since he hadn't seen the errors in this fourth era.
Why hadn't The Fool—his other self—sent him as the Angel Sequence 1? His job would have been easier!
He pinched the bridge of his nose and returned his gaze to his fishing line. Beside him, Ali was very serious, staring at the fishing equipment. He patiently waited for the fish to take the bait.
They were now near the river, its surface still frozen, but underneath it, many fish awaited both Klein and Ali's catch.
Ali suddenly stood up from the rock and quickly pulled his line. He stared at the caught fish for a moment with amusement, then showed Klein his catch.
"I got it!"
"You got it." Klein smiled and patted Ali's head.
The child placed his catch in the strange bucket carried by Klein. Here, objects were usually made of metal, bronze, or clay. However, this bucket Klein brought was lightweight and silent unlike metal. When Ali asked about it, Klein simply replied:
"It's plastic. A harmful material that damages the earth."
Ali frowned at that moment, but didn't ask further.
Klein looked into the bucket; there were four fish, which were enough for both of them.
"Let's head back then."
Klein wanted to carry the bucket, but Ali snatched it to lift. He tucked his fishing rod under his armpit and reached out his other hand to Klein.
Klein just shook his head affectionately and held the small hand.
They walked together through the forest, which was starting to grow leaves and the piled up snow was beginning to melt.
Until they reached the inn rented by Klein. He grilled the fish for Ali, and the boy ate it eagerly.
After a full day of taking care of Ali, he wanted to pretend to sleep in his armchair while reading a book and go to the Sefirah Castle to seek further guidance from his currently sleeping self. However, he was disturbed again.
Klein opened his eyes and watched Ali slowly sit on his lap.
"Are you tired?" Ali gently touched Klein's cheek, and Klein leaned into the touch.
He smiled, "a bit."
Ali stroked Klein's cheek with his thumb. He then leaned forward to kiss Klein's soft lips—when the man was caught off guard.
In a flash, Klein opened his eyes.
Ah, he would go to jail.
"What are you doing?" Klein held both of the boy's shoulders.
"Kissing you?" he answered casually.
"Children shouldn't kiss adults! Especially on the lips! Forbidden!"
Ali gently touched Klein's blushing ear and chuckled softly, "Funny, are you embarrassed?"
"Ali, I'm serious."
"Uh, I know. You're too old-fashioned, Merlin."
"Old-fashioned?" Klein raised his eyebrows.
Ali lowered his head, and his breath tickled Klein's neck. Ali's hand movements on Klein's chest seemed to tease him, so skillful, it was scary.
"Many ten-year-old children have been sold as prostitutes, Merlin."
"Are you comparing yourself to a prostitute?"
Ali giggled softly. His small laughter made his shoulders tremble slightly. Klein waited until Ali finally gave an answer. "If I were sold to you, I wouldn't blame it too much."
Klein flicked Ali's forehead hard. The boy recoiled, holding his forehead, pouting, and questioning the man's actions.
"Stop this unpleasant joke."
"Merlin, you're no fun."
...
After realizing that Ali had developed feelings for him, Klein quickly wanted to end the relationship with the child so that he wouldn't develop his feelings too far.
And speaking of that kiss. Klein's first kiss was with a ten-year-old? If there were a police station here, he might have turned himself in.
However, all Klein did was to return to the city where Ali's family mansion was. The bodies had been cleaned up by Klein, and the mansion was restored to its former state. He checked some documents, but none of them provided a clearer explanation about this family; everything had been burnt. Who had done it was unknown.
The family photos displayed here were also half-damaged. The faces of Ali's parents were not visible. There must have been a riot here. People might have panicked during the massacre.
Initially, Ali refused to stay here. After some offers, Ali finally agreed.
Klein intended to leave Ali here. Then he would let one of his dolls play here. The range might not be too far for returning his doll, but Klein had prepared to hire some servants. Displeasure was clearly painted on Ali's face. All the servants newly contracted by Klein resigned.
Even though he was here to attend to his needs, he was truly entangled with this child.
Miss Dorothy happened to meet Klein. She greeted the Wandering Wizard who was shopping at the market. Ali still followed him, carrying a bag of bread behind him.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Merlin. How are you?"
"Not too good. And you, Miss Dorothy?"
Dorothy looked worried. "I'm fine. What's wrong?"
Klein glanced at the child clinging to his leg; Dorothy followed his gaze.
"Ah!" Dorothy pointed directly at Ali. "I remember now!"
"What do you remember?" Klein stared at Dorothy, who was still smiling.
"You know this town also has a noble who rules, but he's not very active, so we don't really know him. Him."
An apple rolled past their feet and stopped under Dorothy's foot, growing, growing, then exploding.
Klein quickly grabbed Ali to jump back. Unfortunately, the explosion was so powerful that Dorothy's body was thrown far and hit the ground. She didn't die, but she was severely injured enough to faint.
Such power.
Some residents helped Dorothy. Many of them panicked, but some acted as if nothing happened. In a world where gods walk the earth, such incidents might be commonplace. Seeing ordinary humans die.
Ali tightened his grip on Klein's hand. Klein finally carried the trembling child and left the market to return home.
"I'm scared," Ali said once they entered.
Klein didn't have many options but to comfort the child. He hugged the trembling child's body.
The incident was no more shocking than the day Klein received a letter from the Black Emperor—not for him, but for this family. It was addressed 'to the Tudor Family'.
For the first time, Klein's heart raced so hard. He didn't know, but his spiritual worms panicked and wriggled out of his body.
The door to his room opened. There was Ali, wearing his pajamas, carrying a pillow, and his messy hair staring at Klein.
"I can't sleep."
Klein wanted to immediately switch places with his puppet, but Alista immediately said:
"Anyone here is forbidden from leaving this mansion."
Alista knew that Klein's puppet wasn't placed in this mansion. He could freely imprison Klein here, without any slip-ups. The boy walked closer and hugged Klein's body from behind, his arms encircling Klein's neck.
He whispered in a voice so soft, mixed with a thick obsession, "It's your fault, Merlin... I've already fallen in love with you. So, you can't leave."
The lantern placed by Klein went out.