Things around the cabin returned to the usual routine before. I trained harder than ever and Master seemed keen on adding more training sessions to schedule. Summer arrived with an intense heat wave. I barely managed to keep training under the scorching sun with some frost conjuration I had learned.

Just like that, leaves started turning yellow and the rays of heat eased up. I was eleven years old now and stronger than before.

Mana flames danced under my hands, flickering and lighting up the tree branches. The smell of smoked fish wafted up to my nostrils as the kebobs cooked above the fire.

“Disciple, are they still not ready to eat?” Master complained from where he was squatting a few feet away.

I raised the intensity of the flames by infusing more mana, “Just one more minute, Master.”

I glanced up to look at Master. Despite seeming the same personality-wise, he had visibly aged after the fight in the magic beast den. Wrinkles could now be seen whenever he made a face and something felt missing from his zest.

“They’re ready now, Master,” I took the kebobs off of where they were grilling on a wooden rack, “Here’s some bread also.”

I handed half of the kebobs and a slice of bread to Master, who took them, starting to eat ravenously. I took my own portion and chewed through the food after leaving the mana flames untended.

“Lupus,” Master had finished eating and called my name, “I feel like I should explain something to you.”

I looked up to his face, which was strangely serious. It was an expression rarely seen with Master, so I nodded to him.

“Do you still remember that woman at the magic beast den?” Master asked.

I tilted my head, “The one who wielded ice?”

Master nodded his head, eyes seeming to wander far away, “I knew her, as you’ve probably guessed by now. Her name was Leia and she was my foster daughter. You probably also know that I'm the nature transcendent by now.”

I pretended to be surprised, but I knew about this. The whole story of Master and Leia was inside the diary I had read. As Master kept talking, I repeated the story in my head.

About thirty years ago during Continental Year 440, Master was walking out along a port. The streets were filled with filth due to being one of the poorest districts of the city. Suddenly, he heard   a shout from vendors.

“Selling children! Twenty-five gold each!” The scratchy voice had shouted.

Naturally, pawning of lives of young children was a common happening in the slums, as they could be used for labor to get profit. However, Master did not know about it at the time and was half-horrified at the prospect.

Crudely dressed commoners were crowding around the shop stall, bidding for the strongest and prettiest child they could find. In an instant, toddlers under the age of three were sold off to the highest bidders. Master could only watch, stunned, as there was only child left at the stall.

The young girl was beautiful, but she had a disease, as seen from the purple veins on her neck snaking up to her chin.

“I’ll take her.” Master declared to the vendor.

The vendor smirked, “Of course, good sir. Twenty-five gold it’ll be.”

Master coughed up the money without blinking, scooping up the child in his arms and carrying her to his hotel room.

Up in his fifth-floor room, he inspected the girl further. She had rare white hair and blue eyes, being around two years old. Master couldn’t help but feel sympathetic to the girl. Without known parents or anyone to take care of her, she would most likely die if Master had left her on the streets.

“I’ll take care of you.” Master had vowed to the little girl.

As the girl grew up, Master came to cherish her more and more, even naming her Leia after the rare ice flowers in the north.

“You’re my flower, Leia.” Master would always say to her.

Master had brought Leia on all his expeditions and adventures, teaching her how to fend for herself. They were a happy duo.

That memory would shatter when Leia was kidnapped by envoys sent by the ice transcendent.

I was staring with intense curiosity when Master narrated this part. His voice shook slightly as he managed to utter each word.

“The ice transcendent…” Master paused to take a shaky deep breath, “More commonly to her subordinates as the Great Mother, she sent people to take Leia when I was out on a solo mercenary commission.”

At that time, Master had returned to an empty room and house. Frightening drops of blood were splattered across the rug of Leia’s bedroom and the bookshelf was knocked down, with books splayed out on the ground.

Master had found traces of ice magic of transcendent origin in the room, leading to his theory that the Great Mother had sent forces kidnap Leia after finding out Master’s whereabouts. The only reason that explained the Great Mother’s deep loathing of Master was their experience during their younger years.

“It was all my fault that she was taken away,” Master seemed to shudder, pained face flickering in the firelight, “So I set out to make it all right.”

I glanced at Master with concern. His behavior was similar to Geia’s at times like this. Reaching across in an act of affection I thought I’d never do again, I touched Master’s hand. It was stone cold.

Master flinched for a split second, then relaxed, even smiling a tad bit, “Let me finish my rant, brat.”

I smiled at Master's dry but persistent humor. He looked especially pitiful in this situation.