Extraordinary Voyage

"I don't know either."

Seeing Elante's disdainful gaze, Aiven embarrassingly touched his nose, feeling that he had damaged the wise and mighty image he had in the young man's heart.

"I only know her name, the little girl who stayed at the manor for a night last time. Her home is here."

"Oh, is that so? Tom, you're more familiar with the countryside. Go and call the village chief." Elante scratched his head too, realizing wandering aimlessly wasn't a solution, so they could only ask someone for directions.

"Sure, young master Elante."

Before long, the servant Tom led over a middle-aged man, noticeably dressed more neatly and cleanly than the villagers, even somewhat respectable, running all the way.

"Good afternoon, honorable gentlemen! Welcome to our Mog Farm, is there any assistance I can provide?"

Even from a distance, the village chief bowed with a flattering smile. Although he had some minor power in this farm, it was enough to impose authority, but he dared not offend the "big figures" from the city.

"No need to be nervous, we're just looking for someone, a little girl about eleven or twelve named Angie, does she live here?"

To Aiven's surprise, upon hearing the name, the village chief visibly trembled slightly, and his expression stiffened: "This..."

"What, is there no such person in Mog Farm?" Noticing the village chief's strange reaction, Aiven intensified his tone.

"Not really, it's just..."

"Why are you stammering and hesitating?" The sight of the village chief's indecisiveness irritated Tom, the servant standing behind him, who pushed him, perfectly portraying the image of a lackey to a noble villain.

Thump—

Although pushed, the village chief who steadied himself dared not express his anger, only said coldly, "She and her former mother are both unlucky! Young gentlemen, it's best you don't associate with her!"

"Unlucky? What's going on, tell us!" Elante, on the other hand, was not frightened but even more curious, quickly inquiring further.

"Forget it, no need to embarrass you, we'll look for ourselves." Aiven interrupted Elante's question.

He understood that Angie, identified by the "Blood Hand Gang" kidnappers as having special qualifications, must have abnormalities difficult for ordinary people to comprehend. Especially in such rural places, it was normal for her to be feared and excluded.

Aiven thought that perhaps he could seek the opinion of this child. If she agreed, he could take her away from this unfriendly place for her and start a new life in a different environment.

If he helped, he should help to the end. Moreover, allowing a gifted "Lucky One" to continue living here might transform them into dreadful "misfortune"! This "misfortune" could be the child's and perhaps even the villagers'.

After all, the "Crow Witch," who ate people, was once a qualified witch!

Having said that, he turned his horse around and rode out of Mog Farm. In just the time it took to speak, the Sea Birds had already nearly exited the farm area, discovering a lonely, dilapidated house.

In fact, Owl Bass had always followed behind them, acting as a "Base Station" to organize and summarize the information the Sea Birds relayed to Aiven. Coupled with the village chief's words, Aiven naturally linked the isolated house with Angie.

Thud, thud, thud... thud, thud, thud...

The sound of horse hooves gradually receded, and the village chief spat behind them, muttering softly, "Clearly, she was already taken away, why come back, wouldn't it be better to die outside like that terrible woman?!"

The words were caught by Aiven's keen senses, prompting a thought in his heart, indicating that the girl's living situation was even worse than he imagined...

...

Splash—

The thin, frail little girl struggled to pour the hard-earned half bucket of water into her small patch of field, breathing a sigh of relief as she looked at the thriving green seedlings.

"Ha, finally done watering."

Even such simple work was a daunting task for a girl plagued by long-term malnutrition. But to survive and not have to beg for others' charity, she worked very hard.

"Little seedlings grow up, grow up quickly..." The girl muttered to the seedlings she had planted as if encouraging them.

Perhaps, for the solitary girl excluded by villagers, these "friends" who wouldn't reject her were her only companions.

"Finished working! Time for a sumptuous feast as a reward for hard-working Little Angie!"

The girl suddenly remembered something, cheered, and turned to run into her old but meticulously cleaned house.

Lunchtime.

In the warm sunshine, Angie sat on a small stool, taking out a homemade cookie made from wheat bran, grass roots, wild vegetables, and anything she could find, eating it with relish.

Her large eyes, exaggerated by malnutrition, squinted happily, clearly this insignificant food brought her great satisfaction...

When Aiven and his group arrived at the girl's doorstep, they saw this scene through the low fence.

The small, skinny girl held her cookie like a little squirrel, nibbling at it, even catching the falling crumbs to lick them clean one by one.

It was as though from these crumbs, she could harvest a second measure of happiness.

Witnessing this side of the girl, Aiven felt as if he had been struck by lightning, even his mighty Official Knight's body shuddered slightly. Through the girl's slightly squinted eyes, he seemed to see a pure soul radiating brilliant light.

Resilient, optimistic, though humble, possessing a tenacious life force akin to wild grass!

"Ah, is it Brother Aiven?!"

The group rode over without any concealment, alerting the girl enjoying her "feast." Seeing Aiven in the lead, she no longer cared about the food in her hand, cheering and running out.

"Brother Aiven, are you here to see me?" The girl clearly had a deep impression of Aiven, who saved her, recognizing him at a glance.

Facing the little girl's expectant eyes, Aiven naturally had no other answer: "Angie, I heard from my aunt that you left Mog Farm after staying for a night, and Cooper Manor isn't far from here, so I took a day off to come and see you today."

"Wonderful, come in and sit."

Instructing the two servants to watch the horses outside, Aiven and Elante followed the girl into the yard.

Without entering her low, dim hut, the three found a place to sit in the yard.

Only now did Aiven take a serious look at this girl for the first time.

Her hair was dry and yellow but not unkempt, her face bore the pallor of long-term malnutrition, and her small body was clad in an ill-fitting coarse hemp robe, with hands roughened and bearing calluses unbefitting her age.

Every detail spoke of a harsh life, yet she kept herself clean and tidy, her large blue eyes pure and unsullied, devoid of resentment or indignation toward her tough life.

In stark contrast to the ignorant villagers!

In the face of fate's harsh treatment, she hadn't lost hope, possessing an optimistic nature and astonishing tenacity, surviving like a solitary yet tenacious wild grass.

No matter the appearance, Aiven felt Angie should embody what an angel should be like.

Simultaneously, he had already made a decision in his heart.

Taking out the handwritten thank-you note from the girl he had been carrying, Aiven asked, "To my surprise, Angie, you know how to read?"

Seeing her written letter, Angie's face blushed slightly, and she lowered her head, softly replying, "My mom taught me. She used to work as a maid in a noble manor and learned some things from others.

But I didn't learn well."

"A maid in a noble house? And what about your mom?" Aiven didn't comment on this identity, but habitually pursued another question.

Then he instantly realized the slip. If Angie's mother were still around, how could the child be in this situation? He immediately apologized.

"I'm sorry, Angie."

"No, it's okay, it's all in the past now..." Angie's voice was low, clearly showing that life's injustices had left traces in her life.

The atmosphere became somewhat silent. Even Elante, who had been bored and curiously looking around, was affected by the atmosphere, shrinking his head and not moving rashly.

"Angie!"

"Hm?" Startled by Aiven's sudden voice, the girl looked up to see him gazing at her solemnly.

"Do you want to leave here?"

"Wha... What?" The girl was at a loss.

"I asked, do you want to leave here with me and become my student?"

Making this decision, perhaps due to a momentary stir in his heart, or an inexplicable premonition, or merely the simple desire to help this girl with whom he had a deep connection.

Especially considering Angie had the Caster's qualifications, Aiven felt it was his responsibility to guide her on a path... um, maybe not the best, but not worse either.