Vale stepped out through the castle gates and stretched, letting out a contented groan as he relaxed his muscles, basking in the warm sunlight.
Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned towards the gate. Vina, Tia, and Lily were just coming out.
"Well, if it isn't the young ladies! Heading out for a walk with little Lily?" Vale greeted them with a smile.
"Morning, Vale," Vina and Tia greeted.
“Got off work?” Vina asked, smiling.
"Yeah, I just finished my night shift. Captain Alaric arrived early today, so I got off earlier than usual."
"Going home to catch some sleep then?”
"Nah, not just yet." Vale shook his head. "I need to buy a few things and pay a visit to the temple first. Then I can finally get some sleep."
"Oh! We're heading to the temple too," Vina said. "Our friends are waiting for us at the square along the way."
"Want to tag along?" she casually invited him.
"Sure," Vale nodded.
The four of them set off together, making their way towards the square.
***
As they walked, Lily held hands with Vina, looking curiously at everything around her. The three of them kept their pace slow, accommodating Lily. Meanwhile, Vale and Vina casually chatted about various things as they walked.
Tia, however, was lost in his thoughts.
His mind kept drifting back to the gazebo. Numerous thoughts and possibilities had been stirring in his head about what might be hidden beneath it.
Absorbed in his thoughts, he continued walking straight, failing to notice an open manhole a short distance ahead.
"Tia!"
Vina grabbed his arm and pulled him back. Her sudden call snapped him out of his reverie.
He looked up, startled, and suddenly realized that he had nearly collided with a middle-aged man, covered in filth and dirt, climbing out of the manhole.
"Tia, watch where you're going!" Vina reprimanded him lightly.
Realizing his mistake, Tia bowed slightly towards the man.
"Sorry, uncle. I didn't see you climbing out."
The man looked momentarily surprised before breaking into a laugh.
"Don't worry about it."
He climbed out of the manhole completely and dusted himself off.
"But Tia, you should be more careful about where you're going. What would you do if you fell into that hole?"
"Sorry," Tia replied with an awkward smile.
Just then, his gaze shifted towards the manhole.
Two more men were climbing out.
Suddenly, Tia's eyes widened as something clicked in his mind,
Looking at the manhole, which was large enough for a person to fit through, Tia recalled the gazebo.
'The space beneath the gazebo seemed to be roughly the same size as these manholes.
'Could it be that the space beneath the gazebo is actually an entrance to the sewers, providing a way out of the castle?
'If that's the case, then it would make sense as to why sera would go towards the gazebo during nights.
'After allowing the soldiers and maids to enter the castle, getting outside without being noticed by the guards stationed around the castle would be difficult.
'But if she uses the sewers, she could move in and out of the castle without anyone noticing.’
"Uncle, what were you doing down there?" Tia asked.
"Oh, this? We went down to clean the sewers," the middle-aged cleaner replied.
"Do you clean all the sewers?" Tia asked curiously.
"Haha! How could the three of us possibly manage that?" The man laughed, joined by his two companions.
"These sewers run throughout the entire borough. They're far too extensive for just the three of us to maintain."
"We're only responsible for three sections. There are other workers like us taking care of the remaining areas."
"Lady Sera is quite particular about keeping the sewers clean, so we regularly take up this work."
'Indeed. If Sera uses these sewers regularly, they would need to be kept clean. Otherwise, the stench would be unbearable.'
Tia chuckled inwardly, imagining Sera crawling through the sewers while struggling with the unbearable smell.
'Moreover, assigning different groups of workers to permanently maintain separate sections of the sewers might be a clever arrangement. That way, no single group would have a complete understanding of the entire layout.
'Perhaps Uncle Alaric or Emma might have a copy of the sewer blueprints.
'Or maybe there's one in Mother's study. I should check later.'
"Anyway, be careful where you walk," the cleaner reminded Tia while closing the manhole.
"Okay. Thank you," Tia replied with a nod.
The cleaners then went on their way.
After a moment, Vina reached out and clasped Tia's hand.
"Vina? Why are you holding my hand?" Tia asked, looking puzzled.
"So you won't get lost," Vina replied seriously.
Tia felt his cheeks burn. "Sister, I'm not a child!"
"Sure. Tell me that again after you learn to walk without getting lost in your own thoughts."
Vina rolled her eyes.
Tia nearly choked on his own saliva, unable to come up with a retort.
"You don't even know how to walk properly without getting distracted. I'd lose sight of you for a moment, and you'd probably wander off somewhere."
An imaginary arrow pierced Tia straight through the heart.
"You can't even walk around the borough without Mother or me accompanying you."
Another imaginary arrow struck him.
"What would you do without us in the future? We'll have to keep looking after you like this forever."
Vale, who had been listening to their exchange, burst into laughter. He looked at Tia, whose expression resembled that of someone who had just been stabbed in the heart.
Tia shot him a glare.
Trying to suppress his laughter, Vale finally spoke.
"Anyway, what are you thinking about, Lady Tia? What could possibly be troubling that little head of yours so much?"
"It's nothing. Just thinking about some things."
Tia turned his face away, his cheeks puffed out in a slight pout.
Tia, Vale, Vina, and Lily resumed their walk towards the square.
"Hey Vale!" Just then, one of the guards passing by greeted him.
"Hey guys!" Vale returned the greeting.
"Heading home?"
"Yeah, what about you?"
"Just started our morning patrol."
"Alright, see you later!"
With that, the guards continued on their way.
Watching the guards disappear into the distance, Tia turned towards Vale.
"Vale, what is this patrol they were talking about?"
Vale glanced at him before explaining.
"We guards work in shifts, and patrol duty is part of our responsibilities."
"We move in groups throughout the borough and its outskirts, making sure everything is safe. We also keep an eye on disputes between people to ensure that minor quarrels don't escalate into something serious."
"During the day, we patrol in pairs. At night, we move in groups of four."
"If something happens, one of us can hit the gong and alert the others nearby. That way, we can respond quickly."
"Oh! Is that how the other territories maintain security as well?" Tia asked.
"Well..." Vale scratched his head.
"It's a common practice among the nobles, but every lord has their own way of managing their territory."
"Other places have similar patrol systems too, but many guards simply use them as an excuse to extort money from the people."
"And during the night, most of them don't bother with their duties at all. They simply sleep, apart from those stationed at their lord's castle."
Vale paused for a moment before continuing.
"But Ravencrest is different. Lady Sera…is…well…really knows how to manage things."
"There isn't a single place here that's left unguarded."
"The guards keep moving throughout the borough, day and night, and regularly report anything unusual."
"I've heard that, thanks to this patrol system, people in this territory can sleep peacefully at night."
"If only all the lords managed their lands the way Lady Sera does..."
Tia listened quietly.
He couldn't help but notice a hint of melancholy in Vale's voice.
As they continued walking, Tia fell into contemplation once again.
'Vale said that patrol teams are constantly moving throughout the borough.
'If that's the case, even if Sera uses the tunnels to get outside the castle, how does she manage to avoid being noticed once she's out?
'And why does she even want to go outside in the first place?'
"Tia, stop spacing out! Watch where you're going," Vina warned.
"Oh, sorry." Tia smiled awkwardly, feeling a little embarrassed.
Taking a deep breath, he decided to put the matter aside for now.
'Let's leave it at that. I can think about it later.'
This time, Tia made a conscious effort to pay attention to his surroundings as they continued towards the square.
*******
Tia, Vina, Lily, and Vale continued making their way through the borough towards the square.
As they passed a house, Tia noticed a young mother standing by its entrance, lovingly cuddling her infant, who was sleeping peacefully in her arms.
A gentle warmth spread through his heart, and a small smile formed on his face.
A little further ahead, several children were chasing one another through the street, laughing and shouting joyfully.
"Hey! No fair! You started running before I counted to three!"
"That's because you're too slow! You'll never catch me!"
"Just you wait! When I catch you, you're going to regret it!"
"Catch me first, slowpoke!"
The children continued their little chase, their laughter echoing through the street.
Their playful antics made Tia and Vale chuckle, while Vina watched them with a faint smile.
As they continued, they encountered several young men and women going about their daily activities. Some carried farming tools as they headed towards the fields, while others hurried along with equipment and supplies, busy with their respective occupations.
Everyone seemed to have somewhere to go and something to do.
A little further along, they came across a man limping along the street. One of his legs was injured and supported by a makeshift splint.
Seeing him, Tia felt a faint ache in his own leg, imagining the man's pain.
"What happened to him?" Vina asked.
"A few days ago, he wandered too deep into the forest and was attacked by some wild animals. He managed to escape, but his leg is broken. He should recover with some time," Vale explained.
A little later, they spotted a woman walking towards the fields. Her face was pale, and she appeared to be running a fever. Despite her condition, she continued making her way to work.
Tia felt a faint warmth spread through his body as he watched her struggling to walk.
"She caught a cold after accidentally falling into the water," Vale explained, noticing Tia's gaze.
Tia nodded, and they continued walking.
A short distance away, they saw an elderly man lying on a bed outside his house. He was coughing repeatedly, his frail body trembling with each painful bout.
Tia felt a faint ache in his throat and chest as he watched the old man. He instinctively wanted to approach and help him.
Just then, a young woman emerged from the house carrying a cup of water. She carefully helped the old man drink, soothing his parched throat.
"He's been suffering from various ailments for quite some time now," Vale explained, interrupting Tia's thoughts. "It's only natural at his age. He's getting quite old, after all, and probably doesn't have much time left."
Tia quietly nodded.
The four continued on their way.
However, the faint ache in Tia's chest lingered. The warmth he had felt earlier was no longer there, and his heart felt unusually heavy.
After passing through another couple of streets, they began hearing the distant cries of a woman.
The four exchanged confused glances before following the sound.
As they approached, they noticed a crowd gathered in front of a house. People stood around in silence, their expressions heavy with grief.
At the centre of the gathering lay the body of a man.
His lifeless figure rested on the ground, surrounded by relatives and friends. Their eyes were red, and tears streamed down their faces as they mourned his sudden death.
"What happened?" Vale asked one of the people standing nearby.
"He was bitten by a snake this morning in the fields. Even though they managed to take him to the clinic, it was of no use," the man replied.
"I see..." Vale sighed and nodded solemnly.
"Priest Joshua had already arrived and performed the last rites. He left some time ago," another person added.
"Then why hasn't the body been buried yet?" Vale asked.
"It happened so suddenly that we haven't had time to make the necessary arrangements. Some of us have only just gone to dig a grave at the burial grounds. It'll take a while," another man explained.
The woman and her relatives continued to weep.
The heart-wrenching cries of the man's wife struck Tia like a crashing wave. His vision spun, and an unbearable pain gripped his chest.
The woman's screams seemed to reverberate inside his mind. The sorrow and grief of everyone around him overwhelmed his senses submerging his heart.
He struggled to remain standing, slowly losing his balance.
"Tia!"
Just as his knees began to buckle, Vina caught him, preventing him from collapsing.
"Tia, what happened?" Vina asked, her eyes filled with panic and her voice trembling with concern.
Vale was equally surprised.
Looking around, he spoke up.
"Lady Vina, why don't we take her somewhere a little farther away? There is a large tree some distance ahead. There may be fewer people under that tree. She should sit down and rest for a while."
Vina nodded.
Together, they helped Tia move away from the crowd and settle beneath it.
"I'll be back in a bit," Vale said before leaving them.
Lily, who had been following and watching the entire exchange, looked rather confused. Although she didn't quite understand what was happening, she couldn't help feeling concerned for the older sister who had helped her earlier, protecting her from the bully Julian.
"Tia, are you alright?" Vina asked, still looking worried.
Tia took a slow, deep breath, trying to steady himself and calm his nerves.
"Yes, I'm fine." He managed a wry smile.
"What happened?"
Tia hesitated for a moment before smiling faintly.
'Vina isn't a little child anymore. She's growing up. I suppose it's alright to tell her a little more.'
"I..." Tia paused, trying to put his thoughts into words.
"Sister, you know I'm not very good at dealing with people the way Mother is."
"It's a little difficult to explain, but ever since I can remember, I've always been unusually sensitive to other people's pain and emotions."
"I can't bear seeing others suffer. Not always, but from time to time, seeing someone in pain, I somehow end up feeling their emotions."
"And here, in this wor..." Tia hesitated, lowering his gaze. "I think I'm experiencing it much more intensely than usual."
"Is that why you rarely come outside the castle whenever I ask you to accompany me?" Vina asked.
Tia smiled.
"Well, that's not entirely the reason, but... yes."
Vina nodded, silently encouraging him to continue.
"But recently, for about a month now, I've been feeling a little strange."
"The intensity with which I experience other people's pain and sadness has been increasing. It's becoming much harder to bear."
"Just now, I felt so overwhelmed that I became nauseous. I could barely keep myself standing."
Tia fell silent.
After a brief pause, Vina spoke. "Let’s go home?"
Tia shook his head.
"It's fine. I'm alright now. I can't spend all my time cooped up inside the castle, can I?"
"Besides, we should still go to the temple. I'm curious about what Ron and Olivia saw outside the barony and what kind of magic they're going to learn."
Vina pursed her lips and let out a sigh despite being worried about Tia.
"Fine."
Just then, Vale returned with a wooden mug of water.
“I brought this from a nearby house. Drink some,” he said, offering it to Tia.
Tia looked at Vale, a little surprised by how naturally considerate he was. He smiled as he took the mug and slowly drank, wetting his parched throat.
“This must be your first time seeing someone die,” Vale remarked.
Tia didn't reply. He simply lowered the mug and sat quietly for a moment.
“Thanks, Vale.” He stood up and handed the mug back. “Shall we go, then?”
He smiled warmly as Vale took the mug. They would return it to the house on their way.
*
Copyright © [Nov] [2026] [The Rainy Imp]. All rights reserved.
Tia, Vina, Lily, and Vale arrived at the market square, where people occasionally stopped to greet them. Vale, in particular, seemed to know almost everyone.
“Oh, the vegetables look fresher here. Lady Vina, Lady Tia, I'll be back in just a moment,” Vale said, making his way towards a nearby stall.
“Old man, still alive?” he called out cheerfully.
“Still kicking, and I'll not die before you do, you brat,” the old man behind the stall replied sarcastically. “Came early today?”
“Night duty. Just got relieved,” Vale answered. “How much for these?”
‘He's unexpectedly considerate.’
Tia chuckled inwardly.
‘And the people we've passed along the way seem to know him. He seems to know about most of the things happening around here. He's certainly good at socialising, even if he looks like a village bully.’
While Vale was busy buying his things, Tia and Vina looked around the market square.
The square was bustling with activity. Stalls lined its edges, displaying baskets of fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, and other daily necessities. Vendors called out to passers-by, advertising their goods and bargaining with customers. The air was filled with the mingled scents of freshly baked bread, spices, and produce. People moved between the stalls, some carrying baskets, others stopping to chat with familiar faces.
A few children darted between the adults, while merchants arranged their wares and called out to attract customers. The atmosphere felt relaxed and welcoming. It was the sort of place where everyone seemed to know someone.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Vale said as he returned, carrying a cloth bag filled with his purchases.
“Shall we go?” he asked, looking around for the three.
Then he suddenly paused.
“Wait... where's Lily?”
“Huh?”
At his question, Tia and Vina looked around and realised that Lily was no longer with them.
They were slightly surprised, but not particularly alarmed. The borough was peaceful, and Lily couldn't have wandered too far.
“There she is,” Vina said, spotting Lily squatting near the entrance of a narrow alley, peering inside.
“When did she slip away?” Vale wondered.
The three of them walked towards her, curious about what had caught her attention.
Inside the alley, they found a black-and-white mother dog giving birth to her puppies.
Two puppies were already lying on the ground beside her, while the mother was in the process of delivering a third.
Tia watched the tiny creatures curled up beside their mother. Their little bodies rose and fell with each breath. As he watched them breathe, he felt as though the very pulse of life was flowing before his eyes.
A sense of wonder washed over him.
“Lady Tia,” Vale said, gently interrupting his thoughts.
Tia stirred and looked up at Vale, who was watching him.
“Birth, suffering from injuries, sickness, old age, and death... they're all parts of life,” Vale said.
“They happen all the time, so you don't need to feel sorry for everyone you see. Nor should you dwell on them too much. But that doesn't mean you should become ignorant of them either. After all, these are things people will eventually experience throughout their lives.”
Vale turned his gaze towards the puppies.
“Life goes on. Even as one life comes to an end, another begins.”
He gestured towards the newborn puppies.
“Just like this.”
‘I think he misunderstands me.’
Tia thought, ‘I can understand what he says. But I still…’
Tia did not explain.
“Thank you, Vale,”
Tia said with a small nod, appreciating his genuine concern.
Just then, the mother dog gave birth to a third puppy, continuing to give birth to the fourth one.
“I wonder... is this how magic beasts are born, too?” Vina asked softly. “How are they different from ordinary beasts?”
Tia didn't answer. He didn't know enough to say.
After a moment, Vale spoke.
“From what I know, Lady Vina, magic beasts are usually born to other magic beasts. For example, the offspring of horned sheep are also horned sheep. The same goes for other mana beasts.”
“But, the stronger a mana beast is, the lower their reproduction rate is.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“They're much stronger than ordinary animals. The more powerful ones can even use special attack and defensive abilities. All of them can be dangerous, so it's best not to approach them carelessly.”
“Are there people who hunt them?” Vina asked.
“Some do, but there are also people and adventurers who tame them for a living.”
Vale thought for a moment before adding, “But I've also heard of rare cases where ordinary beasts transform into magic beasts. Such creatures are said to be much more powerful than ordinary mana beasts. No one really knows why they transform, though.”
Tia considered this for a moment before asking, “What about their offspring? The children of beasts that have transformed?”
Vale pondered the question.
“From what I've heard, their offspring are also mana beasts.”
He continued, “That's why there's a theory that perhaps these mana beasts were once ordinary animals. Maybe they gradually transformed into mana beasts to survive in the wild.”
“Others believe that the mana beasts which undergo such transformations are blessed by the gods.”
“There are plenty of theories and speculations, but no one can confirm any of them. And such transformations are extremely rare.”
As they contemplated Vale's explanation, the mother dog gave birth to a fourth and seemingly final puppy.
“It's black!” Tia exclaimed.
“Except for its paws,” Vina observed.
The other three puppies, including their mother, had patches of brown, black, and white fur. The fourth, however, was almost entirely black, with only its little paws covered in white fur.
“It's so small, cute, and beautiful,” Tia said with a chuckle. “Maybe we should call it Little Black Beauty.”
Vale and Vina laughed softly at the suggestion.
********************
Copyright © [Nov] [2026] [The Rainy Imp]. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact the publisher at [
therainyimp@gmail.com
].