"Hello there, young lady. It's a pleasure to meet you," Alistor said politely. The girl glanced behind him, noticing that the thugs were nowhere to be seen. Alistor continued, "Don't worry, they're long gone. I took care of them, so you can rest easy now."
The girl, still trembling, wondered who this man was and how she had been saved by him. With a quiver in her voice, she asked, "W-who are you?"
Alistor smiled warmly. "I'm Alistor, your trusty shadow. There's no need to be afraid, my dear. Shadows can be friendly too." As he spoke, he played with the shadows, sensing her wariness. To help ease her anxiety, he created playful illusions, lifting his hat and bringing out his staff. With a swift tap on the floor, the alleyway transformed into a magical forest.
The girl blinked in surprise. "H-how did you do that?" she asked, her voice still hesitant, unsure of how to communicate her astonishment.
Alistor grinned. "Sometimes, shadows can create illusions like this. But don't worry, we're still in the alleyway. Do you have some time after this?"
Nao nodded slowly, intrigued despite herself. "Y-yes," she answered quietly.
Alistor smiled again and asked, "What's your name?"
"Nao... Ene," she replied, her voice barely a whisper as she followed Alistor.
Alistor paused in his tracks. "That's an interesting name. Fascinating, really," he said, glancing at Nao. He noticed the black hood she wore, along with the bruises on her face and dirt on her feet. Nao looked down, fidgeting with her hands. Alistor's expression softened as he sensed her discomfort but chose not to pry. "If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. I understand," he said gently. "But I won't leave you until you've bathed and changed into fresh clothes."
Nao's eyes flickered with uncertainty. "Why are you helping me?" she thought to herself, struggling to understand the stranger's kindness. "Does he not know who I am? Why did he save me? What does he want?"
Alistor seemed to sense her internal turmoil. "It's okay. I know what it feels like to want to stay quiet. Just trust me for now, Nao," he said, offering her a reassuring smile.
They walked together through the bustling streets filled with merchants and vendors. "Miss Nao, this way, please," Alistor said, leading her into a store with a bell above the door. Nao followed him inside, her curiosity growing. A familiar voice greeted them as they entered.
"Well, if it isn't Alistor. What brings you here today, monsieur?" The dress master, Xav, appeared, flanked by his maids.
"I need clothes that will fit her," Alistor said, stepping aside to reveal Nao. "Can you take her measurements and recommend something for her?"
Xav examined Nao carefully. "I think I have just the thing," he said after a moment. "But first, she'll need a shower. Come along, dear." He motioned for Nao to follow him.
Nao hesitated, glancing at Alistor with a worried look. "Don't worry," Alistor reassured her. "He'll take care of you." Nao relaxed slightly, trusting Alistor's words.
As Nao disappeared with Xav, Alistor took a seat, waiting patiently. His attention was drawn by a familiar figure—Aurora, the chief of the travelers' tavern. She spotted him and waved, walking over.
"Hello, Chief. What brings you here?" Alistor asked, surprised to see her.
"I was looking for you," Aurora said. "I need to speak with you about something. Can you stop by the tavern when you're free? It's about the creature we encountered the other day."
"Understood. I just need to finish here. I can't leave her alone," Alistor replied.
Aurora raised an eyebrow. "Her?" she asked, curiosity piqued.
At that moment, the curtains parted, revealing Nao in her new clothes. She wore a white skirt and a blue long-sleeved shirt, with cotton at the sleeves and hem. Alistor smiled at her, but Aurora, upon seeing Nao, was shocked.
"Who is this child?" Aurora asked, clearly taken aback.
Alistor grinned. "She looks good, doesn't she?" he said, then continued, "This is Nao. I found her being harassed by some thugs, so I stepped in. I'll ask her about her parents and where she came from once she's more at ease."
Aurora looked between Alistor and Nao. "I see... and how much was the clothing?" she asked.
"Five silvers," Xav replied.
Alistor paid him and turned to Nao. "I have some important business to attend to. I'll have Micreal pick you up."
"Micreal?" Nao repeated, tilting her head.
"Yes, he's my butler. He'll come and pick you up. He looks like a waiter from a restaurant," Alistor explained, crouching to her level.
Nao nodded, still uncertain. Alistor then telepathically contacted Micreal, instructing him to pick Nao up. Within moments, Micreal appeared behind them like a shadow, bowing with his right hand to his chest.
"I've come to pick her up, sir," he said.
"Take care of her, Micreal. Keep her comfortable. Play with her," Alistor instructed.
"Don't worry, sir. I'll take it from here," Micreal replied.
Alistor nodded as he turned and headed toward the tavern.
In Aurora's office, Alistor sat across from her, crossing his arms. "So, what did you find?" he asked.
Aurora placed a syringe and a vial on the desk between them. "I found this," she said.
"A syringe and a vial?" Alistor asked, leaning in to inspect them.
"Yes," Aurora explained. "We found this near a river after the reconstruction. It seemed like some sort of equipment, and it led me to suspect that the cloaked man we encountered injected himself with something similar."
Alistor's expression turned serious. "I understand, but why me?" he asked.
"Because you're more reliable than the higher-ups," Aurora replied. "When I investigated you and your butler, I noticed your elements were tied to shadows."
Alistor raised an eyebrow. "And what does that mean?"
Aurora placed her hands together. "There are five types of common magic here—Wind, Water, Earth, Air, and Fire. But shadow magic is something else entirely. It's not even classified as common magic. It's considered legendary."
"Legendary?" Alistor repeated, his curiosity piqued.
Aurora nodded. "Yes. It's a rare magic, one that only appears once every thousand years. I was shocked when I found out about you. Other types of legendary magic include Arcane, Spirit, Summoning, and Destruction. Destruction is the most dangerous of all."
Alistor's eyes widened. "I've seen a book titled 'Legends' a few days ago. Could this be connected?"
Aurora smiled faintly. "Yes, it is."
[Chapter 5 End]