16 The Childrens Choice

The group of assassins who was sent by the Benford clan was now back at the Collis village. Three days passed since N. 8 was left behind, normally he should have been back by now. So Kartus, decide to rush back.

"Sir we found N. 8 body" said one of the assassins

After seeing N. 8 body Kartus expression changed. There were no signs of an intense fight, so the person who killed N. 8 was probably much more powerful than him.

"N. 2 rush back to and report the situation to Miss Bellatrix. Tell her that the target must be somewhere in this area. The other will split and look around. Remember do not engage we need to find him first."

"Yes!" came the voice of the N. 2 and the other ten.

Meanwhile, in a deep underground cave one could hear light sobs as if children were crying.

"It's his fault! Because of that bastard My mother...my father..."

SMACK

William punched the boy who was cursing at Maximus. This scenario wasn't new. There were many children who thought this way.

Maximus wasn't here right now. He took all the food he had in his ring, gave it to William, and rushed in other direction to draw the attention. He told William that he would be back in ten to fifteen days.

"William how can you still defend him. Your own grandfather died because of him!!!" shouted a girl.

William stayed silent a for a few seconds.

It was true, there was some remote part of his soul that hated Maximus, but then he remembered his grandfather words "He wants Felix to be like you and me... a person who protects and respects others... a person who will never betray.."

"My grandpa could just give them Felix and betray Maximus... All of your parents could have done it."

All the children went silent. It was true, even in the face of death no one said anything.

"You know why...?" asked William.

Still, no response came

"It's because the people of our Collis village are loyal, even in the face of death we will never betray our friends and family, we may not have the power but our will is thousands of times stronger than those so called experts!!! So what do you want to do now?!?!"

Maximus run different directions purposely leaving clues behind, he had no idea that this simple "plan" of his has just saved the life of all the children.

A few days have already passed.

Inside the fourth level of the Adventurer Guild.

"There is still no news of him Milords" said a young boy.

"Humph so useless"

"Calm down, this isn't our Phoenix Clan."

"We should..."

But at this moment a girl rushed in.

"I told I was with important guests" said the boy displeased.

"Sir, there was incident in small village"

"Oh, continue" said one of the people from the Phoenix Clan.

The girl looked at the young man and he nodded.

"A small village that was formed by some random people in the mountains, called Collis village, was completely massacred."

"It has to be him" exclaimed the person who was displeased earlier.

"Calm down we don't know yet."

"Didn't the information we had from the Dacian clan said that he has a crazy mind and enjoys slaughter, it must be him, plus the people the hell hounds squad who died. Hey give us a map"

The boy took a map from his ring, and handed it to them.

"Lets go"

After they left the girl turned to the boy and asked.

"Master why did you act this way in front of those ants?"

"You silly girl, it's not yet time for me to revel myself, let those clowns live a little longer. If we can use them to find that boy even better"

"Ohhh...! Master you are such a devil" said the girl with a smile.

"I am not a devil" said the boy "Miss Bellatrix is the real Devil I am just a minion"

At this point in time Maximus had already encounteredtwo more of the black robed assassins. After finishing them off, he cleaned the place and "destroyed" the body in another place.

"It's time for me to rush back, but first I need some food. But how I go 100% undetected?" asked Maximus himself "There is no other choice I guess"

Maximus "robed" the man, leaving behind some gold coins as compensation.

Rushing back Maximus was very careful not run in anyone he took almost ten days to come back.

He went to trough the tunnels and came in front of a big rock, pushing it to the side a big cave with all the surviving kids of Collis village came into view.

"Master Maximus!" from the center of the cave came the exited voice of William who rushed to Maximus, with Felix in his arms "She didn't even cry once Master"

Maximus looked at the smiling William and the guilt inside of him only grew stronger.

When he left he saw the flame of hatred in the others children eyes, but now after coming back he noticed that it was gone, the only thing was pain from losing their families and friends, but also a kind of... pride.

"Sir Maximus" the girl who was arguing with William came forward and bowed.

"I beg of you, please can you help us get stronger. Without our families we won't last long in this world. We don't want you feel guilty and take pity on us. We are people of the Collis village, even if it was someone, else every single person in the village would have the same thing. We never betray our kin and friends"

On the side William nodded his head in satisfaction.

"Hmmm..." Maximus sighed "Looks like I will have to rely on the energy from heaven and earth" he muttered to himself.

"Today we will rest. And starting tomorrow morning I will perform your awekening ceremony, your ages are from 5 to 12 so those of you who are not 7 years old will have to wait"

Maximus took Felix from William and went to a corner to feed her "What a mess is my life" he thought to himself.

"That you Master Maximus" said all the children happily.

Maximus didn't know yet but this was one of the most important moments in his life.