Chapter 3 - CHAPTER 3: MORE THAN A MOM

"Brother Liam, It's Cole! Something bad happened!" She grumbled with her words.

I stood up hastily as well as the others.

"Rika, what happened to Cole?" I dashed towards her and held her shoulders.

"H-he's in the infirmary." She stuttered. I didn't notice that I flew outside as soon as I heard Rika. I went to the stable and jump on Shadow's back. Ah, by the way, Shadow was my big black horse. I nudge at shadow then he starts running fast. My team are on their way as well.

Cole hang on! we're coming! I am praying inside my mind. I hope Cole is alright. I'm not sure what's wrong with him but Rika said that something bad happened. Was he possibly attacked by the other gangs? I held my breath.

"Where's Cole?" I jump off from Shadow's back as soon as I reached the infirmary. The others were able to catch up as well. They were now standing beside me.

"Calm down, Liam." Aunt Cecil smiled at me. "He's inside."

"How is he? Is he alright? Was he badly hurt?" I asked all at once. I saw Aunt Cecil creased her brow. Her face was filled with questions.

"He's fine." She exclaimed. "He's not hurt at all. In fact, he is still handsome as always." She laughed. She loves making jokes at me whenever I got serious. "he's inside, go."

We entered the infirmary and saw a problematic Cole sitting outside the hospital room.

"Cole!" Asher run towards him.

"Asher! Liam!" he stood up as soon as he saw us.

"How are you? what happened?" I asked inspecting any wounds on his body but I found none. I heaved a sigh of relief. But I saw how he lowered his head, eyes filled with worry.

"Liam, It's mom. She suddenly had a heart attack earlier."

"How is she now? What did the doctor say about her condition?"

"She needs to be operated as soon as possible." I saw him sat on his feet in despair. "And I can't afford the operation expenses!" he teared up.

Silence enveloped the hall that we are in. I looked at the desolate Cole and I can feel the weight that he is carrying right now and it hurts me more. He was more than a brother to me and his mother was more than an aunt.

Cole's mother had taken care of me when I was a teenager like Cole. They adopted me when I run away from my masters. Yes, I grew up as a servant. I served a foreign family from Egypt and when they came across the region of Corinth, they had not expected some goons to rob them clean. Some servants run for their lives and I was so young and innocent back then that I didn't know what to do.

The goons took me and sold me from another merchant traveler for an amount of money. I had served my new masters for years but the other members of their household loves to torment me. I became their stress reliever and when I say stress reliever, I mean it the other way around.

I got tired of being bullied and so one day, when my masters went hunting, they took me with them. I know why so I had been planning my ways to escaped from them. That cursed forest might be a good way for me to escape from them since rumors says that the forest was hunted and cursed. No one who entered that forest had ever comeback alive. But in any case that someone came out alive then that person is considered a legend, highly favored by God.

I didn't believe the rumors back then so I run towards the forest escaping from my young master's persecutions. They tried to catch me but retreat afterwards when they saw me entered the forbidden forest.

I didn't know how long I was trapped in that dark and dangerous forest. I didn't even know how I manage to live despites experiencing the worst events in my life. It was indeed cursed but I managed to find my way out. I chose not to give up. I must live and get back at those who tormented me.

Cole's mother found me unconscious outside the forbidden forest. In an instant, she knew that I came from the woods and shouted for help. The rumors about me surviving the cursed and forbidden forest spread all throughout the region of Ikarai. Yes, from the region of Corinth, I came out to the region of Ikarai.

I must tell you that the country that I am living is better known as the Kingdom of Allen. It is a big country with six big regions. First is the region of Kadesh. It is the main city, the flourishing marketplace of the Kingdom. only aristocrats are able to build their mansions in this region. The cost of living is highly expensive. The Palace was also situated in this region. second was the region of Patar. It is commonly known as the merchant's city. third is the region of Marseille, known to be city of the upper-class men, just like Kadesh. Fourth is the region of Rouen. It is a mix region consisting of aristocrats, upper-class men and merchant's. fifth is the region of Corinth. The region given to the foreign people who wants to stay in the kingdom, but it's actually a mix up of people since it is becoming known because of the rising economy, just like the other regions. lastly is the region of Ikarai for peasants who can't afford to live in the big regions. It's widely known as the city of the poor.

I spent most of my teenage years in the region of Ikarai and yes, I've been living my life with the people here. However poor they are, they're hearts were made of gold, that's for sure. So basically, I owe a part of my life to Cole's mother.

"Cole, proceed with the operation." I suggested with no reserve. He looked at me in wonder. He was probably thinking about the expenses.

"But Liam, it's too expensive. I'm afraid I can't pay the needed amount on time." He was hesitant.

"Don't worry about the expenses, we'll take care of it. we still have some budget left, right Aden?" I looked at our treasure keeper.

"Yes. It wouldn't be a problem." Aden ȧssured us with a smile plastered on his face, but after a minute, he stared back at me and shook his head. I know what that means, of course.

We all gave him an it's okay and everything will be fine gaze. but the next thing we saw was a grown up man crying like a child. And so I smiled.

Then I cued Asher to see me outside the infirmary. He followed after a few seconds. "Can you check on something for me?" I ask. He gave me a nod. I know he trust me when I ask him a favor.

"Check on this group. Let me know where they go next. I think we'll need to increase our funds right now." then I handed him a portrait. His eyes widened but after a few seconds, he sighed in defeat. Guess he needs to try.