Year 1994, Aclein City;
It was in the middle of the first semester and the time period was noon.
Louis, along with his mentee, Raven Passel of 6th grade, was seen just coming out of a restaurant located downtown.
They were discussing the next mission assigned to them.
"Senior, I honestly don't understand what the teachers are thinking about taking us to a place like Quenaris for the next weekend," said the 6th grader in a complaining tone as he was asked about his opinion. He further added, "I mean... Glimmerroot vines are no longer used to heal our wounds. In today's age, we have healing cards that can instantly do the job.
Moreover, the rock guardians are too strong for us."
The 6-foot pointy-eared and animated-faced 10th grader shook his head with a smile, "The rock guardians are considered one of the most intelligent beasts on the planet. Despite their brawny build, they would rather use their intelligence instead of fists to deal with their enemies. The Canyon would allow them to blend with the surroundings in the form of rocks and attack us from the top."
"Isn't that even more dangerous?" Raven's face went pale for a moment, imagining a scenario where he was going to face such an attack.
Louis couldn't help but playfully slap the kid's back, "What are you afraid for, Raven? We have done enough missions together for you to know about my abilities to keep you out of trouble. No matter what kind of opponents we face, as long as you have me by your side, at the very least, you can be assured that you will be saaaaafeeee..."
Just as he was almost at the end of his little pep talk, Louis was suddenly blasted into the sky with a heavy bruise on his chin as if someone punched him from below.
And, when he reached the peak altitude, he was once again blasted onto the ground as if someone punched him, this time in the gut.
Thankfully, the force was only strong enough to knock him out. This sudden occurring event created panic among the passersby. As for Raven, he just ran away from there in fear.
After a while, the ambulance arrived and the unconscious elf was carried away on the stretcher.
A man wearing a hood was secretly watching this from far away as his servant, the jinn returned to him with a few strands of hair in its hands.
Taking the strands of hair, he clenched his fist and mumbled, "It is a pity that I couldn't punch him myself but surely, once I confirmed my suspicion, I will do it with my own hands. Whatever might be the case, this bastard deserves it for not being on his daughter's side."
***
"Yeah, of course. I was the one who painstakingly built that entire forest. In exchange, you also promised me that you owe me a favor," replied Mia with a frown on her face. She wasn't displeased but was merely thinking about what her friend was going to say about it.
"Yes, I did that," Azzy nodded in agreement and then continued, "Your daughter failed the examination."
"Uhhh... okay?" Mia went speechless for a moment. She looked meaningfully at him as if she were asking whether this was the shocking thing he was going to tell them.
Of course, it was a surprise, but it wasn't something she was expecting.
However, before she even spouted those words, Azzy shocked her by revealing the truth, "The reason she failed is because of the breaking of exam rules by launching a battle against another combatant in a non-battle zone, but that isn't the concern. She awakened the spatial ability, Mia. You know what this means..."
"Spatial ability?" Mia's father looked at him in confusion. On the other hand, Mia appeared to be shocked with her face becoming pale, "What... what are you... what are you implying?" The cold-faced beauty who never panics stuttered for the first time. And this increases her father's curiosity even more.
Looking straight into her eyes, Azzy replied, "You know, for a while, I was wondering why you registered your marriage with Calder 13 years ago. Seeing that she had wind ability, I had a suspicion. But, awakening the spatial ability almost confirms my suspicions. She is not Calder's daughter but Louis', isn't she?"
Mia went silent and hung down her head, suddenly remembering her past memories for a few seconds.
"Mia..." The voice of her father brought her out of her senses. As she turned her head to look at him, she saw anger on his face. "Answer it. Our Sera was that bastard's daughter? You told me that she was born out of a one-night stand you had with a stranger you met in the nightclub."
"Dad..." As Mia became silent, not being able to answer, Azzy took out a sheet of paper from his storage card and threw it on the table. "Here, this is the DNA report."
Mia and her father's eyes were captured by that document for a moment before she expressed her shock, "How did you get that... Ah, you are..." She remembered that he was a time traveler but thankfully he interrupted her in a timely manner to keep his secret, "I have my own ways."
Pushing the document toward her, Azzy continued in a serious tone, "You might not believe WAMO, but you believe Dr. Mac's work, right? Sorry for intruding into your personal affairs but if you think I have such right to question you, then, I need the truth.
The Mia I know will not do the wrong thing and neither will she ever tell a lie to a friend. So, I'm automatically assuming that Louis is the one who broke your heart.
Tell me that I'm right and I will drag that bastard, wherever he is hiding, and bring him to you. This is my promise. Don't think I'm doing this because I owe you or something. I'm just doing this for my niece.
As a person who grew up believing the lie that his parents died in the Arcana world, I also firmly believe that it should be Serestia who needs to decide whether she wants him in her life or not. The rest depends on your decision."
"I... I... I..."