16 Simon Lathalas- Chapter 4: The Abandoned Child Part One

A few days later, after Simon was exiled from Lepus, the elven nation, he wanted to find a good place. Not too close to people, but not to far. He found the place he was looking for in a forest, more specifically, the Grand Forest of Beast. This forest is the biggest forest on the continent, to them it's the biggest in the entire world.

Simon payed a bunch of people to build his house, and helped them as well. A bedroom for himself and another bedroom just in case, two bathrooms, three secret rooms, a kitchen, a living room, and one more room that can be used for anything. There are two stories in this building, not including the secret rooms. The bedrooms, bathrooms, and the extra room are all upstairs. The kitchen and living room are on ground level.

For the secret rooms, one of them is accessible from pulling a book on the shelf, which leads to a library full of books deep underground, the area of the room is as large as the house. The other is accessible from going into a trapdoor underneath Simon's bed, he used it mostly for storage, but it can also be used to hide in for a while, the area of the room is about as big as two of Simon's bedroom. The third and last secret room is in the fire place, which is in the living room, there is a stone that can be pressed for it to open, the room is completely only meant to be used to hold weapons and magic items. The room is as big as the living room in length and width, but about 12 feet in height.

As for protection from magical beast, Simon used one of his magic items to make sure that only normal beast and people Simon wants to find the house. The road from the house is about seven kilometers, so it's not that big of a problem to get things from a passing merchant. Food that you wouldn't usually be able to get from just a forest and other supplies, or if Simon ever wanted to he could go to the city which is at the end of the road, approximately 73 kilometers from the house.

He's been spending his time by himself in remorse for getting over what happened to his family so quickly. For some reason he doesn't find himself crying over them ever since he was in the cell. He did vow to himself that he will not marry anyone, nor have sexual intercourse with anyone either. Though he did not vow to himself not to adopt children, but for now that idea isn't in Simon's head.

*******************************

Years have passed and times are changing, the year is 700. In celebration for the new century, Simon decided to go to the capital, for a festival. There it was announced that starting from now on, the nation of Cetus will allow commoners to go to the magical school in the capital. They were handing out papers for anyone interested in going to the school. Simon, a collector, decided to take one just in case, though he doesn't plan on using it for anything, he took it just to have it.

The festival lasted for an entire week, but of course not everyone celebrated it for that long. Simon went back home on the third day and planned on what he should do next. He already has a good amount of magic items. He has a good home and lifestyle, but with only hunting to do, Simon quickly gets bored.

Until it happened.

*******************************

In the year 705, Simon was on his way with his monthly trip to go get supplies from a passing merchant. On the way there Simon felt that something was out of place, so he put on a certain scent that would completely erase his presence by smell.

He reached the road, where the merchant would be. He found a child at the base of a tree, the child looked to be about 3 months of age. The child looked at Simon with squinting eyes. Simon already knew that he couldn't leave the child by itself.

[Simon: Damn! I can't leave this child by themselves. Argh!]

That's when Simon saw the monstrosity in front of him, it made him want to throw up. No, in fact it did make him throw up. There were, what looked like humans, hollowed out human bodies. Everything that would be underneath the skin was gone.

[Simon:: *blegh* What the hell happened here?! This isn't normal. This isn't normal at all! Shit! What kind of bloody animal does this?]

Looking around to find any traces of the thing that did this, Simon quickly went to go pick up the child.

[Simon: The animal that did this is probably coming back. I got to hide this child's scent. Actually, I'm going to mask mine again as well.]

***************************

They're back home now. Simon checked to see if the child was a girl or boy, and it ended up being a boy. Simon starts talking to himself.

[Simon: What should I do with him? Give him to the merchant? Keep him? Damn it. What should I do? It's been so long since I raised a child anyways.]

Simon says some things to the boy and leaves to go to the basement for a book that he is pretty sure he has.

[Simon: "Make a bottle of heated milk and give it to the child, make sure it is not too hot." Easy enough.]

A few moments go by and Simon is watching the baby. He can definitely tell that this child is different by just watching him. Simon thinks. Should I keep him? I mean I am getting bored by myself, so I guess I might as well. Right? But, he needs a name. Betelgeuse? Alnilam? Alnitak? Sirius? Orion? Orion. Simon likes that name, but he also likes Sirius. So should it be Orion or Sirius?

[Simon: Orion Lathalas? Sirius Lathalas? Orion Lathalas. That sounds better.]

Simon decides to ask the child before coming it final.

[Simon: What about "Orion"?]

The child didn't cry, so there's that.

[Simon: Orion it is then! I guess I should give you my name too. I am Simon. Simon Lathalas.]

Although Simon doubts Orion even understands him.

[Simon: It is a pleasure to be your new guardian.]