Orphan

Clara looked at her father with hatred yet did her best to conceal it. To her misfortune, her father was a freaking Advanced Archmage. 

In no way can a mere Intermediate Greater Mage hide their feeling and thought process from Advanced Archmage!

As for Reinard's opinion of her acceptance? He was sure that she would accept it since it would determine her and her son's fate.

If she decided otherwise he would think of her as stupid. As for the possibility of her acting all emotional because she was rather a sensitive woman?

The path of magic was all about the betterment of one's existential state. It would be an utter shame to not be able to control your emotions. Moreover, Clara was a Greater Mage, those mages were respected anywhere they went as long as it was not an entity that is higher than her in Evolutionary Realms. 

In this world, only fools placed confidence in their wealth. Strength was everything as rules of the jungle were prevalent here. 

In fact, if not for various forces enforcing their laws and rules properly, it would be far worse in the city itself. Mortals would be casually enslaved like livestock. Disregarded as cattle.

Feeling content that his daughter wasn't stupid, he stood up and gestured for her to do the same. 

They exited the tavern as they headed into a lone alley. 

The next moment a portal was conjured directly opposite to them. It was 4 meters wide and tall. It had a pure blue hue around it. It depicted the scenery of blue hills.

Reinard entered the Warp with a step. His body entirely submerged into the portal until he disappeared.

Clara wasn't shocked by this display of power. Her father wasn't hindered by the tier 3 array which was passively active all the time. Moreover, he was an Array Master himself. So cracking this array didn't take much time.

Soon Clara followed him as Andrew was utterly flabbergasted! 

This man right in front of them disappeared into thin air! This thing in front of him looked like a portal from fantasy books. It exuded an extremely eerie vibe.

Clara was unfazed by it. The portal in front of them was known as Warp Gate. It was a complex spatial spell. It connected two points. If the mage hadn't visited those places before they wouldn't be able to Warp there. If they didn't know those coordinates they can just simply extend their Mana Sense and Warp within its range. 

Mana Sense was acquired after a person becomes a mage. The greater their existential state, affinity to mana and comprehension of mana the farther it extends!

Clara stepped in while carrying Andrew in her hands. Instantly, darkness overtook their physical senses and at the same instant they exited from the Warp Gate. 

Blue hills overtook their vision as there was a town in the distance.

Andrew was astonished that they crossed so much distance. The scenery around him was completely different from those greenish plains that surrounded the city! 

He knew about the concept of Warping so he instantly connected them. 

He didn't know how much distance they crossed exactly. But he estimated it to be tens of kilometers at least! 

Reinard stood there indifferently as he performed shapeshifting. He decided to turn into an old man with a long grey beard and bald head. 

He started walking towards the town as Clara followed him.

As if reading Clara's thought process he said "Clara, if you want to retrieve your son, you must become stronger. So much stronger that even the Ancestors of Alwood Royal Family will be nothing but dust! In short, the strongest!"

He perfectly felt the steeling drive that took shape in her mind, he wanted to strengthen it even more so she wouldn't lose sight of her goal!

Clara just ignored his words outwardly, but inside she was ever-burning with determination! 

Her only goal right now was to become the strongest! So strong that she will be able to enforce her will over others regardless of their social standing and strength!

Her desire to crush everyone and everything became stronger!

Andrew was perfectly aware of what was going on right now. He was going to be abandoned in the orphanage because his mother was unable to protect him. He perfectly understood his predicament.

As for being heartbroken for being abandoned?

He didn't care. Even in his past life, he didn't put anyone's existence into his heart. They were just background for the main character which was him. He used them when they had value to him, he threw them away like trash when they stopped being useful.

He was rather pragmatic as he considered feelings that living beings experienced as weakness. Just the influence of chemical reactions in the body. 

He considers those who were swayed but their simple emotions as weak and useless. Their entire lives would depend on their mood. They would do things when they were in the right mood to do them. 

Those who they love would backstab which in turn would result in their downfall. Many of them weren't ruthless and brave enough to enact their revenge as they would simply try to justify it with all kinds of excuses, saying that they made a mistake and that they still held a special place in their hearts.

Moreover, such people wouldn't be able to get out of their comfort zones as long as they weren't willing to change their entire lives and their attitude towards life itself.

Soon, they arrived in front of the town gates. The town's walls were 80 meters in height and its gates were less grand than those of Noir City's.

The town's name was Noris. Its population was less than a million. Compared to the cities that housed tens of millions, sometimes hundreds of millions of citizens. 

They stood in the queue like anyone else. The guards did a usual check-up. The queue gradually shortened as it was their turn to verify their identities.

Reinard and Clara took out medallions as Andrew was scanned wether he was a shapeshifter, Clara and Reinard were checked too, but Reinard swiftly cast a spell over them that made mana unreadable, giving an illusion as if mana was unaltered. They were rather surprised since check-ups for shapeshifters were conducted in case of emergency. 

Usually, it would be when a dangerous criminal roamed the vicinity.

Clara was hesitant, what if her son gets killed? She went into deep contemplation. 

Seeing her hesitation, Reinard directly spoke in her mind. 

*I am aware of the situation in Leisar Empire. The Princes are openly fighting for the throne. The empire is in the state of semi-chaos as many mages are being used for the ploy of the princes. Many generals and officials are choosing sides, the havoc is almost uncontainable as rulers of various regions are dying one after another. Noris Town is the most stable among them. You won't be able to find anything better* he reassured her as he was truly sincere.

The throne was being fought for. The Emperor was stepping down as he was aiming to become a Mana Lord! 

Naturally, Imperial Council had to choose a worthy candidate for the throne and all of the princes were shedding the blood of countless to reach their goals!

After completing the check-up and getting their identities verified , they headed inside the town. They passed through the gates as they saw guard posts being reinforced to the extreme. 

Soldiers were everywhere as they guarded the town to the maximum. 

Naturally, all of the soldiers in front of gates were mages. The vast majority of them being Initial Apprentice Mages. They wore enchanted military robes as they had insignia of Leisar Imperial Family and Noris Town. 

Soldiers threw a couple of glances at them, they checked for any abnormalities in their behavior. But they acted like normal people just passing by and not making any commotion. Even if they found out their identities, Reinard would have simply erased all of their memories in a flash. Even if all the mages in this town ganged up on him he would raze them and this town in an instant. 

He was a goddamn Advanced Archmage after all!

They moved through the streets as Clara looked for the best orphanage in this town. She wanted a good place for her son to stay in.

If by any chance her son didn't become a mage she at least hoped he would have a good life as a mortal.

She finally chose Tania's Orphanage. The owner of this place was an Initial Apprentice Mage. Plus its perimeter was heavily guarded since this orphanage was financed by a wealthy merchant. 

Clara neared the orphanage's entrance. She stood directly in front of it. With a heavy heart, she placed Andrew into the basket and put it in front of the gate.

She left a note on the basket.

Then, she looked at Andrew, probably one last time. "Andrew, be strong" said Clara as she rang the bell of the gate. 

Clara and Reinard turned around as their figures zoomed away from the orphanage.

Andrew was emotionless all this time as he repeated recently learned knowledge in his mind. 

Suddenly, the gates opened and a figure looked right into Andrew's eyes. It was a short woman with long chestnut hair. She wore a long white coat with the insignia of Tania's orphanage. She looked at Andrew pitifully as she thought 'Huh, one more?'. 

She took the basket into her hands as she strode towards the nearest building.

Today, Andrew became an orphan.