Chapter 2: The Mark

Nicolo takes the boy out of the City of Lake and brings him to the wolf's den. It is located in the eastern part of the City of Lake. A forest that was so wide, many resources can be found in the forest like mines, rivers, stones, and potential quarrying sites. Many wealthy people want to hold these assets and make money out of it but for them to get a hold of these treasures they must get rid of the monsters first and then the guardians of the forest, The Wolf Tribe.

The Wolf Tribe has a long history of protecting the forest, they have a few shapeshifters and pureblood dire wolf. The strongest wolf is the 'black' ones that can handle physical and magical capabilities, the white wolf specializes in casting magic and the brown ones are the regular fighter of the tribe.

The eye color also contributes to how strong a wolf is, the rarer the eye color the stronger the wolf. The most common is black, next is brown, the rare color is blue and red and the special is two different colors indifferent eye.

Nicolo arrived at the den, the night guards pay respect to their elder guardian.

"Be observant!" Nicolo said and smiled at them. The guards thanked Nicolo and resume their night duty.

Nicolo headed were to see the matriarch. He will report what had happened and ask if he can take care of the boy he carried because this is the only thing that his deceased best friend left.

Nicolo arrived at the front of the hut.

"Pardon my intrusion," Nicolo said as he entered the hut.

Inside the hut there was an old woman, she was wearing a tiger's fur and has some necklace and earrings with fangs attached to it, her beautiful white hair matches her red eyes. She was the last 'Champion' of the wolf tribe and due to her old age, she cannot fight anymore and just waiting for the day she will die.

Nicolo put the down the boy and put him to the chair, still asleep even with the long journey they have. The boy looks so exhausted 'this kid must suffer hell himself, I must make his life worth living for!" Nicolo said with a smile on his face.

"How is it Nicolo?" a bossy tone coming from the Matriarch.

"Jen, Mario... he's gone, he killed himself ...the reason is unknown but I manage to find his legacy," Nicolo said and get a glimpse of the child "And the whole caravan's members are now gone missing, I don't know what happens... No signs and clues!" Nicolo reported with a worried face.

The Matriarch sigh, she knows that without the information network of the clowns they won't know the possible move of the Nobles anymore! This is a really bad sign for them. Although the wolf tribe is strong there are only a hundred of them, if the Order of the Knights of the City's soldiers come to raid anytime. They will be on a very hard spot escaping!.

"Strengthen our force, Nicolo, ready for evacuation at any moment. The cubs and the kids must survive the calamity that may happen!" The Matriarch's face is full of uneasiness and Nicolo can see that.

Nicolo approached the Matriarch and then he gives the Matriarch some hug and a kiss. Even though they're old they can still show they're affections in each other.

Jen and Nicolo were best friends in their youths. Nicolo never shows his love for Jen, because he thinks that they are like heaven and hell, they can't live together and thus Nicolo just always be the friend together with... always supporting Jen. But one day when Jen was on the City of Lake exchanging for the goods she got from hunting there was a group of people watching her every step.

The moment Jen finished her business to the city and on her way back to the den the people who're watching her from afar captured her by the order of slave traders.

She was caged and treat like a wore. Nicolo and ... was worried because Jen did not come to the den in a week.

Nicolo felt an intense pain in his chest as if it's gonna tear apart. With the help of ..., they infiltrate the city and disguised himself as a trained dog of a clown.

Because of the information networks of the clown they manage to know where Jen's location is.

Nicolo and Mario were so angry that their killing intent can be felt.

The moment they arrive at a fruit store, it was the 'slave prison' in disguise that all of the soon to be sold slave is put together in a very dark cage.

Mario went to entertain the mass outside by using his 'clone skill' he makes 3 clones and he ordered them to dance at making jokes.

Because of the distracted crowd, none will suspect that they infiltrated the 'slave prison'.

Thanks to Nicolo's eye, he can see in the dark while Mario, the clown just follows his instructions to where to go. Nicolo then saw the stairs and begin to walk.

After going down for about 3 minutes, they arrive at the bottom of the stairs, there some torch in each prison cell they see different kinds of monster enslave, elf and many more.

The two of them began to look for Jen.

At the 6th cell, they saw Jen, she was covered with blood and her clothes are ripped. Jen senses the income two and then when he saw the two she smiles.

"Thank you! I'm glad that you two are here" After saying those words Jen suddenly collapse.

In a hurry, Mario makes a key using his blood, it is one of the bloodline skill of 'Demonic Jester' ... the 'Blood Manipulation'.

After making a key, they open the cage and take Jen out of this miserable prison. Nicolo carries Jen in a bridal style and began to make haste through the exit.

But Nicolo did not sense Mario to follow up. Nicolo looks back and he saw Mario was looking at the front of the elf' cage.

He wants to take the elf away too.

But Nicolo shakes his head, a sign that he refused what Mario is thinking, they might be caught if they stay too long. But for Mario, this is the right thing to do and he began summoning the 3 clowns that are performing outside.

He gives the 3 of the different keys to free all of the slaves in each prison cell!

Mario then opens the cage of the elf.

'This elf is so beautiful but those goddamn nobles just make the elf a plaything.'

Mario grinds his teeth in anger.

"I will give you a new life kekeke," Mario said and extend his arm to the elf.

Mario looks like a clown that gives a balloon to a child, his smile gives a trusting vibe and because of this, the elf felt comfortable.

The elf then accepts Mario's hand and he carries him in the back and they make haste through the exit.

The other cells were on the uproar!

Due to the variety of monsters and other beings, they started to fight and the guards of the prison cell make their action!

But the guards arrive late too bad for them, they lost almost 75% of the slave!

and they didn't even manage to see the face of the culprit.

They manage to safely save Jen without any casualties.

...

After the kissing scene of the two oldies.

The boy finally wakes up in his long sleep.

"Where am I?" he said and then he rubs his eyes.

Nicolo and Jen smile at each other.

"I think, we finally have a child? Isn't Jen?" Nicolo said while laughing and he was looking at Jen with a cute face.

Jen's face was blushing even thou they're old they can still act like a teenager.

"You're in our Den, wait what's your name?"

"I am Kyle...I was on the caravan earlier... Mr. Master?! where is he? Did I get my reward?" the boy looked at Nicolo with a worried face.

It looks like a kid that taken away his candy.

Kyle does not know why he is in this kind of place. He just wishes to change his cruel present and have a normal life, like a normal child.

Nicolo notices that the kid was uneasy, he approaches the kid and knelt to make their line of sight equal.

"What's your name Granny?" the kid asked.

"I AM NOT A GRANNY! ...the name's Nicolo, and she is Jen" Nicolo shouted at first, he does not like to be called a granny. Jen put her hand to cover her mouth because she was laughing.

Nicolo then gives her a 'Stop!' look and a very dark aura can be felt in his look. Jen just ignored Nicolo's glare.

"Nice to meet you, Kyle, I am Jen," she said and then smiled.

"Can I eat something granny?" Kyle said because his stomach begins to growl!

"Take care of him, Nicolo," Jen said.

Nicolo nodded and take Kyle to his hut and feed him.

They arrive at the place, the hut of Nicolo was just small, there was just a chair, a small table for two people a bed and some books about magic. Nicolo begins to cook while Kyle was looking around inside his hut.

"May I look at the books? Granny?"

"I AM NOT A GRANNY!" Nicolo shouted.

"Hahaha! I will take a look at the books Mr. " Kyle said, he was enjoying teasing the old man Nicolo.

Kyle begins to open the books. Kyle got an interest in learning magic, but he knows himself that his capability of learning skills are too low because he has a Grade D magic.

Kyle's innate magic was 'Doppel Ganger' a skill that let him clone himself with a limited time duration of 6 hours, every time he uses his skill it will slowly consume his stamina and if he doesn't have enough stamina, the skill will consume his own body's nutrients.

When he was on the slums he resorted to being a pickpocket, he will use his body 'double' and make it distract the people while he was busy looking for their wallets and valuables. He's saving money for him to join the 'adventurer's guild' to earn more money. But some thugs always get his money and always beating him hard and because of this he always starve but the day the caravan appears in the City of Lake, he was not letting the opportunity to slide, he was slowly taking the money of the crowd while he was walking to get close to the front for him to play the game.

That was the reason why Kyle was able to play the game.

"Hey Kyle, come here the food's done."

Nicolo gives him a cup of rice and some curry.

Kyle couldn't wait to eat as his watery mouth is running.

Kyle was too hungry thus he eats as thrice a normal kid and as fast as he can. The look on Nicolo's face is really good as if he's watching his son eating.

"Slowly you might choke, Here eat more." Nicolo even gave his food to Kyle.

'I hope I have a child too' Nicolo takes a deep breath.

After Kyle finishes to eat he tell him to take a rest after eating.

"Can I just finish this one?" Kyle was holding to a book called, 'The Elementary Magic Guide'

Kyle's eyes were just like a puppy begging to have some bone!.

Nicolo nodded. "Hmmm we will go to the Academy, I will enroll you!"

Kyle couldn't believe what he was hearing.

'Academy?!, A Magic Academy?' Kyle's head was partying!

...

The next morning, When Nicolo wakes up he checks Kyle and he felt that the kid has a burning fever.

And it's magical power is unstable.

Nicolo was worried, his eye's change into color violet and he try to inspect Kyle's mana flow using his 'Keen Eye'

The concentration of mana was accumulated under his left eye!.

Nicolo cast a 'Silence' magic but the concentration of magic didn't stop but the opposite happened it was accelerating at incredible speed, is this will continue! Kyle's head will explode!

Nicolo goes out to the hut of Shaina, the tribe's best healer!

Kyle wakes up as if nothing is happening in his body.

But after a second his head and eyes began to ache and there was an itchy feeling under his left eye.

After that, he's feelings began to stabilize his head and eyes ache has gone.

But the Itchy feeling under his left eye is still there.

Suddenly, Nicolo came back to the hut together with a beautiful lady, with brown skin and black hair, her body is slim and her chest is well grown but her eye was odd, the left is black and the right was blue. The lady got a potion in his hands.

"Are you okay?!" Nicolo said after entering the hut. He was really worried he even checks Kyle the moment he returns.

'The accumulation is gone?' Nicolo wondered why it suddenly has gone.

'What happens' he said and sighed.

Nicolo looks at Shaina and they together nodded.

Shiana sits down in the bed where Kyle was.

"Do you feel anything odd?" Shaina said.

"This is Itchy miss," Kyle said and then he pointed where the itchiness is.

Shiana takes a look at Kyle's face carefully and he saw something.

"A green diamond mark?!" Shaina said.

Nicolo got surprised!

He remembered what Mario said!

'Every Jester has its unique mark...Look mine's a star on my right hand, It will make my hand much stronger than in any part of my body...If I wish to grab that whole cow...My hand will get bigger to fulfill my wish... you know! kekeke'

'What powers will this mark will give to this kid' Nicolo thought of this thing.

"Hey Granny, what's that look on your face? Anyways what time we will go to the Academy?" Kyle's smile is super wide.

'It reminds the smile of Mario.'

"Eat first and then take a bath, change your clothes and we will go there after you finish"