Chapter 6 - Farrell Hale's News

Nathan momentarily hesitated before nodding and handing Theodore the letter he had received from his father, Farrell.

Theodore accepted the letter and read through it. He found four critical contents except for the introductory greeting and basic etiquette.

First, A group of people attacked his father, Farrell. His father was safe; however, his close attendant was seriously injured and was dying. This person was indispensable, and his father had to save her.

Second, his father found a possible healing location in the Darkswamp forest; he traveled there to cure that dying subordinate.

Third, his mother went with his father because she was a mana user good at healing; her role was indispensable for keeping that injured person alive.

Fourth, his father was greatly concerned about him and requested Nathan's help.

Other essential information should also exist as some parts had traces of erasing. Thodore guessed that Nathan had done it.

After Theodore finished reading the letter, he was disappointed with his father. The content was high-sounding but full of loopholes and contradictions.

His father chose to risk everything to save that one person, including the safety of him, his mother, and the Colond city he governed.

Looking at his father's preparation, it did not seem that his father did not anticipate this result, but he still chose to go.

If his father cared about him, why did he make such a choice?

Theodore knew who the person his father wanted to save was; it was his father's lover.

Theodore understood that his father, Farrell Hale, and his mother, Audelia Noblewound, got together because of the arranged marriage.

His mother did adore his father. In contrast, his father already had someone he loved; however, he could not resist the family decision and the pressure from the Noblewound family, a viscount family.

To say it lightly, his father was emotional; his fault was that he could not let go of his lover. To put it heavily, his father was indecisive; he could abandon neither his position nor his lover.

In the end, his parent abandoned him. His father chose to save his lover's life over the risk of his safety, and his mother decided to follow his father rather than protect him.

If only one of his parents remained by his side, he would not have suffered under his uncle; this thought greatly saddened him.

This feeling bewildered Theodore, and he was more confused about whether the current him was a seven years old child with a future memory or the future self who went back to the past.

Nathan noticed Theodore's distraction when holding the letter.

He thought Theodore was depressed, so he tried to console him. "Although the Darkswamp forest was one dangerous place, you can go there to investigate yourself when you become a strong mana user."

Nathan admitted that he was not good at comforting others. It was his rare attempt to comfort, so it was a little awkward.

He just hoped to change the subject. Besides, he believed he did not lie to Theodore.

In Nathan's thought, the Darkswamp forest was an unreachable place. If he had not been injured and had to care for Theodore, he might have already gone there to investigate.

Theodore snapped himself out of the daze when he heard the consolation. He nodded in response to Nathan but somewhat disagreed in his heart.

In his previous life, after becoming a fourth-rank mana user, he also started investigating the taces of his parents in the Darkswamp forest. The result was that he almost could not come back alive.

"Can you tell me more about the Darkswamp forest?" Theodore could not help asking his teacher softly.

Nathan pondered before answering. "This forest was full of tree and water-based monsters that can use mana. However, there was a field of growing lotus in the middle of the forest that could cure many conditions."

Nathan decided not to go into much detail so as not to cause pressure on Theodore. He would tell more about it when Theodore became a strong enough mana user.

"Your father's aim should be the outer region of the lotus field. Soaking there could also solve many ailments." Nathan continued to explain but nothing more.

Theodore nodded in understanding; he did not press his teacher to say more.

He could notice his teacher's good intentions. Moreover, he wanted to know more about the group attacking his father.

"Teacher, what about the people that attack my father?" Theodore asked again about another topic that he cared more about; there was eagerness in his voice.

From what Theodore knew, his father was not the only target but the entire Hale family.

"It was still under investigation," Nathan answered obscurely.

He knew little about the mysterious group attacking the Hale family, but they must be quite capable as they could cover up their tract well and dared to commit such a big crime.

Theodore was silent when he heard his teacher' answer. His future self also failed to find out more about the mysterious group.

'Did the attacker connect to someone influential in the kingdom?' Theodore considered when he thought he could remain safe traveling after leaving the kingdom.

'They may also have already got what they wanted.' Theodore contemplated another possibility. In this case, the group may connect to his uncle, Dante, and the city's future destruction.

While thinking, Theodore felt Nathan's concerned gaze; he smiled in response. 'He needs to get stronger, and the teacher's help was indispensable.'

Nathan did not know how to continue the conversation when he saw Theodore's quiet look. He was a little taken aback when Theodore suddenly smiled.

"Teacher, I'm fine," Theodore delicately said while appearing cheered. He behaved like a good child who did not want to cause his teacher's concern.

Theodore then changed the topic by looking at Nathan pitifully and said, "Teacher, I'm hungry."

Nathan was even more guilty seeing Theodore like this, so he nodded and quickly replied, "I know a good restaurant nearby. Follow me."

One apprentice and one teacher then walked out together.