A year later, after leaving the North Pole. Heaven Dou Empire.
A place of refuge for free souls and a complicated country full of internal strife that not yet seen on the surface. And he, after a year of travel through desolated lands, finally arrived here, looking at the streets of a backwater town near the northern borders.
Actually Aiden, as a reincarnator was no stranger to places with people, but after so much time being alone, surviving in the frigid cold of the North Pole surrounded by danger and death all around, he found himself in the environment long forgotten and now very foreign. He looked around the town, its dirty streets, people coming and going while giving him curious gazes and didn't want to stay here.
"It lacks the purity of nature and snow. I thought I will dislike snow after all that happened. Now I know, I will miss it." – he sighed taking a step through the gates. His blue clothes with platinum lining here and there were quite eye-catchy, where most of the people wore crude linen clothes and only nobles can afford genuine silk and spirit beast fur.
"Please, give us some food." – he looked around and found a girl with long black greasy hair draping over her face, covering it up. She was in dirty rags, standing in a shadow of the market counter that was currently unoccupied. Although the whole head shorter, Aiden could feel slight fluctuations of spirit energy from her, thus already making her an awakened person.
Still, she looks like an orphan that should live nearby even while being a spirit master. Perhaps she was not talented enough, who knows?
In his thinking, that after years of battles with spirit beasts became a bit too straightforward, he stared at the girl for a while with no regard for her thoughts. And it nearly scared the person in question witless, already saying goodbye to her life. She didn't dare to look up, she asked, only noticing boots that looked like something very expensive, like nothing she saw before.
She asked on impulse, he stopped but kept silent and that send her imagination astray.
"Are you alone?" – she finally heard a calm yet warm voice, full of inexplicable yet forceful charm, that warmed her heart a bit and dispersed some fears. Perhaps even Aiden himself wouldn't notice how his aura and personality exuded that level of natural charisma that he felt only once from his dragon spirit.
The girl looked up and saw the most handsome boy she ever can imagine. He wore a hood, but was taller than her and looked older while standing in close proximity that gave her a good view of his face. His black hair was unkempt, but not messy or dirty, on the contrary, the give off a very pure filling and were almost twinkling with starry luster, while his eyes were the most dreamlike visage she has ever seen.
Platinum in color, they have purple corona and looked very unusual, gazing at her with no aversion or enmity like many others. He looked in tranquility while awaiting her answer.
"N-No… I-I…" - she suddenly found herself very nervous and unable to talk properly.
'Why am I so useless?'
"Don't worry, I don't mind giving you some food at all." – the boy suddenly said lightly. - "Not like I am busy or have any pressing matters."
Actually, Aiden was a person who in minor things liked to go with a flow. Just like this time. If he wanted to have some relaxing time, he will just have it. Life is more than just a constant struggle and cultivation. Of course, that mindset was highly recommended by Nexus too.
His loyal helper always stressed the need to have a break and look around the world, as the path of cultivation can't go smoothly without a variety of worldly experiences, be it battles, killing, love or even drinking for fun and socializing. All of that can broaden the outlook and bring sudden enlightenment.
That is why he didn't mind doing something unusual that other people might find a waste of time or outright harmful.
"I…" - she took a deep breath in, mustering courage. – "I l-live with a brother���"
"So, it is food for two?" – he asked again.
"M-More…" - she paused and took a glimpse at him again and saw charming eyes again. But now he had a brief smile on his face.
"Where do we go?"
"M-m… Your Excellency…" - she never finished when she heard clear laughter.
"What excellency?" – he rubbed his head in a silly manner, shattering mysteriousness but giving off a vibe of boy easy to talk to and make friends, no longer so distant and unattainable. She found that vision of him more approachable. – "So, lead the way, I will follow."
A girl, as vigilant as she always was, trusted him completely. She thought this boy can never do evil, almost like an angel. Well, that was a misconception, but who can blame a little kid for this?
They walked through narrow streets, and she tried to stroll, avoiding dirty places. His clothes were so beautiful. Will he get angry if their walk dirtied them? She was very attentive to minute details, that Aiden frankly didn't give a damn about, just following her and looking around.
'This place is not for humans to live in.'
He then looked at the girl again and found her to be beautiful in her own right. She surely will grow up in a very charming lady. Finally, they arrived in front of the house. Surprisingly, it was a small orphanage with six kids and one caretaker.
"Sister, who is that?" – the moment he stepped inside through the door, a boy took the girl aside and hid her behind him, directing a hostile gaze at Aiden.
"Brother… don't be rude…" - she quickly pulled his sleeve and whispered something that Aiden can overhear but decided not to. – "M… I… I don't know your name…"
"Just call me Aiden." – he said lightly. – "So, that's the place? Should I cook for you here?"
"W-What?" – she turned red like a tomato, completely forgetting to introduce herself. – "C-Can you?"
"Yes, young man, can you really cook?" – another voice entered the conversation with the vibe of curiosity, not actual questioning. Aiden looked at the source and saw a plump granny walking over. She looked very normal, yet in her steps, there was something unique.
'She is a spirit master and I can't estimate her level of power. Why here? Where is she from? Could she be with Spirit Hall, or I think too much? It can be troublesome, but I can cook without my abilities, no?'
"I know a thing or two." – Aiden nodded, not showing anything on his face and the old woman noticeably relaxed.
"As long as my kitchen will not blow up, you can use it." – she smiled, waving her hand in a direction of the second door on the left. - "Ai, little Na, look at your clothes and hair. Why always doing this? Let us go for now and clean you up."
Aiden nodded and removed the hood, making someone near gasp in surprise. Well, if it is not a pretty girl who brought him here.
She finally saw him clearly and was awestruck by the moment his shoulder-length hair went down like a waterfall. He kept part of them in a tail at the back, opening up ears, but anything else was free to roam. Their luster and slight platinum shine were captivating and exuded mysterious feeling. Immediately eyes of a granny lit up with unknown intension, but she hid it very fast and pulled the girl in the bathroom.
Aiden made his way to the kitchen and took out ingredients, including precious spirit beast meat. He then ignited the stove and cut vegetables and some spirit plants to be used instead of species. While cooking he was very skillful with the knife, but here toned it down. His mastery with a sword is no joke and can give rise to many unnecessary questions.
Even meat was nothing too special, from a beast not even five hundred years old. However, he knew that his ability to use the storage device already sold him out, at least as a spirit master. It's just that he needs to hide his actual abilities for everyone to think he is not talented at all and he will be free, safe, and badass when needed.
After all, he looked like eleven years old youth, it's better not to reveal his actual age of seven.
"All is ready, let us eat at the table." – he carried plates full of food out. The aroma of meat and spices forced all to salivate and look at the dishes with fierce desire.
"Children, go wash your hands first." – granny walked out and guided all of them inside the washroom. Kids became noisy the moment they sat down, waiting for everyone to gather. – "Okay, everyone should calm down and take a seat."
And so they did.
'That works too? This granny is no simple character.'
"You won't eat?"
"Me?" – Aiden asked. He really never intended to eat. And one reason is that after cultivating his body up to the ninth mark he became a real glutton if he doesn't use spirit cooking. Even if he ate this whole table, it's barely enough to serve as an appetizer. – "I came here to feed, not to eat." – he waved dismissively, but that made granny frown for a fraction of a second, which Aiden, now in full alert, noticed.
'Indeed, she is not simple.'
"Okay, but at least you can read a prayer with us." – she smiled.
"Well, fine." – he shrugged and sat down under the smile of the old woman. He wasn't religious, but all is good if they eat.
They sat together and took the hands of each other and that's when he made a mistake forgetting that one can check bone age like that. Well, he hasn't exactly forgotten. He thought it would be impossible for granny to do it through two people in the link.
Well, granny was that outstanding apparently and when everything was over, she sat there with an astonished expression. Obviously, she figured out not only his actual age.