Blue Fire

That day Cleon helped Ava look for herbs, this was the first time for Cleon to learn herbs from Ava. He who could use healing magic didn't actually need the plant, but it could be used as additional knowledge for Cleon.

Ava casually explained one by one the herbs they found, until they finally found a lot of herbs to stock.

"Can you use magic?" Cleon asked.

"Yes, a little, only to the basic level. I use magic for everyday purposes nothing more," answered Ava as she sat down and looked at the results of the herbs they had gotten.

"Why not learn more about magic?"

"Yes, I only study it occasionally, and it's not optimal because I only use my time to mix medicine."

"Where do you live?"

"My house is not far from the eastern forest, I only live with my grandfather. He's the one who taught me about concocting medicine using these herbs, my grandfather said I don't need to learn magic."

"Isn't learning magic possible just in case something like this happens?"

"I would have studied more martial arts, but for my current level of ability I'm still too weak."

Cleon thought that he had never learned self-defense with bare hands, he was just learning to use the sword and even then he still needed to learn a lot more. Those were the basics he had to master apart from practicing magic.

Ava stood up and invited Cleon to go home, the herbs they needed were enough. Cleon's daydream finally broke and immediately followed Ava's invitation to return to Ava's house.

"Who taught you self-defense?" Cleon asked as he galloped on his horse.

"My grandfather taught me. Oh yeah, don't be surprised by my grandfather who doesn't like new people, take it easy if you're with me, "Ava replied.

"Okay."

On the way Cleon began to think that he might ask to learn martial arts with his grandfather Ava, hopefully he will accept additional students. Moreover, Ava said that her grandfather did not like new people.

It didn't take them long to finally arrive at Ava's house, a simple little house with only one house located on a hill. Cleon stopped his horse and got off with Ava.

"Grandpa, I'm home," Ava said as she walked into the house.

Cleon was still standing outside and looking around the area there, the beautiful scenery on the hill was very pleasing to his eyes. The yard of the house is quite spacious with several trees that thrive there.

There was no sound that greeted Ava's arrival, Cleon thought maybe Ava's grandfather was not at home. Calvin's eyes fell on the object hanging in the corner of the house, he seemed familiar with it.

"This is an ancient talisman, in my previous life I've read about an amulet like this," Cleon said in his mind.

Cleon was getting more and more curious and wanted to reach for the talisman to see it in detail.

"Keep your hands off!" someone shouted, it certainly made Cleon startle and stop.

Cleon immediately turned around and looked at the person who had just shouted at him. An old man, but his body was muscular enough for the size of an old man. He was seen carrying quite a lot of firewood and then ignored Cleon just like that.

Ava suddenly came out of the house. "Grandfather, I told you to rest. Why are you even leaving?!"

"No, no problem. Grandpa just has a backache," Grandpa said reassuringly that he was okay.

Cleon just looked at the two of them without saying anything, the old man did look stubborn and disobeyed Ava.

Ava came out and got a drink for her grandfather.

"Hey! You over there, what are you doing?" Grandpa asked Cleon who was still standing by the talisman.

"No, nothing. I'm just taking Ava home," Cleon answered with a bit of a stammer.

"Then please leave and never come back," Grandpa said with a displeased look.

Cleon was silent, it was true what Ava said earlier that her grandfather didn't like new people. From the look on her face, she didn't look happy when she talked to Cleon, but Cleon still stood there.

"Grandpa, don't be like that, he already helped me from being chased by bandits. Grandpa should thank him," said Ava when she heard her grandfather's words to Cleon.

But it seems that Grandpa didn't pay attention to what Ava said, he just turned his face away and seemed to be nothing.

"Forgive my grandfather Cleon, he is just like that. Ignore it, let's just sit beside the house," Ava said to Cleon.

"Erm.. well."

Cleon followed Ava to go to the side of the house, it seems that grandfather was watching Cleon from behind. Grandpa saw something interesting to him, for some reason he became curious about Cleon all of a sudden.

Grandpa's eyes continued to stare seriously at Cleon, it seemed that Cleon was aware of it until he himself became uncomfortable because he was seen like that. Cleon tried to glance at Grandpa, he was really serious in looking at Calvin.

"Hey kid! Are you of noble descent?" Grandpa asked suddenly surprising them both.

"No, I'm just the son of a commoner in the village down there," replied Cleon casually.

Grandpa was silent again when Cleon had answered his question, somehow he suddenly asked about such a thing. It was clear from her clothes that Cleon was just an ordinary kid. Grandfather entered the house and then came out carrying a white roll of paper, he walked over to Cleon and Ava who were sitting beside the house.

"Hurry and hold this," said Grandpa.

Cleon just followed what Grandpa said, he grabbed the scroll that Grandpa gave him.

"Hold it properly with both of your hands," Grandpa said.

Cleon went back to following the instructions given by grandfather.

"Close your eyes and concentrate on the scroll."

Cleon immediately closed his eyes and began to concentrate on the scroll he was holding. Suddenly a blue flame shot out from the scroll hand held by Cleon. But Cleon remained as usual and did not feel panicked at all even though he did not know what the meaning of the fire that would appear.

Grandpa who saw it directly was slightly surprised and smiled broadly, his eyes were indeed very observant when he saw someone. He could see which people were qualified or not, and this was the first time Grandfather had seen someone so attractive.

"What does this mean?" asked Calvin very curiously.

"Blue fire huh?" said the old man with a smile as if he meant something.

Cleon himself was just confused about what his grandfather Ava meant, he didn't know at all about the blue flames that appeared on the scroll when held by him.