A few months had passed since Maximus was ambushed by Vivian and the other three. At this point he already arrived at Collis Town. It was exactly as the description on the map. A small village located in the mountains. It was established just 20 years ago by a group of people who could't take the intense life of the city. It had a population of just two or three hundred people.
Maximus didn't receive a very welcome reception at first, but after the people learned of his situation they started treated him as part of their little community.
Maximus told them that his friend was a mercenary who died on a mission and his wife died while giving birth, so he adopted Felix as his daughter. He could't tell them the truth after all.
Maximus with the help of the man from the town build himself a small house from rocks.
With had small bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen. It wasn't much different from the other houses in the village
"Maximus! Are you there" from outside came the voice of an old man. This was the village chief. He was one of the "founders" of the village. He had a long gray hair with equally long beard and mustache, which were also gray. His back was already crooked, something left from the passage of time, but even so one could still see his strong arms.
"Chief Graystone, please come in!" from inside came Maximus voice.
Graystone went inside. There Maximus was feeding Felix, one could see the love he had for this baby girl in his eyes.
"So, have you thought about my proposition?" asked Graystone.
The Collis village even if small still needed a source of income, so they opened a local factory to make bricks.
A few days ago there was an incident where a few of the children were playing close to the mines where the stone was extracted and Stone Python appeared.
The Stone Python was stage 0 magical beast, it was just barely qualified to be called a magical beast. It's scales were as hard as stone, and it could crush stones with its mouth. Coincidently Maximus was passing there and saw the Stone Python. He rushed there and with one punch crushed the Stone Python's head. When the Graystone learned of the incident he asked Maximus to be the village guard.
"I know that you came here to have peaceful life, but we still need someone strong to maintain order. We are poor and can't afford to take our children to undertake the Awekening Ceremony, and without a strong person around here life is hard"
Maximus finished feeding Felix and looked at Graystone.
"I can help you with that. But I won't stay here forever. At most 50 or 60 years." said Maximus
Graystone lit up "Yes yes, of course, thank you!"
"Also I need someone to help me look after Felix when I am not around"
"Don't worry bout it you can just leave it at Bill's house, his wife Roxy just had a baby too, she can take care of Felix" said Graystone energetically.
At this time in a Mansion far away from Collis village.´
"It's been a few months and there are still no news of them. We know he appeared in Black Rock city and bought a map from the Adventurer Guild, but after that he seemed to have vanished."
"Calm down Cross" said a young woman next to him "We know that the map he bought if of the Phoenix Province, so the chance that he is hiding in some remote place are quite high, just be patient"
"So what should we do Bellatrix?" asked Cross.
"We will search all the town and villages that are closer to Black Rock city first. There is no other option."
At this time inside the Ascending Phoenix Palace.
"Clan head there are some news about the boy" said Protector Seva.
"Oh, where is he?"
"Apparently some adventurers recognized him when he went to by a map and some provisions from the Adventurer Guild in Black Rock. They tried to capture him but were all killed.
"Humph, bunch of useless animals. Send some of our Elders to search for him"
"Yes"
In the kingdom of Dryadales Amica was holding a report when suddenly she jumped up and rushed to Bluemoon's house. She knocked on the door and said.
"Lord Argenti, I just received this from one of our spies. It's about Maximus!"
Before she even had time to react the letter was snached from her hands by Bluemoon.
After reading, it he laughed loudly "HAHAHA!!! That stupid kid, he didn't even touch a woman but has kid already!"
"What are you laughing you old fart?" asked Argenti.
Bluemoon passed the letter to Argenti.
"So he actually recognized one of our spies and sent a message. He might not be so stupid after all.
He actually wants me to lend him some spirit stones.!?"
"Give him 10 000 that should be enough. "Said Bluemoon "He said he will go back to Black Rock city in five months. Oh, and also this" with a wave of his had an ancient scroll appeared and floated to Amica. "Now go!"
"Yes!" then Amica rushed away.
"Why did you gave him that?" asked Argenti.
"I am sure those old "friends" are also looking for him. With that he will have a bigger chance."
At this time Maximus was quietly cultivating in a remote place. He didn't know why, but he had a strange feeling that a storm was approaching, and he needed to get stronger.