"Lola, take this imp," asked Master Will. Carelessly carrying baby Ned in his arms, wrapped in ragged clothing. Aimlessly tying the clothes whenever Master Will sees fit.
Lola swept clear a wooden chat and sat. "He seems so tiny," Lola said softly. "How did you manage to have a child, Will?"
"Long story, "Master Will replied. "Take him, only disaster will befall this innocent kid."
"It's Isashil's favor, take him," Lola said. Also, I can't take care of him. Look at me. This might be the only time that I'm taking a rest. Thanks to you, I'm able to use my Healings here."
Master Will's life went into detail the moment he took care of Ned. Eventually, gaining sentiments towards the child. He focused his time teaching young Ned, and took him, not just his apprentice, but as his own child.
"Master, Master, what's that in your hand?" asked the young Ned, barely able to walk. "Can I...try it?"
It's not even a year after I found him, yet here he is. Loved to talk rather than to walk, amused Master Will. "This? Is called Magic, this is just utility magic, to make fire," replied Master Will trying to explain magic. "Fire, fire, see this? This is fire."
"Magic! I like magic!" cried the young Ned. "Teach me!"
Yet, the time has passed, and Master Will recognized that young Ned was Hollow.
"Master, no matter how I tried, I can't," said young Ned. The young kid was trying to hold his eyes, not to shed tears. Walking into the forest, Master Will and young Ned walked inside the Grieving Woods, and Master Will taught young Ned to hunt the wild.
"It's not too late kid, even if you're a Hollow, you'll still be able to use magic," explains Master Will. Telling him about the core is pointless, not until he formed one. It might just disappoint him.
Hearing his Master said those words, young Ned jumped out of joy. "How! How Master! How?!"
Mater Will raised a finger to signal Ned to shush, eventually finding a Rabbi to hunt. "If you're strong enough to find a magical creature willing to have a pact with you, then both of you will gain from each other," whispered Master Will.
"But how Master? Magical creatures?"
"These creatures"—he pointed at a Rabbi close to them —"are favored by the Maker, they wield a magnificent amount of Mana, and can cast powerful magic. They are born with magic inside their body. That is why creatures need not study to use magic. Unlike us humans, where magic is learned or passed on," Master Will said. Trying to explain to young Ned as easy as possible. "You must make a Pact with magical creatures so you can borrow their magic and use them. But making a Pact with them is tedious. It's either you tame them first, or just force them to make a Pact with you." Seeing the rabbi, the two walked as slow as they could. Eventually ducking when they are near.
"Where can I find them, Master? Wait Master, what's tame, is it different from pact?"
"Someone asked me the same before, well, if he's here, he will understand the difference now," Master Will softened his voice then continued. "When you form a pact with a magical creature, you alone will have the power to command the creature. Give them any command, and they will follow you, whether the creature liked it. That's because you formed a pact using your blood. It's like an agreement between you and the creature, and this agreement was sealed with your blood. While Taming is, well just tame, a tamed creature has control over their body. They can decide to ignore your command or even leave you at will."
"Also, what happened to your arm, Master?"
"Oh, this?—"looking at his left arm, or what has remained of it—"I deserved this, kid."
Many moons passed, and the child became a youth. If only he's at the Capital, this kid will sure to gather several ladies. Thought Master Will, while he smiled out his thoughts.
"Where is that kid," Master Will muttered. Walking back and forth inside their hill-house. "He never came home, this is the first time he never came home."
Once in a week, after hunting several Rabbi meat, either two of them or only Ned went to the market to sell their game. Gaining a suitable amount of Pica, they could use to survive. Hearing the thudding outside, Master Will strode to check the sound.
"Master, I'm sorry, I didn't get to come home last night, something happened along the way." Ned bowed. "Some thugs robbed me."
"It's fine, kid. As long as you`re fine. Let me see that face. And what happened to the thugs?" Master Will heaved a sigh of relief, seeing his kid back once more. He always thought whenever Ned leave their home. Ned would never come back. The same with the people whom he loved from his past.
"I don't know what happened to them. After I battled them, I also collapsed. Luckily people from a nearby orphanage helped me," Ned answered. "Master, they tried to rob the herbs you asked. The herbs are now tattered. But I didn't let them have it. I defeated them, Master!"
"You kid!" Feeling touched, Master Will almost cried. But he needed to be tough for his apprentice. He waved his hand. "That's enough, go inside. I have soup made for you, and I will heal that swollen face of yours. After that, you rest. Go now."
Time after time, Master Will knew that he couldn't contain Ned. Along with his mysterious past, he knew that Ned must explore the outside. And he knew that he won't be the one holding his kid back of his future.
Inside their home, Master Will took a chest stored under his ragged and wooden bed. Opening the chest with his Mana, Master Will took a sword out of the chest. "It's time my friend, please, take good care of him." Holding the sword, it shines with a faint forest green light.
Fulfilling Master Will's quests, the two trekked inside the forest, close to their humble abode.
Go in the middle and kneel," Master Will commanded. With a deep voice and a serious look on his face. "We will start the Bestowal."
Unsheathing the Butterfly, Master Will pointed and leaned the sword on Ned's left shoulder. "In the name of the Maker," he breathes deep. "I, Sir Othor Willam Strat, bestow you, my companion, my partner, my savior. The Butterfly."
Lifting the Butterfly, he moved and leaned the sword to Ned's right shoulder. "With my Life, my Soul, and my Wisdom, I bestow you the Mark of the Knight."
Giving the Mark of the Knight, Master Will knew the consequences. Losing what gives him strength, Master Will feel weakened and nauseated the moment the Mark took off from his body. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Together with the fireflies now surrounding both of them, Master Will lifted the Butterfly, this time leaning on Ned's head. "With that, I pass onto you my Legacy."
"Now stand up, kid, and accept this sword." Master Will said. With this. End Maker, Moraki, I'm ready. Anytime you want, I'm here, and I'm willing. Master Will steeled his thoughts.
Master Will let Ned join the Selection. He knew that it's the only way for his kid to attain limitless strength. And wished that he would not take the same path as him.
Days after the Selection. Master Will felt a strong and quick surge of Mana that enveloped the island. Troubled, Master Will went to venture the darkness of the forest. Where he felt a strong wave of Mana the time he gets closer inside the middle of the forest.
Too late to stop, the Gate was already erected and gained energy from both worlds.
The culprit was right in front of him. "Who are you?" he asked. Fidgeting with his hands, a spark formed at the tip of his fingers.
"Oh! My, my, we have a guest here!" said the hooded man. "How are you old man, or should I call you William the Pleasant or William the Hateful? The Order liked the latter. They liked it so much, that they put a bounty onto your head! The first to steal a Mark! Right under their noses! My, my, you've made quite a ruckus. Well, that time I'm just a kid, wandering in the slum, so I really didn't know much about you William the Hateful!"
"The Order," Master Will muttered. "I said who are you!" He raised an arm and a ball of fire burned its way towards the hooded man.
Raising the staff, the hooded man invoked a barrier that made the fireball recoiled, and scattered on the surroundings. "How rude of me," replied the hooded man. He bowed and lifted the hood off. "I'm just a Mage. Oh? You want the truth?"—looking at Master Will that conjured another spell—"silly old man, let me finish before you fire me up! I get it, I know, I know, you want the truth. Well, I'm a Loyal member of the Ancient Order of the Seven Genesys. Squad Captain under the wing of First Genesys. Gold Level Hunter, Royal Mage, Oh, and Spy! Dark Mage, Park Han Fu!"