After training, Sian was heading for the training center cafeteria with the children who, although tired, had an excited look on their faces.
Since Charlotte had previously asked Sian to take it easy on the children's training, he didn't do anything extreme like the hellish training of the ex-mercenaries. Because they were still inexperienced, he was still teaching them the basics.
To ensure the safety of the children, even the training weapons were made by Illianna. She created several wooden weapons and added a soft outer layer that mitigates the damage received.
On the first day, only 5 children showed up, but over the course of the week, that number had quickly risen to 16. If you count the children who were not yet old enough to train, then there would be 23.
The real reason for most of them came wasn't the training itself, they were attracted by the meal that Ophi and Fran prepared for them to eat after training. Those who were very young could eat without reservation, but those who were of a certain age could only eat if they participated in the training.
As he passed through the cafeteria door, Sian saw a white figure fly directly into his stomach. Although he could easily dodge it, he chose not to.
With his arms outstretched, he grabbed the little girl who had jumped on him.
"Welcome, Papa!" The little girl passed her arms and legs around Sian and held tightly. "Today I'm going to turn your daughter for sure!"
The little white-haired goatkin girl who shouted happily was Agnes. After she tasted the cookies the first time she came with the other children, she started coming daily.
But it was not just a simple visit, every time she saw Sian, she called him papa. This was not only with him, Agnes would shout "mama" every time she saw Ophi and then jump on her.
Even though Sian loves children, it is not as if he is going to go around adopting all of them just because they ask. Whenever Agnes pestered him about wanting to become his daughter, Sian met her every time with a short and direct refusal.
With that said, Agnes is a very stubborn and persistent child, no matter how many times Sian has refused her, she keeps insisting.
Once, Sian tried to bribe her with the cookies she loves so much and for a moment, that plan had worked. Unfortunately, due to Emily's treachery in saying that if she became Sian's daughter it would make her have an endless supply of cookies, the plan failed.
"I don't remember turning your father." Sian smiled fondly as he ran his hand over her long straight white hair.
Even though he was strongly against it at the beginning, at the present moment he was almost overcome by fatigue. But it was not only due to Agnes' insistence, Emily had already asked Sian to adopt her little friend several times. They even agreed that since Emily calls her mommy and daddy, Agnes would call her mama and papa.
Putting his hand on Agnes' back to prevent her from falling, Sian went with Tina to one of the tables where Illianna and Emily were waiting.
Since the training center was a building planned to be used by hundreds of people, there were enough tables and chairs for everyone. Since Ophi and Fran had already left their meals ready on the tables, everyone began to fill their bellies.
***
After breakfast, while Ophi was collecting the plates together with Fran, the children had formed a circle and sat down on the floor. They were talking about a rumor that was going around the town.
Apparently for the past two weeks the forest that lay just beyond the Solaris wheat plantation was haunted. Several residents on the outskirts of the city and even guards claimed to have heard screams coming from the forest every night. According to the witnesses, the cries were so pitiful that they sounded as if souls were being punished in the depths of hell.
Despite the rumors, nothing was actually found. Whenever anyone went to check, there was nothing but signs of battle. Even if the guards waited in the forest at night, the cries moved to another place in the forest.
"I'm sure we got stronger after training with the teacher, why don't we go defeat these haunts?" Orion, the oldest of the orphanage children, said bravely as he stood.
"That's right," another boy said. "After the teacher's training, I bet we can do it!"
After the brave words of the two boys, a flurry of comments followed them. Most of the boys seemed excited to test how strong they were.
Obviously, the teacher the children were referring to was how the children had called Sian since he had started training them.
*Clap*
With a clap of his hands, Sian made all eyes turn to him.
"I know it's good to be excited and want to test your limits, but don't fool yourselves, you guys are weak." Sian cast a sharp glance at them before continuing, "Or rather, all of you are still far from being considered weak. With the strength you guys have, blindly going to face something unknown is the same as seeking your own death."
Facing Sian's harsh words, the children seemed to have lost all their earlier impetus as they bowed their heads.
"You don't have to be down about what he said," Ophi tried to cheer the children up. "He's only thinking of what's best for you. It would be very dangerous for you to go looking for an unknown creature."
"That's right," Fran said. "Although little Sian looks tough, he has a soft heart."
"They are right," Illianna supplemented. "Besides, I have a secret to tell, do you want to hear it?"
She glanced briefly and slyly at Sian before turning again to the children. Even if it was only for a brief moment, Sian had lived with Illianna long enough to know that she was up to something.
With the children's attention focused on her, Illianna lowered her posture a bit and, as if to tell a secret, she covered the sides of her mouth with her hands.
"He already defeated the haunting two nights ago." Although it sounded like a whisper, it was loud enough for everyone in the place to hear.
"Is that true?!" Orion shouted in surprise, but he was not the only one who seemed to have this doubt, the rest of the children were the same.
"If you don't believe me, you can ask him," Illianna said as she looked provocatively at Sian. "Isn't that right?"
Clearing his throat, Sian nodded his head quickly. "That's right, I've already defeated the haunts."
With cries of surprise, the children gathered around Sian. They were curious to know what the hauntings were like and how Sian defeated them, but this situation made him very uncomfortable. The reason was simple, he himself was the cause of the rumors.
From the moment he heard about the rumors, he knew immediately who are the owners of the pitiful cries, the 12 former mercenaries, Bardock and his two followers.
After Illianna said that it was good to have guards to keep up appearances, he planned to use the subjects mentioned above. But even if it was just to keep up appearances, Sian thought they were too weak, because of this, he immediately started training them to take over the post fully.
Since there was not enough time to do this during the day, the only thing left to do was to train them at night.
The reason for the pitiful screams was simple, Sian was training them the same way Ayze trains him. But it didn't take long for the screams to attract the attention of the townspeople.
Even though he always got them out or moved them quickly with space magic, it was a nuisance to have to keep doing this constantly. So Sian moved the training place to the arena of the training center. So as not to attract unwanted attention again, whenever they trained, he isolated the sound of the place with space magic.
"Defeating a little haunting was a piece of cake, he is more amazing than you can imagine."
As if she was planning something, Illianna attracted the attention of the euphoric children.
"Did you know that the king of Hosnein granted the title of hero to him?" She gestured with her hand to Sian.
Illianna's words left not only the children surprised, but Sian himself as well.
"I believe I don't have such a flashy title." Sian denied.
"Is that so?" An expression of doubt welled up on Illianna's face. "I remember that although you were not present, there was a huge bestowal ceremony that the king prepared especially for you."
"I may have a bad memory, but I clearly remember refusing that ceremony."
Frowning, Illianna turned to the former leader of the mercenaries, who was currently head of the hotel guard.
"Edwin, have you heard about this?"
As he was a bit distant, Edwin came closer. Even though he is called a guard, he was more like a butler because of his characteristic costume and appearance of one.
"This humble one has heard about it before," Edwin spoke respectfully. "Three years ago, Lord Sian defeated the tenebrous hydra single-handedly. After that event, the king of Hosnein appointed him as a hero and declared him as the kingdom's protector. Since it was an unprecedented feat among mortals, almost every noble on the continent knows about it."
Looking at Sian's doubtful expression, Illianna added.
"Perhaps you are underestimating your own fame. Your presence is so significant that from the moment of your naming ceremony onward, even the troops of a wild kingdom like Edrorian have not dared to set foot in Hosnein."
Even with Sian claiming not to know about this appointment, Illianna just ignored him. As she had already completed the remaining small details of the inn, she began to tell the story of how he defeated the hydra to the children, Ophi and Fran.
In short, three years ago, there was a seven-headed hydra that plagued the kingdom of Hosnein for months. It would always appear, attack a town, eat hundreds of people, and then return to the forest.
In an attempt to stop it, some groups of warriors, soldiers, mercenaries and magic hunters were dispatched. Unfortunately, even a stronger group consisting of ten heroic warriors and one legendary were defeated, with only two of them coming back alive.
By this point, the king was desperate, for the other kingdoms had taken a spectator position and even with an appeal, they did not send reinforcements. With no other choices, the king appealed to the dragon Ayzeret, The Calm.
Despite the terrible reputation of dragons, Ayzerert proved to differ from the rest of it's race. With her enormous kindness and gentleness, she took pity on the poor souls who were suffering at the Hydra's fangs and sent her disciple and apostle, Sian.
After a long and grueling battle in which his body was covered in blood, Sian finally managed to defeat the dreadful hydra. His act of heroism put an end to the terror that ravaged one of the greatest powers of the central continent.
As an act of thanks, the king nominated him as a hero of the kingdom and rewarded him generously.
"That's absurd!" Sian said as he looked unsatisfied at Illianna. "Is that the story that is circulating? I'm offended! If I had a long, hard fight against that hydra, Ayze would surely get me into another hellish training regimen."
"No use complaining to me, that's how most bards tell that story," Illianna replied.
Although the children wanted to hear more stories, since it was already time for class, they had to return to the orphanage, taking Emily and Tina along. Since Tina was eager for knowledge and power, Sian asked Charlotte to let her join the class and today would be her first day.
Just to be safe, Sian sent the four women from his group of guards with them.