Arledge didn't know that he was not a protagonist. He was only a person blessed with intelligence as a reward he gets from his bright soul. Also, souls that will reincarnate supposedly have their past block but because he was an anomaly, he retained his memories.
He looked meticulously through the drawer with his widened eyes. He didn't bring out the clothes in the drawer. He only lifted slightly to see any valuables in the gap.
After looking in the third column, he laid on the bed to see further down the clothes. In the fourth column, he saw a stone.
'What was this?...' he thought as he took it out unconsciously.
He was amazed at how magical it is. He didn't see something like this in his previous world even on social media.
'It was careless of me taking it out without even considering the dangers...' he thought. 'I need to adapt to this world quickly or else I will die the moment I see something otherworldly...'
Fortunately, he didn't feel anything weird after touching the stone. He looked at the stone thoroughly.
The stone was blue and was glossy. There was a swirling vortex inside like the inside was something liquid.
He tried to think what was the use of this but the only thing he can think of was eating it. He can't inject this on his veins as the shell was too hard for the needle to penetrate and breaking it was not a wise choice.
The stone looks pretty useless to him except it was pretty as a decoration or accessory.
'Why does Victor hide this in the drawer?...' he thought as he tried to come up with a reason. He activated his brain cells to think about the reason.
'A keepsake or something valuable...' these were the two options he got from his in-depth thinking.
'If it's a keepsake, it makes sense but if it's something valuable then I miss something in my observation...' he thought.
He once again looked at the stone in his hands intently as he try to find an answer to his question from it.
His eyes went red as the excessive use of brainpower but still, no answer came out of him. Because of it, his hand tightened up which made the stone release a sound.
*crack*
Seeing the action that he made, he immediately turned himself to his normal self. He was already used to this reaction as even in his previous he was like this.
He untightened his hands to see the stone but he was shocked at what he saw...
'No!...' he said as he saw a crack in the stone.
Without even hesitating, he placed it back to its original place. He was now anxious at what he made.
'F*cking self... how careless... tsk' he thought 'I should probably go to a psychiatrist to cure my anger issue...' he decided to go to the doctor when he grows up.
He looked further down the drawer but the fifth column was the last. After confirming that there are nothing more valuable in the drawer, he then started getting back to his crib.
He got up from the bed then started walking with a slumped posture and droopy shoulder on the other side of the bed where the crib is placed. Of course, he didn't forget tiptoeing his foot.
He was not in the mood to play right now as the plan he made a month ago turned into a complete failure. Except for the things he saw that he didn't even know, nothing he saw was worth it.
After a few moments, he made it back to the crib. He walked lazily to the corner to lock the side rail on the crib.
*click*
Then started walking on the opposite side.
*click*
He locked the side rail then laid on the mattress dejectedly. He was tired of what he had just done, his body and mind were exhausted from the operation.
He lay on the bed as his eyes went droopy then close completely.
But then he suddenly as a notification sound rang inside his head!
[ Shop Tab updated ]
He saw it but he can check it later. He was really tired from the actions and brain exhausting thinking.
Now, he was in sleep and no disturbing sounds will ring in his head and shock him.
---
Outside the orphanage, it was a sunny afternoon but the temperature was mild not as one expected to. A wind suddenly came and brushed the leaves off the tree. The leaves that have fallen landed in front of a black-haired man.
Victor was outside the orphanage building and was currently sweeping the fallen leaves. The fallen leaves were then added to the pile of leaves on the side.
'Should I move out with Arledge?...' he pondered.
He always wanted to move out of the orphanage with Arledge but he can't as he currently does not have a permanent job and money to adopt Arledge legally.
He can also forcefully bring out Arledge off the orphanage but that also means Victor will be convicted as a kidnapper and he doesn't want to do that.
But there is also another option he can choose and that was being a certified magia.
Magias was renowned all over the world. All beings in the world agreed on magia to call their powers.
Magias are divided into 9 tiers:
Beginner magia (tier 1)
Intermediate magia (tier 2)
Expert magia (tier 3)
Master magia (tier 4)
Grandmaster magia (tier 5)
King magia (tier 6)
Emperor magia (tier 7)
Sage magia (tier 8)
World magia (tier 9)
Victor's mana was currently on par with Tier 1 magia but he can't break through it as he didn't awaken his power.
Awakening was an important aspect to break the wall of tier 1. Awakening happens mostly at the age of 12 but some people are late awakened but those people were rare.
Victor was currently 24 years old this year but he was still hoping that he will awaken his power even after more than a decade of waiting.
Non-awakened humans have black hair as a symbol of not awakening and Victor was one of them. Some say that awakening has something to do with bloodlines or their life experiences.
But Victor does not have a bloodline and his life experience was not too good to awaken his power.
'If I ever awaken, I will work at Magia Adventurers Guild as an adventurer...' he thought determined as he grip on the handle of the broom cracked.
He immediately controlled his emotion and his strength.
'Phew... I thought I will break something again...' Victor thought. Victor sometimes broke things like plates, mugs, etc., and cause his salary to be deducted.
It was painful as the salary he get from the orphanage was not high and salary deduction was basically turning a cheap bread even cheaper.
The savings he accumulated over the years was cleaned up years ago. If he really can't handle his financial needs of him, he will sell the magia stone he hidden on his bedside table.
Magia stone was a currency used by many magias to exchange for items, information, houses, etc. but lower magias used them to increase their mana.
Mana was everywhere. Some people believe it was within the air some people believe it was different from the air but that didn't matter to people as long as they can use it to strengthen themselves.
Magia can absorb mana from their surroundings. The absorption rate was dependent on one's talent and people that have a blessed body have that privilege.
Many magias are finding blessed bodies all over the world to cultivate them and make them their ally. That is noble and magias are finding blessed bodies on babies as they didn't have protection to hide their bodies meaning they were vulnerable.
'Arthur and Astoria were one of them...' he thought. He still remembers their names as he will not be in this situation if not for him to let them be adopted without their permission or at least their parent's permission if they are any.
'At least I made sure their talent will not be wasted on this orphanage...' Victor still thought that what he did was the best for both orphanage and the babies. Although he regret that decision caused him to lose his only love...
*sigh*
He still loves Anna but he doesn't know how to handle this situation. It was difficult for him to see Anna everyday at the orphanage without even reminding him of the break up.
He shook his head as he felt sad thinking about it. He didn't delve into that matter anymore and continued to sweep the fallen leaves.