Nier stood unsure as he looked at the black haired boy staring at him with a frown.
"Fight me!" The black haired boy said.
"Umm...No?" Nier said tilting his head. He had just entered the orphanage when he was met with this situation. Right now they stood in the playground as the kids surrounded Nier and the black haired boy who wouldn't back down.
"What!?" The black haired boy- Llenar looked at him with wide eyes.
Refusal was an option!?
"Un..why do you want to be beaten" Nier unconsciously provoked Llenar. The boy with eyes and hair as black as darkness grit his teeth.
"I am the KING OF THE GROUND!-" He shouted.
-"DON'T MAKE FUN OF ME! I will be the one to beat you!"
Nier too tired to argue vanished from his spot. At least that's what all the kids thought. Nier immediately moved at his maximum speed ready to slap Llenar but was surprised to see the black haired boy looking at him with wide eyes and complete concentration. Not only that, he was trying to move away. 'Trying' as he was too slow in Nier's eyes who reached Llenar immediately and flicked him in the forehead.
*Dhup
Llenar fell on his butt.
Cheers rang I as all the kids flocked Nier.
"Woooh"
"How did you do that!"
"•••••••••!"
"Can big bwother ushe magic!?"
"••••••••••!"
Nier could understand some of them but they mainly talked in Mayanese. Nier just thought that those who didn't were not from Decericorn.
"Ugh...Llenar stood back rubbing his forehead and butt.
"I... accept defeat. BUT I'LL WIN NEXT TIME!" Llenar shouted but Nier simply walked up to him and pat him in the back with a smile.
Llenar was moved to tears.
--------------
Two months passed as Nier got suited to his life at the orphanage. He had become something of a leader to everyone not only because of his size but also because of his strength and attitude. Everyone adored him.
"So...what do you think we should do about his surname" Belle asked Renley.
"Hmm... what's the usual procedure"
"Well, we either assign one ourselves or the parents who adopt them do so. In the end, we'll need to submit a file in the court."
"I see. So how do you guys pick a surname"?
"It is randomly given by us or the court but..." Belle replied thoughtfully and paused before continuing.
"The child can choose for himself if he is old enough"
"I see..." Renley leaned back and looked at Nier.
"What do you think?" He asked the boy.
"..."
Seeing him hesitate, Renley closed his eyes for a moment before looking at Nier.
"I believe you should choose one yourself... something that holds meaning to you."
"..."
"You know, the sword pillar. He is one of the strongest sorcerers currently, he might even be the strongest right now if you don't count Karma. I had the privilege of meeting him once when I was a little younger."
Nier listened with complete attention.
"I was in complete awe and asked him excitedly-"
{"How are you so strong?!"}
Renley paused and continued-
"Instead of answering me directly, he asked me what I thought was the reason. At that point, I answered-{"You have someone to...protect?"}. It seemed like a perfect answer to me. He chuckled and replied-"
{"That is a great answer, one worthy of praise. Although what you say does bring anyone strength. I reached where I am because I did it for myself"}
Renley closed his eyes and thought back to the calm voice that radiated power. Stopping his reminiscing, Renley looked at Nier.
"The sword pillar looked at me for the last time and said this-
"We are sorcerers. No matter what field it is. We always search for the heights we can reach, the heights we can surpass. The path we take is lonely no matter how many people you have. When we die, or when we lose everything. At that point, the only thing that remains is...you. Our identities and sense of self are the only things that will remain."
{"The world is big. You will find things of beauty which will bring you joy, yet there will be countless sorrows and dangers as well. No one lives a perfect life and everyone will have regrets. What you will regret most would be not being able to live for yourself. In those moments, the one you need to fight for...is yourself"}
"That is why Nier. I think you should choose your own identity. By that, It would still be your own choice if you make us give you a name"
Nier looked at Renley with widened eyes.
"Hmm... I'll think about it"
________
A month passed as Nier got used to the new environment. Llenar didn't challenge him again saying he will win their second bout but couldn't do so now.
A similar rivalry went in between Kyber and Traicion though it seemed to be like that for the latter more than the former. Sitting alone in room, Nier was reading a book. He had been learning Mayanese and knew the basic symbols by now. The door to the room banged open as a child with brown hair ran in.
"Xiu..?"
"Cecilia is sick!" The kid said hurriedly.
...
"...Cecilia is sick?" Nier confirmed looking at Diana's worried face. They walked up the corridor to the dormitories.
"Yes...she has a high fever" Diana said opening the door.
Nier's eyes immediately locked on a small figure curled up beneath a blanket.
"Why?" Nier muttered looking at her miserable state.
"I have no idea, she went limp today while strolling in the garden."
Nier walked in closer looking at the blue haired girl. Renley and Len were out with Kyber to work in the adventurer's guild and would be returning hours later. The little girl had fluffy cheeks and short sky blue hair.
The gate to the dormitory banged open as Traicion entered with wide eyes.
"W-What happened?!" He asked anxiously. Diana shook her head indicating ignorance. Traicion was covered completely in sweat as he looked shook seeing his sister's state.
Nier could only watch disheartened. He returned to the study room with his head down. Opening the door, Nier stood absentmindedly for sometime before his sight fell on a book that was lying on the floor.
'Peace lay between the borders of life and death'
He read the words written on the page that was opened and frowned. The book was written in a language he could understand but was seeing it for the first time.
*Tap
*Tap
The sound of footsteps reached Nier as he opened the door again and peeked out. Renley, Len and Kyber were walking in the corridor towards him, or to be precise- the dormitory room that laid ahead of the study room.
The trio smiled at him and walked past the room in a hurry as Nier followed them.
"Did you see Cecilia?"
Kyber asked tiredly. He seemed to have worked hard during the adventurer's mission.
"Yes...You should see it yourself" Nier answered as they reached the dormitory. Opening the door, Nier saw Diana sitting while using ice packs on Cecilia's forehead. One of the orphanage nurse was also preparing to feed the blue haired girl. Kyber who was seated on a nearby bed turned to look at the group and said
"Please check what happened to happened to her-"
"-The doctors couldn't find anything with body" Diana completed his words.
Renley glanced at Len who returned the look and didn't say a word.
"I apologise Traicion but I can't pass judgement if a professional has no idea" Renley said sighing
Traicion lowered his head and looked absentmindedly at the ground. Len looked at him and sighed.
"Don't be too anxious. It could be a fleeting moment of sickness and she might return normal soon."
"I-I...hope that is true" Traicion nodded sweating.
"I will check her mana circuit once she is awake and consult with some professional if she isn't better by tomorrow" Len added.
"T-Thanks" Traicion said with a miserable smile. Nier was surprised to see him in such a state. So far, he had been strict or annoying or serious. 'Serious' seemed to be his default state of attitude. Yet he was so miserable when something happened to Cecilia.
"Oi...Knock it off. Your attitude might be annoying her so just keep your tears up your eyes otherwise Cecilia will beat you after waking up" Kyber said grinning. Although his words were brash, they seemed to have calmed Tracion who smiled at them.
"You are correct..." Traicion said as he focused on Renley and Len.
"Can you take me too? I will try to find for methods to help her as well"
Renley nodded not minding it.
After that, Len and Renley reached the study room with Nier who pulled them forcefully. Entering the room, Nier picked up the book on the ground and showed it to them.
"What language is this?" He asked.
The former paladins read what was written on the book for some time before returning it.
"We cannot read it" Renley said.
"Why are you saying 'we' so surely?" Len raised his eyebrows
"Oh come on! We literally grew up together. What do you know more than I do? Oh right...you are an expert at bullsh-... making things up. I apologise, I almost forgot your achievements." Renley said sarcastically as he changed his words to more 'appropriate' language realising that Nier was present.
Len returned a dead expression.
"You are only funny when you are fighting someone. You should relax more" Renley shook his head.
"Consider it a psychological attack. Anyways, you are right- I can't read this language but I am certain that it is a natural language."
Natural Languages. They were languages that manifested naturally from nature when the initial species were born. Zalnese was an example of a natural language as it was supposedly engraved in the minds of the first humans from the moment they woke up three thousand years ago. Any other language used by humans was just created by them instead of being natural. Similarly, the elves, demons, beasts, giants and manaborn all had their own specific languages. The natural languages could infact be learned by multiple different species but it was hard to find teachers who could do so. It was even said that there were unknown magical natural languages which could effect reality in certain ways but that was extremely rare.
Nier recalled the information he had learnt and asked.
"A natural language? Whose? And how do know?"
"The languages of nature are extremely different when compared to the ones that were created by anyone. We were both taught about languages from a young ages due to possible foreign missions...anyways- It is definitely not Elven..." Len said.
"I agree. It can't be the beast language as I doubt we'll find beasts intelligent enough to write in here when it is hard to find one in Landmoon itself.
"There is a lack of information to be too sure. Anyways- why are you asking us about it?" Renley asked looking at Nier curiously.
"Because I can read it"