It had been several hours since Rowen had started dismantling the slave collars. While it was a simple process for him, it still took time to release all of the slaves from their bonds. Plus, he was still a bit malnourished and weak from having his core suppressed for so long. It was only now that he had finally finished his work.
Now that all of the former slaves had all been released, Kayn stood up and spoke again. "As I said before if you don't have anywhere or don't know where to go, stay in this area and I'll be back in a couple days of time and will lead anyone remaining back to Myrem. There should still be food in the camp you can gather to bring here. Rowen, you come with me please."
Kayn didn't intend to take Rowen back to his cave since Kinzie was there and he didn't want anything in the open that the old elf could threaten him with. So, he was just going to take him to a nearby area where the enchanter could work in peace on his commissioned mask.
However, there was one other thing Kayn wanted from Rowen, knowledge. "Enchanter Rowen, if I paid you a hefty sum of gold, would you teach me how to be immune to slave collars and how to dismantle them?"
Rowen only gave Kayn a glance before chuckling. "First you exhaust me by having me remove all of those slave collars, now you're asking for my knowledge, personal spells and personal discoveries might I add, in exchange for mere gold?"
Kayn could only shrug his shoulders at this response, "Forget it then." While disappointed, that was within his expectations. After all, the only people he was aware of that could remove slave collars resided in the capital.
Kayn and Rowen then walked in silence as each had different things going through their minds. After finding a protected outcrop that hosted a plethora of small caves, Kayn decided it was time to part with the old enchanter and head back to Kinzie. He still had a lot of healing to do on her while Rowen worked on his new mask.
"Well, I'll depart here and return in a couple days, there are a few things I must attend to before departing this area." As Kayn turned around and began to walk away from the cave Rowen decided to occupy, he suddenly had the inspiration to ask Rowen a question to clear some doubts. "By the way, what's the name of your granddaughter?"
"What? Are you going to try and seduce her or something? I can't see your face, nor know how old you are, so how do I know you're not some perverted old man that will prey on my precious granddaughter?" Rowen mocked at Kayn's question.
Kayn's eyebrows twitched while turning his head to look at Rowen after he heard that comment and he couldn't help but complain to the old elf. "I'm probably younger than your granddaughter you ungrateful old man! Forget it! I'll see you in a couple days."
Rowen's brows lifted a little at the thought of this person not being a creepy old man, but being a terrifying child. Out of curiosity and in order to fish out information on how his granddaughter was doing though, he decided to be honest.
"Didn't I tell you to respect your elders?" Rowen squinted while looking Kayn in the eyes. "My granddaughter's name is Kinzetia, but ever since she was a child her parents and myself have called her Kinzie. Brilliant child, but has a knack for getting into trouble."
Kayn stopped his footsteps and couldn't help but slowly turn around and now both of his eyes were twitched. 'I'm being messed with, right?' But then all of the sudden a bright mischievous smile appeared behind his mask.
"Say, if your granddaughter was ever to be in trouble of death or slavery and I saved her, would you then think about selling me your spells?"
"Odd question, but I suppose so, though I doubt such a thing would happen. Kinzie knows better than to go out without trusted people nor would she fight a monster beyond her means. However, if the case ever happened that you were to meet her in trouble, then yes, I would share my knowledge with you, free of charge at that." Rowen nodded as he affirmed his thoughts.
Not only was the possibility of this man even meeting Rowen's granddaughter low if he wasn't a resident of Myrem, but saving her was just laughable in his mind.
"Alright! In that case I hope you remember your words, see you in a couple of days!" Kayn replied while heading back to the cave Kinzie was in with a slight hop in his step.
Rowen could only sigh watching him walk away wondering why the last sentence made him sound so happy. He couldn't help but have a bad feeling.
…
Kayn didn't want to reveal about Kinzie just yet to Rowen as he first needed to make sure he was to her who he said. Otherwise, what if he was some pure-blood enthusiast and was trying to find her to kill her or something? He had his own ears and features covered, so Rowen shouldn't have known he was part elf as well.
While Kayn was walking, he was silently contemplating on what he had gained from this trip.
'While this whole thing has kind of been a pain in the ass with that snarky old man, the injuries, still missing my hand, and having my clothes ruined, I believe I'll come out of this with more gains than losses. Hmm, although I guess the main point should be that I kept my friend alive and from being completely traumatized and came to certain realizations about myself.'
Kayn made a door into the cave and closed it behind him. It was time to continue healing Kinzie. He figured within two days' time he should be able to have Kinzie fully healed up and able to move just fine. Hopefully by then his mask would be finished and he would have his answers about Rowen from Kinzie herself.
Kinzie was awake when he entered, however she was looking at Kayn with eyes that seemed to say "I'm going to kill you" while also looking betrayed.
Kayn took off his mask and raised an eyebrow to her expression while asking "Did I do something? What's with that terrifying look?"
"First, you leave me alone here for HOURS when I can barely move. Second, I'm starving! How am I supposed to eat any of the food you left on account of the first, not to mention drinking any water! I've also been holding in my pee this entire time! Lastly, you say my face looks terrifying? I say, you have to have quite the pair of balls on you."
It occurred to Kayn that this just confirmed it, he truly was an idiot. How could he forget that she couldn't move again! She wasn't able to move to any of the food he left behind, let alone being able to pick it up to eat it!
"I-I'm so sorry! I'll get you some food and water immediately after taking you out to do your business!"
Saying this Kayn immediately picked her up and helped her outside to use the restroom. She was embarrassed and couldn't seem to make up her mind about wanting help or not, even though she needed it.
Kayn then used mana to conjure a bubble of water in front of her mouth. This was the second time Kayn had completely taken the fact she can't move out of his head; how could she not think he's actually stupid?
However, Kinzie stopped thinking about her grievances and quickly consumed the water without thinking. She only realized moments later that Kayn had just used water magic!
Not only had she seen him use earth and wind before as Shin, as Kayn he used light magic to her limited knowledge of healing. Now with him using what appeared to her like darkness magic while fighting and water magic for her to drink, that added two more! Five elements in total! That was unheard of, it was supposed to be impossible!
With her voice stuttering as she looked at Kayn quickly moving to grab some food, she asked a question she feared the answer of, "Just-just how many elements can you use?"
Kinzie's stuttering voice brought Kayn out of his hurried state as her turned to give her an arrogant smirk. "All of them."
Kayn couldn't help but grin even more as he could practically hear her jaw hit the floor. "Now I have a question for you, and it's odd, but humor me. If you had a great grandfather that was alive and had an amicable relationship with you, what would his name be?"
"My Papi?" Indeed, that odd question brought Kinzie out of her stupefied state, only to take a minute to process what Kayn had actually just asked.
"I'm not sure why you would ask such a personal question all of the sudden, even knowing both sides of you I'm skeptical. But since you've been somewhat honest with me during this short time, I will be as well. Yes, I have a great grandfather who is still alive, his name is Rowen. I haven't seen him in a while, but we get along well as he helped raise me when I was a small child."
Kayn was inwardly celebrating the gains he would get from the old elf now that he knew everything Rowen said was true. There was no way he was going just give up on free knowledge! Being able to resist a slave collar could be life-saving for him some day, not to mention possible extra benefits for being able to remove them if he could manage to learn it!
"Well, I hope that a great grandfather held in such regard by his granddaughter is a man of his word." Kayn shook his head as he responded. "Anyway, it's time to continue healing you after you eat some food, so be ready."
It was only after two and a half days and minimal sleep that Kayn left the cave followed by Kinzie, walking as she normally would with no visible troubles.
…
"So, you said that we are meeting with the group of slaves to go back to Myrem, but first you have to make a quick detour?" Kinzie questioned Kayn as he wasn't explaining his plan in great detail like usual.
"Yep, I made a deal with someone and we are to meet up nearby. I hope that I receive what was promised." Kayn quickly explained as they were getting close to the area where he left Rowen.
"Hey old man! I'm here, I hope you're done!" Kayn yelled out loud while patiently waiting for Rowen to come out of a cave entrance that had large logs placed in front of it, which was new since the last time he was here.
Of course, Rowen was disgruntled by this attitude and wanted to teach him a lesson, so he walked out the entrance while yelling, "Brat! how many times do I have to tell you to resp-…. Kinzie!?"
"Papi!?"
Kayn had his mask on, but he was sure that the old elf would surely want to slap his smug face if he could see his grin. 'Time to receive my rewards!'