William and Vedik were traveling to their destination. After two days of travel, they finally reached a dense forest.
William turned to Vedik and said, "We will soon reach our destination." But seeing Vedik's exhausted face, he added, "Let's take a break."
Soon, they both drank water, and after a moment of silence, William handed over the locket he had received from Miss Nuwa.
Vedik looked at the locket curiously. "What is this?"
William cleared his throat and replied, "This is your locket that Miss Nuwa found beside you in the basket."
Vedik turned to William and asked, "Will... Father, if this was mine, why didn't Miss Nuwa give it to me earlier?"
William knew he shouldn't keep the truth from Vedik. With a heavy heart, he recounted the full story he had listened to from Miss Nuwa about Vedik's past.
He explained how soldiers had been searching for Vedik, the hidden locket, and how Vedik mysteriously appeared at the orphanage doorstep on that stormy night.
"Miss Nuwa kept the locket hidden until now," William added.
A heavy silence descended upon them. "So, someone was looking for me," Vedik murmured, the weight of the revelation settling on his shoulders. "But why?"
William squeezed Vedik's shoulder in silent comfort. "We'll figure it out together. For now, we're nearing our destination."
They passed through the dense forest and arrived at a small hut.
William said, "We have arrived at our destination ."
Vedik then asked, "But I thought we were going to the capital."
William replied with a wry smile, "The capital has its advantages, but it's also filled with danger. I brought you here because I know someone who can teach you magic—someone we can trust implicitly."
While saying this, William smiled.
Vedik eyed the hut with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. "Wait here," William instructed firmly. "I need to speak with your teacher first."
William's POV
Taking a deep breath, William approached the hut and knocked on the door. " Jas... Jasmin, I am back."
He was welcomed with a huge fireball that he deflected just in time; however, a fiery explosion erupted as a beautiful woman walked out of the door.
Her name was Jasmin; she had breathtaking beauty with fiery red hair.
"Jasmin," William sighed, his voice filled with a sense of longing.
Jasmin narrowed her eyes and said, "William? I warned you never to return and show me your face."
William stood his ground, his gaze unwavering. "Jasmin, I..."
His words were cut short as a wave of magical energy enveloped him, locking him in place.
"Spatial Bound," Jasmin muttered coldly.
Jasmin then asked, "How did you find me in the first place?"
William replied steadily despite the uncomfortable spell binding him. "I will always know where you are." He gestured around them. "This is the place where we first met; I always knew that you were living here."
"Jasmin," he continued earnestly, "I understand your anger. Neglecting you was my responsibility; I was the biggest fool in the world."
"But in the last ten years," he added with conviction, "I've left my past life behind. Now my only identity is William Wilson."
"I will not deflect your next attack; just kill me if you want to, but I can't bear to live without you anymore."
Hearing this, Jasmin's eyes showed a trace of anger and annoyance before softening into guilt.
Her eyes became a little moist as she said, "Okay, I will forgive you—but this will be your first and last chance. You should never repeat your past mistakes or I will never meet with you again."
Relief washed over William as he said, "Thank you for your forgiveness; I will never let you down again. Could you please... lift the spell?"
She replied firmly, "I will lift it but after ten minutes."
"By the way," she added suddenly with curiosity, "who is the child waiting beside the tree?"
William suddenly remembered Vedik and rushed back to where he left him.
"Jasmin," he said as he returned to her side, "meet Vedik.
He's my student and now… also our adopted son—Vedik Wilson."
He pushed Vedik towards Jasmin while saying, "Introduce yourself, brat; she will be your new teacher and... your mother."
Back to Vedik's POV
Vedik's jaw dropped when he heard those last words. He stared at William and then at Jasmin, bewildered.
"How can an old man like you have such a beautiful wife?" he blurted out, unable to contain his surprise.
Jasmin laughed listening to this.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, My Lady," Vedik said respectfully. "My name is Vedik Wilson."
He looked nervous but continued bravely. "Until recently I was an orphan until Father adopted me. Now I also have a mother. I hope you will accept me as your son."
Jasmin listened intently as she remembered some bittersweet memories from her past.
She slowly walked toward Vedik and pulled him into a warm embrace. "My sweet child," she said softly, "of course I will accept you!
From today onwards you will be mine and William's child — Vedik Wilson."
Vedik felt overwhelmed with relief, joy, and confusion; he could only manage a small nod as tears streamed down his cheeks.
He had never known the feeling of family before so he couldn't control his emotions.
William observed the emotional scene with warmth spreading through him—something he hadn't felt in years.
He stepped forward and placed a hand on both of their heads as he said softly: "This is a new beginning for all of us," his voice gruff with emotion.
"Now go into the house," Jasmin instructed gently. "I have something to discuss with your father."
Vedik replied obediently with a huge smile: "Yes, M-Mother," and went into the hut.
Jasmin looked at William pointedly and asked: "Alright, William. Now that the tearful union is over, explain yourself: Why did you suddenly decide to adopt a child?"
William cleared his throat and started explaining: "Jasmin, you know we couldn't have children of our own. It's been a deep regret in my life."
He paused before continuing: "But meeting Vedik… it was different. There's something special about him—not just his potential but his heart. He's kind-hearted, hardworking, and determined."
"From the moment I met him," William continued proudly, "he impressed me with his unwavering determination to learn and improve. He never complained or gave up no matter how difficult training became."
A flicker of understanding softened Jasmin's expression as she asked: "So with that you decided to adopt him?"
"Not exactly," William continued. "Vedik grasps martial arts concepts with surprising ease as though he were gifted by gods."
"As I was teaching him," he added thoughtfully, "I felt happy watching him grow stronger. I felt a connection with him that I haven't felt in years—it felt right like he was meant to be in my life."
"And then," William concluded earnestly as he looked into Jasmin's eyes for support: "he told me that he trusts me fully."
Jasmin nodded thoughtfully before asking: "But there is more to the story right?"
William smiled knowingly before explaining everything he learned from Miss Nuwa—the soldiers searching for Vedik; the hidden locket; and how that stormy night brought him to the orphanage.
Jasmin's eyes widened in surprise. "Soldiers? A hidden locket? William," she said urgently but quietly.
William recounted his experience with the priest: "A mage priest suddenly visited our village and conducted a awakening ceremony but as far as I can remember , those bastards are not a good news ."
"I think that priest was searching for Vedik," William concluded solemnly.
"Vedik's background is not simple," he added as he showed her the pendant from earlier—an emblem of mystery surrounding Vedik's origins.
"In this whole village," William continued seriously yet softly while looking into Jasmin's eyes for understanding again—"he only told me about his awakening which means he already trusted me."
Jasmin asked if she heard him wrong or if he said that Vedik awakened.
William replied firmly: "No — you didn't hear wrong; he indeed awakened and without any external help."
Hearing this made Jasmin's face lose its calm demeanor slightly as she mumbled something inaudible.
"You and I always wanted a child," William said thoughtfully as they shared an understanding glance filled with unspoken emotions between them. "I think it was fate that brought us together so I adopted him as our son."
"It was like destiny calling that I should adopt this boy or else I'd always grieve for not doing so."
"I also made Miss Nuwa take an oath in which she cannot reveal Vedik's surname and —in the name of God of Truth and she doesn't know our whereabouts .
Jasmin's gaze softened—a hint of sympathy flickering in her eyes—as she placed her hand on William's arm saying gently yet firmly: "You did the right thing."
"How can fate be this cruel to such a young child like him?" she added thoughtfully.
William nodded solemnly. "I know—and that's why we need to train him together: You with your mastery of magic and me with my combat experience. We'll give him the tools he needs to face whatever challenges lie ahead."
A determined glint shone in Jasmin's eyes as she said resolutely: "Let's go inside now and meet our son then…"