When Tion had asked for a mission where he could engage a D-rank mage, he had actually meant something which would see him dropping before an unsuspecting mage and then fully engaging this person in combat.
Something fast and simple was what Tion wanted, but for some reason, Leah had instead brought him a target who had a pitiful backstory and would now require him to head into a village and go visiting.
From the information Tion had been provided, Potters wasn't some sneaky rat or smelly criminal who was hiding in bushes or underground caves, the man was actually staying in his home village, he lived with his family and owned a rather humble public business.
"Urgh, why do I have this unhappy feeling about this mission, it's like it isn't something that would end up pleasant."
With his mask on, Tion went running through the forest that lay on the way to the mud grinder's village, the boy doing his best to keep out of sight of any human he passed on his way.
With Leah having already flown Tion 98% of the way, a few minutes of running was all he needed to arrive at the village and by the time he began coming across farms, he slowed his pace and then hid in a place with thick vegetation to get a quick rest.
"Okay the good news here is that the bastard's house is on the outskirts of the village, so all I have to do is walk to it and go get him.
Urgh, man I feel like there is something I'm forgetting, something which while not deadly is quite important."
Tion spent a few seconds trying to figure out what was eluding his brain and when nothing came to mind after several seconds he eventually gave up.
"Well, whatever it is, I have Leah watching over me" Tion thought but then just as this thought went through his head he sighed.
"The adrenaline rush from knowing your life is truly in danger, will I ever feel that."
Tion's head threatened to be a jumbled mess but with ease, the boy cleansed his mind and with a bit of anticipation moved to complete the most vital part of his mission.
...….
"Knock, knock," the sound of a door being hit echoed as a hand covered in black gloves collided with it.
A single-story building surrounded by farms, ranches, and trees and having no neighbours in the vicinity.
This was Potters's house and just as the man most likely enjoyed the peace and quiet he got from building his house a bit distant from the village, so did Tion enjoy the fact that he could do his job quietly and discreetly.
After knocking, Tion raised his right hand and placed it on the hilt of his katana which lay on his back, and though his breathing got a bit heavy he kept his body tense and his hand ready to draw his weapon.
As the sound of footsteps echoed from behind the door, Tion's anticipation increased but then a thought hit him,
"These footsteps, they are too light for a 26-year-old man"
Just as Tion was having this confusing thought, the door of the house was opened and a person whom his eyes had to shift downward to see appeared.
"Woah, are you an assassin mage" The excited voice of a black haired boy who looked to be just 8 sounded and while the boy had a bright smile on his face, a look of horror flashed on Tion's thankfully covered face as he realized what exactly he had been forgetting this whole time.
"He has a family" Tion thought and with this, all its implications began resounding in his mind.
Right from small children were taught that there were two sides to a coin, the good and the bad.
There was the hero who was kind, merciful and most important loved his family and fought for them, and then there was the villain who was ruthless, cold and only cared about himself.
However as one grew, they began to realize that things weren't actually as they were told when they were younger and that there was even a grey side of the coin, such realizations were never truly felt and understood until a reckoning.
Today was Tion's reckoning and now he was forced to understand that just because Potters was a criminal, it didn't mean that he didn't have a family that loved him and one which he probably loved back.
Tion's mind would have liked to tell him that Potters was actually suppressing and torturing his family but a single look at the face of the boy before him and Tion couldn't even be delusional.
"Hey Sir assassin, Sir assassin" The boy called out when Tion spaced out, raising his hand and waving it cutely and drawing Tion's attention back to the real world.
"Where is Potters" Tion asked, surprising the boy.
"Oh, uncle is upstairs, I'll go call him. "The boy excitedly said turning around and running away.
Not up to 5 seconds after the boy left, another set of footsteps hurriedly approached the door.
"Luke, you can't just keep a guest hanging outside...…" The slightly chubby woman who had come to the door said, her voice going silent halfway into her sentence as he stared at the wolf-masked man before her."
"How can I help you sir" The woman tentatively said, the fear in her eyes evident as she took a step back.
Not used to going around and striking fear in the hearts of random people, especially ladies, Tion wanted to quickly take off his mask when he saw the fear in the woman's eyes, but then he remembered how sensitive his identity was and decided to leave the mask on with fear.
Though he was already in a situation of his own, Tion couldn't help but shiver when he imagined how much danger he would be in if people realized that the only son of Ragnar Denise was leaving the protection of the capital and his mother and carrying out missions.
This Tion's fear of his identity being known didn't last for long as soon a set of heavy footsteps sounded from the house and a man just a tad taller than Tion but way thicker than him moved in front of the still fearful woman and faced Tion with a frown,
"I am Potters, how can I help you."