Mira's sharp eyes flickered with suspicion as she stepped in front of Keir, her expression serious. She placed a protective hand on his chest, gently but firmly moving him behind her. "Keir, stay back. I need to have a chat with Valentinus alone."
Keir's heart raced slightly at her sudden assertiveness. Mira was fierce, and in this moment, he found something undeniably attractive about her protective stance. "Damn, she's so hot when she gets like this!" he thought to himself.
Valentinus, taken aback by Mira's assertiveness, raised an eyebrow. "You must be his guardian. I apologize for intruding. I just wanted to thank Keir for his help earlier today. He fought bravely against the assassins."
Mira's gaze softened a fraction but remained guarded. "Thank him, sure," she said, turning to Keir. "Hey Keir, this man here said thank you!"
"Hehe, yeah, no problem, man," Keir responded with a nervous giggle. "There, you've thanked him. So, are we done here?" Mira's irritation was evident.
Valentinus struggled to find a response to Mira's protectiveness but understood her concern. Mira picked up on this and continued, "What is it you want from him? I'm not letting anyone near him without a good reason."
Valentinus smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I assure you, my interest in the boy is solely because we seem to share similar goals and ideals. I'm not here to use him or cause any trouble."
Mira's eyes narrowed. "And why should I believe that? You could be here to exploit his power."
Valentinus chuckled, a hint of amusement in his voice. "The boy's magic is interesting, that's for sure, but I'm plenty powerful on my own. My interest in Keir is more about understanding how he came to believe what he does. I respect people who strive to make a difference."
Mira considered this, her stance slightly relaxing. "Alright then, let's talk. But I'm not letting my guard down until I'm sure."
She motioned for Valentinus to follow her inside. Keir attempted to follow, but the glance Mira gave him sent shivers down his spine. As the two moved to a more secluded spot, Keir couldn't help but listen from outside the thin walls of their shack. The muffled voices of Valentinus and Mira drifted to him, and he could just make out the conversation.
Valentinus's voice was calm and measured. "I'm not sure if Keir told you everything that happened in the village, but after our altercation with the would-be assassins, Keir stood up to the villagers on my behalf. His ideals sound quite similar to those I grew up with. It's rare to find someone with such hope in this world. My reason for showing up is that I'd like to know more about his past. Where did he learn to think this way?"
Mira continued, "I've known him his whole life. Surprisingly, he's always been this way, even as a child. I guess you could say he got it from his mother, Elma, though he's always been much more extreme about these things."
Valentinus listened intently. "Elma, you say?"
Mira's eyes softened as she spoke about her old friend. "She was a remarkable woman. Even though she was human, she never treated me any differently despite being a beastkin. She was kind and strong. She's actually the one who taught Keir and me everything we know about magic."
Keir listened from outside the shack, gripping his pendant with his mother's image in it. While it was true that his mother was different from most people in this world, in truth, Keir's ideology actually stemmed from his past life. He had simply been fortunate to be born to someone who was so hopeful in this tragic world.
Valentinus was intrigued. "She sounds like someone who made a significant impact. Does she live here too?"
Mira's tone grew somber. "No, unfortunately. She passed away shortly after we moved to this village. She fell ill, and despite our best efforts, we lost her. It's just been Keir and me ever since."
Keir felt a lump in his throat as he remembered his mother's warm smile.
Valentinus nodded thoughtfully. "I see, what a shame. It seems Keir has inherited more than just his mother's magical prowess. In all honesty, I was hoping speaking with him could give me some insight into my own father."
Mira raised an eyebrow. "Your father?"
Valentinus's expression became thoughtful. "Yes. He was a man of strong principles, much like how Keir is now. It's intriguing to see those values reflected in him."
Valentinus paused for a moment before continuing, "Hearing those words from him earlier made me wonder if he was somehow connected to my father."
"Oh? How so?" asked Mira.
"As I mentioned, my father shared many of the ideals and even mannerisms that Keir displayed today. He always told me he was from a faraway land. It's one of the reasons I've traveled so much in my life, searching for the land he came from. When I heard Keir speak such similar words, I thought he might also be connected to that land."
"I see," Mira said, rubbing her chin. "Elma and I were born in the same village, both orphaned due to attacks. Keir was born there as well. Sorry, I don't think he will be of much help to you in that area."
Mira's keen ears picked up on Keir's presence. Now that she had grown a bit less suspicious, she decided to let Keir join the conversation. "Come on in, Keir. You might as well join us," she said with a soft smirk.
Keir hesitated for a moment before stepping into the room. As he took his place beside Mira, he used his Inspect skill to check Valentinus out. The skill revealed only basic information but confirmed Valentinus's impressive attributes. He was a powerful figure, with skills and abilities that aligned with his confident demeanor.
Valentinus turned his attention to Keir, his gaze steady. "Keir, I want to address you directly now. Your actions and words today held great weight. Do you understand what you were doing and saying in that moment?"
Keir met Valentinus's gaze steadily. "Yes, I do. I know that what I said and did was important. I meant every word."
Valentinus's eyes narrowed slightly as he took in Keir's response. "Understand this, Keir. Concepts like justice and fairness are not ones that many people in this world can even comprehend. Your goals are admirable, but they will be difficult to achieve. You'll essentially be the odd one out, trying to impose your ideals on a world that may not be ready for them."
Keir's expression remained resolute. "If no one stands up for what's right, then nothing changes. I know it won't be easy, but if I give up just because it's hard, then what's the point of fighting for something better?"
Valentinus was visibly impressed. "That's a powerful mindset. It's rare to find someone with such determination."
He paused, his gaze thoughtful. "So, Keir, how do you plan on making these changes? What's your strategy for achieving your goals in a world that may not share your vision?"
Keir considered the question carefully before answering. "I plan to start by influencing those around me, showing them through my actions that there's a better way. I'll build alliances with those who share similar values and work to gain their support. It's about creating a ripple effect—one small change leading to another until we have a movement."
Valentinus's eyes widened slightly, clearly impressed by Keir's response. "That's a well-thought-out plan. It's not just about fighting for your ideals but also about inspiring others to join you. I admire that."
Mira looked at Valentinus, her earlier skepticism replaced by a sense of respect. "I can see why you've taken an interest in him. You two sound quite alike."
As the conversation continued, Keir felt a growing sense of connection with Valentinus. The two shared a deep understanding of the challenges ahead, and Valentinus's words encouraged him to keep pushing forward. With each exchange, the potential for collaboration and mutual support became more apparent.
When it was time to say their goodbyes, Valentinus couldn't shake the sense of familiarity he felt with Keir. It was something he couldn't ignore. He walked away from Keir's home with a thrill of excitement, believing their paths would cross again. Valentinus looked forward to seeing the impact Keir would have on the world, feeling that Keir was destined for greatness. He vowed to support him in any way he could.
While making his way back to his own home, Valentinus had the unsettling sensation of being watched. He glanced around, but there was no one in sight. Dismissing it as his overactive imagination, he continued on his way. Little did he know, a pair of eyes was tracking his every move from the shadows.