Izzan stood at the gates of the kingdom, weary and disheveled, staring at the stern and unfriendly guards. As he tried to step forward, one of the guards immediately blocked his way.
Guard 1: "Hey, where do you think you're going? This place isn't for beggars or country folk like you!"
The other guard chuckled, eyeing Izzan's filthy and powerless appearance.
Guard 2: "Lost, are you? This gate is for important people, not someone who doesn't even know how to take care of their clothes."
Desperation gripped Izzan. Without his identity pendant, his chances of entering were slim. He lowered his head, trying to suppress the shame and hopelessness, then attempted to plead for mercy.
Izzan: "Please, I just want to meet my uncle. Give me a chance, send someone to fetch him."
The first guard sneered, looking down on him with disdain.
Guard 1: "Hah! No one's coming for you, beggar. Your uncle isn't here, and even if he was, you think they'd care? You'd better leave before we call more guards to deal with you!"
Guard 2: "Look at yourself, you don't belong here at all!"
The harsh words weighed down on Izzan. He stared at the ground, losing hope. But suddenly, the sound of rumbling grew in the distance, the pounding footsteps of a monster drawing everyone's attention. An artifact carriage, pulled by a level four beast, approached the gate at high speed.
Izzan's eyes locked onto the carriage with hope. Even though he didn't know what his uncle looked like, a strong feeling inside him told him that this might be his last chance.
Izzan: "It might be him... Uncle Dorian."
Yet the guards ignored the approaching carriage, paying no attention to Izzan's attempts to call out. As the carriage drew closer, someone inside seemed to hear his voice.
Dorian: "What's going on out here, guards?"
The guard replied casually, still eyeing Izzan with disdain.
Guard 1: "Just this beggar, sir. We'll chase him off shortly."
But Dorian's expression changed when he noticed the dimensional pouch hanging at Izzan's side—the very same pouch he had once given to his brother, Aldric. His face immediately filled with shock.
Dorian: "Wait! Where did you get that pouch?"
Seizing the moment of hope, Izzan responded quickly.
Izzan: "I'm Izzan, son of Aldric Elric. My father—"
Before he could finish, Dorian leapt from the carriage, astonished and disbelieving, and pulled Izzan into a tight embrace.
Dorian: "Izzan! I can't believe you're here… What happened? Where are your parents? Why do you look like this?"
For a moment, Izzan felt warmth in his uncle's embrace, but bitter memories quickly surfaced, making his voice tremble.
Izzan: "They… They can't be with me anymore, Uncle. We were attacked. Father and Mother... they fought until the end, but I was forced to escape using a teleportation scroll."
Dorian's expression shifted from shock to grief as he listened. Then, his sorrow quickly turned to anger as he realized how the guards had treated his nephew.
Dorian: "You two, what have you done to my nephew? How could you treat him like this?"
The guards paled, trembling with fear as they saw the full extent of Dorian's wrath.
Guard 1: "Forgive us, sir! We… we didn't know. He looked like a beggar, and we were just following orders to guard the gate."
Seeing the tension, Izzan tried to calm the situation.
Izzan: "He was just doing his duty, Uncle. He didn't know who I really was."
Dorian gave the guards a stern look before sighing deeply, his tone becoming more controlled yet firm.
Dorian: "You should learn never to judge someone by their appearance. He might be far more valuable than you could ever imagine."
The guards nodded, full of guilt, while Dorian guided Izzan into the artifact carriage.
Dorian: "Now, let's get you inside. We'll talk more once we're somewhere safe."
Izzan felt a slight relief as he sat beside his uncle in the carriage, but despite the newfound safety, the weight of his grief remained. They rode through the bustling streets of the kingdom, the grand sights of the city feeling empty to him as his thoughts lingered on the loss of his family.
Dorian: "Why are you alone, Izzan? What really happened? How did your parents—"
Izzan let out a long sigh, holding back the tears threatening to fall.
Izzan: "We were attacked in the forest. A group of enemies… Zarek, he used to be my father's lieutenant, but now he's the enemy. They wanted something from my father. We tried to hold them off, but in the end… Father and Mother sacrificed themselves so I could escape with the teleportation scroll."
Dorian listened intently, his face darkening with each word, fully grasping the depth of the pain Izzan had endured.
Dorian: "Don't worry, Izzan. You're safe now. We'll find a way to stop this threat together. And Zarek… he will pay for everything."
Dorian held Izzan tightly, offering what little comfort he could in the midst of the emotional storm that consumed his nephew. Their journey continued toward Dorian's estate, a place that promised to be the start of a new chapter for Izzan. Yet, despite the warmth and assurances, Izzan knew that a great threat still loomed on the horizon.