{By the way, no one will ever find out… Here we are} the voice mocked Damon.
...
Two days had passed since that day, and the news of the forest fire finally reached his parents. According to the gist going around town, two scorched corpses were recovered from the fire.
The voice initially complained about the survivor, but Damon dismissed it, claiming even if someone survived, there was no way to prove it was him.
Well, he was wrong.
...
Damon stood ahead of the door, gazing at different faces he had never come across before. There were over six heavily armed guards with an enigmatic figure whose figure was hidden under an oversized cloak.
Damon's gaze shifted to the three carriages bearing the familiar stringed dagger banner, and he frowned. He remembered the same symbol was on the cape of the stupid noble boy he saw the other day.
Clank!
Suddenly, the center carriage door opened and Damon facepalmed. It was the terrified noble boy walking out with what could be considered an older replica of himself, Lord Ross.
'Of everyone who survived the fire, it had to be the kid who saw me. What kind of silly tricks are the heavens playing on me?' Damon cursed.
{Just in case we get executed today, I want you to know it's your fault.} The voice complained.
"That's him! He is the bog who scared off the Nightfire wolf I told you about." the young master of the Ross family said excitedly and ran towards Damon.
Behind him was a man who was in his early forties. His brown hair had a few gray hairs, which complimented his thick mustache. The man has an expensive cape draped over his attire, but Damon could easily tell the man was well-equipped.
The cloaked figure waved its hand, stopping Young Master Ross from reaching Damon. It reached into its robe and pulled out a crystal orb before approaching.
Soon the cloaked figure stood over Damon, its figure still hidden under its attire. It casually presented the orb to Damon before speaking.
"Place your hand on the orb." It ordered in a hoarse voice that could intimidate even soldiers, but Damon wasn't buying it.
"Firstly, no… Secondly, doesn't it feel uncomfortable wearing something so heavy?" Damon asked with a raised eyebrow. "Also, the fake voice isn't working. I know you are a woman."
"You little runt!" A guard barked just as soon as Damon was done speaking.
"You dare speak in the presence of nobility without permission?!" He growled as he reached for his sword and took bold strides towards Damon.
However, the cloaked figure waved its hand to stop the soldier, but this time its hand stuck out. It was a tan colored delicate feminine hand with long polished nails.
The delicate hand casually reached for the hoody of its cloak and pulled it back. Underneath all that clothes was a white-haired lady with puffy lips and long eyelashes.
Damon found it shocking that someone so unprofessional was a mage.
"You may be a Magus, but that doesn't permit you to dress anyhow you like." Damon glared at her, stunning the lady.
Not only was this child fearless, but he also knew she was a mage with just a glance.
"How did you know I was a Magus?" The lady asked with a mischievous smile.
However, all she got was a look from Damon questioning her sanity.
"Are you stupid?" Damon asked as he pointed towards the group behind her.
They were all dressed in armor, she was the only one dressed in robes. The lady's face flushed with embarrassment as she realized her mistake, but her curiosity about this boy was at its peak now.
At that moment, Maria grabbed Damon by the shirt and pulled him back while Rowan walked outside, lowering his head meekly.
"Lord Ross, Lady Magus… it's a privilege to be in your presence." Rowan bowed hurriedly.
'Wow! Your dad is a professional ass licker.' Damon sighed.
He wasn't disappointed with the man because he never expected much from him.
"At ease, loyal subject… Our investigation on the fire outbreak led us to your home… Your son in particular." Lord Ross casually waved off Rowan's greeting and spoke his mind directly.
Hearing his words, Rowan's face turned pale in fright, with a hint of confusion in his eyes. He hurriedly fell to his knees and kowtowed numerous times before speaking.
"You must have made a terrible mistake, my Lord. My son has suffered from an illness and has been bedridden for the first fifteen years of his life. He only recovered two years ago, there is no way he would be able to set a forest on fire." Rowan begged.
His words surprised the lady and Lord Ross. They looked past Rowan and observed Damon with skeptical eyes.
Even now he was dressed in sack clothes, his amazing physique could not be hidden. How can someone who was bedridden all his life build such a physique in just two years?
Did this peasant just lie to them?
Lord Ross' face twisted in anger but just when he was about to speak Damon spoke.
"You are wrong Dad… I set the forest on fire." Damon said. He already sensed the change in the atmosphere and knew things would only get worse for Rowan if he didn't speak up.
Rowan was taken aback by his words, and Maria was even more shocked.
"Don't say what you don't know!" Maria quickly scolded Damon.
"Ignis…"
Buzz!
Maria abruptly let go of Damon and jerked back the moment flames erupted around his fists. Rowan remained on his knees with his jaws dropped as he gazed at his son in disbelief.
"Magic… He can really do magic!" Young Master Ross screamed excitedly.
"Little boy, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Cedric Ross… You will be taken in for questioning now, and I suggest you cooperate." The lady said with a malicious smile, and the armed guards behind her unsheathed their swords.