Chapter 316: Ch 315: Familiar children

Kael smiled when he saw the expression on Iris’s face. There was still a hint of fear in her eyes, but for the first time since he had found her, there was something else mixed in with it.

Iris was finally getting curious about her surroundings.

She slowly raised her hand and allowed the sunlight to fall across her palm. She stared at it for several seconds, almost as if she were expecting the light to burn her skin at any moment.

Nothing happened.

"I really am not getting hurt..."

Iris whispered, turning her hand around as she watched the sunlight move across her fingers. Her smile felt contagious, and Kael felt like smiling as well.

"I told you that I would not let anything happen to you, didn’t I?"

"You did..."

Iris looked at him again, and the distrust that had been present in her eyes earlier had almost completely disappeared.

"Then... can I stay outside for a little longer?"

"Of course. You can stay outside for as long as you want. And you do not have to ask anyone for permission to enjoy something as simple as sunlight."

Kael crouched down beside her, making sure he was at her eye level.

Iris stared at him with wide eyes before slowly smiling.

"Really?"

"Really."

Kael nodded before looking toward the arena behind them. The sight of the place made his expression darken slightly.

He could already imagine the kind of life this child had been forced to endure inside that place.

But it was all in the past. It was time for Iris to put that life behind her and follow Kael toward a brighter future.

Iris seemed content to keep grabbing his hand and skipping ahead. She had no intention of letting go anytime soon, which made Kael feel better about winning her over.

He stayed with her until the sun started to go down and the world outside started to grow dark.

When Iris moved around, the corruption stepped back. But the corruption started to grow when she was not paying attention. It seemed to be moving according to her will at all times.

Kael kept it away using his magic, but he knew that there was only so much he could do himself. What he needed to do was make Iris realise what was happening.

Iris stopped playing once she was tired and finally came and sat by him. Her eyes shined, and she let out a happy giggle.

"It feels good to finally be able to play as much as I want to. But I guess it’s time to head back home."

Iris looked toward the gladiator slave arena as she said that. She even took a few steps toward it when Kael grabbed her arm to stop her.

His actions made Iris look back at him with a confused expression.

"Why did you stop me? Can’t you see that I am trying to go back? My master will hurt me if I remain out for so long."

There was fear in Iris’s eyes that made Kael feel sorry for her. No child should fear such a thing.

Heck, no person should live in constant fear of someone else who dictated their lives.

"There is no need for you to go back anymore. I told you, right? That I am going to take you away. That means you will never have to return to your ’master.’"

Kael assured Iris, but that was not what he actually meant. So he cleared his throat and continued.

"Actually, you no longer have a master. The only one who can control your destiny is yourself. You should learn to appreciate that freedom—"

The look on Iris’s face changed to one of horror as soon as he told her this. She grabbed her head as if she could not believe what she was hearing.

"N-No... that is not true! Please tell me that is not happening. How can I not have a master? I need a master to be able to live. Otherwise, I am useless and I—"

This was the last reaction Kael expected Iris to have. She looked like she was not even able to breathe at the moment.

Kael grabbed her face and forced her to look at him. He looked at her unsteady eyes before demanding her to take a deep breath.

Iris grabbed him like he was her last lifeline, her eyes desperately looking at him.

"Kael, I need a master. Will you be my master? Please, I am begging you. I-I—"

Iris tried to make Kael responsible for her, but Kael was not interested in becoming her master.

In fact, that was the last thing he wanted from Iris.

He could guide her on the way out and make sure that she understood what she wanted, but that would not be true freedom for her.

This was a space that was made for Iris, and only she could break it down. But currently, she looked like she was having a mental breakdown over this.

Kael grabbed her face harder, and Iris’s tear-filled eyes met his own.

He felt terrible for doing this, but her tears were something he had to endure in order to bring her back.

"Iris, listen to me. I am not a normal person, but someone from your future. I came here to tell you that you are going to be someone great in the future. Not only will you be a sword master, but you will also be able to make your own decisions."

Iris looked at Kael like he was lying to her, and he was suddenly reminded of the woman he had met in the gladiator arena who had asked him to prove his words to her.

Looking at this kid, it was easy to see how she was the same woman, but grown up.

Kael felt a smile blooming on his face, and the young girl in front of him looked even more suspicious.

"Why are you smiling like that? No, wait! I don’t want to know. I will choose to believe you, even if you are lying to me."