Chapter 19

Esia was  born 27 years ago in the city of Heom in the Kingdom of Alrus. Daughter and only child to Relkas, who worked as a hunter, and Senya, who also worked as a hunter but later on became the orphanage keeper, successor to Madam Szula.

When Esia was born, she had contracted an illness with no cure near them. They would have to pass through the forest and a hilly path to enter the largest city near them which was located at the Gusam Empire. This disease continued on for about a year. One day, the fever slowly reduced and she was back to normal health.

By the age of four, she had learned to read, write, and speak perfect Belia-Morsas language. By the age of six, she has been going around the former town of Heom reading books from literary novels to scientific, economic, and philosophical publications

The language consists of two languages that are distinctly different. The Beliarman language from the Alrus Kingdom’s side and the Morsasilim language from the Gusam Empire’s side. But due to multiple cultural and economic exchanges, both languages have been the common tongue in the regions south of the Alrus Kingdom and the northern part of its neighbouring country, the Gusam Empire.

She joined Relkas’s and his hunter group at the young age of eight and started catching her own game at nine years old. Albeit the strong refusal of Senya, Esia snuck out of her home, which was the orphanage at that time. Senya couldn’t stop or catch Esia, so she left Relkas in charge of her during hunts. Among the hunters, she had contributed the most in terms of successful hunts all due to her vast knowledge. According to testimonies, she had even taught them other survival techniques such as navigation in the forest based on climate and season, determining poisonous from non-poisonous plants and mushrooms, and animal habits in certain landscape and climate.

In addition, hunters tend to hear her mumbling about complicated things which they thought came from books and the like. She also had a strange fascination of butchering an animal and gazing excitedly at its bones and meat. During times when the game was brought in to be butchered, she would stare closely at the table and sometimes disturb the workers. It turned to the point where she was banned from the butchering shed during working hours due to her excessive inquiries.

The monster outbreak that happened in winter when she was 12 years old took the life of majority of the skilled hunters, including Relkas. When Esia and the remaining hunters fled, they had organised a recovery team for the bodies of the deceased but all had disappeared. It was assumed that the beasts had taken them as there were traces of several prints near blood stains. Senya became more indignant on Esia not joining the hunters but she stubbornly joined in anyway, claiming that the town would not survive if hunters would not go and hunt for game, especially in the winter.

At the age of 16, Senya had caught an incurable illness. Despite the apothecary skills of Esia, shje had not found a cure for the illness. A year later, Senya had passed away. On the same year, Madam Szula had passed away due to old age. The Count had considered closing the orphanage and converting it to a residential house or building for business but Esia adamantly refused and claimed to raise the children until they come of age to support themselves. It was approved, despite not having any help.

The years in between her parent’s death, Esia had been called to assist the Count in government affairs. The idea had initially been rejected but after seeing the capabilities of the child, government workers and nobles have reluctantly agreed to the Count’s words. She had a balance of being an assistant to the Count and a hunter. It was because of Esia’s vast knowledge that Heom had transitioned from a town to a large walled city in less than a decade.

At the age of 21, Esia had fully gained the trust of the people in the eastern district and had let them accept the mix race orphanage that she currently manages. She had hired two assistants for the orphanage who had no bias against non-human races. While she trained the soldiers and hunters, the two would be in charge of the orphanage. During this time, Esia trains the men twice a week, and the remaining time goes to the managing of the orphanage.

One day, one of the assistants were reported missing. After two days of investigation, her body was found in the forest. It was assumed as rape. The other assistant, with the fear of ending up like the other, had quit. With the last one quitting, Esia retired from training the soldiers and hunters at the age of 23.

This was the time that Frianne had volunteered to be an assistant of Esia due to her admiration of being able to do many things while caring for other people. Frianne has continued to work in the orphanage from the age of 14 until the present. Her husband, Aniem, had also been under her tutelage as a hunter, albeit only for a year.

At the age of 26, Heom had already been developed to what it is known as today. Children are considered adults when they turn 14 years of age. Once they reach that age, children are sent out to the world and support themselves. Since Esia’s management, almost all the children that have come out of there have been very successful, such as the vice president of the Haveloft company. Others have also gone out of the Alrus kingdom and made a name for themselves.

Even with all these notable achievements, why has no one learnt of Esia? Apparently, Esia doesn’t like publicity. She would even punish the children for going around town and saying that Esia is a skilled hunter and a military instructor and what not. Even the Count has sworn not to reveal such information to the public. Although they do not publicly thank her, they send mails to her filled with expressions of gratitude.

Besides gratitude, she has also received multiple letters from suitors, in which she rejected everyone. A war almost started between the Idende County and the neighbouring Maltin Viscounty due to Esia’s rejection of the Viscounty’s heir’s marriage proposal.

“And that leads us to the present.” Zila brought the paper he was holding back on the table and sipped his cup of cold coffee.

“There are so many inconsistencies and questionable events.” Osar pondered as he was skimming through the papers.

“This whole bundle is questionable in itself.” Osar refuted. “It’s strange keeping record of every single detail of every citizen.” He continued.

“Well, it has aided in capturing criminals and reduce crime significantly over the past two decades.” Zila answered his question in place of the Count’s.

“Even so! It’s creepy!” He contradicted.

“Well, moving on.” Zila sipped his coffee and changed the subject forcefully, and heard a ‘What?!’ from his side but chose to ignore it.

“I knew Esia was smart and terrifyingly so, but this is just unbelievable.” Garthus spoke.

“It’s as if something took over Esia’s body and used it to do things.” Zila laughingly suggested, but slowly stopped as no one accompanied him.

“Well, I could be laughing if it wasn’t for this case.” Osar continued reading as he set Zila’s words aside.

“The monster outbreak that winter, it felt so unnatural.” Osar spoke once again, changing the topic.

“How so?” Count Garthus asked, glancing over the paper in his hands.

“The monsters were so organised it felt like fighting another nation’s army. Additionally, after some of our men died, they just retreated.” Osar answered.

“Strange, indeed. “

“Maybe they sensed that they would be wiped out if it became a battle of attrition?” Zila questioned the situation as he cannot make heads or tails from it.

“No. Monster’s behaviour are all the same. They kill then eat their prey or play with their corpse.” Count Garthus explained to Zila.

“The monsters that time did a full retreat despite the overwhelming advantage. Plus, after we retreated, all the corpses are gone, including their own.” Osar added to the words of the Count.

“Besides that, Senya ’s cause of death is more suspicious to me.” Zila changed topic since he still couldn’t understand. “The illness isn’t stated here. I tried asking those who knew Senya in the east if they knew what disease it was but no one knew.”

“Incurable disease at that time. There are only three that we know of.” Osar gave a shot at answering that question. “But those diseases have notable symptoms, physical and visual ones even. But Senya didn’t experience any of that. She just caught an illness and after a few months of being bedridden, she succumbed and died.”

“Also, how did she end up working here as your assistant? I know she’s smart but she’s still a kid who has not even circled the whole city.” Osar moved on to another question.

“Firstly, it was to give her some money. I could just give her money as donation for the orphanage but she insisted on working.” Garthus replied back. “She didn’t work full time. Also, my assistant is just in name only and more of a consultant. After all, the real assistant is Zila.”

“I’m your assistant yet I don’t even remember seeing Esia anywhere in the office or military training grounds.” Zila claimed. “It’s as if she was a ghost or intentionally hiding from me.”

“Maybe she just didn’t feel safe around you with your lecherous gaze.” Osar openly joked.

“I have eyes only for Selana.” Zila claimed.

“Ah, the red-light district’s proprietress of the Knight’s Queen? That’s a tough one.”

“She actually invited me for a full course dinner and late-night snacks.”

“OHHH! You lucky bastard!”

“Enough!” Count Garthus shouted with an irritated look.

“Ah, apologies. We forgot we were speaking to the man who was chained to this house by his own wife.” Both Osar and Zila smirked and laughed as they remembered the Count’s hierarchy in his personal family.

He gave a long, exasperated sigh before he continued.

“Moving on, she even trained the city’s soldiers, hunters, and next leaders. Too bad she didn’t want any recognition or award besides money for the orphanage.”

“Well, she might be a little strange in the head, but for as long as I can remember, she’s can be pretty altruistic. She will ask for rewards and compensations sometimes but only when she can milk every last bit of that person.”

“It almost sounds like extortion.” Zila commented.

After numerous banters, coffee brewing, and reminisce of the past, no progress has been made.

“Let’s... just end for today. We made no progress whatsoever and the both of you just keeps making jokes. Even I try to hold back by focusing on the matter with Esia.” Count Garthus complained, sighing as he placed the paper down.

“Well, let’s continue some other time then. I still have to find something substantial from the orphanage.” Osar got up and prepared to leave.

“Ah, Garthus.” Osar stopped in his tracks and called out to Count Garthus. “Have you sent him yet?”

“Ah him? Not yet. I’m waiting for the results of further investigation by Zila.” Count Garthus replied.

“I see. Well, then, good night.”

“Yeah.”

Osar had left the building and headed to his home.

Incurable sickness at birth and at the death of Senya. The extremely coordinated attack of beasts. The disappearances of innocent people and although it was never mentioned, during that time, plenty of criminals’ head have been put on a stake and hoisted at the city centre. Moreover, why did Esia choose to stay here in Heom instead of anywhere else, especially since she has a good head on her shoulders.

Ridiculous strength that can easily defeat a platoon of veteran soldiers. Strength that can easily pull a wagon full of crates and food, and even the amount of knowledge she has shared with the people, yet refused recognition. I can draw out some connections here and there but they are mere speculations.

I remember a few others who applied to become assistants in the orphanage after the first two, but they didn’t even last half a year in there for whatever reason. Then Frianne came along and for about four years, she has been the trusted partner of Esia.

All these thoughts swirled Osar as he slowly made his way home.