Sin of Greed

CHAPTER 7

It is futile to threaten her because he knows she’s right, this is his first time in Ergasculom and yet all his money was easily swept away from him due to his own ignorance.

Mago dramatically falls down mumbling about being the hope of humanity is now over. That he will soon die due to starvation. That he will never experience love and anything and just die in a dark cold alley without no one knowing who he was.

Lilith let out a laugh that even Elizabeth find it alluring.

Elizabeth looked at Mago looking for any hint of amusement from him. But ostensibly found none all she saw was a fuming Mago.

The two were halted from bickering when they hear stipple laugh from the little woman. They were confused on why Elizabeth is laughing but soon smiled at each other thinking that she has moved on from what just happened.

“Mago Avaritia, a hero that just saved me. It’s my pleasure to lend you a helping hand if you’d let me. I, Elizabeth Hummingbird will let you stay in our home for a while until you can be a knight.” Elizabeth sweetly smiled at him.

Her tone of voice is really like those noble, full of elegance, formality, and sophisticated.

Mago couldn’t form any sentence to thank her. Suddenly out of gratitude he grabbed her hands and bawled his eyes out mumbling incoherent words of gratitude.

“N-No, it’s fine. You’re my savior after all.” Elizabeth’s cheeks turn pink at the sight of Mago thanking her as she felt the warmth of his big yet gentle hands of his against hers.

“It’s getting late, we should get going Mago.” Elizabeth insisted.

“Mago,” For the last time Lilith called him. “If you feel like all hope is gone and you don’t know where to go from there, go back from where you began and retrace your steps. There are flowers you’ll only see on a detour.”

After she said those words, Mago hugged her saying “Don’t be a worrywart, I’ll make my own destiny,” then bead his goodbyes.

Lilith’s eyes widen from surprise but nonetheless retracted and returns the hug.

He waved his hands and walk away with Elizabeth.

‘This man is something.’

Lilith smiled at him. A smile she never thought someone will ever see from her. A genuine smile of hope.

As Elizabeth and Mago took their time walking side by side, Elizabeth tried to strike a conversation with him.

“So… you’re into older women?” as she let out those words, she immediately cupped her hands on her mouth embarrassed from the sudden question she asked. But Mago just laughed at her reaction.

“No, I’m not. We just met earlier this day and…” Mago’s pout turned visible as he further thinks what happened to both of them. “… things happened.”

Elizabeth giggled.

“By the way how old are you?” It’s now Mago’s turn to ask the pretty little lady.

“I’m turning sixteen tomorrow. Why?” she asked.

“Ah nothing! It’s just that your speaking is way too formal and your style of clothing is somewhat like noble. So, I conclude that you came from a noble family.” Mago said nonchalantly.

“You’re quite observant Mago.” She gently smiled at him.

“No, it’s just so obvious you see. And I am clearly not like you when I was sixteen.” Mago sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

“Was?” Elizabeth knitted her eyebrows from his bizarre story.

“Yeah, that was four years ago, I’m twenty years old now.”

Mago halted from his tread when he noticed that Elizabeth is not walking beside him anymore.

“What’s wrong?” He was confused due to the fact that she suddenly stops from their tracks. When he looked from his shoulder, he saw a glimpse of her.

Elizabeth is gripping the skirt of her frilly dress with flaring cheeks. She shook her head indicating that there’s nothing wrong and continue to trod on his side.

“Do you perhaps have a girlfriend?” Elizabeth asked him, trying to suppress the butterflies in her stomach as she pranced.

Mago is good looking and a few years older than Elizabeth, a total man of her dreams.

‘This might be my chance!’ She thought.

“No, I don’t have any. But I’ve been dreaming about a certain girl.” Mago said with a light hue appeared on his cheeks.

“Really? Who is she?” She asked with excitement in her eyes.

“Well… I didn’t know her name yet. But I dreamed about her multiple times and I think that she’s the one for me.” Mago said with hoping eyes as the wind from the bridge they currently crossing gently tousled with his hair.

“So, you haven’t met her?” She asked again prancing around him like a little kid.

“No… Not yet.” Mago laughed at the cute attitude Elizabeth’s have. “I haven’t but you know I think I’ve experience some of her ‘quirks’ through some of my dreams.” He said with his smile widening.

“What is it? Can you tell me some of it?” She gleefully asked as they went to a full stop.

“I saw from my dreams that,” Mago closed his eyes and crossed his arms. Like he’s thinking something serious happened about the girl. “she hates spicy foods.”

Elizabeth’s excitement regarding to the girl Mago’s dreaming about deescalated quickly.

“Oh… I see.” She tried to hide the disappointment in her voice with a dry laugh. But Mago didn’t notice it and just continue his blabber about his dream girl.

“Yeah, she doesn’t like spicy foods. And one time I dreamt about her, I saw her fighting…” Mago’s eyes glistened and the hues on his cheeks are now visible. “…she’s really strong.” He muttered dreamily.

The cold night breeze starts to bite their skin yet none of them move from the spot.

“You really admire her, don’t you?” Elizabeth monotonously said. With her eyes covered with strands of her soft curly hair.

“Yeah, I think I might even fall in love with her the moment I will lay my eyes on her.” Mago turned to face the her.

Elizabeth’s shoulder starts to shake while her head is hanging low. As Mago starts to approach her he heard little hiccups that turn into fits of laughter.

“I can’t believe you …hahaha… did you really just fall in love for some girl in your dreams?” She clutched her stomach aching from laughing too much with her eyes starting to pool.

“Come on… don’t laugh at me. I can’t help it you know.” Mago whined, he just can’t angry with this little lady in front of him.

“I’m pretty sure she has huge boobies that’s why you fall in love her.” Elizabeth said as she wipes the tears coming from her eyes.

“No. She’s actually flat-chested.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“What?” After a few seconds of silence Mago broke the silent atmosphere.

“Do you perhaps… like… flat-chested girls?” Elizabeth hesitantly asked Mago as she clutched the brooch on top of her not-too-small chest.

“Hmm… Now that you’ve asked that. I don’t have some type of physical preferences or criteria when it comes to liking women. I just like girls who are bold and not afraid to show their true colors without thinking what others might say to them.” He smiled at her, making her already pounding heart race faster.

“I-impossible! T-there must be some traits in women that you prefer!” Elizabeth tried to make Mago confess about what he likes about the certain girl.

“Hmmm...hmmm… I think I like girls that are quite ‘manly’ as you can say. I like it when they’re brave and at the same time their manly attitude is easy to befriend not like those women who seems afraid and defenseless against men.” Mago said while caressing his imaginary beard.

But Elizabeth’s hope is deflating the further Mago describes what he likes in a girl. Because she’s never been ‘manly’, but she knew she can be bold and brave at some point.

“Uh-huh! I like strong women that can even beat me.” Mago exclaimed.

“Oh? Another masochist I see.” She mocked the overly joyed knight-wanna-be.

“Hey, please don’t call me that.” Mago said weakly trying to make his point but too tired for an argument.

“Here we are. Welcome to my humble abode, Mago Avaritia!” Elizabeth welcomed Mago with her sweetest smile.

“Wow, I knew you’re a noble but I never expected this…” Mago said while gawking at the huge gate and huge mansion behind it.

Elizabeth only laughed at his reaction.

“Let’s get inside before they get worried.” The cheerful girl dragged Mago inside.

The exterior of the house is truly breath taking but when you get to the inside what you saw outside is nothing compares to the it.

Expensive porcelain bases, extravagant carpets and curtains, high ceilings decorated by brightly shining chandeliers, huge windows even the flooring is like a mirror you can clearly see your reflection.

He is sure that there’s no one in their village had this kind of house.

“Elizabeth, my dear! Where have you been?” A sudden call from a lady woke Mago from his trance.

Her dress is like a Victorian ball gown, showing both elegance and power at the same time.

“Mother, I was getting robbed by some thugs but this man here saved me.” Elizabeth shortly explained.

“Oh dear! That must have been hard for you. And to you, young man, I would like to give my gratefulness from what you did. You may ask anything you want, just name it.” Mother of Elizabeth said with a smile, she just looks like her.

“Why don’t we eat first, mother? I’m sure Mago is hungry from what happened.”

“Sure darling, we can have a little chat while eating. And I know your father will be delighted to see the fine young man who saved his daughter.” Her mother said with a giggle.

In the dining Mago was asked multiple questions by Elizabeth’s mother, and some time her father would question him as well. They even learned that he came from the land of boonies where food is a luxury.

“So, what made you go here to the inner city?” Diego, the father of Elizabeth asked him as he took a small bite of the rare cooked meat.

“I want to be a knight.” Mago said lightly gripping the fork and knife on his hands, but he never forgets to show proper etiquette on the table.

“Why do you want to be a knight, young Mago?” Diego asked.

Mago took his moment before answering, “I want to protect this kingdom and all the people in it.”

Diego scrutinize any single hint of lying but found none.

“You have my gratitude since you saved my daughter, as an exchange, I can make you a knight without you needing to participate the assessment.” Diego said.

Mago was slightly taken aback, he knew due to Diego’s wealth everything will be easy but, being a knight without having to go to the assessment is really something.

“Pardon sir?” Mago clearly heard what he said but he wants to make sure he didn’t mishear anything.

“I am Diego Hummingbird the current head of the knights, and I can easily make you one.” Diego proudly said.

Mago is beyond amazed. He never expected that his dreams will come true sooner than what he had expected.

“I… I refuse to take your offer, sir.” Mago said. He wanted to be a knight but not through this way. “I want to take the full route of becoming a knight.”

Diego was a bit shook when he heard him but as a noble, he suppressed his emotion.

“Why? Isn’t it better? You wouldn’t have to go and shed blood, tears, and sweat.” Elizabeth’s mother asked.

“There’s an old saying in our village ‘If you really want something there’ll be no easy way.’ That is why I have to refuse, I want to experience it all, everything that will make me knight.” Mago smiled at them.

Both Elizabeth and her mother were surprised.

“I see.” Diego simply said.