BOOOM!!!
The explosion was heard in the small laboratory. Black smoke came from that room. From the smoke, a teenager emerged. He wore ragged camping clothes. His hair was a messy tangle. His skin had slight burns.
With a flat expression, he dusted off his charred clothes. He was Laguna Ashford, a well-known name in the Ashford family. He is now better known for his craziness in experimenting.
"MASTER LAGUNA!" A loud voice echoed from the distance, like a mother about to scold her child.
From the long hallway came a young woman with a mixture of anger and worry on her face. She was Julia, Laguna's maid, definitely too familiar with scenes like this.
"How often do I have to tell you to stop destroying everything?!" scolded Julia; her voice was firm but full of tension.
Despite his scolding, Laguna showed no signs of annoyance in the slightest. Instead, he smiled slightly while watching Julia, who was annoying. Julia is the only person who stays by his side after he loses his ability to use magic. For Laguna, Julia is not just a maid. She is the only one who still respects him as her Master. The whole world, even his family, sees him as trash.
"Calm down, Julia. I was experimenting with making a device that can cast fire magic. I almost succeeded, you know?" Laguna said, proudly holding a strange little metal ball in his hand.
The moment Julia touched the orb, it crumbled into ash." I think our definition of 'success' is very different, Master," she brushed the ash off her hands."
"Well, how can I learn if I don't fail?" One corner of the mouth lifted higher, brushing the ashes off his hands as he looked at Julia.
As silence settled, Laguna looked out of the dusty lab window. His eyes were filled with determination. "I'll prove it to them, Julia. Even if I can't use magic, I'll create magic with my own hands."
Julia let out a deep breath. "Then let's start by ensuring you won't destroy anything more."
Laguna jumped down from the pile of rubble and smiled. "That's why I have a brilliant idea."
Julia looked at him, her brows furrowed slightly. "What kind of idea is this?"
"We're going to the city," Laguna said. "I need some tools for my next experiment," he said, patting his clothes to remove any dust that is still attached.
Julia stepped forward, blocking her path.
"Master, our budget is nearly gone. I had to cut funds for the staff's food to repair the lab, and now you want more tools?"
Laguna put on a pitiful expression, like a child who wants a toy. "But Julia, how can I fix this chaos without those tools? If the next experiment is successful, we can even make more money from that discovery!"
Julia sighed, trying to stay calm. "Your next experiment? Like what did you do just now?"
"I've learned from the mistakes I've made, and this time will be different," a relaxed smile played on his lips.
Julia looked at him, her eyes slightly narrowed. "You always say that."
Laguna put his palms together as if begging. "Julia, please. You can't let me go like this. Who will pay your salary if something happens to me on the street?"
Julia let out a deep breath before finally giving up. "Good. But just because I want to make sure you don't make more trouble. And we only buy something important. Got it?"
"Got it! Only buy something important. I promise." His lips were slightly open, revealing a row of white teeth.
"I already knew I would regret this," her shoulders looked a little loose.
"That's what makes you special, Julia. You always know when to give up." Holding Julia's hand out of the laboratory.
After that, they headed straight to the city, leaving the destroyed laboratory.
The morning sun rises over a cobblestone road that winds through green hills. Farmers work their fields, while sheep and cows graze in quiet grassland. A wooden cart, pulled by a tired horse, creaked past them. The driver nodded politely to Julia as she passed.
Julia glanced at Laguna. He walked beside her, his hands behind his head. He looked cheerful as usual, despite the black stains on his clothes.
"Master," she said with a sigh, "can't you at least try to look neat? People would think the Ashford family had fallen into ruin."
Laguna smiled. "Let them think whatever they want. Even in tatters, I am still an Ashford. Also, it's more comfortable."
The city walls tower high in front. Guards with their iron armor stand at the gate while carrying spears on their shoulders. Merchants, travelers, and farmers pass through the gate. They carry carts of goods pulled by donkeys.
Inside the city, the streets are lined with colorful stalls. Merchants shout to sell their goods from their stalls. They offer everything from medicine to fresh fruit.
Julia slowed her pace, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the city with all that it offered.
"It's been a long time since we came here, haven't we?" said Julia while holding Laguna's hand.
Laguna nodded his head; his eyes couldn't be separated from Julia's beauty. "That hasn't changed much."
Their conversation stopped as they turned into a small hallway. The atmosphere was very different when they were on the main street. The narrow alley felt tight, with shadows moving on the stone walls. He didn't have to turn around to know who they were. The smell of cheap jokes and insulting laughter was enough of a sign.
He took a deep breath, calming himself. "Not now," he muttered breathlessly.
"Hey, look who's coming," said one of them as he crossed his arms. "A trash can from the Ashford family!"
Laguna snorted softly, trying not to get angry. "I just passed," he replied calmly, then walked again.
"Passed? Where to go? Return to where you came from?" said one of them in a mocking tone."
Try to smile, Scumbag," said another as he pushed Laguna back. His body staggered slightly. Laguna staggered, but he didn't react.
"Oh, he's not angry," another added in a mocking tone. "Or maybe he's too cowardly to fight back?"
Julia glanced at Laguna nervously. Her hand gently pulled at his sleeve as she whispered, "Keep moving, Master. They're not worth it."
They started throwing their food scraps into Laguna. Food remnants were scattered on his already messy clothes, making them worse. A slice of mushy bread slid down his collar, sticking to his skin. His hands trembled, not out of fear but out of anger.
Julia stopped; her expression turning angry. "Leave him!" Julia's voice sounded loud but trembling.
She stared among the groups, her body protecting Laguna naturally.
"Enough! Haven't you embarrassed him enough?" She stood in front of Laguna, her hands raised as if they were shields.
The group's laughter grew louder.
One of them sneered, "Oh, look, that trash is protected by a girl! What a shame!"
Julia stepped forward. But, one of them thrust out their magic wand, blocking her path.
A large boy walked towards Julia and took her hand with a smile. "Why do you serve trash like him? You're too beautiful for someone who can't even use magic."
Laguna's face turned red when the boy's hand touched Julia.
Laguna stepped quickly. He took out an object with energy that emitted a sharp blue light. In an instant, the energy blade cut the large boy's hand."
SWOOOOOSH!
The sound of energy slices through the air.
Blood splatters on the ground. Screams echoed in the narrow passage. The boy's hand is cut off in an instant.
Laguna's face remained silent as he stood on top of the boy. He raised the knife-like tool. A blue, light-like magic energy emanated from it.
"Move away from Julia before I cut off the rest of your limbs," his voice was as cold as ice.
The boy screamed in pain. He held his bleeding stump. Blood pooled on his legs.
His friends stood frozen, the sound of their frantic breathing filling the silence.
But in an instant, one of the boys, driven by fear, cast a fireball in the direction of the Laguna.
It exploded violently, filling the alley with smoke. His lips began to lift until some of his teeth were visible.
"Feel that, scumbag!"
Then, coming out of the smoke, Laguna appeared unscathed. His eyes looked full of anger as he lunged forward. Without hesitation, he slammed his shoulder into the boy who had cast the spell. The boy fell to the ground.
Laguna was on top of him in an instant, pinning the boy with his strength. His fist shot out like a hammer, attacking again and again. The sound of his punch echoed in the narrow alley, and blood splattered on his hands. His face was filled with burning anger.
"If Julia is hurt by your magic..." Laguna closer, his voice almost whispering in the boy's ear, "... I'll make sure to kill your entire family."
The smoke from the explosion began to clear. It revealed Julia, unharmed, behind a shining, transparent barrier. A small metal disc floated through the air, creating a shield—one of Laguna's other creations.
Julia's gaze flickered between relief and horror as she looked at the barrier. "Master... Enough..." in her soft voice.
Laguna continued to hit his face incessantly; blood smeared his hands and the boy's face.
The other teenager stood frozen, too scared to move.
"I'll report you!" one of them finally shouted in a terrified voice.
"Go ahead and report me!" Laguna shouted, his voice filled with confidence.
"Do you know who I am? I am Laguna Ashford! Even if I'm a disgrace to my family, do you think anyone in this small town would dare to go against the Ashford family?"
His words silenced them for a moment. The Ashford family was too terrifying for those in his territory, like this small town.
Suddenly, Julia stepped forward and gently hugged Laguna from behind.
"That's enough, Master. You can kill him if this continues."
Laguna froze for a moment, then exhaled and began to stand up. Before leaving, he spat on the boy he had beaten.
Without a word, Laguna took Julia's hand and left, leaving the losers trembling in fear and pain.
As they moved away from the losers, Julia said, "You don't need to get your hands dirty to protect me, Master Laguna." She then pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket. She lowered his head, cleaning the traces of blood from Laguna's hands.
Laguna held Julia's chin to look into his eyes. "They can insult me as they please, Julia. But no one has the right to insult you."
Julia's face instantly turned red, and without thinking, she lightly slapped Laguna's arm.
"Master, don't say such things!" she said shyly, followed by his sweet smile.
Laguna smiled lightly. "Am I wrong? As your master, I should also be able to protect you."
Julia turned her head, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Let's go back to the mansion. Your clothes are messy and full of bloodstains. If anyone looks, what will they think later?"
Laguna stopped walking and looked at Julia deeply. "Julia, it doesn't matter if I'm in rags or fine clothes. I have a guardian angel who watches over me, even when I look like this."
He looked at Julia with a seductive look, making her even more confused.
"Stop joking, Master!" Julia shouted, her face now as red as a tomato.
"An angel? That's ridiculous! Stop this nonsense!"
Laguna stepped closer, his naughty smile widening.
"Oh, so you don't realize that your beauty is like an angel? And you remain by my side, even when everyone has given up on me. If it's not an angel, then what is it?"
Julia covered her face with her hands while trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Master, please stop teasing me!"
"I can't," Laguna replied casually as he placed his hand on Julia's shoulder."Seeing you like this is the best part of my life. Besides, you're so cute when you blush."
Julia sighed, letting Laguna continue to tease her along the way. Although he looked annoyed, there was a small smile on his face that he couldn't hide.
From the top of a building in front of them, a shadow appeared from the darkness. Its eyes were like predators watching their prey. Pay attention to every step of Laguna and Julia.