I Will Protect You This Time

( THE OUTSIDE WORLD)

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"Father~"

"What is it, dear?"

"What is the outshide(Outside) like?".

Little Julie said with eyes full of curiosity. She is Emriar and Lucia's 4 years old daughter. 

She was sitting on Emriar's lap under the Wisdom Tree and watching the stars.

"The outside?"

"Yesh(Yes)!"

Julie answered with sparkling Golden eyes. 

"It's ugly."

"Ugly?"

"Yes! Very ugly! There are people with no magic."

"No magic?"

"Yes. And there won't be any of your Beast friends."

"Really? Not even Rea or Ray or Roel?!"

Julie gasped and answered with a surprised look.

"Yes. And the people there are very bad."

"Bad people?"

"Yes. And they are ugly."

"You said 'Ugly' twice."

Zelbon said with an amused look.

"Shut up."

"Then ish(is) Mother ugly too?"

"Wh-What?"

Emriar asked while choking air.

"What are you three doing?

Lucia asked worriedly. 

"N-Nothing."

"Is that so?"

Lucia said with a look of disapproval.

"Anyways Julie. Come inside. It's time for you to sleep."

"Okay~"

Julie hopped down from Emriar's lap and jumped into Lucia's arm.

"Emriar, why don't you let poor Zelbon rest."

"Okay."

"Thanks for saving me, Lucy."

Zelbon said with a teary voice.

"You-"

"Poor thing… You better rest now, Zel. Because you won't be able to when the kids wake up."

"Yes."

After that, Lucia and Emriar returned to their bedroom along with Julie. Then she laid Lucy down on the bed.

"Sleep now, child."

"Yesh(Yes), Mother."

After a while, Julie fell asleep. 

"She was talking outside again."

"Sigh~ I am worried, Em. The outside world is nothing like here. It's dangerous."

Lucia said while leaning on Emriar's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Lucy. It's just growing curiosity. She will forget about it as time passes by."

"I hope so too."

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"I wonder what outside of this forest is like?"

Julie said while looking at the sky. She was playing with her friends. Her golden hair was shining brightly because of the sunlight. 

"Huh? I don't really care."

Roel said with a shrug. He is the son of Ordona and Igneel.

"Yeah. Me too. I love playing with everyone here."

Rea agreed with Roel. She is the daughter of Janet and Ijiraq.

"Why do you think so much about outside, Julie?"

Ray asked while tilting his head. His black eyes were sparkling as he spoke. He is the son of Zalcoatl and Alethra who is a Silver Werewolf.

"I want to go outside."

"Well, I will follow you wherever you go. So it doesn't matter."

Ray said with a smile.

"Sister! Are you talking about outside again?! I will tell, Mother!"

Lian grumbled. He is Julie's 10-year-old brother. Julie, Lian, Roel and Rae are 15 years old.

"Shut up, Lian! Do you want me to die?"

"Then you should listen to her, to begin with!"

"You little-

Julie said while chasing after Lian as he was running away from her.

"Meta! Come here! Give me a ride!"

Then a white beast flew towards him. Lian got up on the beast's back and they flew away.

"You can never catch me. Blaa~"

Lian said while making faces at Julie. Lian had the Beast taming ability. On the other hand, Julie had her father's ability. She could also grant magic power to others. 

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One year later…

"Father!"

Julie spoke loudly.

"What is it?"

"I want to go outside!"

"Pfft~"

Emriar spitted out the tea he was drinking.

"I-Is that so?"

He then said with a cold sweat.

"Yes!"

"Alright. I will let you when you grow a little more."

"Really?! Yes!"

Julie gasped with happiness.

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3 Years Later…

"Father! When can I go outside?"

"Grow up a little more."

"Little more… Is that so?"

"Yes."

Emriar replied while avoiding her gaze.

"So when is this little more?"

Julie asked with a smile.

"5 or 10 years later… Maybe?"

Emriar mumbled.

"What? Are you serious! I will go outside when I am 20. If you don't, I am just going to run away."

"Julie! How can you! Don't you love your Father anymore?!"

"It's not like I am going out forever. I will return soon anyways."

"Sis! Stop bothering father, will you?"

Lian grumbled angrily.

"Sure you can go."

Lucia said calmly while drinking tea.

"Yes!"

Julie exclaimed with joy.

"Lucy!"

Emriar said in a crying voice.

"Em, she won't learn until she gets hurt. So let her just go."

"Tch! So Annoying!"

Lian Clicked his tongue.

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"Be careful, sweety. Come back soon."

Emriar said while struggling to stop his tears.

"I will."

"Don't worry. I will take good care of her."

Ray assured Emriar.

"You take care of yourself too, Ray."

"Yes, Mother."

"I will miss you two. Sob* Just a few days ago both of you were running and playing under my shade."

Zelbon sobbed.

"We will return soon, Zel. So don't cry."

Julie assured.

"Take care of you two."

"Return soon."

"The outside world is dangerous. So be careful."

"Don't trust anyone easily."

"Did you take the book?"

"Yes, Father. I took it with me! You don't have to worry."

Every Beastman and Wizard gathered under the Wisdom tree to bid Julie and Ray farewell.

"Just go already."

Lian said with an annoyed face. 

"Aww~ Don't be sad. You can join me too, you know."

Julie said with a smile.

"Shut up! Who's upset?"

Lian sobbed.

"My dear little brother. I know you are worried but I will be fine."

Julie said while hugging Lian.

"You would better return soon."

"Yes. Yes."

Julie patted Lian's head.

"By the way, why don't you guys join us?"

Julie asked Rea and Roel.

"Not interested."

Roel replied instantly.

"You heard him. Anyways don't get into any trouble, you troublemaker."

Rea said with an annoying look.

"Don't worry. I won't."

After that, both Julie and Ray left the forest riding a magical beast.

"Bye Everyone~"

Julie bid farewell while waving her hands.

"Bye~ Take care."

"Emriar, Don't worry they will be fine."

Lucia consoled Emriar.

"Yes. Those children are strong."

"Yes. It will be nice if they don't blow up any place."

"I know right!"

"And even if they make mistakes, we are here."

"Yes. We are their guardians after all."

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Julie and Ray flew around for a few days. They crossed many mountains and forests. And finally, after a week they reached a town.

"Oh my gosh! Ray! Look! There are so many people living there!"

"Yeah."

"And their houses are weird too."

"Yes."

"Let's go down there."

"Yes. But Julie, I think it will be better if we keep Lan here and walk down to the town from this mountain."

"That…"

"It might be dangerous if someone spotted him. What if they hunt him down, as Lan is a beast."

"You are right. Let's do that. You stay here nicely Lan. We will be back soon."

Purr~ 

Lan agreed while nodding his head.

After that, the two left Lan in the mountains and Ray cast an invisible spell on Lan. Then the two walked towards the town.

"Whoa~ There are so many people!"

Julie mumbled as they were walking in the town market. They were wearing a cloak so that they wouldn't stand out.

"Yes. You are right."

"There are so many beautiful things too!"

"Yes."

Ray replied while looking at the items of different shops.

"The foods here look delicious!"

Aghh~

Suddenly a scream attracted both of their attention. The scream came from the front of a shop. But the two couldn't see anything as there was a crowd in front.

"You old geezer! Bring money then ask for food!"

A middle-aged man cursed while kicking out an old man. The old man's body was so thin that even his bones were visible.

"Please~ I am really hungry… I haven't eaten for days. Just a piece of bread."

"Tch! Go away already."

"What the heck…"

Julie's eyes widened at the cruel sight. She then looked around the street alleys. There were many people sitting on the street with dark eyes filled with despair.

A mother with 3 children, many kids and many elderly... All of them were skinny. Their dresses were worn-out. The children were crying because of hunger.

'What kind of place is this?! Hidden underneath the weird buildings and shops…'

Julie thought while looking down the street which was made of small stones.

"Julie, don't do anything. We aren't to interfere with others here, remember?"

Ray warned Julie in a low voice.

"Hey, you!"

But Julie already went towards the middle-aged man before Ray's warning!

"What the- Sigh~"

Ray sighed deeply.

"What is it!"

The man replied in a harsh tone.

"How can you behave this way towards an elderly! Apologize now!"

"Pfft! Hahahaha~"

The man laughed out loud then said,

"And why should I do that, Miss?"

"What?"

Julie asked with a look of disapproval.

"That old man doesn't have any money. So he can't get food."

"You-"

Julie slapped a piece of gold bar at the man's face and said,

"Is this enough?"

Gasp*

"Whaa~ G-Gold?!"

Everyone at the market gasped at the sight of the gold bar.

"Didn't you hear me?"

"Y-Yes, Miss! It is enough to feed all the beggars."

"Then hurry up and prepare the food!"

"Ah- Yes."

"Thank you for the help, Young Lady. I will never forget this."

The elder sobbed and said.

"Haha~ Don't worry and eat your fill today."

Julie said with a silly smile.

"Julie~!"

Ray said with a cold tone.

Eek~

"S-Sorry. I got emotional for a moment.

"Sigh~ You will blow our cover."

"Ahahaha-"

After that, the two gave food to the hungry people on the street.

"Thank you so much, beautiful sis!"

"Thank you, miss and young man."

"We don't have to starve today because of you!"

Everyone sobbed and thanked them with tearful eyes.

After giving them food, the two roamed around for a while then returned to the mountain.

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It's night. The two were sitting together in front of a bonfire while looking at the sky.

"It's strange, Ray…"

"What is?"

"The sky is the same as it is in our home. But this place is so different from our home."

"It is…"

"There are so many things we don't know."

"That's true."

"The outside is beautiful but harsh."

"Well, everyone warned us about this before, didn't they?"

"Yes.."

Julie replied in a low tone.

"So do you still want to continue the journey?"

"Yes… I want to. I want to see more. I want to know more about this part of the world."

"Sigh~ Whatever you say."

After that, the both of them stayed in that area for a week then left for their next adventure.