"This child has an uncanny ability to discover things that we overlook. Even the esteemed royal pharmacists of the human empire couldn't fathom how these humble herbs could miraculously enhance the flavor of food. I must admit, your human ingenuity astounds me at times."

"Hehe, my dear friend, I too have grown to like this little boy more and more. He possesses qualities of diligence, humility, honesty, and bravery, all of which are rarely seen in a child of merely seven years. I wonder which ancient family could have instilled these virtues in him before the age of five, engraving them into his very soul, as if they were innate." The butler, Leipas, squinted his hawk-like eyes and twirled his thin black beard with a gentle hand.

"Leipas, do you think he could be from a family with an innate talent for fire magic? What could have caused them to abandon such a gifted child? Did your scouts find any clues?" Old Kurru took a deep breath.

"It's quite difficult, my old friend. You see, the region is either scorched forest to the south, Stan's territory to the east, a deadly desert to the west, or the savage tundra to the north. Within a radius of three thousand miles, there is no land belonging to a human lord. There are no leads to his origins."

"However, I believe he will need to receive a formal education from a magic academy in the future. A skilled magician with a solid foundation in magic theory will go further in life. After all, you are a shaman, and although there are many similarities between elemental magic, they are more suited to the orcish race. Jiga must attend a human magic school." Leipas's hand caressed the smooth copper sword hilt, a beautifully intricate design of fine fish-scale patterns wrapped around the entire Roman sword, a weapon that only a skilled dwarven master could have crafted.

"I'm not sure which magic academy on the continent would accept a homeless wanderer, or should I write a recommendation letter to my old friend? When I return to the tribe this time, I may not have the chance to roam the world with you anymore. I must cultivate some orcish children while I still have the strength, for finding a few magically gifted ones among them is quite a challenge."

"No need to worry, my friend. I will take care of it... I'll take him to a suitable city, and as long as he obtains a formal job and resides there for three years, he'll receive city resident status and be permitted to participate in the magic awakening ceremony organized by the city's primary magic academy." Leipas, the butler, said so, and the wrinkles on Old Kurru's face seemed to smooth out a bit.

"That's a good plan."