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Summary:
Leo and his companions finally arrive in **Elarion**, a neutral city known for its independence from the Church and Kingdom.
He opens a small bookstore under the alias **"Leo Granzell"**, hoping to live peacefully and start anew.
But trouble has a way of finding him — especially when rumors about a "baby with dark magic" begin spreading through the city.
Meanwhile, rogue mages and bounty hunters are drawn to the city, sensing something unusual about the quiet bookseller.
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The first thing I noticed about Elarion was the smell.
Smoke. Ink. Baking bread. And just a hint of danger.
It was a city unlike any other — built on the edge of two kingdoms, never swearing loyalty to either. The streets were lined with old stone buildings, and the air buzzed with merchants, travelers, and people who had long since given up on living by the rules.
Exactly the kind of place where someone like me could disappear.
We found a modest building near the market district — two stories, slightly run-down, but perfect for what I had in mind.
> A bookstore.
Not just any bookstore.
One that sold ancient texts, forgotten histories, and philosophy from all over the world.
Grimwald called it "the most boring cover story ever."
Elyna loved it.
"I mean," she said, flipping through a dusty tome, "you really do look like a baby genius sitting behind a counter."
I gave her a flat stare.
She grinned.
"What? You do!"
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A New Beginning
The store opened a week later.
A simple wooden sign hung above the door:
**"Granzell's Book Nook"**
Inside, shelves lined the walls. Books stacked neatly in corners. A small reading area with cushions and tea.
And behind the counter?
Me.
Wrapped in a soft blanket, sitting in a high chair modified for my… unique situation.
Customers trickled in slowly at first — curious locals, wandering scholars, and children looking for bedtime stories.
Most left satisfied.
Some left confused.
A few left scared.
Because sometimes, when I touched certain books — especially ones written in ancient languages or bound with magical ink — my aura would flicker.
Just enough for trained eyes to notice.
And soon…
They came.
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Eyes in the Shadows
The first one arrived three days after we opened.
A man in a traveler's cloak, asking questions about "rare tomes of the old world."
Tessia handled him — politely showed him out after realizing he wasn't just browsing.
The second one came a day later.
A woman with silver rings and eyes that gleamed with recognition.
She didn't say much.
Just looked at me.
Then left without a word.
By the third visitor, Grimwald was already pacing.
"This is bad," he muttered. "They're testing us. Prodding. Trying to see if you'll react."
I nodded.
Then I picked up a pen and wrote on a notepad:
> "Let them watch. As long as I don't break my oath, they can't touch me."
Grimwald sighed.
"You're too optimistic."
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Trouble Finds Me
That night, fire lit up the sky.
A nearby warehouse exploded in a burst of red flame.
People ran. Guards shouted. And then the real problem arrived.
A group of masked figures moved through the smoke.
Mages. Bounty hunters. Mercenaries.
One of them stepped forward — a tall man with scars across his face and eyes that burned with hunger.
"I know who you are," he said, voice low. "You think hiding behind a bookshelf will keep you safe?"
I stared at him.
Then slowly, I pointed at myself.
"No harm," I wrote on my notepad. "No threat."
The man smirked.
"That's not how legends die."
He raised his hand.
Magic gathered in his palm.
And just as he was about to strike—
**BOOM.**
An explosion rocked the street.
Elyna landed in front of me, grinning like a madwoman.
"Oh~ Sorry!" she sang. "Did I interrupt your villain speech?"
The man cursed.
Then the fight began.
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