"Is he not home?" Noah asked after knocking on the door for the third time.
"Maybe." Luke said, uncertain.
"Maybe he’s in the military headquarters. Should we go th..."
"Who are you people?" just then a voice came from their back. Luke felt the voice familiar as both of them turned around.
"Uncle!?" Luke said when he saw a young man in his thirties, long brown hair, tanned skin with buffed muscles, wearing a silver body armor and steel boots.
His hands exposed showcasing those huge muscles and two large beaded wrist bands on both of his hands.
"Uncle!?...who are you to call me...is this...Luke? Are you Luke!?" Roger asked.
"Who else will call you uncle?"
"Hahahaha!!! Luke!! My boy!" with a hearty laugh Roger rushed and embraced Luke tightly. "You’ve grown up so much! I can’t believe it’s really you!"
"Aghh...uncle, I’m hurt!"
"What happened? Are you hurt? Who dared to hit you?" Roger loosened his embrace and checked Luke throughout. He was worried as well as angry at the same time.
"I’ll tell you inside."
"Oh!! Sorry! I didn’t realize. I got excited seeing you after so long!" Just then his eyes shifted towards the young man standing beside Luke. "Well, who’s this young man?" he asked.
"He’s my friend Noah! He helped me find your house and also protected me on the way!"
"Oho!! Really!? Good young man! Come! Come inside both of you!" He released a bit of mana which got sucked inside the diamond shaped red mana stone below the door handle. The stone glowed red and the door opened with a click.
All three of them entered, closing the door on their way inside and moved towards the sofas placed in the middle of the room.
The house was very basic with two floors, one common hall, kitchen and washroom below and two more rooms with bed in the upper floor.
There was a kitchen which was probably not used in years seeing the state. The house was completely made of reinforced wood and even the floors were wooden.
Luke and Noah took a seat and Roger bought water in wooden glasses for them on a tray and placed it on the table beside the sofas.
"Tell me, what happened on the way?" Roger asked with a serious face.
Luke started narrating the incidents from meeting Noah to the alley where both of them were ambushed and how they fought and made their way out from there and Roger kept his silence as he listened to Luke.
"I wouldn’t be alive if Noah hadn’t been there with me!"
"Thank you, Noah! I’m in your debt now! I wouldn’t have been able to bear it if something had happened to Luke! Thank you so much!" Roger held Noah’s hand and bowed to show his gratitude.
"It’s alright sir! It’s my duty to help a friend in need!" Noah said with a smile, nervous and embarrassed at being thanked by his idol.
"Don’t call me sir! since you’re Luke’s friend, call me uncle!"
"Really!?" Noah was taken aback and excited at the same time. he couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. "Well...ok then, uncle!"
"Haha!! Good. I have two nephews from now on then! Where do you stay Noah?"
"I just stay in the inns near the adventurer’s guild!"
"What!? No need. You can stay here from now on. There are plenty of rooms. I don’t stay home much anyway!"
"No! no uncle I can’t. I don’t want to burden you!" Noah refused vehemently.
"Since you’ve called me uncle, then there’ no need to be shy! You both are like sons to me. it’s final, you are staying here."
"But, I..."
"Just accept it. He won’t let you go now. He’s quite stubborn." Luke said.
"Well...alright!" Noah said meekly, he felt warm receiving such love and care. He didn’t know how to take this feeling in.
For some reason, he was getting this kind of feeling for the first time and got quite emotional.
"Haha! Good!"
"Don’t be shy now! you are his idol uncle. He fried my ears narrating your heroic adventures while in the airship!" Luke said.
"Come on man!!" Noah looked at Luke in protest, he was embarrassed at that being mentioned.
"What, really? Hahaha! So, I too have a fan! I didn’t know that. Vale would be quite jealous hearing this." Roger laughed out loud.
"Don’t worry! With your skills, you’ll be able to join my team in a few years. I’ll make sure you grow strong!" Roger patted his chest, assuring Noah.
"He won’t join your military! He wants to be an adventurer." Luke interjected.
"What! Why? Why join those imbeciles and greedy bastards!"
"I don’t want to be bound by rules, I have followed them enough! I want to be free and live life how I wish to!" Noah said with determination, a shadow of fury and resolve reflecting from his eyes.
Roger was surprised. He didn’t expect such a reaction from this young boy. A smile appeared on his face as he nodded and laughed.
"Haha! Alright! do what you want Noah! I won’t push you in this matter!" he patted Noah on his shoulder in encouragement, releasing a smile from Noah’s face.
"Now, the thing regarding your attack, those bastards definitely have some backing to attack you in broad daylight. Or else, they wouldn’t have the courage while our enforcers and military are so active!" Roger said in a serious tone.
"Then it is someone who’s very influential in the city!" Noah said.
"I think this may have been done by second mother Hela." Luke said.
"What? That bitch! How dare she think of harming you!" Roger was furious, he broke the table in half as he punched through it in his anger.
"Are you sure?" Noah asked.
"No! but I have a feeling. Since killing me will make sure that her son is the next heir of the dukedom."
"Duke? so you are a noble?" Noah asked, surprised.
"Yes! Though I don’t want to, I...I’m a Ranatosh!"
"WHAT! you’re the son of Duke Danver Ranatosh? I can’t believe it man!" Noah was stupefied at the reveal.
"It was quite the secret you were holding!"
"Wait I didn’t ask! Which noble house are you from?" Luke asked.
"Me? I’m Noah Starlink! I am Duke Riger Starlink’s fourth son!"