Ethan did not rush his words when he spoke. He understood that desperation, when revealed too quickly, often weakened one's position rather than strengthening it. Even so, there was a certain urgency in his tone that he could not fully conceal.
"Someone very powerful is after my talent," he said, his gaze steady as he looked at the boy in front of him. "Will you be still sheltering me now?"
The child did not respond immediately. He tilted his head slightly, studying Ethan with an attention that did not match his youthful appearance. There was nothing childish in his eyes.
After a short pause, the boy spoke.
"If that is truly the situation, then I can consider sheltering you," he said. His voice remained light, but there was an unmistakable firmness beneath it. "However, I do not offer protection without reason. What exactly is your talent? And more importantly, how will you prove that you are worth the trouble?"
