2 2. Second Salem

"Wake up, kids!"

Early in the morning, a beautiful blonde girl named Chastity rang a bell.

"Morning, Credence. You don't look like you slept well," she said.

Aurelius, who was getting dressed, nodded and replied softly, "I'm fine, thank you, Chastity."

Chastity Barbourne was also an adopted child of 'Mother' Mary Lou Barbourne. She and Aurelius were Mary's two eldest children and her assistants. He was a core member of the Second Salem organization founded by Mary.

Chastity always seemed to be optimistic. Her gentle smile was once the only light that Credence, who fought against Obscurus, had.

If it weren't for her, Credence might not have been able to hold on.

In a painful life, boys and girls may have different emotions. But for Credence, she was the light, while he was the shadow. He yearned to follow the light but was afraid his darkness would consume it...

"Hurry up and eat. Today we're going to Green Street to hand out flyers," Chastity said playfully, winking. "I need to wake up those sleepy little ones."

Watching her walk away, Aurelius sighed quietly. "Only in darkness do I realize how dazzling the light is... poor girl."

"Credence? What are you waiting for?" came a stern voice. You knew who it was without even looking - Mary Lou Barbourne, the only owner of the house who deeply despised wizards.

"Sorry, Mom. I had a nightmare last night, so I didn't sleep well. Don't worry, I won't delay today's tasks," Aurelius replied timidly, his tone reminiscent of his predecessor's fear.

"Good," Mary warned, turning to go downstairs.

Mary treated him poorly, and in Credence's memory, she was abusive towards him.

This was something strange. Although Mary wasn't particularly kind to the orphans she adopted, she wasn't abusive towards all of them except Credence.

He not only had a sour expression, but he was often physically punished, with his belt slapping against his palms being the most common form of punishment. His palms were covered in countless wounds.

Was it because he was a wizard?

Aurelius couldn't help but wonder how Mary knew he was a wizard when he didn't even know himself.

There were many children in the "family," and the financial strain was heavy. They couldn't expect to enjoy any extravagant meals.

Mary stood in front of a pot of soup and rice, the contents unknown. Aurelius stood next to her, always waiting to eat last. Sometimes, he went hungry because there was nothing left. Chastity carefully held a stack of thick leaflets and distributed them to the orphans one by one. "Linda, Wei Ke, be careful," she said in her usual gentle manner, making the children more comfortable around her.

"Get the flyers, kids, and then come line up for dinner," Mary announced, tapping the edge of the pot with the spoon in her hand.

Each child stood in line with a leaflet and a bowl, patiently waiting for Mary to scoop a spoonful of paste into their bowl. Unfortunately, Aurelius had a stroke of bad luck on his first day after traveling through time. Mary's cooking fell short, and there was only a small amount of food left at the bottom of the pot.

There was hardly anything appetizing left, just a meager portion. Aurelius looked around, confused.

A small bowl of paste was placed in front of him. He turned to Chastity.

"I had a little too much today," she said, explaining that she always shares her food with Credence when he runs out.

This sixteen-year-old girl always uses her tenderness to protect this world that is not friendly to her.

Green Street, located in prosperous Manhattan, New York, is known for its unique architectural style that combines steel and art, showcasing distinct beauty.

If you want to appreciate unique cast iron architecture, this is a fantastic choice.

White and iron red are the predominant colors, with fireproof iron ladders hanging outside the buildings. The densely packed steel beams and columns are the standout features of this steel empire.

Many social elites call this place home, and Second Salem must make efforts to gain their support to grow.

All I can say is that it's a good idea...

"Hello, sir, please take a moment to learn about Second Salem..."

"The wizard is with us, madam, please have a look..."

They are always met with rejection and considered a bunch of lunatics in the eyes of others. Despite the disgusted glances, Chastiti remains enthusiastic and continues explaining to the next person.

Aurelius is different. He keeps his head down, handing out leaflets to passersby, ignoring the abuse he receives.

He doesn't care about Second Salem, perhaps even harboring hatred towards it. Being a member of the wizarding world constantly subjected to pointing and abuse, he is never in a good mood.

His mind is distracted throughout the day, constantly thinking about his future path and the legacy of the summoner.

Aurelius is determined to navigate the uncertainties, though the plot may have changed since he arrived at this time. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't predict the unexpected twists and turns.

He is essentially playing a game with no clear rules. While quietly observing the changes, Aurelius has decided to practice other abilities of the summoner.

Summoners are not just tools used to summon defenders; they also possess considerable power through summoner skills and runes.

Summoner skills are unique spell abilities possessed by summoners. Although they are limited in number, they have high growth potential and can be utilized in various ways. With his inheritance, Aurelius can quickly learn these skills as long as he meets the necessary conditions.

Runes are the foundational source of power in Valoran. The entire Rune Continent was created from seven world runes. Summoner runes can enhance the power of defenders, but now is not the appropriate time for that. The rune should be positioned as close to the defender as possible. Currently, Aurelius has not fully mastered the Obscurus, and his understanding of it is not very deep...

Puff...

Just as Aurelius was lost in thought, a strong arm suddenly embraced him, causing him to stagger and nearly fall.

Luckily, there was a wall behind him.

It was a hidden gap between two buildings that often went unnoticed.

Aurelius was startled but quickly focused on the appearance of the man who had embraced him:

The man wore a woolen coat and a gray scarf, and his hair was neatly combed back.

Aurelius let out a sigh of relief, yet his heart was still racing.

This man was someone Credence had recently met and considered a close friend—an individual who had even offered to find a special child for him within his own family.

He introduced himself as Percival Graves, and Credence trusted him implicitly. However, Aurelius harbored doubts.

The man who called himself Percival was the most wanted criminal in the magical world—the most dangerous dark wizard known as Gellert Grindelwald!

"You seem a bit distracted."