Summoner's Second Chance

Chapter 07

Morning light seeps through the closed curtains as the sun reared its head from the east hills. Trace pulled his attention away from his research and walked toward the curtain. He threw open the curtains and the bright morning light made him squint his eyes, as it tried to adjust to the brightness. Trace yawned and stretched his body as he lightly slapped his cheeks. "Today is going to be another productive day!"

Trace went out of his room and proceeded to the dining hall, where his family is waiting for him to have breakfast. Trace pushed open the door and found Liu and Fang's family beside his own. "What a pleasant surprise! Have you come here to join us for breakfast?" Liu and Fang looked at each other, and smiled. Trace shifted his attention to their parents, and gave them a slight bow. "It is an honor to finally meet with my father's trusted business partner. I am Trace Redfate, the eldest child of the Redfate family." The man stood up from his chair, and bowed back to Trace. "It is an honor to meet you too, young master Trace Redfate. I am Joseph Bloodburst, father of Liu and Fang." He then gestured toward his wife, and she stood up along with him. "And this is my wife, Noelle Bloodburst." Noelle bowed as she slightly raised her skirt.

"I am happy to finally meet the Bloodburst family, but may I ask what is the purpose of your visit today? And at such an early morning too." Joseph nodded slightly, and walked near Trace. He took out a piece of envelope from his coat's inner pocket, and gave it to Trace. Trace opened the envelope and found a thank you letter. "I would like to extend my deepest gratitude towards the young master, for what you have done for my family." Joseph knelt on one knee and lowered his head, sending Trace into a panic. His friends might have done this before, but they are of the same age!

"My son, I have heard that you had given 4 Platinum Sverd to the Bloodburst family." Trace turned his head toward his father, who is looking at him with a gentle, and proud eyes. "But I did not just give them! It was their payment for their labor!" Scorpion laughed loudly and stood from his seat. "Then I suppose I should work as your flower picker then!" Scorpion's laugh became louder as he approached his son. He put a hand on Trace's shoulder with a wide smile on his face. "Son. You could've bought a small mansion with 4 Platinum Sverd. You know what this means, don't you?" Trace nodded.

"Young master Trace!" Trace turned his attention back to Joseph, who is still kneeling. "I do not have anything that I can give you to repay for what you have done to us! But if there is anything, anything at all that I can do for you, then I will do it!" Trace scratched the back of his head, and knelt down in front of Joseph. He put his hand on Joseph's shoulder, and smiled. "Then I would like it if your family and mine can sign a trade contract." Joseph raised his face and nodded. "It is done." Trace smiled and stood up. "Then that would be all." Joseph's jaw dropped as he heard how small of a thing Trace asked him to do.

"B-But young master, such a simple thing is not enough to repay you!" Trace shook his head gently, and smiled. "It is not a small thing, I assure you. It will help us tremendously if we have a merchant that we can trust with all our heart." Joseph stubbornly shook his head. "Still, it would make me feel uneasy!" Trace looked at Fang and Liu, and walked to them. "Mr. Joseph. Your family had given me an irreplaceable gift already." Trace put his right hand on Fang, and his left on Liu. "You had given me the chance to meet two irreplaceable friends, one that stuck with me through thick and thin. And I assure you, even if I were to give you 10 Diamond Sverd, I will still be in your debt." Trace walked back to him, and gave him a genuine smile. "So if there's anyone here who needs to repay something, it should be me!"

Joseph eyes watered as he heard Trace's words. His words were genuine, with no hint of malice or trickery. Unable to hold his tears any longer, he cried, right in front of his family. The stout-hearted man who had endured all hardship since his business was bought out by the Venomblood family, shed tears. Tears of happiness, and gratitude, towards a young man that saved his family from destruction. "Young master Trace, let me extend my gratitude toward you." Trace looked at Noelle, and saw her teary eyes. Trace gave her the same gentle smile he had given to Joseph. "I would like to thank you for raising my two friends. Without them, I doubt I'll be able to do anything." Noelle gave Trace a deep bow.