shifting the timeline to six years prior...
It had been three years since Austin first came to live in the noble's household. Initially, Lord Lyton, Sasha's father, a didn't liked the boy. However, a particular incident would irrevocably alter his perception of Austin.
Lord Lyton was scheduled to travel to a neighboring province for an important meeting. Sasha, being a close friend of the head of that province's daughter, earnestly requested her father to take her along. Lord Lyton, doting on his daughter, readily agreed. Sasha, in turn, insisted on bringing Austin with them.
As their carriage journeyed through a mountainous pass towards the other city, they were ambushed by a band of ruthless bandits. Lord Lyton had only brought a single knight as escort, a number clearly insufficient to combat the entire group of attackers. Lord Lyton himself joined the fray, wielding his blessing of an unbreakable sword. The knight, whose blessing granted him control over water, fought valiantly alongside his lord, both striving to protect the two young occupants of the carriage.
In the chaos of the battle, one particularly bandit with skill of stealth managed to slip past their defenses and made a dash for the carriage. The vigilant knight spotted the approaching threat and swiftly threw his sword. The projectile struck the bandit, embedding itself in his forearm. However, in the brief moment the knight was disarmed, another bandit seized the opportunity and brutally decapitated him.
"Norman!" Lord Lyton roared in anguish, his guard momentarily faltering at the sight of his fallen comrade. In that instant of vulnerability, a bandit lunged from behind, aiming a strike with a flaming sword at the Lord's back. Reacting with astonishing speed , Austin leaped onto the attacking bandit, his teeth sinking into the man's neck. The bandit fell lifelessly to the ground. However, in his courageous act, Austin's arm was severely burned by the bandit's fiery blade.